2015 East Coast Sevens Event Photo Thread

[yellowss7]

Another First time attendee, Fred with his BEC Locost. First time on track at NJMP, Fred learned the lines with the help of a few laps following along. He drove nice lines with good quick point bys and seemed to have a good time on track and at the dinners! Fred's Bike engine car made a great sound and you could hear it coming a long way off. Hopefully Fred will be back with us again next year. :seeya:

[yellowss7]

First timers Dave H (Birkin Boy) and his Son Ryan, made a good showing, Dave was on the fence for quite a while and a little worried that his street car would be underpowered and not able to keep up with all the other cars. Dave's wife was also a little concerned about him going out on track as he had previously rolled this car ON THE STREET!!! I told Dave that it was important to keep the shiney side up at the track. :smilielol5: Well Ryan and Dave took first and second place at the Karting challenge with Roman coming in Third. Nice custom trophys! They really treat us nice at NJMP!!!

 

Dave and Ryan sharing the car on alternate session did very well, although both of them did manage to do some gentle grass cutting and dirt farming. I guess their car was faster than he thought as I didn't hear any complaints from him that he was too slow. :jester:

[yellowss7]

Another First time attendee Jim A. (FE07) and his Red Caterham Superlight R. Jim battled a few minor gremlins, with a fan belt getting chewed up and a nagging coolant leak, but he persevered and got all his session in. He took a ride with me in the Orange car and we had a few spirited laps without him Puking. So I must be a smoother or slower drive than Jeff (JBH) who had a passenger give him the thumbs down and promptly puked when Jeff pulled into the paddock.

[yellowss7]

Steve M (BBall54) was runner up in the longest drive category. Driving from St.Louis, this was Steve's 4th Gathering appearance. As stated Steve's crossflow was polished to a high sheen. Croc's picture was misleading as the reflection was so good that rear panel looked pitted to me, but was really the reflection of the pavement. Steve also had some interesting touches to his engine bay. The Sock apparently was on the car when he bought it. Strange. Steve's Car wins the award for best sound in a close runoff with Fred's IMO.

[yellowss7]

Norm Beaver, is a National caliber SCCA autoxer who's never had his car on track before. Our new name for him is going to be Norm Duck as he took to the track like a Duck to water. After a few follow along laps, Norm was off and flying. His driving skills easily transferred to the track and by the smiles on his face I think he might be back next year.

[yellowss7]

Saving the longest drive winner for last, Tom Carlin (TBox56) the Birkin USA importer made the trip our from Eagle Colorado. Tom will end up driving 4000 miles round trip. And other than that cracked windscreen, his Birkin was a beautifully prepared car! Tom is a stand up guy and hopefully sells a lot of those nice looking Birkins. Tom was quick out on track and was a great guy to talk with at dinner. The Birkins' made a good showing this year with two on track, one other guest showing up with his car and Paul (Wemdt) making the trip down from NH again this year to spectate. Hopefully Paul's Birkin will get the parts it needs to join us on track next year. Hopefully Tom and Dave can make that happen.

[yellowss7]

Wait a minute, I forgot somebody! Crap, I must have only half an Fing brain. :smilielol5:My good buddy Steve (S1Steve) and his beautiful Metallic Orange Superformance S1. Steve had been at all but one of our events. First year, Steve, Al, and my late Cousin did the video commentary and were a hoot.

 

Steve, with the help of Dave, figured out how to get a roll bar onto the S1's and he's been on track ever since. I heard Steve comment that he had some really good laps out there, I didn't see him on track more than once or twice so he was definitely hustling that car around the track at a good pace. Good to see you again Steve!!!

[yellowss7]

I really must be tired, I forgot to add a picture of my next door trailer neighbor Mr. Michael D. Michael, is another one of the Original Gathering members. Michael has attended all 5 years. Michael, his Wife Karen, and his dog Buddy all made the trip again this year and other than a throttle cable issue, he made it thru cleanly. He even brought a special beer for the event. Lucky 7 beer!!! Must have been a good luck charm as we dodged the weather bullet again this year with perfect weather All three Days!!! The Boys from Maryland made a good showing this year!!!

[yellowss7]

That's all the pictures for now. I took some trackside video and in car video, and I'll see what I have when I return from vacation. Just wanted to thank all of those who attended and made the event happen. Mike an I really enjoy seeing old friend and making new ones. Having that many Se7ens together, you can't help but have fun, on Track, in paddock, at lunch and dinner. Hopefully we will continue to be invited back and more and more of you will join in. The more the merrier!!! Tom

[wemtd]

My apologies in advance for not taking as many pictures as last year. I was distracted at the sight of another Birkin (then bowled over at the sight of TWO IN THE SAME PLACE!).

 

While much missed, I think the real reason Suavé skipped out this year was a fear of becoming lunch.

 

The remainder of my snap shots can be viewed here

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzspYorHK5gFfkFoOThzSXgzRURMNlozRjBjNVFvekFHbkphZlFqbXpjVXR5OE51MTgtaUk

 

Cheers and hope to see everyone next year

P.

 

Tom with the new XS Birkin

 

Tom testing both sides

 

 

 

Edited July 7, 2015 by wemtd
Edit photo link - PM if if doesn't wokr

[yellowss7]

 

 

Tom testing both sides

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9270[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]9271[/ATTACH]

 

 

 

Thanks Paul, Now you can see why I can't bring myself to sell the yellow car.:driving: Cycle fenders and clams, SV vs S3, 309hp vs 196hp. Paddle shift sequential vs caterham 6 speed. What's not to like!

I definitely have the best of both worlds. A track beast and a street car/trackcar. :seeya: Tom

[MichaelD]

Thank you to MIKE, Tom and the team at NJMP for a great weekend and for the great weather.

 

Mike, I will send you a USB drive with my movies from day one. That includes the one where I lost my throttle cable at the checkered flag. No track time lost thanks to McNorm and his delel drill. Day two videos seemed to short out about every 20 seconds. As such they are a bunch short clips.

 

Thank you both again for your time spent making this event work smoothly.

[xcarguy]

 

While much missed, I think the real reason Suavé skipped out this year was a fear of becoming lunch.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9269[/ATTACH]

 

 

Shared this with Suavé........he gave me 'the wing'.....Rude! :jester:

[Croc]

Some more photos to show off the track to those who have not been to NJMP Lightning before. Here is the track map which unfortunately does not show the elevation changes.

 

http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp346/Meech355/Lightning-Map.jpg

 

It is a very quick track. Ideally suited to momentum driving and our types of cars.

 

Braking zone into turn one is initially downhill before a sharp up hill to the corner.

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/100%20IMG_0963_zpsb5b9ixwx.jpg

 

It is a blind corner where you cannot see the apex until the last minute. The car is light at the crest making it essential you know your line. I aim at the Benningans advertising sign down at turn 2 as that is the first thing I see as I crest. Notice the sand next to the curbing....lots of people miss this one and go wide...and...try to save it and end up kissing rubber on the right. Smart ones keep it on the track or bail left once they realize they have run out of talent.

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/101%20IMG_0964_zpsmcg94cy7.jpg

 

 

Then you get into the turns 2, 3, and 4 esses - great fun as agility is essential.

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/102%20IMG_0965_zpsdkjayzi4.jpg

[Croc]

Then we get to Turn 5, a bit of a tricky one. Blind crest, apex at the top of the crest with the track dropping away sharply immediately after and sharp right. Turn in is at the beginning of the left hand side curbing. Ignore the orange cone - it was moved after Kitcat attacked it repeatedly on Saturday.

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/104%20IMG_0966_zpsy2hbsbu5.jpg

 

If you get it right then the car sweeps around on to the back "straight". Challenging fun corner.

 

If you get it wrong then you visit the Seven Sandpit. I lost count of those who went visiting this patch of sand and doing some "gardening" Kitcat, Ryan H, Dave H, Simon, Norm was heading in that direction once but saved it. This is what they saw just before - love the skid marks! This was a safe exit - fence is a huge distance away so it is safe to run off to the grass here to avoid spinning in a blind corner.

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/105%20IMG_0967_zpsx5glcuoo.jpg

 

 

Turn 7 is a simple 90 degree left. Downhill entry. So simple yet so many spin here because they overcook it going in. Lots of favorable camber built in plus the "magic" curbs - grooved to give extra grip. I will own up to the tire mark going inside the curbing...

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/106%20IMG_0970_zps7ywchavn.jpg

[Croc]

'Then we get to the bowl. A brilliantly fun corner

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/108%20IMG_0972_zpshvm8oc01.jpg

 

You come in fast to this corner and take it fast the whole way around. For me around 105mph (give or take 5mph). The 15 degree banking helps as you can scrub speed off by going up the banking then build it again by dropping down for the exit.

 

Ideal entry is left 1/3rd of the track before turning in.

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/107%20IMG_0971_zpsevkyifqu.jpg

 

 

but if you get it wrong then you will unload the rear and spin....here is DaveD's tremendous effort!

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/109%20IMG_0948_zpsszsn4sku.jpg

 

Initially the banking is not that steep

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/110%20IMG_0950_zpsuerfble2.jpg

[Croc]

But then it builds up to the 15 degrees max. Throttle hard down and hang on for a fast ride out on to the main straight.

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/111%20IMG_0973_zpsbrxu7keg.jpg

 

 

The story behind the bowl banking as told by Don Fauerbach at dinner on Saturday night was the original plans showed a 5 degree banking. Carroll Shelby was a consultant to the project and when he looked at it his words were "Not enough f-ing pucker factor. Increase it to 15 degrees." Next day the bulldozer started grading to the new angle.

[Croc]

Here is Steve trying my CSR on for size when he assisted me doing the shuttle run from my garage around to the Lightning circuit.

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/IMG_0689_zpsrdeejusu.jpg

 

 

One of the official track photographers, Bobby was there on Sunday and took a few photos of my car and then played around with photoshop to try and get a more art like feel.

 

Here I am with Colleen (Stewart's wife) heading into Turn 7. Colleen wants her own seven for next year. She took Stewart's BDG out in the green group for a taste and loved it. Maybe Stewart could finish off her Lotus Elan S3? I would allow an exception for that car to run with the sevens group!

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/DSC_7130_zpsnvp7haao.jpg

 

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/DSC_7150_zpspcag4gkr.jpg

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/DSC_7274_zpsfpzyaedy.jpg

[Croc]

Still at Turn 7

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/DSC_7301_zpseefgyseq.jpg

 

 

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/DSC_7308_zpssjahcjty.jpg

 

 

Mike, the official photographer for Saturday who took the big group photo, will let me know when he has everything together from the photos he took.

[xcarguy]

Mike,

 

Great write up on the track layout. Tried sharing all this with Suavé, but he quickly let loose a couple of expletives and then shouted something about not being able to attend this year as he ran off to another room so he could pout.…he really misses you. :jester: