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30 Jan 2008, 18:12 (Ref:2117207) | #1 | ||
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Lotus seven or Caterham?
I want to try hillclimbs and sprints this season but have yet to buy a car. I also want it to be in road going spec. and capable of driving to ( and hopefully from) the event. I have a National B race licence but have sold the last of our Formula Juniors. Any advice gratefully received. A seven was my first choice because the construction and rebuild is similar to a FJ car! Also I enjoyed the experince in one at Silverstone.
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"Winning starts with beginning" atr. Robert H. Schuller Jill Carter |
31 Jan 2008, 07:30 (Ref:2117537) | #2 | ||
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Surely one of you has some useful comments to make i.e. what events the cars would be eligible for, engine size, classic v current, even wrong choice of car. Some helpful comments will be much appreciated
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"Winning starts with beginning" atr. Robert H. Schuller Jill Carter |
31 Jan 2008, 08:13 (Ref:2117561) | #3 | ||
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It probably depends if you are buying the car you want and then competing, or competing in a particular sector and buying a car to suit! And do you want to run a classic or a modern?
You will find a useful resource at www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk which probably covers a lot of your questions. |
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Fyrth |
31 Jan 2008, 08:55 (Ref:2117585) | #4 | ||
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Lynx
What sort of Budget are you looking at ? (if its not to rude a question) A Caterham or Westfield will be competitive in the road going classes, as long as you have the right spec engine, currently the leading cars have approx 230bhp +. As Fyrth rightly says it all depends on do you want to win or just compete. There are many regional championship that are good fun or you have the national leaders championship which follows the british series. cheers Dave |
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31 Jan 2008, 09:15 (Ref:2117596) | #5 | ||
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[quote=DaveK]Lynx
As Fyrth rightly says it all depends on do you want to win or just compete. Budget up to £20.000 as to winning, first I need to learn how to drive the car up a hill! Never tried it - so thought I'd like to have a go, will do a day course first. Based in Hampshire so will not want to travel more than 3 hours to an event. Have only ben involved in the Historic arena so have little knowledge of what else is available. |
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"Winning starts with beginning" atr. Robert H. Schuller Jill Carter |
31 Jan 2008, 11:19 (Ref:2117668) | #6 | ||
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Westfields are lighter; Caterhams stronger; Lotus Sevens could be eligible for the Historic classes.
If you are looking to Road Going Modified then I would get a Westfield. The capacity split is as 1700cc. For the Up to 1700 class either a Rover K Series or a Vauxhall whilst for the Over 1700 class the 2 litre Vauxhall XE is the engine of choice. I have noted that the majority of the winning drivers in Road Modified take their cars to events on trailers - just in case! |
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31 Jan 2008, 13:22 (Ref:2117760) | #7 | |
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Steve. I would suggest its Caterhams are lighter and Westfields are stronger - due to the slightly different construction methods.
Both can be very competative and huge fun. Both are hugely fast when at the top level of the roadgong classes Some nice Caterhams and Westfields for sale. Ash M |
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31 Jan 2008, 16:11 (Ref:2117858) | #8 | ||
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O.K. so 1700 cc is the cut off point. Debatable if the Caterham is the car of choice. The Lotus Seven does not meet requirements for Historic, or so I've been informed because it was designed with no doors. However one did creep into the Tour Britania and did rather well! Thought about a cheap saloon to learn with but which one? Need one that's easy to work on myself.
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"Winning starts with beginning" atr. Robert H. Schuller Jill Carter |
31 Jan 2008, 16:31 (Ref:2117868) | #9 | |
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How about classic handicap classes in a Lotus 7? This would be a good start if you like the idea of the classic venues such as Prescott and Shelsley - probably do-able in 3hrs from (North) Hants
Don't get confused with the no doors thing in racing - speed events are different. Lotus Elan? Cheap saloon to learn venues and have fun? You could have a very fast bullet proof Impreza for a lot less than your budget. Or an Elise in class A2 of the ASWMC championship (are you north or south Hants??). Or a classic? How about a beautiful little Alfa 2000 GTV - again, would get you into the handicap classes. When you say you need something you can work on yourself how skilled are you?? I know it sounds like a daft question but one of my cars might as well be the Space Shuttle as far as I'm concerned but others think 80's technology is semi-Jurassic these days.... |
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31 Jan 2008, 16:56 (Ref:2117880) | #10 | |||
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I really want to be able to travel and compete alone when necessary as he has just retired from racing, mainly due to the hastle of loading and offloading plus the travel to the European circuits. I am based just outside Portsmouth, very South Hampshire. |
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"Winning starts with beginning" atr. Robert H. Schuller Jill Carter |
31 Jan 2008, 20:56 (Ref:2118082) | #11 | |||
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1) the Gurston Down Championship - just up the road near Salisbury 2) lots of sprints at Goodwood - again within a stone's throw of Pompey! 3) there is a sprint week-end at Longleat every year 4) Brighton's not that much further for the annual promenade sprint That should give you 13 week-ends of competition without too much trouble. Given these venues and what is on offer there I would tend to go for a Caterham or Westfield. Although an Elise would be as entertaining and may also be a more roadworthy alternative! |
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1 Feb 2008, 10:18 (Ref:2118203) | #12 | ||
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Thanks Steve for your input. Probably the Caterham will fit the bill BUT now comes the next hard decision which model and package? An out and out racer will make a poor road car and likewise a road car will not be that quick. Still I do not expect to be a front runner but don't want to always at the tail either! Will have to buy the first car that ticks the boxes when I return to the UK, which is why I'm getting as much information as possible. Thanks to all who have or may yet post, or PM.
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"Winning starts with beginning" atr. Robert H. Schuller Jill Carter |
1 Feb 2008, 12:10 (Ref:2118291) | #13 | |
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Which Caterham??
A mate of mine has a Superlight - ran it at Longleat the other year and double drove with a mate who normally runs a 7 with a big hairy Vauxhall engine. The mate was astonished by the speed of the Superlight and was in raptures about the handling. Superlights are highly sought after now and fetch very good money. Might be worth a thought |
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1 Feb 2008, 13:07 (Ref:2118346) | #14 | ||
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There are several on the Caterham website in or around my price range, but that may change by the time I return! PM from anyone with information of cars appreciated.
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"Winning starts with beginning" atr. Robert H. Schuller Jill Carter |
1 Feb 2008, 13:07 (Ref:2118347) | #15 | ||
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Duplicated by site - have deleted!
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"Winning starts with beginning" atr. Robert H. Schuller Jill Carter |
1 Feb 2008, 15:39 (Ref:2118462) | #16 | |
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Lots of info and help on the Westfield Club forum for sprinting and hillclimbing. Irrespectice of which car you end up buying. www.wscc.co.uk follow links to boardroom, register if you wish and post some questions its free unlike some !
(Thats said tongue in cheek) |
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2 Feb 2008, 00:19 (Ref:2118766) | #17 | |||
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Quote:
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Balls of steel (knob of butter) They're Asking For Larkins. ( Proper beer) not you're Eurofizz crap. Hace más calor en España. Me han conocido a hablar un montón cojones! Send any cheques and cash to PO box 1 Lagos Nigeria Africa ! |
2 Feb 2008, 17:54 (Ref:2119188) | #18 | ||
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OK Gordon what do you consider cheap and bullet proof?
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"Winning starts with beginning" atr. Robert H. Schuller Jill Carter |
3 Feb 2008, 08:45 (Ref:2119518) | #19 | |||
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Quote:
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"Winning starts with beginning" atr. Robert H. Schuller Jill Carter |
3 Feb 2008, 09:56 (Ref:2119558) | #20 | ||
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I know this is a shameless plug so here goes...
I know of at least one, so far bulletproof, saloon car that is ideal for starting in and ready to run my 'waiting to become historic when the cut off moves again' 1988 2.7 BMW 3 series saloon. Fully roadlegal modprod so can be driven to & from events, suitable for all level of events from club to leaders. Use it for a season or two then move up to a Locatorfield of you choice. Of course when competing you can get a good idea of which cars do well, and possibly find out more about what works well in paddock conversation compared with a forum |
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3 Feb 2008, 11:23 (Ref:2119604) | #21 | ||
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Is that the red one? If so, it's a quick car for what it is, I'm always impressed by the way it pulls up the steep bits of Shelsley.
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Bill Bryson: It is no longer permitted to be stupid and slow. You must choose one or the other. |
3 Feb 2008, 13:14 (Ref:2119661) | #22 | ||
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LYNX Sorry I didn't get back. It Depends on what you feel comfortable in, whether its a saloon/sports/ two or four WD/ historic/modern or what ever.
As you will know its best to buy a car already done for the job. If I was going sprint/hill climbing I would go to a few and see what class appeals and type of cars that are normally front runners. I am not a SCOOBY knocker, its just that most I tend to see are thrashed by youngsters with no regard for anything mechanical and run stupid boost on a std engine. |
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Balls of steel (knob of butter) They're Asking For Larkins. ( Proper beer) not you're Eurofizz crap. Hace más calor en España. Me han conocido a hablar un montón cojones! Send any cheques and cash to PO box 1 Lagos Nigeria Africa ! |
3 Feb 2008, 13:46 (Ref:2119686) | #23 | ||
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Cheer Gordon. Still researching!
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"Winning starts with beginning" atr. Robert H. Schuller Jill Carter |
6 Feb 2008, 07:43 (Ref:2122197) | #24 | ||
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Having watched Top Gear assemble a Caterham on TV last night - I don't know how Caterham had the sense to allow the car to proudly sport a Top Gear sticker. Is it safe to buy one, even factory assembled - or was the sticker a tongue in cheek "buyer beware".
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"Winning starts with beginning" atr. Robert H. Schuller Jill Carter |
6 Feb 2008, 10:10 (Ref:2122293) | #25 | |||
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You have the same potential problem with any self assembly car - i.e. did the guy who built it actually bolt it together properly? I would suggest if buying second hand go for one that (a) has been run in competition, and then (b) ask on hear if anyone knows the car!!! |
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