Kitcat Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 I haven't had a problem, in spite of the dire predictions abt clam fendered Se7ens. I was able to drive mine at an indicated 118 mph (probably more like an actual 113 mph ) with no dartyness. Perhaps a function of alignment (lots of self-centering caster)? I was holding the driver's side Brooklands screen up w/ one hand and steering with the other so it was pretty stable. But extremely noisy/windy. etc. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Anything over 100mph in a 7 (especially with a traditional wing) is death wish. I find my Caterham to be quite stable at 130 mph and have driven it many miles over 100 mph. It has cycle wings and a CSR260 chin spoiler and nose whiskers which help a bit. The spoiler is hard to see in the photos as it is black and mostly covered with the license plate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht 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. at 100 my car feels no different than lower speeds. but it's quite a bit heavier than the average seven, so that probably has alot to do with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGTorque Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Roman, Did you give up on the Miata motor and install a Honda S2K??? no, i have another miata motor sittin on the floor here ready to go into my 7. i just have to finish swaping 1 motor in the shop now and 3 trannies. then i can get back to my 7. its not been so bad because its SOOOOOOOO HOT AND HUMID. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubo Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 I've only had my Seven for 7 weeks (still LOVE to drive it, for any excuse), starting in college again tomorrow, quite sure that i'm gonna take that baby out for a spin to the college. Anyway I've managed to hit, in my old original Seven S3 from 1969, 1600 xflow with 60000 original miles on it....according to speedo...90 mph!! and that was slighty uphill. I could feel that there werent that much power left. 90 mph is also what i've been doing in my old Peugeot 205 (everyday driver) and let me tell you, i'd much rather do 90 in the Seven..feel so much safer haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escondidoron Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 I rented a 1.6 litre K-series Rover engined Caterham Academy at the 'Ring last summer. It would redline in 6th. Not sure how accurate the speed was but it read about 130 mph (not kph). I do know that the front end got pretty light on top end. It was a little bit exciting in the rain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 Great first post escon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 My GPS shows 109 MPH, then I need to shift into 4th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted August 31, 2009 Author Share Posted August 31, 2009 OK, shift and then get back to us, we can wait:)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennyrayandersen Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 OK, shift and then get back to us, we can wait:)! HAha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwind25 Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 We had the birkin se7en up to 110. (or thats what mary's subaru said driving next to me) thats a fairly stock 1600 x-flow, with webers, stock windsheild. of course we have the front cycle wings. But we have added a little front spoiler we use to display the plate numbers and i made up a couple of those little nose wiskers out of aluminum. nothing obnoxious. we also made up some snap on 1/2 doors out of simple black upolstery material. they weigh nothing but keep out the gravel, they might help. I would like to make up a 1/2 tonneau someday. previously at about 90 it started floating and feeling unsettled, adding the little spoilers really helped keep the front end planted better. it feels pretty good up to that 110 now..but the little x-flow starts to run out of steam. love the brookland screens Mike R has...gotta make something up like that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
75TwinCam Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 Running an original Lotus Big Valve Twin Cam engine through a 4 speed Corsair gearbox I top out at 115 or so. Like with the whole horsepower thing, you don't need to be incredibly fast in a straight line when you don't have to slow down to turn . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Ok, so far 4th is 133, next comes 5th. I think with the .93 5th at an 8,000 shift it only drops 560 RPM. That would work out to 142, if it will do 8,000 in 5th. I added a little toe in so it is a little more stable at speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7evin Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Ok, so far 4th is 133, next comes 5th. I think with the .93 5th at an 8,000 shift it only drops 560 RPM. That would work out to 142, if it will do 8,000 in 5th. I added a little toe in so it is a little more stable at speed. Life starts to gets very REAL at that speed.... At the moment you are totally focused and the Adrenalin is squirting out of your ears.... The next day.... You are like have I lost my f&*k#$ mind ?.... Am I having thoughts of the after life and trying to cross over early ?.... Then the next time you are on the track the testosterone kicks in and you are like, What kind of pu**y thoughts were those, this is for men not sissy's and with a battle cry you forge back out to the upper limits that separate the boys from the lunatics.... Rock on brother... shift to 6th and hit the Nitrous button and give us a report... Cheers 7evin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 7evin, My personal Nitrous button has run out. This is the first thing I have ever owned, that within a few days I didn't know how fast it would go. That in the past could not have happened. Now from past experiences the thoughts of pain take over, and I have started to ask myself why. The chase has started to wind down for me. The day after thoughts you speak of above, and my memories of the pain has already made me stop riding bikes. Hell, of all things I even own a Buick now! Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 I got off the sportbike as my feeling of invincibility was kind of shot by the time I turned 50. Plus when I started counting the people I know that have been killed or seriously injured in just the 5 years of street riding.... felt I was pressing my luck. That left me with the option of a dedicated track bike or the 7. I'm pretty lazy by nature and driving out my driveway into the foothills is still a priority over loading up to go to the track 3 or 4 times a year. And how can you get any better riding that infrequently? I've found that 100mph in the 7 is like 140mph on a sportbike (for me anyway). Another difference is the bike gets smoother and more stable the faster you go... the 7 feels more unstable and I get a scared that a little nervous twitch might send me into the weeds. To be honest, that feeling is on the road where things aren't the smoothest. I don't recall that feeling on the track. Guess the lesson is to stop being a fool and keep it under 100 (85-90 actually feels like a nice fast controlled pace). So basically I'm getting the same thrill without the top speed and little bit more security... like not panicing over a patch of dirt in the apex of a turn and the advantage of a rollbar etc.. Can't drag a knee but can drag a knuckle if I want;) That being said, I do want a supercharger so I can keep up with the bikes in between corners:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drew... Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 I have found that regular track days keep the top speed on the street urge to a minimum. It does not however diminish the need for acceleration - I just take the foot out of it sooner. Top speed I have seen is 128, fourth gear or fifth gear didn't matter (looooooong straight at Brainerd International Raceway). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7evin Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Street speed just scares the h*ll out me... Just to many thing to go wrong. Track speed on the other hand.... I love everything about track days.. Acceleration deceleration, Speed, screaming engines, the smell of burning rubber... all of it ... I guess I spent so many years away from it all my tank got recharged.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 I wholeheartedly agree: Keep top speed on the track. Acceleration is okay as long as the road is clear of traffic, pedestrians, cops, pets, wild animals, potential witnesses, etc. No top speed run yet as I've only run an autox so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tnttim Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 According to the math I have done I will redline at 178MPH. Now if you consider that I can bury the speedo in the donor car and it weighs 3200 lbs at about the 150 mph mark. If I can keep the wheels on the ground I should be able to do it. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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