yellowss7 Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 On Thursday this past week, at the NJMP drivers club member day, they held the first Time trial event. My friend and mechanic had suffered a flat during the first practice session and was without a spare for his 335 BMW racecar. I offered my car to him for the Time Trial event. He had never driven it on the track before. The format was a warmup lap, with a flying start for two timed laps. First lap, he did a 1:30.8 and a 1:31.5 on the second even though he went off track. Oh, should also mention that my tires had 25 heat cycles on them. After looking at the video He said he thinks the car could do a 1:27 with new tires. :driving: That's with him driving of course. He was second in class to a Porches GT3 cup car. How they determined that a 195hp Caterham should be classed with a GT3 I don't know. Tom [/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Hi Tom, Saw that on another source and did not realize that you where not driving. Still looks like you had a great day at the track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 (edited) Driven with authority! What is very impressive to me is how hard he was pushing it without knowing for sure what the car's limits were. It was very 'exciting' to see him enter the straight the 1st time-I thot he was going to run out of road. And, I have done 3 track days w/my new track Cat and its new-to-me Caterham 6 speed and I still get the wrong gear occassionally, and try to shift cautiously. He just goes for it and never a problem! I think he was grouped w/the GT3 as it sounds like he was competitive (upholding the car's giant killer rep). It was fun watching his lines: just like mine-but better:). I think Croc and JBH both got into 1:29's or 1:28's on that track last year, and Croc was running pretty tame rubber (Avon R500's), not slicks. Edited May 19, 2013 by Kitcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted May 20, 2013 Author Share Posted May 20, 2013 As for his 4 wheel off on turn 3, he said that he wasn't expecting the car to turn in so quickly, that in his BMW he has to initiate the turn and get the car to "set". He also said that with fresh tires and a little more experience he would easily get to 1:27 or better. But since it's not his car and he didn't want to have to pay for it, he drove conservatively. :svengo: Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 (edited) I think Croc and JBH both got into 1:29's or 1:28's on that track last year, and Croc was running pretty tame rubber (Avon CR500's), not slicks. LOL - I wish. On one day last year, with some passengers, Jeff and I were tag teaming our cars around the track and we got to 1.30.9 (Jeff's laptimer measuring) which I remember well as it matched the SCCA Caterham lap record on that track. We only stopped when my passenger decided he was going to vomit as I got airborne on the back straight! Jeff and I were both running street tires. There is an R500 that did a 1.28 on R888 tires (he drives to the circuit). Tires make a huge difference - I could hold onto Tom on the bowl at Lightning on Friday but it was a challenge. I have 3.5 inches less rubber width on each of the fronts and another 1.5 inches less on each of the backs. 10 inches less rubber width around the entire car and he is on slicks compared to my street tires. The tire set up on Tom's car really does make it hang on a lot better through corners and clearly gives the driver enormous confidence. Edited May 20, 2013 by Croc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supersportsp Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 That is some serious mechanical grip. Probably the least activity at the wheel I have seen for a Caterham going that fast. How heavy is the steering with those big slicks up front? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted May 22, 2013 Author Share Posted May 22, 2013 (edited) Steve is a very talented driver obviously. I tend to saw the wheel a little more as I'm not as confident. At speed, the car is very quick to turn. I do have it set up with a slight toe out up front. I tend to kid that if you want to turn you just have to turn your head the way you want to go. It's that responsive. Croc thinks it's over tired up front but I LIKE IT. :rofl: Tom Edited August 9, 2013 by yellowss7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supersportsp Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Good thing you run the brookland's to make up for that wall of rubber on the front end and the clam shell's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Those huge, heavy, air-bashing, front tires are all that prevents Tom's se7en from lift-off:)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted May 23, 2013 Author Share Posted May 23, 2013 HEY!!!! Those tires and wheels are way lighter than whatever you have on your car..:smilielol5: They are really very light. Even my Mike Barnby Magniesium wheels and CR500 weigh more and those rims only way about 7 pounds each. I don't care about top speed anyway. I'll never catch Blubarisax and Croc as they have 80 to 110 more horsepower. :deadhorse: My goal is to out perform them on the turns, any girl can go fast on a straight. :smilielol5: Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klasik-69 Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 If it's Time Trials with SCCA, the Caterham is thrown into the SSP (Super Street Prepared) class which also includes cars like Corvette Z06, Porsche 911TT (997), Dodge Viper, Ferrari 599 and any other monster car they can come up with. I think they figure the HP to weight puts them in good company. I've been running in that class for two years now in SEDIV TT. Luckily for me, not too many cars of the competition are running. They usually put me in the formula car groups since we will run similar times. I sure wish I could run the NJMP track. It looks like a great track and a lot of fun. Trailering a car 1100 miles one way isn't much fun however, especially for only one or two days of track. Even worse if you get there to find out it's rained out. For the guys who live in NJ or NY, not that big a deal to drive to. Lots of great tracks up north. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 (edited) BBall is trailering 1000 miles 1 way. So, if you come, you eek him out earn the coveted "Drove the farthest" award:). And there is a track day there Monday as well on the other track, so you can have 3 track days to show for your effort. Agree about the rain issue tho, that wld be a bummer. Spring rains tend to dry up at end of May and hurricanes dont start to August, but.... Edited May 23, 2013 by Kitcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted May 24, 2013 Author Share Posted May 24, 2013 No negative thoughts, guys. Think happy thoughts. Come on up. I drove and towed 17 hours straight to Birmingham ALabama ust to run on Barber Motorsports park. We have a shot at 12 or so Seven's on track in the same run group. Can't beat that for fun. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bball7754 Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 I'm partially able to justify the 1000 mile tow by visiting my family in NJ (I'm a native). But I would make the trip regardless. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted May 24, 2013 Author Share Posted May 24, 2013 If two days on track aren't enough for you there are options for additional days on Monday and Tuesday, if you're man enough..:boxing::jester: As the old NIKE slogan said. "Just Do It" :cheers: Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelD Posted May 26, 2013 Share Posted May 26, 2013 (edited) We are putting the motor and rebuilt T-9 a d new clutch back in the car in the morning. The car will be ready. So I am still a remote possibility. However, I won't know until the last minute. Like maybe sign up when I get there last minute. If I can get away I will be bringing our new puppy. Edited May 26, 2013 by MichaelD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted May 26, 2013 Author Share Posted May 26, 2013 I sure wish I could run the NJMP track. It looks like a great track and a lot of fun. Trailering a car 1100 miles one way isn't much fun however, especially for only one or two days of track. Klasik, if you come up for the event and want to do 3 or 4 days. I will run the other day(s) with you and I bet I could convince a couple others to join in as well. Just saying.... :party: Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blubarisax Posted May 26, 2013 Share Posted May 26, 2013 Tom, you should be at the track today! Nice out here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelD Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 All done :-) The car has never run better and tighter. Hope I can get away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted June 3, 2013 Author Share Posted June 3, 2013 Be positive and Just make it happen. :seeya: Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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