Croc

You may want to hurry to see this collection. Tom Wheatcroft, who bought the circuit and established the museum passed away in 2009 and left his estate to his son who seems to be actively selling cars off to buy WW2 tanks

Then it was cross country to Donington. The circuit maintains a museum which has the greatest collection of Formula 1 cars anywhere on Earth. I can only say they may be under estimating. I left a trail of drool, dribble, sweat, tears, pee and sperm all over this museum….absolutely amazing.

An original Le Mans D Type and its interior: A lovely Lotus 7 Series 3 although it had some Series 2 touches if you look carefully

Here are the photos from my recent Donington and Anglesey excursions. Donington is based in the East Midlands area of the UK – about 2 hours drive from Heathrow. Given I arrived off a US flight early in the morning I stopped in first at the Heritage Motor Museum at Gaydon UK, about 1.5 hours drive from Heathrow. It celebrates the British motor industry which had extraordinary success until brought down by poor management, weak Governments and labor unions in the 1970s. The facility is superb with extensive sponsorship by Jaguar and Land Rover. If you want you can take a Land Rover or Range Rover on an off road test drive in a purpose built 4wd trail on the property. I had a great time testing a LR3! In the museum, there is a spectacular collection of cars: An original Jaguar XJ13 with its dashboard Who remembers Bob Tulius?

The NJMP facility is patrolled 24 hours a day. People have left their cars in the pit unattended overnight without an issue. This includes Caterhams. In theory I get access to my empty shell of an NJMP garage on June 18. It will be having a loft constructed but there is no reason why it could not hold 4 cars securely overnight during the long weekend as there will be no builders present. 1 spot is already taken. You and Jack will be spots 2 and 3. Shane asked as well so there is the 4th spot taken for him. Possibly I can squeeze a 5th car in but no guarantees right now until I can see the space while the loft is being installed. I have an accommodation share solution for you Roman but I need the NJMP office to reopen Monday. It will be a 5 min walk on the NJMP property from the garage where you can keep your car. If this is too far then you can reserve a garage at the Thunderbolt pits overnight but this is unlocked (enclosed with garage door but still unlocked). Roman - I will confirm things Monday or Tuesday next week but I think you are sorted.

Mike - Thanks for thinking of Roman. I was in touch with him last night. He is not the only one looking for accom and I think I have a share solution that I will work out Monday once get back into my office. Also, I am staying at an upstairs villa on track as they screwed up my garage construction timetable. That has a nice air-conditioned living room with sofas, dining are, cable TV, wifi, and kitchen overlooking the Thunderbolt circuit. I thought we could use that as a "ladies retreat" should anyone want to relax and chat somewhere comfortable.

Ok - we are a go! Thank you for your patience. Drivers and their Families/Companions For those who will be driving at this event, emails containing registration links will go out today. If you do not get an email then please let Tom or I know. This registration will allow drivers and their families/companions/friends/visitors/FWB/etc to sign up for all items that they wish to participate in. There is a lengthy document with all background information that should be read prior to registering. If you have questions then we are happy to answer in advance prior to your registering. Non-Driving Visitors/Participants For those who have expressed interest in joining in this event as a non-driver then we will send you an email offline from sevensarefun@gmail.com containing the same package of information and a price list for each meal/event/item so you are not left out of the fun. You will be able to pay by check to NJMP or by paypal in advance. If you register as a visitor to the HPDE events it entitles you to breakfast and lunch on the day. Registered visitors are also permitted to be passengers to instructors in a seven during a HPDE session. Open passenger seats are assigned first in first served. There are expected to be 2-3 sevens with instructors during this event so bring your (closed face) helmet and we will try to accommodate you (no guarantees but we will try). If you are looking at buying a seven, an event like this is perfect for checking out different manufacturers and their specifications. Cheers Mike

Is there any actual leak? Gas cap is on? Flooded carby with excess fuel floating? Seems strange that it is so strong without some form of leak. I know crossflows are like the Exxon Valdez for dripping oil on garage

Well this is a good news and bad news type of first posting... Firstly, welcome to the forum. Secondly, congratulations on your new CSR. As an owner I can say it is an amazing car. I have been very happy with mine. Thirdly, NJ registration....sigh....the difficulties that has caused. My first recommendation is talk to the NJ MVC. There is a guy in Trenton who deals in special registrations. Talk to him by phone and talk through the registration process. There is an information packet they can send you with the relevant forms - you should get that before you start trying to title or do anything. Then, forearmed with that knowledge, I would PM MrMustang on this forum since he has admitted himself to be the expert at getting cars through the NJ MVC special vehicle registration process. He has not put a new Caterham or any seven through the process but I defer to his superior knowledge of dealing with the NJ MVC. Hopefully he can fill in the details missing from the packet for you. It is supposed to be an easy process but that is not my experience... Sent you a PM to chat offline by phone.

Taber you are quite correct on the year for the British GP. I had 2003 in my mind as the year when in fact it was 1993 as you point out. I remembered it being Ayrton Senna who won as I watched the race live but I guess it was a senior moment that led me to have a mental arithmetic failure. :blush:

Steve - you may as well tell everyone what I did to the poor instructor at Angelsey....:svengo:

It was good to meet you in person Steve! Top days at Donington and Anglesey. While Donington did hold the British GP something like 10 years ago and is fairly well known, Angelsey is a small club circuit in the far north of Wales overlooking the Irish Sea. Both make incredible use of terrain. While I looked at videos to familiarize myself with the layout in advance, nothing prepared me for the elevation changes that happen on those tracks. For those wondering what happened to the poor Caterham gear lever above, that was the result of it suddenly becoming a "flappy paddle" gearbox while going from 5th to 6th diving downing into Craner Curves at 85-90mph. Steve was generous enough not to show the results of the "gardening" that resulted from my sudden surprise and confusion. Somehow all the gear lever retaining bolts had worked loose so the lever disconnected from gearbox. While I tried to limp to the pits in 6th gear I ran out of revs and had to be flat towed back for recover. Give me to the weekend and I will upload photos of the astonishing Donington Collection of Formula One cars which has to be one of the most incredible auto collections I have ever seen in. I will also upload some circuit video and photos.

Shane - my thoughts are with you and the family as you work through this.

Bruce - I am touch and go whether I make it. The CSR is off the road for lack of brakes and the Roadsport is coming together but I am awaiting a new rear shock from the UK which may or may not make it in time. If I can get one car together in time I will be there otherwise my apologies in advance.

Roman - Sorry I missed your call. It was midnight in the UK and I was off dreaming of the perfect lap without gardening. Tom might be easier to reach this week if you need to chat to him.

ZZRs win - no question. Same life expectancy but more grip consistently. Roger Krause was similarly enthusiastic when I was chatting with him. Not sure I would want to use them much in the rain with standing water on the road - there is not much tread pattern there!

Sorry but no video of when I suddenly developed a flappy paddle gearbox. I only install cameras once I know I can turn a decent lap as thats when the video benefits of coaching myself really come good. So that is usually the afternoon session on a brand new circuit to me.

Just a quick update - I am exhausted after my track day at Donington Circuit in the UK :cool dude: We have finalized the last organizational details and are just trying to make Motorsportreg.com behave for allowing you to register for both days simultaneously - it currently won't. If not this week our email for registration will be next week. Thanks for your patience. The advantage of doing it this way is everything is organized upfront so no surprises which I believe is important. As for Donington - you have to try it! A truly epic (repeat....epic!!!) circuit notwithstanding the fairly big gardening event I initiated after my gear lever came off in my hand while changing from 5th to 6th at a high rate of speed. Blokko has the after result photo for my embarrassment! :svengo:

Good morning Steve. I just sent you a blatmail re connecting at Donington or Anglesey tracks next week. The day before and after Donington is just a drive day so if you are someone on the route between Heathrow and those two circuits then let me know and I can stop by. Cheers mike

Apparently this Birkin was worth $100,000 and yet they gave it to that blonde! :svengo: http://www.tylershields.com/images/indulgence/birkin-tug-of-war.jpg

.....handbag! :jester: http://www.tylershields.com/images/indulgence/gator.jpg I thought I would use it for a drag race! :auto::cooldude:

But wait there is more! Super Stalker in FL $29900 Brunton Super Stalker Built Spring 2011 Florida titled as 1962 Lotus 7 Pontiac 2006 L32 engine w/20K miles GM Tremec T5 GM 3.42 Torsen rear end 270+ HP 290+Torque Less than 1500 pounds Excellent Autocross car-Easy to drive fast New 1/2014 TOYO R1R tires No junk parts used. Well sorted and Reliable. 6000 total miles. http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/cto/4477595165.html Birkin $19800 http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/4475055659.html 2003 Lotus Super 7 Replica - Birkin Made in South Africa this is one of the highest quality Super 7 Replicas you can buy. 2003 Ford Focus 2.0 EFI Engine with less than 14K miles on it. Ford T9 5 speed transmission from Quantum Mechanics Carrera Shocks Raceline water rail and oil sump. Emerald ECU Woody Harris engine bay wiring harness. This car is registered in Calif as a 2006 Birkin - Special Construction Vehicle Calif SB100. It is exempt from all Calif smog requirements. Caterham $25000 http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/4478414678.html Caterham Super Seven-Titled as 1967 Lotus 7 Registered in California, clean title. SB100 car Built by Lotus Racing West-9330 Oso Avenue, Chatworth, Ca 91311 show contact info 127 Dyno Horsepower when built Everything new or rebuilt in 1997-1998 Engine: 1700 Ford Cross Flow Bore: 83mm Piston: Forged Pistons Head: Ported Formula Ford Cam: Ford rally Carburation: Dual side draft Webber DCOE 38 Ignition: Crankfire Exhaust: Custom stainless steel exhaust Oil pump: Accu-Sump Shocks: SPAX adjustable spring perch shocks Suspension: Dual A-arm front and five link rear Wheel: Five (5) 13 inch PANASPORT Tires: Yokohama Gearbox: Ford "Single rail" 4 speed semi-close with 3.0 first gear Internal slave: Saab 900 Rear end: Cortina non-GT 3.90 ring and pinion Front end spindle and brake: Lotus Elan

To be honest when this car first came up for sale it caught my attention by having a 270hp zetec - a pretty rare engine spec that deserved a good look. Plus it was a nice looking color combination. At that time the seller was asking for a fair bit more that was too much for the market. Looks like the seller is adjusting down to meet the market which is a good thing for a buyer out there somewhere. As S1Steve knows, I think I have done enough damage with Ebay purchases lately so it will not be me! :leaving:

We did Tom. No disagreement or change from what we agreed re group photo. However, I had ideas of using a drone to get aerial video of us driving... Then I realized it would get hit by a plane on approach....

We will have to see. A minor detail that has emerged on my drone discussions is that NJMP is actually next to Millville airport (duh! talk about not thinking this through first!). The eastern half of Lightning is the runway approach. They do come in quite low over that part of the circuit (maybe 100 foot up over the bowl). While it may only be Cessnas and similar pieces of aeronautical flimsy, I would not want to be the person who brought one down in my quest to photo sevens from above.