'99 Caterham Classic in California - New Member

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

Hello, my name is Geoff. I picked my dream car about a month ago and was lucky to get a 2 year old SB100 registration through. I was just recently able to get it running right and just barely got it washed for the first time today. It's a '99 live-axle, X-flow super sprint.

The fiberglass is isn't in great shape, but it came with all new red bodywork. I plan on fixing this bodywork and painting it a gunmetal that I expect will contrast nicely with the aluminum.

Other than that, my only other plans are to change out the cracking coolant hoses and add some water wetter (it'll get up to about 100degC if stationary), change the oil to 20-W50 valvoline not-street-legal due to the flat tappet valves, buy some decent R-compound rubber for it and do A LOT of driving.

Anyway, I took it for a drive up in the Orange Hills and found a nice place to snap a couple with my point and shoot. I apologize for the blurryness but they came out alright for not having a tripod.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/TheDingo8MyBaby/SANY0379.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/TheDingo8MyBaby/SANY0376.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/TheDingo8MyBaby/SANY0380.jpg

I sure wish I had a SLR for this one...the way the california sunset was reflecting off the aluminum was pretty neat. This shot doesn't even begin to capture it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/TheDingo8MyBaby/SANY0385.jpg

Anyway, I look forward to getting better acquainted with all of you and happy motoring.

[Boxologist]

welcome aboard. lovely little ride u have there.

[stevet]

Welcome aboard Geoff, very nice classic look you have there - same spec as my first cat, same colors as my second, so I'm biased. If you're fitting new body panels that haven't been cut yet (rear's in particular) I found it useful to make a template from the old wings - pic attached (see foreground).

Good luck, and happy driving.

Steve.http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/741958703_new arch.JPG

[powderbrake]

Congrats on the new and very classic seven. You are in for more fun than you have imagined, and welcome to the USA7s website. You will find it a very good source for info on your car.

[yellowss7]

Nice classic looking 7. Best of luck with it. Think about keeping the red wings for autoxing and a newly painted set for the road.

Tom

[Ian7]

Hi Geoff,
Nice car, same spec as mine (see left).
What size wheels/tires are those? they seem to fill the rear wheel-well better than mine.
cheers
Ian

[11Budlite]

Sweet looking ride. Enjoy!

Bruce :7drive:

[stevet]

Ian,

I'm pretty sure the wheels are 14" K&N minilites - standard fit on this model in the UK.

Steve.

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

Hello Everyone, Thanks for the kind comments.

The wheels are 13". The tires are Sumitomo HTR200 205/60/13. I'm looking to purchase some A048's in the same size soon though...

I'm actually debating if I should paint the nice bodywork and use this set for autocross/track. I was having trouble before deciding on the gunmetal vs. British racing green with yellow lipstick. I may vinyl the british racing green/yellow on this abused set and paint the gunmetal on the other set...

[Boxologist]

any interest in carbon fiber? i wonder how exposed CF and polished Al would look.

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

While I certainly don't oppose the look of carbon fiber on the proper 7, I think I'd like to keep it looking relatively, well...classic.

If I had a later, more agressive car, I would think carbon on aluminum would be very nice. On my live axle, X-flow I worry it would look like I were trying to put lipstick on a pig. :)

[Ian7]

"The wheels are 13". The tires are Sumitomo HTR200 205/60/13."

Thanks, how wide are the 13" wheels for these 205 tires?
I've got 175's on 6" wide.

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

Mine are 13x6 as well.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/TheDingo8MyBaby/caterhambeach.jpg

You can see they're pretty wide for the width of the rims, but 205 isn't THAT bad for a 6" wheel. My preference would be staggered 14" (running 185/60/14) or 15" (running 195/50/15) wheels to fill up the rear fenders a bit better, but it seems the car is a little prone to understeer already.

[MoPho]

Get yourself up to LA some day, there is a lot of action here

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/attachments/f96/89913d1220389487-los-angeles-sunday-drive-meet-8-30am-leave-9-00am-part-2-1.jpg

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/attachments/f96/89915d1220389487-los-angeles-sunday-drive-meet-8-30am-leave-9-00am-part-2-3.jpg

[Kitcat]

Love the pics! Especially the first and last: a step up from the standard poses/perspectives.

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

Thanks... I set the first on the ground because I didn't have a tripod for the low light and my point and shoot is not great.

The second was taken with a better point and shoot...I think it came out pretty good considering. I'm no morgan segal though.

Morgan,

I'd love to make it out sometime- just let me know when you guys are going. I'll do my best to keep up with my crossflow and touring tires.

[southwind25]

Looks like you have a solid great car there,,,lots of smiles and miles to you!