Croc

The crowd at a Bookatrack event is really very similar to US trackdays – the average guy with his car ready for a bit of a spin. There are a lot more sevens than we see in the US and far less Corvettes (no shit Sherlock!), a lot less Porsche (only 2 or 3), a couple of Beemers, a Ferrari 360, a lovely Ginetta G60, and one or two Lotus Elises. Oh and they had 2 Radicals to blast the field. There were a couple of small commuter hatchback cars buzzing around – cheap track thrills and why not. BookaTrack does not crowd its track days – 55 people registered some sharing cars with a max 25 cars on circuit at once. I rarely got held up – worst case took me 1/3rd of the circuit to get past. Passing was done always on the left with point by and no corner passing, although the natural undulations and weaves of the circuit did confuse me as to what actually a “straight” was on the circuit! Quality of driving was excellent except for 1 or 2 cars in a Corporate Experience day. You know the type – you get 3 laps driving a race car for the first time on a circuit for the first time, all the time being dive bombed by other top notch drivers. And to think I was apprehensive! Fortunately, all drivers were courteous, passes acknowledged with a wave and no impatience. I have done a lot of track days and this was as good as it can get for the average non-pro driver like me. Format for the day is open pit lane. So you have 9.30-12.30, lunch 12.30 to 1.30, then back running again 1.30 to 5pm. I probably did 3-3.5 hours in the day and I was worn out by the end of the day – I think the car was in better condition! Luckily, I had a friend at the track. Martin (or Mav on Blatchat) is local to the circuit and brought his Roadsport SV for some fun. Now Martin KNOWS how to be prepared for a track day – a BBQ grill, gas stove, electric fridge, tea kettle, coffee maker, lots of cake, marinated chicken, burgers, sugar fixes, drinks, etc. He also managed to bring the usual complement of track day tools. Actually, it may not be Martin’s preparation as Viv (Mrs Mav) also was there and I have a sneaking suspicion she might just be responsible for Martin’s outstanding success. Here is Martin in gourmet cook mode in his pit garage: Martin’s Caterham also looks the part: Martin was kind enough to let me follow in the first “session” foray on to track. This is one place where placing the car on track is an art because of the bumps. It feels a very fast circuit because it is a slightly narrower tarmac plus the car is constantly being thrown around. However, from logging speeds, it is not as I thought! Being responsible and restrained, I satisfied myself with learning the circuit in my usual way – stick it in one gear (5th in this case) and focus on learning lines and braking points. So some pit photos:

Continuing with my habit of doing one to two UK track days each year, it was the turn of Oulton Park, in Cheshire UK to receive a visit from me. This circuit has a famed and somewhat fearsome reputation in the UK. Host to British Touring Car Championship race, British Superbikes, and the Gold Cup, famously won by Sir Sterling Moss 5 times in the 1950s and 60s. Why does it have this reputation? A track map really does not do the place justice. The track consists of a series of natural undulations and blind crests that flow from working the circuit into the topography. There is a lot of elevation change, steep climbs and drops, compressions, and crests. Making it very difficult is the inconsistent surface grip – some areas are shaded, damp and have wet leaves, painted grid markings and kerbs can be diabolical for grip – so it is difficult to gauge speed. It is a very fast circuit, beautifully designed for a Seven as the car is agile for sudden direction changes and with a relatively soft suspension is able to cope better with the bumps than a heavier car that can struggle to put the power down. It is an incredibly challenging circuit for an old fat race hacker to be launching onto. Oh and should I mention that there is not much run off ….so any off track excursion is going to involve the sound of crash, crump, wallop, swearing and the rustling of a LOT of pound notes being sucked out of your wallet/bank account. As usual I rented an Caterham Seven R300 SV race car from Jonny Leroux at BookaTrack. 2L Duratec powered with about 180hp, lightened flywheel, 6 speed box, full cage, upgraded 4 pot brakes, and CR500 tires. The race car deletes most options – handbrake, headlights, indicators, brake lights with just a steering wheel and a Stack display. The cars lead a hard life given the hackers who rent them but are very well maintained. If something breaks during the day then there are mechanics on hand to swarm all over the car to fix it quickly to get you back out there. If worst happens and an engine blows then (provided you did not over-rev it) there is a spare to get you back out on the track. I think it is testament to the maintenance and the design of the Duratec that the engines average 250 hours full on track running before they break. I suspect the K series would have been through 4 head gaskets by then. So the day starts off with sorting out your car in the pits: Then it is time for the drivers briefing which I have to say was one of the best ever I have experienced for a track day. Concise, focused, all lifted just enough with a hearty dose of English humor. Fortunately, they had sighting laps before the session opened up. I managed to get in one lap to begin to see where the corners went. This quaint tradition does not seem to happen in the US but you do see some rather remarkable vehicles lurching around the circuit. The look on this van guy’s face is intriguing: op_circuit_map_landscape_numbers.pdf

Yeah...after the driver who would want a second grizzly in the car? :jester: Hi Bruce :seeya: I hope to make this event - I just need to work on keeping the dates free from company meetings. Terry deserves a big thumbs up for taking the initiative on this - it should be an epic event! :driving:

It will be at the Tribeca area garage of the Classic Car Club of Manhattan

Is that just CA or all states? I was not aware of this until now. Would also make wearing the little foam ear plugs illegal?

Well actually I have been suggesting Jeff deserves a new R500 and Mary inherits Jeff's rapid Zetec. I think Jeff might like that better.

Ouch - just what you want - more tax! How bad are they gouging you on the customs duty and taxes?

Nice find Rikker! I live 1 mile from where the car is kept in Manhattan. It was originally built by a gentleman in Hackensack NJ area and sold about 1.5-2 years ago (I think) to the car club. I last saw it 2 years ago and it does not look any different in the photos. I know a few of the members at the car club and they all talk highly of enjoying driving the car (good fun, no track work at all, no major mechanical problems) and the club does maintain its vehicles well. The previous owner was a member on here from memory but have not seen him checked in for a long time. If anyone wants me to check it out for them I can easily do so and I have met the GM of the club (good guy!).

I have just dribbled all over my keyboard!

Great car! Enjoy it as much as you can before the weather shuts us down for the season. :seeya:

When I did the Harley Davidson factory tour in Reading PA they said the average weight of their bikes was 1200 pounds. I bet the Japanese bikes are lighter though!

No affiliation or connection to me - just reposting in case anyone is looking. Contact seller not me. Nicely priced SCCA spec zetec caterham race car from Entropy Racing is for sale through Sports & Specialist Cars in Hopewell NJ. http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/caterham/super_7/1481192.html Asking NOW $15500 (was $18500) Has a VIN but no title...interesting.... For those who do not know Entropy Racing, these guys support race teams and rent race cars for use in races, SCCA license school or track days. Was being rented at about $1200 per day supported. http://assets.hemmings.com/uimage/12187677-425-0.jpg?rev=1

Hallelujah! And this forum is a better place for all the humor its inmates have brought here! :rofl:

Pah! Its only got 275hp. I already have that. I want at least 325hp for my next seven.

Disappointing but not really surprising - Youtube is Google. :svengo: I might hold off updating my iPOS software knowing this There are other Youtube buffer apps that can be used but they are not as good as the official youtube one.

I always use my horn out on the track! :D Tom was not the only one playing practical jokes out there on track, I got blackflagged for using my hazard lights on track - I was travelling below 45mph (on track) following a glacially slow Porsche in a no-pass zone. My excuse was that using hazards on highway when below 45mph is NJ law! :jester: The little red Miata can blow the "doors" off my car too - 350-370hp supercharged 2.3L duratec with lots of modifications. The driver is very good too. Best pit discussion of the day was asking a plastic surgeon all about the breast enhancements and getting all the good facts. Filled in a rain delay beautifully.

Really sorry I could not make it but I was in FL driving something pretty special...errr...not - a brand new red Chevy Impala. Good to see Wil has finally got the Maserati painted - I love his color choice. That is just one remarkable scratch build.

Tom's (Yellowss7) is using a Drift HD with an external mic run way way up under the dash. Video was set at 720HD 60fps. Its amazing how long it has taken for a bunch of sevens to sort out decent sound and video on our cars in a track environment. It has been a real trial and error process.

Some still pics of the car in the pits: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Miscellaneous/bugattiA.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Miscellaneous/BugattiB.jpg And in the pic below Tom is standing at left agape at another cute toy - a Formula Mazda or a Formula Ford Ranger as I called it and really badly upset the owner in the bar that night. He was even more outraged when I said I had a similar engine in my Caterham ....oops....not my most tactful moment! http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Miscellaneous/BugattiC.jpg

Let me embed your video for you Can I just say for the record that the Bugatti Veyron did not catch me I could see him across the track as I was in Turn 10 he was coming out of Turn 6 and the distance stayed fairly constant. For all the 1000hp he was jaw droppingly quick in a straight line - he went past Tom in the above video at 160mph but then tippy-toed around corners. The bit that just clinched it for me that the owner is a true and worthy car nut - he did not put any blue painters tape over the body to mask it ahead of the track session - :hurray:

I am definitely out for this weekend. I have a Saturday meeting in Orlando that I was committed to yesterday. Have a great time guys! Sorry I missed it.

You are on! Free non-driving guest pass coming up just for you. Keep the weekend of Nov 17/18 free - it will be a group I think you will enjoy. I cannot think of anyone more experienced that I want handling my drinks! Agree completely with this one. This is why I am disappointed with the PCA thinking and I am concerned it is the start of a slippery slope for our cars.

From the dictionary a berk (plural berks) (UK, slang, pejorative) A fool, prat, twit. (UK, slang) An idiot, in an affectionate sense. So a Berkin must be a car driven by a Berk? What does that make Birkin (or the rare Birkin SV) owners? :jester:

Martin - Thanks for putting this discussion on a technical footing (despite me being slightly mischievous above). Just to clarify, while you need to refer to the club racing rules to find the correct reg that governs permissible cars the original issue only comes from eligible participation in HPDE/track days. Extracting the essence of your comments: From the discussions Yellowss7 and myself were having with the PCA official last Friday (lets leave him/her unnamed to protect our useful source), the rule you refer to above was revised in July 2012. Prior to July 2012 this rule did not contain the bolded text. Prior to the recent rule change there was no rule to prevent a Seven with front cycle wings (or clamshells) from participating in PCA HPDE. Following the modification with the new rule text, cycle wing cars are clearly prohibited - as was intended by PCA. However, clamshells would still be permissible but was beyond the intent of the PCA when making their rule modification (again as per PCA official). This is good information - however, what is your understanding when the seven is equipped with cycle wings as is more common in recent production sevens? By the way, Karl's car is equipped with cycle wings. My speculation was that if Karl installed clams them he would again be eligible to run with PCA HPDE (no competition - just HPDE). Obviously that would last about as long until PCA Exec realized they goofed with the reg rewrite done in July 2012 and made another change to achieve their desired intent. I can only agree with you wholeheartedly!

Putting aside my comments about Karl being too fast, :rofl: the "public" explanation comes down to track safety. PCA would have to be concerned about what wayward Caterhams can do to someones 911, 996, 997, 924, 944, 9....etc. It is not a long mental stretch (even for a Porsche driver) to jump to potential legal liability issues in the event of Karl (or more likely Jon) taking out in an incident someone's Porsche show pony. They are probably less concerned what a 3800lb 911 could do to Karl in a 1400lb seven but it just might have also entered their thoughts quickly while they were debating which color they should next anodize their knob.... Personally I think it smells of elitist snobbery - how dare they take away my opportunity to show up a Porsche on track! I do find this exceptionally ironic given the well known 911 series tendency for the rear snapping out into uncontrollable lift off oversteer :svengo: