yellowss7

Comrades, We have English based cars, and now we will have English based healthcare. What could possibly go wrong???:banghead::leaving: Tom

Robb, the adjustable spring platforms is an option on Caterhams. Simple to use, loosen the locking ring, and adjust up or down. If you remember the number of turns you make you could adjust up or down to the same setting pretty easily. I never measured the total adjustment range. Here's a picture of them early in my build. you can see the silver adjusting and locking rings clearly. Tom

With 13" rims and Toyo R888's, My Caterham's lowest point is 75mm from the ground. Speed bumps can be an issue depending on how steep they are. Definately have to take them at an angle. The Side exhaust can be an issue on them as well. For track and Autox use I have 10 inch wide Hoosier slicks on 13" inch rims. These tires are much lower profile and on hard right hand turns I sometimes scrap the side exhaust pipe as the suspension loads. That being said, I do have adjustable spring platforms, so I could raise it up a bit if I needed to. Tom

I'm planning on going. Tom

So, did Al Show up with his new ride? It's not like him to be so quiet. What do you think he's up to? Do you think he's gone and bought one of those Fiero based replica ferraris and is embarrassed to tell us? Tom

Great day here in the NorthEast for a Blat. Just got back in from a 2 hour Blat. Weather is Awesome! Temp is around 70F. Partly sunny. Not many cars on the road due to the holiday. Took a while to get some heat into the oil but once it came up to temp:drool: My ears are still ringing even though I had my earplugs in. That's how I know I've kept the rev's up. Anyone else get out for a Blat this weekend? Tom

Alright Al, It's been a week since your last tease. You are the President of this club and your lack of transparency is suspicious to say the least. It's a holiday weekend, you can't be working. So spill the beans! :smash: Whatcha get? Tom

Yeah, if I used the Rover K as a grill, I'd be able to cook 2 maybe three hot dogs at the same time.:smilielol5: There's no replacement for displacement. Right Mazda? :seeya: A 1.8L grill would not be quite as impressive as your big V8 lump. Although that BDA would be pretty cool. Tom

I can back Craig up on that. My Rover K series motor was also built by QED, and I've dealt with Simon at QED a couple of times, and he was very responsive and helpful. ( I ordered a set of plugs, a TPS and a set of new wires and they were here in a couple of days.) Caterham UK and some of the local US dealers as well like Chip at GT Classics, and George at MidAltantic Caterham, and the guys at RMSCI also have been very good to deal with. I think Bsimon on this site also has a Boat Anchor, I mean Vauxhall lump:smilielol5: in his Caterham as well. PS, the guys at QED build a pretty good engine too. Tom

When the kid's ask you what can we get you for your Birthday, Father's day, Fill in the blank Holiday.... Now you can give them a good answer.:drool: Make mine a 582.

I have a picture of our fearless leader in one that I am dying to post but I'm 100% postive that it would get edited. However, Mazda in my defense Truth is a defense against defamation. But I'll be good. :leaving: Tom

Alright Mazda, I'll bite. Why is the US Airforce in need of a baby Diaper making machine??? tom

V-robb, I built my Caterham in 2000, and I can assure you, that other being able to read the build manual, and maybe bleeding brakes, I have no specific mechanical ability. The actual build time was a grand total of 80 hours. The Caterham kits come with the gas tank and plumbing done, the dash installed and wired and the pedals and master cylinders installed. The skins are on, and Mine was even painted at the factory. The real build includes, assembling the front and rear suspensions, brakes, installing the diff, propshaft, gearbox and engine. Installing the seats, rollbar, front and rear wings, and lights. Oh, and the steering rack and column, and the windscreen. Other than that I had two minor issues with the Drysumped K Series motor being installed into a LHD car with the Hydraulic clutch. I had a bracket made to mount the altenator, and a clevis was needed to connect the hydraulic slave cylinder to the 6 speed clucth arm. Thats it! Other than spending a fair amount of time buying some extra bolts, nuts and washers, the kit is really pretty complete and easy to assemble. It's NOTHING like what Martin, did, He has talent. He BUILT his car, I asssembled mine. Huge difference. Now that being said, It will cost you WAAAY more to order and build one, than to buy a nice, well speced used one. So Chose your poison. Tom

You're not old enough to remember it. A Classic! http://www.imeem.com/blastmedia/music/I2n3SrKq/kingston-trio-beep-beep-little-nash-rambler/ Tom

:bigear:Oh, you big tease! Tom

When I was over in England a few years ago, I went to a Lotus7 club trackday event at Cadwell Park, and rode with Alex Wong and Rodger Swift in their Vauxhall powered Caterhams. 250+ BHP engines. Down the main straight, Alex's Stack speedo read 152mph. Aero screened, and my Helmet was trying to lift my head off of my neck. At Barber, during Log29 I never had a chance to look down at my own Speedo. Tom

Mike, as I was driving the yellow 7 I can tell you that we were not smiling. The Merc driver, never waved us by during the whole session. My instructor was going nuts! I was all over the guy in the turns, but he'd slow down, way early, go wide and then dive in low and jump on the throttle, I could stay with him but he never waved us by and the cornerworkers never flagged him. While it was frustrating, It was also fun chasing him and seeing where I could have passed him even without his waveby. It was an AMG 55 so it had power down the straights, but he had to brake at board number 3 and I barely had to touch my brakes at 1 when I was by myself on other sessions. I need to go back. John V. is your car ready yet? Tom

Yep! Sure is.

Great Color! If you're in Alabama, then the place to go is Barber Motorsports Park. Thats what these cars were made for. Good Luck with it. Enjoy! Tom

Yeah, he's a tough nut to crack. I had him in a headlock at LOG29 and he wouldn talk. I think it's time for some WaterBoarding.:smash: Come on Al, everyone cracks sooner or later. Get it overwith and save us the pain. Tom

Scott, Is that track the one that they use for go Karting? Sort of a city park that can be rented out? If it is the full course was a blast in go karts. I took my girls to an Endurance Karting Kids and Parents day that was sponsored by GrassRoots Motorsports, when they were 10 and 12. Tom

Hey, Al, come on, you can tell me what you bought, I promise I won't tell any one. :bs: :smilielol5: Tom

In the Caterham range, you will probably fit in the S3 or standard sized Caterham depending on your weight and build. You might want to consider the lowered floor option as guys our size tend to look over the windscreen if you use the standard seats. The pedal box on an S3 is TIGHT. Narrow soled driving shoes/racing shoes are a must. The Caterham SV is 4 inches wider than the standard and accomodates larger sizes well. The pedal box is wide enough to use normal width shoes. Just depends on what you feel confortable with. I'm 6'1 225 with size 11's I fit nicely in the S3, but I have removed the seat cushion and replaced it with some high density foam to get my head and helmet below the rollbar. You'll just have to sit in a few different types to see what feel right to you. Tom

Yeah, we all know the feeling. If you've never had the pleasure of driving/riding in one, then you don't know the half of it yet. :driving: First off your face will hurt for days from smiling EVERY time you take it out. Second, you will get thumbs up, waves, yells of "nice car mister" as you drive. And everytime you walk past it in the garage, you'll get a little smile as well. As for which power variant, Tom is right, you'll always WANT more, however as someone with 196hp, I can tell you that on the road and autoxing that's way more than you can use. On the track it's another matter. Good luck. Tom

Re: Changing fluids, Definately change the brake fluid. I use Castrol LMA which works fine for my purposes. As for the Gearbox and Diff, no real need to change fluids. You can top them off if they need it, but unless there is a leak not necessary. I have the Caterham Six speed box and I did just change it over to Redline's MTL. I flushed and replaced my coolant with Zerex's G-05 phophate free formula. Supposedly a good choice for my Aluminum Rover K series engine. Used a 50/50 Coolant/water mix. A little Redline Water Wetter added as well. As for the oil recomendations, I believe Oilteq will be along to give you some good advice. But I just saw a neat explanation on oil recomendations. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/faq.php?faq=haas_articles Long but a good read. As for synthetics, I ran my engine in on good old mineral based oil, and switched it over to Amsoil 10W-40 after the 500 mile breakin. Based on recommendations found here, I will be moving to Amsoil's new API CJ-4, 5W-40 synthetic diesel motor oil at the next change. Just a note, as for changing to synthetic oil, if it has been serviced with a non synthetic mineral oil for the past 10 years, changing over to synthetics may result in some weaping from the gaskets as I understand they won't swell as much on the synthetic and may shrink a bit, thus weap or leak. Tom