Pokey

The great state of Washington has bestowed upon me two license plates. A back plate and a spare back plate Like the WSP VIN inspection, it took two attempts for success at my local DMV. I was organized and seemingly prepared for my first trip, but I hadn't anticipated the insistence on an odometer disclosure statement signed by the seller. The second trip I came armed with two references to state code, RCW 46.12.695(h) and 46.12.665(4)(e), and with an attitude of patient perseverance (aka my Columbo imitation) we settled on my receiving the plates in return for an attestation as to why the seller wouldn't be signing the odometer disclosure. In that attestation I explained the odometer disclosure wasn't necessary as by code a car that had never been sold retail before was exempt. I also had to write a second attestation as to the value. And with that I do believe this build thread is complete! The build was a blast, and I'd order another kit tomorrow if I could. :auto:

Well that was easy. I didn't even have to unload from the trailer. The inspector took a few minutes to jot down the numbers on the chassis and another 15 minutes or so doing paperwork and that was that. Today or tomorrow I'll take the paperwork down to DMV and see if I can convert it to a plate. I've never done this before so have to assume what I was provided will suffice. I celebrated with a quick blat up the Mt. Baker highway before heading home.

If anyone is considering the Schroth harness from Catherham (https://caterhamparts.co.uk/seatbelt...roth&results=5), be aware that the hardware provided won't allow the brackets to swivel. After ordering a variety of bolts, swivel bushings (top hats) and washers from Schroth, I finally figured out that what is needed is the SG11 shoulder bolt for the B24 bracket and the S3 wavy washer. Four each of the B24 and S3, plus the four spacers that are included with the harness, are needed for the belt and shoulder straps. For the crutch straps I used the supplied bolt, 7/16" oversize washers for spacing, and a nyloc nut.

I was going to wait to update with what I hope is good news, but I have an appointment this upcoming Wednesday in Bellingham. Fingers crossed I don't get a call from the inspector the day prior like last time! But then again last time my appointment was in Yakima where I'm thinking they don't see much out of the ordinary.

When we are past all of this COVID stuff we'll need to have a PNW gathering. I'm tired of seeing all of the posts out of the other coast about track days and other such events knowing I can't join along!

Beautiful road and even came with its own two-wheeled deer-sweepers. Seven looked like it runs smooth and doesn't wander around at all.

Welcome! I wouldn't be too concerned about what I've experienced. The situation I found myself in is related to COVID. The WSP has suffered temporary layoffs and that has greatly curtailed the number of inspections available so I wound up taking an appointment in Yakima. The inspector there was befuddled by the Caterham is all. I'm more concerned about getting an appointment before the weather turns than I am about passing the inspection. I've been checking the stations from Tacoma to Marysville several times a day and so far no luck. Bellevue opened up two more days today but between when I checked this morning and this evening they were already booked up. I imagine that by the time you need an inspection things will be back to normal, or at least more normal. Don't let this blip take the fun out of what you are about to experience.

I've been watching all of the inspections stations on the I-5 corridor waiting for an opening, checking several times a day. Bellevue is my first pick, but it is down to one lane so I'll have to get lucky with my timing. I'm thinking that Seatac and Tacoma should be relatively safe locations too, but at this point I'm checking them all.

The inspector was a nice guy. He called me the day prior to discuss his concerns rather than have me surprised when I arrived. He had been on Caterham's website and was trying to figure out what it was he would be looking at. During our first conversation he asked about a federal sticker, presumably some sort of proof of exemption for the lack of air bags. It seemed to me that he was way out of his comfort zone, and given his location in a more rural part of Washington State I had concluded that he had never dealt with a kit car before. Since the conversation wasn't going anywhere I asked him if it would be okay if I did a bit of research myself to assist him. My thinking was I could substantiate why it should pass and take the burden off of him. He agreed, but the way he agreed made me feel like his mind was already made up. When I called him later that day to discuss further, one of the first things he mentioned is that he called someone in Woodinville to get more information. I interpreted that to mean that he called our local dealer. According to the inspector, he asked pretty much all of the same questions he asked me and came to the same conclusion, he could approve the vehicle for off-road use only. I'd like to say that licensing a kit car in Washington State is straightforward, and one might think so if just reading the guide (https://www.wsp.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/kit_vehicle_inspection_guide.pdf), but this sentence muddies it all up: Also, your vehicle must comply with all of the equipment requirements of WAC Title 204 and RCW 46.37 to pass inspection and for a VIN to be assigned. The inspector would need to be familiar with both the WAC and RCW sections referenced, which are fundamentally a description of things every vehicle is required to have: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.37 https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=204 So this inspector, in order to do his job, would need to be familiar with, for example, the requirements for a windshield: (1) The windshield must be framed and in such a position that it affords continuous horizontal frontal protection to the driver and front seat occupants. The minimum vertical height of the unobstructed windshield glass must be six inches, or as originally equipped by a recognized manufacturer. (2) The vehicle must be provided with a windshield and side windows or openings which allow the driver a minimum outward horizontal vision capability, ninety degrees each side of a vertical plane passing through the fore and aft centerline of the vehicle. This range of vision: (a) May be interrupted by window framing not exceeding four inches in width at each side location. (b) Must have no obstruction forward of the windshield which extends more than two inches upward into the horizontally forward projected vision area of the windshield except windshield wiper components and hood ornaments identical to those originally installed by a recognized manufacturer. For the purposes of this section, the projected vision area of the windshield will be defined as that area above a line from the top of the steering wheel to the top of the front fenders or hood, whichever is higher. I'm not making excuses for the guy, in my way of thinking he has a job and that job includes having an understanding of the regulations he is enforcing, but I can also appreciate that a guy pushing retirement and having never seen a kit car before might have forgotten some of the less interesting bits. In either case, it didn't seem prudent to risk failing inspection and having that follow me to the next time I tried. And I was also mindful to not create a wake of wreckage for others to dodge when their turn comes. So for now I purchased three more "trip permits" that allow anything to be driven on the road in Washington State. Each permit is good for 3 contiguous days and you can have up to three in a 30 day period. And, yes, I do recognize the irony that despite not getting a pass from the inspector I will be blating around this weekend without any airbags. Heck, I may take off the windshield just to fully appreciate the wind and the irony.

Yep, what came with my kit are the Luke version without the Luke/FIA label. The crotch straps I'm adding have the label in the picture on Caterham's parts website, but what I received doesn't (not that it matters since the 4-point lacks the label). Seems the takeaway is to buy the Schroth, not Luke, version if purchasing from Caterham.

Not sure where you plan to source, but if from Caterham I would suggest you make sure what you get has an FIA label as mine do not. For the six point straps I've just received, I'm having to source fasteners (bolts and washers/spacers) as what Caterham provided won't work with my chassis. That and the lack of labels will have me looking elsewhere when I replace what I have.

I don't care which end I have to kiss, I just want a license plate...

I know, right, it seems pretty cut and dry especially about airbags being necessary only if the car came with them originally. Nice guy though, and little point in arguing, so I've cancelled the appointment after talking to him one last time.

That would be the rational thing to do and is probably what I'll wind up doing, just disappointing as I'm not sure when I'll be able to get another inspection scheduled. The WSP has apparently suffered layoffs as a result of COVID and all stations have been completely booked for as long as I've been looking - Yakima opened up one day a few weeks ago and that was almost immediately filled.

Welp, just got a call from the State Patrol inspector regarding my appointment tomorrow. He did some research and has concluded the car needs a federal sticker and airbags. I politely explained that these cars are licensed for road in Washington State and he concluded that was because we have privatized licensing agencies. I responded that they still needed State Patrol sign off and his response was, in essence, guess I'll see you tomorrow. Not sure it will be worth six hours of driving since he has already made his determination...

Thanks Mike, this is a topic I've been looking into of late primarily because the four-point doesn't fit my petite wife as tight as I would like so I was debating replacing with the three point or adding crutch straps. I know the latter must feel like a silly overkill for road use, but the composite seats are slick and I'm more concerned about her slipping under than other (horrible) alternatives so opted for the six points. I still need to deal with the sloppy fit of the shoulder straps, so if anyone has any great ideas I'm all ears. Perhaps just adding padding to the straps, or maybe putting the passenger seat on the adjustable rails like the driver side so she can move a little forward and take up the slack?

Interesting. I have the four-point harness that came with the kit, and just received the crutch straps to make six points. Unfortunately they are not FIA labeled, but one would hope that the differ from the manufacturer's (Luke) version only by that label. These have the tab for inserting into the cam lock.

I recently reached out to Jack for a different purpose and learned that he doesn't sell to the US because of UK product liability law.

Trivial topic, but on the off chance that someone else finds themselves in a similar situation someday perhaps this will help. I'll start at the end, not all windshield wiper arms provided by Caterham are the same. The wiper arms provided with my kit did not fit tight enough on the knurled knobs such that they would slip and catch, causing misalignment and the arms crashing down on the scuttle. I checked this forum and lotus7.club but could not find any mention of ill-fitting wiper arms so started thinking that I somehow caused the problem. I just installed a pair of Caterham factory wiper arms ordered from Demon Tweaks. They fit snuggly and the wipers work as one would expect. Despite the stamping on the original and replacement arms being identical, the casting is clearly different: The replacement is on the left.

I can't recall ever having a problem with the Shorai brand, but my experience has been in motorcycles only. I'll let others more knowledgable compare and contrast CCA and PCA of lead acid to lithium, but my experience is that lithium doesn't crank as well when temperatures are cold, but rather than go from cranking slowly to dead battery they do the opposite - as you crank the battery warms and things get better not worse. Again, just experience and not theory, but lithium batteries can be had with an ample CCA/PCA that are quite small, the sacrifice being AH. But I wouldn't think we need AH so much in a Caterham because of the lack of accessories. The big differentiators between lead acid and lithium are price, weight and how long they hold a charge without load. And if you are willing to sacrifice AH you can also have a smaller form factor.

My experience is 7' trailers have flat walls (compared to the standard 8.5' auto carrier). I've not seen a 7.5' before, but assuming the same axle I'm guessing you must have small intrusions. Having said that, once in the trailer I've got ample room, it is getting past the cables and then the door entrance that is tight. The extra 3" you have on both sides is perfect.

I'm going to record here for posterity's sake that a SV will fit into a 7x14 cargo trailer. The distance between the cables that attach to the ramp door require the most care when loading and unloading, but with the help of a mirror installed inside the trailer I can keep an eye on the front and rear wings on the passenger side. The approach angle on the ramp door is fine, but without the whale tale the break-over is such that clearance is little to none with the trailer hitched. That is easily remedied with the tongue jack, and the extra height from the newly installed E-Track may wind up being enough to make the difference.

Beautiful and a really nice restoration to racing livery to include Alf's name on the door.

And if wind deflectors won't work then I'm thinking supercharger. Supercharger for safety reasons might fly with the wife long enough to get the order placed.

Pokey or Porkey, either works as they both convey how fast I drive.