MichaelD

May 9 might work for me as well. What site should we watch> Michael D

WDCR-Time Trials at Summit Point Sept 8th if you are interested. $200 for day with lunch. See WDCR Time Trial Yahoo Group.

Tom, I just did the Autocrossers Inc, event at Ripkin. The weather was anything but nice. Rain for the morning session. Dry for the noon walk. Rain as I put my hemlet on. No time to take the slicks of. My times grew with each run. Hope all is well. Michael D.

Looks great. The addition of the LOTUS green and yellow grass is a nice touch. Thanks again, Michael

My car is a 98 Caterham DeDion, LHD, 210 HP Zetec, Jet Coated headers (silver finish has burned off) I will need to replace it with the Black Jet Coat. Coolant is water with Water Wetter, Placed foam around radiator to force all cool air entering nosecone through radiator. Placed foam on both sides and top of the transmission to keep hot air out of the transmission tunnel. Pics attached. Tested with a dual probe meat thermometer from Polder. One probe in engine bay and one probe in footwell. Ambiant temp ranged from about 95 F RUN 1 - Engine at 3,500 RPM for ten minutes, Water temp 80 C., probe attached to master cylinder in engine bay. Engine bay 149 F Driver footwell 119 F Passenger footwell 109 F RUN 2 - Engine at 3,500 RPM for ten minutes, Water temp 80 C, added foan to the outside side of footwells and moved the probe to in front of drivers foot box.. Engine bay 167 F Driver footwell 107 F Passenger footwell 106 F The added foam to the outside side of the footwell seems to have lowered the footwell temps by 12 degrees on the drivers side and 3 degrees on the passenger side. A simple touch test revealed that most heat in foot well is now radiating from the tops of the footwell and the bulkhead. This ared is not covered by the reflective heat shield. I just bhate to stick stuff on the clean aluminum :-( I have run out of time to perform test without any foam. There's always tomorrow. I will trt to upload photos. Michael D. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1068135600_CIMG3034[1].bmp http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1942891629_CIMG3037[1].bmp http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/871617631_CIMG3038[1].bmp http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/706776079_CIMG3039[1].bmp

My car is a 98 Caterham DeDion, LHD, 210 HP Zetec, Jet Coated headers (silver finish has burned off) I will need to replace it with the Black Jet Coat. Coolant is water with Water Wetter, Placed foam around radiator to force all cool air entering nosecone through radiator. Placed foam on both sides and top of the transmission to keep hot air out of the transmission tunnel. Pics attached. Tested with a dual probe meat thermometer from Polder. One probe in engine bay and one probe in footwell. Ambiant temp ranged from about 95 F RUN 1 - Engine at 3,500 RPM for ten minutes, Water temp 80 C., probe attached to master cylinder in engine bay. Engine bay 149 F Driver footwell 119 F Passenger footwell 109 F RUN 2 - Engine at 3,500 RPM for ten minutes, Water temp 80 C, added foan to the outside side of footwells and moved the probe to in front of drivers foot box.. Engine bay 167 F Driver footwell 107 F Passenger footwell 106 F The added foam to the outside side of the footwell seems to have lowered the footwell temps by 12 degrees on the drivers side and 3 degrees on the passenger side. A simple touch test revealed that most heat in foot well is now radiating from the tops of the footwell and the bulkhead. This ared is not covered by the reflective heat shield. I just bhate to stick stuff on the clean aluminum :-( I have run out of time to perform test without any foam. There's always tomorrow. I will trt to upload photos. Michael D.

One big thin to consider on the WIDTH of the BED is measure the width of your car with the widest tires and wheels that you might use. Most of the time I trailer my car it is with 13 x 10 race slicks. These will not fit on or in most small stock trailers. My Aluma trailer with car and extra set of race tires and tools is still under 2,000 lbs. Specs and photos are posted. Michael D.

FYI, 777 was an event I will never forget. Meeting everyone, seeing the cars and driving THE ROAD was one of the most fun events I have ever attended. Many thanks to Al and Mazda. Since the trip I have been collecting 777 photos for anywhere I can find them. So far I have collected 259 great photos. I guess the goal is to place as many as possible on USB drives or in Power Point and redistribute them to the group or to have them posted on this site for easy download to members. I will talk to Mazda about that. If you wish to contribute you photos to the cause send them to me: On line - michael@mjdpc.com Mail - Michael Dougherty 4910 Edgemoor La. Bethesda, MD 20814 Thanks for your contribuions. Michael D.

I would like a few large yellow 7 with tail stickers.

Ok. I am in. How do I change my password back? I tried uploading a pic for my avatar and it did not work. Should it be another format? Did I just join 8/26/06?

Preston, You are welcome to drive mine. Michael D.

Depending on how much seat time Karen wants :-)))) I may have a seat open for most PR as needed. Driving my car would be limited to an experienced, and mature (not like us) drivers. FWIT: Historically my car is the first FACTORY made Zetec chassis made for America. It was built by Caterham in England 1i 2000 for their US Distributor Frank Boulton in Atlanta. QuickSilver Racengines has added a few HP just for fun. We are trailering down from Bethesda early on the 5th and returning on the 8th. Let me know what you need. Thanks for your efforts. Michael D.

Hi Catie, As luck would have it this is my frist time on this thread. I just did my first PDX on the Shenandoah Saturday with WDCR Time Trials group. Their first event. Lots of fun. Lots to learn. Lauren was telling me about a girl named Catie that drove a Caterham in EP and very well I might add. It would be great if you were one of the instructors at our next event on June 3rd. I think it will be on the Jefferson. You drive and I'll ride, watch and learn. If you would ever like to try autocrossing a Seven, you are welcome to try mine at one of the FedEx events. Michael D. Bethesda,MD

I just had Mazda post a fairly extensive street and autocross list covering most DOT R tires in 13, 14 and 15" sizes. Michael D.

Ed, I just got new ones from caterham. I can send you a tracing if you like. Send me your address. Michael D.

Bruce, I started this thread trying to see if there was enough interest to warrant a seperate class for "Stock" Sevens and to find out why Caterham Sevens were only allowed in either D or E Mod. I think your post perty much provides the answers. 1. We have too much variation in engine types, power, suspension, and wheel and tires sizes to be easily classified in Stock, ST, or SP. 2. maybe we could enter or apply for (SM2, DP, XP), but who wants to add another 300-600lbs of ballast to meet the minimum weight requirements. 3. There isn't enough interest. Just count the number of names that have commented on this topic from both sites. Thank you all for your comments. I guess I will stay in DM and learn how to drive faster. Like you said it's all about having fun anyway. Michael D. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/cheers2.gif

Mazda, You need to try my wind wings. Guaranteed to cut the cross winds by 90% Michael D.

Mark, I do not get all the posts. Contact me direct and I will send you the information. michael@mjdpc.com

I need to replace my windshield. Anyone have a Caterham windshield for sale? Michael D.

Steve, The biggest time difference in tires seems to be with Hoosier slicks. Most cars at Nationals run 13x10 Hoosiers. This year it was much cooler than usual and the surface was sandy. Many drivers felt that narrower slicks or possibly the DOT radials may have supplied more traction. That discussion is still ongoing. My bet is that in cooler weather (45 - 65 degrees) the 13x 7s or 8s will be faster while the 13x10s will still be faster in warm weather. That's where my money will go this year. Then practice, practice, practice. Have a great off season. Michael D.

Brian, I tend to agree with you. I started this thread here and on the DMEM site in an attempt to find out: 1. Why Sevens are primairly stuck in DM 2. How they got there. 3. Was there enough interest in a new Sevens class. I have learned alot about all three points. Sevens are the SCCA's bastard child because in the beginning they were just to fast for other classes and it is to hard to establish a standard for the car. There are way to many variables between different types of Sevens to create a standard for a "Stock Seven". Rules and excuses have always been established to keep various cars out of other classes. The Sven just happens to be one of them. It would seem to me that there is way to little interest for the SCCA to ever allow Sevens in another class yet alone create a class for Sevens. Michael D.

None of us know the process. But we all need to try. The more imput we have the more likely we can come up with an acceptable plan. If there is a way to include locosts that would be even better. We could start with the specs from the current Caterham (since they are readily available to all on the internet) Seven and say you can not be any smaller that that. You can be longer, wider, higher or heavier. But what about suspension, fenders, steering, aero devices, brakes, tops, hoods etc.? I will try to review all the notes and compile a list covering all aspects that I can think of? Then you can all chew it up and offer improvements. Michael D.

FWIW: First: This thread was created to discuss, in a Sevens site, what options we may have in Autocrossing with the SCCA. The current classing structure is not all that friendly to the basic Seven. It seems to be headed to custom built one ofs. Second: DM is a Modified class. The rules keep changing to accomodate those that wish to build their own car to their own specifications without regard to any standard. That's fine if that is what you want to do. It is a modified class. This is the class for Locost and other one-ofs. Third: Many of us do not feel we have modified cars and would like the opportunity to run in another class. That is what we are trying to accomplish. I think there are enough of us that autocross. But how many of you would show up at Nationals is another question. Maybe we should find out before we have an exercise in futility. When I look at the low number of people participating in this thread it, I wonder. It doesn't seem to be very well represented. More comments may lead to a better representation of ideas. I am printing all of the comments to this thread for reference. As soon as I get the time I will begin to combine the ideas into a suggestion for further discussion.

Steve, Your experience is almost exactly the same as mine. Right down to the wheels and tires. I stepped up to CR500 wheels and tires and cut their advantage to three seconds. Then one day a buddy gave me his 13x10 slicks to try. It was like giving drugs to a junkie. I was hooked. Now if I could only learn how to drive http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smile5.gif MichaelD

"Wings, not the Brit deff, should be prohibited in all classes." Do you mean Clam Shells? If so, why? Clam shell front fenders (wings) were standard issue on the Lotus Seven and more importantly, over time came to symbolize the Seven. These are also the fenders that are approved in EP by the SCCA. Michael D.