Save the Date - USA7s Hosted by NJMP Drivers Club - Saturday & Sunday October 17 & 18, 2026

[CBuff]

I believe you can get crutch straps from caterham. But I don’t believe the belts are dated. I went with schroth asm profi II belts. Good till 2029

I ordered them from hms and had them shipped directly to Greg. He put them in

 

https://www.hmsmotorsport.com/products/profi-ii-asm?_pos=5&_sid=c2b37b752&_ss=r

 

 

[Croc]

11 hours ago, Exarkun1178 said:

Not sure I’ll have my car by then but if I do, I’d want to run. 
 

how does the event work?  Do I need to register? 
 

What are specific safety requirements?

 

I’ve done a few HPDE events with the Elise group back in mid 2000s with Hunting Ridge. How would this compare?

 

At those events, you could have a more experienced instructor come with you. Is that available here?

 

8 hours ago, zootnewton said:

It will be my first time on the track as well. My Seven has 4-point harnesses. Assume I know nothing and please recommend (or send me to a site that spells it out for a novice like me) what needs to be done in order for my vehicle to fully comply for a track day

 

 

Lots of questions.

 

Start by having a read of the instructions from last year.

 

 

1) There will be a registration link posted later this year.  Plenty of time to sign up - no rush.  You will sign up then the protocol of the day is described in the 2025 event instructions.  

 

2) Mechanical state of your car - make sure it is reliable.  No leaks of oil, coolant, pee, fuel, etc.  No loose pieces - exhausts, engine bits, headlights, wings, etc.  A new car usually needs some fettling to make it reliable out of the box but a good dealer should be able to make it work.

 

3) Safety - copying from last year and adding some notes:

• Helmet required: A Snell M or SA rated full face helmet dated 2020 (edited: updated for 2026) or newer is required for all drivers and passengers on the track. Open face helmets are not permitted in Se7ens.  Rental helmets are available with prior arrangement through the NJMP General Store.
• Arm restraints: NJMP requires these as mandatory safety equipment in open cars
• Open top cars: Must have approved rollover protection. No pop up roll-bars or detachable hard tops.
• Broomstick rule is applicable for roll over protection. Broomstick is from top of roll bar to front chassis tube (at nosecone) as the windscreen is not viewed as structural.  Edited to add: We had this issue for one car last year who was detected not in compliance while out on track and was called in.  The fix for most sevens is to take out the seat squab/base to get you lower and then sit on some NASA foam pad.  Your belts are attached to the chassis and not the seat.
• Belts: Only 5 or 6 point belts are acceptable (Edit: In open top cars). Belt age must be on a label on the belts. No label – no driving. SFI belts must be 2 years or newer. FIA belts must be within 5 years or newer. No 4-point belts allowed. No DOT 3-point belts are accepted in open cars like ours.  Edited to add: The belts sold by Caterham are not SFI or FIA and do not have an expiry date.  NJMP do not accept belts that are not SFI/FIA labelled.  Your Caterham dealer is usually well versed in installing Schroth or other quality brand name belts that are FIA rated.  If you have the S-Type leather seat in a caterham then you can still use a 6 point belt.  The submarine belt strap attaches to the chassis at the rear firewall.  Feed the strap through the gap between backseat and seat squab then sit on the belt to strap in.  You do not need to be belted to a seat - you need to be belted to the chassis tubes (they have the strength - not the seat).
• Numbers: Painters tape or vinyl sticker numbers on both sides of your seven are acceptable. Please don’t pick “7” as everyone does that and you will be asked to change it.
• Tires: NJMP considers tires 5 years old to be out of date and expired.  Please anticipate tire wear and do not turn up with marginal tire tread. Consider that the track may be damp in which case slick tires are unsafe. If you are close to wearing out a set of tires, then consider ordering and bringing a new spare set. TK Autosports can mount these on your wheels at the Thunderbolt pits for a modest fee.
• Effective June 2024, NJMP is mandating all participants at their events must use a recognized head neck restraint system.  This includes brands such as HANS, Simpson Hybrid and the like.  This policy includes any guest/visitor drivers.   Edited to add: I know the NJMP store rents helmets but I do not knwo if they rent Hans and the like?  You would need to inquire.  To date they have not checked expiry dates for head/neck restraints or arm restraints but we will see once the driving season kicks off).

 

The safety inspection performed by the track is brief but does focus on some basis items:

• Visual inspection of the engine bay (bonnet off) and underside and walk around
• Is the battery secure?  Does it pass a wobble test?
• Are the battery terminals covered so the positive terminal cannot arc on the bonnet?  Electrical tape does this pretty quickly
• No leaks evident.  No smoke from tailpipe
• Anything loose or dangerous that could break off while on track and litter the track (Jim's bonnet, Untethered GoPros - no suction mounts allowed, must be a clamp, iphones for prohibited lap timing, etc.  
• Does you car have a number on the outside so the flag stations can identify you and call you in for a chat when you do something wrong or go off track or have a problem with your car
• Are your helmet and belts in date?  Do you have neck/head restraint in car with helmet.  Sometimes they ask to see arm restraints (they have never checked me to see if they have a date expiry label - not all arm restraints do)
• Tires are in date.  I will note that only road tires have date codes.  Slicks do not have a date code so they try to check them and eventually realize it is fruitless exercise and give up.  They do check for excessive wear (e.g. Simon's steel belts showing through, abnormal wear showing alignment issues, etc.)
• Its not every time but they do try to look at brake pad life remaining through the wheel spokes.  I would be astounded if this is an issue for a seven as in decades of running these cars, I am yet to need to change brake pads - I do not use brakes heavily.
• Brake lights work on command.  Sometimes they check indicators and headlights.  
• Loose headlights is a test they infrequently do. 

 

What else have I not covered?  Oh yes:

• Ensure the tires have been checked for cold air pressures.  Depending on the day you are aiming for 25psi hot.  So start at 20psi (or whatever your Caterham owners manual says) and see what pressure is in the tire immediately after a session on track.
• Ensure that wheel nuts have been done up to the correct torque.  Use a torque wrench.  
• Ideally you just use water and not coolant as it is enormously slippery when you have a leak.  If you have a leak of any fluid they will use the powder to put on the track to soak it up - you pay for it by the bag and it is expensive.

Think about track day insurance.  Hagerty and Lockton have dedicated programs.  Accidents happen and our cars are expensive.  

 

Expect the odd stone chip to leave a mark. If you follow certain drivers then you will get sand blasted from their regular excursions to track edges and beyond.  If you have PPE film installed it works wonders to save your car.  Even a self installed kit for the day will work.  

 

If you have never done this before but want to try then sign up for green group day 1.  Its is a well designed introductory program intended to teach you the basics to start off slowly.   Classroom sessions.  It is a follow the pace car format where the instructor lifts the speed over the course of the day.  There is a lot to learn besides just handling a car at speed.  Track awareness of other cars coming up behind to pass is a major challenge for new drivers experiencing HPDE.  This is particularly so since we now run with open wheelers who can be hard to spot in your mirrors without some experience plus it is a pass anywhere with a point by.  You can get an instructor to talk with.  Sometimes they are available to ride along - you can hire one if you want (there is an option in registration).   Quite a few people ( @nsxguy is the most recent)have used this approach to learn the ropes and then graduate into the passing group with other sevens.  At that point then one of us will do an alternating lead follow drill to help you get comfortable with track lines, braking points, passing, etc

 

Always take the first 2-3 laps to let your tires warm up and provide grip.  Everyone forgets this and spins or sprays off into the scenery at some point - me included.  The worst was 2020 when I think 9 cars managed to go off in the first 2-3 laps.  

 

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list but rather a starting point of things to consider.  A bit of a google on track day articles will find some additional reading where you can pick up additional nuggets of wisdom. 

 

Thats enough of a data dump for now.  Will stop there and await questions.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[zootnewton]

Thank you @Croc! 

[CBuff]

https://www.facebook.com/reel/932335103110044/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v
 

@Croc have you tried this out yet ?  Thoughts ?

[Croc]

@CBuff  Walked it but not driven it.  I think its only been used for the first time this week as they had weather delays laying the asphalt.  

 

It makes it easier for a big heavy car but its a bit of a 'meh' corner otherwise.  It was reputedly done to keep the NASCAR/ARCA crowd happy. 

[slowdude]

2 hours ago, Croc said:

@CBuff  Walked it but not driven it.  I think its only been used for the first time this week as they had weather delays laying the asphalt.  

 

It makes it easier for a big heavy car but its a bit of a 'meh' corner otherwise.  It was reputedly done to keep the NASCAR/ARCA crowd happy. 

Sounds like they're going for more of the larger sports car crowd for track days too?

 

Formal Petition to go to lightning next year so I can spin out on the 3rd corner which is a blind right apex and give everyone a heart attack?

[CBuff]

@slowdude the car would need to be running to make it to turn 3.  
 

kidding. Get it going today. Your presence is missed. 

[Kitcat]

I did it years ago in my Birkin. It was pretty bumpy:).

[Croc]

8 hours ago, slowdude said:

Sounds like they're going for more of the larger sports car crowd for track days too?

 

Thats just the hp evolution curve.  When I started racing in the 80s, high hp out of a road going v8 (Corvette) was 250hp or so.  Fast forward to say 2005 and your average Corvette was say 350hp. Continue the fast forward to today and a Corvette is 700-800hp.  The VW Bee.....sorry I mean Porker 911 has had a similar hp evolution over time. 

 

Weight has gone the same way.  A Corvette was 3000lbs in the mid 80s but today is 3500lbs (or dammit 4000lbs in the ZR1X).  The 911 was 2600lbs in 1985 and is 3500lbs today (plus gained thighs like Hillary Clinton did).   

 

What this means is the race crowd and the separate track day crowd are manhandling big heavy cars with lots of hp.  That begs for a power circuit with point and shoot capability - fast on the straights and then slooooooowly wobble through the corners.  

 

All this track modification is doing is converting the track to more of a power circuit with less emphasis on cornering ability.  Ultimately that makes it boring for me.  Sure it will be "better" (aka faster) in my Mustang or CSL but that does not equate to fun.  

 

To me, I think Lightning is a better track for a se7en since it is a momentum track.  Its faster than Thunderbolt (pre-mods) since its average speed is higher.

 

 

8 hours ago, slowdude said:

Formal Petition to go to lightning next year so I can spin out on the 3rd corner which is a blind right apex and give everyone a heart attack?

 

You are thinking of turn 5.  Your car would not make from the front gate to the Lightning pits so I think we are safe.   Anyway, lots of others have done that trick so think of something new.  

 

[CBuff]

 

interested to hear your first hand experience @Croc if your not jet setting around the globe. 

[Croc]

25 minutes ago, CBuff said:

interested to hear your first hand experience @Croc if your not jet setting around the globe. 

 

 

I am surprised that the new left corner is so slow.  This is a well prepared fast C8 with an experienced driver.  Its 52mph - slower than turn 5 - although it looks like he may have early apexed which could be a contributor and I think the data is slightly lagging the video based on throttle noises.  A Caterham will be slightly quicker as the corner looks trickier than expected.  The transition from old track to connector new surface and then again regaining the old surface was jarring - car jolted.  

 

The video comments are very instructive:

 

Quote

This was NOT a good drive through the Devil's Pass. I'm always trying to push the speed through turn 8, and thereby felt like I actually got the entrance to Devil's Pass correct only a few times throughout the day. I prefer the traditional track layout with the Octopus.

 

There are now only 2 left turns on the track, so it might behoove you to set the car up with a Limerock-ian setup. I never got proper temp across the tire on the right side of the car with my typical -3 degrees around the whole car.

 

I get to try this out in May.  Too much going on this month.  

 

[yellowss7]

He did a 1:14-15  on TBolt.  That cutoff either cut 9-10 seconds off the usual fast time or I’m really really really slow. 🫩

[Croc]

15 minutes ago, yellowss7 said:

He did a 1:14-15  on TBolt.  That cutoff either cut 9-10 seconds off the usual fast time or I’m really really really slow. 🫩

 

Yes it is a much quicker circuit now that you cut out the octopus head.  I bet he did cut off 10 seconds with that track modification.

 

15 minutes ago, yellowss7 said:

I’m really really really slow. 🫩

 

 

Well yes...

[BlakeJ]

Any inclination as to which configuration we’ll be using in October?

[CBuff]

I believe @Crocsaid we would be using the pass. But he is such a BMOC at njmp maybe we can pick.  

[Croc]

12 hours ago, BlakeJ said:

Any inclination as to which configuration we’ll be using in October?

 

I bet with pass configuration.  It will be like a new toy and getting used constantly.  

 

It will be a vote on the day by those participating.