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Haggerty will not insure my Deman Motorsport SR7 because it has a roll bar! and my current insurer, Travelers, raised my rates when I took my 23 year old son off of the policy! I do not understand this logic.

I had a Westfield 11 in the late 80's. The 1275 A-Series engine with twin SUs had surprising amount of pull a low revs but it still lacked the power one wants in a sports car. The main reason I sold it was that it did not have a roof so I bought a TVR. But now I am back to a bike engined Lotus Seven type car still without a roof, but lack of power problem solved. The Eleven just cries out for a bike motor. -small, light and much more HP than the 65hp A-Series. Cornering g's are limited by the size of the tire that can fit under the bodywork. There is not too much 175-14 performance rubber out there. The big plus to getting an Eleven is aerodynamics - light years ahead of the Seven even though it was built before the 7. It had great pull at 80mph+. Even with the low plexi wind deflector, buffeting was very minimal.The Street version of the Lotus Eleven had a taller glass windscreen, so I added one from a Ginnetta G4 replica that used a VW Super Beetle screen. Along with higher plexi side windows, it gave much more protection than with the deflector. Be prepared to get asked questions every time you stop, which rarely happens to me in the Seven. Would I get one again? If I could buy one for what I sold mine for ($9,500) I get one in a flash.

I was not there, but my friend Ivan Samila was. In his very first race ever, according to Mylaps, he finished 10th out of 49 in his Series 4 Lotus Seven. ( His track day toys are a 1700cc Kent Caterham and a supercharged Elise.) http://djphoto.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/VARAC-Vintage-Grand-Prix-CTMP-2013-oneword/G0000WE0tLlGRvm8/I0000DIU3jQoypxY http://djphoto.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/VARAC-Vintage-Grand-Prix-CTMP-2013-oneword/G0000WE0tLlGRvm8/I0000DIU3jQoypxY

-Northern GTA, just south of Mount Albert.

I found out the hard way about the foam anti slosh baffles in Jaz fuel tanks. I used Sunoco fuels that had a high ethanol content and ended up with plugged injectors in my Busa motor. They were cleaned at a bike shop and was informed by the mechanic that he had previously experienced ethanol disolving foam baffles. So the baffles were removed and I have had no issues since. Fuel sloshing has not been a problem on track days either.

The kit car template is what I followed in 2006 with a only a few issues. The first MOT licensing office (Aurora) was not familiar with this and refused to even read it. The second office (Newmarket)was much more accommodating and eager to help. Unfortunately, the author of the template, Pandora Macmillan, has retired from the MOT. Hopefully, her replacement will be as helpfull and devoted as she was. Good luck.

Used motorbike mufflers are always a great bargain. They are generally readily available as lots of bikers replace perfectly good mufflers with louder ones. The titanium can from a Kawasaki ZR12R quietened down my Busa powered Seven perfectly and it only cost $50. If it can flow well for a 180hp bike motor it should be good for a 1600 /1700 cc Kent engine also. Peter

I had one of these in the late 80s and sold it for a TVR that had some weather protection. Now I'm back to being roofless with a Busa powered Deman Motorsports SR7. - Sold the Westfield for Cdn$9k. I wish I had kept it now that I know about bike powered cars. One issue that is difficult to overcome is that there isn't much space for decent rubber. 145-14 Michelin ZX just don't cut it. It was a blast to drive and got way more attention than my Seven. The BMC A Series motor had way more torque than I ever expected and the good aerodynamics really helped on the highway.

I saw it last spring at the Hot Docs film festival in Toronto. There was a great talk after the showing by the director, Asif Kapadia and the theater at the Bell Lightbox was packed. My son just gave me the video for Christmas, having ordered it from the UK. I'm looking forward to the Hunt / Lauda movie that Ron Howard is making. Anyone know when it will be released?

We had planned to go but my son has a kart race that weekend. I drove my Westfield Eleven there in '89 for the 25th Ford GT Reunion, so the trip in the Seven would have been no problem. Peter

Count me in also. I have done a few track days at the Driver Development Track and it is perfect for a Seven. For me, the "Big Track" is just too fast, bumpy and has too many close guard rails to be comfortable in light cars like ours. It will be great to do some laps with other Sevens and I will spread the word to other local Brit car owners. Peter

My two watches just arrived here, north of the border, with no customs, sales tax or brokerage issues. Mazda, thanks for sending them by USPS all of your work organizing this purchase. My 13 year old son is thrilled with his belated Xmas present. Cheers, Peter

I have used hundreds of cable ties for attaching lots of non-critical components on my car but I would be a bit nervous about attaching a fender with them. As Bob says, nylon can become very brittle at low humidity, affected by UV and various chemicals and it's properties effected greatly by moulding conditions. Metal straps or gear clamps would be more durable. My fibergass fenders are fastened with copious amounts of Silkaflex 221 and have survived 2 years of road use and track days with 100mph+ speeds. Peter

By coincidence, I am wearing my Gilles Villeneuve golf shirt right now. I picked it up a few years ago at the Gilles Villeneuve museum in Berthierville Quebec. 'Worth a visit if you are ever up in that area. -Nice model. Peter

Hi Jim, Right now a powered reverse is a bit lower down on my priority list. I'm very careful on where I park and now don't feel embarassed about pushing my car whenever I have to. The lack of a powered reverse is not the problem that I initially thought it would be. When I do make the commitment, I will probably go the cheap route and do it electrically. I have just put a deposit on a new gokart for my son and I will pick up a used one for me, so funds this year for motorsports have expired. This winter, again, the priority is to make doors, a roof and trunk lid. Cheers, Peter

This is what I am using with the Hayabusa motor and generally,it works fine. -nice big display. http://www.xtsportbikeaccessories.com/GIpro.html $169Cdn. Before I added the gear position indicator I would never know if I was in 5th or 6th and often found myself trying to shift into 'seventh'. The only issue that I have now with the GIpro is that it sometimes reads 5th when it is really in 6th. It has a learning mode so I will try that in the spring. I also will mount it on the steering wheel along with a shift light. Has anyone used one of these: http://www.raptorperformance.com/ Peter

Put me down for 2 men's watches. My 13 yearold son will loveit. Like Andrew7, I wish the redline was higher to match the 11,000 of my Busa motor! Peter

Check out the results in the Grand Touring class for day 2. A Caterham 7 is the class leader followed by a Factory Five Roadster. http://www.rallyscoring.com/results/2007/Targa/Targa07TourPress0.htm:)

Any super bike shop hould have some used cans as that is what most owners repace first, with a louder aftermarket system. I snagged a Titanium can from a Kawasaki ZX12R for $50.CDN from the first shop I went to. It works great for for my 180 HP Hayabusa powered Seven. Peter

The Hayabusa motor/gearbox combination is heavy for a bikemotor at 180# but with my SR7 weighing in at 1010# the 180HP pushes it along just fine. I could keep up with just about anything at Mosport's Driver Development track last weekend despite short shifting at 9,000rpm. The faster cars had race rubber and way more skillfull drivers. Peter

Andrew, Have you had a chance to try out you half doors on the road yet this weekend? Do they reduce some of the wind buffeting and increase comfort as you expected? Now I am debating if I should do half doors, or go all the way and add side windows to your basic design. Our driving season is so short here that any added weather protection is appreciated. We had fresh snow on the ground again this morning. Good luck with your top construction. Peter

Andrew, The doors look very neat and tidy. What kind of material did you use? Was the wire welded together? I am in the midst of designing some doors and have a half dozen concepts so far but none I am pleased with. Yours are so simple and elegant so I think that is the way I will go. A couple of vertical wire bows will be added to the wire frame to give me a bit of room for my left elbow and add a hinge on the front. Next project will be a surrey roof. Thanks for the design idea, Peter

Here in Ontario, I know of at least 3 Hayabusa powered Sevens licensed for the street, all from Deman Motorsports. Peter

I picked up a used titanium can from a Kawasaki ZRX1200 that I will install before spring. It is a similar displacement and rev limit to the Busa so should work well. Too bad the stock Busas have dual exhausts. The exhaust on my SR7 is way too loud even with earplugs. I am undecided as to where it should exit,on the side or at the rear.