yellowss7

Caterhams use a black plastic welting that you can buy by the foot. However, when I switch to my Autox rear wings, I don't bother to put it on because if I rip the wing off, I usually lose the welting. Tom

Ok here goes, Looking at the photo's I realize that my engine bay is a MESS!!! Picture 1 shows the Blue anodized Slave cylinder mounted with spacers to get the right pull lenght. Yellow bush goes into the bellhousing and slave rod protudes thru and attaches with clevis to the clutch arm. Picture 2 shows home made clevis attached to clutch arm. Picture 3 shows the Clutch master cylinder with the braided hose snaking over to the slave cylinder. Hope they help. Tom http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/829741862_P9100503.JPG http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/830312954_P9100504.JPGhttp://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/182869760_P9100502.JPG

I have a LHD hydraulic clutch on my Caterham. Pretty straight forward. Master,slave, braided hose between the two. Had to make a clevis to attach the slave to the clutch arm. Let me know if you need pictures. Tom

Solder guy wrote: That's just sick!:crazy: Imagine the wind trying to lift your helmet off!!!:lol: Tom

Can't say that they were the worlds fastest, but I rode on track with some of the Caterham UK guys, who had R500's,or 250hp Vauxhalls, and their stack speedo's showed 147-150 down the long straight away at the Cadewell Park track. I think in a caterham you'd need 300 hp to go a little faster. Some of those UK boys are starting to hit that number with the Duratec 2.3 liter motors. Tom

Just noticed that George Alderman of Mid Atlantic Caterham, has registered for this Sunday's Autox at the Boeing Plant in Ridley Park, just of I-95. Looks like he's running the orange SV that's listed on his site. If Roman finishes his repairs that will make 3 sevens in attendance. Steve, Tim, Bring out those S1's. !!! Any other Local seven owners or wanna be owners should come out. I bet George will have a for sale sign on that SV. It will be a good opportunity to get close to a couple. Tom

:d :hurray: Arya, I agree. When I take mine out on the street, I feel like I'm doing a public service to the Neighborhood, Bringing smiles to all that I drive by. It's fun to watch people almost breaking their necks trying to figure out what just went by. The waves, smiles and "nice Car" shouts are almost as good a feeling as using the loud pedal. Tom

I usually start with, "It's a Lotus 7" If they have a clue then I tell them it's a Caterham. Curiously, last weekend at the autox, someone asked me, "Is that a real Caterham?" Other responses "Yeah it's a kit car", again to the clueless. But then I'll spend forever talking to someone who understands what they are. Tom

I love that track! I was a passenger for 4 20 minute sessions, with some really good drivers in high powered caterhams from the Lotus 7 club of the UK. 8 years later I can still recall each and every turn and elevation change. Charging downhill into the hard left hander made me realize that I lacked the testicular fortitude to be a racer. Tom

No, it happened before we got there. Talking to one of the security workers, he said that it split the car open/sheared the back end off and that the driver was unconscious. Don't know anything else

A neighbor gave me some tickets for today at the NJ Motorsport park, a new track in Millville NJ. Was supposed to be a nice day with the Mustang Challenge Series,Ferrari Challenge series,Skip Barber Series and the Rolex Series cars running a AM and PM sessions. Arrived at the lunch break and heard that there was a serious crash in the AM Session of a high powered Prototype. Had lunch walked around and waited. at 2:30 we found out they cancelled the rest of the days racing. Bummer. Walking around paddock, was amazing. About 25 or more 430 Ferraris in race trim. Porsches all over the place, as well as BMW's,Mustangs,and a ton of other auto porn. There are two tracks there, Thunderbolt and Lightning. they were conducting a skip barber school on the Lightning track. I think I'm going to give that a go. Looks like fun to drive one of those little formula dodges. Hope I fit in one. This might be a good place to schedule a MidAtlantic region event. Al are you a member? Tom

Chet, just curious, what does your car weigh? For comparison, mine weighs 1164 pounds, and the front springs are 150#ers. I have a set of 200# ones that I haven't had the need to use yet. I'm not an engineer, and I just assembled my Caterham using the parts supplied so I'm not making any assumptions, I'm just giving you a point of comparison. Tom

Guess it depends on how it's set up. EvilRome0's car seemed to be prone to oversteer at some of the first autox's he attended. On street tires I tended to use too much steering input and caused understeering. With the same set up on slicks, the car handles really neutral. Questions, what size front and rear antiroll bars are you using? What is the front to back Rake? Have you changed spring rates? I believe these can all have and impact on your handling. Tom

No Al, you can drive it anytime. I usually casually mention to my fellow autoxers, that the redline is 8000 and that a replacement motor cost $20,000, so be careful. The usual arrangement is if you cause the damage you pay for it. (there are alot of knuckleheads out there that would love to drive it as hard as they can with no consequences. A joy ride so to speak. Those are the ones I discourage.) And Yeah, the cost of a simiarly spec'd K series motor is between 10-11 thousand pounds. Tom

I've let 5 people drive my 7 so far. 4 were fellow autoxers who, I knew to be amoung the very best drivers in the Philly region. 3 of the 4 absoultely had no idea of how quick the car was and butchered their runs. One bested my time by 4 SECONDS!!!! We'll he was the Driver of the year in 07. but 4 seconds. I then realized that I really sucked. But even he ripped the fender off on his second run. He offered to replace it though. My rule is you break it you fix it. (20K for the motor is a good incentive for most not to want to take it out) Tom

Next Philly region event is at Warminster on Sunday 8/31. Let's see if we can you Steve out in your S1's along with Roman and me. I'll try to nudge one other Caterham SV owner who lives in the area and hasn't been out in a while. Hope to see you there. Tom

Superlight and Superlight R were models of the Caterham, in UK trim the Superlight was a 1.6L RoverK with around 138 hp, and the superlight R was a 1.8L Modded to around 190-200 HP. Superlights and Superlight R's came with a numbered plaque as well. Specs inclueded, carbon dash,nosecone,wings. Widetrack suspension, uprated front brakes, adjustable springs. etc Most had the 6speed and the LSD as well. Everything else was a option, Windscreen,wipers,carpets,heater, paint,etc. as they all had 'Weight" Roadsports were around 138-148 hp if I recall correctly. US speced Superlight R's had the 200hp Zetec motors. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Mine's Superlight #123 But I added the 1.8L Roverk tuned to the VHPD level of 196bhp. Tom Edit: No chassis difference, all but the classic had deDion rears.

That's not the whole story, it gets better. I had posted on BlatChat, the UK Lotus 7 club site, that I was arriving in London prior to departing on a cruise and wanted to get out the the Factory in Dartford, so I asked what the best way to get there was. A fellow BlatChatter, volunteered to pick me up at the Marriot Heathrow and take me out to the Factory in his new 599 Ferrari. Well he showed up but it was in his other Ferrari, a Red 328GTS with the top off. Drive takes 2 hours one way due to traffic, Had great conversations, Spend 20 minutes in the parts department, pick up $200 worth of spare parts, (unfortuntely, not enough room in the Ferrari to bring back a new Duratec) Then an hour plus drive back. Nice guy. Totally car nuts. Reason he didn't take the 599 was that he had put 6000 mile on it in 12 weeks and Had it on the market to sell as he has a new one coming as well as a new California Sypder too. Se7en owners are the Best!!!

Just got back from vacation and had a chance to get out to the Caterham factory. Anyone order a metallic blue CSR??? If so its coming along nicely. http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/204844254_caterham factory csr.JPG http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/2136951089_caterham factory.JPG

This one pecked a hole in the tree out back last year. Is this a Mexican or Canadian woodpecker? It sure was big and loud. Tom http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1068825575_1.jpg

A side hit at 50 eh? I'm no engineer, but you might have trouble surviving in any car much less a 7. Direct Side hits in a seven will not be pretty regardless of the size of the car/truck/suv. As for rear hits at speed...??? not much crush area behind you. Better hope your foot is off the brake and their is no one infront of you. Sorry for the pessimism, but jack the car up and look at the diameter of the chassis tubes. If you're talking about putting a full cage on, you probalby gain some protection, but you better be wearing a helmet, and have good padding on the bars. Just my two cents. Tom

I'm a traditionalist where the 7 is concerned. I like the old british car look, but with blazing performance that no one expects from a little 1.8liter 4. With all due respect for your little V8. I can't handle the 196bhp I have, let alone the 400+ you have. But it is sevenque, so I will consider it an ugly brother. Tom

I agree with Mazda. Doesn't do anything for me. Front end is butt ugly. Looks like a PT Cruiser. Tom edit, maybe I don't agree with Mazda, I wouldn't build that, ever. Tom

My Caterham speedo gave up the ghost after 582 miles, 8 years ago. I fitted a bike speedo that performs well. But last week I finally got around to fixing the stock one, and found that although the quill that fits into the right angle drive was not broken, it did not turn the right angle drive. Fitted a new quill and presto, the speedo works. (quill was about $3) Can't see much difference between the old and new quill, but possibly the old quill was worn a bit? We'll see how long this one lasts. The Caterham speedo is notoriously prone to failure. Tom

So explain to me again how you have a rear weight bias??? I think my original weight guess is looking good. Tom