Croc

Hi Chris - It was wonderful having an original Lotus Seven sharing the track with us. For the record the speed did not worry me as you let us around so quickly and the day gave you a testing session to work out what needed fixing next. However, I want to see you come back with a proper rev limit and a fixed UJ to see what it can do. I think it will surprise us with its turn of real speed! Cheers mike

Thats right Shane, I am never wrong. For the record we did have the most non-drivers attending the July NJ event. Surprisingly, there is a good amount to do around Millville and even within the track property. While you can buy beer at the NJMP property (General Store at back of Thunderbolt pits plus the clubhouse/restuarant) they will not sell it for pit consumption until after 5pm when the track is cold. I would not tolerate it at any event of mine. We have enough distractions as it is, witness some unmentionables going out on track without helmet straps done up or with only one driving glove on their hand because the other one was resting on the back of trunk/boot area of their seven. I dont think I ever want to ever see again, a French track day where drivers, track safety staff, corner works, break for a leisurely 2 hour 3 course lunch with several glasses of a local red wine and then resume activity on track. I also don't think we had any massive drinkers present for the evening dinners. We were just not into alcohol as the weather required us to make sure we kept on top of our hydration efforts. Who needs alcohol to get a laugh when a lovely red nylon sash and blonde wig can bring the house down with laughter.

Ooh I like that track! Like a drive through Scotland I did once.

Dragged away more likely... :jester:

More practice driving on track sounds like more fun to me! :driving:

This is a 360 degree video. Click through to Youtube site and then use the controls to pan around the video. You can face back to the driver and passenger while running. Highlights: - Set up/preparing to go out on track at Thunderbolt - Recovering Kitcat's glove - Thunderbolt pace laps and then faster laps - Lightning laps Sorry for sound but the Garmin does not have it.

Congratulations on your Caterham purchase! I saw the ad was no longer coming up this morning. I guessed the Gullwing car may have gone but it still comes up with live ads. Thanks for correcting me. For weather protection, I would just order a regular storm car cover with straps to stop it blowing away, from Amazon until you return. They can deliver to where the car is located.

NEW Caterham Crossflow https://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-Lotus-Other/113121239027?hash=item1a568d1ff3:g:jV8AAOSw0vJbOScB&vxp=mtr Locost R1 AND Miata (I guess you have to buy both?) https://www.ebay.com/itm/1970-Lotus-Other/183306256336?hash=item2aade77fd0:g:Y24AAOSw1rBbPEdc&vxp=mtr Ahhh...you can buy it separately here https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/d/locost-lotus-7-with-yamaha-r1/6633825073.html Birkin project http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14292&stc=1 https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/d/birkin-s3-super-seven-lotus-7/6636038049.html Replica project https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/d/lotus-seven-project/6632732944.html REPEATS Stalker V6SC https://www.ebay.com/itm/1962-Lotus-Super-Seven/123232334095?hash=item1cb138310f:g:k4UAAOSw4RZbJEnD&vxp=mtr and here https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/d/lotus-brunton-super-stalker/6626741610.html Stalker V6SC https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stalker-Super-7/282949364029?hash=item41e118a93d:g:qRgAAOSwTFhbD6OG&vxp=mtr Lotus 7 S4 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Seven-S4/272993367211?hash=item3f8fac34ab:g:rsIAAOSwL81aPVwg&vxp=mtr Caterham crossflow https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/caterham/super-7/2133367.html Caterham 270 https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/caterham/super-7/2081484.html Caterham BDR https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/caterham/super-7/2111816.html Caterham SV 480 https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/caterham/2124624.html Lotus 7 S2 https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/lotus/super-seven/1871753.html Lotus 7 S4 https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/super-seven/2101405.html Lotus 7 S1 https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/7/2099394.html Lotus 7 S2 project https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/lotus/7/1972000.html Westfield https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/westfield/1982882.html Westfield https://classiccars.com/listings/view/992785/1965-lotus-seven-for-sale-in-washington-missouri-63090 Lotus 7 S1 https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1065332/1958-lotus-seven-for-sale-in-stratford-connecticut-06615 Caterham SV Hayabusa http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/other/1458694360/1458694360ss.htm Miata Locost project https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/miata-based-locost-project/6629870515.html Caterham Zetec https://newyork.craigslist.org/fct/cto/d/caterham-super-seven/6620757995.html RM8 roller project https://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/d/lotus-caterham-super-7-style/6614291170.html Stalker V8 https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/road-race-car-brunton-stalker/6604497788.html Westfield XTR https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/d/2010-westfield-xtr2-street/6636865371.html Replica project https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/d/westfield-flyer-kit-car/6615513903.html Dutton priject https://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/d/1978-dutton-lotus-7/6613601615.html Lotus 7 S1 https://huntsville.craigslist.org/cto/d/1960-lotus-7-early-series-one/6607163874.html Diva https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/d/1962-lotus-super-7-trade/6593235431.html CMC Stage 2 roller https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/lotus-super-seven-replica/6613901717.html Westfield V8 https://newyork.craigslist.org/wch/cto/d/1968-lotus-super-seven-8/6603044118.html

Glen - I think this is your best video yet. It really does show the event well. Its probably best we do not video the awards dinner.... :blush:

I have some video from the 360 degree camera which I mounted on a headlight bracket for something new. I need to edit it down and upload to Youtube and will post here once done.

The Golden Skidmarks Award was a challenge as everyone drove extremely well and kept it on the tarmac. But then we remembered Simon took his wife out on track and Simon is the type of spectacular driver where there is a high probability of spraying into the scenery as he runs out of talent. That would be enough to wad the panties of any passenger. So Carrie was a very deserving winner. 2018 Miss USA7s Drag Queen - this was a new award for the year. And there can be only one winner, a person who was 8 seconds a lap faster than anyone else, all done on the straights with V8 power. Yes it was Shane. I thought the blonde wig was a nice complement to the lovely polyester sash. Even better was Shane’s daughter plaiting his blonde wig for him! He will kill me one day… The last award is the “I Think I May be Faster Than the Stig” A hand painted little trophy, this is given to the person who drove the wheels off his Westfield Miata – Dan! Clearly it was a good night out for some last night, I still have 3 sevens in my garage but I only own 1 right now! Anyone missing one?

If the photos look fuzzy, it reflects the nature of the night. ‘Honey, I Broke it Again ‘Award. This went to Norm for having to have one of “those” conversations with the better half for more funds to fix his Caterham. He could not make it to the dinner as he was probably in the dog house but Scott was more than happy to present the award in person. The Striped Rock Award (designed after the debris flag) was for that driver that left the most debris on a track as a result of their on-track misadventures. Past exceptionally worth winners were Kitcat for leaving a 1 ton boulder on the exit of turn 1 at Lightning and Simon for moving an apex cone from its apex position to being perfectly placed to be hit by Tom as you come over the blind crest at turn 5. This year, we had no worthy winner but then Kitcat mentioned he threw his past trophy out so he became the winner again because of his latent potential and the missing place on his desk. The Golden Plunger Award for best on-track moment was a difficult one. You see most drivers broke down before they could do any damage on track. But then we remembered someone being a misguided missile on Wednesday when he was following me. Turn 4 at Lightning track is a left hander. Shane decided he liked going straight. Even better its on video to follow. The only winner for this award! Best Directions in a Moving Vehicle was for that driver who kept it on the pavement, played safe, and courteously pointed everyone by. Paul was a worthy winner here. Steady, clean, predictable driving – a model for us all. Why is Kitcat engrossed in his phone? Jealous?

Then the Awards. The Polisher Award goes to those that primp, burnish, detail and polish their cars to perfection. This years’ worthy winner is Graham on the basis that his very fast little Locost follows the unpolished patinated ali look which he likes very much and which we, being evil minded, decided to make mischief with him! The prize was ‘Harold’, a purple chinchilla-like thing that wraps your steering wheel, handbrake and gear knob.

Ok…officially I am exhausted. Very slow start to the morning. I did not get up until 7am – that never happens with me. Yesterday was a great day. The storms avoided us. We had a ton of quality track time – more than we could handle as it turned out. The food at breakfast and lunch was really good. Just a normal view in the parking lot at NJMP I took no photos yesterday so I borrowed the photos off someone else. Mike W took the on track group photo plus some action shots from Wednesday and he will get those to me when he gets back from the Poconos next week. So the Awards Dinner… This year it was at Andreas Trattoria, a local favorite for track users here in Millville, New Jersey. A nice dinner of family style appetizers – antipasti, fried zucchini flowers (really really good), broccoli rabe with hot sausage, and calamari. This was followed by a choice of some wonderful mains and then most of us ended up with desserts. Plenty of wine was flowing. Lots of laughter although it looks a lot more subdued in these photos.

My dining companions look possessed? Simon is anyway. So lets see what today brings. We are forecast to get a thunderstorm at some point but I suspect it will be quick and then back to business. Dinner tonight is at Andrea's in Millville, a local favorite. Mike W, our track photographer will be here today to do the traditional group photo and get some on track action.

Then we get to session 3. So all is well but then in true USA7s style, Fred breaks down in his bike-engined Locost. Magically he also stopped near this very attractive flag station lady. No idea how that happened? So that was another alternator wire. Both electrical issues were diagnosed by Roman who stopped by to say hello as his car remains under repair. Session 4 went nicely. Full length time despite a certain Stalker observed limping home to the pits. Took us long enough!!! Dinner was held at the Charlesworth Restaurant in Fortescue NJ, on Delaware Bay. Great seafood place. Drinks on the deck overlooking the water. Then dinner inside.

So then we get Drivers Briefing. Big class. Session 1 at the Thunderbolt circuit was going quite well until I happened to notice a certain orange Caterham parked by the flag station at the Entrance to the Devil seemingly broken down but no wait, look at that flag station worker - very very attractive, curves in all the right spots, etc., with the driver happily chatting her up. The rest of the flag station workers were old craggy men. I was suspicious. All was confirmed when Tom got back to the pits "I offered her a ride in my Caterham" Roll eyes. Still he did have a broken throttle cable. They continued to let us run but then a certain Stalker broke down on track That ended up as a loose wire on the alternator. Todd came by to check us out. His Caterham has oil pump issue and could not run. SO he gave us all a tutorial in the classroom on how to drive the track. So then it was session 2. We had an incident on lap 1. Driver is fine. Car is not. No need to mention names. Car is definitely repairable - chassis looked straight, some cosmetic aero, needed. Two new wheels. A nose cone. Front suspension on one side. Some mounting points. It will live again. Driver is very bummed out and will be sore this morning but will bounce back. Some unrelated engine photos.

Gee those Sevens really stick to the road!!!! Glen - as always it was great to have you around. Really looking forward to seeing your video. I am slooooowly downloading video from the camera now - will take some time to process. So where do I start? Breakfast was a great start followed by tech inspection. The fail score was two sets of out of date belts and two out of date helmets. TJ and his team of mechanics was kept running all day to install new belts, fix various mechanical issues and a couple of unusual requests.

This is what the seven collection looked like last night after dinner. Not as many to store as last year but we will all get into the garage today at Thunderbolt. Group photo is at Lightning on Friday.

Then the fireworks at 9pm

Some photos for those who cannot make it (Seb - picked out the new kitchen countertops yet?) Yesterday was a test day for me to break some things. It was hot...really hot. I guzzled 10 waters and 2 Arnold Palmers between 8.30 and 4pm and I was still dehydrated. IT did not help that old cars are heat engines especially the Mustang. The track was extremely greasy and so lots of sliding was involved. A certain Stalker exited stage right at one point in my rear vision mirror - I have video. However, payback will come as Shane caught me rotating the Mustang in the bowl in front of him and Kitcat. Bimmer was running quick until I broke 3 of the 5 locating studs on the centerlock hubs on one rear wheel. Not surprising as it was starting to match the pace of my Caterham with Steve driving to assuage his disappointment with no Caterham. The Cossie broke a rear bearing and it dislodged from the hub stranding Shane and I out on the track. It was limited to 4000rpm in the low boost mode to learn its handling, braking and other vices. No damage and I got lots of feedback on what is needed on its development program. It is a really fun little car to drive with monumental power once we allow it over 4000rpm. Dare I say it but it may actually handle better than a Caterham. As Tom mentioned, karting was cancelled and at least 12 ended up at an impromptu cocktail party at my garage before migrating to the Clubhouse for drinks around the pool and dinner. Some photos from dinner.

Be nice now, Steve is younger than you! :jester:

There will be orange dust alright when you go for a spray into it at the Devil in your usual flamboyant driving style. :jester: The Colleys and Kitcat are here. Tom and S1Steve rock up this morning. We all joined up at the Old Oar House in Millville for dinner in. Today is a test day for me - 4 automotive money pits to hit the Lightning track with some of the local supporters who I have promised an instructor ride for (plus Shane's son): 1965 Holman Moody Mustang 1974 BMW CSL IMSA 1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth (although this is on super gentle low boost cycle as we continue to learn it) my Caterham CSR We had hoped to have the 1985 Holden Commodore SS Group A WTCC homologation special out running today but alas its newly built engine started eating the camshaft on the dyno on Monday. Tear down, new bearings and start again.... They are called money pits for a reason! Temps will top out at 90. The crowd will starting hitting here from around 12 to 3pm. Around 3pm we migrate to karting for a little spirited competition then settle in for a a pool party at the clubhouse until the fireworks come on at 9pm. Bring swimsuits as pool is available Wednesday through to Saturday. Nothing like a post-track time swim! Should be a good day!

Lucky Dawg - The list does say 19 countries and then only show the top 7 countries, so Canada could easily fall into the lower count countries. For valuation keep in mind the price in the Canadian market is seemingly more than the US market - higher price to start with. The 2008 build cost for that CSR200 in Canada was 25% more than my CSR275 2 years later once you subtract the engine cost to compare like with like. The FX movement does not explain that difference during that time so I assume base cost was higher in Canada? Bit of a puzzle but was probably import taxes or quoting list versus true discounted cost paid. - limited supply of Caterhams in the Canadian market - so a buyer has to pay over the equivalent US model - and you cannot move them from US to Canada thanks to the respective country auto import frameworks A CSR200 is still a quick car (although using the CSR260 performance numbers to sell it is not brilliant - very nice catch Lucky Dawg!). 200-220hp is getting around the max (my view) for a very quick road car yet remains a good amount of hp for any track day. Its the wider S5 chassis. Its well spec'ed. 2008 is not that old and 11000 miles is reasonable. Condition seems pretty good. There is a rarity factor as it is a CSR. I could see the equivalent car going for $43-45k in the US, maybe more if it had an accommodating title year/make. US$48k for the same car in Canada is close enough I can rationalize it especially with the instant gratification factor. Terry (the seller) knows his market and he will be reading this. If the buyer has doubts then don't buy and wait for the next to come along. it just may take years... This might make the case for buying a new kit and assembling - new car, perfect spec, possibly cheaper in relative terms, etc. De dion chassis cars are out to 3rd quarter 2019 production slots by recent accounts. The CSR is still being made in limited quantities for the Swiss and Australian markets because of some legacy sales agreements and certification needs. You will not see it for sale on the Caterham website though.