CBuff

Just got the email from joe Good afternoon, Drivers Club Members! Unfortunately, the Drivers Club Member Day Track Events scheduled for this Saturday, October 14th and Sunday, October 15th on Lightning have been CANCELLED due to insufficient registrations, likely the result of the inclement weather forecast. Registrations for October 14th and October 15th will be cancelled and refunded.

Sunday looks salvageable. But since I am in a tin top I will stay quiet. Finger crossed it can still come together.

Sunday looks better (trying to stay positive ). It’ changes every few hours so fingers crossed.

I got one of these from Time Machine. Not sure if they have anymore. Still waiting on the actual car to go with it. https://caterhamparts.co.uk/carcovers/5269-carcover-indoor-to-fit-all-cars.html

@Croc @John B I think that request for passenger was a pass along from me. Thanks so much. I will extend the offer to my guest coming down (likely Sunday). If he passes I may take you up on it myself since my 420 is still scheduled to go into production this month and I am running in the white group with my daily.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1991-caterham-super-7-5/

This one has been listed for a while. In Canada and not cheap. (From crocs listings ) https://www.autotrader.ca/a/caterham/super 7/vaughan/ontario/19_12525939_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=1_1_1&pc=T4N 6S6&sprx=-1

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2012-brunton-stalker/ Seems like it’s turned over a few times over the last couple years. I wonder why people don’t hold onto it longer.

I just happen to be reading a couple of Ross”s books. I find them quite entertaining. Just quick stories of his adventures in a variety of Lotus (Loti?). Since he is a Colorado guy I didn’t know if there was a Josh Robbins connection. Cross Country with Elan: An Old Small Car, an Old Tall Man and a Trip of a Lifetime https://a.co/d/5FADLkK Road Trip!: Chasing blue skies on roads that go forever. https://a.co/d/i43oZ63 Highways, Byways and Racetracks (Road Trip) https://a.co/d/cyjKPiR He certainly has inspired confidence in my plan to pick up my 420 up state and drive it home when completed. Although a newly built seven may be “cheating” a bit vs his original lotus fleet pickups across the country.

Seems to be happening across the trades. Very unfortunate, younger folks missing out on opportunities. And the consumers lacking these badly needed skilled tradesman. https://www.newsnationnow.com/cuomo-show/mike-rowe-path-to-prosperity-starts-with-a-trade/amp/

@BlakeJ with my anticipated 420r arriving in the spring (also in NY) and being registered thru vs100 procedure (I assume). What is the smog/inspection situation ? Is it exempt or do you get the new car waiver for a couple years then need to have it inspected/smog? Do they do this with obdii /canbus port or tailpipe ? My cat is a new stock 420r. Just trying to figure out any issues if I wanted to change anything down the road (intake or exhaust) and smog implications.

+1 to @Croc comments. When I started this process over a year ago I had completely different expectations. It has been a year of delays, price increases and changes to what I thought I wanted. But also fun, excitement and learning. The engagement from the other owners has been amazing and it is a very tight knit group of enthusiasts all with a similar passion (and maybe some “misery loves company” ethos ). But with great struggle has come great reward (and I haven’t even yet received the car). I have filled this time with talking to other owners and attending track days to improve my driving skills and following this forum. As many have hinted or reminded me, at the end of the day these are very large toys and I must keep that in perspective. I do get a twinge of envy when I see someone decide on getting a car and within, what seems like days , announce they found a purchased one. But, eventually, I will have the exact car I want and plan to keep it for as long as I can get into it. Or until I decide it should be totally repowered and changed. Its about the journey not the destination.

I was following the ecu sagas. Asked Caterham (thru the importer) if my almost under construction 420 would have the 9a4 or 9m4. Seems like it will still be the 9a4, unfortunately. for what it’s worth.

I believe that Greg from Time Machine(greg at timemachinesauto.com) is planning on stopping by the Jersey event but wasn't going to be driving in the event (or brining any seven). He might have some leads on someone who might be able to assist. He is facilitating my 420R sv build which should commence this month-ish. Hope to have it in the mix next season.

Calling @KnifeySpoony I think he had a similar issue before his hesitation gremlin arrived.

I have read issues with the 420 #1 wire connections shorting due to vibration. https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/forum/techtalk/420r-running-rough?page=2

Rotary-Powered Caterham Super Seven https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1977-caterham-super-seven-3/

I am putting a pin in this posting. That cutout is something that will likely make me crazy. Might circle back upon my 420r arrival and ask for some guidance on reproducing these. (Don’t have a printer). But if it’s that unique might have to get some techsavy youngster to measure and produce once I see it. On the positive side of things I just got a verbal confirmation that my car is on the production line (or so I’m told).

Has anyone experimented with a mixed setup with compounds (ex. 333 compound on the front and a24 on the rear - to combat slight penchant for under steer ). Or is that throwing in too many additional variables to dial in the handling ?

Changed my hotel. Hopefully I will have confirmation that my car is actually in production at that point.

That Roadsport that just sold on BAT had cloth seats with tillets thrown in to the sale. Maybe the new owner wants to use the tillets and has extra cloth seats. Don’t recall if the cloth seats were s/sv specific. They looked in good shape. Just a thought.

I don’t know how to feel about this https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1970-lotus-europa-12/

Most of the feedback was that the 13" have more sidewall which factors into the general handling of the car. It supposedly plays into the suspension as a whole and improves handling and feel. Again, that is what I have been told and seen in other discussions. I haven't tried it first hand. Photos just off the configurator as the car hasn't gone into production yet. The colors on the site dont match exactly. My importer sent me some samples so I could match things like paint color and stripe decal color.

The masses here steered me to the 13” after lots of discussion and checking other seven sites. I was initially thinking of the 15” I went with more subdued color setup. Vintage green with graphite double stripes and gunmetal pins. Black lettering. I also have the 7 and the roll bar painted nardo grey - it was the closest match to graphite I could decipher. The general sense I get is people mostly like wilder colors. Doesn’t hurt in the visibility department. I believe the track day roll bar is slightly taller which can help with broomstick test especially without lowered floors. (Which I chose not to do) I stuck with sport suspension as race can be a bit firm in the road (or so I’m told). Defer to folks here with first hand knowledge.

Hahuang65, I committed to purchasing a new 420 last year July. Thanks to the help of many folks here I was able to hone in on specs. Build slot was Nov 2022 then Feb 2023 now sept 2023 (with some hefty price increases thrown in with each delay) Hoping it will make it here by next season (north east ). Fingers crossed. I don’t have the space to build so it will be factory built and final assembly near me. I saw your previous post with back and forth with the crowd. I had similar feedback. The big question that came up was “How much track time are you doing?” Well at that point I had zero. So I started doing some track days in my daily driver to 1) see if that would be something I would do and 2). Improve my driving so I don’t crash the thing right out of the gate. Well fast forward to this year with 9 track days under my belt. 1) I really enjoy going to the track 2) it’s shocking how much more I can/need to learn. Being on track really opens up how much there is to explore. My “final” specs: 420r sv uprated brakes leather seats with Schroth profi 6/4 point harness track day roll bar 5 speed trans for rowing gears and reduced drivetrain noise on street vs sequential (will be registered ) full weather package windshield and aero swappable. 13” staggered wheels In, what many would see as, my quest for insolvency I am also exploring swapping the gauges out to the smiths units offered on the 600/2000 model line. Also trying to see if I can get the top and boot cover in mohair (also only offered on the 600/2000 line). And a few signature line options to make my accountant truly roll his eyes. I guess the take away for me was. Get out and hit the track and see if that is something you like. It also gives you an opportunity to meet some current owners and see their cars first hand. I am heading down to New Jersey in sept for the annual get together. I think 16 came last year. Not sure what the west coast meet ups are like. This community has been amazing and very welcoming to a new person like myself. Best of luck !!!