cemaykan Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 Hi Folks, Looking forward to joining the club! I've been a long fan of Lotus cars (own a 2005 Lotus Elise which i daily drove for 10 years in rainy Seattle all year around) and getting a matching Caterham in my garage will be a dream come true! I'm waiting for a new 620r being assembled in NY and will be shipped to Seattle where i live. I can't wait to see and drive it... hopefully during the 2 months of sun here ! One of the decision points on getting the Caterham was that Beachman Racing is ~5 miles away from my house. I would have really liked to have him build the car, however with some paper work/deals/etc.. it is left in the mercy of a random shop in NY to built it. However, when i do get the car, i'll make sure Beachman takes a pass at it and it passes the quality bar for some weekend fun and eventual some track lap records! I do plan to daily drive this car and track it as-well. I have never driven a right hand car, with sequential gear box. So for getting used to the re-wiring my brain, i've been practicing with a very realistic motion simulator with sequential shifter for my left hand. If anybody is into sim racing, they have great mods and the identical 620r for Assetta Corsa, and local tracks here in Seattle ! I'll admit, rewiring the brain to shift perfectley and heel'n'toe with left hand is harder to do in anger then i though it would... but i'll get there eventually! Anyways, just wanted to say hi and that i'm excited and perhaps a bit naive and would love to hear if there are any other 620r folks out there that i can learn some tips and tricks from! Cheers, -Cem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 Hi and welcome. Where in NY? I'm upstate if you needed somebody to check up on it What sequential does yours comes with? I assume straight cut and paddles? I have an old Quaife sequential straight cut that Caterham used in early 2000's in mine. It's... an experience. Everybody is right about it being more tedious on the street but I love it. I hear nightmares about frequency of rebuilds. I haven't reached that point yet. 620r is quite the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 Fantastic car! Great to see another se7en in the area. That makes 3 Caterhams + me within about 15 mile radius of Bruce's shop. We'll need to do some drives before the summer is out. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky dawg Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 (edited) Welcome to the local Caterham community. We have a loose knit group of about a dozen local owners, a few with multiple cars. As far as i know, you'll be the first 620 in the area, can't wait to see and hear it. And meet you, too. What like organization we have is generally centered around Bruce. Edited June 15, 2020 by lucky dawg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 Cem, welcome to the group.:seeya: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 Hi Cem - welcome to the group! Did you buy the yellow 620R in at TIme Machine Auto? Who is doing the build? Dave LeBrun? Hopefully it has weather gear for all that rainy weather in the PNW! :seeya: Cheers mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panamericano Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 congratulations Cem! I expect you will love it. Just think of all the cool jackets and hats you'l need up north. Get safety glasses, prescription if you use one. ...I have never driven a right hand car, with sequential gear box. ... I can't speak to the gearbox, but I do have the steering wheel on the proper side too. Should be no sweat adapting to where you sit in relation to the car, as long as you have always aimed at the center of your line. Only ONE caution. Left turns. If you cannot see due to big thing in the opposite lane, DON'T GO. As everyone has converted to P/Us and SUVs, this has become a very common accident. People get impatient and pull out, even though they can't see, and BAM, KAPOW, etc. Otherwise, RHD is joy. It lets people know that it is a proper British car. God save the queen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 Sounds like a dream come true (my dream:))!!! Color? Sequential just pours gas on the fire, who will be faster at a track day (other than the V8 Stalkers:)? Being so close to Bruce is like living in near the Caterham shop in England. Probably better (IMHO). I think Dave LeBrun, if he is the builder, has been doing Caterhams, on a very small volume, for decades so should know his Caterham spanners. His partner in Caterham crime, Tony Vacarro, is a long timer as well. Welcome and enjoy your car. I am sure the wait for the build will seem endless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cemaykan Posted June 16, 2020 Author Share Posted June 16, 2020 I'm not exactly sure what comes OOB with the 620r, but i think it's this one : https://www.sadev-tm.com/en/products/2-wd-products/2-wheel-drive-in-line/37-scl82-17-in-line.html I've heard getting into reverse sometimes is tricky, how is it with yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cemaykan Posted June 16, 2020 Author Share Posted June 16, 2020 +1 would love to meet you guys...! Counting days until i get the car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cemaykan Posted June 16, 2020 Author Share Posted June 16, 2020 Hi Cem - welcome to the group! Did you buy the yellow 620R in at TIme Machine Auto? Who is doing the build? Dave LeBrun? Hopefully it has weather gear for all that rainy weather in the PNW! :seeya: Cheers mike Yes, it is this one : https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/caterham/super-7/2395859.html I'm not sure why they were stuck with a 620r if no customer had ordered though..? Maybe there is a background story somebody knows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cemaykan Posted June 16, 2020 Author Share Posted June 16, 2020 congratulations Cem! I expect you will love it. Just think of all the cool jackets and hats you'l need up north. Get safety glasses, prescription if you use one. ...I have never driven a right hand car, with sequential gear box. ... I can't speak to the gearbox, but I do have the steering wheel on the proper side too. Should be no sweat adapting to where you sit in relation to the car, as long as you have always aimed at the center of your line. Only ONE caution. Left turns. If you cannot see due to big thing in the opposite lane, DON'T GO. As everyone has converted to P/Us and SUVs, this has become a very common accident. People get impatient and pull out, even though they can't see, and BAM, KAPOW, etc. Otherwise, RHD is joy. It lets people know that it is a proper British car. God save the queen. Great tip! Yes, god save the queen! I do love British cars... one of my dreams is to actually visit Goodwood revival one day! And heck, maybe hire a car and do some races! After 4 hours on the simulator, it is starting to feel more natural... and i have to say, no lift up shift will probably have a big impact on lap times! I was driving it on SPA, and switching from h-pattern to seq, in the sim, i saw ~1 second difference in lap time, but that track is very long and has many shifts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokey Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 +1 for being in the same general neighborhood - Bruce's shop is about 15 minutes door to door. As I sit here looking out at the drizzle, after a night of being woken multiple times by very heavy rain, it strikes me that this is a very odd place to become a nexus of Seven's in the US. But then again they originate in England so perhaps this is the way it is supposed to be... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cemaykan Posted June 16, 2020 Author Share Posted June 16, 2020 +1 for being in the same general neighborhood - Bruce's shop is about 15 minutes door to door. As I sit here looking out at the drizzle, after a night of being woken multiple times by very heavy rain, it strikes me that this is a very odd place to become a nexus of Seven's in the US. But then again they originate in England so perhaps this is the way it is supposed to be... +1 Being close to Bruce is a blessing! Regarding many Caterham drivers in PNW, i was not aware of that... but i suspect with a good set of CR28 tires and some weather package these cars would be awesome to do power slides to work everyday, rain or shine Btw, the next 5 days look like 80's, i hope you guys get out and post some pics! While i wait for my car... my wife has gotten me the lego caterham, so i will build that and play with it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 I avoid driving my Westfield in the rain (not fun for me), but even in the winter, it's rare that the car doesn't make it out at least a few times per month. Overcast and cold isn't a problem. Are they doing the engine and transmission installation before shipping it out, or is some assembly required? Thanks, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 I'm not exactly sure what comes OOB with the 620r, but i think it's this one : https://www.sadev-tm.com/en/products/2-wd-products/2-wheel-drive-in-line/37-scl82-17-in-line.html I've heard getting into reverse sometimes is tricky, how is it with yours? Grindy half the time. Loud clink during the other half. I don't mean to scare you, but this is always in the back of my mind. These are race transmissions, not street transmissions. They are rough and expensive. I happen to have a plan B of regular 5 speed for the worst case scenario. I hope it lasts forever but it's certainly aggressive and its always in the back of my mind. These are not DSGs. Different generations of Sequentials had different problems too. I believe Sadev is just about as good as it gets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky dawg Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 +1 would love to meet you guys...! Counting days until i get the car! Is there an expected arrival date? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 (edited) I'm not exactly sure what comes OOB with the 620r, but i think it's this one : https://www.sadev-tm.com/en/products/2-wd-products/2-wheel-drive-in-line/37-scl82-17-in-line.html I've heard getting into reverse sometimes is tricky, how is it with yours? It will come with a 6 speed Sadev as you speculated. Vlad (Vovchandr) has the Quaife box. Good but not as buttery smooth as the Sadev. Getting reverse in the Sadev is not too bad. Make sure you are stopped. Nice clean clutch pedal move. Lift the gear lever locating ring and move into reverse. Most of the time it goes without a graunch. Only thing I hear mixed messages on is need for heel and toe with the sequential on the downshift - no clutch used. You can downshift without the heel and toe but you just have to ensure the downshift happens late in the braking and road speed is down below wheel speed I had a 620R on my Spain and Portugal track holiday a few years back. Also drove one at Hunagaroring. Great fun. Incredibly quick. About 145mph down the straight at Estoril and Portimao when you got the last corner right. Hungaroring was about 148mph - it would have been over 150 with a better driver. You will have no problems driving RHD. I have both an LHD and RHD Caterham and its easy to switch over. Estoril video will show how smooth the change is in a 620R. Not that fast as I am first time out with the 620R. Edited June 16, 2020 by Croc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cemaykan Posted June 16, 2020 Author Share Posted June 16, 2020 I avoid driving my Westfield in the rain (not fun for me), but even in the winter, it's rare that the car doesn't make it out at least a few times per month. Overcast and cold isn't a problem. Are they doing the engine and transmission installation before shipping it out, or is some assembly required? Thanks, John Yes, they just need to put the engine + transmission and they will ship it as a working car. One would expect this is a easy job, but i'm sure with my luck some parts are missing, etc.. Apparently the Sadev also needs a bit tinkering to dial in settings.. so hoping for no big surprises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cemaykan Posted June 16, 2020 Author Share Posted June 16, 2020 Is there an expected arrival date? First half of July if everything goes well.. Hoping to do some drives with the local folks! Also open for a roadtrip as-well at some stage, if there any crazy folks out there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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