blubarisax

Ron, Great, you can go to the IMG link above and sign up for Memorial day. I'll be at the April NASA event too. Of course I plan to attend Hyperfest and the 7s day in June.

I threw one of these Dynatec Vortex Cones in-between the collector and muffler. It reduced my sound level about 4-5 dB

UPDATE As an Easter gift to yourself, Hyperfest registration opens up Sunday at 10:00 AM EST.

Croc, wish you could make it, I think you would have enjoyed the track. Ron, are you out there???

I recall seeing that registration opens April 8th, but that could be from last year. I can't find any informaion online yet! Bump, Bump, Bump -- All Jersey Se7ens must attend!!!

I would not want to race my Caterham where other cars would be sure to "rub tires" with me. And, the guys that are really good in the spec racers to turn in some nice times.

If anyone wants to come, there is a new (and very friendly to Caterhams; they have two) racing group, Independent Motorsports Group. IMG is not directly affiliated with SCCA, but works in collaboration with them on events. The style of the rules are more relaxed. I'll invite Charlie Greenhaus, the director of the program to comment on their new group. They are hosting a full day event at Lime Rock on Memorial Day, May 28th. It is unmuffled so no worries about getting under 86 db. There will be sprint races, time trials, skid pad and DE (four track sessions) all going on so it should be a blast. (I am looking forward to the skid pad so I can learn to out spin Croc). There will be some great instructors who are used to our kind of cars for the HPDE. Full gages would be required for racing, but not for HPDE. If you want to attend, I recommend you sign up fast as the unmuffled events at Lime Rock always sell out fast. For those of you who have not driven at Lime Rock, it is a fun track and well suited to Sevens. Memorial Day is the Lime Rock season opener with Trans-Am and Royals Car Show Friday-Sunday of that weekend. Karl

Well boys, I am now the proud holder of an SCCA Novice Race License (that's scary). The school was great, they kept us running non-stop but I got 6.5 hours of on track time on NJMP Lightning over the weekend. I was driving a Spec Racer (Renault 87HP motor). A momentum car for sure. I have a new understanding of fun in a low powered car. You ran flat out most of the time, just lifting between 3-4, breaking a little going into turn five, turn 7 and turn 1. Since it was a rental car, I was not afraid to push it harder than I would my Caterham. I did manage to spin four times, three of those ending up off the track. It was fun to feel it break loose and then recover. I did hate seeing the Spec Racer Fords (110 HP) walk away from me in the straights though. All in all, a great learning tool, my line is 100 times more consistent than it was before. Now I can't wait to get the Caterham on that track.

http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac336/blubarisax/th_20110627_NJM_IN1_4535.jpg Guess where I got the idea: http://www.mb-racingwheels.com/R500%20web.jpg I like matching the car color for the centers and black outer rims.

So.... with any luck a Caged FIA cage, with a bolt in second side rail should meet the requirements. Caged was happy to build in a second side intrusion bar as a bolt in addition and maintain their FIA approval of the cage. Let's race! Croc, Aero devices may be limited though :jester::jester::jester:

I would order a cage from Caterham USA directly, but I need a custom tall version. Interestingly enough, Caged was fine to make the cage 4" taller than normal and to add a HANS harness attachment bar and label it FIA approved, but could not add a second side intrusion bar and maintain approval. I'm curious to see the SCCA tells you about the Caterham FIA cage. Either way, I'd rather have a OEM-ish cage that will fit well and look proper.

Still the price seems better than having the cage custom made by my local race shop. Half the weight and probably just as strong. I'll post the shipping, but I'd guess $500+

Don't worry too much, they are all a blast! It all depends on what you are after.

Just stuff fatter tires in there, I like Michelin 24/57-13s from the Formula Renault. (Join the club: 53, 295#, no hair -- but hey, chicks dig me in the Caterham!)

I got the good word from Caged this morning. They can build me a tall FIA cage for 900 GBP. They ship the cage in a huge cardboard box by FedEx; quote to follow. They are going to add a second side intrusion bar (bolt in so they can still give an FIA approval) plus a bar for attaching shoulder harnesses suitable for a HANS device. I'm going to forget SCCA but will be glad to have a cage for track days. Build time is 2-3 weeks. They can build the SCCA cage as shown earlier in this thread, but it would be much heaver.

check out Geartronics They have an indicator what will mate up to Sadev or Quaife. Not "that" expensive once you get ofer the cost of the gearbox!

So much for driving with SCCA. E Production has specific requirements for motors and trans that I don't come close to meeting.

Here is a clip from the April, 2011 GCR, Page 482 9.1.4. Super Touring Category Specifications I. Weights and Engine Allowances Minimum weights for cars with normally aspirated piston engines will be determined by 1.1 lbs/cc displacement for the installed engine (see following table). Displacement is the factory displace- ment for the installed engine. For the purpose of weight assign- ment, engine displacement will be rounded to the nearest 100cc (e.g., 2150cc = 2200cc and 2149cc = 2100cc). Here is a link to the current GCR online: http://www.scca.com/clubracing/content.cfm?cid=44472 The current plan is to get a tall caterham race cage from Caged. I spoke to them this morning and they made building a tall cage sound easy. They discouraged making an "SCCA Approved" cage as they end up being very heavy. Has anyone here shipped a cage from the UK, it can't be cheap.

I thought the Caged OEM cage was FIA approved???

I looked closely at SPU, but they have power to weight requirements of 1.1 lbs per CC. My 2.3L would need to be 2,530! My inspectiors are saying that a full roll cage is requared for all cars being issued a log book now. I don't see ASP in the GCR book? But a run what you have class sounds like just the ticket. Here is Mog-Racing's side impact bars that they use for german club racing: http://mog-racing.com/de/Mediashare/view/aid/14#

Here is the good word from the head tech for my SCCA region: "Karl There is no quick answer to your roll cage question. The Lotus 7 / Caterham is perhaps the most difficult closed wheel car we have in SCCA Club Racing to install a compliant roll cage. I recall there being discussions over the years regarding cages in these cars (I was never a participant). The main problems are its size and the minimalist nature of the Lotus / Caterham chassis and structure. Any deviation from the specifications in GCR 9.4 must be reviewed by SCCA Club Racing Technical Services. GCR 9.4.G.8 indicates that an FIA cage must be built by an authorized shop / team using an FIA approved design; it must have an FIA ID tag and a letter of approval from SCCA Club Racing Technical Services. This option is not readily available to independent fabricators. I am not certain whether SCCA Technical Services would approve a roll cage built locally to an FIA design but I suspect that it would be a lengthy process, if possible. I believe the Caterham classified in E Production came with an OEM roll cage. I suspect but I am not sure that the factory Caterham roll cage has FIA approval. I do not know if their roll cages are available separately. Perhaps the best source of information on Lotus / Caterham roll cages would be someone who has actively raced one. One person I would suggest contacting is Eric Prill in the SCCA Club Office who was very successful racing a Lotus 7 in Nationals and the Runoffs. He has been very active in Club Racing and is usually available to help fellow racers. I hope that I have been some help in explaining the roll cage process. I am always to field question. See ya at the March Lion Terry" They all seem like great guys with lots of rules. I am now considering starting with a Caged roll cage, built with 1.375 tube and an extra side bar. Perhaps an additional fixing point lower on the chassis.

Hold the Vaseline boys; looks like they have a big boy car! 3" extra in the seat, tall roll bar and for good measure they are moving the pedals back an inch. I'll miss my Caterham... no Cosworth power. These cars come with a 1.7L Renault motor with a four speed. Not sure how fast 80 HP will get my mass around the track. http://www.entropyracing.net/Media/Default/Page%20Images/profile-ESR.jpg

UPDATE: Apparently the SCCA stewards have determined a full roll cage (SCCA Compliant) is required for the school. So, I have the car at a local fabricator who is building a cage. (I feel like I'm in an episode of Orange County Choppers and am down to 50% odds that it will be done in time) I may end up renting a car for the event. Entropy Racing has some Spec Racers and even a Caterham S3 (I'll need to borrow a shoe horn and some Vaseline) and I have a leads on a race prepared BMW E30.

Mike, Didn't SCCA require you to have two side intrusion bars going front to rear? I'm in the middle of making a cage for my car as we speak. Karl

Would it go faster if we all came over to watch you work? We would love to have you at the track in June!