V-Robb

Now THAT'S funny! Gotta love Brit humour...!

Nice! The Caterham driving experience looks like too much fun and certainly worth the $$. But I really love the pics of the showroom and such! Frankly I was expecting a little something like that when I made it to CaterhamUSA earlier this year...

Skip, Hope all is well at your place. There were fires burning in the mountains as we were heading south on 25 to meet you back on Aug 26...

If she's anything like my wife she'll giggle like a little girl when you take a corner "Seven style"

Had a couple days to decompress and get myself ready for work tomorrow. The run is still buzzing in my head, and am already thinking about the next one! It is certainly easier in the Se7en than on the Harley, but both Daryll and I have V-Rods and that isn't the most plush touring model they have. So that's all relative. Also, I've already done this run three times on the bike so I'm way outside the norm as it is. So when I give my two thumbs up for long-distance runs in the Se7en that needs to be kept in mind. How's this for gutting in out: As reported, on the first day out in Mesquite NV Daryll had dropped his bike at a gas stop in some oil. What he didn't tell me until later was that the bike dropped right on his left big toe re-breaking it. Very painful to keep going, but he did. He tells me he was almost going to head back home but decided to keep going and eventually it did get better. Last pics: As any motorcyclist can tell you, you can tell a good ride by the bugs in your teeth; Se7en and barn; Daryll's broken toe on day two.

Finally made it back home a bit after 5. Too bad it's all over, I could have kept on going (for a little more anyway!). Seems a little surreal, in that you're just going for a drive. In the car, driving, and then I'm at my dad's place. Just down the street a way. A few towns over. Not like getting on a plane where you don't really see anything in flight and once you land you're someplace else. This is all one long drive, so it's all connected together visually and obviously via the roads. GPS total plus extra not counted gives just under 5000 miles on this trip. I think that's a good enough shake-down for the car, eh? I'll compare and contrast this run with the ones done on the Harley tomorrow. Right now it's time for bed. My own bed! But would I do this again in the Se7en? Hell yeah! Robert pic: Se7en in front of the same abandoned building in Baker CA we've parked next to for shade since our first cross-country run in 2003 on the Harleys. Needed that shade today; we both were suffering from the heat!

Met up with Skip this morning and got to see his turbo-miata powered SV. That thing is FAST - he took me for a run along his "private" drag strip... Impressive indeed! We then went to CaterhamUSA to have a look-see. Frankly I'm glad Skip led the way since I would have thought my GPS was on the fritz if I arrived there on my own. Once inside, however, many neat things to look at and talk about. Got to meet Ben there, too. I had spoken with him before so it was nice to put a face with the voice. We talked about the builds going on in the shop, engines, and the new type of exhaust coming from Caterham. But we were on a schedule since today is a long one (578mi) and so we were back on the road after not too long. Got some swag while there, of course. The run along I70 through the western half of Colorado and the mountain portions of Utah is fantastic as far as Interstates go. Got lots of (hopefully) good video footage of various parts of the road. We'll see once I get back. Finally rolled in to Richfield at 9. A bit later than normal, but considering the lollygagging done at Skip's and CaterhamUS that's not too bad. Should only be 105 when passing through Las Vegas tomorrow. Was 110 when heading east on the start of the trip so it'll be a cakewalk, right? Pics: My and Skip's SVs parked in front of CaterhamUS, a current build there showing the new style exhaust, the Seven in western Colorado, the Seven in eastern Utah.

Schweet! A nice, long road trip is exactly the ticket to really get to know your car. Sounds like a beast!

Made good time across Nebraska today into Cheyenne. After doing this run 4 times now I find a lot of the landscape familiar and recognize where I am and/or have been before. Am REALLY looking forward to running through the mountains of Colorado on I70 all the way to Utah. That's some great driving with fantastic scenery. Will be meeting up with Skip at his place tomorrow morning. Looking forward to that too, and then the run with Skip (I am assuming) to CaterhamUSA. The weather should be much more accomodating this time relative to last week Monday. Pic: Se7en and Sod House

Skip, Your are correct, sir! We try to leave by 0800, and any earlier if possible. My GPS claims it will take us about an hour and 20 minutes to get to your place, so some time between 0930 and 1000 I'd guess. Got your number, I'll get you mine in case there are any changes. I might stop briefly in Longmont if an old colleague of mine is available, but that is unknown and might not happen, I'll know more tonight when I get into Cheyenne. pics: the rain that rolled in about half an hour after getting back from a trip to town in the Se7en, the two trees that fell across the driveway later that night, and a JP Cycles stop yesterday. This is fun! Robert

Sorry for the delay in getting an update posted, but 'Net access at the lake less than reliable.. lancylad, that's the spirit! It was hearing other people's epic runs in their Se7ens that led me to do it too. The last few days have been spent visiting relatives and friends, giving them rides, and letting a select few (including Ross and Matt) give it a whirl in the driver's seat. I believe I've made a few converts, let's see what happens! While in Milwaukee I had a young couple come up to me and ask about the car. I gave them the whole spiel about Collin Chapman's "Workingman's Supercar" design and how good it really is. She then turns to him and says, "You know, maybe we should get something like this instead of that Dune Buggy we want..." I just nodded in agreement with a big smile on my face! Below are a few shots: Se7en and silos, Joe and Karen (friends at the lake) coming back from a run, and our stop at one of only two MaidRite sandwich shops we pass when on I80 through Iowa. Note the big smile on Joe's face. I think he liked it. Looks like it's going to be clear through Colorado come Thursday when we will be in Cheyenne and head to Utah. Hoping to hit up CaterhamUSA and see all that, maybe Skip will be available for at least a hello and hearty handshake! Robert

Ok, Ross and Matt are on for some Se7en action tomorrow morning. Let's see how big the grins on their faces are!!

Mike, I'll be posting a whole analysis of the run answering basically all your questions above, but I can say it was much easier than on the bike, and I am not dreading the run back...!

Day 4: made it to brillion around 2100 - a long 575 mile day plus some detours along hwy151. Need to contact Matt and Ross to sync up for Saturday yet. 2100 trouble free miles in the Se7en in 4 days. Fun fun fun!

Day 3: We made excellent time today running straight through Nebraska and stopping in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Ran into another person who recognized the car, and asked a lot of questions about it. Many kids liking the car, thinking (not entirely incorrectly) it's a racecar. Really enjoying the run in the Se7en, might have to do this again sometime. A couple pics: one shows a common site along the interstate of an old, failed business, and another just a gas stop in a rural setting. As long as all runs as smoothly as it has so far we'll hit my Dad's place tomorrow evening for 5 days of relaxation, kinda. The "Days of Wine and Steak" as Daryll has stated and it's very true indeed.

2.5" in 45 minutes? Yikes! :willy_nilly: Let's try again on Thursday the 26th... Robert

Day two: unfortunately the weather forced us to take I80 from Salt Lake City instead of heading into Denver via I70 so we missed CaterhamUSA and the meet&greet BBQ Skip had worked on making happen. We did stay dry, made good time into Cheyenne, and the machines are running great. Fantastic scenery through Utah and Wyoming. I find it very serene driving long distances through the country like that. Love to do it on the bike, I think I REALLY like doing it In the se7en! On to tomorrow!

First day done and nothing too nasty to report. Daryll did drop the bike in an oil slick at a gas stop (always a risk), Fred is taking the heat and miles without any issues. Got some killer video through the Virgin River Gorge(ous); here are a couple pics, one is at a gas stop before the gorge, the second is at our first hotel stop in Utah. Lots of people coming up and asking about the car. One lady came over and said, "What a beautiful Super 7" so she was the first who knew what they were looking at. Her husband had one, and and elise, and other stuff all in various stages of build and/or repair. She said it has been sold to someone in California, possibly Central area. Hmmm... Tomorrow if the weather is clear we'll go through Denver and stop at CaterhamUSA. If not, we'll head up to Salt Lake City and go East on the 80 to Cheyenne. 110 through the deserts and Las Vegas!!

That would be very cool! I'll PM you my cell/email and we can sync up. As long as the weather doesn't send us up to the 80 in Utah, I'd say sometime in the afternoon Monday since we're coming from Richfield. Appreciate the the overnight stop offer, but we've had our hotels already paid up two months ago - helps keep us moving and staying on schedule (somewhat!) Yeah, our days are between 525 and 575. Done it three times on the bike, should be childsplay in the Se7en, right? I mean, what could possibly go wrong...? :jester:

Uh oh, it's almost time... Come Sunday morning my buddy and I are doing our bi-annual cross-country run (well, almost cross-country) to my Dad's place in Brillion Wis. We'll be doing a 4 day run: I'll be in Fred this time instead of the bike, Daryll will be on his Harley. Our Itinerary is: Day 1, Los Angeles to Richfield UT (Sunday) Day 2, to Cheyenne WY (Monday) Day 3, to Council Bluffs IA (Tuesday) Day 4, to Brillion WI (Wednesday) We'll be running along I15 on day 1, either I70 or continue on I15 to I80 on day 2 depending on weather (we hope to run on the 70 to Denver to stop in and see Ben at CaterhamUSA), then I80 on day 3, and finally I80 to HWY151 to Brillion. Then the reverse of this starting Tuesday Aug24. If anyone's along the way we'd love to have a quick meet and greet if timing and availability is possible. Once in Brillion for 5 days I have plans to meet up with a couple of Wisconsites who would like to try Fred on for size and go for a little run, so I'll be syncing up with them and seeing if I can't get a couple more to join the fray. I'll post our progress and many pics of the Se7en along the way as we go. Let's hope the rain stays to a minimum. Here we go... Robert

Ross, I'm already planning on meeting up with another wisconsinite so I see no problem getting you in there too. I'll PM you my particulars and we can sync up!

Another vote of two thumbs up!! I just got Fred in March and in a week and a half I'll be heading out on a 2100 mile, 4 day run to Wisconsin. On the Harley I get lots of looks and questions when traveling cross country - I expect it to be even more so in the Se7en.

I was considering FREDSV7 or FRED7SV, but I think NOTSTIG is funny...!

Also a long time MC rider - it's surprising how fatigued you can get just from noise. And it's not just what you can hear, there are lots of ultrasonic harmonics in the wind noise that you can't hear but will damage your hearing very quickly. I get my big boxes of plugs from MSC Direct online. Cheap and effective!

I believe so. Just look up Ford Focus with the 2L engine in the cross reference. That's what I did but don't remember right now which one it was exactly (@ work)...