Croc

Oh hang on! :rofl: I seem to remember I got punted twice in the esses - once through the sandpit to dump a bit of a sand dune on the track and then really pushed off track and beached for 2 laps while the workers tried to excavate me. I was doing everything I could to avoid your 3 foot wide kart in the middle of a 12 foot wide track. With only 9hp and a fatso driver my motto has to be never lift! :jester: It was great meeting you Mike and Nancy!

Well....I would get a full list of the options it has and then see what a comparable new one would cost with that option pack. The option list on the Ebay ad looks light. Helps you decide the value of it. My views on value are based on other cars I have seen and know are out there with owners thinking of selling. I think it is way overpriced at the current Buy It Now price of $68k. I would be thinking mid $50k area plus/minus without having the complete spec to evaluate. Others will have different views and they are not wrong - it is a very individual thing. An R500 is wonderfully bonkers and an incredible track weapon. It can be a little active for road use depending on your individual style - some like it and some do not. You will have to try for yourself. I find my CSR a little frustrating on some roads as it is too overpowered to have a very gentle cruise. This car does have a 6 speed H pattern box so that helps. But will you fit comfortably in carbon Tillet seats? Leather/cloth S-type seats are nicer for road use. A road test under varying road conditions will tell you the answer to this. Questions to start with: 1) Who assembled it? Dealer or owner? 2) If dealer then starting asking/researching their reputation for building, setting up and fettling a new Caterham 3) If an owner then start inquiring about the individual's mechanical aptitude or lack there of. 4) What has been the past pattern of use 5) Any problems with the car - hits or mechanical issues 6) Why being sold? 7) Ask to see title and see what it is titled/registered as in FL. Florida can register anything as street vehicles but that does not translate to other states. Then find out if you can register it in your state. Do you need engine and transmission receipts/factory verification letters, etc. Was it dealer assembled? Can be an issue in CA. Do you need an MSO (if it has never been registered)? Do your home work on this first? Each state has its own quirks - research is essential. 8) Usual car inspection stuff. Take the nose cone off - it only takes 2-3 mins (or 5 mins of you have never done it before). 9) check condition of fuel and brake hoses for breathing/weeping. There was a bad batch of these in the 2010-2012 Caterham cars. Its an easy fix but the seller should fix it or price adjust. 10) usual test drive stuff

Interesting observation. While Graham Nearn bought Seven Cars Limited from Lotus in 1973 they initially produced the S4 before reverting to the more popular S3 in 1974 if I recall correctly. I am thinking this car is pre-acquisition because Seven Cars Limited had not yet been renamed to be Caterham Cars Limited which I thought happened late 1973. I cannot find my Dennis Ortenburger book handy to check - anyone know or have the reference book to hand?

I think I own it now - its in my garage right now!

Nancy and Mike celebrated their 45th Wedding Anniversary at the track so a cake to celebrate! http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4215_zps0fcafafc.jpg Steve (bball7754) celebrated his 60th birthday for Sunday. Age does not weary and certainly does not slow him down. Not only can he pedal a crossflow quickly he can also win the karting! http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4219_zpse27a384e.jpg

Shane was also a worthy winner of the "John Deere Award" for his remarkable near miss at turn 1. I had Larry his father as my passenger in the CSR and Shane decided to try to run me down before the end of the session. So while I was doing 130mph on the straight he was doing 150mph+ or so. While I decided to brake and actually go around turn 1 on the tarmac, Shane came in at warp speed and muffed the corner, slid wide onto the dirt and proceeded to execute a huge mushroom cloud of dirt and death wobbles before eventually recovering. All of which was happily seen by both Larry and myself in the rear vision mirrors, much to our mirth. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4204_zps29e20411.jpg The "I'm So Lucky to Finish Award" goes to Mike (Klasik) for driving all the way from Florida, suffering equipment stolen off his trailer, losing an expensive personal item in the pits and suffering a CSR daring to pass him! Cheers for such a good sport for maintaining a smile! No photo sorry. Mike (Kitcat) won the "Life in the Fast Lane Award" http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4207_zps211a2f2a.jpg Tom presenting the "Yellow Car Award" to Jeff (Jeffs). http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4210_zpsf9af9614.jpg The "We Are the Champions Award" went to Scott, Michael (MichaelD), Jeff (JeffH) and Pete (Pe7e) for driving fast, smooth and without incident. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4214_zps937b7b1d.jpg

There were a number of awards: Dave won the "I Can Steer Award" for making a Superformance S1 do some amazing driving displays. An incredibly capable car and driver combination. No photo of this for some reason. Then the "Best Skidmarks Award", a prestigious gold....err....painted commode/toilet for the driver who had the most spins, incidents, issues...etc. Normally this is the sole preserve of Mike (Kitcat) but this year he was off form and only spun once. So Roman (EvilRomeo) was the clear winner. When I asked the control tower how many times he spun on Friday and Saturday they actually told me they lost count. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4193_zpse025c7d4.jpg The "Mechanical Sympathy Award" went to Steve (S1Steve) for driving around the track dragging his exhaust behind him and wondering what that strange noise his car was making! http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4194_zps189e423f.jpg The "Driving Bravery Award" went to Steve (bball7754) for bringing a knife to a gunfight aka putting his little crossflow up against the OMG HP of Shane's (Xcarguy) "Storker". Yes that is a chicken on the top of the trophy. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4198_zpsefe3d300.jpg Shane (Xcarguy) accepting his "Stuffed Storker Award" sponsored by Suave Baby Care Diapers. After running 1min09 laps of the circuit he definitely needed them. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4200_zpsdac4326c.jpg

Sebastien's new R400 http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4184_zps90dd3246.jpg At the Saturday night dinner L to R - Jack (Jvbtte), Steve (SteveS), Jeff (JeffH) with Stacey, Roman (EvilRomeo) with his better half (senior moment - I have forgotten her name - sorry). http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4185_zpsacaaa23d.jpg L to R - Larry (Xcarguy's father), Pete (Pe7e), Jeff, (JeffS), Steve, (bball7754), Shane (Xcarguy), Dave and Beverly (DaveD). http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4186_zpsf326304b.jpg L to R - Karen and Michael (MichaelD), Tom and Kathy (ex-yellowss7), Mike (Croc), Nancy and Mike (Klasik), Mike (Kitcat). http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4190_zpsc28e9bb1.jpg

Some photos from the pits: Steve's S1, Jeff H's blue R400, Jeff S's R500 and in the background Dave's S1 http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4179_zps345edd1f.jpg My CSR on its new 13 inch wheels - recommended for every CSR owner! http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4180_zpsa31c3bf3.jpg Tom's yellow Superlight with Karl offloading the new goodies that go with his ex-orange R600 http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4181_zps3d9a4695.jpg Pete's yellow SCCA Zetec and Steve's extremely shiny crossflow http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2014%20NJMP%20Sevens%20Event/DSC_4182_zpsa63f630c.jpg

Some more photos from on track here: http://usa7s.com/vb/showpost.php?p=86712&postcount=342 http://usa7s.com/vb/showpost.php?p=86715&postcount=343 http://usa7s.com/vb/showpost.php?p=86716&postcount=344 And something I posted on the other thread and copied over so that it is all in one wrap up thread: I just made it home and are pretty exhausted. An indication of how busy things were to organize I took no video or photos during the event. So I am relying on everyone else. Despite the damp start on Friday it cleared up and by the early afternoon I was trying out the new swimming pool at turn 7 in the maroon Caterham. The really funny element of that (only) sideways excursion was that I had the NJMP track photographer out with me as a passenger. Finally there are compromising photos of the track photographer while out on track! For Saturday I ran both the maroon SV and the CSR and was using some other instructors to try and give non-drivers passenger rides to experience a seven on track. I did not run the CSR in the rain - no point as I would have had no traction. However, I did try out its new 13 inch light wheel conversion (from heavy Caterham 15 inch wheels) and a new cold air intake on Saturday and it made the car a LOT quicker to accelerate. Rolling diameter is only 2% smaller than the original stock wheel/tires so the old add lighter unsprung weight continues to hold true. I had Jack (JvBtte) out with me as a passenger and he said the same thing. I also took out the second track photographer in the CSR and I guess it scared him as we did have to pry his hands off the side of the car and the chassis rail on the transmission tunnel. The event went off really well. The evenings were very social and all had a good time. A highlight was the outside BBQ at the track founder's home on the Maurice River. Just a gorgeous evening, wonderful setting, amazing food and lots of great company and conversation. The NJMP track management loved having us and it created a lot of interest by the Drivers Club members to check out our cars. They want us back in 2015 and have agreed we need to work out the calendar in Nov/Dec to make sure we run both tracks at NJMP. The HPDE sessions ran exceptionally smoothly - no one was slow. The track never felt crowded - there were cars I never saw on track in the 2 days yet they were out there. There were no trains and no one was really held up by slower traffic. The concept of having a sevens only session for a track day really does work well. We had 17 cars on Friday and 21 cars on Saturday. I really want to thank everyone for coming along. It was great to meet you all in person and enjoy the experience together. __________________

I just made it home and are pretty exhausted. An indication of how busy things were to organize I took no video or photos during the event. So I am relying on everyone else. Despite the damp start on Friday it cleared up and by the early afternoon I was trying out the new swimming pool at turn 7 in the maroon Caterham. The really funny element of that (only) sideways excursion was that I had the NJMP track photographer out with me as a passenger. Finally there are compromising photos of the track photographer while out on track! For Saturday I ran both the maroon SV and the CSR and was using some other instructors to try and give non-drivers passenger rides to experience a seven on track. I did not run the CSR in the rain - no point as I would have had no traction. However, I did try out its new 13 inch light wheel conversion (from heavy Caterham 15 inch wheels) and a new cold air intake on Saturday and it made the car a LOT quicker to accelerate. Rolling diameter is only 2% smaller than the original stock wheel/tires so the old add lighter unsprung weight continues to hold true. I had Jack (JvBtte) out with me as a passenger and he said the same thing. I also took out the second track photographer in the CSR and I guess it scared him as we did have to pry his hands off the side of the car and the chassis rail on the transmission tunnel. The event went off really well. The evenings were very social and all had a good time. A highlight was the outside BBQ at the track founder's home on the Maurice River. Just a gorgeous evening, wonderful setting, amazing food and lots of great company and conversation. The NJMP track management loved having us and it created a lot of interest by the Drivers Club members to check out our cars. They want us back in 2015 and have agreed we need to work out the calendar in Nov/Dec to make sure we run both tracks at NJMP. The HPDE sessions ran exceptionally smoothly - no one was slow. The track never felt crowded - there were cars I never saw on track in the 2 days yet they were out there. There were no trains and no one was really held up by slower traffic. The concept of having a sevens only session for a track day really does work well. We had 17 cars on Friday and 21 cars on Saturday. I really want to thank everyone for coming along. It was great to meet you all in person and enjoy the experience together.

Hi Dermot - Great to hear from you again. I hope you are doing well? :seeya:

I have to say that I have not seen that much poo come out of a Caterham as when he was doing his test drive at part throttle! :ack:

Thanks for clarifying John. The YB engine was what I was thinking of for the Pinto reference I made. I am a little surprised we see so few Westfields for sale - they are really rare yet they have sold a decent number in the US?

Hi Steve The form has disappeared for me. There was nothing really special on there: - in date belts or DOT branded road belts - arm restraints - proper seats - brake fluid fresh - car serviced and in good condition - no leaks - if open top car then it must have a roll bar - battery tied down/secure and terminals covered (ie electrical taped) Some times they have been known to give grief for not having 5-6 pt harness (i.e. they dont like a 4 pt harness) but then I sailed through tech by saying I have the Caterham 4 pt harness and if they did not like that then I also had the DOT 3 point road belts installed. I would be surprised if there is anything your car flunks - it always is immaculate and shiny. I have also covered bases this year by having a spare if anyone has a problem. cheers mike

So I am bored in the office looking at the nuclear explosion of paper on my desk and have happily distracted myself looking at cars! none of these have any affiliation to me - just reposting for the "shoppers" out there. On Fleabay is a repeat appearance of this R500 at Lamborghini Palm Beach. Only a 1000 miles, some price negotiation and this makes more sense than a new Caterham as it has only 1000 miles, has more hp than a new 480, lots of good options and is cheaper. And if you are on the East Coast then it is cheaper to ship than the West Coast and you probably get better customer service since it is a Lamborghini dealership in ritzy Palm Beach. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-Lotus-Caterham-R500-Superlight-/151338569591?_trksid=p2054897.l4275 Here is the ebay listing to the nice BRG and yellow stripe Birkin that Tom posted on this forum section in another thread. I think the Zetec is the slightly higher horsepower SVT version given it appears to have the VCT in the cam cover: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-Birkin-Lotus-7-Reproduction-/191232813219?_trksid=p2054897.l4275 A Brunton Super Stalker still for sale on the mid-Atlantic region. it really should be joining the East Coast Sevens track event this weekend but alas the new owner will have to join us next year: http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/4486842282.html Nice color scheme on this Stalker - looks well done. http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/cto/4477595165.html Locost Seven project that needs work http://elmira.craigslist.org/cto/4494503211.html And a Westfield! These are rare - I have not seen one come up for sale for quite a long time. I think it deserves a name - Barney! $18000 is a good starting price for negotiation. No idea what a Ford Cosworth engine could be? BDR, Duratec, Pinto with hot up pieces? http://columbus.craigslist.org/ctd/4540309638.html An interesting rolling Locost (or similar) chassis for $5000 http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/4542451512.html A complete running Locost for sale for $10k - keen pricing. Sadly no photos: http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/4505006933.html An original 1973 Lotus Seven in RHD. All original features and options. It still has the original wheels. There is even a twink under the bonnet (I think). Lovely looking car that is still a driver. $27k http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/4542053661.html Nice looking Caterham Crossflow on the West Coast from 1997 - $25k http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/4548839776.html

Next year Coffee Break, we want to see you come and join Kitcat mowing the track! Enjoy your long weekend - we will have a drink (or 3) for you!:driving:

My expectation is that Thursday is wet but Friday on into the weekend is good based on survey of the available forecasts. There is considerable variation in the predictor models right now and there are decent odds that Thursday may not be too bad. Ignore the headline screamers like Weather Channel and CNN. Accuweather is anything but. The NOAA data is most reasonable from my past work.

:rofl: And I thought it was just me that did boneheaded moments like that when brain departs body! In case you need more practice videos of Lightning here is last Thursday - not in a seven sorry but the sound is pretty good.

Damn - the man is good! :agree: CSR is now running again. Needs a brake bleed but Steve Snow (Tom's mechanic and NJMP member) has pulled through at the end. Will be there for Thursday. Will give her a wash then. The maroon SV needs another wheel balancing. 13 inch wheels are difficult to get jussssst right. If the new shocks get delivered Monday then we will throw those on as well. Then it is a wash and clean for Thursday and she will be ready. For the Friday I confirmed 2 extra professional instructors to go out with people and give them some pointers to the track. At registration on Friday it will be first in first served for reserving them. There is no additional cost for this - it is included in your fee. They have experience instructing in Sevens and know the track very well. A photographer will be around on either the Friday or Saturday to take a group photo. I think for Saturday we may be at 18 cars - a really great achievement. I have sorted out garage space for people at the Shade Tree garage units adjoining the Lightning Circuit. There should be room for 3 cars (possibly 4 if we park them just right) in a garage which locks overnight. For those who are not towing and driving their cars down it is a 20 min walk from the Pit Suites at Thunderbolt to the garages at Lightning but those with cars can shuttle you there and back in the morning and end of day. I am staying in a "half villa" on the Thunderbolt track so if wives, partners, FWB's, mistresses, kids, etc need a place with an air-conditioned living room with cable TV and wifi during the day then that is available. The villa overlooks the Thunderbolt track so sadly cannot see us running around on Lightning but it is a comfortable place to retreat if they feel like it. How are everyone else's plans coming along with preparing your cars?

Hi Greg I am not sure there are 10 sevens who would want to track within a reasonable drive radius of Thompson. Most of us are centered around mid-Jersey to DC area which makes NJMP a natural focal point. To get the annual sevens event together we have a bunch of people driving long distances (500-1000+ miles) for a 3 day event and even then we are at 15-18 cars. That type of committed travel to an event would not happen if it was a 1 day event. For me I am scheduled to be in London for work at that time, even assuming I wanted to drive my Caterham the 5 hours each way from south Jersey where I keep the car. For the benefit of those reading this post I will say that having seen LTW run a well-organized track day plus the benefits of LTW only accepting cars that actually go around corners happily, it is a good option to go out on track with if a Sevens owner is contemplating this event. Cheers mike

LOL - and here I was being nice about you running low profile race rubber.

After today I have a vague sense of possibly something called optimism that the CSR will be ready for next week along with the maroon Caterham. Both have arm restraints to strap in passengers for a session ride! That said the Mustang dirtied herself yesterday on the Lightning track while chasing a C7 Corvette that did not want to let me past and blew a rear axle seal...sigh....if it is not one car it is the other. :bs: So its Shane's father, Sebastien's wife, Jack, Pete's daughter and....who else needs to get a passenger ride? I need to probably sort out a roster so no one misses out. I can take people, Tom maybe (his car grounds out with a passenger since it is so low :rofl:) and possibly JeffH.

Just a heads up for those that have not registered that from July 2 onwards there is a late fee applied to HPDE registration of $25 per day. I know a few people are trying to time their credit cards but don't leave it too late. For those non driving visitors who have to sign up offline through Tom and myself, please make sure you do let us know you when you are coming and what events. If you do not then you will not be on the security list at the main gate which would be a problem if you want to join us inside.... If you listed your visitor in motorsportreg.com you are fully covered as security gets that list (even if you put TBD like one person did).

Calling Paul - more emails sent plus a PM with my phone number. I am doing this as you are not getting any of my messages from any of the 3 email accounts I have.