Croc

A very nice Aston: A very nice retro looking Porsche GT3: Following the ogling of the pleasures of motoring, we moved over to Skip’s place for the Colorado Sevens gathering. A gratuitous pic of my car!

The usual late model Ferrari’s were present – look at the dinner plates on this fire hazard: Feeling expensive, I drooled on the Lamborghini V12 in a Countach:

A wonderful looking AC Bristol:

A lovely Fiat – I could live with this in my driveway: Not sure if this was an original Cobra or not – never talked to the owner. Had an ali body, nice details and a lovely patina – the owner clearly gets it on the road and drives it like it should be driven: A nice race prepped Shelby Mustang GT 350: A nice Jag E type – fairly fresh restoration:

On 4/2/2011 I took the CSR SL out for its maiden blat with the Colorado Sevens group. It was a 7am meet at a Cars & Coffee event in Lafayette CO. I think it set a record for something like 9 sevens turning up: The cars on display were great. The setting was really good: I loved this Miata stuffed with an LS motor. Later, back at Skip’s garage I was chatting with the owner. He has plans to drop the engine lower to provide for a normal bonnet clearance so the “holey” bonnet gets replaced. The noise this little beast put out was remarkable.

So what is it like? OMG!!!!! Now I know what Warp 9 on Star Trek’s USS Enterprise feels like. There is a somewhat deep menacing idle, very nice and tractable at low revs. However, when you hit 3000rpm then the thing just takes off and there is a wave of power and torque all the way through to 7000rpm. The suspension is very well designed and clearly a generation ahead of my Zetec Roadsport SV. Very smooth and controlled, bumps do not shake it off line. It feels like a much bigger car. The CR500’s were impressive – sticky enough that I can now start a gravel mining business from the cockpit of the CSR SL. I was taking it fairly easy as the brakes were still bedding in. Given it is new, the 6 speed box is very notchy and reverse can be difficult to find. I am still making mistakes with the box as I am used to the T9 with wider gate spacing, whereas the Caterham 6 speeder is quite tightly spaced on its gates. On the way to Skip’s house I was alongside Bob Simon at the lights and thought I would try a 0-60 run away from the lights (it was a 60mph zone just for the record). Blindingly quick in first and second gears then muppet-me made an appearance and changed into 5th gear. Almost as good as the gear change I did at Silverstone last year going from 5th to 2nd. The cockpit feel is very much like a regular car – especially with the car-like steering column wands for indicator, headlights and wipers. It will be a warm place in winter as the tubes on the dash and transmission tunnel warm up with running. It is harder to get into than my Zetec SV as the wheel is placed closer to your body and is non-detachable. Also the extra chassis cross bracing makes it difficult to find the right spot to put your feet when getting in. Compared to the other sevens I have driven, this thing is a generation ahead in abilities. I am so looking forward to getting it on my home roads.

Shakedown Blat Day – 4/2/2011 The headers are starting to color up nicely!

Delivery Day – 4/1/2011 This was entertaining. I get to the workshop and get in the car and find I cannot push the clutch pedal down as my foot is too wide – WTF. A deeper investigation with Jon and later Ben, showed that Caterham UK had installed 2 clutch pedals so both were so tight that there was no way I was ever going to be able to drive with a clutch. In trying to replace the pedal we discovered a bit of bodge job had been done with a cotter pin by the UK so that led to some puzzlement. Also had to cinch up a bleed nipple as we had a leak. Then it was off for a test drive. Being new the clutch was being finicky and the brakes were soft as anything as they had not yet bed in.

Assembly Photos – 1/14/2011

Assembly Photos – 12/15/2010 Assembly Photos – 12/22/2010

I was very lucky to be given the opportunity to buy an exceedingly well spec’ed Caterham CSR Superlight kit from a gentleman who unfortunately was unable to carry through to completion. However, his inspired specifications gave rise to a formidable beast. Specifications CSR Superlight kit Cosworth Duratec CSR 260 engine package. This takes the standard 2.3L Duratec and (as I have it listed from Cosworth) uprated for the following Cosworth parts: forged pistons with CR at 12:1, piston rings, forged connecting rod, level 2 race camshaft, cam friction washers, race valve springs, Cosworth polished cylinder head, high flow fuel injectors, high capacity fuel rail, Modine oil cooler, high flow oil pump, stage 2 dry sump, roller barrel throttle bodies, carbon air box with foam filter, new ECU with Caterham specific map, carbon coil cover, lightweight alternator (40 amp) Engine was dyno’ed and run in by Cosworth prior to installation in the CSR. [*]Caterham 6 speed transmission [*]limited slip differential (3.62:1) [*]inboard front suspension [*]independent rear suspension [*]ventilated front discs and 4 pot calipers [*]15" Caterham motorsport wheels and Avon CR500 tires - 6.5" front and 9" rear [*]Quick ratio steering rack [*]Carbon front cycle wings [*]Carbon rear wings [*]Aero cross section front wishbones [*]Integrated ("curvy") dash (comes with lowered floors, Momo wheel and push button start). It also comes with column pod for self-cancelling indicators, wipers and headlights. The wipers even have an intermittent setting!!! [*]5 point harnesses [*]Track day roll bar [*]Paint is Titanium silver with Platinum silver stripe and noseband [*]Black pack (headlights, windscreen, carbon-look sills) [*]Brackets for quick change over of windscreen to aeroscreen [*]Spa carbon mirrors with convex lens [*]Mirrors for Sevens rear view mirror [*]Carbon indicator pods (with clear lens) [*]Battery master switch [*]Heater [*]Aero filler cap [*]"7" grille with mesh grille [*]Cool touch exhaust muffler [*]Tonneau [*]Roll bar mounted brake light [*]weather kit (sidescreens, hood, hood sticks) [*]SBFS half hood with double easy entry in [*]Aces change up lights - will be mounted on the underside of the scuttle above the tach/speedo [*]secret sauce kit good for an extra 10 hp As I will be using this on the road, I also added a windscreen (carbon aeroscreen is standard on the CSR Superlight) and I dropped the carbon/alacantara Tillets and substituted them for the leather seats as they will be more comfortable for touring. Other additions were 12 volt plug, fire extinguisher, half doors, Hella horns, and wind deflectors. The carbon was fully covered in 3M clear bra to protect it from moisture/humidity and the inevitable white spotting. The original plan was to use clear coat to seal the carbon, however, when tested on the canards the porous carbon was found to create a noticeable dimpling effect on the surface. Multiple coats seemed to be better but still was noticeable. The clear coat was still used on the underside as a sealant as the dimpling will never be seen there. Clear bra was also put on the usual spots where stone chipping occurs (e.g. nosecone). For assembly I had Ben and Jon at Caterham USA put it together as I have too many other things going on to devote time to it. Opening the Box – 10/31/2010

The winging my way home comes later today. I am uploading pics to photobucket as I type this. It was a brilliant day - I think Skip paid off a rain god somewhere and then led us (ok...lets call it disppearing) up a canyon with these great twisties and spectacular scenery. As for the car ... wow! I will make a separate post once I get the photos online.

Tom, the Brooklands looks great - nice classic chromey look. Having seen Skip's mirrors on his car in person today I think they are identical to what you have. I know its off topic so sorry in advance, but what cam set up did you get? I am curious to see if my Superfat rear end will come out nice and clear in high definition and color as I go screaming past you with me squealing like a little girl behind the wheel :jester:

Yes, I experimented with this. For each S3 Tillet - up to a size 34-35 inch waist is comfortable max. CSR Carbon Tillet - up to a size 38 inch waist is comfortable max although you could argue a 40 could squeeze in depending on body shape. SV regular road seat - No idea but it takes big guys like Blubarisax and myself comfortably!

I like to think of the S3 vs SV difference in terms of jean size - muffin top or no muffin top! Seriously, I like having the extra pedal box room plus the extra elbow room is nice.

A free site for good roads that is not as populated as the Pashnit site, that I use is: http://www.motorcycleroads.us/index.html Some of the finds in NJ/NY/PA have been excellent.

Yep...know that feeling....he could have been quoting me! :rofl: I guess it is the same a world over when you bingle the corner of something expensive.

True...but I am sure you had some skidmarks? :rofl:

Damn...I see you worked out your retro cam cover weighed a ton like I was hoping. Thats one small advantage I just lost! :toetap05: Seriously for a moment, I cannot recall the exact spec. There was an oil breather - no idea on size though. I am travelling this week and next with the paperwork I need to check. Also until we get side by side to check each others out, I am thinking there possibly may be a difference in the configurations that I have compared with yours just because we sourced them at different times and from different channels (Cosworth UK vs USA).

Did anyone else see this? http://www.topspeed.com/cars/caterham/index259.html http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/201102/irmscher-i-selectra-2_460x0w.jpg 2011 Irmscher i SELECTRA German firm, Irmscher, is coming to the Geneva Motor Show with a peculiar concept car that it’s tagging as the ‘I SELECTRA’. Now if you’re wondering if the concept looks remarkably similar to a Caterham 7, it’s because it actually is one. Or was one, depending on how you see it. See, before putting their touches on the concept, the German tuner went out and stripped down a Caterham 7 and then fitted it with its own electric powertrain. We don’t really know whether to be flattered or disappointed on Irmscher’s decision to completely undress a car as iconic as a 7, but that’s an issue for another time. What we do have is a car that does have the power to make the Caterham 7 proud, especially since it achieves those numbers by using an electric motor, which is always a good thing given the growing paradigm shift towards eco-friendly vehicles.

What time Jon? I will see if I can escape the office at the right time.

Karl - can non-PCA people attend the Pocono Raceway event? Any more details? You got me thinking....

Fish and Chip Run is Sunday May 1. Begins at Milford NJ and ends up at lunch at Ship inn. Always a good event run by Robert (Wallabyguy on LotusTalk). Mostly a LEO Group crowd. I hope Robert brings a Toniq or a KTM xbow to check out (he runs the company that imports them). Atwell stepped down from active LEO organization for family reasons - I hope it all goes well for him and his family. I am sure Bruce will pop up shortly with his time in June for the "Bowker Annual Sevens Run". Of course around April 2, Skip has organized a Denver Sevens group run for me in Denver to run in the CSR Superfatty. Canyon carving is apparently de rigueur on such events. However, what I really want to know is when the next Boxologist incident is scheduled for? The seven is off the road, the miata is close to it, but the Subie is back on the road with an impressive WRX turbo setup to help Jon be a misguided missile.

I think Tom is referring to this: http://www.caterhamparts.co.uk/product.php?id_product=3473 or this: http://www.caterhamparts.co.uk/product.php?id_product=303 Then again he is from Philly so he could be referring to this: http://www.chanel.com/ :jester:

Just got back from my 180 mile run. Started instantly - no issues. Took the car north along the Hudson River, then under the George Washington Bridge at Henry Hudson Drive and kept going up to Newburgh across the river and then south. I got to go through my favorite tunnel on Rt 9 (three times! ) before crossing the Hudson again and finding my way onto Seven Lakes Drive - going up and back just to enjoy the road. I had the road to myself, lakes were still iced up, potholes not too bad, even a wave from a friendly policeman. The sitting in the cockpit of a seven in the sunshine is a nice cosy place on a cool spring day like today.