So, tell us a little about yourselves

[Vovchandr]

9 minutes ago, Sean said:

 

Somebody tell Mr. Break about Skip Cannon's butt-winch!

 

edit -- Never mind... found it!

 

 

 

I believe he coined the phrase "butt extractor" for it

[scannon]

36 minutes ago, Vovchandr said:

 

 

I believe he coined the phrase "butt extractor" for it

I put a label on it that said "Caterham Butt Extractor".  Those pictures brought back some great memories of the 11 years I owned that 7.

[BruceBe]

On 11/3/2021 at 1:19 PM, The Fuselage said:

Another first post.

 

I'm Larry, an Army-Retired recluse in the northeast corner of Vermont, where the driving season is too short.  I'd never owned a car when the Army sent me to Germany in the mid-60's. It was the golden era of motorsports and I was in the center of it.  I was smitten.  And there were no speed limits anywhere!  I cut my teeth on the old Nurburgring, where the track was narrow, there were no guardrails but nature's trees, and runoffs were not yet invented.  Same for Spa Francorchamps.  I started with a VW, quickly graduated to an XKE, and did post-graduate work in one of the first Porsche Targa's, serial no. 339. The experiences were priceless, to this day.  I was addicted.  That's the right word. I was addicted to the joy and exhilaration of pure driving---not racing, but just pure driving.

 

Fast forward to 2014.  I stumbled upon USA7's.  Bruce Beachman posted that he had a kit CSR 260 coming. I think that that was the last CSR 260 to reach the US. Long story short.  I took delivery of a Beachman Racing-built CSR 260 in June of 2016. Let me say this about Bruce.  If there are angels in the automotive world, Bruce has the largest wings and largest halo.

 

I have driven that magnificent engineering creation for five short seasons, the last of which just came to an end. This week I gave it a season-ending bath, changed the oil, and put it in the barn with 20,875 mile on the odometer.  All of those miles were accumulated on the twisty, turning roads of northeast Vermont that most folks just don't know about.

 

I sort of committed to surrendering my "spirited" driving when I reached the age of 80. That milestone is but months away.  If someone out there really, really wanted to experience that same joy that I have had, ney, thrill that I have had, I'd seriously consider passing both the torch and the car to him.

Larry - thanks so much for the kind words. If I correctly recollect, that CSR could be the last factory *260* imported into the USA. Croc is right - it became possible to order the CSR chassis once again, but only equipped from the factory with the 210HP 2.0L. So, I guess you're both right.

 

Take the winter to eat well, exercise/rest, and reconsider the self-imposed ultimatums. Of course, if I can be of any help, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Cheers,

-Bruce

[Croc]

11 hours ago, The Fuselage said:

Having now disgraced myself in your regard, I seek your advice.  In so doing, I realize that I'm asking the fox to guard the chicken house, but what do you consider a fair market price for a CSR 260 with 20,875 miles of travel, all of which are on smooth paved rural roads at 3000 to 3200 rpm for 98% of its life, absolutely absent mechanical issues other than a sticky master brake cylinder that was replaced?

 

Hold on - are you saying I am a fox and going to eat all those chickens?   I don't need to buy another Caterham so you are safe with your feathers!  

 

Will answer your question offline as a PM.

 

[Croc]

12 hours ago, The Fuselage said:

my 150 mile "Targa Florio" lap

 

Could I impose on your to share your Vermont Targa Florio road loop please?  I need to head up to Colchester, VT about 3 months from now for a car project - would like a distraction while coming back!

[Croc]

6 hours ago, BruceBe said:

Croc is right

 

Just had to highlight this for avoidance of anyones' doubt.  

 

 

 

 

[mca]

I've been a member since at least 2014 but have yet to introduce myself. 

 

I'm Aaron, live in Huntington Beach, CA, currently own a 2007 Elise, without a Seven for the time being. I've always been a car guy, starting with water cooled VWs in high school and graduating to a few Locost 7s (turbo Miata and Yamaha R1 powered) and finally my current Lotus Elise. Along the way I've enjoyed 15 Miatas, a Subaru WRX, Sentra SE-R, Acura Integra, and my more recent fascination with an offroad Lexus LX470.

 

I've recently decided that I can't ignore the reality that I need another Seven in my life, and it should be as close to the "real thing" as possible.  The wife approves, so I should act before she changes her mind. I'm looking for a Caterham (always admired @Sean and his CSR260!), something along the lines of CSR/R300/R400/R500.  Having owned a well-built Yamaha R1-powered Locost, I've also considered some bike engined cars, but they're hard to come by in the USA.

 

[mca]

 

23 hours ago, The Fuselage said:

Having now disgraced myself in your regard, I seek your advice.  In so doing, I realize that I'm asking the fox to guard the chicken house, but what do you consider a fair market price for a CSR 260 with 20,875 miles of travel, all of which are on smooth paved rural roads at 3000 to 3200 rpm for 98% of its life, absolutely absent mechanical issues other than a sticky master brake cylinder that was replaced?

 

@The Fuselage I would be very interested once you arrive at a time and price that suits your sale.  Please consider me an interested buyer. Seeing @Sean's CSR260 and reading his tales of driving  up and down California makes me hunger for the experience!

[Croc]

19 hours ago, mca said:

currently own a 2007 Elise, without a Seven for the time being. I've always been a car guy, starting with water cooled VWs in high school and graduating to a few Locost 7s (turbo Miata and Yamaha R1 powered) and finally my current Lotus Elise. Along the way I've enjoyed 15 Miatas, a Subaru WRX, Sentra SE-R, Acura Integra, and my more recent fascination with an offroad Lexus LX470.

 

 

Welcome to USA7s!  I like your style of driver's cars.  Definitely theme of lightness and nimbleness.

 

 

[Lotusfan]

On 11/9/2021 at 4:43 AM, Croc said:

 

Could I impose on your to share your Vermont Targa Florio road loop please?  I need to head up to Colchester, VT about 3 months from now for a car project - would like a distraction while coming back!

@The FuselageYes, please do share your VT loop route.  My son went to UVM and we just love the area.  Best beer ever!

[The Fuselage]

On 11/9/2021 at 4:43 AM, Croc said:

 

Could I impose on your to share your Vermont Targa Florio road loop please?  I need to head up to Colchester, VT about 3 months from now for a car project - would like a distraction while coming back!

Croc,

After what you've already done for me, asking me to share is not an imposition. But let me start out with this.  Three months from now is early February.  That is precisely the nadir of the driving season. Do not even think about my Targa Florio at that time without winter tires, that is, if the conditions are favorable.  Otherwise, it's studded winter tires.  Having said that, I'd be glad to share the route.  But it is not as easy as giving you a route number or two. It's more difficult.  I could best delineate the route by a hylite marker on a printed Vermont road map. How to get it to you?  I could mail it to you........or I could hand it to you in person over a drink at my expense when you visit Colchester for a "project". I'm only an hour and a half from Colchester.  What say you?

 

And I'm tormented with curiosity by what that project may be, knowing that you have another one with Bruce B.

 

Regards,

Larry

 

 

[ATCDave]

@The Fuselage,

 

Hey Larry, could you post a pic or two of your CSR?

Thanks!

 

-Dave

[Croc]

11 hours ago, The Fuselage said:

How to get it to you?  I could mail it to you........or I could hand it to you in person over a drink at my expense when you visit Colchester for a "project". I'm only an hour and a half from Colchester.  What say you?

 

 

Thanks Larry.  I lived in Maine and used to travel to Burlington VT by backroads every second week in all seasons.  So I know what February is like for driving.  I will be in an SUV and was just planning to scout the route only.  

 

For the project, think Congletons.     I have lots of projects going on currently - the vehicles listed below in my signature are not all pristine - will be one day!

 

For getting to me, I will PM my mailing address.  Then I will scan it and post it in the articles for driving ideas for @Lotusfan and others who are interested.  A drink at a later stage when in VT is definitely a good option!  

 

 

[Croc]

9 hours ago, ATCDave said:

Hey Larry, could you post a pic or two of your CSR?

 

Helping Larry @The Fuselage out with images

 

 

 

 

 

[mca]

On 11/10/2021 at 5:14 AM, Croc said:

 

 

Welcome to USA7s!  I like your style of driver's cars.  Definitely theme of lightness and nimbleness.

 

 

Thank you!  I hope to continue the tradition in the near future by finding a nice Caterham.

[Whit]

Greetings, first post here, I may be hanging around a bit, figured I'd say Hi. I spent the last 23 years as a mechanical designer in the plastics industry, before that I spent ~8 years at a local "Import Auto Parts" store, back when European and Japanese cars were still "foreign" and people actually did their own tune-ups. I've always been a car guy, but never owned anything particularly noteworthy, until now.

 

A few months ago I began hankering for a simple 'classic' car with a standard transmission, pre-computer stuff. I looked at BMW 2002's, Datsun 510's, Austin Minis and a few other lightweight 4 cylinder cars but the ones that were in decent condition were commanding more that I remembered from 25 years ago, funny how that works. Well, one day recently I was perusing BAT I stumbled across a Rotus 7...  Ding!  I've always loved the Lotus 7, I've pondered building a LoCost but I'm not *that* handy. I found this and it checked all the boxes. I bid and won it. <insert happy dance>

 

It arrived today, it's amazing, I love it, but I think I got a lot more than I bargained for. It included 8 large boxes of spare parts (springs, shocks, clutch, differential, etc, etc), 3 notebooks full of original owner notes, specs, measurements, about 50 pages worth. I've only scratched the surface but the motor appears to be quite a specimen... it's a 2.3"L Ford 'pinto' motor with a bunch of period 1990's Esslinger parts - aluminum cylinder head, dual sidedraft webers, large pipe header, "oval track" cam, one note said 'current compression 12.75:1' ... yikes!... I'm kinda floored! 

 

It appears the original owner was a man named Frank who lived in Mass. I have several letters from Chris Custer to Frank while the car was being built discussing all manner of options and decisions. It was built to accept the 2.3L Ford and a T5 transmission with an early Toyota Supra LSD live axle. Apparently he raced it at NHIS in the 90's(?) looks like it was originally yellow and red. Somehow it turned up at and auction in Ohio a couple years ago and was purchased by the guy I bought it from, he put ~1000 miles on it and it shows 77xx miles on the odo. It appears to be in really good condition, a little play in the suspension, a coupe oil leaks, lots of questions. I intend to spend a little time going over the car and learning what I can, and see what obviously needs attention, then get a shop that's more familiar with "track cars" to look it over.

 

That's after I find some hi-test ethyl.

 

This is going to be interesting!

 

Whit

Just south of the Austin City Limits

 

[JohnCh]

Congrats on the BaT win @Whit!  It sounds like a lot of car for money -- pretty surprised it sold quite that cheaply.  12.75:1 is really high for that engine on street gas.  Did the previous owner indicate he was running race gas or an octane booster?  

 

-John

[Whit]

Thanks, I was expecting it to sell for more also. PO said he was using 93 octane, I'm hoping the motor has been de-tuned since its racecar days because I don't think that's enough. It does have an Electromotive distributor-less ignition which fires a ton of voltage on both the compression and exhaust strokes, it's said to reduce detonation. <fingerscrossed>

 

I'm not going to start it again until I can get an idea what's what, and find some 98 octane fuel. I'm hoping I can talk with someone at Esslinger about the possibility of 'civilizing' this motor a little, that might be less expensive than finding a different powerplant. I found some info on the original owner from his racing days, this car held a few lap records at various tracks in the NE back in the 1990's

[JohnCh]

Esslinger is building a short block for me at the moment.  I know they are busy and can be difficult to reach, so my advice is to be persistent.  BTW if you haven't already done so, it's a good idea to pull the plugs and look for signs of detonation.  Clean plugs won't mean there isn't a problem, but if they sparkle at least you'll definitively know compression ratio is an issue for street fuel.

 

-John

[panamericano]

Congratulations on the new toy.  Depending how much driving you do, octane booster may be cheaper that messing with the engine.  I ran booster for a few years on an old L89 (435 hp) Vette and never had any trouble.