Toughie

Wow! I think I have read somewhere (The Telegraph's Honest John, perhaps) that concrete garages (mine is mainly concrete breeze blocks), can 'sweat' more than brick, that wooden ones are better than either, and that open wooden ones are best. As I say at #6 above, I use both a heater and dehumidifier under a large plastic sheet. I'm sure the mice are very comfortable.

Thanks again. I hope you don't think I'm disagreeing. I confess ignorance, though I can understand not wanting to start a bloodbath between the adherents. I'll have a root around the interweb and see what I can glean, but would be grateful for any link to anything you might readily have to hand.

#12 - Oh, Geoff's come out of his shell! #14 - Scott, thanks for the response, which gives me pause for thought. I'm very conscious that I'm the inexperienced one here. My thinking (running the engine once a month) was from some stuff I'd read about storing classic cars over winter. I had problems when I bought her, a second hand CSR, from Caterham, which they put right at great expense to them, for which I shall be eternally grateful. I spoke to Caterham about how I should measure the oil level. They told me I had to make sure I ran her up to temperature to do so, and that to be sure, 'temperature' was when the fan came on for the second time, which is what I now do. The oil temperature is almost always smack on 70 for that, and running on idle from cold, this usually takes about 25 minutes. The exhaust has certainly stopped 'steaming' by then, the smutts have cleared, and I can usually do a nice bacon & eggs on the exhaust guard, and a small casserole on the cat guard. I hesitate to ask (not least because I'll probably get 4,243 different versions), but am I doing this all wrong?

It may not do too much damage starting every month but it’s not doing any good and certainly isn’t necessary, IMO and according to all the research I’ve done. Please would you enlighten me on that and share some of the info? I'm trying to persuade one of my "advisors" to share his views on being up on stands, but he's such a shrinking violet.

Why is that headlight pointing backwards?

I haven't, but I know I really ought. Particularly as I can't see myself ever wanting another 7 after this one. One of our local members has offered to help me apply some. I fully intend to take him up on it, when we're allowed to come out again.

I know some members believe 7s don't like being kept on stands, though mine is. I've put mine on stands. I have a soft car cover over her, cover her in a very large plastic sheet and put a small heater and dehumidifier under it. The heater is to ensure the air temperature remains high enough for the dehumidifier to work through cold weather. I take it all off at least once a month and run the engine up to temperature, just to keep the oil going around. As she's on stands, I've now begun to put her in 1st gear and let the wheels run while getting up to temp, to keep the oil in the diff and gearbox circulated, too. No doubt someone better informed than I is going to tell me I'm wrecking her in doing this, but I'd welcome views.

Thanks. I know about the bending bit. That gives me some indication of the angle of stick out. It's odd, on my last car the buffeting was dreadful, on this one, nowhere near as bad. And 7's look so good without side screens.

Right on, I think I follow you. I've got to peel the plastic off my car today to run the engine, so I'll have a shuftie at the fittings while I'm on, but I think I can imagine the result. And, thanks, I will message you if I fail to get it. To get the best effect without thus far, I've pushed the driver's deflector all the way forward, so it's only about 20% off the line of the windscreen. I then chock it in place with a lump of wood, precision crafted with an axe. So when you do this mod, do you let the deflector fold all the way back, thus sticking out as little as possible?

I then did a similar thing with the mini side screens on the 7 creating a gap to allow the wind between the side screen and the windscreen to avoid the rush/pressure of wind around the side screen and into the cockpit. Whooa! I use the mini side screen deflectors and have exactly that problem. I don't understand what it is you did, though. Please could you tell me how you did it.

Now that sounds like the alternative, to me.

Interesting, thanks. Putting aside the, for me, sacrilege, of of making changes to the automobile equivalent of a Grade II listed building, cars like Elan make more sense than a 7 for electric, simply because their shape is much more 'jelly mould'. An efficient aerodynamic container for the mechanicals. Whereas the 7 has the aerodynamics of a brick pig, but has its shape is BECAUSE of its mechanicals. Change the mechanicals and its raison d'etre ceases.

I have to say, that whole Bauhaus "Form Follows Function" thing is surely what makes the 7 the the work of genius that has sustained its existence. If it can be electric, what's the point of the shape it is, other than sentimentality. The weight will likely change, even if the distribution can be artificially fiddled with. The drivetrain wont be the same, and I doubt the handling would. People still love Austin 7s. Perhaps we have to look to that as our future. How many people go to work on a horse any more, but equestrianism certainly hasn't died out. Now I'm rambling!

Stu, yep, I do know what you mean about bending the bottom. A local oppo has done it. For some reason I can't justify in the least, I think I want to have the option of having it forward or not, as I think it might get in the way when parked. This, despite 14" of rear wheel arch and a bloody great chrome elbow warmer sticking far further out of the same side. Stupid, I know, but if any of us were rational, would we own a 7? Tobinators: So are you proposing actually raising the complete windscreen, stanchion fittings, and all? If so, what does that do for your weather gear? And what about all that rain shooting in?

Arthur, Re: Mirrors. I usually only put side screens on when my wife comes out, or I'm doing a particularly long journey involving motorways. Different cars appear to have different degrees of buffeting for the occupants, when going without screens. My old SV was dreadful for it, my current CSR isn't bad at all. I had a conversation with Oxtead trimming, who do the side screens, about buffeting, and was told that it's nothing for caterham to be half an inch out on the location of one side of the windscreen versus the other. I bought wind deflectors from Caterham, which have improved the buffeting, but only if I have the driver's side almost flat forward, almost in line with the windscreen. https://caterhamparts.co.uk/windscreens-aeroscreens/150-wind-deflector-kit.html The only way I can keep them forward is to insert a thin bit of wood between the hinges. Anyway, the above leads on to mirrors. I tried a set of mirrors I could bolt into the side of the windscreen, but stripped the thread after a few fittings and removals (to put the side screen back on for the missus), so I now use some classic looking chrome 'clip on' type, something like this. https://www.demon-tweeks.com/uk/demon-tweeks-quarter-light-clip-on-mirrors-249572/ There are several styles using this fitting and they're easy to fit and remove, clamping to the protruding lip on the windscreen stanchion. Remember that if you buy from Demon Tweeks, you get a club discount, here: https://www.lotus7.club/membership/special-offers-members/demon-tweeks-discount Good luck and welcome to the club.

As per GJT above. I would add that my inference of the McDonald interview was that he was not ruling electric out, but that battery size and weight would have to be greatly improved before CC considered it feasible, but that, long term, some change was inevitable. But perhaps things like hydrogen cells might prove an alternative by then. I have the impression that people are beginning to give more consideration to the pollution of manufacturing batteries, electric cars simply shifting the pollution, often far more toxic, to a different location. But perhaps that's an entirely new thread, and one in which I have absolutely no expertise, whatsoever.

And I thought the Kerbal Space Programme could get technical! .

The American Psychological Association has a six step programme (as its American, should that be 'program'?) for dealing with such addiction: 1. Admitting that one cannot control one's addiction. Well done, you've already achieved that. 2. Recognizing a higher power that can give strength, I've been told, however, that a power between 140 and 180 bhp is the 'sweet spot'. 3. Examining past errors with the help of a sponsor (experienced member). E.g. "don't mash the throttle on the exit." 4. Making amends for these errors. E.g. having to buy a new wing after mashing the throttle on the exit. 5. Learning to live a new life with a new code of behavior. E.g. 05:00 starts help you avoid the "grockles" bimbling about (well done), and remembering that other drivers always underestimate how quickly you come off roundabouts. 6. Helping others who suffer from the same alcoholism, addictions or compulsions. E.g. posting idiot responses like this one. Regards A P.S. Always remember that, like all addiction sufferers, you are not alone. .

Going south on the M11 at around 14.35, Tuesday 25th September. I was going north in my blue one.

Well then, next time you're passing, don't. And, yes please, I would like a blat.

You can just replace the mirror itself. They're available online. Got a replacement on ebay. Be aware that, provided your car is right hand drive, your left hand mirror is slightly convex, whereas your left hand mirror is flat. Here's where I got mine https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/sis.html?_nkw=Caterham+Road+Sport+2016+-+2018++left+passenger+side+convex+mirror+glass+818LS&_id=332513866907&&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2658 When pushing the mirror into place, its easier to put the surrounding rim face down, drop the mirror face down into it, centre the gap around the edges, then push the housing down on top of the lot, thus ensuring you get an even pressure all round as you snap it together.

OK. Thanks for the response, Paul. As I have a similar problem, at least I now know that what I'm looking for in the picture is not on my car, which is a Sigma. Good luck with yours. I hope she runs well and you get to enjoy what remains of this summer.

Again, may I ask which engine it is you're referring to?

Just seen this thread. For personal protection in extremis, when trying to kip, I can recommend a bivvy bag. Snug and waterproof, they take up little more space than a pack-a-mac and the Gore-tex worked a treat unless in the arctic when the temperature was below minus 7, in which case we'd take them into a tent. Modern Gore-tex probably works below that. I also recommend a bungee cord, rather than rope or cord for tying down bashas or tarps and for ridge lines, as these absorb some of the shock of gusts and reduce the chance of the peg, cord, eyelets, or posts being pulled out. P.S. Just looked at that link to the tarp you posted. HOW MUCH!!! I was taught to rig a leaky old poncho, with washing machine drive belts as bungee cords. Total cost 4s 6d. P.P.S Hope you enjoy your holiday. I'm on my way down there in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the warning about the weather.