James A

If it's a Girling master cylinder it is rebuildable here are both replacement units and rebuild kits: https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/group.asp?GroupID=MCGIRLING Also, Wilwood makes a direct replacement for the Girling unit here: http://www.a1racing.com/wil260-2636.aspx?gclid=CJCZiaThlMYCFQiQaQod8BcAjQ

I am also very interested in the Webers, can you tell me what you have 40s or 45s and a little about your overall engine spec? Was the alternator bracket and idler blacker replacements truly a bolt in modification? I use their water rail and oil plan and have been very happy with the quality and support.

I am considering a couple of 'clean up' modifications to my Zetec engine bay in a series 3 car. Racine offers an alternator and tensioner pulley alternative that eliminates the big brackets that hold the alternator and tensioner pulley. The pictures of the modifications look like it really helps clean up the engine bay. Is anyone running these modifications and if so how have they worked out for you?

Yea, I hate to see another terrific track go, locally Texas World Speedway closes this month. I have seen Riverside, Ontario, and Bridgehampton close. I think, know, the economics of a track are lousy, unless you have a benefactor (like Barber), a high end membership track, or regular NASCAR events or a combination, the economics suck. Even membership tracks struggle as they must maintain a certain number of weekend days for members but need the income of weekend events. Again, locally MSR Houston (a membership track) went through some difficult financial times and was just bought out by a group of investors for Mexico. A new track is being proposed called bluebonnet but I really wonder how the economics pencil out. Unfortunately, subdivisions and shopping malls seem to make a lot more sense than race tracks.

If you can post pictures of the brake calipers I may be able to help you with the make of car they are from.

turn your e-flasher switch on and tap the relay, once the e-flashers work your turn signal will work. Happens every year or so to me.

Pegasus Racing sells both types of latches, not identical but very close. Page 106 of their catalog or go to their site and search "Narrow toggle latches" and "Terry Body Hold-Down Springs"

Hi Martin, yea, Eagle's Canyon is off of the rotation until they fix the surface, it has gotten so rough it is bouncing cars off the track. I hate that it is not on the schedule as it is a really fun track! We will be at the last race at TWS on May 23 and 24 in College Station and that is a Majors Race and I expect a very big turn out for it. Again Aaron, just let me know if I can help getting your annual tech or log book. Jim

Aaron, My son and I run a Caterham out of Houston in E Production. Do you have an SCCA Log Book yet for your car and an annual Tech? If not, let's get those done quickly as the race you speak of is coming un in 4 weeks or so. All of the E Production cars are running slicks, CR500s will not be particularly competitive with what you typically see in E Production. Since you are on CR500s I assume you have a radial tire set up on your car and I would recommend Hoosier race radials, catalog number 43543 as a very competitive tire in S80 compound. Remember you must run 13" wheels no wider than 7" per the new homologation specs. The big thing right now is to get your annual tech and Log book so you can race. I sent a PM to you with contact information and will help you get these things done. Jim

I sent you a PM, but Welcome to the SW Region of SCCA, there are 5 Caterhams that race around here between Houston and Dallas. I for one am thrilled that you got the new spec homologated as hopefully we can move SCCA forward somewhat to a more competitive spec. We will be racing at Hallett on April 11 and 12 and at Texas World Speedway on May 23 and 24. In the meantime if you are new to SCCA please feel free to reach out. Jim

You know Mike, that is an interesting perspective, I have always felt that we were a little faster on the bias ply tires but went to radials because you get a much broader performance curve out of them. It felt like the bias plys would drop off in performance at 3 or 4 heat cycles where the radials would hang in there for 5 -6 cycles, and that equated to a huge savings. I would still like to find a good tire for the 7" rims we are allowed to run.

I have been to Tom's shop, worked with him on the tuning of several race cars, seen his SVT and VCT eliminators, helped install them on a number of engines, and regularly talk with him on engine tuning for the race cars and street cars. I think I would listen to Tom when it comes to Zetec performance and tuning.

In the Houston area here: http://apexautoworkstx.com these guys do terrific roll bar and cage work.

There will be an SCCA Majors event at NOLA Motorsport part this weekend, two Caterhams are in the E Production class. My understanding is that the track gate fee is waived for this event so come on out. The group EP races in is scheduled for 3:00 on Saturday and 1:40 on Sunday. But there is qualifying and racing all day, there is a big total field 205 cars.

Randy, I registered my Caterham 13 years ago in Texas and it was very straight forward, I can't help with any recent changes though.

I'm just trying to figure out if Caterham has stopped offering clam shells on there new cars, I like the look also and have one car with them and one without.

Has Caterham stopped offering clam shell wings on new cars, I don't see them on the US or UK websites? If they are no longer offered does anyone know why they stopped offering them, was there an 'official' reason given by Caterham cars?

If you use the SCCA legal 6" wheels there are two options, if you have bias ply camber Hoosier makes a cantilever bias ply catalog # 42171. If you run radial cambers the choice is the 43549 We have run both tires and find them equally quick, the radials maintain good traction longer and will give you more heat cycles.

January autocross in Houston, beautiful weather, great course and a fun time! I got out of this for a couple of years due to SCCA road racing but I am going to do more autocrosses this year!

We have not had a oil related issue on the race car since installing an Accusump, we are not allowed dry-sump in the class we race in. But after using the Accusump I don't think we need dry-sump.

The cam lock link I provided has the crank lock also. The cam lock is the flat plate and the crank lock is the piece that looks like a bolt. The crank lock threads in to a boss in the side of the block and rests against the crank counter weight when it is in TDC. There are very nice to have when doing this job and make it easier to do.

An 11 year old belt, CHANGE IT! Buy the inexpensive camshaft and crankshaft locking devices and it is a snap to change out the timing belt and maintain timing. Locking devices: http://www.c-f-m.com/performanceparts/pc/CFM-Camshaft-and-Cam-Gear-Installation-Timing-Tools-for-Focus-Zetec-SVT-ST170-69p152.htm#.VLaD2sYzTWQ

There is a huge amount of local push back on this location, the developers are already looking at alternative sites. We need a new track in this area as we are loosing Texas World Speedway in June/July of 2015. Loosing TWS leaves a huge hole in SCCA/NASA/and DEs in this area!

If you decide to send it out, Taylor Driveline Services has built up diffs and gearboxes for me and done excellent work: https://www.facebook.com/TaylorRacePreparation

Yes, Quaife is a direct replacement and very easy to install.