CarMan

Well After an Exhaustive search we found the correct shaft at Redline in the UK. The other shafts for the Merkur all had a different type of outer joint. We sent photos of the shaft and joint to a number of sources in the US and came up dry. Sent the photo to redline and they sent back the choice phrase "No big deal here. We have it" $400! Thanks for your help everyone

I am in need of a Right Rear Drive shaft Tripod. The outer CV joint is comprised of a Female "tulip" and a tripod with 3 rollers on needle bearings. The needle bearings are coming out and I need the tripod The driveshaft is out of a Ford Sierra (known in the US as a Merkur XR4Ti Could use some help with this George Kline

I thought they were sold. Damn if I'm late:willy_nilly:

For the record. The SCCA has a very strict weighting system for every vehicle. And after every race they weigh every car that finishes in the top 3 in class. My Caterham has to weigh #1460 including driver. My Best weight at the scales..... #1520 Believe me, Lightening the car is a waste of time. I am the problem. The easiest way to lighten the car is to lighten the driver, The fat bastard that I am. But I can't push the pasta away! Also, the fastest way to quicker lap times is not some high zoot gadget or more powerful engine... It's driving lessons! A good driving school instructor can lop off seconds per lap...... and do it safely.

The SCCA requires us to use the cutout clams. I just looked at the front mounting bracket that holds the front over the tire. It is the standard issue bracket and mine looks to have been cut off to avoid sticking out. The rear of the clam has no bracket and is mounted to the frame with 6 bolts. I am always amazed that the fenders don't break off, they vibrate so much. The paint is Crazed from all that vibration, but they keep on working. The SCCA has VERY specific specifications for the Clamshell fenders and you cannot change them. I can not imagine the amount of lift that the non-cutout clamshells used to create. Whew!!!! If you can blow up my avatar and look, you'll see how they are cutout.

Racing update in the East. Took the CAT to Lime Rock Park June 21 & 22 for the SCCA weekend. HOT! and Slippery! And FUN!!!! There were 41 cars in our group 3! And on a 1.3 mile track.... that's a LOT of traffic indeed. These New England racers like EProduction as the field had 11 in this group. They so thing different at LRP. No "Racing" on Friday. So you Qualify in the am, then have a "qualifying" race in the afternoon. Then the "racing" is on Saturday. Qualified in 2nd on Friday am and then followed up with a win, in the afternoon race. On Saturday I lead from pole but a well prepared Mazda RX-7 was all over me. I just kept the lapped traffic between us. And, believe me, there was a LOT of lapped traffic. But they were generally well behaved and let us by. The Mazda was used up at the end and did not start the afternoon race. The afternoon race was from pole with a very good BMW next door. Johnathan Leitner is a good driver. He hounded me for the first 4 laps until we started lapping cars. Then he tried to use them as a way by. I was trying to use them as a pick to keep him at bay. Finally we both got caught up in heavy traffic and made moves to pass a car on either side. The car being passed, at first, did not see me on the left side. Then he did(just as I put 2 wheels in the grass) and he jinked to the right and forced the BMW into the grass! At that point we kind if slowed things up as far as aggression, and realized we had lapped 34 of the 41 cars! In impound, there were remarks about "That OLD car" being so fast. Turned a 1.00.755 on a crowded and greasy track. Not a bad time at all. So the next event is LRP on July 12 & 13. with my inlaws coming to their first race. Should be interesting. George Kline

Money has been sent! Can't wait to see "MY" car on the wall. Well, my car is a little race worn for professional poster material. I am so glad you had your car painted the same as our race car. Ha Ha Ha! George

This is a fun thread. And I would like to add a few things too..... I have raced my 7 in the rain. The only time I get wet is waiting for the race to start. Once we are moving.... only my helmet gets wet. The little wicker works great! Until we have a yellow flag.... Then wet again. I have given up telling people it is a Caterham.... They have no clue. And it takes longer. However, telling them it is a Lotus..... they think I have Big Bucks. (If they ever heard of a Lotus) I am taking the car to a car show Thursday nite as a favor. My co-owner wants to "Really Spiff it up" Take off all those black tire marks and "blacken" the Slicks...... Uggh! I like the "warhorse" look. I am sure that the other E Production BMW's, and Honda's, and Miata's and MG's at Lime Rock will gravitate to the 7 because they can't believe how fast that "old" car is. The 7 is a curiosity to most non car enthusiasts. They have no history to relate to this car. But I never appreciated this car either....... until I ran it in anger on the track. Now....... I'm "that guy" they hope doesn't show up at the next race, so they can have a chance. :smash::smash::smash: George

I sent a PM about some of your stuff. thanks

Thanks guys. I was in the E Production class and Charlie was in F production. But we were grouped in the same race. The race included the dreaded Spec racer Fords, H production and STI and STU classes. There was even a car categorized as SPU. I am Running legal, cutout, pontoon fenders and 13" legal panasport wheels. And, believe me, those fenders were vibrating as we faced the headwind as we ran down NASCAR straight. I always wanted to upgrade the brakes, but SCCA will not allow us to have safer brakes and rotors. We have to maintain the sledgehammer single piston brakes and non-ventilated rotors. But, all in all, the weekend was kind of epic for the 7. Just wanted to share the news among fellow enthusiasts. Big! Really Really BIG Smile.

I just returned from our first weekend of racing at Watkins Glen's May Madness weekend. Friday test and tune was 36 degrees and rain that bounced! Followed by snow flurries into the boot section of the track! Our newly installed engine did a fine job. Saturday. Found out that we were mixed in with the Spec racer Fords. Qualified 3rd overall but had to start in the second group after the Spec Fords. Passed EVERYONE! But as I was threading my way through the group, I noticed a menacing Mazda Miata was keeping pace with my every move. It was then that I realized it was National Champion Charlie Campbell stalking me. After I ran out of traffic, it was game on! Charlie passed me, but I got him back. Then he passed me cleanly in turn one. I knew I could return the favor on the next lap, but as we came around the last turn, the checkers came out. We had encountered big traffic on the final run down the front straight and never saw the "one to go" sign. But the long course time of 2min 12 sec was not shabby at all. Sunday was cool and Sunny. Qualified again in 3rd place, but still had to start in a split start from the Spec Fords. Again The Mazda was there. Before the race I spoke with Charlie. He was only interested in the lap record for the short course in FProduction. I was only interested in passing as many cars as I could. For 5 laps I had the honor of dicing with a National Champion and we passed each other a number of times. I was learning where I was faster and slower as we circulated the track. Each pass was clean and I couldn't even think of blocking him. That would have just made us both slower. After 5 laps he slowed a bit as he was still feeling out his car for the National season, and I motored away..... still looking to see how many Spec Racers I could hunt down. I finished first in the whole group, and won my class. But as I came into the impound area, an official came to the car to tell me I had a new lap record for the short course in EProduction!!!!! All in all a Great Weekend! I have to make a BIG shout out to Bob Doernberg and his spare engine he sold us. And a HUGE thank you to Craig Chima for putting us together! We needed a racing Zetec engine and Craig hooked us up with Bob. We hope they are proud of our efforts. I posted this in General discussion because I wanted everyone to see it. I wouldn't be racing this year without being contacted by Craig and his contact with Bob. Thank you! George Kline

I have seen this race car in the flesh! It is truly a beautiful car..... It is too perfect for a racing car! Top shelf in every way! I took a trip to Bob's house and purchased his spare engine. It is now installed in my Racing Caterham and we are going to run it this weekend at Watkins Glen. Bob's car is almost too nice to be in regular racing duty. Maybe in HRS where the car is not thrashed about as much, but that SVT Engine would be wasted if it wasn't used to the MAX! So, the moral of this story is........ If you are a Gentleman Racer, looking for THE BEST Racing Caterham available....... this is your car! Great car! Great Care! A really nice guy to buy a car from! And Craig will not steer you wrong with this car. If you fit these criteria....... Buy this car! George

Verry Nice indeed!

I know some of you are swapping out your front suspension for a wide track kit. Since racing has put stress on our front control arms.... I'm looking ahead for our next season. So... If you have anysap out parts, I may be a good outlet for your old stuff.. Thanks George Kline

I have run a few races this year in EP with my Caterham 7 and found the local SCCA officials to be MOST welcoming indeed. I ran in 4 national Races at Watkins Glen and Lime Rock Park and finished 3rd in class ever time. The other EP cars that beat me were Mazda, BMW, Honda s2000, and A Mazda Miata. Every time I was beaten by a better driver than myself (I assume they were better!) I may have lacked straightaway speed.... But I made passes in places you wouldn't believe! Next year I plan to install better Brakes for safety (Yeah right! I will be outbraking them and getting a jump on them out of the turn) Come on guys.... you know we have a superior handling car and can out turn and outbrake and out accelerate them for a short while. So, they have faster top speed.... We have our own advantages

Is the front suspension still available?

Ssssssssswwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeett !!!!!!!!!

Sweet For a moment there I thought you had stolen MY Caterham. But after Looking at the LIME GREEN color scheme..... Whew! I race a 2000 Caterham in the Northeast (lime Rock and Watkins) and we are having a blast. Moved up to a National Race group and raced in 2 races. It was love at first turn. Good luck with your car and someday I hope to meet on the track George Kline #31 Look me up on the national rankings.... but look down the list a bit..... only 2 races so far

I guess I need about 3 seconds to get the lap at Lime Rock. But I'll chip away at it George

I have been running Hoosier R6 this year and am very pleased I have used them in 7 practice sessions 4 qualifying sessions and 4 races. They still have a lot of life in them and I adjust the pressures to the track. Using a laser pyrometer across the tread gives me an idea of how much pressure to put in each one. I understand you are from Denver. Too bad. Was hoping to see another Caterham on the Northeast area. Just returned from a National Race at Lime Rock Park. First time in this car at this track. Super Hot. Track was Super Greasy. Finished Third. BUT I HAD A FREAKING BLAST! Good Luck to you and your racing

Sweet Get the most out of everything. You got more than the most

No the Simpson Daimondback is the Stig's helmet of choice!

Very Nice Race. Always nice to see good incar video from a Caterham. He also showed good sense in passing. Although I am also careful when passing a HUGE car like an RX7..... At least they appear huge to the driver of a Caterham. They probably can't even see us. George

Got a Cheap head? Get a Cheap Helmet. Every one has their own prefrences but I have a Simpson Diamonback and a Bell K1. The Diamondback is a great helmet if your seating position is upright. The K1 is better if your seat is raked and you need more vision in the lower sight range.

Just an update on Lime Rock. My Co owner and racer spent this last weekend at the Rock and had a great time. Even in one Rainy session. He was cautious at the uphill and always made sure of the steering being straight and he even lifted at the breakover to prevent any loss of control. Brian was coming off of a BIG Off at Watkins Glen last fall and was being careful. He had a blast! Says the car is Fantastic! I am Based in Johnstown, NY and, even though I am the local Dodge,Chrysler,Jeep dealer, We have a Caterham. The Caterham is so similar in driving dynamics to a Skip Barber Formula car, I just had to be a part of it. Well. On to the Next adventure. Lime Rock National Race on June 22-23. I hope to have a great time and bring everything home in one piece. George