I recall that the Caterham Seven (or was it the Lotus Seven) was declared "Too Fast To Race" by a racing series either in the UK or USA in the early 1980's. Does anyone recall which race series/class refused entry to Sevens? Was there ever a Caterham sticker designed that showed 'Too Fast To Race"? I remember that I had a rear number plate made for my Series 4 Seven around 1982 with that slogan on.
Hi David - It was the BRSCC I believe, this interview here refers (p.9).
I've seen many T-shirts with the slogan but not sure about a sticker. I'm sure someone will know though
Michael Calvert
Lowflying Editor (lowflying@caterhamlotus7.club)
From memory only, it was 73 to 74 (and in the UK), so in the Caterham era.
The move to block the car from Prodsports came at a time when there was a fad for separating classes on the basis of price (as for the Prod Saloon series of that era).
It was also barred from Modsports but that had as much to do with the RAC umm-ing and ahh-ing over whether the car really qualified to be called a regular production car (rather than a Clubman’s formula car or some other class of race car - which was a reasonable point of view, since the Seven had been one of the mainstays of Clubmans in the past).
It was allowed back in to Modsports a little later, when a fancy one-off was run, famously, by Dave Bettinson - which was inviting more grumbling from other drivers since it was rather more like a Clubmans formula car than anything else.
At the time, and from the spectator side of the fence at least, it didn’t seem anything like as straightforward as being simply ’too fast to race’, but it was neat slogan marketing!
I might be forgetting some of the exact dates and finer details - I was there, but it was a very long time ago!
Edit:
Having now flicked through some old magazines - the Seven was certainly back in Prodsports by '81 (and successfully so), but I'm not certain that was its first back in the category. I remember seeing a few homemade stickers; maybe Caterham did one too? I don't believe that phrase came from the RAC or the BRSCC though.
Tony Pashley
It was also banned from the Nurburgring 24 hours after the class win in the late 90s I think. ISTR they changed the rules to ban open wheel cars due after complaints from the other teams!
Thank you for all the replies. The "Too Fast to Race" slogan was certainly used by Caterham at the time and is part of Caterham history in its own way. I wonder how this could b included in the 50th celebrations this year in some way. As Graham Nearn commented in the quoted article, one make racing series avoided the kerfuffle caused at the time - and has certainly grown in number of Caterham race series and numbers of competitors, as we will all see in early September at Donington Park!
Michael Calvert - how could this part of Caterham history be reflected in our club activities at Donington Park? Also, are Caterham cars themselves going to feature this slogan do we know? It could certainly be one of the many marketing USPs ...
David Stamp
Kent
I still have a couple of 'Too Fast to Race' tee shirts in bright yellow!
Terry7
I think it's a terrific slogan, with a great story behind it, and a great bit of advertising.
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Alan
I agree 100%
David Stamp
Kent
Could you share a photo of those tee shirts? What design was used?
David Stamp
Kent
Not sure if it;s the same but there's an image on this thread here that might job some memories :-)
Michael Calvert
Lowflying Editor (lowflying@caterhamlotus7.club)
If I recall correctly, they were banned from a US endurance race, which was a feature in a recent copy of Lowflying, banned by the RAC in the UK
The story I also recall is that they would 'not be invited again' by the Nurburgring, after a private team won outstandingly in an endurance race. The Porsche and BMW works teams tried to get them disqualified after the race, for not having their brake lights connected. When challenged by the Clerk of the Course, the driver jumped in the car, started it up and put his foot on the brakes, and the lights came on. Of course, our cars are so light, we don't use the brakes much, do we?
I dunno how much the above is a myth, but it is bloody good as motoring myths go, and it is highly believable.
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Alan