Dan3030

I also recommend you call Dave from "Blast from the Past" in Pottstown, PA and that you wrap your exhaust, even if it has a heat shield (any exposed bits). Dan

I'm not a guru, as yellow and many others on this site are. I'd second his suggestion to go for a few rides, know your purpose and make sure you fit. I was lurking on this site for perhaps 2-3 years before making a purchase this spring. In short, just like any purchase, take some time and look through this thread and get a sense of what cars are going for. Find a car you like that seems fairly priced. Ask a few opinions on here once you have a car in mind, to give you the confidence to buy (people are super helpful, just look at the help I received - http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?11096-FS-2007-Westfield-Mazda-Sport-2600-Miles-Located-in-North-Carolina) If you buy right, I think you'll find the depreciation is negligible, especially if you're starting with a 7-10 yr old car in the $25k range which will be a Birkin, Westfield or other, not Caterham (priced higher, likely to still hold significant value if not bought new/ nearly new). There will be much more nuanced and informed responses to be sure. Good luck.

As they say, if it sounds too good to be true...

Track only or not, who's ready to put a team together on this? I guess my only concerns would be fraud, shipping (as you mention kitcat) and verifying overall condition of each car.

Skip - Pretty good increase in power, response and louder/deeper exhaust note. Tom - Interestingly, all the seed stratified by size with all the small bits being originally stuck in every nook and cranny of the filter (knocked them out onto my stone walkway) and the larger bits sitting in the air can (also per picture). As far as chasing Seb, that'll require both more driver and more HP. We shall see about both. Possibly looking to head up to the Glen EO month to work on the driver part. Oh and a special thanks to Doug, the original builder, who pushed me to check the intake.

When I bought my car, a Westfield Mazda Sport, I understood that it was kept by an owner who also owned birds. I even found a few seeds when I went to clean up the car after purchase and also found it to be somewhat lacking in HP (even for a 1.6), so I started in on a tune up. The air box was hard to get at, so I left it alone, figuring "It had to be clean with only 2500 miles on the car." At the NJMP track event, as many of you can attest, I did plenty of complaining about power. Long story short, it seems some small woodland creature (mouse/ chipmunk) must have built their winter nest in the airbox, perhaps over multiple years, and stowed an impressive amount of seed. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=11471&stc=1http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=11472&stc=1

Kitcat... We cannot have you any faster. There should be some sevens regulatory body to block this idea SEC Sevens Equality Commission? I feel like Tom (yellowss) may both LOVE and HATE my idea for different reasons.

These are awesome Seb and Mike. Anyone have good video from runs 3 and 4 Sunday? It would be great to see videos where I'm not driving Miss Daisy around Croc, I'm gonna be shopping for the sixzero/manfrotto setup so I have some steady video next time out. What I have now is not worth posting.

Leaving before noon also form Philly area also. White highlander, beard, green lotus hat and a confused look on my face I'm sure. Flag me down if I'm going in circles. D

Just wanted perhaps corner speeds/ straights and G's. Going to check out TrackAddict and/or Harry's. Now hunting for a suitable mount for an HTC One.

What does everyone use for video and telemetry? GoPro, App/phone, other? Going to try for a quick shipment before Friday. Boy am I excited for the track after about 6 years off...

HAHA. Great description Mike. Also, yes, I am driving it a good bit. Have the gas pedal out today to bend it back about 1.25in so I can blip. Don't have a vice so this should be interesting.

I think I've come down with a severe case of 7itis. Someone please tell me why I keep coming to this thread time and again after I just purchased my Westfield.

Hi All - Thanks for the help. Correct, Mike, I am talking about height/ level. I looked into page 10 before and I guess I've just been concerned I'll screw it up somehow. I'm going to give this a try and report back asap. Dan

Hi All - Trying to get the Westfield fully sorted and finding I can't heal/toe due to the accelerator being closer to me than the brake pedal. I'd like to move the brake and clutch closer rather than move the accelerator back. Never had to do this... help appreciated. Dan

Wow, looking sharp. Is that a small sailboat I see in the background as well?

How much camber does everyone run for a mix of street and track days?

Ok another dumb question. My car is (supposedly) setup for approx. 50/50 cross weight with a driver in the car. What I see upon measurement is that the passenger side ride height is about 1/2 inch higher than the driver's side. Additionally, and counterintuitively, the camber seems to be greater on the passenger side (from the dust collection on the tire). Note - My wife was in the car with me, but not as I pulled it into the garage where "I think" I picked up the dust. Is this looking normal to everyone? If not, any recommendations for what to have done and who to go to? I'm in Pennsylvania. Thanks, Dan

Dave and the Blast from the Past team were OUTSTANDING. I recommend anyone in PA use them. Good call Bill, Dave at BFTP also recommended Commonwealth Auto Tag. Thanks to them I was able to get out and about driving yesterday. 96fvee, is this your Arizona car in the background? Looked really nice in person.

With not power assist, I feel like I have to press too hard on the brakes for the Westfield I just purchased. Maybe age has done something to the pads or the rotor surface, I am not sure. I think I have 1992 Miata calipers, but I'm not 100% as it's in the shop and not with me at home. I know I won't put much heat in the pads given the low weight and my low HP. What are guys choosing for street and HPDE use with low to moderate HP 7's? :bigear: I've used EBC Red Stuff before on an '06 Jetta GLI with ~280 HP and they worked GREAT. I just don't want to be outside of a brake pad's working temperature on the street and for the majority of a 25 min HPDE run and don't know the best choice. Thanks all! Dan

Definitely going with new tires. 888s or NT01's. I've already hunted through the forum to source that intel. I guess I'll just do the new belts. Seems so wasteful, but I didn't buy the car to be rational.

I am going to register this week, right after the Westfield clears PA enhanced inspection (Yes, I have her, drove to NC and trailered back in a 30 hour period). Just to clarify, does everyone have/ need 5 year old or less FIA belts per the tech form. I feel like that's only required at NJMP/ in NJ State for racing; not HPDE??? Perhaps my info is old as my last summer of track days was in 2010. Even if not required, is this something I should take more seriously, do they actually go bad from time alone? What's on the car look pristine, but then again, so do the 8 year old tires...

Going to use blast from the past then and title in PA. You guys are great. Glad I paid for the membership. Dan

Specially constructed. I think without a year.

So I'm in Pennsylvania and purchasing a car from NC. Has anyone had an issue with insurance or the state titling a car in Montana? Should I just go that route first before trying PA. My biggest thing is ease of registration and getting the car on the road ASAP. I'm not as concerned with other "advantages" of the Montana LLC approach. All help appreciated. Dan