Croc

For a moment I thought that was a photo of Tom's car then I realized it could not be - its going too fast! :jester:

I was wondering if it was the same Mike in Dubai off Blatchat and Tom plus the pic of your car in the other thread seems to confirm that it is. Welcome to the forum. :seeya:

Australia is pretty good at accepting refugees from third world countries. It is easy to get working visas sorted out and move across the Tasman Sea. I think there are more Kiwis (aka New Zealanders) in Australia than there are in New Zealand as there are more job opportunities given the strong economic growth. If he was a miner then he would have an instant $150k+ job in Western Australia - they are so desperate for workers.

Kiwi - If you do not get any response here then PM Kitcat on this forum. He has an IRS Birkin on road tyres and it handled pretty nicely at the sevens track days earlier this week.

On a CSR chassis probably not cost-effective given the chassis modifications needed around the pedal box, steering column and then a new dash. Its easily possible just not as cheap as you are hoping.

Mondo - That could leave a nasty taste in the mouth?:rofl: :leaving:

I watched your video last night, twice for some sessions. And it does not lie - you show up as nicely smooth on the video - no head games or jokes from me on this one. Your driving style is surprisingly close to mine - let the engine work, not many changes, use the width of the track, little shuffling of hands, etc. Only real difference is I am a stickler for technical track lines whereas you go offline from time to time. I will let you time your laps on screen. Fastest time for me on Lightning was 1.18.7 and a 1.35 neat on Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt time was set with Jack (Jvbtte) as passenger on the Sunday. My car is far more stable in high speed turns with a passenger. Here is to doing it again next year!

As the lucky owner of a CSR Superlight, all I can say is that they are one hell of a car to drive on road or track. It puts hair on my chest, arms, back, neck, face,....

Jason - The car looks absolutely beautiful in the photos. I hope there is a good replacement in the wings?

Here is a video recorded on the Sunday Members Day at NJMP by Glenn who runs a rapid Exige there. He is edging towards buying a Seven!

Was there daylight at the end of the tunnel?

I have mixed views about the "curvy" dash. I like its ergonomics and the way it looks. Every dial is easy to see when pushing on the track unlike the standard dash. I did have to adjust my left leg when using the clutch as it used to hit the lower arched bar below the wheel - no long legged drivers should apply. The non-removable wheel is closer to you which is how I like it. Having a proper indicator stalk, horn, and wiper stalk is just decadent . The big design issue that comes with the curvy dash style is the heat that the chassis tubes radiate into the cockpit. I had burns on my right elbow on Friday from driving to the track in 95 degree heat. I have a special foam insulation elbow rest that I normally use. The circular vents are kept permanently pointing skyward as they blast superheated air - a heater is never needed for this car. A cold climate (like the North Pole, Alaska or Canada) makes this a cosy car for use. The summer climate in NJ is bearable but not ideal. I would hate to use my car in Arizona or Texas where it is hotter. Anyway, the car for sale only has the standard dash and not the curvy dash so it is a moot point.

Jeff - It was a really nice surprise on Saturday when you came into the garage and said hello. We will definitely make sure you are aware next year when we try this again as doing NJMP on a Mon and Tues is much nicer than doing Debbie. I am starting to work through the raw video now. Tom's video will hopefully arrive by Saturday and I can start playing around in the editing process. Ron's spin was beautifully caught by Steve's camera. Kitcat's driving style was a surprise given his reputation - it is smooth to look at from behind the wheel and he only trucks around in 4th and 5th. The only flaw I have found so far is my Tuesday footage seems not to have picked up sound - I guess the mic batteries were worn out. Soundtrack time to cover up that stuff. Remember 15 sevens and we get our own run group next time. That would be really fun! :party:

Some say...Karl is planning a carbon fiber wing on his cage roof like MichaelD.... :willy_nilly:

Postscript - Less than a mile from home I was hailed by a white BMW 3 series. Turns out he knew I had a Caterham and a buddy of his just bought one in Houston Texas. The owner is on here but his friend did not know his profile name. Small world!

This thread was getting too long. To make it easier to find on the forum I started a new thread with photos and commentary at here: http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?p=65893&posted=1#post65893 Head over to that thread to add your comments.

Another group photo with drivers and their cars: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC00460.jpg So on to Thunderbolt - a very fast technical track but a good challenging one to drive. A sevens freight train (we all just passed the M3 and the Mustang in the background). Front to back is Stewart, me, Steve: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC_2437.jpg Just before the Jersey Devil out the back of the circuit: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC_2851.jpg And again: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC_2833.jpg I am tired after 4 days on track (I was there early) but very happy and will be looking forward to doing this again. With 15 sevens we can have our own run group with no pesky Corvettes, Beemers, Porsches or Mustangs to provide mobile chicanes. Thank you to Tom for helping to pull this together. Looking forward to June 2013!

So Tuesday dawns perfect - bright, clear, and after the last 3 days no humidity. It was almost cool. A group photo on the podium for the drivers. Stewart is missing: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC00449.jpg Group photos at Thunderbolt circuit which we ran on the Tuesday: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC00451.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC00458.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC00453.jpg Do you like my carbon effect headlight covers from Sevenspeed? I had to have something in carbon that Karl does not have! ;-p

Dinner on Monday night at the Texas Roadhouse was a rowdy affair. Tom and Karl hatched a devious plan that it was my 21st birthday. So the staff all come out cheering and clapping for me with a saddle on a wooden frame on castors for me to sit on. I will post my embarrassment to limit the pain now. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/ridingasaddle.jpg However, vengeance is sweet next morning. Given Tom is a fervent Democrat MichaelD and I decided to advertize this fact: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC00440.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC00443.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC00442.jpg

Ron again around the back of the Lightning circuit: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/20120625_SCDA_NJM_IN1_2165.jpg Stewart pedalling fast: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC_2419.jpg Mike in the esses Turns 2-3-4 area: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/20120625_SCDA_NJM_IN1_2179.jpg DaveD off this forum and his lovely wife drove out 3 hours to say hi to us. With Dave back to full health next year I am hoping he can join us on track.

Mike is the fastest driver on account of his impressively sized certain part of his anatomy. So he just killed every car on the circuit (although I never saw him which was a pity as he is fun to follow). http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/20120625_SCDA_NJM_IN1_2136.jpg When he gets his Caterham race car to replace the Birkin he is going to be quicker again! Ron in his R500 http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/20120625_SCDA_NJM_IN1_2150.jpg Me at Turn 1 with the car very light as you crest the hump. The cone in the picture does not mean Boxologist joined us (sadly - maybe next year?) but was caused by Ron having a spin at Turn 1 when he missed a gear downshift. Luckily, Steve caught it with video (Ron may not think it is lucky!) http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/20120625_SCDA_NJM_IN1_1993.jpg Steve again blinding us with a mirror finish http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/20120625_SCDA_NJM_IN1_2164.jpg

Still at Lightning. Steve cresting turn 1 at Lightning: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/20120625_SCDA_NJM_IN1_1940.jpg Karl at Turn 1 http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/20120625_SCDA_NJM_IN1_1947.jpg Stewart at Turn 1 http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/20120625_SCDA_NJM_IN1_1949.jpg Tom at Turn 1 http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/20120625_SCDA_NJM_IN1_1957.jpg

Weather threatened storms until late in the day but they skirted us due to my extensive superstitious anti-rain god ceremony of continually putting the cover over my car. And so we tracked Lightning. Michael: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/20120625_SCDA_NJM_IN1_1571.jpg Stewart: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/20120625_SCDA_NJM_IN1_1576.jpg Steve http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/20120625_SCDA_NJM_IN1_1590.jpg For the record, Stewart and Steve have crossflows but thanks to Lightning being a nicely flowing momentum circuit they did not give much away to the bigger cars. Tom http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/20120625_SCDA_NJM_IN1_1597.jpg

Steve and his freshly polished crossflow: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC00422.jpg Michael's be-winged zetec. Despite how....um...errr..."interesting" it looks it actually seemed to work quite well for grip on the rear. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC00432.jpg Karl's baby. All credit to Karl for sweating out a rebuild over the last 6 weeks to get out on track with the group after redecorating the car around Lime Rock. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC00434.jpg

To make it easier to see for those following this event I started a new thread. It was brilliant, full of fun, very social, and lots of laughter. I will let the photos speak for me and I am sure others will chime in. Tom and I kicked off the weekend on Saturday with a NJMP Members weekend. MichaelD joined us to run Sunday and Jack (Jvbtte) was my passenger for all Sunday sessions as he was able to drive his seven. By around 4pm on Sunday the group started to trickle in and the beers started flowing. Sunday night kicked off in the Track Pit Stop Bar and Restaurant: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC00412.jpg Left to right - me, Mike (Kitcat), Spencer (a local NJMP member that drives a Porsche - but we forgave him), Michael (MichaelD), Jim (not on USA7s), Steve (bball), Karl (Blubarisax), Ron (Redgoose), Stewart (Sabbot), Jack (Jvbtte) and Tom (Yellowss). Steve, Mike and Jim had driven long distances to get to New Jersey Motorsport Park which is in Millville, southern NJ. Their presence was greatly enjoyed and Mike's driving is always spectacular to watch. First morning was at the Lightning Circuit: http://www.njmp.com/facility/track-maps.html So we lined up - 9 little sevens: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC00416.jpg Jim settled in and ready to drive: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC00417.jpg Mike belted down ready to cause havoc: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/NJMP%2006252012/DSC00426.jpg