FE07

Wow, such a shame. As if he hasn't been through enough already. Hope he pulls through. Guess it just shows: once a racer, always a racer. Jim

Simon, I'm in Maryland- Owings Mills. Your welcome to sit in my S3 anytime. Mike has the ultimate size check with his grouping. The lowered floors help with height. the SV with width. Let me know if you want to pop by. Jim

When I first bought mine it had flaps installed and bedliner type protection on the rear wings. Mentioned that I wanted to remove the flaps and was HIGHLY recommended not to do so. Have been on there since. Have never noticed any rocks going over the bonnet. Most of the little ones bounce off the rear wings and end up in the cockpit when driving without side curtains on. The bedliner has held up well. Jim

Simon, When my cell went bad I also contacted ATL in NJ and when they found out it was for a Caterham and was the original cell the car came with- they told me I'd have to deal directly with Caterham. So........... maybe if they DON'T know that- they'll sell you one and you can use the $1,500 on something else for the car!! I had mine made by Fuel Safe but not sure I'd use them again. Ideally you'd want to have an old cell to send so they can match it. Jim A

Where did you find the center caps? I've got the same wheels which also came without centers. I never did any searching when I first got the car but might be interested. Thanks, Jim

And I'll triple that. Used a Speedhut GPS speedo and very happy with it. Jim

Mike- If your Touraeg came equipped for towing (had a factory installed electrical hookup by the hitch) their should be an electrical hookup under the dash for you to plug in a brake controller. Somewhere I have the hook up which plugs right into it with a pigtail that goes into a Tekonsha controller. Let me know if you can use it. Think I read you have a bluetooth equipped controller?? How exactly does that work? Jim

Vlad- just another option for you or anyone else without a tow vehicle. Rent from Enterprise commercial. F 250's set up to tow with unlimited mileage for around $110/day. Gave my Touraeg Tdi back to VW couple years ago and have been renting from Enterprise since. Easy to deal with, more room in my driveway and no insurance, registration etc.. Course I have no way to move my trailer around in the driveway and have to plan ahead when I need a truck. Just another option. Looking forwards to the October date. Hopefully no friends with kids getting married that weekend!!!! Jim

How bout OFF the record??:lurk: Jim

Thanks guys. Looked like it might pull off put didn't want to pull too hard and break something. I'll have a beer before I try to put it back together! Jim

I've got a front turn signal out so need to change the bulb. Can't see for sure how to get the beehive off to access the bulb. Appreciate the advice to change the bulb. Thanks, Jim

Really sorry to hear this. Scott is how I got interested in 7's to begin with. We were at an event at Summit Point probably 15 years ago when I saw him and asked if he'd give me a ride in his 7. I said lets just go around for a couple laps so you can show me what this thing will do. Proceeds to take me around faster and faster. I didn't have my communicator with me so he just kept going! I'd been instructing all day and riding around with students who THOUGHT they were going fast but weren't. Scott on the other hand was flying. Needless to say- I was impressed with the car and Scott's driving as well. Knew I needed to buy a 7 at some point. Scott- you'll be missed. Jim Adleberg

Since we seem to be having a lot of recent Zetec issues/discussion I thought I'd add a problem I'm having with mine. Seems I've blown a 2nd head gasket. Engine was last rebuilt maybe 1,000 miles ago (which is about 20 months ago in Caterham 7 time). Maybe tracked once over that time. Ran well when I first got it back. As last time- it's leaking exhaust gas into the overflow bottle which then pressurizes/spits and then overflows. No oil mixing into the water jacket. Has a Cometic gasket and ARP head studs. Not sure the compression it's running. It was suggested to me (not by the builder) that the issue could be related to the ARP studs and the need to re-torque them. Looking at the ARP and Cometic websites- they both say there is no need to re-torque either the studs or gasket. Anyone else had similar issues with head gaskets on their Zetec?? Looking for any other potential causes to look out for when rebuilt. Thanks all, Jim

John, You have a PM. Jim

Too Funny! Though my wife wouldn't think so. :rofl: Jim

I'll chime in- I had some engine issues with my Zetec we just couldn't quite figure out until I called George Alderman and he knew right away what the issue was. So my engine work was done by him. New head gasket, head, cams, timing gear etc... Not really more power but more top end. Quicksilver does very nice work and I know the guys there from racing Vees. Great work- reputation for great expense. In regards to all the cost's with our crazy obsession- I guess as long as you're not making yourself broke or screwing up your retirement and you get enjoyment out of your 7 or race car- it's worthwhile. I get a little sick if I go back and look at all the receipts/costs but then I go in the garage and see my toys (even if I can't get em out on street or track yet cause of this freaking weather and the race car frame has been at a shop for the past 2 months and -and -and) it's all good! Coincidentally or perhaps ironically I'm typing this while I'm wearing a shirt I bought from Blipshift that has 3 words on it in the shape of a triangle: race-regret-repair. Been around that triangle more than a couple times but wouldn't give it up. Something special about car people. Doesn't matter if it's sports cars, race cars, muscle cars, old stuff- it's all interesting and there's always something to learn and see and bond over. Oh- and if you can- not a bad idea to NOT have those conversations with the wife! Jim

Nice looking Europa with some needs just showed up on BAT Jim A.

Old school restorations or recreations?? Maybe there's a couple pieces of original 7 frame in these 2 cars but doesn't appear to be much else. Not sure who designed the IRS. Interesting but certainly not original. Have never seen a 7 with track rods like this in the rear. Looks like the combination of the rear end from a Lotus formula car 18/21/22??? with rubber donuts with a significantly modified old 7 frame. Interesting but don't call it a Lotus if it's not. Love the Mallock and looks like a good buy for a fun vintage racer. Jim A.

It has not been dynoed but suspect only about 160-170 HP. Has Kent cams, adjustable timing gears and some head work, slight increase in compression. Does not have ITB's. Still with stock fuel injection and ECU. ITB's and ECU mods would be next to do for more HP but too many other projects at present. Jim

Mine was built by Chip Bond who owned GT Classics. He sold the car for one of his customers. It has a small GT Classics decal on the rear. The yellow valve cover is gone now. Had a head gasket issue and the "while were in there" kicked in. So new head with no VVT, hotter Kent cams, adjustable timing gears etc... Raceline in England has a great looking red valve cover. It looks like we have the same wheels and yours are also missing the covers that go over the lug nuts. If you look at them carefully- you'll see where this fits and screws in. The center caps in the link would just cover the dust caps for the bearings. If you don't have the SLR dash plaque- it means your car is a Chinese reproduction of a British continuation! Jim

I tell em it's a "continuation" of the Lotus 7. It truly is. My wheels didn't come with center covers. Not sure if you can still get them? As far as tires for 13's, mine came with Avon ACB 10's which are great track tires and fine for the street. Bit pricey however. Talk to Roger Kraus racing in California or Sasco sports in Virginia. Pics of mine can be seen from the initial ad: http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?9592-2000-Caterham-Superlight-R&highlight=superlight Took a bit but I seem to have worked out all the bugs. jim

Vlad, Congrats on your purchase. I've got a 2000 superlight R. It appears someone in your car's past did some nice mods. Mine does have Carbon nose and front and rear wings. All are painted on mine. Same wheels although black centers and mine also has a spare tire carrier. Like the red and white. Enjoy, jim

Cool idea Stuart. Awful clean for a '98 and a very nice car. Sorry your selling. Someone's going to get a great car. Jim

Nut & bolt the car, new brake fluid, swapped tires, aeroscreen on. Ready to go-until..... Enterprise called me this AM to tell me the truck they were supposed to be renting me was still out. Don't own a tow vehicle at the moment. They looked to come up with another one but called me late in the day to say they'd have one for me tomorrow. I could pick it up at 7:30 AM. Hmmmm... pick up at 7:30, drive home, hook up trailer and I'm up at NJMP by 10:30-11 at earliest. Thanks but no thanks. So- sorry I'll miss the festivities tomorrow, though looks a bit on the wet side. Thanks for setting it all up Mike and Tom. Have to try next year or later in the season. Everybody keep it on the black stuff tomorrow! Jim A

OK.....just signed up for Friday. Sorry can't join everyone for Thursday as well. Actually like Thunderbolt better. Looking forwards to seeing everyone. Thanks Tom & Mike! Jim A.