MBEARDEN

My 2003 Birkin came from Calif. When I went to the Revenue office it was not as bad as I anticipated. I had the California Title and MSO from South Africa...they were really fascinated with the car being built in South Africa. It took several phone calls to the area supervisor and things went along fine until the California title # came up as a Chrysler stolen in Spokane in 1998....I had to sign a paper to clear that one. The short Birkin VIN was not the problem I had expected. Overall it probably would have been easier to keep the title and register it as a "Hot Rod Homebuilt" rather than a purchase....that process is defined and simple. When the title came a few weeks later the Make is "SPCNS"....I guess working in the Revenue/DMV office is the same whichever state you live in. In their defense it appears that I have the only Seven in Arkansas...not something they see every day....though I understand that there are a few Locosts being built.

I need a set also....for a Birkin.

I ordered the 16.25 inch version and the Street Magic flasher/strobe. Several of the flasher patterns will fire LEDs and regular bulbs. When I searched this topic I could not tell if anyone was flashing the fender mounted turn indicators and brake lights along with the CHSL...or if that even works. The next trick is wiring it up...the car is an 2003 Birkin.

The Customdynamics light strip is exactly what I was looking for...the model with the amber end LEDs working on the turn signal circuit would add a little extra turn signal.

I am starting to get a little nervous driving without a center high mounted stop light. A truck got very close in traffic the other day...not sure if he ever saw me. Looking on line the ones I find appear to be too bulky. I would rather have a slim LED light that mounts to the back of the rollbar. Does anyone have a suggestion. I also want to add one of the modules to flash the lights..."BACKOFF". Do you wire the module to just work on the CHMSL or on the tail lights also.

I had the same problems looking for a car...it is such a small, thin marketplace...very few cars or buyers. There might only be a couple of REAL buyers out there at any one time...."If I had the money I would buy it" doesn't go very far with me. Coupled with the fact that most of the owners are in love with the car, makes it hard to set a value/price. A lot of the cars have extras that may have little real value to a buyer. I think sellers need to honestly ask themselves "Would I pay that much for this car?" NADA would have been very helpful. I wish there had been something to go by.

When you do a track day...do you purchase track day insurance? If so what does is cost per day?

Things went about as expected at my first autocross on Saturday. Windy and about 65 degrees. It is an old stadium parking lot with very old asphalt and slick. Got confused on my first run...and did a little better with each run. My tires were made in 05 and seem pretty hard...I do think I need more front brake bias...on the street the car stops fine but not what I expect...not sure if I could lock the front brakes. Another problem is I noticed is that with the helmet on, my head was pushed too far forward by the headrest...not a comfortable position. Overall it was a very entertaining day. Will try it again.

December issue

There is a very nice Caterham review/driving report in this months Motorsport magazine...the issue with jackie Stewart on the cover. For my money this is the best car magazine there is.

I have decided to have a local muffler shop make an extension turning the exhaust behind the left rear tire and getting the exhaust into the airflow....but looking at the current system, it barely reaches to the back of the bodywork...I wonder if a downturn pipe, maybe a few inches longer would get the exhaust into the airflow? Or maybe the spare tire is contributing to the airflow problem?

Good Advice. The Little Rock event is the one I am going to...the comp director is a young man I knew from when I had a Rotax kart.... A friend is going also...his first autocross too...he has a Superformance Cobra...he is really excited.

My primary consideration is the fumes...I drove 10 miles to work yesterday and reeked of fumes all day. Extending the exhaust pipe to the edge of the left rear wheel and getting it to he air flow looks like an simple answer. If it doesn't help the side exhaust will be next...I would think that angling the pipe down would reduce the sound.

I think the Hoosiers are marked R25...they might be 4-5 years old but appear to have been used only a few times...and it looks like I can use them Saturday. The Hoosiers are about 1.5 inches shorter that the Falkens... If I use them I will have to adjust the ride height...the stadium is only a mile from my house so if I use them and adjust the ride height I would probably just drive them to the stadium...

My Birkin has the rear exhaust and the exhaust backdraft is strong...from what I read the side exhaust is much better...what about the sound level...it's noisy enough now...it wouldn't take much to cut the exhaust pipe in front of the back tire.

Might try my first autocross this weekend...the weather forecast is 65 and overcast and the course is a stadium parking lot...old asphalt. I have an 2003 Birkin/ Zetec with Falken Azenis 615 tires. 205/50/15...I have some Hoosier slicks but it doesn't look like I can use them since I am a novice. Any setup advice...tire pressure...ride height...anything else that might help.

From the photo it looks like you mounted the seat runner to the front and welded a steel filler in to extend the runner to the metal crossbar...making the seat welded in at the front. Both of my seat have adjusters ...I cannot see how to get more than a bolt at each end of the base.

Looking for a rattle in the left rear of my 03 Birkin this weekend..,pulled the wheel and noticed that with the Carrera shock extended the coil was loose by at least an inch....the lock rings were loose...turn by hand...i snugged them up to the coils. This doesn't look correct.

Wind deflectors?

Will any parts/accessories interchange between a Caterham and a Birkin...I know the motors will...anything else.

I have two choices, the Birkin Sport Seats which come highly praised or a set of velour Caterham seats. Both come with bases. I have not pulled out the Birkin seats yet. I am quessing that the Birkin sets will not be difficult to install....but what about the Caterham seats. Someone mentioned welding? Not me. Both sets are new. Thanks

The seats I thought might work...will not...still looking for seats

I may have a line on some Caterham seats...just wondering if there are any special installation issues...putting them into the Birkin.

My seats are 2003 vintage and they are terrible.

I agree about the original seats...looking at the picture I can't tell if the seat frame is molded plastic and the seat, back and headrest are the only upholstered parts. I am amazed that no seats have appeared for sale.