GrahamV

Hi Alan Yes - i agree that its all a bit confusing My understanding on HANS / FHR is - Two components to consider on a helmet - the 'anchorage' which is the threaded hole in the helmet and the 'post' which screws into the anchorage; If you want to have a helmet drilled / tapped for anchorages then it must be done by a specialist company or returned to the original manufacturer. They can advise if the helmet is suitable for modification; If you go for the SAH2010 standard (as my post above - the helmet already has predrilled and pretapped anchorages) then you can screw the HANS posts in the achorage yourself. Two minute job.... with just a small allen key; The other option of course is to buy a helmet with achorages and posts - both already fitted. The official guidance is in - FIA driver guide 2011. Frontal Head Restraints (FHR) Appendix L, Chapter III, Article 3; Technical lists N°29 & 36 'It is however essential to have a helmet approved for FHR use (see FIA Technical list no. 29) and to have the FHR tether anchorages on the helmet installed by your helmet makers or an expert approved by them'. Seems to make sense - i.e. the anchorages must be professionally installed but you can put the posts on yourself. GahamV [ FIA Guide to safe motor sport - page 8 - '.... do not drill holes in your helmet'. ]

Hi David I badly scratched my visor last year and couldn't get a replacement visor (it was a cheap V2 Classic) .... I tried polishing the scratch out but made it worse . So as i needed a new helmet I thought I'd upgrade to a HANS / FHR compatible relacement. I went for this one - http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/helmets/race-safety-accessories-pro-full-face-helmet Its predrilled and tapped (M6) ready to accept HANS posts (I think thats what the 'H' is for in the SAH2010 standard). It also comes with a free DT carry bag and a free 'smoked' visor as well. For Hans posts I used the Schroth ones .... also from DT. Recommended .... if you want a cheap hemet that's predrilled and tapped for HANS with a second visor. GrahamV

I saw Paul on Saturday at Wiscombe - he confirmed it is his ex car on e-bay. His opinion after seeing the damage close up (!) is that they are asking too much for it. I think Paul had a lucky escape - once the car caught fire he managed to push it out of the garage before it did too much damage. GrahamV

Sadly nothing to do with me ...... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Caterham-SP-300-R-/252042061653

It looks like Paul Rudler's ex car - which i believe suffered a fire in the garage. Thankfully no long term damage to Paul.... I believe the 1600 Xflow had quite a bit of rebuilding work prior to the fire. Paul was based in Devon / Cornwall - not sure how the car got to Ashington in Northumberland ? GrahamV

Thanks for all the interest - Provisonally sold to Andrew H

Hi Simon - sorry but the car wouldn't be the same without your Nitrons :-) I have to say that I wish I'd bought them years ago.... I'm looking for a quick 'end of season' sale so it is a real bargain for somebody. Not only is my retirement coming up but we also have a house move this month ... busy times and we can't have four cars and a trailer. GrahamV

Thanks for the BTTT - appreciated. Now on Pistonheads - http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/caterham/all-models/superlight-r-plus-brian-james-minno-trailer/4651228

Sold - thanks for all the enquiries and offers. For sale to a good home: Caterham 7 Superlight ‘R’ (plaque number 82) and Brian James Minno trailer As my retirement draws nearer its sadly time to sell my 2000 Superlight ‘R’ and my Brian James Minno trailer. I would like to see it go to a fellow club member as a complete 'package' so I will advertise it here first before it goes on PistonHeads as separate items. This is my second Caterham and I know its a cliché, but I really will be very sad to see it go. Overall I think the Superlight ‘R’ model provides a good blend for competition, trackday and fun on the road. It is very easy to drive with no bad habits – although it is modified the engine pulls strongly from below 2,000 to over 8,000 revs. The car has covered a total of 23,600 miles and has been in my ownership for the last 8 years – I am the third owner. The engine and gearbox were professionally refreshed and upgraded over the winter of 2013 / 2014 when the mileage was 22,000 – so less than 2,000 miles on the engine / gearbox refresh. The engine is the original hardcore VHPD (Very High Performance Derivative) with harder crank, dry sump, better pistons etc. It was refreshed, modified and rebuilt by the magic spanners of Dave Andrews (DVA Power) in January 2014. In summary the engine refresh completed by DVA Power – Full port on the VHPD head (after checking for the correct hardness) Westwood liners New Piper 1444 cams New valves New Piper double valve springs and caps Fully Balanced New competition shells and bearings Modified throttle bodies (for reliability) New water pump New turbo oil pump (gasflowed!!) All new flywheel bolts, head bolts, tensioners, etc. Programmable Emerald ECU Well over 200 BHP. Could be more if you want to take the CAT off. Circa 160 LB-ft torque Full details of all the work carried out available on request (complete spreadsheet from DVA Power of parts and work) Gearbox refresh - The gearbox is a Caterham six speed close ratio box: refreshed and modified by Steve Perks (SP Components, Redditch) in December 2013 and has covered less than 2000 miles since the refresh – All new bearings and synchros fitted Special lightened layshaft for smoother, faster gearchanges Slightly stronger springs to centralise the gearlever on the 3rd / 4th shift plane Details of the car – Year 2000 Superlight 'R' - plaque number 82 Taxed / MOTed until Feb 2016 (but i think under new rules the tax is not transferable?) Colour - Lotus Azure Blue (code B20) with a silver nose band Full SLR cage from ‘Caged’ (fitted in 2012 with full race homologation sticker) Original colour coded FIA bar / petty strut included (no sticker) Nitron shocks and springs – valved and refreshed by Simon Rogers at Meteor Motorsport in June 2015 2 sets of wheels / tyres (size:7 x 13 fronts and 8 x 13 rears – i think) 1 x set Superlight ‘R’ wheels with supersoft compound Avon ZZRs (3 hillclimbs only – nearly new) 1 x set of R500 8 spoke anthracite wheels with Kumho V70s (supersoft rears and soft fronts – stored in the dark – nearly new) DRE Shift lights Limited slip diff (standard on SLRs) Mechanical oil pressure gauge (Racetec) New radiator in 2012 with silicon hoses (blue) Mocal oil catch tank (blue) Brise starter motor – fitted in 2012 Still on a Banner battery – replaced in 2012 Composite Tillett seats Two steering wheels – original leather Momo and slightly larger suede Racetec Quick release steering wheel boss Mintex 1144 brake pads all round Brake bias control New ITG air filter (June 2015) As a precaution the De Dion bar was upgraded in 2012 with the newer, stronger version (James Whiting recommendation) Repackable silencer with high volume CAT inside – specially made by GoodFabs (who make F1 exhaust systems).Repacked with Acoustafil this year - 98 to 102 decibels recorded. Original (repackable) silencer and Cat box included. Half doors and tonneau cover Oxted SLR waterproof rain cover – fits over the cage a treat Small ‘carbon look-a-like’ headlights Colour coded carbon wings front and rear Titanium '7' grill Milwood carbon protectors on the rear wheel archs Schroth seat belts (2011 - blue) – special order with 3 inch lap belts HANS / FHR plate fitted to bring the seat belt mounting points closer together Flat floored and running two degrees negative camber on the front wheels Private plate not included - will discuss what the new owner wants to do. Maybe a 'C7' plate?Trailer – Brian James Minno: Lockable hitch Always garaged Serviced annually at Wessex trailers, Dorchester Last serviced July 2015 (two new brake cables fitted) Only 300 miles since last service Slight mark on one ramp about 2 inches across where i spilt some acid and it marked the zinc plating on the ramp Wheel locking device included (2 keys) Set of 'tie downs' included (nifty shade of yellow)Pedigree / History / Usage I have used the car mainly for sprinting / hillclimbing – with the odd trip out on sunny days. The car has been great fun for 8 years, very successful and 100% reliable – 2014 Hillclimb results: 11 x First in class, 3 x Second in class. 4th overall in the 2014 Wiscombe Hillclimb Championship 7th overall in the 2014 Association of South West Motor Clubs (ASWMC) Championship. Class record holder at Manor Farm Hillclimb.2014 Sprint Results: Bristol Motor Club / Llandow Sprint – First in class Woolbridge / Clay Pigeon Sprint – First in class Torbay MC / Clay Pigeon Sprint – Second in classThe car in action (not my videos) ... make sure you wack it into HD and turn up the volume... Wiscombe Park Hillclimb - Castle Hillclimb - The business end.... Price – I think £19,500 is a bargain price for the complete package of a really fantastic Superlight ‘R’, a very good trailer and other bits ‘n bobs. The car + trailer combo makes this suitable for competitions and trackdays .... or just damn good fun on the roads. The car can be seen at Wiscombe Park Hillclimb on Sept 5th and 6th. I’m in Sherborne, north Dorset. Please telephone or e-mail for further details of the package or more photos – tel - 01963 210851 (please note I'm away Bank Holiday weekend) E-mail - graham.vingoe at t-systems.com

Hi Shaun '.... but as we already insist on FIA bar or cage for all competitors then it wasn't going to be an issue'. I fully understand and agree - I now think that the situation for Caterham owners is more about proving your FIA bar is homologated: for Westfield, Haynes, Sylva, Ginetta, MEV, Locust and Striker owners they probably need to buy and fit a new bar for 2016 .... Hi Chris - ah... I see.... no probs: Don't you think there have been so many changes this year - and the Blue Book with all its cross references is not the easiest thing to navigate? I wont even start on the MSA License changes for 2016 or the changes for organising clubs .....

Hi Shaun - thanks for the clarification. Bugger - my FIA bar / petty strut doesn't have a sticker It will be interesting to see how a scrutineer applies the new rule next year. If a Scrutineer follows the letter of the Blue Book then I assume 'no sticker = no proof of homologation = failed scrutineering' Hi Chris - this is not for consultation. Its an approved change - approved 9th June 2015 with an implementation date of 1st Jan 2016. Details here and relevant section pasted below: (S) Speed Events Date of implementation: 1 January 2016 10.1.2. Road-Going Series Production, K.1.6.1 or K.1.6.2 recommended. 10.1.3. Road-Going Specialist Production, Modified Series, Production Cars and Modified Specialist Production Cars must comply with K.1.6.1 or K.1.6.2. My summary of the change is that 'a compliant or homolgated ROPS is now manadatory for all Caterham 7s in MSA licensed events from 1st January 2016'. As I said ..... it will be interesting to see how the new rule is interpreted next year

Re my comment above 'Thankfully this doesn't seem to be a problem with the Caterham FIA-type bar ...' Over the last month there has been a lot of further debate about the new 'Roll Over Protection System (ROPS)' regulations on UphillRacers and the Westfield Sports Car Club forum. The MSA response to a Westfield owner who questioned the legality of his ROPS was - So it looks like the Westfield 'RAC' roll over bar may not be compliant with the new regulations and this will affect many of my fellow hillclimb competitors in Westfields. I haven't read all the detail but it looks like in many cases the roll bar diameter is too small and some old bars have rose-jointed rear supports. I've had a quick measure of my old FIA bar and it looks like 38 mm diameter tubing but I can't tell the thickness - the diameter of 38 mm is below the MSA Blue Book minima of 45mm but 'there is then freedom in the tube dimensions' Can someone confirm that the Caterham FIA-style design (with petty strut) is 'homolgated' or compliant for 2016? If there is any doubt is it worth the Club approaching the MSA for confirmation? Have Caterham provided the appropriate stress calculations for homologation of their FIA bar? Am I worrying about nothing? GrahamV

Re Tyres - List 1B: Our MSA rep said last Saturday that the Tyre Committee Meeting is confirmed for September 15th. He also said that one of the proposals on the table was to allow a grace period for current List 1Bs to be used into 2016 (which matches your comment '...continuance of the content of the 2015 list into 2016'). We also went through the 2015 Blue Book with him looking at the impact of new ROPS regulations - he agreed that the requirements regarding 'diameter of the roll bar tube, seat base to roll bar measurement, minimum head clearance, use of extension hoops, use of rose joints and the side clearances from the centre of the seat to the roll bar upright' are all difficult to understand. In my class (Road going specialist production) there are several Sylva Strykers, a pretty Ginetta G4 and some Westies that dont look like they will meet the new ROPS regulations. Thankfully this doesn't seem to be a problem with the Caterham FIA-type bar or full cage. GrahamV

I stand corrected - just been told by a colleague it was last resurfaced over the winter of 2011 / 2012. My memory must be going ...... Graham V

Hi Simon Resurfaced? Not that I'm aware of. What period are you talking about? The first hillclimb at Wiscombe was on August 24, 1958: in those early days the course finished at Sawbench with Castle straight and Martini hairpin added in the 1960s. So it would have had some resurfacing in those early days when the additional sections were added. The hillclimb track is managed by a small company called 'Wiscombe Limited'. Its run as a non-profit making organisation paying rental to the Wiscombe Park owners. There are a band of enthusiastic volunteers who tidy up the track / barriers / trees before the season starts but i dont think they have looked at resurfacing it. Old Movietone video of Sterling Moss at Wiscombe here ... And one of the more 'unusual' cars at Wiscombe earlier this year ... it was too big to fit into a paddock space GrahamV PS - Blatant plug - Meteor Motorsport Nitrons working well - 1st in class at Castle Hillclimb on Saturday and 2nd in Class on Sunday (but with a new PB!) - thanks.