Croc

My guide was David Ridley, Caterham’s International Development Manager, who showed me the various models, features of the entire range – something we just don’t see with our smaller Seven market in the US. I was able to sit, study, admire, drool and generally be a nuisance while checking things out. It was intriguing to see the CSR with its inboard front suspension, IRS and curvy dash: I was also able to discuss David’s plans for the Caterham Drive Experience coming to the USA in 2011 (hopefully?). While I was there, a proud owner brought in his new Seven race car (I think it was an Academy). Just to show that the English have a well developed sense of humor, the Caterham sales guys were calling it the fried egg car – as it was a yellow and white color scheme (white body, yellow nose cone, cycle wings, and rear wings). To fill in time while I was there on the weekend, I had arranged to join a full day session of the Caterham Circuit Experience at Silverstone Circuit. These are a fairly big event held regularly in the UK. Other variations on the theme are the Caterham Drive Experience (an auto-x/slalom style of event) and the Caterham Drift Experience. The format for the day is to turn up at 8am, wake up with coffee and breakfast and have a 30 min briefing on the circuit, safety factors, and generally how the day will progress. Then you are turned loose on the circuit with your instructor who takes you on an initial 3 lap demonstration to point which way the track runs, the basic layout, the racing lines and give you some basics on safety protocols (i.e. when to overtake, etc). It worked out that I shared a car with 2 other guys in the morning and in the afternoon it was sharing with just 1 other guy. You ended up with roughly 3 x 15-20 min sessions in the morning and after lunch another 3 x 20 min sessions all driven with the instructor next to you coaching you by intercom. The final element of the day was the instructor taking you out to show you how a Seven can really handle in the hands of a pro instead of a ham fisted hacker (like me!). Some of you know that I had a large incident on a track many years back and lost confidence so I figured this was my way to get back in the saddle gently and regain some confidence. The cars were a mix of S3 and SV chassis. The engines were Sigma 150 which are Ford 1.6L 150 FWHP standard engines matched up with the Caterham 6 speed gearbox and no LSD. Standard seats and interior with 4 pt harnesses and an FIA roll bar. From my scrutiny they looked completely stock other than no ignition key and the speedo was deactivated (so no telling how fast you were going). Tires were the standard Avon SV3 road going tires with full tread – lots of squealing. The Caterham crew was quite large. Six cars were there of which we were using four. There were 4 instructors, a coordinator, and two mechanics all led by “Sudsy” as chief instructor. We were using Silverstone’s south circuit (i.e. the southern end of the F1 circuit). The National circuit had a race meeting on and Stowe was being used by a Drive a Formula Ford for a day program. South Circuit is the top half of the circuit in this aerial image of the full complex

Last week I was in London for another business trip. To make life fun I paid a Friday visit Caterham South showroom to check out the floor stock, buy some goodies and generally have fun. I had been to the factory about 5 years back but this time the factory was not available for visit. Not a real problem as there was plenty to explore at the South Showroom. In the lobby area was an original Lotus 7 on loan from the Nearn family (no photo sorry). There was also a bare CSR chassis to see how it differs to a regular Seven chassis. There was also the new Monaco Seven model. Inside was red carpet trim – not necessarily my cup of tea when it comes to style but I appreciate the effort to keep the designs fresh. Out back in the warehouse was where they keep the jewels. There were more Sevens in one spot than I had seen in my entire life. We think it is an achievement in the US when we get 10-15 Sevens at a major meeting. Not having been to 7-7-07, I clearly missed a major meeting but even so, the garage below was impressive:

What about a drag race down the runway? :drool:

I was concerned that it would be too cold to participate in the drive. Good to see temp is heading up again.

I found it fun too for the first day then the reality hit: - Getting the ticket out of the machine at the pay parking lot - paying a toll on an interstate. oops! The worst combination has to be the US Virgin Islands - you drive on the lefthand side of the road with an LHD car. Visibility on left turns is terrible!

Great photo Gert!

Is Betsy the monkey in your avatar picture? Or is it the better half? Or...is it the car? stay tuned for the next exciting instalment!

Did something break on the car in the second video? He started his braking, almost started a right turn but then stopped and steered for the break in the trees. Thats a weird situation. First one definitely a cold tires trick - check..done that!

Welcome to USA7's Unfortunately I am not sure you will get a good answer from anyone here as I don't think anyone on this forum has a CSR. I understand there are only 6 in the USA. Not that many given the size of the country. However, your best bet maybe to post here: http://www.csr7.com/ Click on the forum link and sign up and post a message there. It is fairly quiet - maybe only 20-30 members in total. Also the site operator, Darren, seems a really nice guy and may answer an email you send him, especially if you explain that you have a CSR on order. I am sort of surprised Caterham refused to answer given you are a past and current customer? Cheers

For some reason South Park the Movie comes to mind in this thread. In particular that catchy jingle "Blame Canada!" :jester: Bruce - you are wicked!!!

Gert - your post made me smile. As the product review notes: Loud By Nolan Poe from California. on 12/1/2009 Pros:Loud Cons:Bulky Best Uses:Making loud noises Describe Yourself:Enthusiast Primary use:Personal Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments about RadioShack 108dB Piezo Buzzer: I replaced the buzzer in my quiet alarm clock with this thing and it works great. It's worth noting that it is a siren, not a constant tone. Maybe this is better suited as a car alarm rather than a buzzer when you forget to turn off the turn signal? At least you would hear it through the ear plugs (along with everyone else in a 1 mile radius).

Sounds like Mr Lancy has been a naughty boy? I am not sure I would be winding up my local police orificer...it can only end up bad for you.

This car was up for sale by consignment with Dick Brink about 2 or so years back. There was a lengthy post at the time by the member who test drove it/inspected it.

That is an interesting observation. Going and checking the retail price lists now, a R500 kit is $61057 and a CSR superlight is $50250. Some of that difference is going to widen because CSR is SV and an R500 is svelte (more size = more money in theory). Then I would expect the price difference to narrow as the R500 has more goodies as standard over the CSR superlight which features them as options. The CSR is not too slow as it unofficially did a 1.17.6 around Dunsfold (Top Gear track) which was faster than the R500 rover engine car. Pretty close even after allowing for weather, driver, temp, etc variables. Blatchat once had a similar discussion and one commenter mentioned that Caterham did not feel the need to go to IRS for R500 as it was seen as a track-oriented car and with a smooth track surface there was no advantage to IRS over de Dion in handling/performance and there was a weight advantge in favor of the de Dion (IRS is heavier). Not sure how true that is but it sounds plausible as I vaguely recall Dick Brink writing a similar opinion paper a while back making the similar performance assertion for live axle cars vs IRS on track cars. I am at Caterham UK next week so I will take this question away for then. Having driven a Birkin IRS back to back with the Birkin live axle the difference was significant - way in favor of the Birkin IRS Seven. It just felt like a bigger car and was far more composed on a rough road surfaces. The live axle hopped and jounced around plus gave more wheel spin trying to put power down. I felt the Birkin IRS was a big improvement over my de Dion SV. It was such a big difference that I came home thinking I needed to re-set my suspension as it must be out of whack. It was not - the Birkin IRS was just better in real world rough roads. Now in CA where I think you have pretty decent quality roads unlike NJ plus a stud driver like yourself (Mazda - want to be a passenger again? ) then the need for IRS may not be be as great.

Even better read some of the product reviews...they are classic!

Hi Taber :seeya: It was not a jab as I had no idea you had an SV. In fact I assumed you had an S3 given you are far more svelte than tubby old me! Cheers

I think there was only 1 SV at LOG - mine. However I agree with you, Caterham did a good job of disguising the size differential with proportioning. You can always pick an SV by focusing on the nose - its the difference between a wide-mouth bass and a regular mouthed one. Excellent presentation - thought provoking. The CSR suspension design cures many of the handling ills that I find dissatisfactory in my regular roadsport model Seven - rear bump steering and over-reaction to poor road surfaces. Some of this is because I live in an area with crap roads which is a downside to my owning a car like this.

It would go very nicely with a series 1 Seven...however at that price I will pass. Works out around 2-4% of the going rate for a Seven of that vintage.

I thought the track day rules were a little strange. You seemed to be able to overtake people under brakes and in areas where I would have thought you would have been banned. It seemed to be more of a semi-race. The other thing that struck me was the diversity in speed of the cars on the track. There was a old ford fiesta circulating - against a R500 and a porsche 911 of some type. I assume that driver skill level was the defining criteria here?

There is a long and interesting story that would address the question that your keen powers of observation have identified - best described over a few (too many) beers.

Skip - Now that I see the pic I can see what a brilliantly simple and effective idea you came up with. Why didn't I think of that ..duh! :leaving:

Skip - Do you have a pic that illustrates what you did? I am struggling to imagine what you did. Many thanks

The photos just do not do the car full justice. It is a great looking color combination in the flesh. The dual black stripes set it off beautifully. Ben at Caterham does a nice job of putting these together with lots of nice attention to detail. A couple of things were very noticeable to me: - the duratec installation is far neater and tidier than my SVT zetec. Just seems to be more clear space around the motor and the plumbing seems cleaner. Plus it is a great looking motor. - first time I have seen lowered floors. If I get a new Seven I definitely will have this as an option. You are settled nice and low - much snugger position. Also has to be good for avoiding a little more wind buffetting.

LEO hosts it's final Spirited Drive of the year, on Sunday, November 14th! Once again, our supporter William Thomas Roadsters will host the beginning of the Drive. Meet at WTR, 269 Everittstown Rd (Route 513), Frenchtown, NJ, 08825, at 10:30 AM for coffee and refreshments. Bill Thomas will show us the latest Sector111 bits for Elises. Then, about 11:15 AM, we will depart on a two-hour, 60 mile Drive though some of the most scenic areas in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It's the usual LEO Road Romp: lots of curvy secondary roads. This year we even throw in a couple of covered bridges! As a special treat we will be stopping at the Van Sant Airport in Erwinna, PA (Bucks County) to have a look-see at the old airplanes and gliders. http://www.vansantairport.com/ Our final destination is the Indian Rock Inn in Upper Black Eddy, PA, just a few miles south of Interstate 78 on the Delaware River. This picturesque inn is situated on the Delaware River right on the D&L Canal Towpath (which is now a hiking trail). Geat food and drink! http://indianrockinn.com/welcome-to-the-indian-rock-inn/virtual-tour-inside-and-out/ For those who came on our July Sevens Run in the area, Van Sant Airport is was the small airport we passed but did not stop at.

You didn't blow up the crossflow did you?