Croc

The value of the leather over the cloth is that it ages better. The black cloth tends to fade rather quickly so that after 5-10 years it starts to look gray not black. The leather wears to a nice patina over time and retains its color better. Of course you are in Texas so I guess leather is really not that practical as it nicely fries the thighs after bring in the sun? Heater in Texas? :rofl: I think you have to try people in the SV chassis to see if they fit before you assume they do not - it is roomier than you may think. I have had a 6'4" 350 pound guy in my car as my passenger on track. The quip from one of the other USA7s members there at the time was "muffin top". It was not pretty but he fit once we tucked his spare tires in. It did put a substantial dent on performance though! :ack: Just check the floor rivets afterwards....

Ok time for your morning cawffee installment of cars for sale. Leading the pack is this gorgeous Lovely-Bayne Motors Zoomer. This is what the Lotus 7 S4 should look like. I have seen one of these for sale before and it was a basket case but to see this one in this condition is astounding. Located for sale on a famous porn site (for me anyway!): http://www.fantasyjunction.com/cars/1537-Lovely-Bayne%20%20%20%20Motors%20-Zoomer-221%20c.i.V8%20 Where is Klasik? In Cape Coral FL is this really nice looking Stalker in a graphite gray. $26500 http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/cto/4555334154.html Struggled to find a Birkin for sale but then I found one in NJ. The wife (strife?) will love to ride around with this little beauty: http://newjersey.craigslist.org/clo/4564779679.html Advertised on the west coast for a long time is a 1967 Lotus 7 at $25000 that says it was built in 1997-98 by Lotus Racing West. So that makes it a nice Caterham I guess? http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/4573034545.html A 1960s Lotus Seven clone frame that at least looks like it is rolling: http://huntsville.craigslist.org/cto/4554333624.html

This will be like getting 20 different answers for each question! 1) Wheel size does make a substantial difference in a small light car like a seven. Less unsprung weight plus less wheel mass to get rolling means that a Caterham spins up quicker with 13 inch wheels compared to the quite heavy 15 inch Caterham wheels. For the reduction in wheel size you upsize the tire profile so that rolloing diameter remains approximately the same and you have not compromised ground clearance. A Caterham responds well to having a taller profile as it flexes more under load and makes the handling more progressive on the limit. It also improves the ride. If you try the same car back to back between 15 inch wheels and 13 inch wheels with the same rolling tire diamater most people will say they prefer the 13 inch wheel version. Someone will then say its harder to get tires for 13 inch wheels. I explored this recently as I converted both my Caterhams to 13 inch wheels and I dont see the problem. It is much easier now to get wheels for the CSR than it was in 15 inch Avons. I did contemplate 14 inch wheels for the CSR but I found the tire choice was even more limited than the 13 inch option for performance tires - it was ok if you wanted $69 economy POS but not performance. Roger Krause on the west coast has a good range of 13 inch rubber. 2) When I bought the CSR I saw the same thing. Ask them to put in a 6 pointer (it comes to a 5th point for the buckle) - they will do it for minimal cost - best it done now. A 6 pointer provides a gap for your crown jewels to pass through should you have the worst case stop. If you dont believe me then google testicle "degloving" 3) LSD is really only needed for track or monster hp. 4) There is a youtube video out there of the plumbed in fire extinguisher in a Caterham being set off. It is really underwhelming and about as useful as tits on a bull. Dont bother and instead buy a portable one to strap/bolt in somewhere. 5) Battery switch - good for security and stopping parasitic load on the battery when the car is not used for the period. 6) Aerofoil wishbones look pretty but make no difference to lap times around the block. 7) For road I would go for 5 speed. The 5th speed overdrive makes for a nice cruising gear at higher speeds. 8) I think Randy has addressed this one above. 9) No impact on resale value - its a kit car anyway. I had mine built as I was just too busy with work to get free time. Ideally I would have built it as then I know the car better. 10) Polishing ali is a massively time consuming exercise - ask bball7754 on here if you really want to know. It looks sensational once polished. Paint is an easy wash and dry and it looks pretty good. Cover the paint in 3M if you worry about stone chips which are unavoidable. So are you a polisher or a washer? Have fun in this process - it really is fun considering the options! Best part of buying a car. :seeya:

And here was me thinking it was just because the poodle was behind the wheel and could not push the throttle down further?

I daresay that one Caterham owner was so impressed with the Storker and desiring more speed he is buying his own...:leaving:

No Shane, I cannot see them either - they are not linking for some reason.

And in the seven in front, I see the mess unfold in the rear vision mirror and I am doing a thumb jerk back behind us to his dear Dad, Larry, who was riding shotgun with me. Larry takes one look in the passenger side mirror and makes the universal sign of resignation..."Thats my boy!" :cooldude:

I think he is just itching to blast past me on track in a top speed demonstration of superiority for the first time! :jester: His second plan will be to work out how to stop sliding around in the gigantic cockpit that the SV has :svengo: I think his new profile name should be "Gingerly" as it describes the blended colors of orange and yellow and also describes how he uses the throttle now.

Latest update in new ads out sighted there for those with cash to buyers or flippers to flip... Many of the previous weeks ads on Fleabay and Craigslist are still out there. I am always wary of anything for sale in Stratford CT but this does not look to be associated with the establishment I have concerns about. 201 Caterham crossflow asking $27500 buy it now. Been around at that price for quite a few months. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Super-Seven-classic-2001-Lotus-Caterham-Super-7-/141340208095?forcerrptr=true&hash=item20e8886bdf&item=141340208095&pt=US_Cars_Trucks Its red and ali Caterham season - a 1988 Caterham cross flow asking a dealer premium of $31995 buy it now. It is a case of holy perspex side screens Batman- they are the biggest I have ever seen on a seven. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Super-Seven-1988-caterham-Lotus-Caterham-/271538544914?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3f38f56112&item=271538544914&pt=US_Cars_Trucks Lotus Seven clone. Some would call this a locost but it seems to be based off a different chassis plan to the usual Locost varieties. Unusual but once color combo of teal and ali. Looks well done. Starting bid on fleabay of $16500: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-base-2-door-1968-lotus-7-replica-clone-/121381561182?forcerrptr=true&hash=item1c42e7a35e&item=121381561182&pt=US_Cars_Trucks Lotus 7 race car clone. This is a strange one. Looks like a street rod now but has old photos in the ad showing it racing with other sevens plus a group photo of it on a banked oval with other sevens (Caterham, Birkin and Stalkers). It is yellow for those people on here with that fetish. Asking $3500. http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/4557358207.html A $5k Locost rolling shell project in Florida. Complete except for an engine. Probably pretty wet since left outside in the rain. It originally ran a 4L straight 6 engine which is unusual. T5 gearbox still in the car. http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/4542451512.html Found some 2 sets of Caterham wheels (Panasports and replicas) for sale in Seattle. The tires on them are junked. http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/pts/4560312426.html

What about buying a V6 used and then giving it to Brunton Auto or someone local to transplant a V8 and other selected modifications (obviously no IRS) that updates the car at a modest cost without the new car depreciation slug?

Well actually, I think I adopted him from Ebay, coached him on the strange habits and idiotsyncracies of those from the "Deep South" and gave him remedial training in how to point by before we let Shane take him home. It was pure coincidence that he was sponsored by Suave Baby Care Diapers, however appropriate it may be! :jester:

As they say, there is no substitute for cubic inches!

Let me clarify the confusion I caused. Corner weighting is a process by which you can adjust the suspension so that it applies even weight on each wheel when the car has all 4 wheels on a scale. When you do this process it is customary to load the car with the weight of the driver and sometimes also the weight of the passenger. Some sevens cannot be all 4 wheel corner weighted in the true sense as they do not have adjustable suspension perches on the rear suspension but you can at least set the front up to be evenly weighted across the front. I have found the CSR's handling to be very sensitive to correct corner weighting probably because it has independent rear suspension. When a seven is corner weighted for 2 people versus 1 person and I am driving it on track by myself I find it is unsettled in behavior as I get closer to the limit. Up until November last year (when I reset the suspension) my fastest track times in the CSR were always set with a passenger beside me because the car felt that much better in its handling. The car will perform equally well in the corners if set up for the correct number of passengers who are on board. If you think the car feels better with on track with 2 people in it rather than just 1 person then I bet that your car was originally corner weighted and set up for 2 people. Our cars are so light that removing 175 pounds (or more) from the passenger seat is a 15-20% change in overall weight and how that weight is transmitted through the 4 wheels. Did I clarify or just confuse more? :svengo:

Tom bought an SV so he can take her for a ride....:rofl: .....before she takes us on a ride....:leaving:

Dangerous words! It can become an expensive hobby. The main reason I ran you down in the maroon Caterham with a passenger and 60hp less was turns 2-3-4 and the bowl (and to a much lesser extent turn 5). Everywhere else you were getting away from me and we were even at turns 1 and 7 (maybe even slightly losing out on turn 7). A good chunk of that advantage was track familiarity with how fast you can hustle a seven through those corners. My cheap(ish) suggestions: - 13 inch wheels. If you go for the ZZR tires then you need to know that they like a lot of front negative camber to work well. I don't do this as the maroon Caterham is primarily a road car so I leave the standard front camber on it. So they will wear in a strange fashion. - aeroscreen - the difference the removal of the windscreen makes in acceleration and top speed is astonishing. With the Caterham captive nut brackets the switch between windscreen and aeroscreen is easy 5-10 mins job. - Corner weight the car. My quickest times in the CSR were always set with a passenger. Issue - it was corner weighted with 2 people in the car. So I never felt entirely happy pushing on when on track by myself. So set it up for 1 person and live with the compromise for the road as you will never be pushing the car as close to its limits on the road. - Get some track instruction and improve yourself and get up to speed with the track quicker. Forget hp - you spend $5000 to get 20hp and not much advantage. Everything else is cheaper. Can I please get a copy of your video to include in the group video I plan to make? Will send an email offline.

Let's just say he has been driven to drink. He has bought a distillery....:cheers:

Yes - he put on weight and needed to buy an SV like me! :jester:

Hillary's new seven and her 2016 campaign manager getting in the car! :jester: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/Hillarysnewcar_zps82f5fde3.jpeg I never realized she likes clams? (runs for cover.....)

Is that her 2016 campaign manager getting into the Caterham? :jester: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/Hillarysnewcar_zps82f5fde3.jpeg

I am appealling to JohnCh, who, living on the west coast must be a die hard Democrat who will help me post this excellent photograph of your donation to the Hilary cause! :jester:

Send it to me Simon and I will put it on photobucket and post it for you :cheers:

We were running the Avenger track at NJMP. The karts are 9hp and fully protected with what I term “nerf” bars, just in case you...err….run into someone accidentally on purpose. Top speed is somewhere just over 50mph if you get a good run up on the full circuit. We were running the half sized Avenger circuit so not as fast. The secret of being successful with these karts is to be born light weight. Roman is an ideal build – thin as a rake and weighs about as much as my thigh. Karl at 6’7” is a big boy and never going to have a happy time with these karts. Steve is ideal. Then there are the problems with the karts – some are newer and some are older and it is a lucky draw as to which one you get. Some have better engines and rev higher – a fact confirmed by the karting employees. I have a suspicion that Steve and JeffS had especially good karts just by looking at rpm numbers. Jeff H had a particularly bad kart in his defence and it was replaced after practice and qualifying as it had the small issue of always wanting to turn right even on the straights. Practice results 1) Steve M (bball7754), 33.552, 1305rpm 2) Roman (EvilRomeo), 34.123, 1285rpm 3) Mike J (Croc), 34.133, 1265rpm 4) Jack vB (Jvbtte), 34.313, 1245rpm 5) Mike G (Klasik), 34.821, 1225rpm 6) Dave D (DaveD), 34.841, 1205rpm 7) Jeff S (Jeffs), 34.882, 1185rpm 8) Stacie (not on USA7s), 35.187, 1165rpm 9) Tom G (Yellowss7), 35.249, 1130rpm 10) Jeff H (JBH), 36.048, 1125rpm 11) Karl J (Blubarisax), 36.262, 1105rpm Qualifying 1) Steve M (bball7754), 32.814, 1399rpm 2) Jeff S (Jeffs), 33.712, 1270rpm 3) Mike J (Croc), 33.919, 1322rpm 4) Dave D (DaveD), 33.924, 1248rpm 5) Roman (EvilRomeo), 34.043, 1299rpm 6) Mike G (Klasik), 34.371, 1225rpm 7) Tom G (Yellowss7), 34.926, 1122rpm 8) Stacie (not on USA7s), 35.242, 1134rpm 9) Jack vB (Jvbtte), 34.379, 1186rpm 10) Jeff H (JBH), 35.526, 1063rpm 11) Karl J (Blubarisax), 35.707, 1027rpm Race Alas the first effort at a race was stopped after much carnage and the failure of several transponders. Interestingly Jeff S ran a 31.553 lap which was the fastest for all of us and compares to the lap record for those karts (by an NJMP employee) of 30.5 seconds. However, as the transponders and timing equipment failed it does not count for anything. The standing start led to a complete food fight in the hairpin first corner. :boxing: Thank goodness that Kitcat was not there or it would have been even more messy! I took it in all sides and I bet everyone else did too! Sadly I ended up beached in the sand after I was punted off by some helpful friend on the first lap at the esses and had to be excavated by the employees taking half the race. :bs: Stacie was punted into the wall at turn 1 and wasted 2 laps being rescued. JeffH was also beaten up badly. The winners are: 1) Steve M (bball7754), 33.954, 1523rpm 2) Jeff S (Jeffs), 34.595, 1412rpm 3) Tom G (Yellowss7), 35.105, 1173rpm 4) Dave D (DaveD), 35.091, 1278rpm 5) Roman (EvilRomeo), 35.849, 1336rpm 6) Jack vB (Jvbtte), 36.723, 1151rpm 7) Jeff H (JBH), 37.474, 1021rpm 8) Stacie (not on USA7s), Accident 9) Mike J (Croc), Beached 10) Mike G (Klasik), DNS Congratulations Steve! :driving:

Mike - :D:D. I did end up a victim by being beached for two laps. The red mist descended on everyone for the karting race.

Here are two photos taken by Mike Woeller of Windshadow Studios, who is the official track photographer. I am sure many of you met him and his associate, Eric on either Friday or Saturday. I gave Mike a spin (literally) in the maroon Caterham on Friday, so memorably captured by Paul (Wemtd) here: http://usa7s.com/vb/showpost.php?p=86712&postcount=342 I gave Eric a session in the CSR on Saturday and he is pictured below giving the thumbs up. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/WSPS--0001-5_zpscbe59dcd.jpg Also attached is the internet sized version of the group photo on the start finish line. High res version will be made available once I get my act together. 20 Sevens running on track in the USA at one time is a pretty rare thing - has there been a bigger track group before? http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/WSPS--0001_zps94f54366.jpg

Were there no photos of Tom's car showing his clear support for Hilary Clinton in 2016? :rofl: