yellowss7

8000 rpm is the max rev limit on mine. Although some of the crazies in the UK that run big Hp have been known to have rev limits in the high 8's to low 9k range. I think those guys have to refresh the engine every 3000 miles. Don't know of anyone running an overdrive 6th. Tom

you could spend some real bucks on the lowered floor option or you can do it on the cheap. I found that pulling the seat bottom out and replacing it with a thin piece of high density foam works quite nicely to lower me so that I can see out the windscreen and keep my helmet below the roll bar. I posted a pic of this on here once before. I'll see if I can find the pic again. Tom

I have the Caterham 6 speed with the 3.62 rear and 13 inch wheels. I agree with Al, it is really slick. Nice short throws, great for keeping a free reving engine in the power band. Not great for long highway jaunts as it's 1:1 in 6th, no overdrive. Probably not necessary with a torqy Duratec, but great for my high reving k series. Tom

Al, I've signed up for the Thursday reception. the Friday evening reception the Saturday Lunch the Sunday Autox the Monday Track Day That leaves us open for various Dinner options on most nights. Tom

http://www.blatchat.com/t.asp?ID=165734&pn=2&ps=15#1444716 Here's a link to the UK 7s site that has a caterham 6 speed for sale. 1100 pounds. plus a hefty shipping bill. Tom

Dean, A Plywood floor. I gave it a coat of Flix(sp) primer first. then a coat of the Epoxy, chipped it and then two coats of clear. Looks good. I bought some .063 Diamond plate aluminum squares that I will locate under the tires to avoid the typical problem of hot tires pulling up the epoxy. I also used the powdered aluminum silicate mixed in with the clear coat on the ramp to minimize slippage. Tom

Yep, it's now official. I finally mailed in my check this morning. Just need to change the brake fluid, and get my inspection checklist done and signed. New Toyo R888 are mounted and just waiting for the Hoosier slicks to arrive. Even did an epoxy fleced paintjob on the trailer floor. See you there. Tom

Thanks for the responses Paul. I don't have any experience with the Yoko's but 28 psi cold sounds pretty high. I run my Avon's at 18 psi cold. If you were running at 28 psi cold, then see if you can get a do over as I'm sure you'll find the grip even better at the lower psi. Tom

Thanks for the explanation. I'm anticipating my first track day experience and was curious as to what would cause the car to step out like that. What tire pressures did you run. Were the Avon's CR500's or ACB 10's? Tom

Can anyone explain to me what caused him to spin there at the end? Did he brake too late? Go in too hot? Just curious, it seemed to happen very quickly. Tom

Don't know about the zetec, but my Rover water temp sits solidly at 80C even during really hot days while autoxing. Obvioulsy not the same as a prolonged high speed track day. but I thought that 100C is the top end of the range not the optimum. ??? Tom

62 rover engine? is that a V8 like the old buick motor? my K is an all aluminium twin overhead cam, 16v 4banger. Originally, used in small Rover 214/.metro models. Then Lotus put it in the series one Elise, MG put it in the MGF. Stock, it's speced at around 114 hp, supersport version is 133 hp, Then there was a Trophy 160 hp, Mine is the VHPD (Very High Power Derivative) at 190-200 hp then came the R500 version with 232Hp. I think they also did a tweeked R500 called the R101 whiched bumped up the hp slightly higher to 242hp. I believe they also came out with a VVC variant too. Tom

Amsoil 10w-40. Rover K series. Tom

Yep! I did. When I was ordering my car, the choice was crossflow, possibly Vauxhall or the Rover K series. The Zetec was not yet a choice. The VHPD spec was the top engine, the R500 was not yet in the mix. I liked the idea of a lightweight, highpowered motor. So I made it happen. Only issues that came up on the install were, that with the drysump pump on the right hand side and the steering and headers on the left there was no room for the altenator, the other issue was that it was set up for a hydraulic clutch and there was no fitting to connect the slave cylinder to the clutch arm. I called Caterham and asked how they how they resovled these issues and they said, " Don't know, we've never did a Left hand drive Dry sumped, hydraulic clutch Rover K series, let us know how you make out!!!!" Ended up mounting the altenator facing rearward off the front of the engine, and making a clevis to attach to the clutch arm. Easy peasy. Great motor by the way. only weighs 87kg. Mine has 196 hp from 1.8 liters. Looks pretty too. See the attached pics. Tom

Way to go Martin. Now get out there and start bringing smiles to the neighborhood again. Tom

Well, that's 3 so far that have reported in. So we are still looking for between 57 and 97 more if the Caterham total is to be believed Tom

Gary, those tires would be just the thing if Mazda would put Clamshell front wings on. Tom

Mazda, With your torque and hp, you are going to find it hard to put the power down unless you mount a set of Funny car rear slicks. Slightly narrower tires might help you get some heat into them but probably not much more. My 10 inch wide R25 compound slicks hardly ever get more than warm to the touch, except on hot days. Find the stickiest tires you can get and start in 3rd gear. Tom

Thanks. that's what I was told by Michael D. as well. I'll give them a try. Tom

Thanks Box. My Old Hoosiers are coming up on their 4th season if I would run them now. Last Autox season it was painfully obvious that although they had plenty of rubber left on them, they had hardened up enough that they weren't really sticky any more and my PAX times started to drop off. In fact on my first runs it was very difficult to get them to grip at all. I would not have any confidence using them at higher speeds on the track. Based on the comments, it looks like I'll bite the bullet and order the Hoosier R25B's for the Autox season, and run the R888's on the first and second sessions of the trackday and then maybe change over to the Hoosiers for a session and see how they hold up. Tom

Wow, that number shocks me. I would have been surprised at anything over 15 or so. Have we seen anything like 15 new model year kit/car owners in one year on here ever? For that matter, how many active posters on here have new 2007/2009 models??? Just curious. Tom

Skip, what's your best guess as to the number of new Caterham Kits/cars that are sold in the US each year? Just curious. Tom

Thanks Jeff. That's the dilema, I know the Slicks are best for the autox. But I was hoping that I could get away with them on the trackday as well. The confidence they provide is just awesome. I was looking for some feedback from someone who runs slicks on the track, as to whether the R25's would hold up for several 20 minute sessions. It's just a track day event not a race so I wouldn't be running at 10/10ths. Tom

I just ordered a set of Toyo R888's for the Caterham as my street tires, and was just about to order a set of Hoosier slicks for this seasons Autoxing and my upcoming trackday at LOG 29, but my source, who also autoxes and competes in road racing, suggested that I hold off on the Hoosier's. He thought that the R25B compound slicks that I use for Autoxing might be too soft for the 20 minute track day sessions and that I might be better off using the R888's for the trackday and that they may be good enough for Autoxing as well. Any recommendations from those that have done trackday events? I really liked autoxing on the Hoosier slicks compared to my Avon CR500's. Hugh difference. Will the R888's be more comparable to the slicks or the CR500's? Tom

Bob, you might like this. A buddy of mine is working on building an electric drive, lithium Ion batteries and hydrogen fuel cell powered Jag XJ 13. http://www.z-type.net/home.html Tom