Al N.

Jon-I think they'll be present at this year's LOG, which is obviously much closer to them. It's a question of resources, naturally, and I don't fault them much. Although I think people have already reached out to the dealers they do business with, it's not a bad idea to check in with them again — to see if they are able to get any level of commitment. Even hearing a "No" is better than wondering if someone is coming. -A

As of today, I am aware of 3 vendors of new/used Se7ens who are coming to the Tail of the Dragon event in July: Deman USA, WCM, and Texas Motor Works. Since there are many Stalkers who have signed up, does anyone know if Dennis B. is planning on coming? How about the Westfield folks? And while I'm at it, I know that Cat USA can't come (I've asked them), but perhaps one of the Southen dealers (Chip Bond or Caterham South)? Since there are so many folks coming from Texas, perhaps Tom M. from Westfield and Jeff Sloan (BritAuto) may want to join the caravan coming East? FWIW, I am very interested in having a roundtable with representatives of some/all of the various makes as a session at the event.

Drew-Nice ride. I covet your carbon mirrors. Did you get the exhaust powder coated black or is that just the lighting? I bunch of the other guys inquired about the halfdoors recently, so your pic is timely. Thanks again for posting the pix.-Al

Rob-I think your real essay topic will be when you get your restored Rotus out on the open road!-Al

I was so charmed by Tony V's recent write up at se7ens.net regarding his desire to get another Se7en, I thought it might be a good idea to solicit short (1 page or less) essays/musing on anything related to Se7ens. Depending on how many submissions we receive, I could see having a dedicated booklet of essays handed out with the map/area guide program. Or just as filler for the primary program. Please post questions or thoughts here. And email me submission. I think anything is fair game...best drives, why you chose a seven, most hectic situations, favorite thing about them, etc. As we say at Mint, "Have fun with it" -A

Am I the only one who finds the 50th anniverary livery a bit unappealing? First Seven was polished, right?

Since I know not everyone checks the Events section as much as I do http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/wink5.gif ...I'm cross-posting here to let everyone know that I'm soliciting questions about the 7-7-7 event, which I'll try to answer in the March Organizer's update. Here's the link to the thread where I'm collecting questions: http://www.usa7s.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=609 Al Navarro2007-02-28 14:15:28

You know Mazda, that's the $20,000 question...I know that there was some issue with injector sizing on some of the Caterhams early in the Zetec program. I've always wondered if mine was one, but never followed through on pulling the injectors. It would be great if someone with a similar set up could chime in...let me know what kind of injectors I should have, before I go through the trouble of pulling one to see what size they are. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

It's always been somewhat reluctant. But it MUCH easier to get it running in the summer than now (temp in NJ in mid 30s)

Tom-That's why I pay someone else to do the drilling! http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/lol.gif Skip-If the top is off, I can get in with the doors on, with the tried and true "hold on to the rollbar and step over the door on to the seat" technique. If the top is on, I generally leave either the front or rear snap connected (the front quarter-turn is more robust, but the rear allows the door to "swing" more) and just push the door out of the way. It is simple enough to pop the snaps in while I'm in the car...although the rear one is an awkward reach (perhaps that's why I keep it snapped on most of the time).

Jon-I will make you a special shirt with that one! Do you prefer the first or second "Choice Voided"? http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrin5.gif

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Mazda-You are correct sir. I generally have to sit in the car and keep the revs up around 3000 for a little while before it will hold its own idle down around 1000 RPM. Does your unsafe solution include shooting raw fuel into the trumpets? Chuck-I will try that little trick the next time. John-I've got the PecTel unit. Oh, one thing I forgot to mention is that very occasionally, I get a backfire when starting. Perhaps I am flooding the engine a tad after the first non-start?

Thanks for the additional votes/participation. I've cut a few of the laggards off, so please feel free to cast your votes for those left standing.

My car has always been a recalcitrant cold starter. Once it's up and running, it's easy to restart. But from cold (and this weekend it was plenty cold) it was near impossible. I have an external fuel pump that I hear whir when I turn the key 1/4 turn...leave it there until the whirring stops (I assume that's when system is pressurized), then turn the next 1/4 turn. Anyone else with a similar setup have similar issue? (I wouldn't call it a problem, just a nusiance.)Al Navarro2007-02-26 12:01:26

Funny, I was just looking through a Premiums catalog and thought a license plate bracket would be a good USA7s Club item. "My other car is a Se7en" and all that. Here's a short list of what I'm thinking so far (still have to price it all out): Tshirt Dash/Window Decal Pen/Pad set (for jotting down rendezvous times/places, people's names, etc.) Key chain (only if I can get a nice one) License Plate bracket Water Bottle Pin (Event specific) Lanyard & ID holder I'll start getting pricing on all of this to see where we end up. Oh, and I'm also looking into a baesbal cap, which will probably have to be a la carte given our memorabilia budget. Again, I have to price everything out - but I think enough people would spring for a hat if we had it for sale in July.Al Navarro2007-02-24 11:38:06

Apologies in advance for the sunflare in some of these pix. PHOTO ONE: Door off, 4 mounting points visible (3 poppers & 1 Quarter-Turn Fastener...note, rear popper is one of those "one way" deals that only pops off when you lift the snap a certain way. http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070224_111647_Dooroff.jpg PHOTO TWO: Door on to show line of door. http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070224_111733_Dooron.jpg PHOTO THREE: Detail of Quarter Turn Fastener, Door off http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070224_111912_QuarterDoorOff.jpg PHOTO FOUR: Detail of Quarter Turn Fastener, Door on http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070224_111954_QuarterDoorOn.jpg PHOTO FIVE: Close up of Quarter Turn Fastener http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070224_112026_QuarterTurn.jpg

Pete-I actually have a Superlight R. And that car to the right (from the camera's POV) is another Caterham Superlight R - belonging to Scott L. At the Skyine East meet last June, we discussed the different nose shape. Both are CF, although mine is painted. What else...Scott runs the SVT (one of the first, I think) whereas I have the "old" zetec. He also has the 13" wheels (185 front/205 rear IIRC) and the full-on carbon seats instead of my inchers and Kevlar/carpets buckets. But other than that, they're twins.-AAl Navarro2007-02-23 18:05:02

Wow! This post used to be titled "Now 300 hundred members!!!" Raise a glass to Mr. Ebrahimi for setting up this great online resource for fellow Se7eners. Well done, Mazda — and everyone who's joined the forum and shared their 2¢. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/cheers2.gif

Roger that Jon - on the quarter turns. These are the Caterham issue. I think the JJ's are flat (no "forearm bump out") and probably softer. If money were not an object, I'd spring for the Fluke ones to match my fenders, along with the carbon bonnet from EasiClad (richard in france)! If I could fit the table into the pilot along with my family our our stuff, it would be there.

Tom, I'll do that over the weekend and post Sunday or Monday. Note that I think the original door install was not perfect (don't worry, I still love you, Rex!) which lead to the leading edge snaps popping off spontaeously. The little quarter turn fasteners have been the charm though, and I'd recommend them if you haven't put the poppers in yet. That said, I would shoot for putting the poppers into the "corners" of the door first (maybe one extra in the middle of the curved trailing edge, then using those poppers to locate where you need to mount the studs on your car.-Al P.S. I can't believe no one has commented on the air hockey table backdrop!Al Navarro2007-02-23 12:08:42

And it's Orange to boot. Just one of the little things we're working on for 7-7-7. Although, perhaps we should just keep this one in the case as a prize...as I'm sure there will be more than a few scale-crashes. http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070223_080824_lilcat.jpg

My half doors, Caterham issue. These are shown with a 36 inch T-square for size. They go from the scuttle to the boot cover, effectively squaring off the "door area" . I've included a few pix so you can see details of how they are curved to provide a touch more space for the cabin occupants. My mechanic changed the front pop-snaps to twist locks because the doors kept popping off (they are slightly loaded/flexed when snapped in) at the leading edge. EDIT: I forgot to note that the skinny piece points backwards. http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070223_080258_door1.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070223_080315_door2.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070223_080331_door3.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070223_080344_door4.jpgAl Navarro2007-02-23 12:09:57

Dino- Although I lean toward Rob's sentiment, I kind of like your suggestion...enough to put it up in the poll, at least. Remember all, I reset the poll setting so that you can vote again. -Al

I'm officially twice as happy as I was yesterday. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/lol.gif Rob, I think you have a point regarding the anniversary thing. But that might not be a negative...could be a great talking point: "No, it's not our 50th meeting...it was the 50th anniversary of the original Seven." That said, perhaps this works better? USA7s at the Dragon - Celebrating 50 years of Se7ens I'll leave this poll up for another week or so before setting the art folks on it.

X-Posting here to get more feedback on the poll I'm running over in the events section. I need to get started on designing memorabilia for the event and want to settle on a managable name. http://www.usa7s.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=588 Please vote. It will cheer me up immensely.