Kitcat Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Here are a few photos, hopefully. The prior owner had the engine bay cleaned up considerably. Am taking it to the track this weekend and we'll see how it holds up. Sure makes a lotta power compared to my now-sold X-Flow Caterham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 That is a nice color combination - I like it. Just remember there is no shame in an off track excursion or two as you learn to handle all that power on the track I will be interested to hear the results of your track sessions. Not in NJMP by any chance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 (edited) Bad news Mike, the track said that since all of your trackday experience is with lower powered cars, they think that your new beast it too much of a quantum leap for you, so you will have to have your revs limited to 3500rpm and they want you to come in after each lap to check that you haven't crapped your pants. :willy_nilly::smilielol5::smilielol5: Yeah Croc, he's on a mission. I hope he doesn't get me kicked out for bringing a hooligan. Car looks very nice Mike. Can't wait to see it. Tom Edited November 8, 2011 by yellowss7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rikker Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 How would you compare the quality,ups and downs / etc of Caterham V Birkin now that you have experienced both first hand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1Steve Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Hi Mike, I like the color , have fun with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelD Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Mike, Nice colour. Very UK. Enjoy. Sorry about the track restrictions. Can't Tom pull some strings for you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Bad news Mike, the track said that since all of your trackday experience is with lower powered cars, they think that your new beast it too much of a quantum leap for you, so you will have to have your revs limited to 3500rpm and they want you to come in after each lap to check that you haven't crapped your pants. :willy_nilly::smilielol5: LOL :rofl:....and this is from someone whose only two skidmarks left in his life were laid down on the curves of a toilet bowl. I am very much looking forward to seeing it (and you) this weekend at NJMP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted November 9, 2011 Author Share Posted November 9, 2011 Rikker: See my post on first impressions of the car, elsewhere on the Forum. Overall: ya get a lot more car, on paper, for the $ w/a Birkin. But, but, but,.... the Caterham is better thot out, niggling issues are resolved better, it's roomier, more comfortable. I have to wonder if the folks who built the Birkin have ever driven it? They surely never sat in the seats, wh/are bonefide torture devices. The seat belts are mounted all wrong. I had many electrical issues to unravel also. The Caterham fits like a glove, the Birkin still feels like a borrowed car. It is definitely heavier as well. Well see how it does on the track this weekend. I know it goes extremely fast in a straight line, but will it stop, turn, etc., and will it survive the rigors or the track? I will know soon. Stat tuned. Mike M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelD Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 NJMP or Summit Point. It seems more prudent to take Friday off and go to SP then spend S&S with wifey. Have fun guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pi7ot Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Get a decent set of tyres under that beastie ASAP. :driving: m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted November 11, 2011 Author Share Posted November 11, 2011 It has Avon CR 500's. 15x195. The wheel tire combo is 8 lbs lighter than my stock Birkin wheels w/Toyo RA1's 15x205 (per corner). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted November 13, 2011 Author Share Posted November 13, 2011 (edited) OK, after a day an New Jersey Motorsports park racetrack I can say the Birkin is pretty sweet. The handling (stopping/turning) is excellent, as is the power, and it is competitive with the Caterhams in attendance (Yellow SS/Croc/Karl/Ron). I did slide off, hit a rock, bend a wheel/puncture a tire, but that was my brain fade, not the car.I had 2 Toyos as back up and mounted them on the rear. And I can say, after they warm up, they are equal to the Avon CR 500's up front. Top speed is abt 123 mph (106 in my X-Flow here). Croc and I are posting equally fast times tho achieved in opposite ways-where he is fast, I am slow, and visa versa. Only car issue is both rear rubber axle boots failed and dumped their grease all over the wheels. Car is still running, so didn't have to call it a day. Edited November 13, 2011 by Kitcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 errr.....Mike.....you forgot the other spin....you know the one in the Octopus (or Jersey Devil as some call it). It was the one that followed your tank slapper dance of about 200 yards before rotating off track in front of me. Luckily I caught it on video. :rofl: Being serious for a moment, Mike's Birkin looked great on track yesterday. I have always been a fan of the Birkin IRS model when I drove it 3 years ago and yesterday confirmed that is a very good car. It helps that Mike is abolutely fearless in the fast corners (unlike me :blush: ). It was noticeable that the Birkin was more nimble than my car on some of the corners, rewarding a different cornering line to the one I might take - not surprising when you consider how heavy my car (and me) is compared to Mike's Birkin. I can now see Mike's earlier observation in this thread that the Birkin is less "polished" as a product than his previous Caterham. It still looks like it needs another mapping session - it does not like cold starts. The brakes are another area for serious upgrade. At the end of main straight we are both doing about 123mph. This is GPS data not car speedo (which BTW says 135mph in my car...). Mike's brake lights come on at braking marker 4. I can go to braking marker 1.5 area and the instructor driving Ron's R500 in the last session was getting to braking marker 1. New pad time to see if that cures the problem. Fantastic day at Thunderbolt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelD Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 Sorry I missed it. Moving into a new office. Good to hear there were no major incidents. New brakes for the Birkin? See you all next year. What's the first warmish track day Tom? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 (edited) We had a great weekend at the track. The weather was just about perfect. A little chilly on Saturday morning for the first session, but clear blue skys, about 60 by the afternoon. Mike had a little bobble on the first session that resulted in a bent rim and flat tire, (on the cool down lap no less:svengo:) Croc managed to stay out of the dirt both days, as did Karl, Ron and I. Mike on the other hand, had us covered as I think he made at least 2 or more surveys of the brown and green stuff at each track..:willy_nilly: Have to say that Mike is fearless and drives at 10 10ths most of the time. Mike disappered on the first yellow flag warm up lap. His response, I was going hard to get the tires up to temp:toetap05:. Ron, got a good two days of private lessons, and was really going strong by the end of today. Karl, Croc and I had a great last session where we chased each other for about 5 or 6 laps. We had one other track member with an R500 show up today, so we had Six 7s on track all day today. I'm whooped. Lots of fun. Now I just need to find another 75 to 90 horsepower so that I can hang with these big boys. My Little 1.8 liter motor is running hard to keep with them. That and some bigger balls and I might be able to keep up with them in the future. :jester: For the afternoon sessions, they combined the Intermidate and Advance groups and shortened the wait between runs, allowing us to effectively double up and run both sessions. MichaelD, at the year end party last night, we were already discussing our next BIG Seven's track event. Renting the track for our own group is possible, Maybe we could get another group to join us to help defray costs. Maybe a cobra club, or some other marque. Croc has some Video that I'm sure he'll post once he get's home. Kitcat headed back to Cincy, around 2:30pm so probably won't get in until midnight or so. Croc was driving his car back up to NYC and probably is still on the road. And Ron wins the diehard award. While the rest of us had had enough, and packed up. Ron headed back out for one last session. He should be about an hour so more on the road as he too drove his car to and from the track. The Banter at lunch dinner and between sessions is just as much fun as running together on the track. Can't wait for the spring!!! Tom Edited November 13, 2011 by yellowss7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 We had a great weekend at the track. The weather was just about perfect. A little chilly on Saturday morning for the first session, but clear blue skys, about 60 by the afternoon. Mike had a little bobble on the first session that resulted in a bent rim and flat tire, (on the cool down lap no less:svengo:) Croc managed to stay out of the dirt both days, as did Karl, Ron and I. Mike on the other hand, had us covered as I think he made at least 2 or more surveys of the brown and green stuff at each track..:willy_nilly: Have to say that Mike is fearless and drives at 10 10ths most of the time. Mike disappered on the first yellow flag warm up lap. His response, I was going hard to get the tires up to temp:toetap05:. Ron, got a good two days of private lessons, and was really going strong by the end of today. Karl, Croc and I had a great last session where we chased each other for about 5 or 6 laps. We had one other track member with an R500 show up today, so we had 6 7s on track all day today. I'm whooped. Lots of fun. Now I just need to find another 75 to 90 horsepower so that I can hang with these big boys. My Little 1.8 liter motor is running hard to keep with them. That and some bigger balls and I might be able to keep up with them in the future. :jester: For the afternoon sessions, they combined the Intermidate and Advance groups and shortened the wait between runs, allowing us to effectively double up and run both sessions. Michael, at the year end party last night, we were already discussing our next BIG Seven's track event. Renting the track for our own group is possible, Maybe we could get another group to join us to help defray costs. Maybe a cobra club, or some other marque. Croc has some Video that I'm sure he'll post once he get's home. Kitcat headed back to Cincy, around 2:30pm so probably won't get in until midnight or so. Croc was driving his car back up to NYC and probably is still on the road. And Ron wins the diehard award. While the rest of us had had enough, and packed up. Ron headed back out for one last session. He should be about an hour so more on the road as he too drove his car to and from the track. The Banter at lunch dinner and between sessions is just as much fun as running together on the track. Can't wait for the spring!!! Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelD Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 Porsches are generally fun to run with although some do not like being passed by a pesky kit car ;-) Shelby Cobra replicas (Not Mustang Cobras) would be a good group to alternat heats with. How about BMW Club? See you in 5 months? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Picture thread started at http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7060 I will add more as the day goes on. I did not want to misdirect Mike's car thread with NJMP stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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