L7 FST

A seriously beautiful car....one of Gary May's finest Freestyle creations....

Made by Caged, about 6cm taller than standard

Made by Caged, about 6cm taller than standard

£590. Blat mail me for more info and photos if interested...

I know it's a bit of a long shot, but does anyone have a spare (preferably used) double-D rollcage, suitable for an imperial S3? Thanks - Stephen

Just seen on PH: Hi I’m buying a Cage and tillets for my caterham and will be selling my fia roll over bar and leather seats when done. Someone on blatchat marketplace (Alexander Gurr) has just posted wanting exactly that. Can someone pass on my details or get me his, I don’t want to pay £50 just to find out he is already sorted! Thanks Glenn Grjturner@hotmail.co.uk

When I had an SLR (wet sump; Apollo) a few years ago I used to to run it on slicks at track days - vigorously, regularly and without mishap. Two things were essential before I did this, however: first, fitting a mechanical OP gauge that would give instant and accurate readings to reassure me that pressure remained healthy; second, sorting out a previous problem I'd experienced with oil pressure dropping noticeably on fast left hand corners. The solution to that problem was to RE-INSTALL the sump baffle foam that I'd previously removed following conventional wisdom re the K-series. For me at least with my VHPD, no foam meant oil surge; foam re-instated meant reliable oil pressure, and slick tyres.... Thousands may beg to differ, but this was my own experience! (....before I opted for the safety of a dry sumped Duratec) Stephen

Yes - many thanks to Simon and Dave for another great event. Awesome circuit, and somehow the wet / damp track didn't spoil the fun at all... And thanks also to Igor for the ride in your 620R. That is some fast car! (And thanks too for the headlight bulb that stopped us becoming the one eyed monster) Just got back home to Kent after a six-hour journey, mostly in torrential rain. Here all seems dry and quiet, but t'North was another story altogether Stephen

That's Peter Milner's lovely car, recently featured in Low Flying, built at more or less the same time as mine.. Stephen (L7 FST: No. 4 of the Freestyle Eight)

Yes - a great day, and many thanks to Simon, James, Dave, the circuit staff and all participants... Nice dry running in the morning, followed by mixed challenges in the afternoon! I don't think I've been on track In a forked lightning thunderstorm before? i wish I'd taken some photos! If anyone else can share pics or footage that would be great, I agree. PS I enjoyed visiting Mark and Igor in their 620R Cooling Mods Laboratory garage... Stephen

I can highly recommend these... Beautifully made, simple to fit, looks great. Operating a handbrake has never been so pleasurable! Thank you, Mark. Stephen

Flat bed of 180x140cm. Not used for many years since my karting days and needs repainting and fettling but is in basically very sound condition. It's very light, strong, simple, and stable. I need to clear out my garage! £75. Near Ashford, Kent.

Yes I use it for softening up the ancient slicks I occasionally buy on ebay for trackdays. I find it very good - easy to apply (albeit a bit smelly), and seems to make the rubber feel softer once it's soaked in and dried. I'm not sure it makes the tyres significantly grippier, but I've found it doesn't really have any draw backs (eg wear rate seems fine) and so is worth trying out, I'd say. Stephen

The Lotus-on-Track sessions at the same event have just been cancelled, sadly. It was an excellent deal, which I booked back in February (£280 for the day, including one additional driver and one passenger, and £100 cheaper than the L7Club equivalent, running on the same day). But not so excellent when cancelled So I've now booked with the Club instead (£340, no second driver or passenger), though was briefly tempted by MSV, who are offering sessions of their own on the same day at £319. Still, it will be nice to be on track with other Caterhams, of course. LoT's reason for cancelling was that they felt the COVID- related social distancing restrictions on the day, as defined by MSV, will spoil the event, but I'm not sure I agree. The MSV approach is set out here: http://www.msv.com/media/7313957/How%20we%20are%20keeping%20customers%20safe.pdf On the whole I think all that sounds very sensible. Track time is unaffected, which is the main thing... So I'm delighted the L7Club event is going ahead and am much looking forward to it - see you all there! Stephen

Sadly I can no longer attend the Club’s track day at Brands on 27 June, the highlight of the year... I have paid £330 for my place but will pass it on for £290 ono. Thanks Stephen

Re your request: “I'm interested in any comparisons in sidewall stiffness, weight, feedback, breakaway, wet weather performance, and overall grip. I'll be choosing according to which tyre is better with regard to those criteria” I have run both Avon ZZS and Toyo R888R on track and on the road, and my feedback would be: Stiffness - the Toyo has a taller profile and therefore gives a more compliant ride (it also gives you a slightly higher ride height, of course) Weight - the ZZS is a bit lighter Feedback and breakaway - the ZZS marginally more progressive, perhaps, but the Toyo is also very reassuring Wet weather - the Toyo is surprisingly good in the wet, despite limited tread pattern, but the ZZS is better Overall grip - the Toyo is marginally grippier on track All IMHO of course... Stephen

No reason or excuse offered for posting this. Looking at it just makes me happy.

I also have a 2.3 Duratec in an S3. It has a 5-speed semi-helical type 9 box, supplied and fitted by R&R. I find it a good match, excellent on road and track. As you’ll know, 4th gear is equivalent to 6th in the Caterham box, and I’d advise choosing a ratio for 5th which is reasonably close to that, rather than opting for a kind of overdrive. Aeroscreens has some good advice on all this: he may be along in a moment...

Thanks Dave, as always, for taking the trouble to do this. Much appreciated by all.

Well, that was a great day, yes? Many thanks to James, Dave and Simon for excellent organisation and welcome, and to Merrick and Phil for kind and helpful instruction as usual No thanks to the Castle Combe officials for ending the day 15 minutes earlier than agreed (just as some of us were starting a final run), on the grounds that they ‘had things to do’ and wanted to get home A weak smile to Dinosaur Dave, Combe’s resident tyrant, for his usual tired routine at drivers’ briefing about how we’re all muppets and pansies etc and he hopes we’ll crash Big respect to everyone for exemplary courtesy on track Now for Snetterton... Stephen

Igor - My experience of Javelin is quite different from James’s. They’re very experienced, friendly organizers and I’ve always found they enforce good track discipline. They also book sensible numbers, and all their events are open pit lane. Loads of track time, and really excellent value for money! The last two Javelin events I’ve been on have had some wonderful cars taking part too - historic Jags, MGs etc - and beautifully driven. Our Club events are great, but other excellent alternatives are available, so don’t get put off! Stephen

You could certainly come down 3 or 4 pounds but I doubt that will have a transformative effect on the ride. Likewise flat flooring probably won’t make a vast difference on the road, unless of course the settings are badly out at present. You might, however, like the noticeably more compliant ride you’d get from a slightly taller profile tyre, eg the Toyo R888R.

Great photos - thanks so much for taking the trouble to do this, Dave.

Hi JP yes a great day, much enjoyed, though I think there were red flags in 4 of our 7 sessions so track time was a bit meagre ​Open pit lane at Cadwell next month will be a relief!