Croc

I guess you had the first seven meltdown and to set a record for most memorable it had to happen in the bronx. Unfortunately, I dont have anything local to NYC to suggest. Kitcat has already mentioned in a response on one of your posts: - Ben at Caterham USA - Chris at Sevens & Elans While none of the following sites will list a Westfield specifically, the Kent engine was used across many British sports cars so with a bit of discussion they should be able to help you identify the part and supply it by mail: - Moss Motors http://mossmotors.com/ - Morgan Spares of New England - http://britishusedautoparts.com/ - http://brgparts.com/ I am not aware of any place local in NYC that would be able to help in this instance. This is where a AAA card would be useful to get you home to start the repair process. I am also local to NYC - just a bit further south down the Hudson River opposite Battery Park City.

Was this the inflatable model or the model that takes half your wealth when you try to return it?

Karl - That has to be the nicest finish on a gearbox I have ever seen. Looks beautifully engineered - and thats just on the outside. What a pity it will be covered up. Are you installing a flatshifter or other gear changing aid on the box to make it a little more forgiving on the road when you want to drive it there? PS - where did your old 6 speed end up going - NJ or out west? I know J was hoping it fit his but had doubts on the input shaft.

Ok Bruce......you forgot to program her to feel warm when it is really freezing in the seven on the long drive home from a NJ drive! Seriously.....does she have a sister? Hopefully she can be programmed with a dinner option?

Wow...that looks incredible! Any more pics to drool over?

I have thought the same for a long time. The historical WRC video clips out there of him are just amazing to watch.

Stolen from Blatchat - looks to be good advice for Karl and Ron. Who will be the first to expire in a cloud of neutrals? Probably would also help Tom who seems to have trouble finding 4th (and 5th and 6th :rofl: ). Methods of Changing Gear. By William Hewland. The following is some info regarding shifting gear and face dog wear. I am in the fortunate position where I have a good amount of knowledge on the subject, as I understand the mechanical side and the user (driver) side equally well. N.B. For succesful gear shifting, remember that it is critical to ensure that all mechanical elements between the drivers hand and the dog faces are in good order and properly set. This includes the gear linkage in the chassis! Successful up-shifting, (defined as fast and non dog-damaging) will be achieved by fully moving the dog ring as rapidly as possible from one gear to the next, preferably with the engine's driving load removed until the shift is completed. (The opposite is true of a synchromesh gearbox as used in passenger cars, where slow movement helps). It should be remembered that it is not possible to damage the dogs when fully engaged (in gear). The damage can only take place when initiating contact during a shift, (the `danger zone`) therefore this element must be made as short as possible. If a driver moves the gear lever slowly, or if the linkage is not rigid and effective, dog wear will occur. We always recommend lightweight yet solid rod linkage, not cables ideally. I list below the different methods of up-shifting that are used in racing most commonly. The best at the top, the worst at the bottom: Automated (semi automated). The movement of the dog ring is powered and the engine is cut / re-instated in a co-ordinated manner. Gear-shifts take milliseconds. This system produces zero dog wear when set up well. It is not applicable to most cars, but it illustrates that speed of shift is a good thing. Manual with engine cut. This system is almost as good as an automated one as long as the driver pulls the lever very quickly. Again it is not applicable to many cars, but it illustrates that speed of shift is a good thing. A `cheat` version of this is to shift on the engine rev limiter, which can work well. With this system it is especially important to move the lever ultra fast, otherwise the engine will be reinstated during partial dog engagement, causing damage. The damage can usually be felt by the driver. Manual. Best method: With no assistance from the engine management, the driver must lift off the throttle sufficiently to allow the dog ring to be pulled out of engagement. He should then stay off the throttle long enough to allow the dog ring to engage with the next gear. In practice, the driver can move the gear lever faster than he can move his foot off and back on to the throttle. Therefore the effective method is to apply load to the gear lever with your hand and then lift the throttle foot off and back on to the pedal as fast as physically possible. In lifting your foot, the loaded gear lever will almost involuntarily flick to the next gear before the foot is re-applied to the throttle. Another method is to load the gear lever with your hand, stay flat on the throttle and dab the clutch to release the dog ring. The overall effect on the gear shift is similar to the above method, but clutch wear may become a big issue. The worst method (most destructive and definitely slowest) is to attempt to change gear in a `passenger car / synchromesh` way, i.e. lifting off the throttle, dipping the clutch, moving the gear lever, letting the clutch up and re-instating the throttle. The method causes unnecessary clutch wear, does absolutely nothing to help come out of gear and usually causes dog wear whilst engaging the next gear. This wear is due to several reasons. Firstly, it is impossible for a driver to co-ordinate the complicated sequence of all five physical movements accurately. Consequently the engagement dogs often find themselves engaging whilst the throttle is applied. The lever is usually pulled more slowly as it was not pre-loaded, lengthening the `danger zone`. Successful down-shifting, has similar rules applied regarding speed of shift. Unloading the dogs is done in the opposite manner obviously. Whilst braking, the dogs must be unloaded by either touching the throttle pedal or- my preferred method- by dipping the clutch. However, one sharp dab of clutch or throttle is appropriate per shift. Continued pressure on either will cause dog damage for different reasons. `Blipping the throttle` just before engagement is advisable if the rev drops between gears are over 1300 rpm, as this will aid engagement and stabilise the car. TOP TIP for ease of downshifting: Make the downshifts as late as possible in your braking zone (i.e. at lower road speed), because the rev drops between each gear are then lower. So many drivers make the mistake of downshifting as soon as they begin braking, causing gearbox wear, engine damage and `disruption` to the driving wheels. This is a subject which can be much expanded on, but I feel that these are the basics, which I hope are of use. William Hewland, President, Hewland Engineering.

I drove past a red and ali seven at Fort Lee, NJ on Rt 9W just near the George Washington Bridge. He was heading south at 2.45pm. I was in the yellow seven and waved but the other driver just looked at me with mouth open - probably too surprised to happen across another seven on the road by chance. It was too quick to get a good look but was either an original Lotus series 2, caterham or birkin of some type. I have never come across another se7en while just out driving around - now I know what others think when they see our little cars loom into view... "WTF!" Gorgeous weather today in the NY area - brilliant sun, not a cloud in the sky, no wind, in the 50s. It was nice and snug in the se7en. I hope others got a chance to get out this weekend and blow the cobwebs away.

Yep....I recognize that dry Aussie humor coming through strong.

Climb Dance is one of the all time great motoring videos. I just love the way he looks so comfortable and at one with the car. John - I gather you had a little "oops moment" in 1994? What were you driving with Mitsu? Evos?

I think I am breathing again. He just bitchslapped that car up the mountain. I dont think I have ever seen that much arm movement wrestling a car around before. MichaelD is right - go big screen and loud sound. Stunning video.

Oh pleeaaasee....the only semi I have is when I see a pretty lady on the street. In my first and only international level race (touring cars) I came last and in my very last race I crashed at 160mph and ended up in a coma and on life support. Some people would even say I am brain damaged.....

That is looking great. What gearbox are you using for this car? It looks like a Quaife 6 speed but not sure....

Getting away from the unhealthy obsession with VAG.. Robert (Wallabyguy is his Britishspeed profile name) is the president of British Racing Group and is active within the LEO and PALS Lotus groups on the east coast. I have been pushing him to bring a Toniq along to one of the gatherings. He can also bring an xbow along now. It has taken them a very long time to get both of these cars up and selling here. I think they announced them as far back as 2007/2008? The first question - How does the xbow compare to the ariel atom? I think it has less performance and costs more money? The second question I have - Is an Xbow (or a Toniq) a seven or not?

Too harsh. Al and Mazda (slingsht), amongst a select small group of others, got this club off the ground in 2006 and 2007. The effort of those early years may not been seen in 2010 from Al but he did man up and at least try to explain. He could have slunk away without saying anything. There are no bonus points for taking shots at the guy now. At least he did not start a war on false pretext. I think you started the right debate and deserve a lot of credit for that. Let's not distract ourselves from the important issue of discussing where people want the club to go. If you think you have a better solution then lay it out there - you now have a large audience all focused in on this post ready to hear your views. I for one will be interested in seeing if you can step up and lay out a well reasoned view or just call people names childishly or just slink off and be silent. oh and by the way, in my humble experience, referring to people as 'cocksmokers' generally turns people off listening to you It does not matter whether or not it is your comment or you are relaying it from some knuckledragger who is happy to follow instead of lead. Luckily I am fairly laid back so do not get offended easily.

Its sort of being dammed either way. When I am in winter I want CA summer weather. When I am in the peak dog days of summer with no breeze, muggy humidity and just sweltering in the car, I want a nice cold day. Call me fussy. I know CA traffic is pretty ugly but I think NYC is just as bad. The other thing I found out there yesterday is the potholes - they are just MASSIVE this year. I know it was a bad year because of the weather but these are the type to swallow a seven whole. I thought I destroyed a alloy rim on the audi the other day, the car just crashed into it. In a seven you just do not see them coming at you until the last second as you are so low to the ground. I need to find a place that is seven friendly - is there such a heaven out there?

I had to take the Seven out today for its second trip this year - my second attempt to get emissions tested in 7 days. The car fired right up after its 2.5 month winter sojourn - no leaks or obvious issues, needles hanging in the right spots, all looked and sounded good. Only one problem - it was 18 degrees F out there this morning - cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. So looking like an eskimo I made the 100 mile round trip from work. Wow...talk about feeling alive. The car sounds fantastic in the cold air, under bridges and tunnels. It is just so immediate and instinctive compared to the daily driver - it is like being in a Seven for the first time again. It was still pretty icy on the roads from yesterday. Coming onto the Holland Tunnel plaza I got on the throttle a leeeetle too early and discovered that the Seven had all the traction of a kitten in a wet bathtub....oops.....progressed rather gingerly after that. The advantage of going early is that the roads were dry - none of the 2 inches snow we got yesterday that had been plowed to the side of the road had melted yet. The best news of the trip was that I passed emissions inspection. It took a while to test as its idle is above the NJ regulated idle speed - so there were some gymnastics there - I think there were 6 inspectors hovering around. Really cool car guys too. For the cruise test it was difficult to hold the car within its test rev band of 3300 to 3500 (I think that was it) but we eventually got there without a problem. :hurray: I get back to the office and discover that the reversing light lens has popped out and been lost on the road somewhere....oh well. At least I am driving this season. The other good news is that the new CSR started last week for the first time - solid oil pressure - looking good - maybe get that in March? Come on where are the rest of the hardy New Englanders? Why are you not driving yet? Or are you all a bunch of _____________? [insert naughty word as applicable] `

I have been checking in with my family/friends in Christchurch - all safe although in one case the house looks like it will be a write-off. It is good hear you are all safe Kiwi - unfortunately it is a long road ahead for the city to recover and rebuild.

Speaking of unburned fuel and flames, where is Roman? He is a another one that we should target for this. And I do not think Bster has committed yet.

Somehow I don't think you will have a problem passing. With your car the ability to get past on the straights is guaranteed. And as for the thread being 9 pages long - we are just having fun during the long cold winter months - join in!

Did we send a message to Mazda? I know he is still here and checking in. He might just be afraid of putting his big girl up against yours!

Putting aside all the Tomfoolery :rofl: in this post, I think Gert has hit the issue square....where is Al?

I think he is throttle steering by using the pulsed throttle to unsettle the car just enough with a corrdinated steering input to get the attitude of the car pointing right as he progresses through the corner. You could back off and have the rear inertia bring the back around but that is slower than continue to being on the throttle and continuing to accelerate.

Brilliant find Twobone! When I finished laughing at some of the stupidity...I am humble enough to remember that I do recall achieving a massive fail something like these guys as a pimply 17yo in my first car (ok maybe second and third cars too) .... Luckily I matured with no lasting damage from the broken legs, collarbone, arm, concussion.... Also these videos kept calling out a name for me...Boxologist, Boxologist, Boxologist.... :jester:

Sabine was my instructor for my first time at Nurburgring. This was well before I had seen her on TV. She was very funny and used humor to great effect during her laps around the track. It was the only time where I have been sick in a car - the circuit was that amazing. As TwoBone pointed out she is blessed genetically with good looks and driving talent. I imagine she would now be unaffordable to do the same instruction laps again. As for the staged laps? There were points when either the Porsche or the CSR looked suspiciously slow...