LOH's Caterham 7 Super Sprint
Discussion
As we were the last booking we were allocated car no26 out of 26 although on looking at the entry form that could also have been because we were the newest (like looking like the oldest).
This meant we left the start point at 10:26. Zero the trip on the car and away you go.
The rally used Tulip notes which if you're unaware are a simple diagram laid out on page in order. The diagram shows the manoeuvre (lets say a T Junction) with an arrow pointing which way you should go and (if there is a signpost) what town/village/road you are heading on/towards. In two separate boxes are the distance since the last manoeuvre and the total distance covered. Easy?
Not quite! Everyone's trip computer logs distance slightly differently and a tenth here or there starts to make things interesting. Usually by half way through the first page it isn't unusual to be calculating on the fly how long you've got.
We were in a quick habit of shouting (and with no windscreen or doors and helmets on we were shouting!) out all the info the other needs;
"11.7 (mileage covered) 90 right at tee (direction) signposted Selkeld"
"11.9 on the clock (trip on dash mileage covered) left OK (nothing coming from navigators side at junction)?"
"Left Clear (nothing coming) 0.9 to filter left on to B6879 (distance tulip says to next junction and what it is) Map 12.6 (distance advised on the map) and 12.8 on the clock (distance we expect to see adding to our trip)"
"Ok 12.0 on the clock now (distance the trip shows so we know when to start looking)"
It reads a lot more complicated than it is!
The key to knowing where you are and how far away your next move is means I, as the driver can start looking at what's ahead and plan over taking as there's no point flying past someone and missing a turn.
Within the first 20 mins it was clear there were some of us travelling at much faster speeds but the road book advised letting people past who were faster. You have to think of it as a tortoise and hare scenario, we could be flying but miss a junction while the old couple in their MGB can take it canny and get everything perfect.
I'm pleased to say despite our rapid pace we got to the half way point second out of 26 with only car no1 ahead of us and no mistakes made at all.
Even better, the route was utterly fantastic and culminated at Tan Hill, an epic cliff lined ribbon of tarmac that reaches Great Britains highest Inn (apparently).
I'd hoped to get some great photos along the way but as well the frantic driving and instructions the competitive element took over and all I was interested in was making a much correct progress as possible.
The benefit of the first owner applying liberal paint protection film!
This meant we left the start point at 10:26. Zero the trip on the car and away you go.
The rally used Tulip notes which if you're unaware are a simple diagram laid out on page in order. The diagram shows the manoeuvre (lets say a T Junction) with an arrow pointing which way you should go and (if there is a signpost) what town/village/road you are heading on/towards. In two separate boxes are the distance since the last manoeuvre and the total distance covered. Easy?
Not quite! Everyone's trip computer logs distance slightly differently and a tenth here or there starts to make things interesting. Usually by half way through the first page it isn't unusual to be calculating on the fly how long you've got.
We were in a quick habit of shouting (and with no windscreen or doors and helmets on we were shouting!) out all the info the other needs;
"11.7 (mileage covered) 90 right at tee (direction) signposted Selkeld"
"11.9 on the clock (trip on dash mileage covered) left OK (nothing coming from navigators side at junction)?"
"Left Clear (nothing coming) 0.9 to filter left on to B6879 (distance tulip says to next junction and what it is) Map 12.6 (distance advised on the map) and 12.8 on the clock (distance we expect to see adding to our trip)"
"Ok 12.0 on the clock now (distance the trip shows so we know when to start looking)"
It reads a lot more complicated than it is!
The key to knowing where you are and how far away your next move is means I, as the driver can start looking at what's ahead and plan over taking as there's no point flying past someone and missing a turn.
Within the first 20 mins it was clear there were some of us travelling at much faster speeds but the road book advised letting people past who were faster. You have to think of it as a tortoise and hare scenario, we could be flying but miss a junction while the old couple in their MGB can take it canny and get everything perfect.
I'm pleased to say despite our rapid pace we got to the half way point second out of 26 with only car no1 ahead of us and no mistakes made at all.
Even better, the route was utterly fantastic and culminated at Tan Hill, an epic cliff lined ribbon of tarmac that reaches Great Britains highest Inn (apparently).
I'd hoped to get some great photos along the way but as well the frantic driving and instructions the competitive element took over and all I was interested in was making a much correct progress as possible.
The benefit of the first owner applying liberal paint protection film!
As the above photo shows, with no doors you have to expect your outside arm to either get into close contact with some cow s
t or wet.
As yes, the weather!
The second shorter part of the rally was again through some stunning scenery and I thought most took it as a rather more sedate sight seeing tour on the way to the final stop off.
We still pushed ahead as it was plainly obvious the weather was closing in.
On entering the car park (first of the cars) to the farm ice cream shop that was the destination the heavens opened. We put the tonneau cover on and grabbed some shelter.
The weather was truly getting awful and in a break we got the car ready to move on home.
As we’d found out doing some stages with light drizzle in the afternoon, brooklands screens are useless in the wet! I had applied rainx to them but I think my usual post hoon routine of rapid detailing the bugs from them probably meant there was nothing in.
Even occasional runs to top speed meant they didn’t clear.
We got up to high ground and spied that the Eden valley looked blue skies between the Lake District fells and the moor tops which were shrouded in black clouds.
We made a run for it and despite getting caught in a few showers made it home to bright sunshine, slightly damp but exhilarated and exhausted.
The car was utterly filthy but as mentioned before, whatever the previous owner treated it with means a quick hose off and it was back pristine again. I think all it needs is some metal polish for the exhaust pipe but I’ll give it a proper going over at some point this week when I have time.
As it was, hoover out (the grit from the road gets everywhere), wash over and leave to dry in the garage with the doors open-happy days
t or wet.As yes, the weather!
The second shorter part of the rally was again through some stunning scenery and I thought most took it as a rather more sedate sight seeing tour on the way to the final stop off.
We still pushed ahead as it was plainly obvious the weather was closing in.
On entering the car park (first of the cars) to the farm ice cream shop that was the destination the heavens opened. We put the tonneau cover on and grabbed some shelter.
The weather was truly getting awful and in a break we got the car ready to move on home.
As we’d found out doing some stages with light drizzle in the afternoon, brooklands screens are useless in the wet! I had applied rainx to them but I think my usual post hoon routine of rapid detailing the bugs from them probably meant there was nothing in.
Even occasional runs to top speed meant they didn’t clear.
We got up to high ground and spied that the Eden valley looked blue skies between the Lake District fells and the moor tops which were shrouded in black clouds.
We made a run for it and despite getting caught in a few showers made it home to bright sunshine, slightly damp but exhilarated and exhausted.
The car was utterly filthy but as mentioned before, whatever the previous owner treated it with means a quick hose off and it was back pristine again. I think all it needs is some metal polish for the exhaust pipe but I’ll give it a proper going over at some point this week when I have time.
As it was, hoover out (the grit from the road gets everywhere), wash over and leave to dry in the garage with the doors open-happy days
Sounds like a grand day out (as I believe you northern types say 
).
How do people respond to the car? A ‘retro’ version of a new(ish) car who’s origins are from the ‘50s.
I recommend motorbike rainproofs kept folded in the boot. You might never use them, but on a couple of occasions I’ve been grateful for mine.
).How do people respond to the car? A ‘retro’ version of a new(ish) car who’s origins are from the ‘50s.
I recommend motorbike rainproofs kept folded in the boot. You might never use them, but on a couple of occasions I’ve been grateful for mine.
Everyone seems to love it to be honest, when you pass kids you can hear the shouts to their parents of “look, a racing car!”.
Most other people just seems to assume it’s a freshly restored historic car with questions of “what year is it then?” Quickly followed by “really! What engine is in it?”.
Enthusiasts seem to recall an episode of top gear when (I think) they built one of these with the little triple in it.
Rob my neighbour (who bought the mini at the start of the thread) is particularly enamoured with it. He used to hill climb and race a caterham (amongst other racing and rallying experience) and thinks this little thing is superb. The little three cylinder is a star if unusual, bombing about on the run to the rally Rob remarked on how it didn’t rev as hard as he’d have thought. A quick run up to 8k revs opened both our eyes if I’m honest, with the slug of torque at 4-5k reeves you learn quickly to use that twist to good effect on the road but when you need to run to the limit the power just keeps on coming.
Either I’m getting more used to the shift or it’s really opening up with the miles and getting better and better.
Most other people just seems to assume it’s a freshly restored historic car with questions of “what year is it then?” Quickly followed by “really! What engine is in it?”.
Enthusiasts seem to recall an episode of top gear when (I think) they built one of these with the little triple in it.
Rob my neighbour (who bought the mini at the start of the thread) is particularly enamoured with it. He used to hill climb and race a caterham (amongst other racing and rallying experience) and thinks this little thing is superb. The little three cylinder is a star if unusual, bombing about on the run to the rally Rob remarked on how it didn’t rev as hard as he’d have thought. A quick run up to 8k revs opened both our eyes if I’m honest, with the slug of torque at 4-5k reeves you learn quickly to use that twist to good effect on the road but when you need to run to the limit the power just keeps on coming.
Either I’m getting more used to the shift or it’s really opening up with the miles and getting better and better.
Looks like we were filmed the other week in Portinscale by a young car fan...
https://youtu.be/NVEktR0IBco?t=198
https://youtu.be/NVEktR0IBco?t=696
Edited to remove formatting as it seems to not allow starting at the relevant bits-it should now take you to the 7.
https://youtu.be/NVEktR0IBco?t=198
https://youtu.be/NVEktR0IBco?t=696
Edited to remove formatting as it seems to not allow starting at the relevant bits-it should now take you to the 7.
Edited by LaurasOtherHalf on Tuesday 21st September 06:11
Car all spruced back up again and I decided to take it for an MOT, the renewal date was early in January I think (when the motorsport team sold it to the previous owner) and I thought it would be a pain in the ass digging it out in the depths of winter so a late summer/early autumn would work better.
Car was obviously mint and it flew through and as I didn’t get time to fill it up with high octane after the weekends events I thought I run it by the local filling station so it was ready for any nice nights we had.
On getting out a nice lady of a certain age came up to talk about the car-I think this is the first time outside of the nurburgring this has ever happened
She proceeded to explain how her son had a lovely Abarth (at 20 years old apparently) that was mint and he was hoping to keep that way. He was going to then buy another car and keep the Abarth as a bit on the side, which she asked if this was my bit on the side
I made my excuses and went to pay for the petrol while she politely asked if she could take some photos for him-who knew caterham life was so exciting?
As I’m a bit of a tart, I decided to buy a nice personalised folder to keep all the history together. The archivist at caterham has been sending over all the build paperwork for the car and order sheets plus a lovely original brochure from when the car wa a launcher at goodwood, plus principal press release and photos etc.
It’s nice to keep it all together what with it being the last one built, it would now also appear from the MOT that I’m less than 100 miles away from being the owner who has put the most miles on it. Kudos!
Car was obviously mint and it flew through and as I didn’t get time to fill it up with high octane after the weekends events I thought I run it by the local filling station so it was ready for any nice nights we had.
On getting out a nice lady of a certain age came up to talk about the car-I think this is the first time outside of the nurburgring this has ever happened
She proceeded to explain how her son had a lovely Abarth (at 20 years old apparently) that was mint and he was hoping to keep that way. He was going to then buy another car and keep the Abarth as a bit on the side, which she asked if this was my bit on the side
I made my excuses and went to pay for the petrol while she politely asked if she could take some photos for him-who knew caterham life was so exciting?
As I’m a bit of a tart, I decided to buy a nice personalised folder to keep all the history together. The archivist at caterham has been sending over all the build paperwork for the car and order sheets plus a lovely original brochure from when the car wa a launcher at goodwood, plus principal press release and photos etc.
It’s nice to keep it all together what with it being the last one built, it would now also appear from the MOT that I’m less than 100 miles away from being the owner who has put the most miles on it. Kudos!
Another dawn raid across the country looms!
I've been keeping on a Caterham facebook selling page for one reason only, to get a trailer. On Monday this bad boy was listed. My initial idea was to buy a cheap trailer and fabricate a frame that could be covered (the same as the very famous car transporter I borrowed to buy the car) with a bespoke tarp.
Race Shuttles are expensive but occasionally they turn up cheap. This one is cheap for a reason-it's been a little unused but it's also a minnow, a small transporter designed for small formula cars, caterhams and classic minis (remember page 1) and thus way less wanted than the traditional Race Shuttle that will hold a 911 or whatever.
If it's as described and from the honesty of the seller, I expect it to be, I'll be coming home Saturday morning with it.
Obviously the question is whether it needs a respray in dark blue with white 45 roundels on it for the "full kit w
ker" look. Not gonna lie, I am considering it!I also don't have anywhere to store it except my drive but I'm sure I'll sort something out local for that. If I fail to manage any track days I'm pretty certain it'll sell for what I paid for it. Bloke who's selling it sounds like a good guy so fingers crossed it's as described and I can start looking to book a trackday
LaurasOtherHalf said:
Other than that, nothing much to report. It's actually not as bad as I imagined driving it in the dark as I did this evening. The full beam blue dash light is so bright it blinds you more than the full beam illuminates which is fun! You can drive with your hand sat across the wheel that blocks it out however but not ideal!
You're right about the full beam LED in the rev counter - I got the one in mine replaced with a lower brightness one by the people who made it (Caerbont Automotive Instruments Ltd) - they did it free of charge whilst I waited.pjnew said:
Always enjoy reading your threads LOH! Very descript and always full of nice photos!
I'm currently on the lookout for a normal 160 (I've just came back from a blast out in a relatively new 420R but sadly that is far too out of my budget!) first of all to see if I fit in (6 foot "chunky" lad) as the 160/Sprint's are the standard chassis if I'm not mistaken (Only way the Kei Car live rear axle would fit)? Are there any local Facebook groups that you are on? I'm in the North East and I chatted to someone last year who mentioned a group, but for the life of me can't remember it's name!
Be interested to see how you fair at the 'Ring with it... I occasionally wander over there so any purchase would be going over there with me.
I'm a member of the Northern 7s (Reivers) FB group. We are an independent group for any 7 owners based around Cumbria, County Durham, Northumberland etc and have monthly blats around the area plus other bits and piecesI'm currently on the lookout for a normal 160 (I've just came back from a blast out in a relatively new 420R but sadly that is far too out of my budget!) first of all to see if I fit in (6 foot "chunky" lad) as the 160/Sprint's are the standard chassis if I'm not mistaken (Only way the Kei Car live rear axle would fit)? Are there any local Facebook groups that you are on? I'm in the North East and I chatted to someone last year who mentioned a group, but for the life of me can't remember it's name!
Be interested to see how you fair at the 'Ring with it... I occasionally wander over there so any purchase would be going over there with me.
Searching for something else I happened upon a video of what I presume us caterham super sprint no60...
https://youtu.be/1CUn1BQjjqI
https://youtu.be/1CUn1BQjjqI
Enjoy building the Lego kit! - not too challenging but looks pretty good once completed. Unfortunately Caterham 7s are unavailable where I live, so have to make do with this. Great to read about your Super Sprint, excellent colour. Always liked the purity of the Anniversary model but assumed the Suzuki engine would be a bit disappointing. Glad to read this isn’t the case!
Cheers Craikey, I'm still following your MR2 thread when it get's updated.
To be honest, this thread is a couple of track days behind but as I wrote up the first one for the Caterham 7 owners club magazine Low-lying, I figured it polite to wait to update this thread until after it is published.
To be honest, this thread is a couple of track days behind but as I wrote up the first one for the Caterham 7 owners club magazine Low-lying, I figured it polite to wait to update this thread until after it is published.
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