Croc

Thats only for those guys who are a little light in the loafers and have trouble putting the foot down. :jester:

They were trying to emulate the looks of the Series 4 Seven. I think they well exceeded their task.

From Dick Brink's Texas Motorworks: Dutton Details http://image9.autorevo.com/1281/pics/3080191_4f8624e6-534c-4f9a-a37e-b65ecff4a9e8.jpg We are selling this Dutton Phaeton 3! The car was built in England thus the steering wheel is on the right hand side. It was built using mostly Escort MK1 and MK2 components. It is powered by the awesome Ford 1600cc Crossflow engine coupled with a Ford T-9 five speed transmission. The Phaeton 3 was introduced in 1982 and this one was probably built in 1983-1984. In the time we have owned this vehicle it was used primarily as part of a trade show display. It has been stored indoors exclusively and has rarely been outdoors since being repainted in the summer of 2009. Decals that are shown on the car will be removed and will not tarnish the exterior in any way. New Birkin seats were installed in the fall of 2009. The engine features a ported steel crossflow head with a 3 angle blended valve job, alloy springs caps, dual springs, alloy pushrods, a Crane 500 lift camshaft, new +.020 Pistons and rings. Engine has been balanced both statically and dynamically. It has a Cosworth lightened steel flywheel with a 7 ¼” Tilton Rally Clutch. It has a Weber 32/36 carburetor and a K&N filter mounted on a ported intake manifold. Engine was completely tuned in the fall of 2009. This car is a gas to drive. It has awesome acceleration and corners on a dime. All electricals including the wipers and all gauges are fully operational. This car is licensed and titled in the state of Missouri so it is street legal. With a few upgrades this would make a great autocross car. http://image9.autorevo.com/1281/pics/3080191_d108a86d-f173-4d62-8907-fae2a9bc3c5c.jpg http://image9.autorevo.com/1281/pics/3080191_f3ac67d8-15bb-42ea-b7e0-f6e506738a6d.jpg More images at: http://www.texasmotorworks7.com/

Mike - I think your moustache would need the "Just for men" treatment to match the track god guy! Yep - I can relate to Tim in the R8 video at VIR. Done that myself more than a few times at various facilities....you would think I would have learned by now.... I think I will sign up for the beginner session at NJMP....I dont want to be "that" guy!

Ok...so we should get back on track away from the question of using a Seven to outrun bears or just put noisy bells on them. The website marketing blurb says this: A bright future For over 30 years, Caterham chassis have been handmade by highly skilled craftsmen at Arch Motors, who have bronze welded the chassis tubes together and panelled the cars in their distinctive, lightweight, aluminium skin. In 2005 Caterham realised that, despite the craftsmanship of Arch, to further improve chassis tolerances and overall rigidity a new high technology construction method would be required. This also provided an opportunity to switch to all-metric dimensions for the first time! In 2006 Caterham announced a partnership with Steel Fabrications*, already responsible for manufacturing the Seven’s F.I.A. approved roll cages and road-going roll-over bars since 2002. Steel Fabrications undertook the metric based development of the Seven chassis and invested over £500,000 in sophisticated new equipment. Technology Steel Fabrications purchased both the latest CAD modelling with finite element analysis (FEA) and state of the art computer controlled tube and sheet laser cutters and robotic welding cells. These advanced processes give tighter tolerances and improved quality control, resulting in more accurate components and ultimately a better chassis. The goal of the program was a 10% increase in chassis rigidity, although final testing has confirmed a 12% gain over handmade chassis. This is a remarkable improvement for a chassis that has already been honed and developed over more than 30 years. Crash Tested As part of Caterham Cars continuing commitment to meet European type approval standards, the chassis successfully completed an extensive crash test programme that complies with Low Volume Approval. Compliance means that Caterham Cars is one of the very few low volume manufacturers that can register product in EU markets, in particular France, Germany and Italy. This crash test represents a huge achievement for a car manufacturer of its size and highlights the technical integrity of the chassis. Passing these crash test requirements will guarantee that Caterham remains ahead of the competition and any forthcoming regulations in future years. The best gets better Chassis rigidity is a key component in the handling of all cars, because chassis flex is the enemy of suspension geometry. So, all this technology means that your new Sigma engined Caterham 7 will handle, ride and fit together better than ever before! To put some more meat behind the blurb, there is this study which was originally on the Caterham UK website but now seems to have disappeared - click the "O'Connell" attachment to this linked post: http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showpost.php?p=29481&postcount=1 I know it talks about Roadsport SV however in marketing terms it became the CSR. So that is the theory and statistical element covered, now the other aspect of your question is whether there is truly a seat of the pants difference in feel? No idea - have not driven a CSR back to back with a regular de dion or other Seven for that matter. I have driven a Birkin IRS car at some length and was thoroughly impressed with it over the regular Birkin live axle on same real world crappy roads.

Tom's ideas have possibilities. However, if you prefer to consider other alternatives, how about this little special: http://www.scrutonmarine.com/A2047.htm A couple of lengths of chain around either Karl's or Ron's axles and job is done. Cheaper than a crossflow too!

Oh yeah! I love those :drool: They match the faded yellow of your car quite nicely!:jester:

Busa - :rofl: My commute this week has been about normal despite waking up one morning with 16 inches outside the window. I come downstairs, my car is waiting for me, running, cabin up to a nice 70 degrees, heated seats nice and warm, no snow on it because it has been under cover all night, positioned by the valet guys to be right outside the front door...of the condo complex! Driveway is always plowed and shoveled. Once on the road it is a different story - I am in a city that does not plow snow out the way properly. End result is many streets are impassable as a plow runs one lane down the road. The cars on each side are now plowed in and so to they dig themselves out by shoveling snow back onto the road....making the road a sometimes blocked or best case an obstacle course until enough cars tamp the snow down to make it sort of driveable. Still it is fun to take the tin top all wheel drive around these back streets and play low speed rally driver. I have been looking for a moment to get the Seven out for its midwinter run. No chance - I need the snow to melt and the salt to be washed off the road. It is time for its NJ road safety inspection in the next 30 days.

Sounds a perfectly good idea....can I suggest your dark blue with red noseband would go very well paired with Kryptonite green or Aztec Orange? That way I have a chance to keep up as Ron is a blazing fast driver and Karl is no slouch either.

:rofl: Congratulations Ron! It is beginning to look like a Sevens "arms race" in this NY metro region. Are you having Ben build it for you?

Ortenburger p88 "RM Classics of South Africa produced two versions of the Lotus Seven and they were the RM 7 and the special equipment RM 8. Both versions called for the same engine, the Ford sierra. Both cars featured stainless steel front and rear bumpers, petrol tank, wing stone guards, roll bar and sidewinder exhaust. Both versions had a plush padded dashboard and full carpeting. .... RM 7 was the standard version while the RM 8 was built to a more luxurious specification. These included a slightly longer and wider cockpit fitted with leather seats. Both cars used the familiar double wishbones in the front and a rigid axle in the back but the RM 8's front suspension was completely adjustable. The RM 8 was visually different as well due to the fitting of ten inch wide wheels front and rear. The RM 7 had clam shells in front but the RM 8 used cycle wings." RM Classics was also tied in with the Caterham and Westfield litigation when those two companies sued Tiger Company who at the time were importing fRM cars into the UK.

Go on Bruce...you have to buy it...you know Nancy wants a heater in the Seven! A bit more space never goes astray. No more frost bite coming back from NJ Seven drive days... I will even drop my price if you prefer yellow....:seeya:

Here is the link: http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f162/2003-caterham-sv-w-duratech-engine-california-registered-97088/ Well....as someone unenthusiastically trying to sell an SV, I will say that the seller has keenly priced it below mine. For the spec, this is the best SV deal (bar one) that has been available in the last 4 years based on the SV sales I have tracked. Ignore my ad and jump on this one. Off to revise my ad's asking price I think...:leaving:

Brilliant photo - really does look like the backroads of nowhere. Yet again this reminds me of what a huge roadtrip you achieved with your Seven - monumental achievment! Back to the discussion topic - I think you are right. Cosworth does say it will take a mix of regular octane and premium octane for short periods but the motor should be in unstressed conditions. Not something I would want to intentionally go for. Did you use an octane booster for any fill ups on your trip?

Yep heading east into NY area if the rumors are true....

I have faith he did not mate with his gearbox....:jester: My suggestion is compromise on the CR. You want a track and road hybrid. The extra compression may be just nice on the track but the incremental benefit it gives you is minimal. If it were my trade off I would aim to get an engine that can be run on premium and is still fun on the road without being too peaky.

The orange Seven looks like Mopho?

You are right and wrong. The basic pricing strategy as you describe is correct. The engine ancilliary package is within the R500 kit price and you only buy a bare engine and a gearbox. Now a Caterham 6spd gearbox is UK Pounds 2550 plus shipping ($350?) to US. Running it through my pricing model from my car you come up with: R500 superlight kit on Caterham USA is $67320 plus bare engine $3k plus Caterham 6spd box $4250 and shipping $350 is $74920 CSR kit at $46125 plus engine and geabox and other items to match the R500 kit spec on Cat USA (e.g metallic paint at $2435, etc) prices out at approximately $74100 CSR Superlight kit at $50250 plus engine and gearbox and other items to match R500 spec prices out at approximately $78000 Give or take a couple of hundred dollars in the exchnage rate at time of engine and gearbox purchase then the R500 is pretty close to a regular CSR in pricing. The CSR Superlight adds a premium over those two.

Yep that stacks up with what I was told. The standard package does not include it but it is an available option that a lot of people elect to go with but probably is not necessary other than for meeting sales targets. The roller throttle bodies that I saw match the looks of the Cosworth catalog. I bet Caterham buys them slightly down spec'ed from Cosworth and rebrand them. Caterham is not in the business of making throttle bodies but clearly someone else is and I doubt they copy a Cosworth looking design without Cosworth having a hand in it somewhere. Interestingly the Caterham UK email I have does state them as Cosworth. To get from 250 to 260? Probably exaggeration. Most of the advertised engine specs from Caterham have always been slightly optimistic. If there is any real gain then it is in the ECU software programming.

I was confused about the crankshaft initially based on the same catalog I thiink you are looking at. However Caterham UK sent me something that said it was in the spec. Short of opening up the engine I have to trust that. Secret sauce? Mmmmm.....if I tell you then it would not be secret!

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. Hope you were unhurt? Which circuit was this at? Fortunately, the damage looks fairly easy for someone skilled like you to fix. Did the floods get you at all?

That is exactly what it feels like. Very weird sensation. Surprisingly there were no RHD cars on the road. They were all LHD brought in from the mainland.

:smilielol5: No diffuser needed - I think they look silly on a Seven because they have to hang so far off the back it looks like you have a crop harvester. Rear wing? I suppose I can use it as a drinks stand in between sessions at the June track day? Sequential - I did give this one some thought. Having driven one on track before I thought it was :drool: then I took it out into traffic. I also got very confused as to which gear I was in. So I am safer in a convention "H" pattern gearbox. Is there an option I missed? I doubt it....I did spend a wet Sunday afternoon and evening in London while there on business last year prowling the Caterham parts website catalog, Fluke Motorsports, Cosworth, Demon Tweeks and Carbon Bits for ideas that I could order for this car. And video/datalogging? Gee just great! Why not buy something that will memorialize my spin on a track day or more likely getting pulled over for speeding on a Lotus club drive...

So I do not forget this and I save it somewhere, the final spec settled on: CSR Superlight kit Cosworth Duratec CSR 260 engine package. This takes the standard 2.3L Duratec and (as I have it listed from Cosworth) uprates for the following Cosworth parts: forged pistons with CR at 12:1, piston rings, forged connecting rod, billet crankshaft, 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 airbox with foam filter, new ECU with Caterham specific map, carbon coil cover, lightweight alternator (40 amp) [*]Caterham 6 spd 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. [*]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 [*]Carbon indicator pods (with clear lens) [*]Battery master switch [*]Leather seats (I was unfortunately not comfortable in the alacantara carbon tillets - pity as they were superb to look at and drool over) [*]Heater (I know - its not superlight...but it does get cold in my part of the USA) [*]Aero filler cap [*]"7" grille with mesh grille [*]Cool touch exhaust muffler [*]Tonneau [*]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 There are other miscellaneous things that I am adding now - 12 volt plug, fire extinguisher, half doors, Hella horns, wind deflectors, high level rear brake light, sump guard, door pockets,mirrorsforsevens wink mirror, etc. To protect the carbon it is being clear coated front and back and will also be 3M clear bra'ed front and rear wings plus nose. For the aeroscreen, I am yet to make a final decision but this one is calling my name right now as it can be configured with the quick change brackets to be a 10 min conversion job: http://www.fluke-motorsport.co.uk/carbon-fibre-contoured-lip-aeroscreen-suitable-for-caterhams-p-30.html

Japan and India also are right hand drive although in India it was more you drive whereever you want to :ack: My favorite is the US Virgin Islands - left hand drive cars driving on the left hand side of the road. Such a weird feeling to be so close to the kerb when driving. The US bought the islands off Denmark if you go back in history. This Belgium driver must be from there!