Croc

Tom Carlin of Birkin USA brought the new Birkin XS along to shake down. Tom and I did a photo comparison against the CSR and I will post that as a separate thread later as it was very interesting to compare the cars back to back. I have to say the car looked great out on track. Tom wins the furthest drive award - 28 hours from Eagle CO to southern NJ. Such dedication and you have to salute that!!!! http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/13%20IMG_0908_zpsvb77efz7.jpg Stewart's BDG (?) in its usual half disassembled state. He sheared a carb bolt and was scrambling to fix to go out on track. The offending carby follows: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/14%20IMG_0909_zpsj8yjswpx.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/15%20IMG_0910_zpsidtaehz4.jpg Jim setting up his Caterham for the day http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/16%20IMG_0914_zpsfcf0b6rt.jpg

Roman and Michael compete in the "I am faster than you" competition next to Michael's seven http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/9%20IMG_0902_zpsefxvzioq.jpg Share the July 4th love on Tom's trailer http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/10%20IMG_0903_zpsu6tcdofp.jpg Steve's pristine, shiny crossflow Caterham http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/11%20IMG_0905_zpsfjagcals.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/12%20IMG_0906_zpssgdwjo1q.jpg

Norm's auto crossing seven. The aero worked well for the record although it was hard to get past him as (a) he was damn quick and (b) he could not see behind him! http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/5%20IMG_0898_zpsbetphgvo.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/6%20IMG_0897_zpsuhrx1vfj.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/7%20IMG_0899_zpsuyrcxftp.jpg Steve's S1 http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/8%20IMG_0901_zpsjhqigjeu.jpg I hope someone got a pic of Dave's S1 because I forgot to.

What can I say? It was another top event. The weather behaved. The track was excellent. The driving standard was (mostly excellent....Kitcat?....) The staff at NJMP made it superb and for that we are all grateful. Don's BBQ was a highlight on Saturday that was hard to top! I met a bunch of new great seven enthusiasts who are my new friends and got to check out some wonderfully interesting sevens. Like their owners they are all unique and special. Thank you to everyone who attended and made it a very special event. Thank you too to my partner in crime - Tom - who put up with my practical joking on his car. Here are my photos - please add yours to them. I guess they forgot Tom - oops! http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/1%20IMG_0940_zpsmb5jgcwl.jpg Morning set up in the pits. Front to back its my maroon Caterham SV roadsport, then Steve's Crossflow, then Tom's orange monster, then MichaelD's BRG zetec Caterham and beyond that Scott's orange Superlight Zetec. We have Steve back to camera explaining to Kathy (Tom's wife) how big the fish was. Then to the right is Tom and Michael discussing how long before Tom's orange car pukes coolant and overheats.... http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/2%20IMG_0920_zpsvtdgq6md.jpg Mike's blue Caterham with Scott's Superlight under the tent behind it. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/3%20IMG_0894_zpsgczaldfv.jpg Roman;s S2000 Ultralite http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/4%20IMG_0895_zpsimlro8eg.jpg

But we did not know! At least that gives me a driver for the photo for the maroon car!

Bit of a mish mash from a design point of view. Front on reminds me of the Panoz AIV. Rear end reminds me of the Clubman race car series in Australia where regular sevens were faired in for aero. Neat idea with the headlights though!

Crossflow or K series. There are not many K series around - maybe 6 or so in the country. Plenty of cross flows out there though as that was the standard engine in the 90s. Price range will be in the $25-31k area depending on condition spec. Maybe even a little lower. This forum will be your best chance of finding a suitable car. Putting a wanted ad up like this is smart as it often flushes on the fence sellers out to actually sell. Which state is your Dad located in? Will there be any registration/emissions issues consider? A Birkin may be an option for him since they looks similar and have similar mechanical specs. Its been a while since I updated this thread so here is what searchbot found for me tonight - not much surprisingly: Locost aluminum mid engined project. It is powered by a 2009 Honda CBR1000rr 1 liter 4 cylinder motor (4400 miles on it). This motor makes somewhere around 180hp. I thought this engines rotated the wrong way to use in a seven project but I guess the mid engined layout cured that problem. Lots of parts and pieces to finish off what is done. Looks very interesting in the pictures. http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/5080742395.html Asking $5000 in NC. Locost Rx7 project in OH, previously noted on this thread. http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/5064401096.html Asking $5800 1982 Locost 7. 1.8L Toyota engine. Asking $12500 http://greensboro.craigslist.org/cto/5071403194.html 1969 Lotus 7 S3 clone. Listed on this thread previously. Arch chassis but not a Lotus. Dave Bean build. Lotus Twin Cam engine. http://medford.craigslist.org/ctd/5059660473.html Asking $28995 2004 Caterham 7 SV Zetec in Hawaii. Asking $39500 http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/caterham/super-7/1742040.html 2012 Caterham Superlight SV. Well optioned car. Asking $59000 http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/caterham/unspecified/1729179.html Stalker in AZ asking $28000 http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/7/1726421.html And on Ebay today a 2014 Kaipan 57. A Czech version of a seven. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Replica-Kit-Makes-Roadster-/171838602328?forcerrptr=true&hash=item280260fc58&item=171838602328 Bid is at $10100 with 18 hours to run. One issue is that you cannot legally import this to the US as it is not 25 years old and it is definitely not Federalized. That said it is an interesting ad to look at since it has some unique features compared to the usual ads on this forum.

My condolences for the family. At times like this you have to look after the family first. I hope you can make some of the event but it is understandable if you cannot.

Interesting that a dealer might have bought it to resell. Not sure that they will get that price though. Was this your old car? I recall you had something very similar at one point?

2006 Caterham S3 with SVT Zetec and 5 speed. Bare ali with BRG fiberglass. Looks immaculate - freshly polished. Ad says it has AM/FM 14420 miles. Asking $37995. http://auto-europe-sales.ebizautos.com/plugin-detail.aspx?iid=13376676

For anyone arriving early on Friday and finding no intelligent life in the Lightning pits then chances are that we are at the Garage Mahal which is the building past the villas/townhouses heading towards the Thunderbolt Circuit. Look for garage numbered "7" on the door. For those karting, we are starting at 3pm. Bring your helmet, neck donut, gloves, driving suit or they can give it to you at the karting center at the back of the lightning pits. If you are lost or uncertain or have not read the materials in your sign up email then please call my cell phone - number is in the attachments in your sign up email. For those not karting then we see you at the pool at the NJMP clubhouse at 6pm (or earlier if you need a cocktail!), Looking forward to seeing you all on Friday (or Saturday if you arrive then)! :seeya:

And I thought you were called Michael? :rofl: :leaving:

Hey Busa Good to see you are still out there! Lovely looking Atom - mind you all of your cars have looked fantastic being the meticulous owner that you are. Hope you health is doing ok. Cheers mike

It looks so good that I am more concerned that I accidentally confuse this for my Caterham and drive off in it! :jester: Seriously, I for one will be very interested to put this side by side with my Caterham and we do a detailed comparison between the two. I was hugely impressed with the IRS Birkin I once drove and i suspect this new XS (XXL?) will be even better.

Thats sad to hear. Sounds like you were having good fun.

Stop it Steve - you will jinx us. :seeya:

Hi Dermot - Just sent you the information package to your verizon.net email address. Sign up link is in there

For those who are planning to visit with their sevens but were not driving on track, a group car photo is being scheduled for Saturday morning around the 8.30-9.00am area. All sevens and their drivers/passengers are invited to join the photo. You should make sure you are present for the drivers briefing (8am) as that is when the instructions for the photo will be provided.

A lot depends on styling and catching people's attention to get them to think they want it. The Exocet needs the paper bag treatment its so ugly. Maybe the analogy of the business potential is something like Thunder Roadsters. They got reasonable volume through a one make race series and making it easy for the owners. Make it so you can also run the cars on road then you potentially have extended the market reach. Problem with road registrations is that some states will be closed off - TX with its new regs for example. Then you have to consider some states with tough emissions restrictions - CA, MA, NJ, etc. Volume depends on price - so what target price is Scott looking at? At $5k for a kit he gets mega sales. At $30k for a kit it is small sales. Target price is based on what it takes him to make it and in sufficient numbers. At the cheap end of the market, a used Locost is low teens and a cross flow Westfield is high teens and a mediocre spec Birkin is high teens to mid 20s. Used Storkers (6cyl) bring anywhere from low 20s to high 20s. Can he bring in a kit to compete with this price tiering in the market? Mid range pricing so someone can be up and running for all in $15-25k - then maybe 10-15 a year? More volume if you get a race series going and could sell out 10-20 cars for that alone.

Al - I just sent you the information package by email so you have all the arrangements.

Tom - I have a spare set for you that I can lend. I will dig them out this weekend.

Can I suggest you also change the heading? The price reduction is only showing in the text and not the heading which means lots of people will never see it since they scan the headline only.

I so agree with this statement. I have met some wonderful people through this forum and my sevens over the years. May it long continue! :cheers:

Hi Matt - I got your email and responded. If you have any questions let us know. I think you will have a good discussion with Roman at the event since he has the engine package you will be using in your Westfield. We look forward to meeting you in person at the July 4 weekend event! :flag: Cheers mike

Congratulations on your new car! Enjoying driving her hard! :driving: