Kitcat Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Robert: In mildly powered cars like ours, I think the Brooklands makes a big difference in performance. My car is much livelier above 40 mph. I am able to drive a gear higher around town. I was faster at the track and wasn't left for dead on the straights. An added bonus is it dissipates the dreaded cockpit heat much better. And as you point out, it looks cool. I always wear goggles but haven't been hit in the face by road crud after 2-3K miles of this set-up. The other Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rohaley Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Out of curiosity, do you have before and after lap times? I would be interested to see if it equates to a 3% or maybe even a 5% improvement. Also, what track was it since a tight track would minimize the gains versus a high speed track (BeaveRun vs. Road America for example). While on the subject; How much does the wind jostle your helmet around when you run extra-legal speeds with the Brooklands? I get quite a bit with the standard windscreen and no doors when on track (rattles my eyes slightly). When running karts at Mid-Ohio (sit up sprints) it feels as though someone is trying to lift my helmet straight up and off my head once we get to about 100 mph. Does the similar exposure to the aistream have the same effect on you or something else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Mike-sorry, I have no times. I typically don't time myself and only get a number if someone else times me. I was pulling 100 mph at the fastest part of the track w/full windshield, 106 mph w/Brooklands, if that helps. I seemed to get up to speed faster. Ran almost everwhere in 4th, before I was in 3rd, spinning the engine much faster. I was using 4th because I was getting wheelspin out of 3rd (non-LSD car) in many spots and the car seemed just as fast at lower RPM's in 4th. Before there was wheelspin in just one spot. All of this was at Putnam Park race track in Indiana. A1.8 mile fairly tight course. I didn't notice any wind jostling. I had the passenger screen down, was wearing a full face helmet, belted in real tight w/5 pt harness, Hans and arm restraints, carbon fiber Tilton race seat:all kept me pretty pinned down. I am 5'9' so sit pretty low in the windstream Mike M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rohaley Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Thanks Mike, that is great information. That 6 mph difference is huge and now I am really looking forward to the spring (as if I wasn't before). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 I added the Brooklands set up because someone on the seven's list guesstimated it was like adding 20 hp. Who knows, but I was immediately hooked:)!-it wld cost quite a bit to add that much hp to my engine. As noted, the car is definitely faster but 20 hp???? It takes 10-15' to swap the regular windshield back in (2 bolts per side, behind a panel held in place with 8 screws). Speed it up and just leave the small panels off. Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 It takes 10-15' to swap the regular windshield back in (2 bolts per side, behind a panel held in place with 8 screws). Speed it up and just leave the small panels off. Mike. Caterham USA sells a pair of brackets with captive nuts that make it much easier to R & R the windshield or Brooklands mounting. No more removing the panels and reaching up inside to hold the nut. It also adds rigidity to the windshield in the event someone leans on it getting in or out of the car. There are pictures of them in this thread. http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showpost.php?p=35485&postcount=18 They were relatively cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwind25 Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 (edited) Mike.. i have the scuttle-cowl piece cut out and template cut out.. i need to collect on your offer now Yes i saw these brackets at our christmas party (thanks mike) i am going to look into this option as well. good idea really.. a trip to the strip?... sounds like a potential lotus CALL event!! Sure why not?...i have never been on a 1/4 mile drag before, never even as a spectator. do i bring the bleach for those rocks i am running on? Edited December 15, 2009 by southwind25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rohaley Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I am available whenever. After shop hours, generally after 4:00 on weekdays, after noon on Saturday and any time Sunday would work best though. The drag strip was actually very fun , much more than I thought it would be due to the plethora of information provided after your runs on the timeslip. Granted, with bikes doing 8 second runs and some cars in the 10's we would never be big dogs in this enviroment but the fish-out-of-water element gives us a pass to just have some fun with it. I got 9 runs in and left early the one and only time I went, the best 12 bucks I spent that evening for sure. And yes, I like the idea of getting the club together for grudge racing night (I will mention it to Rod next time we talk.....giving you proper credit of course). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwind25 Posted December 29, 2009 Author Share Posted December 29, 2009 Mike...are you free this saturday 01-02? lets get this cowl piece bent? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rohaley Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 This Saturday would work just fine, what time (you name it)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwind25 Posted December 30, 2009 Author Share Posted December 30, 2009 Mike, will give you a call.. 10:00 or so thinking mid morning if that would work for you. i got the left side frame welded up last night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rohaley Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 Sounds good. The frame looks great too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwind25 Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 (edited) Project continuing... Thanks to Mike R for letting me use his metal roller!! That REALLY helped put the basic curves in the windscreen scuttle/cowl mount. We were able to further tweak it nicely into place using an old tool called the English Knee (lol) . We made this a bit diffrent from the caterham setup. Since we will be taken off and on for extended trips/vs local blats we dont have to fiddle with the wiper arm posts. We made the windscreens fit the cowl/scuttle angle diffrently as well. all in good fun! it's getting there..gotta figure out what to do for mirrors. wish we could find slightly smaller bullet mirrors than the traditional. Edited January 5, 2010 by southwind25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Looks good Robert.....I would bet if you made a couple of those you could sell them as they look that nice and simple to convert from the stock windshield to Brooklands without major modifications to the car. Nice Job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rohaley Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 It looks like you nailed it Bob and it looks great so far. I noticed you have since welded in a tab for a rear-view mirror, be sure to post your progress (I wouldn't want to wait till May to see the final product). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwind25 Posted January 8, 2010 Author Share Posted January 8, 2010 Yup! i needed to weld the tab to hold the mirror and go through the cowl as well for security, yet be easy to access. Actually..i am having a difficult finding a center mirror that i either like..or can afford (pick one). so i am thinking about making one. i dont quiet like those hot rod or british flat ones..not very aerodynamic ((he-he like it matters)) and the carbon fiber center ones are not in the spirit of my budget. i am going back to the old bullet side mirrors so i am thinking maybe sorta making up a center one to sorta match...sorta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rohaley Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 My center mirror is apparently a Spitfire/GT6 part. I was browsing a Victoria British catalog and recognized it (part #9-1816 $26.95 http://www.victoriabritish.com/icatalog/sg/full.aspx?Page=17). It is one of those flat British jobbies as you say and is surely not aerodynamic but it does fit snugly between the screens and is not an account-breaker like the carbon fiber items (which reduce weight mainly by emptying the wallet). Also, The fender and door mirrors (on the same page) might be a good cost-effective option at only 10 bucks a piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breezy7 Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 QUOTE=Mike Rohaley;38081]My center mirror is apparently a Spitfire/GT6 part. I was browsing a Victoria British catalog and recognized it (part #9-1816 $26.95 http://www.victoriabritish.com/icatalog/sg/full.aspx?Page=17). Mike, can you give me the dimensions of the mirror you are using? How tall it is and the size of the mounting base too please. Do you think it would work with a standard Caterham windshield? I have been looking for a smaller mirror since I replaced the windshield last summer and have not found anything I am happy with. Thanks Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rohaley Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 The mirror itself is exactly 2" tall x 5" wide and stands 3 5/8" from the mounting base. The mounting base is 2 5/16" x 1/2" with 1 5/8" bolt centers. Note that the mirror would only work if scuttle mounted because the mirror surface cannot be rotated far enough if you mounted it to the top of the windscreen frame (not to mention problems with trying to run bolts safely through without hitting glass or fouling the top when fitted). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwind25 Posted January 11, 2010 Author Share Posted January 11, 2010 (edited) Further progress, and we decided to make our own center mirror. i couldnt find what i wanted, that i could afford so i made it. (gee isnt that what 7's are all about anyways?) it's 2" X 6" we just have to get the mirror glass cut for it now. Edited January 11, 2010 by southwind25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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