Mike Rohaley

Out of curiosity, do you have before and after lap times? I would be interested to see if it equates to a 3% or maybe even a 5% improvement. Also, what track was it since a tight track would minimize the gains versus a high speed track (BeaveRun vs. Road America for example). While on the subject; How much does the wind jostle your helmet around when you run extra-legal speeds with the Brooklands? I get quite a bit with the standard windscreen and no doors when on track (rattles my eyes slightly). When running karts at Mid-Ohio (sit up sprints) it feels as though someone is trying to lift my helmet straight up and off my head once we get to about 100 mph. Does the similar exposure to the aistream have the same effect on you or something else?

My experience is somewhat limited as I have not focused on any A-B comparisons in performance at speed so until I get back to the dragstrip next year I will reserve information until then. It does 'feel' quicker since you are absolutely exposed and the car pretty much disappears around you. With the standard windscreen I ran 13.94 @ 96.41mph in the 1/4 mile back in October and after comparing times at 1/8 mile (8.88 @ 79.65mph) versus standard cars it is clear that I am hitting an aerodynamic wall after the 1/8th that could be minimized with the removal of the barn door windscreen. Graphing it out showed a solid plateu when I overlayed the times to distance with my friends Nissan 300ZX timeslips. His #'s kept climbing nicely after the 1/8th while my line was showing less gain over time. If I could cut down the .68 drag coefficient down about ten points I would expect to see maybe 3/10ths or so less in the 1/4, but that is only a guess until I can prove it out......are you up for a trip to the strip in spring? In regards to comfort; Wind management is much better with the Brookland screens because they provide a calm pocket around your head with the wind coming from only one direction versus the multi-directional onslaught of wind buffeting that the standard windscreen provides. The chance of a rock to the face is very real with the screens so protection beyond sunglasses may be in order unless you feel lucky.

If you look closely in the attached link you can see how it buffers the bracket against the scuttle tightly so that debris cannot get between them and mutilate the scuttle surface. http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/650/3861/26624430026_large.jpg This is the foam sheet material: http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?pageName=search&flag=true&PRODID=prd51960

Nice tip from Kitcat Bob. To keep metal to paint contact to a minimum stop by your local craft store and pick up some adhesive-backed foam sheets. They come in 8.5" x 11" sheets in multiple colors (you will most likely use black though) and cost only a buck or so. They are about 1/16" thick and are the best solution I have found to eliminate vibration and rubbing.

Bob, I have a roller available to you here at work (in Willoughby). Since you will not have the scuttle to match up to in the shop, you can make a template so you can avoid 8 trips back and forth before you get the shape just right.

We just hit 50,000 miles on one of our little country backroads this morning. Looking forward to the next 50. Yeah!

Thanks for the info and nice photos too. I will order those into my winter pile-o-parts list. The brackets appear to be powdercoated steel, probably better than trying to fab them out of aluminum.

Scannon, Are these brackets readily available? my car is not equiped with them and I really like the idea if tying to something of substance (the current setup is only sufficient for standing up to a bird strike and my scuttle would peel if struck by anything larger). The rivnut idea is great too, I will need to make this modification this winter.......oh lucky me, here it is!

I picked mine up used from a fellow local 7 owner. You can order it from any distributer though.

Yes, only because it matches the picture in my head with the Brooklands. I have always liked the look since I saw the car on the back page of the Lotus Caterham Seven Gold Portfolio book many a year ago. It does have a pure, classic look to it and while the aero lip is the modern version I suppose I just always envisioned the old style screen on my car. The aero lip is much meaner looking though......all business.

I concur with your impressions completely. The exposure adds a whole different element to the driving experience (the car virtually disappears around you). If it was just me, I think I would keep it set up as such much more often but my wife isn't to keen about the need for a helmet or goggles whenever we go somewhere. Also, the sun can really tan us up if we used it all summer long in that configuration, the sun top really cuts down the sun fatigue on those long summer drives which means the standard screen is needed. Driving in the rain is fun but at 70 your face really feels as though you stuck it in a sandblasting cabinet (very sharp pains, like little needles........like I said, fun!). The screens do provide a relatively calm pocket for your head versus just removing the windscreen and using nothing. Also, the wind syles your hair much more favorably since the wind only comes from one direction versus the random directional pounding you get with the standard screen. I have not noticed a difference in economy or speed but will do some checking to see what the benefits are. I hope my findings are as positive as yours. Scannon, attached is a photo of my setup while kitcat gets his together.

Thanks guys, we had a great time. You all did a great job planning and it was fun to see our own pro-photographers along the route too. Our anniversary dinner turned out nicely but hot dogs on the grill with everyone back at your place would have been great too (next time I guess). By the way; I reviewed the video and with some still photos I can compile a little video of the day. Next time I will need to get more video of various angles and subjects to make a more in-depth presentation (oh well, live and learn).

I still owe you your 5 dollar change and I'm glad to hear it is working well for you. 3 pounds is still good as any upgrade that includes a weight savings is a great bonus (now if I could only deduct 3, 10 or 15 pounds from the driver, that would really be great!).

On your marks......get set.......DEBATE! 100. Toyota MR2 Mk1 99. Ford Puma 1.7 98. VW Corrado VR6 97. Ford Sierra Cosworth 96. TVR Cerbera Speed 6 95. Jaguar XKR [2009] 94. BMW M5 E60 93. Ferrari 355 Berlinetta F1 92. Aston Martin Vanquish S 91. Bugatti EB110 90. Ford Escort Cosworth 89. VW Golf GTI Mk1 and Mk2 88. Jaguar XJ220 87. Vauxhall VX220 86. Nissan 350Z 85. Audi Quattro 84. Lancia Delta Integrale 83. Aston Martin V8 Vantage N400 82. BMW M5 E34 81. Bugatti Veyron 80. Ford Escort RS2000 [Mk1 and Mk2 Escort] 79. Ferrari 612 Scaglietti 78. Lancia Fulvia HF 77. Wiesmann GT MF5 76. Mini Cooper S R53 75. Peugeot 106 Rallye 74. BMW M5 E39 73. Porsche 959 72. TVR Tuscan Mk2 71. McLaren F1 70. Nissan Skyline R33 69. Koenigsegg CCX 68. TVR Sagaris 67. Mini Cooper S [1963-64] 66. Ferrari 250 GTO 65. Porsche 993 GT2 64. Audi RS4 [2006-08] 63. Peugeot 306 Rallye 62. BMW M3 E92 61. Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup 60. Lamborghini Diablo 6.0 VT 59. Gumpert Apollo 58. Ferrari Enzo 57. Alfa Romeo Alfasud 56. Jaguar E-Type 55. Renault Alpine A610 54. Lamborghini Gallardo 53. Lotus 2-Eleven 52. Porsche Boxster S 51. Subaru Impreza STI [2005-07] 50. Porsche 968 Club Sport 49. Porsche Carrera GT 48. Honda NSX 47. Noble M400 46. Porsche 911 Turbo [993] 45. Mercedes CLK63 Black Series 44. Aston Martin Vantage V12 [2009-] 43. Toyota MR2 Roadster Mk3 42. TVR Griffith 41. Porsche Cayman S 40. Ariel Atom 300 39. Ford Focus RS Mk2 [2009-] 38. Porsche 911 Carrera S [997] 37. Porsche 911 RS [964] 36. Lotus Exige 35. Mitsubishi Evo IX FQ-360 34. Lotus Esprit V8 Sport 350 33. Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SV 32. Subaru Impreza P1 [2000-01] 31. Lotus Evora 30. Renault Clio Williams 29. Honda NSX Type-R 28. Porsche 911 RS 2.7 [1972-3] 27. BMW M3 CSL 26. BMW M3 [E30] 25. Renault Clio V6 24. Ferrari 288 GTO 23. Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9 22. Honda Integra Type-R [1996-00] 21. Nissan GT-R 20. Ferrari 550 Maranello 19. Lotus Elise [1996-00] 18. Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale 17. Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano 16. Audi R8 15. Ferrari 430 Scuderia 14. Ford GT 13. Subaru Impreza RB5 PPP [1999] 12. Ferrari F40 11. Porsche 911 GT3 RS [997] 10. Mitsubishi Evo VI Makkinen 9. Mazda MX-5 1.6 7=. Ferrari F50 7=. Renaultsport Clio Trophy [2005] 6. Lotus Elan [1973] 5. Renaultsport Mégane R26.R 4. Caterham Superlight R300 3. Porsche 911 GT3 [996] 2. Lotus 340R 1. Pagani Zonda F

Anyone else heading out to the Glen for the vintage weekend? I know of two other 7's beyond ours that will be in attendance. There is always a good number on track too, the more the merrier. We are hitting the road after work today and will be camping at the track (right by the bus stop chicane). Stop by anytime and look for the green and yellow giant canvas monstrosity.

I remember that! We were directly behind you. The poor thing didn't stand a chance against 'the blade'.

http://www.batinc.net

Yes, I have one. I will bring it down and we can film whatever you would like Mr. Frankenheimer.

Same here Robert, Odyssey PC680. It has worked perfectly for 3 years and still maintains 14.1 V while running or 13.7 V with the headlights on. It has plenty of cranking power unless you are running crazy compression ratios. I have one at home that was used for an afternoon if you are interested in it (essentially brand spankin' new except I could save you a few bucks, $75 if you are interested). I also have drawings for a hold down that works better than the one supplied by Odyssey. I will post a picture of it if I can find it.

Either way, you should both come along. If all goes well you can celebrate with a drink and if it doesn't a drink would also be appropriate to drown the tears.

We will be there. Any other se7ens interested? It would be fun to get a large caravan of them together for a day of driving.

I believe he said they had a sailing thing this weekend.

Hi Gary, Jen and I will be there and I can safely assume that Frank and Pat will be there with the CSR. Should be a great day.

It sounds like a very interesting day trip. Being on a Monday means I won't be heading over though. Our friend Joy was a photographer and has a very extensive record of the races. She and her husband were club members (her husband was into racing Bugattis). She has many stories if you are interested since internet information is woefully lacking.

Next to your car mine looks nearly orange. I may need a respray.