JeffC

I am by no means an electronics expert, but my guess the whine is EMF from the alternator or ignition system (high energy coil, i.e. MSD). There are filters you can buy and attach to the alternator, or MSD, to eliminate the noise. Search the net for more info. You posted earlier that you use the external power option (12VDC accessory power jack). Have you tried unplugging that and running off of the internal battery alone? I wonder if EMF could be transmitted through the power cord.

The gain is not adjusted on the microphone. The gain setting, along with several other camera settings, resides in an editable text (txt) file that resides on the memory card. When the camera is powered up, the camera processer reads the settings on this text file. There are several settings that can be changed within the camera: exposure, sharpness, white balance, contrast, saturation, frame rate, mic gain, and so on. The Replay microphone is a battery powered condenser microphone, just like the Audio-Technica ATR3350. I know Paul Kwan in Houston, who has three Caterham Sevens. He's kindly let me drive two of them. It's partially his fault that sleep with pleasant dreams of driving a Seven.

Hello. My name is Jeff, and I've been a lurker of this forum for a while as some day I hope to be a 7 owner. I've been reading this thread, as I too have been playing with POV cameras. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Croc evaluation of different cameras. I drive a BMW Z4 M coupe in autocross and track events. I have the Replay XD 1080HD, and like xcarguy I love the video quality, but it was a challenge to get great audio quality. I too found the windbreakers not to solve the wind noise issue. I got the Replay external mic, and tried it in all different positions. The best location I found is in the engine bay, and the second best is with the microphone clipped on the rear license plate pointed towards the exhaust. Here are some examples with the microphone mounted in the engine bay (gain setting at max 59 dB): And on the rear plate:

What is this that Kurt is building?

Wow, are those prices per tire?!!

The first picture is amazing, but the car is as yellow as a 'naner.

Wonderful shots!

Love the screwdriver handle used for a shifter knob!

Gorgeous car. Why did you decide to change from clams to cycle fenders? Also, how may miles are on the chassis & engine?

Why is there such a huge gap between the rear tires and wings? Is it that the rear springs haven't settled yet, or are all Caterham 7s like that?

Hey, I've driven your car! I was at Dick's place a week before you and drove that red/silver car. I also drove the green/gold car with wide track front suspension and IRS rear suspension.

Hmmm...I read the thread title and thought the discussion was going to be about tires.

Dave- Is the floor sheet metal thick/stiff enough to mount the seat directly to? I mean, does the floor flex at all with the seat mounted to it?

Hey guys, Last weekend I went to visit Dick Brink at his shop in Arlington. He was so nice and helpful. I spent about four hours at his shop talking cars. We went over just about every detail about the Birkin, we used the his configuration program to price out a car I would like to build, I drove a couple of his Birkins, and he even took me out to lunch! So I am trying to decide between a Birkin and Caterham SV. I like the larger footbox you get with the Caterham SV. I wore Piloti shoes when driving the Birkin, and the footbox was so small I had trouble with my footwork. I suppose if I had some narrower shows, like Pumas, and more time with the car, the small footbox probably won't be so bad. The extra width of the Caterham SV is nice, but the Birkin is not too narrow for me. My problem with both cars is I am staring right at the top of the windshield. That makes it tough to see an approaching stoplight. I'm 6'2" and have a fairly long torso. I understand you can get a floor lowering kit for the Caterham. Does anyone here have that option? How is the floor lowered? Can you do the same thing in a Birkin? Are there other ways to lower yourself in a Birkin? Thanks.

Foohey..what a newbie. I put this in the wrong forum.

Thanks to Paul (pksurveyor), I got my first drive in a Seven this past Saturday! It was a blast. Now I've confirmed I have the Seven bug. Pictures: http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC010181.jpg http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC01047.jpg http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC01047.jpg http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC01044.jpg

Oh wow. The Ultralite looks like a monster truck next to the Birkin!

What a great group you have here. I didn't expect such a great response to my questions. Thanks, guys!

As far as size, I am 6'2" and 170 lbs. I've sat in small cars: Miatas, MGs and the like, and I'm staring right at the top of the windshield. Becuase of m height, I would probably not get the smaller Caterham, but the SV. I'm a mechanical engineer, and alway have worked on my cars. I have a small lathe, mill and drill press, but never ventured into welding, so the Caterham kits fit my abilities. I like the suggestion of taking an old/used Caterham and restoring it and fixing it up to suit my desires. Thanks to all your suggestions.

I'd like to get a closer look at your cars. Do you have a SV? The place in Fort Worth; would that be Texas Motor Works? I've seen thier web site and that's where I learned about the Birkins and saw they had a couple used Caterhams. I might make a weekend trip up there to visit the place. Maybe I'll see you at the next Cars and Coffee? I drive a MINI Cooper S, and we have our club meetings right after the C&C. I invite you to come out the the BMWCCA autocross races. We're already full for this Sunday's race, but they have them every month except for the hot months July - September. It's lots of fun, and it would be great to see a Seven in the mix. Jeff

Hey guys. I've been lurking around the site for a while, and now I want to get your thoughts on something. I've been wanting to build a kit car for some time now. Lately I've been looking at Cobras like the Factory Five. Recently at a local Cars and Coffee meet I saw a couple of Caterham 7s. I've read up on them and I am impressed by thier performance, and learned that they can be built from a kit! I've always had sports cars, and I do autocross and have done a couple of DEs. I think a Seven will fill my desire to build a kit car, and have a performance car to take to autocross and DE events. My question is, which one? I've read up on the Caterhams and though they look to be quality kits, they are comparatively expensive. What do you guys know/think about the Birkin or Locost? Are they quality products? I see the Birkin kit runs $19,500 sans motor and transmission. But I also see I can buy a used Birkin, or even a Caterham, for probably less than what I could build a Birkin new using the kit. 1) If you were to build a Seven from a kit, which one would you get? 2) Would you build a car from a kit, or buy one already built? 3) Do the Seven kit cars hold thier value well over time, or at least as well as a Caterham? Thanks, Jeff Sugar Land, TX (near Houston)