Kitcat

Not sure, I sold my X-flow here last Fall for abt $2K less than I paid, but 4 years & 16K miles later. I do know that patience is a virtue when selling. And if it's a Caterham, it helps to drop Tony Vacarro a line.

Well, I have the chassis dyno to prove the mighty X-flow was "unleashing" 95 hp at that particular gun fight:). And 93 lbs of torque. Too bad Mr Vette:). Our se7en's pretty much ruled. But if I have learned anything in my countless trackdays, it's never underestimate anyone, and that includes Ford Focuses. Other than our group's fun at NJMP last year, my fav trackday occurred when all my cars were laid up and I was forced to take my little Honda Accord, auto, 4 cyl to a long planned event. The other drivers were smirkin like crazy. But then it started to sprinkle and the little Honda was as fast as anyone. Many egos were dented:).

JFGW: Coupla questions:What year and what model (and why dont I own it:))? Still looks like a terrific car from where I sit. I mite widen the tires a bit but that's it.

Nice "other car!"

Ayseven: I agree. All 1turbofocus said was that he'd be interested in doing a turbo se7en. He didn't say anyone w/o one was an idiot, or that n/a se7ens were unmanly. And as a se7en owner, I find it interesting. Skip Cannon did it w/his (brilliant) Miata engined turbo Cat that has caused me to have sporadic car envy (altho it mite also be the color:)).

Tom-No apologies needed. We are all (OK, mostly all) hp junkies searching for a fix but trying to stay in our 12 step program and not go overboard. I do think there is a legitimate debate over whether the balance of a car is upset by too much hp. I once started a thread called something like: Is slower funner? Having moved to a new 7 w/well over double the power of the previous one, I am still on the fence. It does go faster, but that means more chances to overdo it everywhere: In to the corners too fast and you slide off, too much power mid-corner and the rear wheels spin and the car is instantly sideways. So I think the power forces a more precise driving style. I did NJMP in my 95 hp Caterham and never put a wheel wrong. I came back w/my 200 hp Birkin and went off 4-5 times, even tho I knew the tracks much better. But, none of that means I haven't thought about a turbo for my Duratec: once a junkie always a junkie:).

First off-I am Lotus 7/Caterham 7 fan # 1. Second-when the track is twisty, 7's rule. Third-when track has some significant straights, 7's are at a disadvantage. And, if I assume the Runoffs are the ultimate challenge, se7ens have faired poorly in EP, mostly bouncing between 9th and 11th over last 10 years. The regional wins are nice, but just qualify for the Runoffs. Why? Probably because SCCA rules dont allow this "TDRC" to reach its potential. But just a guess.

SCCA allows Zetec engine in Caterhams in E-prod. There is a weight minimum, valve specs etc. But, the car isn't esp competitive. Lack of areo really kills it on straights, combined with relatively modest power. I saw one win the SCCA Runoffs at Mid-O some years ago-after the top 4-5 cars took each other out on a last lap burst of red-mist/over-aggression. So the Caterham, in distant 5th, inherited the win.

As I recall, our 7's ran away from these cars when they were at NJMP. It will make you a better driver tho, as Steve notes.

How much clearance between the sump and ground? My X-flow had 3 3/4" clearance and hung down pretty far below the frame.

Karl: Nice people with lots of rules is an apt description of the SCCA and a reason NASA is so popular. Perhaps e-mail Craig Chima, who is an occasional poster here. He has built many SCCA compliant roll cages over the years. Mike M.

Steve: I'd be happy to drive yours:)! We shd see if we can meet up there along w/Peter. I have heard it described as a hp track so I wld have an advantage, at least on paper. Our 3 cars represent 3 diff developmental phases of the se7en. Driver skill/knowledge of the track can be a great equalizer tho so I wldnt count peter out. Also waiting for 3Balls to announce a date at Waterford Hills, one of my favorite tracks and the quintessential se7en track (top speed 85-ish). Peter, what was your best time at N Ledges?. I have been there quite a few times. I think I was doing 1'18" laps, or roughly what Spec Miata were running. So not exactly blindingly fast. I think Craig Chima was doing 1'07's in a Vauxhall powered se7en, not sure what his SCCA car did it in.

Croc-as you know, thx to NJMP's policy of leaving large boulders where it mite be expected I wld slide off-that's my story and I am not budging- I had the chance to do an impromptu tire comparo when we were there last summer. I took off my damaged rear CR500 x 195s in the back and substituted Toyo RA1's 15x 50x205's. I left the195 x 15 CR500's on the front The car was perfectly balanced, meaning my Toyo's were the equal of the Avons. The Toyos had 10K+ miles on them, the Avons 100 miles. The Avons had a bit of tread, the Toyos were "naturally shaved". Unlike the Avons, the Toyos seem to age well. But, why not add Tom's Hoosier rubber and go for broke? (Street driving???).

Cool, my 1st grandchild arrived last week! Impossible to describe how exciting it is.

I saw this car abt 2 years ago when John was still rethinking and re-engineering things. His attention to detail borders on the obsessive (in a good way:)). For instance-notice the center mounted tach and speedometer. Not many sevens of this ilk have that. Nice job with the upper bracing of the driver's seat as well. For everything he built he first mastered the science and technology behind it, then applied it. It sure looks good John. Love the color. Who did the paint job? I will bop over some sunny weekend day and take a close-up look. Mike M.

LOL! Now do one on women and their cars:).

Sean-their website calls it a CSR but a post by Randy on another forum says its an S3 chassis-wh/I have to say, it looks like.

Given how much it cost me to pay a pro to put 3M shield on my car's most exposed parts, I can't imagine what it wld cost to have all those parts, and more, duplicated in CF. Aside from aesthetics, wld there be any reason to do this-appreciable weight savings, for instance?

I noticed that Randy Chase, of Chase Cams & Lotus Talk, is now the Caterham dealer in CA. He has a just-assembled CSR R400, in orange/black for sale. Google: the adrenaline gallery.

Beautiful road. But I just dont get "road-racing" on public roads with the general public. Drivers cant use the full road, wh/compromises their ability to go fast, or their safety and/or that of ordinary drivers running errands, taking kids to soccer, etc. The se7ens drivers are doing more than enjoying a spirited blat, they are charging into blind corners on the wrong side of the road, etc. Save it for track days and then show me what you got.

Croc: Grattan is a very neat course and is on my short list of new tracks to visit this year. Not nearly as far as NJMP. One of the clubs I do Mid-O w/runs Grattan Sat-Sun and on Sunday they run in opposite direction!

SCCA7: Amongst the best pix to date!(and I started this thread:)). (what tires do you use in the rain???). Mike M.

My Duratec powered Birkin uses a similarly sized muffler. I will be interested in what you use as a substitute.

Steve: Don't know abt the engines, except the budget is $4M per season for the team. "Our" driver (B Labonte) runs a Toyota engine. No team mechanic can touch the engine w/o the full time Toyota engineer being present. If they do, any engine failure is on their nickle, not Toyota's. BTW, Mr Toyoda (sp?) (3rd generation) was at the driver's meeting (ditto a Ford family member).Toyota is huge at NASCAR and they are quick to point out that the Camry has the highest made-in-America content of any car sold in USA. Going by memory, I think hp was mid 800's, torque low 700's. Bruce. So true. Amazing what a jet fuel fire will do to a car. It was interesting to watch them tighten, check and recheck everything on the car. And there was a head mechanic constantly watching the other mechanics do their work the whole time. And computers were always plugged into the car. Pix below: One-the Kroger car's hood; Two-Wasn't I surprised to open my shower curtain the first bleary, semi-hung over morning to see Carl waiting for me! Three-Ironic location for the "Lite" label? Four-is it me, or does the Clydesdale groom at the back of the horse love his job a little too much:)? Five-The France family's 'secret" museum.

Coupla more shots: Springs Driver putting up w/fans Shocks Lowes team Engine All but Lowes were shot in the #47's car hauler. The trailer contained a shock dyno, high end computers, living 1/4's for the crew, tools., etc.