TLRracer

I lived in Japan for 20 years or so and Mitsuoka Motors built the Zero 1 - it had a Miata engine and was quite the well done ripoff. http://www.mitsuoka-motor.com/global/lineup/history/zero1/

I lived in Japan for a long time and owned a Suzuki Cappuccino while I was there. The Cappuccino, I believe, has the same 3 cylinder 660cc turbocharged engine that they will put into the new Caterham. What a fun car the Cappuccino was! It was super light (kei jidosha) and was quick too. I am sure the Caterham 160 will be a blast with that motor in it. Plus Suzuki has been making it for a long time and there are a TON of mods for it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_Cappuccino

Too many misspellings on that webpage for me to be comfortable with their product!

Brunton Auto has a very simple, easy to use trailer. http://stalkercars.com/trailers/

When I lived in Japan I had a Suzuki Cappuccino - it had a 660cc Turbocharged engine and was loads of fun. That engine was a great engine!

Where in SC are you thinking of moving? I see all kinds of dune buggies and dilapidated old cars driving around here, I am pretty sure they let anything on the roads! I live in Travelers Rest.

Hey Northpole, This article may be of interest to you. The project isn't finished yet but it would solve a lot of the bike engined cars 'issues' if it is successful. http://www.motoiq.com/projects/mazda/project_mazda_miatabusa.aspx

Bad luck on the bumpy bumpy! Whenever I crashed at the track my buddies told my wife I was okay because I only hit my head and therefore couldn't be injured! I have had a couple of get-offs like yours early in a session and invariably they were because my tires were not warmed up enough yet. I noticed you were on pit lane just before this happened, did you have the tire warmers on? Was this right at the beginning of the session as it appeared or was it a stop and go through the pits? Anywho - bad luck again, but any crash you can bore your friends in a bar with is a great crash

Lots of money doesn't necessarily equal lots of brains!

Beautiful car/unbelievable price! So bummed I am not in a position to buy it:( Jack/SC

Mike, At least keep it until I move back to Maui in a few years Your car is fantastic, absolutely beautiful. Jack

Nitto NT-01's are a great tire! I wouldn't ever push them in the rain but in the dry they are amazing and wear surprisingly well - will last a long time on a light car like a 7.

Nitto NT-01's are great !

The beauty of the MiataBusa concept is that it mates a Hayabusa motor to a Miata tranny - it will work in any front engine/rear wheel drive vehicle.

I was thinking the Westfield route. Check out this site - then in the future you can always go back to a Miata if you BaBoom the 'busa. http://www.miatabusa.com/

Mr. Coombs - it was your blue Birkin that made me a 7 enthusiast, hopeful, addicted person. I loved what you did to that car and the care and skill and quality it reflected. Thank you for your dedication to car building. One day I will own a 7 thanks to your car building hobby!

Find a nice restaurant or mall when it is wet. Put on some Nitto NT-01's - they are soft and great. If you have to ride in the rain then just go s-l-o-w-l-y. Which in these super light cars I would think you would want to do anyway, if it was wet, regardless of tire choice.

I had Kumho ASX or AST's but I think they are both poor. Go with Nitto's NT-01 - very good soft dry tire. Hard-ish tires don't work for 7's. The Nitto's will last a long time but are definitely a dry tire - go slow if it is wet or wait!

The best 7 configuration to drive around in is the one you own:) Drive it hard, bust it if you can, then fix it. It breaks far away, call a buddy with a truck or AAA, but the main thing is to rock and roll a lot!

Potential job may take me to NC from HI. The laws here (HI) require windshields and wiper systems as well as parking brakes etc etc. What do the laws in NC require or demand of the 7 community? Thanks gang.

Hey TwoBone is Gord Canning still the owner of Blue Mountain up in Collingwood? I used to ride all of those roads up around McKellar and Parry Sound but never made it up Georgian Bay way. I envy you your summer trips up that way:)

Or a BMW K series 750 and 1000...... smoky starts galore!

I run and sweat for a living. I coach tennis professionally and love it. It keeps me fit and I have a blast every day playing and coaching. But, but, but that's the main reason I lurk and drool and don't own....

I love it! What a great track day experience. I don't know why but I always loved crashing when I was practicing or racing. I never minded blowing stuff up although it didn't happen very often. Like you said all part and parcel of racing. Of course one time I forgot to put water in the NSR - that worked well! But crashing just shows you that you mosey-ed on up to the edge and peeked over. It is something you have to do to become faster. It always hurt on the bike though, low sides not too bad, but I did get some stitches from the high sides! Crashing a car is really kinda fun compared to the bike - if there is a lot of run off then cleaning off mud isn't such a bad way to fare after a mishap.

Did you guys read the article in Moto IQ about the company that is mating a Hayabusa motor to a Miata transmission? For me it answers all the questions about bike engined 7's - reverse - durability - longevity - a wonderful idea. http://www.miatabusa.com jack on maui