Paul Hill Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Croc Do you know if Caterham ever went ahead with the US equivalent of the track day you enjoyed so much? I don't recall ever seeing anything more about it. I'm sure they would have enough interest, given enough of an advertising budget. Better still would be if they had a travelling circus, went to multiple tracks in a larger geographical area. Sadly most Europeans have no concept about the actual size of the US or Canada, how long it can take to drive between cities. They only see the dots on the map and don't take scale into account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdca7 Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 sdca7, can you say a little more about the difference in feel between the csr and r500? I can't really speak to the difference between the two since I've never driven a CSR. I'm just going on what I've heard! It sounds like the R500 is a little less comfortable and compliant, and the more advanced suspension on the CSR could potentially make it faster. The Superlight never stops thrilling me, though, and it turns some remarkable lap times. I don't think the ride is harsh. Just very connected to the road, a progressive feel towards the limit, and very forgiving. It is so easy to control slides that it takes all the self-control I have to keep from drifting every corner. And my face hurts from smiling so hard. Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Croc Do you know if Caterham ever went ahead with the US equivalent of the track day you enjoyed so much? I don't recall ever seeing anything more about it. Going O/T for a moment - I understand the idea was still born. I believe it was NASA (no not the space agency) that was organizing the concept. The car order was placed and then put on hold indefinitely. While they planned to start in NYC they were then going to make it a travelling roadshow. Sadly nothing ever happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffs Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 Jeffs, If the weather is decent and the are roads dry I can meet you at Caterham USA for a test ride on March 5th. If you can get to Denver by Saturday the 3rd I am taking the Lotus club to visit one of the worlds top ranked Bugatti and French racing car restorers and then on a blat in the foothills or mountains depending on road conditions. I wish I could make it out there for the 3rd, but unfortunately I can't. I'll definitely take you up on the offer to meet up on the 5th though. I'll send you a PM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffs Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 Have you ruled out a proper spec'd Westfield? I've got a Megabusa for sale in the classifieds. Yeah, I pretty much have. I have to say though, that could be the best car ad I've ever seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffs Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 I'd like to publicly thank Croc for taking the time to show me his CSR, and even taking the time to go for a ride on a cold Feb afternoon. I was ready for a ride that was much more jarring and harsh than my Elise, but it didn't feel that way at all. It took a long time for the grin to leave my face, but to be fair it may have been frozen that way The visit was really helpful and any doubts I may have had about getting a Caterham are now long gone. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 jeffs, I'm joining the conversation a little late.... scda7 wrote, "If I were to buy a seven for street use and occasional track use, I wouldn't worry too much about weight, and would get all the creature comforts." I bought a 2007 R500-spec S-III (deDion, narrow body) from RMSC, and assembled it in Colorado over the next four (!) years, then drove it from Colorado to Alaska, via California in August 2010, 6150 miles. I have the Cosworth dry-sump 250/260 hp 2.3 Duratec engine, CC six-speed, 3.38:1 lsd, 15-inch Avon CR500 tires, Tillett seats, and full weather kit. I am 5' 10", 185 lb., and I fit the car and the seats well for the long drive, in relatively perfect comfort. I got the 3.38 rear end to compensate for the fact the 6th gear in the CC transmission is direct, not overdrive. My car is very pleasant at freeway speeds, the engine humming but not zinging, and it has plenty of torque to compensate for the low numerical ratio. I added extra insulation to the engine bay and footwells, and didn't "worry too much about weight," with the result that my car is heavier than the average Superlight. But it still accelerates and corners like a scalded cat... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdca7 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I have the Cosworth dry-sump 250/260 hp 2.3 Duratec engine, Sorry to Hijack the thread, but... Does the 2.3 L duratec fit in the SIII chassis? I thought it was too tall. Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 sdac7, The 2.3 Duratec is slightly taller than a 2.0, but it fits in an S III chassis with no overhead clearance problems. If I did not have a dry sump, my pan might be a bit low, but as it is, everything clears just fine, including ground clearance. I also have a curved bar under the nose-cone (like those now offered on the CSR and SV, I believe), to guide the shape of the nose cone where it supports the front edge of the bonnet. That may help in overhead clearance. BTW, I am also using the stock CC 15X9 rims with Avon CR500 195/45 R15 tires in front, but the wider CSR 15X9 inch wheel and CR500 in 245/40 R15 size in the rear. I was told by RMSC and others that the CSR rear wheel would not fit an SV or a Series III, but have had no problems -- and they fill out the rear wheel wells nicely! Sorry for perpetuating the thread hijack.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1Steve Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Which one ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 The one on the far left, thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffs Posted March 8, 2012 Author Share Posted March 8, 2012 After all the helpful advice, I thought I'd share my update. After much internal debate, a couple of rides with Sabbot and Croc (thx again guys) and Monday afternoon in Denver with Jon and Cody, I placed my order for a new R500 (yellow/black). It's nice to no longer be waffling on which model R400/R500/CSR and instead just counting the days to arrival. I hope to see you all out on the street soon....it feels like it wont be soon enough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 Congratulations! You will be like a kid just before Christmas waiting for your present to arrive with Santa! Did you go through the option list and tick every box? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffs Posted March 8, 2012 Author Share Posted March 8, 2012 They asked me if I wanted to come out to Colorado to unwrap it, but I decided pictures were good enough LOL, not quite every box, but I checked a few boxes that weren't even on the sheet. It was every bit of fun you said it would be I just spoke to Hagerty about insurance (wow, less than my jeep). I thought someone said they covered track days (I was surprised by this), but when I spoke with them today they said they didn't. Is anyone here covered for track days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wemtd Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 jeff how will you register? coming from colorado will it have a vin/registration as '65, or do you plan on going the way of crock? i'm currently sorted but have illusions of coming back to NJ some day cheers P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky dawg Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 What kind of time frame did they give you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 jeff how will you register? coming from colorado will it have a vin/registration as '65, or do you plan on going the way of crock? i'm currently sorted but have illusions of coming back to NJ some day cheers P. I believe it will come as an MSO and bill of sale although they can probably get it inspected and registered in Colorado. If that happens it will be registered as a 2012 Kit and be exempt from Colorado emissions requirements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Some trackday outfits offer insurance for their events Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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