SK400

Thanks Tom. I think I ll give the Sunoco GT 100 a try. Here are some of the pictures. Grade 8 spark plug cathode melted after track day (Simon’s). I had the same happened to me with grade 7 and street driving. And grade 8 spark plug after 15 minutes of use. The ceramic is sparkling white.

Thanks all for the thoughts and comments. As you said, I think it is a simple octane increase solve. I might be right at the limit of auto ignition for NA pump fuels so a little octane help wi go a long way. im looking at the Sunoco 260 GT fuel. Anyone has experience with this fuel? Any other equivalent fuels or brands to recommend? thank you

Thanks fastg. Good advice on oxygenated vs not. The car has soo much power already, no need for more honestly. (Yes.. I said it, Croc). Engine spec was designed with EU builder and we did discuss EU vs US gas pump risk, understanding that we might be at the limit. I guess we now know the answer to that question. Simon had the ECU tuned remotely with Steve from SDB (not dyno, but road tuning using car lambda, connected to Steve in the UK via WIFI .... pretty cool) which had a massive - massive - impact on power, torque and drivability from our stock Caterham R500 fuel map. Steve added a lot more fuel than what the stock Caterham R500 map recommended. We both have the same SBD fuel map now (not lean anymore), but still burning plugs after flat out track days. I guess we need to upgrade to 100 octane and redo / refine the map again. Nice winter project!

Thanks Mike Simon also detonates and burns plugs (exact same engine) but his real issue is different. He keeps a picture of me on his dashboard and he is still trying to beat my TBolt time. His engine had to give up to give him an excuse. He is pulling his engine apart as we speak trying to figure out root cause. Oil / lubrication on #1 Conrod bearing is an hypothesis. Sorry Simon, I’m sure sure your ears are burning.

Greetings everyone Long time no talk. Lots going on in MI since I moved here.. a few developers are building a new race track 30 mins away north of Ann Arbor, MI, in Howell, MI, with garages etc. Motorsport Gateway. Check it out! https://www.motorsportsgateway.com/ . Opening should be Spring of 2023. Might be an FIA grade 3 or 2 track with tons of runoffs etc. Really look forward to seeing this project come alive. On a very separate topic.. as some of you know, I have a new blue printed R500 spec engine that is a complete fury but I keep melting the tip of grade 7 and even grade 8 spark plugs indicating auto ignition it seems (not good). The engine compression ratio should be right around 12.5:1 .. but perhaps slightly north of this given a few other head and block mods (squish gap etc, but not more than 12.75:1).. hence very limit for 93 octane street / pump gas I assume. Just wondering, if we had to buy race fuel, what would you recommend? 98 or 100 octane? if so, unleaded standard or unleaded oxygenated? what's the difference? Would you recommend separate octane additives to regular 93 octane pump gas? if so, what brand or product would you recommend? Thank you all

Cade - very good meeting you earlier today in Detroit / Farmington Hills . What a coincidence and surprise. Look forward to building a great community of "Sevens" in the area. Don't say it too loud but let's show those big V8's what small 4 (or for some 6's) can really do. See you around on a track... and soon I hope. Seb

Yep - Got the westermann wingstay. saved 1.4 kg of weight from original wingstays.

Really good to see that the gang had fun as usual. Missed you guys this year.... will try next year!

No pictures yet? How was Sunday?

Guys. Good luck this weekend with the event. Will miss you dearly. Will try next year. Have fun!!

Thanks guys. Might be a bit far for me and still waiting for a trailer that I ordered in .. January. Looking to try Grattan or Gingerman or maybe mid Ohio this fall.

Thanks for the wishes and the tips guys! Croc - clearly miss the East coast gang but will see each other again. I’m sure of it. Still have to show Simon who is the real slim shady. Dave, MoBoost, would be terrific to connect over the next few weeks as convenient. Let’s PM one another. Looks like South Lyon and Canton are not too far from one another. mid September? Wouk also love to hit one of the tracks this fall. Let me know if interested. talk soon! seb

Well, as some of you know, I recently moved from CT to MI, Ann Arbor. I had all of my cars transported 3 weeks ago and finally went for a first short drive with my caterham yesterday zipping around some of the country roads around here. Clearly a lot of car enthusiasts around with many thumbs up etc… was great to feel the wind in the hair, finally declaring and officialising the move to MI with this short drive. i plan to hit a track or two perhap in September if time allows. I ll keep you posted. Reaching out to any other caterham enthusiast in the Ann Arbor region, if any! Talk soon Seb

The parts have be sold. Thank you

I have a brand new set, never installed, CSR style carbon front cycle wings and rear fenders for sale. Please PM me if interested. thank you.

Honestly and if for track only, the Avon full slicks with Kevlar belt construction are …. unreal. I have them on my new image wheels and dropped another 1.5 secs at thunderbolt from my a24 and I’m far from the tire limits. Roger Kraus will know exactly what tires these are. They fit our 13” front and back caterham wheels perfectly. They are also 9 to 10 lbs each … only.

For what it is worth, the A24 ZZR tires are absolutely outstanding, some of the best DOT approved / race compound tires on a Caterham. I think I took 1.5 secs off Lightning changing between the A64 and A24. They do wear quite a bit faster though.. especially when scrapping through the bowl !! A stock R400 on A64 at limerock will run in the low 59s. With A24s, managed 57.8s..

The quasi new wheels have been sold and will go to a good home.

Two potential issues from what we've gleaned from other members going through this experience as we speak... 1) there is apparently a special map for more modern caterhams that have an external fuel pump module somewhere in the rear. For those catehams, apparently you don't need the green injectors, the blue will suffice. 2) there might be a wiring harness difference between your more modern caterham and older ones. Number of active pins etc. Looks like you don't have the right map on your ECU.. either because of the fuel module feature (sending way too much gas that it needs to) or the wrong map for the wiring harness you have. Blake, Simon, and others I'm sure can opine..

LOL! no. Not with these …

All identical. 6” or 6.5” I believe. Good question.

As some of you already know, I’m moving to Michigan. I have a few caterham related parts for sale in my garage but 4, quasi new, not a scratch or dent, caterham black 15” wheels and 500 miles / one track day at most, CR500 tires are looking for a new home. best offer please. let me know.

All, Left for sale as of today. 1) set (qty=4) of quasi new 15" Caterham wheels with Avon CR500 tires installed 2) 2.0L Duratec crankshaft 3) R400 Throttle body, air plenum and air intake / Filter 4) R400 injectors (blue) and injector wiring harness let me know if interested in the above. thank you

That’s right Vovchandr. Identical wheels on 4 corners.

Thank you all very much for the wishes and all the track / area guidance. A few reactions and thoughts: 1) Croc - yes, my intent is still to make the 10 hr drive to NJMP this September to see the gang and hopefully let lose all of our new horses 2) I read a bunch on M1 concourse, waterfordhillls and gingerman. All options that I very much look forward to exploring. I did not know about Gratten, but the track looks great as well so thanks for the suggestion. So many options with 2 hrs or so from AA. 3) John B - agree with you on road America. A bit further away (6hr?) but one of the great tracks in this country. I drove it a few times once upon a time when living in Chicago. (Spec Miata ). Also had some fun at autobahn a few times with our family car - a stock VW Passat.. was hilarious. 4) I did not know about MCity. Looks incredibly cool and agree this should be transformed in a track day venue of non connected, individual, highly competitive, and rubber burning vehicles. If there are any other Caterham or seven equivalent owners in the AA or MI area, please let me know or feel free to send me a pm. look forward to giving Waterfordhills’ track record a shot