Croc

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:

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: