Magnificent 7s/Roadsport A spec car
Discussion
We have a Caterham in Roadsport A spec and have signed up to race in the new Magnificent 7s series this year.
The car's a 1600 obviously so it will fit into Class A, engines under 1750cc.
Apart from changing the tyres to grippier ones and removing the ballast, I hadn't planned to make any further changes to the performance of the car.
I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to Caterham racing so I don't expect to be anywhere near the front of course but I'd like to know that the car itself is capable on being competitive - then I only need to worry about my performance.
So the question is: is a Roadsport A spec car (with gripper tyres) capable of being competitive in that class?
Thanks
The car's a 1600 obviously so it will fit into Class A, engines under 1750cc.
Apart from changing the tyres to grippier ones and removing the ballast, I hadn't planned to make any further changes to the performance of the car.
I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to Caterham racing so I don't expect to be anywhere near the front of course but I'd like to know that the car itself is capable on being competitive - then I only need to worry about my performance.
So the question is: is a Roadsport A spec car (with gripper tyres) capable of being competitive in that class?
Thanks
Edited by Redmax on Monday 2nd March 14:13
Hi Redmax,
I am also entering the M7's series with a RSA car. I'm not planning on changing anything on the car other than removing the ballast like you and will continue on the Avon CR500's.
Reading the regs it would seem that tuning is allowed but I will be leaving mine as is in case I find the time/£ to race in the official series. Hope that helps, if you are testing on the 19th I will see you there.
Ian
I am also entering the M7's series with a RSA car. I'm not planning on changing anything on the car other than removing the ballast like you and will continue on the Avon CR500's.
Reading the regs it would seem that tuning is allowed but I will be leaving mine as is in case I find the time/£ to race in the official series. Hope that helps, if you are testing on the 19th I will see you there.
Ian
Cost was a significant factor for me as well, and also it's something that my wife and I can race in together - avoiding one set of arguments but almost certainly causing a whole load of others!
Ian P - I'm going to Snetterton on the 19th but only to get the car scrutineered, just to make sure there's nothing they're unhappy with that I'd only otherwise find out on race day. I'll come and say hello though - how should I recognise you?
Cheers
Jason
Ian P - I'm going to Snetterton on the 19th but only to get the car scrutineered, just to make sure there's nothing they're unhappy with that I'd only otherwise find out on race day. I'll come and say hello though - how should I recognise you?
Cheers
Jason
As previously stated, the regs are pretty free with regards to everything other than engine capacity and tyres (no slicks allowed). However, I'm sure the organisers hope to encourage as many 'standard' Caterham's as possible into the series. By standard I mean Super-grads, current RSA and RSB, which in performance terms are all pretty similar. The regs being free keep costs low for the organisers (no requirement for technical scrutineers) and allow nearly all cars to enter. My guess (and perhaps the intention of the organisers), would be that most cars in this class would be 'std'.
In previous 'open' series for Caterhams (JCC & 750MC), the sub 1600cc classes were 95% cars from existing official Caterham series (old RSA spec, super-graduates), with very few 'specials'. Hopefully, this will happen again and it becomes a very popular and competitive class.
In previous 'open' series for Caterhams (JCC & 750MC), the sub 1600cc classes were 95% cars from existing official Caterham series (old RSA spec, super-graduates), with very few 'specials'. Hopefully, this will happen again and it becomes a very popular and competitive class.
Hi Jason,
My car is orange and I will be towing with a blue Impreza. All being well I will be with my cousin who's 7 is also orange.
bse: Maybe there should be some sort of 'gentlemens' agreement in place regarding specs. One of my only concerns about the championship is that people with a RSA/RSB car can break the MSA seal and tune the engines. The K series engines are good for 160 odd bhp with a bit of work. I am sure there is a lot more to think about so just food for thought.
Ian
My car is orange and I will be towing with a blue Impreza. All being well I will be with my cousin who's 7 is also orange.
bse: Maybe there should be some sort of 'gentlemens' agreement in place regarding specs. One of my only concerns about the championship is that people with a RSA/RSB car can break the MSA seal and tune the engines. The K series engines are good for 160 odd bhp with a bit of work. I am sure there is a lot more to think about so just food for thought.
Ian
Ian P said:
I decided on M7's mainly due to cost - the 'official' series is also over subscribed. I have recently looked into Grads and long story short I would need to part with £2k+ to bring the car to 'Mega' spec.
Ian
In case you do fancy Grads, an RSA can be converted to Super Grad spec very easily - find an existing "narrow track" owner somewhere like Blatchat and swap the front suspension over with cash your way, find a screen, stanchions and lights on eBay and swap the tyres and that's it! Less than a grand easily.Ian
Edited by Ian P on Tuesday 3rd March 18:04
For the M7 series you'll find Yoko 48s give more grip in the dry but CR500s will be better in the wet so might be worth having a set of each. Not sure whether the two require wildly different geometry though.
Old 750MC series had classes for standard 1600cc k-series cars (Class D was basically Graduate/Academy cars, Class C was super-grad/RSB type spec, Class B was old RSA spec). Only in Class A were there modified 1600cc k-series cars, but there were only 2 or 3 of these. Hence my point that hopefully the class will be 95% standard cars.
Cuzza said:
Ian P said:
I decided on M7's mainly due to cost - the 'official' series is also over subscribed. I have recently looked into Grads and long story short I would need to part with £2k+ to bring the car to 'Mega' spec.
Ian
In case you do fancy Grads, an RSA can be converted to Super Grad spec very easily - find an existing "narrow track" owner somewhere like Blatchat and swap the front suspension over with cash your way, find a screen, stanchions and lights on eBay and swap the tyres and that's it! Less than a grand easily.Ian
Edited by Ian P on Tuesday 3rd March 18:04
For the M7 series you'll find Yoko 48s give more grip in the dry but CR500s will be better in the wet so might be worth having a set of each. Not sure whether the two require wildly different geometry though.
I spoke to Graeme Smith (think he is membership secretary?) and he said grids for Supers are quite full and it would be better to look at Mega's. I had an email from McMillan detailing costs of upgrading and decided not to bother.
May have to get me a set of 48's!
Ian
It looks like healthy grids again this year - my first season (2007) they closed Supers to new entries and we still didn't have any problems with race entries being turned down so I wouldn't let that stop you, lots of entries means liots of people to race against!!
Good luck whichever way you go
Good luck whichever way you go
Hi redmax/guys,
I'm also entering the mag 7s this year as a novice.
I understand that there are all sorts of cars, including a number of standard or near-standard ex-Roadsports cars, so I'm sure you'll find some guys with the same cars and have a good race. As has been mentioned above, though, the regs seem pretty light, so there's scope for anybody to do anything to the cars, so I'd imagine you won't be competitive in terms of class-leading.
Having said all of that, I'm a complete novice (so may not have the best information!) but I'm looking forward to a first year's motorsport - I've got an old R400 car (blue), and I'll be there on the 19th, and keen to meet fellow-minded drivers!
Cheers,
Richard.
I'm also entering the mag 7s this year as a novice.
I understand that there are all sorts of cars, including a number of standard or near-standard ex-Roadsports cars, so I'm sure you'll find some guys with the same cars and have a good race. As has been mentioned above, though, the regs seem pretty light, so there's scope for anybody to do anything to the cars, so I'd imagine you won't be competitive in terms of class-leading.
Having said all of that, I'm a complete novice (so may not have the best information!) but I'm looking forward to a first year's motorsport - I've got an old R400 car (blue), and I'll be there on the 19th, and keen to meet fellow-minded drivers!
Cheers,
Richard.
Hi chaps/Richard,
Based on what's been said I will revisit the SuperGrads idea. To be honest if there's a handful of us with 120ish bhp RSA cars that can have a good battle I will be happy - it's all racecraft after all.
Richard, you will be in a seperate class to us RSA boys. Pop over and say hello, I have just been given my race number of 88 so my car should be wearing that.
Ian
Based on what's been said I will revisit the SuperGrads idea. To be honest if there's a handful of us with 120ish bhp RSA cars that can have a good battle I will be happy - it's all racecraft after all.
Richard, you will be in a seperate class to us RSA boys. Pop over and say hello, I have just been given my race number of 88 so my car should be wearing that.
Ian
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