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    News articles from the Caterham and Lotus Seven Club community
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    Guest
    As you will see if you look at the Nuke the Leuk page, there will be no more Nokia logos from Chris Mintoft!
    A sad day indeed. Chris says “The software I use to send the logos has moved on and has mucked up the formatting of the logos I am sending.  The demand has tailed right off with the advent of phones with proper images as wallpaper so I think it is time to call it a day for the Nokia Logos.”
    I am sure everyone will join me in thanking Chris for his efforts over the years, not just for the considerable amount of money raised for NtL but for the enrichment to our 7 lives the logos brought to those who have them.
    I would also like to wish Chris and family all the very best with the new venture that no doubt is consuming much capital so anyone who would like to help please buy one. They are also available for wedding parties etc and corporate events. http://www.SmallClassicCar.co.uk
    Guest

    Nuke the Leuk '06 - Lap 2

    By Guest, in Club Charities,

    Chris Rea Freedom painting raffle countdown:
    Target £10,000
    Result to date £2,225 in 3 weeks with only 14 weeks to go.
    We’ve sent out around 3300 books, sold 89 and I’ve only had 3 books returned so there are a lot of books sculling around the country waiting to be sent in! Come on, it only takes a minute to fill in the stubs and write a cheque.
     
    If you want any more books of tickets, just drop me an email with your name and address and the number of extra books you would like.
    As you will see from the tickets the closing date is Friday 23rd June 2006 so please ensure all ticket stubs and money are sent in good time to:
    L7C Freedom Raffle, Leukaemia Research Fund, 43 Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3JJ.
    Note, cheques to made payable to Leukaemia Research Fund
    The picture is the original oil painting commissioned by Chris Rea. It is 114cm x 74cm (or 45” x 29” in old money) and signed by the artist, Alan Fearnley. For other examples of Alan’s work see http://www.grandprixsportique.com/gallery3.asp?category=Originals
    The winning ticket will be drawn by LRF at their Ormond St offices on Monday 10th July 2006 and the painting will be handed to the winner at the 2006 International Event dinner at the Silverstone Classic over the weekend 29-30th July 2006.
    Good luck everyone!
    Guest

    Low Flying - February 2006

    By Guest, in Lowflying,

    in this month's issueanother slice of life from the fridge door   |  news and events   |  motorsport in the raw   |  the Lotus 7X and the St Bruno Roughcutter   |  nuke the leuk, a milestone reached   |  taking to the hills   |  driving on the wrong side of the road   |  driving on the wrong side of the car   |  living on the wrong side of the road   |  area directory   |  classified ads   |  events diary
    Guest

    Low Flying - January 2006

    By Guest, in Lowflying,

    in this month's issueanother slice of life from the fridge door   |  a view from the paddock - the Club speed championship   |  news and events   |  the brighton speed trials   |  more sierra, more sahara   |  how far north can you drive your seven?   |  the story of the seven - a seven for the seventies?   |  in the pink   |  sevens on jersey   |  a colourful turn of phrase   |  area directory   |  the small ads   |  event diary
    Guest

    Nuke the Leuk ’06 – Lap 1

    By Guest, in Club Charities,

    Monthly standing order from a shy, team sparring partner of old…   25.00 Nick Chandler thanks Adrian Elkin for the DVD of a film shot from a Porche 911 on their favourite circuit   20.00 Dave Corben supplies a Autosport International ticket for Roger Heeley   20.00 David ‘DB’ Brackin thanks Tony Pashley for the Low Flying pictures – “Excellent Christmas gift   25.00 Ritchie Gatt loaned his trailer to David McCulloch   25.00 Martin Sargeant thanks Ric for the copy of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ book sold on Blatchat   10.00 Bob Rice thanks Mark Collins for the Abingdon photos   20.00 Phil Goddin thanks Marius Offermans in Germany for the A aluminium gear knob and Connor Kaby in Italy for the red starter button. Phil is particularly impressed as both guys covered the postage from their respective countries   30.00 North and East Yorkshire Area, Steve Brown, area Xmas bash raffle   90.00 Chris sends a cheque from Terry Field, “every little helps”   5.00 Richard Ince, Nurburgring DVD sales(The big K! - £1,004.56)   10.00 Joan & Tony for Mummy’s little soldier!   20.00 Dave Morris couriered some wings for Andrew Smith   20.00
    Graham Ridgeway gave Andy Wiltshire a nose cone to use as a pattern for making them out of aluminium
      18.00
    Dave Pearson supplied Mike Harrison and Adrian Mortimer with some London Art Fair tickets
      10.00 Gloucestershire Area Xmas raffle, Andy Couchman   85.00 Mike Blackadder, Roadsport Wars, Revenge of the Seven DVD sales   1914.00 This month’s total: 2,347.00 2006 total so far: £0.00 Total 2006 to date: £2,347.00   Plus fundraising history 1991 to 2005: £253,105.29   £255, 452.29
    Guest

    Freedom

    By Guest, in Club Charities,

    /Portals/0/Galleries/Nuke%20the%20Leuk/freedom2.jpg
    Well I think it is about time club members got something back for all their hard work and efforts. You will remember Chris Rea donated the original on the beach Freedom painting to the club to raise money for LRF a year ago and we passed the painting to LRF for safe keeping while we thought about its disposal. (See October and November 2004 issues of Low Flying). It had been intended to auction the painting at LRF’s celebrity fund raising dinner earlier this year but for one reason and another it was felt that it may not raise enough money to do justice to Chris’s kind gift.
    There have been lots of discussions over the months about a sale through EBay or via Pop and Rock or Motoring memorabilia auction houses between us and LRF and club members who have either rung me about the projects progress or who responded to my original plea for help, but quite frankly none of the ideas offered us much in the way of inspiration.
    So back to the beginning; Chris is a club member and a 7 fan, the painting is that of a 7 and pretty much evokes the feelings why many of us bought a 7 in the first place. Then it struck me that the painting has more relevance for club members than a collector looking for the next investment and it would really be the icing on the cake if a club member ended up owning the painting.
    An auction is out as it favours the few but a raffle is likely to raise as much money if not more and every ticket has exactly the same chance of being pulled out as any other ticket.
    The plan then is to distribute a book of 5 x £5 raffle tickets in an issue of Low Flying (Date to be determined). It is planned that money and stubs will be returned directly to LRF for administration and for them to draw the winning ticket 3 months later - then every club member can buy tickets, including me!
    The club has kindly offered to fund the printing of the raffle tickets and there will be spare books I will hold and distribute on demand for those wishing to buy more. We intend to print 20,000 tickets and with an expected take up of around 10% the raffle should return around £10,000 for LRF - which coincidentally is the approximate valuation put on the painting by Ian Fernley’s publishers.
    The raffle will be a private raffle and therefore only members will be eligible to win the painting.
    Seems like win, win all round to me!
    Guest

    What you need to know

    By Guest, in Speed Championship,

    The Lotus 7 Club is organising four speed events in 2006 – two at Curborough, one at Llandow and one at MIRA.
    Curborough is located near the centre of the country about 2.5 miles north east of Lichfield in Staffordshire.
    Llandow Circuit is located near Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales.
    Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) is located near Nuneaton , Warwickshire.
    These events are great opportunities to dip your toe into Club competitions and are ideal for absolute novices. This short article is designed to answer some of the questions novices usually ask.
    All four of the events for 2006 are qualifying rounds of the 2006 Lotus 7 Club Speed Championship – a total of 14 events at a variety of venues. See the 2006 Lotus 7 Club Speed Championship regulations for further details.
    In addition to all these events the Lotus 7 Club is invited to events organised by other clubs – see the 2006 Lotus 7 Club Speed Championship regulations.
    What is a "Speed Event"
    A Speed Event is either a Sprint or a Hillclimb! A sprint event takes place at a tarmac covered location which in the case of Curborough and Llandow is a purpose designed track (a mini circuit) but in other cases, when run at an airfield location for instance or MIRA, may be run over a course formed wholly or partly by marker cones. Cars run alone on a track like Curborough or in the case of a very long circuit like Llandow for instance they are separated by about half a lap. In the Llandow example no overtaking is ever permitted. Each car is timed over the circuit and the lowest time wins.
    A hillclimb event is very similar to a sprint event but the tarmac track usually starts at one level and rises over its length to the finish(!) Hillclimb circuits are generally old established venues, with a variety of corners and inclines. Hillclimbs require a slightly different driving technique to maximise momentum along what can be a steep course.
    Cars are divided into classes so you will be competing against a car of similar engine size and specification to your own.
    All Lotus 7 Club events (and our Speed Championship) use the same classes. See the Championship Regulations or 2006 Lotus 7 Club Sprint Meetings Supplementary Regulations for further details – both of these are published on Competitors Korner.
    How do I enter ?
    All drivers must have a competition licence which can be obtained from the MSA (Motor Sports Association). Currently you do not need to pass any tests or have a medical to get a Non-Race National B licence (the grade you need to start with) you just need to apply and you will be sent your licence in the post. Licences do not come through immediately so you should apply in good time. Accompanying your licence you will receive a copy of the “Blue Book” which contains all the rules and requirements for all types of motorsport and you will be able to refer to it to help answer many of the queries that you have.
    You will find loose leaf entry forms for the Club speed events in Low Flying prior to the date of the event or in the Competitors Korner of the web site and you should complete these in the normal way. The published set of Supplementary Regulations to cover all events should be used to help you decide which class your car is eligible to enter (which you will need to decide when completing the entry form). Supplementary Regulations or “The regs” as you will probably hear people refer to them are just the rules for the event. At first sight they may look a little daunting but you will find that most of it is standard stuff and is the same or very similar for most events.
    In 2005 the speed events proved very popular, especially those at Curborough which are normally oversubscribed. Entries open when the Entry Form is published and entries are accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Lotus 7 Club events at Curborough have a maximum of 80 entries – hence they quickly become oversubscribed. The Club events at MIRA and Llandow have larger available entries and are just as suitable for novices and are excellent venues.
    There is no way to guarantee that your entry will be accepted for an individual event. However there are some simple actions that you can take to maximise the chance of an entry being accepted:
    o Apply early – as soon as you receive/download the Entry Form o Fill in the Entry Form correctly!!! This seems obvious but it is surprising how many entries are rejected or delayed due to missing or incomplete information. For an oversubscribed event incorrect entries are often the first to be rejected.
    o Remember to include the cheque!! Having prepared yourself and your car (see the accompanying article ‘ Preparation for Hillclimbing and Sprinting 2006’) and received confirmation of your entry acceptance you will receive Final Instructions from the Club a week or so before the event.. Please read these carefully, they will indicate what time to arrive at the event, where to park and other useful information.
    The Event Signing-On and Scrutineering
    When you arrive you should find out where “signing on” is taking place and make your way there to present your licence for inspection and sign the usual official paperwork. You will then be told where scrutineering is taking place and you should present your car there when instructed. For road going classes you should also have your MOT certificate and insurance documents available and all competitors should bring their club membership cards to an event.
    Scrutineering is just an inspection by a qualified MSA official to ensure that your car (and you) are properly prepared according to the rules for the event. Most of the checks focus on safety related items. Most people are greatly worried before their first scrutineering but in my experience very few people have an insurmountable problem. If you are worried before the event speak to Mark Durrant our competition Secretary (contact details are in Lowflying) who will be happy to help or post a query on the Club Speed Events section of Blatchat.
    Having successfully negotiated the formalities you should listen for announcements. If you have not walked the course, particularly at an unfamiliar venue, please make sure you have time to do so. There may also be a briefing by the Clerk of the Course, particularly for newcomers to the venue.
    The Runs
    You will normally have two practice runs and two timed runs at each event. At some venues with long circuits such as MIRA and Llandow there may be a convoy run before practice runs. Details will be in the Final Instructions.
    For practice and timed runs, cars are normally collected in their classes in programme order (listen to the announcements) and allowed to proceed singly to the startline. Once at the startline the car is finally positioned between the starting timing beams by the startline marshal. You will be able to see the starting lights from this position and they will be showing Red. When the course is clear of the previous competitor the Timekeeper changes the starting lights from red to green. The driver can then start in his own time. It is important to note that the driver does not have to move at the point at which the lights change, the time recording only starts when the car begins to move.
    Having completed your run you will eventually return to the paddock and await the published time for the run. Having practiced twice you take your timed competition runs. At a standard one day event, the practice runs will be held in the morning, with the timed competition runs after lunch.
    You need only drive as fast as you feel comfortable with and if you are able to show a steady improvement over your runs then you should feel happy regardless of your overall position in the competition.
    The beauty of this type of event is that it gives plenty of time for socialising and “tyre kicking” between runs and it continues to be probably the most friendly of motorsport disciplines with people only too happy to help or give advice.
    Enjoy Yourself!
    Guest

    Preparing for Competition

    By Guest, in Speed Championship,

    This short article attempts to list the key items that all drivers and their cars must comply with to enter a Lotus 7 Club speed event. Licence - You will require a licence from the MSA in order to compete at these events and the minimum grade acceptable is a Non-Race National B. You do not currently need to take a test for this it is simply a matter of applying - 2006 Blue book page 46 on. You can get a licence application form from:
    Motor Sports Association
    Motor Sports House
    Riverside Park
    Colnbrook
    Slough SL3 0HG
    Tel: 01753 765000
    www.msauk.org
    The licence usually takes 3 weeks or thereabouts so don't leave it until the last minute! Remember that this licence will allow you to take part in other Clubs' speed events around the country. Don’t forget to sign the licence, attach a photograph and bring it to the event – there is an automatic MSA £40 fine for a competitor forgetting the licence – 2006 Blue Book p57 E.2.17.1
    Oil catch tank – 2006 Blue book p174 L.10.3.5 (NEEDED) Supplier: Caterham. This can be the plastic 1 litre windscreen washer bottle that is fitted as standard to Sevens! This is not required on K Series cars fitted with the standard manufacturers plenum and wet sump
    Fire extinguisher - 2006 Blue book p171 L.10.1.4 (NOT NEEDED BUT RECOMMENDED) - 2.25l is now recommended for plumbed in systems. (See 2006 Blue book page 236 Q3.1.2a onwards for further advice if you decide to fit one) Supplier: Demon Tweeks/Caterham/Grand Prix Racewear. Battery cut off switch - 2006 Blue book p171 L.10.6.3 (not needed if car is licensed for the road and running in a road legal condition - but recommended). See 2006 Blue book page 238 Q.8 if you decide to fit one.
    Helmet (NEEDED – with MSA approval sticker affixed) - 2006 Blue book page 238 Q.10 Supplier: Demon Tweeks/Grand Prix Racewear. If you do not have an MSA sticker this can be purchased from a scruitineer for the princely sum of £1.00.
    Overalls (NEEDED - clean, flame resistant, made from Nomex 111 or Proban treated materials) – 2006 Blue book page 238 Q.9 Supplier: Demon Tweeks/Caterham/Grand Prix Racewear
    Timing Strut (NEEDED) 2006 Blue book p 172 L.10.9.1 Supplier: Caterham/James Whiting or we can send you a template to make your own when we receive your entry form with the relevant box ticked.
    Competition Numbers - (NEEDED) can be cut from sticky back plastic (white for a dark coloured car - black for a light coloured car) - 2006 Blue book page 66 E.11.3.11 Supplier: Demon Tweeks/Grand Prix Racewear.
    Roll over Bar or Roll Over Cage - (NEEDED) The Lotus Seven Club insist that all cars must be equipped with at least a roll over bar of the type known as the Caterham FIA roll bar for all speed events and trackdays. The ‘petty strut’ diagonal bar should ideally also be used with a Caterham FIA roll bar. Clearly a Caterham FIA approved roll over cage provides greater protection. Supplier: Caterham Cars. See 2006 Blue book page 230 Q.1 for technical description of other acceptable types. Under no circumstances is the Caterham standard roll over bar acceptable for Lotus Seven Club organised speed events and trackdays. Note: You may find that at other non-Lotus Seven Club events that running without a roll over bar is acceptable, or that the standard type is allowed.
    Tyres - As appropriate to your class and as described in the supplementary regulations (which you will be given before you apply for an entry to the event) Details of list 1a and 1b tyres can be found in the Blue book on page 260 R.3.1.1-2.
    Seat Belts (NEEDED) - 2006 Blue book page 171 L10.1.2. Standard 3 point is accepted by the MSA but 4 point or more is strongly recommended by the Club. You will find that a 4 or 6-point belt holds you far more securely and enables you to drive at speed with more confidence.
    Throttle return springs (NEEDED) - 2006 Blue book page 67 E.12.4.2. A separate external throttle return spring for each part of the throttle is required. For cars with twin webers this means two external springs, one fitted to each throttle spindle. For cars fitted with single throttle bodies and a plenum, eg standard K series cars, this means a single external spring but as this is normally already fitted as standard then nothing additional is required. For cars fitted with individual or pairs of throttle bodies or roller barrel throttles, eg SLR or R500’s, this means a separate external spring for each throttle body or pair of throttle bodies. Again these are normally fitted as standard so nothing additional is required.
    Head Restraints (NEEDED) – 2006 Blue Book page 171 L.10.1.3. And Q.13 The head restraints on 1996 onwards cloth/leather seats do meet these requirements – but check that you are comfortable when seated with a helmet on. All Tillet seats should be used with a head restraint bracket/kit mounted behind the headrest portion of the seat. For all other seats a head restraint bracket/kit will need to be purchased from Caterham or fabricated. When using the Caterham head restraint kits it is strongly recommended that they are padded using high-density foam similar to that used for roll bar padding. This is available from Demon Tweeks/Grand Prix Racewear, amongst many others.
    Please note that the above information is intended as a guide only. You must verify it with your own copy of the Blue book that will be sent to you free of charge with your MSA license.
    If you have any questions regarding the above please contact Mark Durrant, the clubs Competition Secretary (contact details are in Lowflying). The suppliers mentioned herein are by no means the only sources and are listed as starting points only. Refer to Low Flying advertisers for other sources.
    The suppliers mentioned herein are by no means the only sources and are listed as starting points only. Refer to Low Flying advertisers for other sources.
    Useful Phone Numbers:
    Caterham Cars 01322 625801 (Parts)
    James Whiting 01784 241466
    Demon Tweeks 01978 664466
    Grand Prix Racewear 08701 600950
    Guest

    Nuke the Leuk '05 - Lap 12

    By Guest, in Club Charities,

    Another fantastic year from all you wonderful people and another year where the reasons to pass LRF some money are as wide and varied as to be almost unimaginable. The reasons far, far outnumber the words I can use, without a great deal of repetition, to extend my admiration and thanks to everyone for your kind thoughts, generosity and support. You really are a great bunch of people and you should all feel a great deal of pride for the efforts to raise so much for the Leukaemia Research Fund.
     
    The buzz for me isn’t really about the amount of money but the contents of the notes accompanying each donation. Behind each one is a selfless gesture from someone involving some thought or an idea, or a conversation with someone else and perhaps a negotiation. In many cases it seems the NtL transaction is almost the excuse to be friendly and helpful to another, above any profit motive other than the profit derived from a feeling of satisfaction that someone has been helped in some way and a good cause has benefited as a result. 
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