Kitcat Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 What is the fastest you have ever gone in your Se7en? I recently swapped out my stock Caterham windscreen (the barn door) for a Brooklands screen with the idea that it would improve high speed performance. It definitely makes the car livelier over 65 mph. Anyhow, while my former top speed was about 108, I hit 118 mph-with the help of the new screen (and a nice down hill slope). Wow! 118 mph in my car felt like 300 mph!!! When I finally pulled off the car was literally cross-eyed (the headlamps had twisted inward and were almost facing each other). My hat blew off around 85 mph, the driver's side tonneau blew off around 105 mph down into the passenger area, the driver's side areo-screen bent back around 112 mph (I then held it up with one hand). I know 118 mph is no record, tho no too shabby for a stock Crossflow. I know WestTexas has probably set the bar at its highest level (168 or so?). What was your best, and what was it like out there? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 i've hit 100 VERY briefly a couple of times accidentally, just merging on to an empty highway. actually, i didn't know I did it, but my speedo at the time had a max indicator, and after the drive i saw where it was :nonod: nothing fell off, and it still accelerates like a mofo at that speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 When I was over in England a few years ago, I went to a Lotus7 club trackday event at Cadwell Park, and rode with Alex Wong and Rodger Swift in their Vauxhall powered Caterhams. 250+ BHP engines. Down the main straight, Alex's Stack speedo read 152mph. Aero screened, and my Helmet was trying to lift my head off of my neck. At Barber, during Log29 I never had a chance to look down at my own Speedo. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbanker Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 I rode in a SuperStalker during one of the track day events at Putnam Park. Looked over and saw 135 on the speedo near the end of the long straight before turn 1. We were in traffic and the driver was not driving in anger...!!! I think some 3.8L SuperStalker owners have clocked over 155 at Gateway in St. Louis. 100 comes up real quick while merging onto Interstates in my 2.8L Stalker. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 I've seen 130 on the speedo on two different tracks with the regular windscreen. Car was stable but the wind buffeting was pretty bad. Nothing fell off. I've had passengers at that speed a couple of times and none of them commented on it, perhaps they didn't look at the speedo or had their eyes shut. Car was still accelerating when I hit the brakes but at a MUCH lower rate than when I turned onto the straight at about 75 mph. One of these days I will get around to finishing the Brooklands screens and find out if I can get a higher speed at the end of the straight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomove Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 128 mph at the end of the NASCAR oval on the Califoria Speedway according to the GPS log with 170 RWHP and full screen. I found it quite impressive, especially considering the lateral acceleration and steep banking in that curve (not to mention the upcoming 90-degree corner). But then, I did a leisurely 130+ for more than half an hour in a boring VW Passat Diesel on a quiet Sunday early morning on the German autobahn with the radio playing. It's all relative.... http://www.californiacaterhamclub.com/chat/attachment.php?attachmentid=585&d=1245116394 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiva Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 I've seen 130 on the speedo on two different tracks with the regular windscreen. Car was stable but the wind buffeting was pretty bad. Nothing fell off. I've had passengers at that speed a couple of times and none of them commented on it, perhaps they didn't look at the speedo or had their eyes shut. Car was still accelerating when I hit the brakes but at a MUCH lower rate than when I turned onto the straight at about 75 mph. One of these days I will get around to finishing the Brooklands screens and find out if I can get a higher speed at the end of the straight. Seamed to be exactly the feeling I had from passenger. I can stick in the back of Z06 corvette in the backstraight at Mont-Tremblant circuit. Speedo says around 220-230. But most of the time, my surge tank gets empty at 200ish. Depends on how hard I take the corners before the straight. The lotus has really poor drag coefficient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDingo8MyBaby Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile_drag_coefficient You probably aren't suprised what's at the top of the list... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 80+ mph Talladega Speedway. After 1 and a half foot to the floor laps the speedometer was wound past 100. That equates to about 82 mph. The speedometer broke shortly there after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderbrake Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Around 130 on the straight at Gateway at Run & Gun. Was actually too scared to look at the speedo very closely, as that left turn into the infield at the end of the straight is between a concrete wall on one side and other rigid stuff on the other side. I hate that turn. I will have to try it on a straight road sometime to see where it tops out. I don't know if 5th or 6th will be faster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiBirkin Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Stock 1600 xflow here and I hit 188kmh (116 mph) last week on a back country road following a Lotus 7 S4 I backed off then but still had some more too go, S4 kept on going up to 210 kmh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyper Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile_drag_coefficient You probably aren't suprised what's at the top of the list... I found a Cd of .620 and frontal area of 15.82 ft^2. That makes the Cd*A of 9.8. Even if you use .70 for Cd its only 11.1. That puts a Caterham somewhere between a Caprice wagon and an Escape Hybrid Numbers are from: http://www.mayfco.com/tbls.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGTorque Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 i got over 100mph with the stock miata motor in my wcm s2k. with the new turbo running the current non intercooled setup i was able to break 125 (at which point i almost needed another pair of pants). hopefully when the new motor goes in i can try again with some proper tires/wheels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 i got over 100mph with the stock miata motor in my wcm s2k. Roman, Did you give up on the Miata motor and install a Honda S2K??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDingo8MyBaby Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 I found a Cd of .620 and frontal area of 15.82 ft^2. That makes the Cd*A of 9.8. Even if you use .70 for Cd its only 11.1. That puts a Caterham somewhere between a Caprice wagon and an Escape Hybrid Numbers are from: http://www.mayfco.com/tbls.htm It's likely the one I've listed refers to clams and the .62 refers to cycle fenders. I agree though..not a ton of area there, but as wheels rotate in the airflow, their motion generates a separation of the adjacent airflow (disruption of the laminar flow) and creates a huge amount of drag. One thing to consider when going to bigger/wider tires. It also doesn't help that most of us have our coils and dampers out in the wind either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 I think my oversized tires and oversized windscreen keep me below 125:( But having done it at the track and on the road, I'll definately save it for the track as the roads I travel are not that smooth and the little dips etc.. make things too dicey for me in the triple digits. It's almost the exact opposite of my old sportbike... the faster the smoother on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solder_guy Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 85 mph .. on I-20 in Alabama .. The Rotus had more to give .. but I didn't want to push it yet .. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 I rode in a SuperStalker during one of the track day events at Putnam Park. Looked over and saw 135 on the speedo near the end of the long straight before turn 1. We were in traffic and the driver was not driving in anger...!!! I think some 3.8L SuperStalker owners have clocked over 155 at Gateway in St. Louis. 100 comes up real quick while merging onto Interstates in my 2.8L Stalker. Jack I have shot radar many times down the front straight at Gateway. The fastest speed I have seen in 3 years out of all the cars was the Viking 7 with a twin turbo 3 Rotor engine. He clocked 144. If I rember correctly John Meyers with his LS3 Stalker was doing 142 down the straight. Kevin was doing 138 a large majority of the cars in the 125-130 area. If I rember Dennis Bruton was running 139 with his Superstalker. I think the fastest Kevin has ever been is 162. With his new engine he should be able to top that. He has plans on doing the Texas Mile a guess we will see offically how fast it going in a standing mile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusaNostra Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Anything over 100mph in a 7 (especially with a traditional wing) is death wish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 This is a very interesting thread. How is the stability of the cars at top speed. I have to hold my elbows into my side as the car becomes darty. 1958 7 S1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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