Croc

Great thread of interesting posts. Good to see all you guys having fun out west with no major casualties!

Great looking car. I like its new color scheme. It has to be new after its racing was finished as race cars always get banged up? Interesting idea on the nose cone - you have a opening on the top front of the nose cone then further back on the nose cone, a small lip and then another opening. What was your idea for cooling/heat vent removal here?

For anyone wondering why a Fisher Hayabusa should be posted on a sevens forum, you have to see this thing fly on a track. It surprised the hell out of me a few times at the NJMP track day with its speed. It handles just as well as a seven with the benefit of an stylish aero body. And that Hayabusa.....hearing it scream out the top of the rev range is just spine chilling. Now I know why Hank got a Westfield Megabusa.

Karl - I am not sure it is an issue of fitting in the S3 chassis, it is more that Mike is not built with "wide-track" like you and I and as such would be better off in a "narrow-track" seat that holds him better. Also the u-track bars mounted under the floorpan of Mike's would need to be made wider for these seats. Cam cover is on the way - here in a week. Other carbon purchases should follow very shortly. It is part of a master plan to make sure that 1) my superlight is truly superlighter than Tom's superlight, and 2) when I spin next time the dust cloud will prevent you from videoing my embarrassment!

I vote for minilites/panasports - they seem to suit a seven so well and have not dated over the years. As for color it is a deeply personal thing as you saw in your Pistonheads post. I think gold would work quite well.

Are you nuts! It would be graffiti'ed in 5 minutes and torched in 10 minutes! That is still not a nice area of Jersey City. I had a gun pulled on me while driving through that area a year ago.

I had Rt 218 to myself yesterday. Lovely twisties that show off a seven so well. I enjoyed it so much that I did it again and again.... I also like the tunnel on Rt 9D....for some reason I also seem to slowly enter the tunnel.... :cooldude:

Well I proved Martin's theory yesterday. Started up my 300 mile seven drive by filling up at the first gas station as you exit the Holland Tunnel (main tunnel between downtown Manhattan and NJ). Stop at the pump and some tosser in a brand new BMW M3 with obligatory trophy girlfriend gushes over to me saying "Is this the new Lexus LFA? I have seen them on Top Gear!" How the effing hell can you mix a Seven up with a freaking Lexus! :banghead: Same on the rest of the drive, until I hit the backroads, I was ignored by Porsche and BMW drivers. It is at this point, that I must offer my apologies to the Porsche and BMW drivers on this forum as I realize now that you are true automotive enthusiasts worthy of a pedigree car and not some Manhattan status seeking wanker(banker) who buys a car with his annual bonus based on what expensive status symbol his colleagues have recently bought. Clearly, this also explains the general poor average quality of driving around the NYC area.

Mike - I can confirm they do have the cutout in the seat base for a 5 or 6 point. In the photo it is invisible behind the little hump. Check closely at the B2 photo on the website and you can just see the cutout: http://www.tillett.co.uk/car-racing-seat.asp Your bigger issue is that I am pretty sure they are too big to fit in a S3 chassis seven. They will only fit an SV or CSR. Anyway, given your svelte build you would be better off going for the narrower (B1?) tillets as they will fit you tighter and stop you sliding around. Even I am very tempted by these seats as these were installed in my seven at Silverstone and I was amazed that fatso the clown me fitted comfortably in them and even more amazed I survived a day driving. Do you have the adjustable seat rails with these? Karl - How about I give you Boxologist and I take the seats off you? Stop putting up these temptations - I already bought a ton of carbon fiber this week for the car!

If you are going to find Bear Mountain, then run the stretch of Seven Lakes Drive from Sloatsburg to the Bear Mountain Bridge at the junction of Rt6 and Rt202. Then head north on Rt9W past West Point turnoff then take the Rt218 exit. This is a great little twisty road around the back of West Point that runs underneath Storm King Mountain. Sometimes the 1 car space will be free allow you to stop at the bluff on the river for great views. Run Rt218 out until you hit Rt9W north again. I usually loop around by heading north along river road to the I84 bridge over the Hudson River and then coming back down south on Rt9D to Bear Mountain Bridge. In fact I think I am going to do this run today!

Hang on....I am not trailering my car like others! :driving: It would be very tempting however that week I am in Europe on vacation. Sorry but I will pass till next time.

Found on wirewheels.com - no relation to me or any financial interest in it British Racing Green with black leather interior 7,000 miles Excellent condition Carbon Fiber dash 15 inch "Prisoner" wheels 1700cc MWE Super Sprint engine 155hp 5 speed transmission Long cockpit De Dion rear suspension Full weather gear http://www.wirewheel.com/1998-Caterham-Suer-Seven-for-sale-due-in-soon.html No price disclosed.

Found on wirewheels.com, not related to me 1971 LOTUS SUPER SEVEN S4 http://www.wirewheel.com/1971-Lotus-Seven-S4-for-sale.html Built by Lotus as a race car Excellent, freshly prepared condition Holbay Ford Kent cross flow 1600cc engine Engine completely rebuilt with Arias pistons and Kent camshaft Compression: 242-240-240-250 Dry sump with new Cosworth gear set. New plumbing and dry sump tank Light weight flywheel with new clutch assembly Dual Weber 45 DCOE carbs with K&N air filters New Fuel Safe fuel cell and new fuel pump New oil cooler with remote oil filter and all braided stainless steel oil lines New roll bar New Stewart Warner "Maximum Performance" lightweight gauges New Ultrashield aluminum race seat New Fuel Safe fuel cell New Racetec quick release leather steering wheel Complete suspension overhaul and corner weighting New adjustable coil over shocks Delivered "new" with genuine Minilite alloy wheels Fresh Toyo Proxiss R888race competition tires New suspension/sway bar urethene bushings New electronic ignition New instruments New race seat and competition seat belts Original road equipment also available $25,900 http://www.wirewheel.com/gallery/98373.jpg

Martin - I think you hit it on the head. I live less than half a mile from Manhattan financial district/lower Manhattan. I am driving through the Holland Tunnel approach area which is the main tunnel to lower Manhattan. It figures that all those investment bankers are largely status queens and I am not seeing the few drivers who are true enthusiasts. They probably stick it in drive, windows up and air con on and waft along cursing traffic.

Mark Webber's twin? :ack: We look nothing alike - I have more chins than a Chinese phone book and struggle to see my feet when I look down. I also crash less than him.... :jester: More seriously, the rice rocket guys are really friendly here - they always want to chat (side by side at 65mph on the turnpike)

Hmmm.....I think Pi7ot may be onto something. I was at the Holland Tunnel, leading into downtown Manhattan where all those Wall Street Wankers work... The line up at the tolls does look like a VW dealership with all those Porsches lined up waiting. The extra bulk of a CSR over a Birkin SV is unlikely to cause alarm IMHO :jester:

When you drive the seven and you pull up at a red light next to either a Porsche or BMW, the driver just avoids looking at you. However, every other car on the road has eyeballs zeroed in on you and/or taking photos of the seven. Are they jealous of someone driving a better car? Can their poor ego not take the fact that they may not be as cool as they like to think they are?

Michael - sorry to hear about the geabox - what did you end up diagnosing the problem as? Nice video - gave a good impression of Watkins Glen. It looks to be one of those circuits which is too fast for a seven as you need top end speed to really make it work. A little too much straight to hang onto the Ferraris. Looks a nice flowing open layout. Although there is not much run off room if someone were to...err...have an "off".

This link posted on Blatchat also looks promising: http://www.bestbikingroads.com/

Dropping down from Montreal to Harriburg, you are a fair bit west of where I normally get to. So the 7 lakes drive/bear mountain suggestion of Ryan's may be out of reach. I also use the Motorcycle roads link that Mike kindly posted above when I am route planning somewhere new.

Here is another option if you want to spend extra.... http://www.carbonmods.co.uk/Products/Carbon-Fibre-Engine-Cover-for-Fiesta-ST170__CMECFFST.aspx http://www.carbonmods.co.uk/images/products/medium/engine-cover-fiesta-st.jpg Or maybe this: http://www.carbonmods.co.uk/Products/Carbon-Fibre-Zetec-Engine-Cover-Insert__CMZETECECI.aspx http://www.carbonmods.co.uk/Images/products/medium/zetec-engine-cover-inset.jpg

Dermot - I know what you mean. I just dented my wallet heavily this morning on a few go faster parts to get past Karl. It probably would have been cheaper to sign up with Jenny Craig/Weight Watchers to lose 30-40 pounds. BTW - I just love the sound of your Hayabusa just screaming up the rev range onto the straight - sends shivers up the spine!

So let me get this right.....you came to your senses and moved to the US? Or was it you moved to the US and then came to your senses! Personally, I think driving a seven in NYC is more silly than the hillclimb (nice driving!). When do you get your "new" seven?

Yes it is big! Karl is a very big boy!

Well that nicely wasted 45 mins of work. I had no issues playing it in the office. It is obvious there is a ton of effort in here by Tom and John. Three cheers for them! :hurray: The variety of camera angles made it interesting. You really could see that sevens were just taking any line possible chasing the other cars. I was less than impressed by someone slowing down the video for my spin! However, it was interesting to see how much of a dust cloud I created playing around on the infield. Definitely want to do another day like this again with the same group (and possibly more!).