powderbrake

I have an enclosed trailer. Why you say? While they are more expensive, I am primarily running a "street" car, and if I am taking it somewhere for a cruise, it will arrive with dry seats if it rains. If I am taking it to the track, it has room for tools and supplies. see pics I don't have a pick-up, so it comes in handy for moving large items, or for moving a daughter's furniture. like lots of tools, the longer you have them, the more uses you find. I have a Haulmark 16' Kodiak, enclosed trailer with rear ramp door, and the Seven fits perfectly with room in the front for tools. I have an extra 6" in height, which I do not like, due to additional air resistance, but I needed a trailer in a hurry, and that was available. Aside from that the trailer is great. A note on trailering and electric brakes. When I picked up the trailer in northern Indiana, and towed it home to St.Louis while empty, it was a BEAR to tow. It oscillated side to side, and getting near a tractor-trailer was PUCKER CITY !! This is where the electric trailer brakes really help. If an oscillation starts, DON"T put on the car brakes ( unless you have to on an off ramp), you reach down and apply the trailer brakes manually, and the trailer straightens right out. I later added a weight transfer hitch, and it helps the trailering under all conditions, including an empty trailer. I have a Tahoe, so the extra weight is within the capacity of the tow vehicle. I understand why a small trailer is desired for a seven. http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20061105_132051_DSC_0239_Small.JPG http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20061105_132111_DSC_0240_Small.JPG http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20061105_132132_DSC_0241_Small.JPG

WestTexasS2K: Welcome to the USA7s forum. It was great being with you at Run & Gun 2006, you should tell these guys how many trophies you won http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/hurray.gif I will see you at 7/7/07. What the heck is Fireball Run from Florida to California?? Is that another 4,000 mile run in a week? http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/ack2.gif

Great report, thanks Mazda and Al, for putting in the time and making the scouting trip. It surely has whet my appetite for the TOTD. I wish I could have made it, but I had to make a choice between my daughter's wedding Friday night, and a run with you to the TOTD. I made my choice, but my wife suggested strongly that I stay home for the wedding... http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrin5.gif Did you guys get to the Fontana? I was wondering how it looked?

Here is a post from USA maillist by Dennis Brunton.I hope he won't mind my quoting him, you can see he was having a good time. It contains some good video which you may have to paste into your browser, as I don't know how to link it directly. -------- > "Sevenesque cars were the cars to beat with Chuck Spera in his Ultralite > winning the autocross outright, he was also very fast on the road course and > drag strip." > Hey Michael, Chuck and I had a superb competition....he nipped me by 6 hundredths of a second in the AX and I nipped him by a 1/10th or so on the Road course..John Meyers was 5 secs faster than us on the road course, 2 secs slower at the AX I ran two @ 11.9 secs at the drags and John Meyers got down to 11.4 or so...There were only a handfull of cars that broke 12 secs. John ended up ." King of the Hill." It was really nice having the Stalker and WCM guys together...great competition and comraderie. The cars have very different characteristics...but both are FAST !!! Run and Gun is a great competition...I did 239 miles on the track in 3 days. Had a 3 run AX in about 45 minutes..and around 10 runs at the drag strip.... Here are a couple of videos.... Some very stiff competition >http://www.bruntonauto.com/hitters.wmv And a superb roadcourse.... >http://www.bruntonauto.com/snake.wmv Don't be fooled by the lack of engine sound on the banking...speed is over 90 mph ( unless you are John Meyers, then it's over 100 mph !!! )...My speedo is bust... >http://www.bruntonauto.com/lap.wmv these may take a bit to load.... We will be back next year for sure... Chrs, Dennis Brunton -------------------------------------- I had a party for all the Se7ens people and their pit crews on Thursday night at my home. It was great to meet all the Stalker people and have them mix with the Ultralite guys. Both Dennis Brunton (Mr. Stalker) and Brian Anderson (Mr. Ultralite) were there. We all have new friends with different kinds of Se7ens.... the whole reason USA7s was formed. I was not nearly as fast as the SuperStalkers on the drag strip, I turned 12.68 with Street tires. The slicks really make a difference on the road course and the drags, but I could not match their 11.4 and 11.9 even with drag slicks, I'd need a rocket in my trunk.slngsht2006-10-16 11:45:33

Report on the Se7ens at Run N Gun 2006 Run n Gun was held Oct 11 to the 14th, in Madison Illinois ( across the river from St. Louis) at Gateway International Raceway, and there were about 40 cars in the event. The cars ran in many classes, based on tires ( Street, Prepared ( sticky tires) or Slicks), as well as on engine size, (Big Block, Small Block, and 4-6 Cylinder) and Naturally Aspirated or Power added ( blown, turbo or nitrous) Most all the cars there were Cobras, Cobra Daytona Coupes, or Se7ens. There were 9 Se7ens there. 3 Ultralites, 4 Super Stalkers, 1 Viking, and a Stalker belonging to Cliff Flath, who was working the event and did not compete. The owners are: Chuck Spera Michigan, Ultralite Loren Edwards Texas Ultralite Jerry Eddens Missouri Ultralte John Meyers Illinois Super Stalker Dennis Brunton Florida Super Stalker Paul Whittle Georgia Super Stalker David Seybold New Mexico Super Stalker Cliff Flath Illinois Stalker Jerry Fink Pennsylvania Viking Gateway has a 1.6 mile road course which uses half of the oval , and is a great track. We got to run between 150 to 180 laps over two days of lapping sessions. The use of transponders in each car gave us our best times for each session. Wednesday the 11th was an added event, where for $100 we attended a nearly 3 hour session on car set up, including suspension design and theory, spring setup, car weighting and all aspects of getting a car to handle correctly, put on by an expert, Morris Clement. After the session, we all got a chance to put our cars on the corner scales, and had Morris help us with corner weight and ride height adjustment. Then we all got to run the road course for several sessions. Thursday was cloudy and cool, and while the Novice and Street classes ran the course for 3 hours, the Prepared and Unlimited classes ran a great autocross which was set up by the local SCCA team. After lunch, the groups switched locations and Novice and Street ran the autocross, while Prep and Unlimited ran the road course. Friday was a little warmer, and sunny, and all 4 groups ran the road course from 8 am to 5 pm. I ran so often I skipped a session or two because I was so tired. James Yates had a new Daytona Coupe with a big block Ford that produced 485 horsepower, and he ran in street class. We were the two fastest cars in street class, and as a result, he and I diced back and forth all day. When he was in front, he could pull me by about a half to one second per lap, but when I was in front I could stay there, based on the distance I could pick up in the twisty parts of the track. That evening we had a great dinner at the track, and watched a video of one of the Cobras that raced up Pikes Peak. There are no safety barriers there, and going off the road means going off the side of the mountain. Saturday was a little warmer and bright sunshine. It was drags all day. You got to run the strip as many times as you wanted to, to establish your best time, and to set a bracket time. They then ran head to head for each class champion, then the quick 8, and then the bracket drags. The quick 8 was the Daytona Coupe, wh

My 2004 WCM Ultralite was 1420 pounds, with about 8 gallons of gas. I went to a truck scale, and that was what it read. This is about 100 lbs over the advertised weight. I don't have a lot of faith in the truck scale reading accurately at that level, as it normally reads over 40,000 pounds, and likely has a rating of twice that. That means my measurement was within 1 1/2 % of the capacity. Likely the friction in the scales is a significant number relative to the cars weight. I am going to Run N Gun in October, and they will have a corner weighting seminar, so I plan to get a better reading at that time. Regarding density of gasoline: Water = 62.4 lb/ cubic ft or 1000kg/cubic meter Gasoline = 737.22 lb/cubic meter so gas is 73.7 % of the weight of water. since 1 gallon of water = 128 fluid oz which is approximately 128 oz of weight, then 1 gal of water = 128/16=8 pounds so, 73.7 % of 8 pounds is 5.9 pounds... or... gas weighs about 6 pounds per gallon.powderbrake2006-09-26 07:47:38

I have found that a set of motocross "Over the Eyeglasses" goggles work in warm and cold weather. In cold weather, it's a leather jacket, scarf, baseball cap and leather "flying helmet" that does the job. I can recommend http://www.carolinaleatherworks.com/bikercaps.html for the leather flying cap at $16.95 http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20060916_101927_PICT0035_Medium.JPG http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20060916_102103_IMGP5151_Small.JPGpowderbrake2006-09-16 10:28:06

Tensile strength and brittleness are not necessarily related. The Grade 8 bots are the proper ones to use. I have had grade 8 bolts bend in the suspension, and there was no cracking. A bolt , by it's very nature of use would not be the proper application for a brittle material. The tensile strength/ brittleness relationship is true for some steels that are quenched from heat treat, but subsequent tempering restores toughness.

Is anyone else besides me going to Run N Gun 2006 this year? Let's hear from those who plan on going.

I believe that brand specific sections are needed to allow specific questions like " where do I get a Master brake cylinder for a Caterham ( or Lotus or Birkin)" This will allow specific questions on items unique to a particular brand, without having to search the Tech Section

I am surprised that more people have not commented or raised questions regarding this event. I am adding to this thread to bring it back to everyone's attention before the September 1 price increase. This event is a wonderful opportunity to get your Se7en on a track, and to see what it really can do. Since it is not really "racing" you can go as fast or as slow as you feel is safe. You can get a lot of track time, and the track was not crowded the last two years. There have been about 10 to 15 cars in each of the three categories, Street, Prepared, and Pro. There is a novice class this year for first timers. Also this year you can come a day earlier, and for $100 have your car put on the corner weight scales, have some professional advice on weighting, and run it on the track. The Gateway road course is over 1/2 of the oval, and then through the infield, so it has both fast and slow turns. The course layout is onthe run n gun website and at the gateway website. This is a great facility, which has had several Cart events, and hosts the Nascar Truck series and I believe a Busch series race, as well as NHRA Nationals drags. The people there are very friendly,and we have the entire facility to ourselves. While the Se7ens are not as high a speed rated car as some of the Cobras and similar cars, you will be pleasently surprised at how well you can do on the road course, autocross and the bracket drags. Yes I know it is the same weekend as LOG 26 in Fort Worth, and it was the same weekend as Log 25 here in St Louis last year, But it is WAAAAYYYY more fun driving the snot out of your Se7en, than looking at them. register now , or call Jay Nordstrom, the event director at 972-742-2594 I'm talking this up because it is simply so much fun, and the more Se7ens, the merrier. >www.runngun.net

I am ok with dues, and we must take into account that the attorneys who set this up must be paid. like slingshot, I am a Corvette Forum greybeard, and I know how invaluable a forum with 1,300,000 threads and 18,000,000 posts can be. In the meantime, USA7s is on it's way to becoming THE website for 7's I am a Lotus Ltd. member, and see no conflict or reason to abandon them, perhaps we will get some of them to join this group. I believe the electronic newsletter is a better choice for this club, to keep costs down, and whatever the name chosen for the club....... I like it.

I am a Mechanical Engineer by training, and was a business owner and president of a manufacturing company for many years. The company manufactured magnetic particle clutches and brakes, and tension control systems. I have designed and patented powderbrakes and strain gage load cells, hence my "powderbrake" moniker. ( see >www.magpowr.com) I am retired now, and when I decided to build a car, I knew I wanted a Seven, so I checked out the available kits, and decided on an Ultralite for it's roominess and it's Honda engine. It has been very reliable. I was fortunate to have my car featured on Kit Car Mag's cover last year. See >http://www.kitcarmag.com/featuredvehicles/0509kc_ultralite_s2k_kit_car/ I mostly use the car a a semi-daily driver in good weather, and my wife and I take cruises by ourselves and with the local Lotus club. We have a lot of good twisty roads in Missouri, and we recently did 600 miles of twisties over 3 days with three other sevens guys. I have had it on the track at Run & Gun twice, and once at Motorsports Ranch for the 2005 Southwest Sevens Festival. and I am looking forward to Run&Gun 2006 this October.

I am running Heim joints on all the suspension components. All Ultralites are ALL heim jointed. No rubber anywhere. There is a little rattle on the street from the joints, but the rigidity, and the ease of suspension set-up are a definite bonus, if they wear out , they are cheap to replace and available. Here are some pics of my front and rear ends. http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/powderbrake/2006-01-19_221450_005_2_Small.JPG http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/powderbrake/2006-01-19_221517_017_14_Small.JPG

North American Sevens Club both says where we are and what we are all about. It is all inclusive and definitive. I would not worry about Caterham, as even if they have copyrighted the word "seven" as applies to their product in the US ( which may or may not be true), we are not building, selling or marketing a competitive vehicle of that name. We are merely a club which is interested in seven inspired vehicles, just like a Ford club, an Impala club, or the Corvette Forum. Our organization will embrace both Lotus Sevens, and Caterham Sevens. USA Sevens Club is also a good name for the same reasons as above. Once a name is selected and the club is incorporated (you might want to investigate incorporating as a "Social Club" to avoid onerous tax details that come from a non-profit which provides a service to a non-member), the entire name could be the website address, and anyone Googling "Sevens" will be able to find it. I surely hope this great website remains as the "home" of the club.

Tapoco was filled up so I registered at the Fontana Resort. They said they had room for the trailer near the Lodge. looking forward to the trip.

Chris: Terriffic car, it must have been a lot of fun to build it. I missed the sevens festival this year, maybe see your car next year. Like Al said, there is nothing to apologize for, you have a seven. Lotus stopped building Lotus Sevens years ago. Notice I didn't say Real Sevens, since as as far as I am concerned, they are ALL sevens, no matter the marque. ps Check out the post in Nationwide events, maybe you can make it to Run N Gun this year. powderbrake2006-08-09 12:12:19

Run n Gun is again coming to the St.Louis area , October 12, 13 & 14th at Gateway International Speedway!!!! This is, without a doubt, the most fun you can have in your Se7en, anywhere, anytime. It is a 3 day event , with LOTS of road course time, an Autocross, and the Drags The producers of this kit car event have finally released their website with rules, classes, hotels etc. see it at >www.runngun.net Last year John Meyers in a supercharged Stalker won the Autocross and the "Overall Top Dawg"... he put the fear of Se7ens into those Cobra guys. The year before, 4 Ultralites carried away 10 or 12 trophies. I urge all Se7ens owners to consider this event. Come on out, and blow those Cobra, Scarab, and GT40 kits into the weeds on the road course!!!! You will run with your own class, Street, prepared or Pro. The Autocross is set up by the local SCCA guys in the track parking lot, and you get 3 or 4 timed runs. They do a great autocross layout. The drag event is both best time and bracket drags, so you have just as good a chance as anyone. Last year it came down to a fiero based kit with a stock V6 against a blown big block Cobra in the final bracket drag. ( the cobra won, the front brake on the fiero locked up) In the practice/timed drag sessions, to perfect your bracket time, you can run as many times as you ( or your clutch) can stand. Gateway International is a great track with VERY friendly staff, the garage area is like a huge covered concrete patio with air and electricity. Reserve a garage space if you come, (two se7ens will fit in one garage space) They have plenty of parking space for trailers close to the garage. I am going back for the 3rd year, simply because it's the most fun you can have in a very safe enviornment. I run in Street class, check the rules for your tire classification. Stickier tires are in Prepared, and Slicks run in Pro. Register NOW!!!! the $375 fee goes up to $425 on September 1, and is $500 on Oct 12. Be there...... Se7ens RULE !!!!!

Hash: Congratulations on a great looking car, I hope to see it some day. I am in St.Louis, perhaps we can get together for a blat sometime. The local lotus club ( STALLS) is very welcoming to all types of Se7ens, and has cruises a couple times a year. You are fortunate, as west of Cape Girardeau, in south central missouri are lots of great twisty roads. I have arranged a 3 day 600 mile tour of that area, and 4 of us are doing it next week. you can contact me at geddens at charter dot net

Steve: see >http://www.emhart.com/products/pop/lsh.asp Jerry

I have used these on my car. My rivet tool ( from Harbor Freight) has a threaded rod that replaces the collet which grips the typical pop rivet. You thread the rivnut onto the tool, push it in the hole, and then squeeze the tool to set the nut. BEWARE.... the harbor freight nuts are dead soft aluminm so the expand against the back side, and if you pull too hard, you strip out the threads. Of course harbor freight crap is not as good as the Emhart parts mentioned before, and the harbor freight nuts are not closed on the end like the Emhart picture. I did not use the rivnuts on my fenders, I used a rivet similar to the LSR Load Spreading Rivets to mount my rear fenders

Loren Edwards and Kevin Boulton are driving Loren's Ultralite S2K which he assembled from a kit in the Tire Rack/Car and Driver/One Lap of America /Cannonball Run. The event starts Friday May 5, and you can follow the exploits of a 7 with no top , side curtains or real windshield, being driven 4000 miles over 8 days, while competing in timed events at some of the best tracks in the country, while towing a trailer with all required spare tires, parts, luggage and whatever. They are competing in class SSGT2 SB. ( Sports/GT cars under $40,000, with less than 3.5L)You can follow the event on their website >http://www.organicracing.com/ ( they plan a blog during the event) or on the event website which is >http://www.onelapofamerica.com/ Last year Team Iron Butt took second place in class with an Ultralite. They had to endure a lot of rain on the trips between the tracks, and it was pretty cold. I hope this year they have good weather. Rules are pretty simple. Helmets,fire extinguisher, NO support vehicles, run on street tires ( must be purchased from Tire Rack) and a wear rating over 140. (No slicks or DOT competition tires) Use same tires on all events (6 total tires allowed). They run an event, drive like crazy to the next event (sleep optional) and repeat that for 7 more days. Checkout the one-lap website,it has all the rules some pics of the cars, and the track locations. It all sounds like a lot of fun, but it has to be a incredibly tiring event. Good luck to the Sevens !

Check out > http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lotus-Super-Seven-Caterham-Co sworth-2L-BDP_W0QQitemZ4626909237QQcategoryZ6312QQrdZ1QQcmdZ ViewItem This car is too perfect to drive, it should be bought by some museum. I hope he gets a goodly price for iit, it is a work of art.

slingsht... you don't have to keep the foot to the floor. It is just that the road course includes one end of the oval, then down the straight, and you get to choose your own level of excitement, depending on where you lift and where you brake. The groups, determined by tire capability, all have slow, medium and fast drivers. It's for kit cars, some guys are racers, some are there just for a good time. The road course is really where you can have some fun.

The Stalker in Jim Gunther's reference is John Meyers' supercharged Stalker that won the top Gun trophy at Run & Gun 2005. John is a very experienced driver and builder....... Sevens Rule!