CBuff

I am planning on heading up to Lime Rock on April 8th for the NASA hpde track day in my daily driver. Haven’t been on that track yet and my driving skills need all the help they can get before my 420 arrives (I hope) by early 2024. Would love to say hello if anyone else is going that day.

49/51? Seems great. Interested to hear how njmp goes.

I haven’t yet done it. But have looked into it. Here was a helpful video. It seems to be more about matching the diagonal weights. Since you can’t really change actual weights in the car (short of moving things like the battery etc ).

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a42938731/toyota-suzuki-new-sports-car-rumor/ The mid-engined coupe will reportedly have a 120-hp 1.0-liter three-cylinder. Could it be an MR2 successor? https://www.motor1.com/news/652582/toyota-suzuki-small-sports-car-rumor/

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a42744136/lotus-going-public-nasdaq/ The British car manufacturer Lotusis already owned by Geely, and now the company has announced its EV division will merge with L Catterton Asia Acquisition Corp., which is a SPAC or special acquisition company…….

I have been looking through rules and regulations (Mostly NASA as that is what I have been driving). While they don't stipulate anything specifically as far as any holes being drilled into the Roll Bar for HPDE events, again mostly what I would be doing, they "may" require for TT and other events that a 3/16" hole may be drilled for the purpose of inspecting the roll bar thickness (see wording below). Since the roll bar doesn't meet the roll cage requirements anyway its a moot point but I would make the argument that if they might require drilling a 3/16" holes to inspect they wouldn't object to a hole of that size being there to begin with. Not sure what qualifies as "non critical area" Defer to those more experience and it seems like tech inspection isnt always cut and dry. Not sure about other sanctioning bodies. 15.6.20 Inspection (For Racing) Wall thickness will be determined using a tool such as a sonic tester. Alternatively, a 3/16 inch inspection hole may must be drilled in each of the required bars in a non-critical area for the purpose of determining wall thickness.Determination of wall thickness and means of testing will be noted in vehicle logbook. All welds, except those mounted to plates on the floor, must be accessible for inspection (360 degrees). https://nasa-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/document/document/282/2023.0.pdf Should my car ever arrive, I think I will plumb the 3rd brake light thru the bar - similar to John.

just got an update email from mass tuning NEW TRACK ALERT: Pineview Run - Auto & Country Club is extending their road course to 1.8 miles, and we've been invited to try the new configuration! July 15th running clockwise and July 16thgoing counter-clockwise, with camping and lodging available all weekend Enjoy amenities such as an air-conditioned clubhouse, covered outdoor patio, horseback riding, ATV trail riding, archery and more! New 1.8 mile track map: Pineview Run 2022 Track Extension Plan In the meantime, check out this lap of the original road course at Pineview! just got an update email from mass tuning https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/masstuning-trackfest-2023-new-england-420343

Third Brake lights looks great. I have been trying to think about how to do this on my yet to be built or delivered 420. How did you drill into the roll bar? Just a punch or did you vice something to the bar itself (Likely overthinking a lot of this). And you just wired into the existing brake light harness by the right rear wheel? Any issues with the light and weather gear clearance/visibility or interior reflections - not sure how much night rain driving you plan on doing. I was thinking of including a switch on that electrical run to disable it in the very of chance I would not want it to illuminate. Again, over thinking everything

Managing expectations. With what I have read everything takes longer than you think. I have figured 3 months to build, 3 months to ship, 3 months to assemble here. 3 months to fine tune, ppf and register etc. So done on Feb 2024. And it’s in buffalo so weather depending. The dream is to go there and drive it home. Best case it’s done much sooner which I would love.

I went on the caterham website for my weekly double check if I have all my options correct for my planned 420r going into production next month (in theory). Came across this: https://bushyparkbarbados.com/news/2022-12-14/caterham-caribbean-cup-2023-heads-for-bushy-park Now I am trying to figure out how to skip work, convince my wife we should go to Barbados in November 2023. Seems like an impulsive, reckless and expensive idea but that seems to go in line with this whole journey. Has anyone been to Bushy Park?

I don’t have much first hand knowledge of any of these so take my notes with a grain of salt. But I have spent a few months digging into all of this to have a clue what to option. Happy to share any thoughts having just gone thru it. Mainly, the group here has been super helpful and generous with their time and knowledge.

I just finalized my options on a 420r. After talking to the group and looking at some of their cars. I went with: 420 r sv uprated brakes side exhaust 13” staggered wheels (the group steered me to this) adding a high level brake light (although the new models come with brighter slightly different brake lights). leather seats non lowered floors Brake cut off - battery drain and occasional track days switching out harness to asmi profi II 6 pt harness My latest way to spend more on this: swapping out the gauges for the smiths that come in the 2000 model. and a few signature options onto the pile. Supposedly this is going into production next month. Hope to see it for the 2024 season. I too am having it assembled - which feels a bit of a cheat but I have zero space or ability. 3rd brake light - lots of different options. I haven’t chosen on version yet. There are some discussions in the threads on this

Just emailed Joe at nasa NE. He said the April 8th Nasa event at lime rock will open tomorrow at 9am. I will be there. https://members.drivenasa.com/events/4063

I think they are usually $250-300 per day. The yearly Nasa membership is $70. I think you get $50 off for early registration.

Dez, While my 420 is scheduled to start production next month I don’t have any expectation of seeing it in the 2023 season. I do want to continue to check out the tracks in the northeast with my daily and always like the opportunity to talk and see peoples 7s. I went to NYST last year and enjoyed it. Was thinking of kicking off the season and checking out Watkins. I have been doing mostly NASA HPDE. Early registration opens tomorrow for April 21-23. REGISTRATION WILL OPEN Jan 9- 15 for a PRE-SEASON special discount of $50 off the regular 2 or 3 day pricing. There is no discount pricing for one day registrations, supersize or garage rentals. Prices listed reflect discount until Jan 15. WATKINS GLEN April 21-23, 2023 "Opening Race Weekend for 2023" https://members.drivenasa.com/events/4074 Charlie

John, I have been researching the 3rd brake light options. Most seem to mount to the roll bar or X within. Since I have spec”d a painted (grey) rollbar I don’t want to run the wire along the bar. Are you planning on plumbing the wire inside the bar itself ? In reading some of the blogs it seems most people don’t do this. If you do plan on doing that, I would be interested in any challenges related. Some folks don’t like the idea of drilling into roll cage for structural reasons. I wouldn’t think it would have much impact but defer to the more experienced here. Another option I came across was the brake light on the boot. https://caterhamparts.co.uk/rear-lights/6703-high-level-brake-light-2017.html didn’t know if this would be high enough to be useful.

Disclaimer - I have not tried any of these products but have been doing some research to pass the time until my car arrives. I was looking at options that would protect my ears / hearing from the wind noise and allow me to take/make phone calls and also have the ability to have wireless intercom (duplex not push to talk) with a passenger. Sadly nothing was inexpensive. Here were the options I boiled down to. Again have not tried any of these to see how they perform. https://www.sampsonracing.com/Hearing-Protection-Headset-Bluetooth-High-Noise-p/h0502-oth-bt-4.0.htm - they use these on airboats. I figured that would be in line with the wind noise experienced. sena - tuff talk. Seems to be some quality control issues with some reviews. But tuff talk and tuff talk light are for industrial applications https://senaindustrial.com/collections/communication-headsets-with-hearing-protection/products/tufftalk-lite?variant=32304363765811 A lighter duty version that is used in snowboarding etc https://senaindustrial.com/collections/communication-headsets/products/expand-boom https://www.ruggedradios.com/products/rw-h30-dt not sure if these are duplex or just ptt or a Frankenstein options with hearing protection and a motorcycle unit attached https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/cardo-systems-packtalk-headphones?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1_Xxo5iE_AIVBfrICh1Ktg5oEAQYBSABEgKAl_D_BwE&sku_id=10093699 Has anyone tried just some hearing protection over AirPods ? I would be interest in anyone’s real world experience with this. I would likely be driving with my son and need to protect his hearing as well as communicate.

Update. Much like a 7 - delayed to Nov 2024 now. Attached options pricing Thank you very much for your e-mail and interest in the Donkervoort F22. We are more than proud to send you more information about the Donkervoort F22. Please find enclosed the specification list. This lists all the technical specifications, as well as the base price and option prices. If you would like to see the F22, or perhaps even obtain/reserve one of the last F22s, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to schedule an appointment by phone- / video call with you. Under the guise of full transparency and for your information; Since the F22 launch, last Saturday, we are experiencing tremendous interest in the F22. This ensures that the production slots are being filled quickly and the next available delivery date is therefore in November 2024. Warm regards and hopefully see you soon, Jesse van Harten Sales & After Sales DKV22-027 F22 Pricelist prospects_210x297mm_vs6.pdf

I couldn't resist asking - Starting at $260,000 - 5 slots available. ------ Thank you for reaching out and for your interest in our latest creation, the Donkervoort F22. This weekend has been fairly crazy with lots of orders coming in but we still have 5 production slots left for the F22. The next production slot available is for delivery in August 2024 but it is moving quickly. I would be glad to see one of them heading to the USA! Let me know if you have any question. Greetings from the Netherlands, Quentin Mond Sales & After Sales

Greg, That’s great. Thanks for the photos. Looks like a mark v thick rimmed 13” with the dark wood https://www.moto-lita.co.uk/steering-wheels/mark-five-wood-rim-flat/ did you just do the plain billet center cap and add the badge to that? https://www.moto-lita.co.uk/accessories/billet-cap/ I spec”d the qr momo. I would think their is a world where I could attach this to a qr boss and just swap between them with the quick release. I am still likely a year away from actually getting my hands on my car. So trying to fill the hours/days/months with over thinking everything.

Greg, Beautiful Setup. I was thinking of a Mota-Lita wheel for my in progress 420. Was wondering if it mounted to the mono quick release hub or needed an adapter. Also seems a bit larger diameter than the momo. Do you have lowered floors? Any clearance issue with your legs.

@NeoBear. Rick at time machines just posted he had a few Caterham covers. Not sure of the exact fitment with the Birkin but he could likely weigh in

The group is usually pretty vocal about putting it out there if they are attending an event on a certain day. I have been stalking them here to intercept them at the tracks to talk about the cars - again to finalize my build. I then usually run in the beginners group to get a sense of the tracks while I am there. I think there were about 14 sevens that showed up for the yearly meet up in NJMP in September. They had there own run group of just sevens (and a formula car at times).

@slowdude You can check out a few organizations that run HPDE type events. They have detailed requirements outlined in each site. I have just started doing these events (not in a 7) in the interest of spec-ing out my 420 which is still on order. And yes some tracks require different safety items (NJMP requiring arm restraints, and dated harness) comes to mind. https://drivenasa.com/hpde/ https://www.motorsportreg.com/orgs/masstuning https://www.hookedondriving.com https://www.motorsportreg.com They register multiple different groups. I have only done a Masstuning and a NASA event so far (NYST and NJMP respectively). Each group has slightly different policies and culture to them. Although your car set up should suffice across all of them. Try them and find out which ones you like. These are Driver education events and sometime have no passing or point by only passing. They usually have run groups (HPDE 1,2,3,4 or Mass Tuning Novice, Intermediate, Advance) that you can progress up through. Usually with less restrictions as you move up. Usual track safety gear - Helmut, long pants, long shirt (sometimes waved in summer). Roll bar that passes broomstick test. Some tracks (NJMP) requires arm restraints, and FIA dated 4 or 6pt harness. I defer to the usual track 7 folks as far as which tracks require what. But if your planning on trying all the tracks out you might as well get the harness and not worry about it. My two cents

I think you did too