rcollum

COOL JPS!! I loved how Lotus had the nerve to charge ~$100 for the black paint, and admit that they had to do extra sanding of the top, so the waves in the 'glas didn't show! Here's a couple of pics of my old Europa TC - (now living in Holland!) --Bob

I see in your signature, that you & I have a lot in common - I had a '72 Europa Twincam for 21 years. Sold it in 2001, due to lack of garage space. Replaced it in 2007 with an Elise. Added a Seven in 2015. Enjoying both now, immensely! --Bob Collum

A few pictures from our East Coast Lotus Meet - we had FOUR Sevens at Summit Point Raceway... We did several 'touring' laps, during a break in the racing action. A GREAT TIME! --Bob Collum

A couple of pics of some of the FOUR Sevens that showed up at our event at Summit Point on Saturday! --Bob Collum, NoVA Lotus Car Club P.S.: More pictures of Lotus, including Sevens, here - https://novalotusclub.freeforums.net/thread/1582/nova-lotus-east-coast-meet

Good news! I contacted Greg Kuter from Time Machines Motorsports, the NY Caterham dealer, and I'm working through him... He's great to work with! --Bob Collum

At a local cars & coffee, in Fairfax, VA.

Found one! THANKS!!!

My club, NoVA Lotus, is holding an event in Northern Virginia. All 7's are welcome! The event will be from Friday, May 15th, thru Sunday, May 17th. There will be a reception at the hotel in Fairfax, VA the evening of May 15th, and a drive out to a site in Purcellville, VA, for breakfast and a casual concours on Saturday. We will drive from there, to Summit Point Raceway, just over the border in WV. We will have parade laps, and will spectate at the vintage races Saturday. A friend's Esprit 180R is competing that day. On Sunday, we will have a choice of activities, including a drive, and a guided tour of the Smithsonian Air & Spare Museum. Thanks! Bob Collum, NoVA Lotus Car Club Here is a link with more info, and the ability to sign up for the event - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/east-coast-lotus-meet-eclm-tickets-1983839987807?irclickid=WYCTo4SjwxycRdi0yhQwAxeEUkuzF40NUwUfV80&sharedid=&irpid=2605817&utm_source=impact&utm_medium=ebaf&utm_term=2605817&utm_content=1818731__&irgwc=1&afsrc=1&utm_campaign=afsp_ceal_pmk_fpp_0_us_0_0_bau_0

I am driving my 2006 Seven on 11-year-old tires. It's kept inside, so they're not TOO dangerous... Also, I am on 14" wheel, so tire choice is practically nil. My issue is, I could switch to 13" or 15" wheels, for better tire availability, but... My ground clearance under the Focus SVT engine is pretty minimal - that makes me leery of going to 13" wheels. For 15", I'd get better tire availability, but I worry about how they'd fit in my front cycle fenders. (My calculations say that I should not lose any height, going from 185/60 14 to a 195/50 R15.) One big plus - I LOVE the Orcus wheels! I've decided to see if I can get a single Orcus 15" wheel, so I can buy 1 tire for it, and try it on the front of my car. If it works; great. I can buy three more wheels, and 3 more tires- Bob's your uncle! (I have no reason to believe the tire/wheel combination will be any problem on the rear. If it doesn't fit, I'll be back on this forum, selling a wheel and new tire! I currently have 14" Minator (Minilite-style) wheels. Thanks! --Bob Collum

Yeah, my friend has a Birkin, but his front fenders are significantly different than my Caterham's. I think I'm gonna try the Yoko's - I loved the Yokohama tires I originally got on my Elise! Thank you! --Bob Collum

Are you using 185/55R14 Yoko 052's, on 6J x 14 wheels, with cycle front fenders? If so, that should work for me! THANKS!

I have a 2006 Caterham, standard chassis. I have 6J x 14 Minators on it now, and the tires (185/60 R14, all around) are aged out. With the options for interesting tires in 14" pretty much nil, and being concerned with ground clearance, I am looking at 15" replacement wheels. (I have cycle front fenders.) I LOVE the Orcus wheels! I need to somehow confirm that I can get an Orcus wheel, with an appropriate tire, into the front fenders, without interference. (Of course, no fitment problems with the rears.) Can anyone help with my questions? I posted a question with a Caterham dealer, and got no response! I believe the Orcus wheels are 6.5" wide. Thanks! Bob Collum

Do you use your R888's regularly on the road? Thanks, Bob Collum

I just noticed that my current tires (Dunlop Direzza ZII Star Specs, 185/60 R14's), which I LOVE, are now 10 years old. Also, apparently, no longer available. I called Tire Rack, and they came up with Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2's as their only recommendation. Probably OK, but the tread looks like a station wagon tire. After checking with several local garages (4 of whom would not even CONSIDER servicing my car), a local tire place suggested two tires that would fit. Unfortunately, both tires they suggested - Toyo Observe GSI-1 and Hankook IPIKE X W429 - turned out to be SNOW TIRES! WTF!! Does anyone know of something that would be comparable to the Dunlop Direzzas I have? (I also used them on my Elise for a while, and they are GREAT!) I suppose I could go with Toyo Proxes R888R, which are listed as 'Race or Autocross only'. I NEVER drive in snow or ice, and avoid driving even in the damp. (Contrary to the picture for my profile!) Thanks! --Bob Collum

Someone sent me a message - which I promptly lost - asking for pics of the routing of my Seven's exhaust, which is routed down the left side, but has a rear exit. Here are two pics. (My car is LHD.) BTW, related to this... I have a new but imperfect left-rear fender from Caterham available, in dark green. Let me know if interested -