Locostdude

HAHA, that's old school right there (unless you're not admitting to everything). But I take it Smokey Yunick was a childhood hero? http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/cheers2.gif Who, me? Del Long http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/coolgleamA.gif

Has anyone done or know of someone who has done CDF (airflow) testing of a Lotus 7 type vehicle. Del Long

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/coolgleamA.gif Maybe you know my brother, Ivan Long? Del Long http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/coolgleamA.gif

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/coolgleamA.gif Good point. One thing that might work, for both D/E Mod, and the "new 7" class would be a compliance comittee made up of fellow competitors. They could review all the cars in impound, make suggestions, and ask questions. Del Long http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/coolgleamA.gif

I'm in enough trouble already, from people thinking I wrote the D/E Mod rules to fit my car, which I did not do. I just try to keep up the the latest revision. Del Long

I'll add one more thought then I'll go back to lurk mode. This years SCCA National was an anomoly, I think that's how you spell it, in that it was the first time we've all run on that asphalt surface. We, the SPRINTO team, made a good guess by thinking there wouldn't be as much grip as there was on the old concrete surface we've run on for the last few years. We correctly guessed extra weight would probably help our tires get up to temperature faster. The 350 pounds the car was over minimum in D Mod trim made a big difference in grip. The front and rear spoilers were BIG psycological advantage. If you can't out run them, distract them. Back to lurk mode. Del Long

We, IOWA REGION SCCA, are very fortunate to have 3-4 D/E Mod cars with at least 2 drivers each that compete at most local events. Really keeps you on your toes trying to keep up, BUT, leads to continual improvement programs on each of the cars. Del Long

One of the most complete online sites available for Locost chassis information is The McSorley Home page has 3d drawings and much more. *************************************************** As to defining a "Standard" seven for a new autocross class, I don't know for sure. I don't know what the goal is. Do you want a class for un-modified factory built Caterham 7's? Or do you want class for limited modified seven like cars? The SCCA Modified Advisory Committee (MAC) went through a long laborious process trying to come up with a set of rules that would bring parity to different types of cars, from unibody, to body on frame, and include the Lotus 7 type cars. At least your task is limited to only Lotus 7, tube frame, and body type cars. The MAC eventually defined what were competition producing items: Minimum weight, low center of gravity, wheel base, track, and horse power (engine size) were some of the items. The Lotus 7 was one of the obvious leaders in every one of those categories, so many of the minimum dimensions chosen for D/E mod were based on the Lotus 7. The minimum allowed floor pan dimensions are those of the Lotus 7. The floor pan minimums limit the length and width of the smallest car you can build (for D/E Mod). Do you want to allow "in excess" cars? Do you want weight breaks for different engine displacements? Do you want to regonize the different performance potentials of OHV, OHC, DOHC engines? What tires will be allowed, race, street, high perfromance DOT R tires? If this is an SCCA class all cars will need to meet the minimum safety requirements of section 3.3 of the SCCA rule book. (roll bars, seat belts, etc) Good luck, the SCCA has been working this problem (the Lotus 7) for ever. It all started when the Lotus 7 was approved as a "Production" car. Probably a bad idea. Del Long

Interesting discussion. What this photo does not show is the 330 pound steel plate that is bolted to the bottom of this car to bring the weight up to 1775 pounds. That's 350 pounds over D mod minimum weight. Also, the transmission was broken so the whole event was run in high gear, starts and all. The protested car was second in D Mod, and second in E mod, with no changes except driver. This car has been in develoment for 35 years. One more thing. The motor is stock except for the after market cams. Del Long