Shortshift

Sorry to hear this - but hopefully a good car for someone else (a chap on Facebook is actively looking for an R SV). James

Hmmm... So there is; not good. There was a lot going on that day, but it shouldn't have slipped through. I, for one, completely missed it. I'll pick up with Simon. Thanks for drawing our attention to it. James

Afraid not, Nick; because the event was organised by the Club then, irrespective of participant status (and some novices turn out to be less novice-like than others!) the Club's requirements for ROPS apply in full. So a 'trackday' rollover bar or approved cage was needed. The continued popularity of our Novice Trackdays (two arranged and sold-out this year) suggest that the rollover bar requirement is not an impediment to many members wishing to get on-track with the Club. James

Ian - great to see you there (as always) and thanks for the photos; good work! James

Quelle surprise! James

I already have this mentioned in 'Wanted' but I suspect that there is more passing traffic on here (TechTalk). In short, I'm looking for a CSR bypass pipe (or cat delete pipe, or 4:1 collector pipe) if anyone has one - or knows of one - that is surplus to requirements. James

Still looking! Bypass pipe, decat pipe, 4 into 1 collector - whatever it might be called, I'm still after one! James

Nah - I was thinking about the other one... James

Good job! I would like to order one of those from Forshaw Industries Ltd, if you could send through an invoice? James

Making progress. New (secondhand) nosecone now sitting in the hallway and the lower mounting brackets purchased. Just need the car, now, to see what fettling of the CSR radiator mounting and cowling arrangements is needed to make it fit. Biggest risk might be getting a perfect paint match - but I'd imagine that Tony at TSK will be up for that challenge when we get to it. James

James

"Still unable to post pictures on this forum." A picture of a blue cage. Not the blue cage that Simon is selling but, nevertheless, a picture of a blue cage successfully posted. James

"Still unable to post pictures on this forum." Here is a picture of a damper - not the dampers that Simon is selling, but a picture successfully posted, nevertheless. James

Maybe someone has a CSR bypass pipe (4:1 collector) surplus to requirements? James 07714 693192

Thank you Mic. James

Yes Ian, the 'trackday' or 'open' cage is approved for use on Club trackdays. James

Graearea - I really don't want to open a fresh can of worms on the topic of trackday rollover bars but, as a member of the Club's trackday team, I should point out that a cage modified in this manner would not be acceptable for use on Club trackdays. I have no idea if that might matter to you or not, but I thought it might be helpful to be clear up front. The Club's trackday rules (TSRR documents are accessible in the 'Trackdays' area of the site) explain what is required and allowed. Hope that is helpful! James

"The 620 SV nose will not fit a CSR unless you either modify the cowling at the front or fit the 620 radiator and pipework." Thanks Mic. So the 620 SV nose will fit to the CSR body shape (thinking in terms of the shape at the mating interface, body sides, bonnet curvature, etc)? But that it's the packaging of the cooling system (rad, pipework, etc) that would interfere, unless modified? Just checking I've got that straight! James

Ah - thanks for decoding that, Neil. It does sound promising, then. James

Thanks Neil - but to be frank I can't get my mind around that! Might take a bit of unraveling... James

Here's a conundrum. Does anyone know if a 620SV (wide body) nose cone will fit to a CSR? James

Nick - that all makes sense. We should talk separately about the other topics. On engine mapping Steve G has performed miracles on my car, removing the famous R500 torque hole, delivering Caterham Car's advertised peak power level and providing wonderful driveability. He did the work on Luke Steven's impressive rolling road facility. On suspension, after working through three set-ups over the past few years, I believe I have finally found the sweet spot. Nitron used my car over a three week period to develop a new, matched spring and NTR-1 set up specifically for Duratec Caterhams. I think it hasn't been commercially released yet but their work has transformed my R500. It now has better on-road comfort than was ever previously the case - but it also delivers great trackday performance. After many years of frustration and disappointments I am finally very happy with the suspension; Nitron have cracked it, in my view. James

I saw that one yesterday, Nick, and it's not the car for me. I was first in-line to view; I suspect it will have sold today, though. Which trackday are you going on (assuming it's a Club day)? I can't make Croft but I will be at Oulton Park. Would be fun to have our identical cars circulating together! James

Yes, the R500 is pretty special. But after seven years (eight seasons, really) it's feeling a little bit as though I've done everything that I want to do with the car more than once, and maybe there's an edge of boredom creeping in (mad thing to say about an R500) and, well, you know, sometimes it's time for a change. That said, the CSR experience (and regrets) is pretty fresh. It will have to be a really good 620R! James

"FWIW the Caterham recommendation which has been 75Nm (55ft lb) for years has relatively recently changed to 85Nm (63ft lb)." And I add 5Nm to that, taking me to 90Nm, as I like the feeling of added security that brings! James