PARTS FOR ALL SEVEN MODELS - A 1957 TO DATE RAPID MAIL ORDER SERVICE, ^s? EXPORT ORDERS WELCOME ENGINE BUILDING, TUNING, NEW & EXCHANGE UNITS TRANSMISSION, NEW & RECONDITIONED SERVICING, REPAIRS & RESTORATIONS ACCIDENT REPAIRS

We are Agents or Stockists of most leading brands including: WEBER, K&N, SPAX, KENT Cams, VANDERVELL BEARINGS, MINILITE Wheels, WILLANS Seat Belts, NGK, TOP TEK HELMETS, O/E LOTUS & CATERHAM Parts, MOTORCRAFT, LUCAS, Plus our range of REDLINE Accessories. For Spares, Repairs, Servicing or Free Advice Telephone or Visit our premises in Caterham. Only minutes from Junction 6, M25, Short walk from BR Station.

HISTORIC SEVEN PARTS SUPPLIERS FACTORY APPOINTED PARTS & SERVICE CENTRE REDLINE COMPONENTS TEL: (01883) 346515 FAX: (01883) 341604 1 LTD TIMBER HALL, 19 TIMBER LANE, CATERHAM, SURREY CR3 6LZ ENGLAND

Enthusiastic family business Parts and accessories available Old and new models maintained Lotus and Caterham 7 specialists Menu servicing or bespoke for your use Modifications or upgrades for road & track

CONTINUOUS SEVEN 1977-2007 SERVICE FOR THIRTY YEARS

Caterham Approved Fireblade Parts www.jameswhiting. com Appletree Works, 26-30 Glenfield Rd, Ashford, Middx TWI5 IJL t)+44 (0) I 784 241466 f) +44 (0) I 784 25091 5 Club administration and membership services

including Event Support Vehicle (ESV) bookings. Calendar We support the Leukaemia coordination and advertising in Lowflying Research Fund

Sam Pearce* Lotus Seven Club, PO Box 7, Abergavenny NP7 5WQ e: [email protected] t: +44 (0)7000 L7CLUB(572582) f: +44 (0)1873 858717 Lowflying is published by the www.btussevenclub.com for membership enquiries or changes of address, contact: Lotus Seven Club e: [email protected], or Sam at the address above or you can download a membership form from the Club website Annual membership is £40 which includes Lowflying (UK and Overseas) Lowflying Contacts an* Chairman Track day Coordinator Steve Winterberg** Geoff Pickin* for Lotus and Caterham Seven enthusiasts South Lodge Cottage, Rogers Lane, CLementeita, Vinegar Hill, Undy, Findon, W Sussex BN14 ORE Newport, Monmouthshire NP26 3EJ t: 01903 873007 m: 07855 846963 t: 01633 881837 [email protected] [email protected]

General Secretary Members Benefits Coordinator this month: pending further announcement Geoff Brown* please direct any queries t: 01793 876465 to the Chairman (see above) [email protected] Picture gallery another slice of Life from the fridge door 2 Company Treasurer Event Support Vehicle Mananger Andy Couchman** Malcolm Godfrey* Bank House, Great Rissington, [email protected] The Lotus Seven Club at 25 4 Cheltenham, Glos GL54 2LP t: 01451 821982 Other team members News and events 7 [email protected] Simon Rogers* [email protected] Membership Secretary Welcome to new members 9 Sam Pearce, see above David Nelson* david.nelson@lotus7club AO / AR Coordinator Beginner's bluff Lotus Seven Historian Martin Richards* A wry view on the world of competition driving 11 t: 07884 437652 John Watson [email protected] f: 01923 836637 [email protected] Llys y Frantastic IT and Webmaster Barry Sweeney** Caterham Archivist our speed eventers tackle their first hill of the season 14 PO Box 777, Haywards Heath RH16 2YA Rosey Moffatt t: 01444 458065 [email protected] [email protected] R500 Valuations of Sevens a weekend with Caterham's latest adrenalin pump 16 Competition Secretary for insurance purposes only Mark Durrant** Guy Munday Curborough 15 Searles View, Horsham, t: 01508 530491 (work hours) West Sussex RH12 4FG a wet day at everybody's favourite sprint venue 20 see note on Nuke-the-Leuk page t: 01403 250468 [email protected] * indicates Management team Island hopping

Regalia Manager ** indicates CLub Directors the very well-received WightBlat event 23 Nick Addison** m: 07881 516710 Nuke the Leuk [email protected] Our former Chairmen

Dave Mirylees (founder) LRF / NtL Coordinator the latest fundraising news 26 Lol Pilfold Rachael Sangha* Nick Richens Nuke the Leuk, PO Box 585, Area meetings directory 28 Cambridge CB1 OFN Roger Swift t: 01223 271440 m: 07974 097771 Keith Jecks [email protected] Andrew Walker From the other side of the fence the view from the terraces at Curborough 31 Lowflying Classified advertisements 32 Editors Designer Trade advertising Tony Pashley* see CLub administration, above Diary of events 34 t: 020 8771 8337 for non-receipt of Lowflying or [email protected] change of address for submissions by post, please notify the Membership send to the Editor Secretary c/o 2 Oak Lodge, 130 Auckland Rd, Lowflying is printed by The Lotus Seven Club is the trading name of Seven Club Limited, Registered office: 9 Nevill Street, London SE19 2RQ Shanleys Ltd, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire NP7 5AA. Company registration number 3880568. A copy of the Company's Classified advertising 16 BeLvoir Street, Bolton BL2 6BA constitution and rules is available on written request to the Company Secretary, details above. see directions on the t: 01204 523773 Classified pages of the magazine www.shanLeysdp.com Please note: Views expressed herein are not necessarily those of Seven Club Limited ('the Club'), merely the views and experiences of individual writers. Opinions (whether technical or otherwise)should not be construed as precise authoritative advice. The Club recommends readers to take specific professional advice and that Regalia sales technical and/or mechanical work is only undertaken by suitable qualified individuals. The Club does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered by any reader after reading this publication, acting upon matters Faye Rafferty, at BTC Group The RegaLia range can be ordered discussed or taking part in events mentioned. Editorial coverage or advertising does not imply endorsement. t: 020 8569 2250 online (or an order form downloaded) e: [email protected] at www.lotus7shop.co.uk Lowflying July 2008 1 A pure horsepower race: in rather better weather than seen in last month's feature, David Williams captured this scene on his drive from May's Goodwood Breakfast. The foliage and crops even match the car...

Beautiful, efficient simplicity. Series captured alongside Fireblade-engined Sevens from different eras surely, in keeping with the Chapm

Above: seven-year-old Darcy Stubbs made her model of a Seven on the Club stand at the Stoneleigh kit-cat show; and right: Darcy is pictured with father Mai's full- sized Seven.

Below: a tight line at La Source.

Josh Daw takes a drive in the electric Seven at last year's 50th Celebration. Josh, then 12, was getting in some practice for when he's old enough to drive father Chris's car Mind you, they might all need to be electric by then!

2 Lowflying July 2008 The fridge door

Lowflying July 2008 3 News and events

Fri 25th-Sun 27th July Lotus Seven Club 25th anniversary event at the Silverstone Classic historic race meeting

As MOST MEMBERS will know, 2008 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Club. For twenty-five years members have fostered the enthusiam and affection for the Seven and, perhaps most importantly, ensured the continued and serious use of the cars for touring, competition and more-or-less everyday use. Our little community has not only provided a support network to help us all maintain, run and enjoy our Sevens, but also an environment in which such an oddball obsession (by other people's standards, that is) can be regarded as entirely normal and healthy! For many of us, membership of The Lotus Seven Club (and a general association with Sevens and similarly-minded enthusiasts of other persuasions) has forged new and lasting circles of friendship amongst folk we might, otherwise, never have encountered.

As singular, focused and specialist as the appeal of the Seven is, it is individuality that hallmarks the Seven-enthusiast; although a niche-vehicle (if you'll excuse a ghastly marketing expression) we all tailor our cars to our own needs and derive a slightly different enjoyment from them. There cannot be another car of such extreme application that appeals to such a wide variety of owner. The huge variety of events and activities undertaken by Club members underlines that: from historical restoration and preservation, to full-on competiton driving, daily transport or adventurous long-distance touring to out-of-the-way places. A Club that embraces that breadth and thrives is something special and a tribute to those very members whose enthusiasm and dedication have made it such a long-running success.

To celebrate our landmark, the Club will get together, for an informal celebration, later this We appreciate that this event month at Silverstone to take in some of the best of historic motorsport. The Seven was born has taken a white to sort out and into, and very much for, the world of amateur motor racing, and out of the competition activies that time is tight! We're sorry of the 750MC to which so much of the sport's subsequent engineering history can be traced. for the rush, but please note the

closing dates for tickets and book The Silverstone Classic is a very large and varied event with the some top-notch race entries, but as soon a possible. Thank you! with plenty of other attractions and family-orientated activities too. The Lotus Seven Club's presence will be relaxed, with somewhere to meet up and mingle, have a party and use as a base For anyone who hasn't been to to park the Seven and then head off to enjoy the racing if you wish. Silverstone before, the circuit

is off the A43, a few miles to the Club stalwart and Herts Area Rep, Dick Dixon, has, with assistance from Geoff Brown, sorted

south-west of Towcester, out our weekend gathering against an almost interminable string of difficulties over venue,

Northants, and well signposted. access, amenities and costings. We've kept the arrangements as casual and broadly-appealing as possible and hopefully ensured that the event is affordable and accessible. We hope that lots of you will be able to come along and join in the celebrations.

We can all be very proud of our Club, our achievements, our reputation and the strength of our community. The world of motoring might be very different in another twenty-five years time, but here's to another quarter-century of the same kind of enthusiasm and cameraderie.

4 Lowflying July 2008 Our"25th"

Lotus Seven Club at Silverstone

The Club will have a stand there for the whole event on the outside of the circuit, close Sevens-only circuit parade

to Copse Corner and the bridge over the pits straight (for access to paddock and infield areas). This will be a controlled-speed run; crash The Event Support Vehicle will be there, plus a marguee and dedicated parking for Sevens. helmets are not required, but passengers must be So we can relax, have a good Seven-Club-style get-together, or wander off and check out the aged 12-plus. Money goes to NtL. racing or all the other activities. Saturday sees our parade on the Grand Prix circuit. Saturday only and restricted to first 200 cars.

Saturday evening is party time at the Club stand, with bar, barbecue, live music and dancing. Camping Sunday will be more laid-back: the Club stand will provide a place to chill-out if you need a A local campsite is offering Club-only area if you rest from the racing, roaming the paddocks or recover from earlier excesses! mention that you are a totus Seven Club member: There'll be a stand photoshoot and selected Sevens may join the Grand Lotus Parade on track. this is at the Whittlebury Hall Golf and Country Club, Sunday has a full day of racing so there'll be plenty to see trackside. which is just 6-8 minutes walk from the circuit. Bookings are on an individual basis at £20 per pitch What's on at The Classic for the Saturday night. Contact Whittlebury Hall on 01327 850071 The Silverstone Classic, is one of the largest gatherings for classic motoring and motor racing [email protected] in the world. On-track there 21 races (including those for the FIA Historic Fl series and Group C cars), and covering eight decades of nostalgic motor racing. The paddocks are open for you to browse among the teams and get a close Look at a remarkable selection of cars. The Car the Club built...

A variety of track displays are planned too. will be there (see NtL pages for more details); this Seven-still raising funds for Leukaemia research-is Lotus is the celebrated marque this year, as both Lotus and Silverstone Circuit celebrate their ten years old! We'd like as many as possible of the 60th anniversaries, while the BRDC marks its 80th. There should be plenty to interest both the members who were involved in the project to gather casual enthusiast of the marque and the serious students of competition cars. at the stand for a celebratory photograph.

There'll be trade stalls, automobilia, art and photo galleries, live music, air displays, a period funfair, creche and lots more. There'll be action above the circuit too, with glorious old

war-birds, jet fighters and parachute displays. For more details, see www.silverstoneclassk.com

Ticket options, prices, times

Silverstone Classic admission: We've arranged for circuit admission prices to be held at the pre-April advanced booking rates for Club members and there's a 'buy-one-get-one-free' deal. Circuit entry for under-16s is free. Also free is grandstand seating and entry to the track-centre paddock areas.

FRIDAY 25TH: BOOKING DETAILS:

Circuit entry: £15 for two tickets practice begins 9am for tickets (including the two-for-one circuit admission offers) please contact Club SATURDAY 26TH: administration: Circuit entry: £20 for two tickets warm-up and racing begins 9am Sam Pearce on 07000 572582, Sevens-only circuit parade: £5 per car cars ready by 11am ptease, and see notes on the right or see the contact details on page 1. Lotus Seven Club evening party: £20 per person; under 16s free Cheques payable to Seven Club Limited. Evening event-6.30pm for 7, when the bar opens; food served from 7.30pm Closing date for the two-for-one circuit entry SUNDAY 27TH: tickets is 11th July. Ticket applications for the Saturday evening Circuit entry: £20 for two tickets warm-up and racing begins 9am event close on 18th July. LOTUS SEVEN CLUB MEMBER'S PACKAGE:

• £70 includes circuit entry, all 3 days for 2 people; Saturday's circuit parade The Club's stand is open to all members and Saturday evening tickets for two. throughout the event, with refreshments and hospitality. If you've already bought circuit WEEKEND CIRCUIT PASSES: admission, you can still make use of the Club Circuit entry, all 3 days: £35 for two tickets stand or book for the Saturday evening event.

Lowflying July 2008 5 Come along to a Caterham Drive Experience day and let us teach you to drive a Caterham Seven on the limit. Remember our motto - Drive it like you stole it! Alternatively hire a car from locations in the South of England the Midlands or Scotland and get out on the open road for the ultimate test drive!

For further information call:

Caterham (South) 01883 333700 [email protected] Caterham (Midlands) 01455 841010 [email protected] www.caterham.co.uk News and events

Lotus 60th anniversary Flanders Warwickshire update

European union new face, new venue For those planing to go to the Lotus 60th anniversary celebrations at Hethel and wanting Our growing international presence grows Jane Varnum-Wilson has stepped forward to to camp nearby, there is a suggested campsite further this month with the announcement of take on the running of the Warwickshire Area, not far from Snetterton circuit... a group in Flanders, Belgium. To begin with which had been without a 'leader' for some Thetford Forest Campsite, the meetings will be of the 'roving venue' type, time. Jane will betaking up the reins from on the 1st Sunday of alternate ('even- August and hopes to announce a new venue Puddledock Farm, Wretham Rd, Great Hockham, numbered' months), ie: August, October etc. for the meetings very soon. Thetford, Norfolk IP24 1PA www. thetfordforestcampsite.com Organiser is Sven De Loenen who can be In the meantime, Jane is keen to talk with See last reached on +32 (0)496 065 188 or at members in the Area to gauge the kind of www.lotus60thanniversary.com and month's for more event details-it [email protected] events and activities they are interested in Lowflying takes place on Sunday 14th September and the and she'll also start a thread on BlatChat for If you based within reach of Flemish Belgium - Lotus Seven Club will be there. the same purpose-so please do contribute or travelling through to Spa or the 'Ring your ideas and give her the support to make it perhaps-please do get in touch with Sven and all work for you. Well done Jane. Forthcoming events... see what they are up to! See details in the Area directory; further news The Woodvale Rally on Merseyside, first week• to follow when available. end in August-a huge show for cars, bikes, Guernsey planes, boats and much more-an opportunity for a major get-together for North-East based new direction July members in our 25th year. The Club's presence 15th is being arranged by the LADS Area. Guernsey-based member Stuart Butler has Surrey The special offer on tickets is now closed, got in touch to explain that they are switching but you can still turn up and join in the fun. to a more ad hoc basis for their meetings, as new date for The Parrot See Area directory for contact details. he's found they simply don't have enough and a July weigh-in regular attendees to sustain a fixed monthLy Dunsfold Park, south of Guildford in Surrey meeting. The geographical situation makes it The very busy Surrey meeting is moving to is hosting Wings and Wheels on Sunday 24th pretty tough for mainlanders to add to 'pass• the Third Tuesday of the month, when the August. The Club will be there with a stand ing trade' and for Jersey-based members to venue-The Parrot, at Forest Green-should be along with the displays of classic and military bolster the numbers on any frequent basis. a little less crowded, commencing in July. aircraft, race cars and flying displays. The regulars are still active though, and meet To kick-off the new arrangement the Surrey AR, See www.wingsandwheels.net for more details. up with many of the other local sportscar Martin Bushaway, has secured the attendance enthusiasts, visit the local car shows or make of well-repected Seven specialist Gary May We'll be at the Amazing Machines event at trips to trackdays or events such as Le Mans. of Freestyle Motorsport. Gary will be armed with Legoland again this year-on Saturday 13th and Contact details are still to be found in the corner-weighting scales and his set-up Sunday 14th Sept. The Club stand is arranged by Area directory, so if you are local, or heading knowledge and advice. Please be prepared to Andrew Winter [email protected] there on a holiday, do get an touch and find make a charitable donation if you wish to take Check out www.legoland.co.uk for event details. out what you're missing out on! advantage of this service. Legoland is near Windsor in Berkshire.

The former Reims road circuit, near Gueux, has long been one of the most popular stops for Oils folks heading south through France-where FSC so many of us have paused to photograph our Mixed Sources Since 1925 Product group from we 11-managed forests and other controlled sources Sevens by the old pit buildings and stands. i. SGS-COC-003591 From Fully Synthetic Oils The place has been undergoing something of rest Stewardship Council to Classic Monogrades a facelift in recent times and after last year's successful inaugural event, there'll be a second Lowflying is printed on stock made with a Delivered to your door! retrospective event... responsible attitude The Weekend of Automobile Excellence will take to natural resources. www.opieoils.co.uk/lubricants.htm place on the 12th - 14th September and Find out more about email: [email protected] will include spirited 'demonstration' sessions by the Forest Stewardship racing and classic machinery of the era. Council and its aims Tel: 01209 215164 Check out www.wwea-organisation.com for and standards at their Fax:01209 314019 site www.fsc-uk.org event details.

Lowflying July 2008 7 News Changes at head office...

Unfortunately (for us) Emily has decided to take up the chance of a to see how you get on and will welcome your news. As an aside, in case lifetime and accompany her boyfriend who is moving to a new job in you thought you were escaping these funny little beasties, Japan is one Japan-so she will be leaving us at the end of June. of Caterham's biggest market places, and they love Lotuses of all kinds! Sad faces, emotional blackmail and threats of no references, hand• That is the bad news. The good news is that Susi has found a replace• cuffs and/or tar-and-feathering made not a jot of difference I'm afraid! ment in Samantha Pearce, who joined Standby on the June 16th to As if we would... ;-) take over the Club Admin role. We all welcome Sam aboard and look I'm sure you all join me in thanking Emily for all her fantastic work forward to meeting her soon. Sam will have started work a couple of for the Club and Standby and for making what we all thought might be weeks before Emily leaves to ensure the same smooth transition Susi a high-risk change in the way we administered the Club into a thor• engineered when we originally awarded the contract-so we all expect oughly delightful and enjoyable experience for everyone. similar seamlessness! No pressure there then... Steve W We'd also like to wish Emily all the very best with her new venture across the other side of the world - and please Emily, stay in touch from time to time: you have many new friends here who will all be keen

Sam Pearce joins the fray this month to look after Administration and Membership matters. Please say hello and welcome her to our little world as and when the opportunity arises.

UK SPORTS-CARS INDEPENDENT LOTUS & CATERHAM SPECIALISTS

J J f Wanted If you are thinking of selling your Caterham contact Paul Clugston to discuss straight sale, commission sale, part exchange or whatever O 01227 728190 © www.uksportscars.com

8 Lowflying July 2008 Membership matters The Lotus Seven Club says hello to new members who have recently joined the fold... ^e tiPBKr new members

Peter Adams, Herts Paul Griggs and Janet Wise, Surrey Paul Richards, Herts

Nigel Arnott, Hants Paul and Gail Hedley, Gloucester Marcello Romano, Surrey

Anthony and Jane Ashton, Doncaster Roy Holland, Herts Jak Rotheram, Merseyside

Geoff and Gill Barker, Lancashire Martin Hull, Kent Jonathon Tile, Essex

Mr W Buggy and Mrs B Davies, Tameside Mr. Jowett, Leicestershire Jonathan Travers, Bucks

Jon Crofts, Berkshire Steven and Annette Langley, Gloucester Jeremy and Clare Wheeler, Gloucestershire

Bob Crouch, Kent Mr CW and Mrs LB Laws, Cheshire Richard and Sara Whitnall, Leicestershire

Jonathan Dennis, Oxford Andrew McGaw, Herts Mr J Whittaker and Miss J Benge, Bucks

Kenneth and Sandra Dyer, Suffolk Stuart Pascall, Northants

Paul Etty, Surrey Keith and Linda Pullen, Monmouthshire

Classic & Modern Lotus 7 & Caterham cars

raav Discount for club members

Agreed value on Lotus & Caterhams over ten years old

Limited mileage discount Our range of policies can include free club track day cover, historic rallies and family fleet cover Try the Heritage Quick Quote at www.heritage-quote.co.uk 0845 373 4777 BT Local call rate - Immediate cover available by telephone

Lowflying July 2008 9 Stafford Vehicle Components Limited $V(

The $V( freestanding headlights are, very probably, the best available worldwide. Made from tooling we invested in recently, they are solid brass and are chrome plated or black powder coated. NOW AVAILABLE IN CARBON FIBRE EFFECT. 7" or 5%" lenses, UK spec or continental dipping. Xenon bulb up-grade, giving 50% more light, for just an extra £10 if fitted from new. Bright6. The professional look for =0 Q & (©) cd> dash warning lights. Carbon Fibre Effect front wings. Light weight, strong, flexible and cost effective. Carbon Fibre Effect Light Housings - designed for the JK Crystalight lenses and our NEW "E" marked ULTRABRIGHT LED lights. Keep your cool with a Pacet fan. You can afford an OEM quality fan with SVC prices! Or our low cost, 11 V2" budget fans for only £35. Adjustable thermostatic switch kits for only £24 See us at ALL major UK Kit Car shows SVA Switches, Seatbelts, Mirrors, Remote Servos ALL THIS, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE FROM STAFFORD VEHICLE COMPONENTS LIMITED 53 Kepler, Lichfield Road Industrial Estate, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7SF Phone 08 456 581 251 Fax 01827 60251 Email [email protected] www.s-v-c.co.uk www.s-v-c.co.uk www.s-v-c.co.uk Against the clock

With tongue firmly in cheek, a newcomer to our Speed Events series, Alan Bowler, shares his experiences from the paddock and from the track (and on occasion, off the track too). Beginner's bluff

RAY SNOATES COULD not attend the Llandow expected, and we all drove off around the RS: So then onto Llandow and Llys y Fran? Sprint due to a prior engagement, so he track on a formation lap. I weaved around the AB: Llandow yes. But Llys y Fran, no %#*&! conducted a telephone interview with new track, warming my tyres, blipping the throttle way. I tried googling for 'Caterham' + "Welsh competitor Alan Bowler to get his story... and psyching out the others. I reckoned the Hillclimb' and found a video of some absolute organisers had probably heard of me, and RS: Good evening Alan, are you still able nutter driving way too fast up a farm track in would be putting me near the front of the to help with a story on the Llandow Sprint the middle of a monsoon. That sort of behav• grid. Anyway, there must have been a problem for Lowflying? iour gives us Lotus Seven Club members a bad because we were directed straight back into name. I don't think he had a proper gearbox AB: Yes-how are you Ray? Did you enjoy the the paddock. I guess this sort of thing happens either. So I decided against Llys y Fran, but party at Max's house? Did you discuss my a lot, but as nobody else seemed concerned, I played my joker and entered for Llandow. proposed rule changes for FI? kept quiet, and waited for further instructions. RS: Why your 'joker'? RS: I'm recovering; I'll be ok. But tell me After that they decided to run the cars in how you got into sprinting. groups of four, setting off at 20 second inter• AB: I did my first track day there a couple of AB: This will be anonymous, you say? vals. Waiting on the start line with three oth• years ago, so I know the place like the back of RS: Of course... ers, watching for the green light, was exhilarat• my hand. Three right handers and a wiggly bit ing. Green light, ist gear, drop the clutch and -easy! Plus it's miles away in South Wales, so I AB: Good. After reading the recent plethora lots of wheel-spin, ist to 2nd, 2nd to... (oh doubted too many people would show up. I of Lowflying articles, including 'Give sprinting no!) 5th and I was on my way. It's a very dif• caught a rumour there was a test day on the a go', 'Sprint into sprinting', 'Hillclimbing for ferent challenge to a twenty minute track day Friday before, so rang the circuit and booked dummies' and 'Go on, try sprinting, you know session, where concentration can start to wan• myself in for a sneaky half day. Practice makes you want to', I decided to dip my toe into the der. Ninety seconds (well, OK, perhaps a few perfect. water. The idea of driving 200 miles for 4 laps more than 90...) at what feels like the com• To be honest, Goodwood was a bit of an still didn't quite make sense, but there were bined limit of your and the car's ability focuses eye-opener, in terms of how tricky it is to find prizes at the end, plus I'd probably get on TV. the mind. I thought I might have got away the perfect lap. I think given a few more runs, How difficult could it be? I've done a few track with the fluffed gear change-but no, the ever- I could have knocked 20 seconds off my time! days, overtaken a couple of GTIS, so I figured helpful Competition Secretary had heard it, the Speed Championship was ready for me. RS: How did testing go? and complimented me on my technique as I I kept costs down by picking up used equip• sneaked back quietly into the paddock, trying AB: Great fun. It was quieter than a track day, ment from BlatChat and Pistonheads, which to keep a low profile. and most of the other Seveners seemed pre• meant I had more budget for the large occupied with tinkering rather than the seri• Anyway, there must have been a problem mahogany-effect trophy cabinet from MFI. I ous business of doing as many banzai laps as with the timing gear or something as I didn't made a few minor changes to the car and chat• possible. All that corner-weighting and tyre- win any prizes that day. I did get to check out ted with some of the other Surrey-based prodding can't do any good. Mark Durrant the other cars though and get some tips. sprinters. On their dubious advice, I decided offered me a few passenger laps in his Classes 1 and 2 appear to run on van tyres. to keep my sticky Yokohama tyres, and go for Superlight R500. Good luck to them I say. Classes 3, 4 and 5 get outright victory in Class 3. Anyway, I figured progressively faster with sticky tyres, fatter It took me about 20 minutes to clamber in I'd pick up some prize money early on to pay exhausts, more power and louder paint jobs. through the roll cage, but it was a fantastic for a few more upgrades... Pity I was so late Not too many people had discovered Yoko couple of minutes (once I'd opened my eyes). applying for a competition licence, but the A048S though, so I should at least have that I figured that his 250+ bhp monster, at around MSA did deliver it just in time. advantage. I spotted quite a few fancy gold double the power of my Roadsport, might just

RS: What was your first event? topped dampers. I must remember to paint be a bit quicker... BUT NOT THAT FAST! He AB: I went down to Goodwood. Big mistake. mine gold too, and get a few more stickers, all abandoned me to get out: some slow steady The sun was shining (fortunate, as I've never of which which seems to help. There were a lot breathing followed by another 20 minutes of driven on track in the wet) so a class record of ladies driving too: they seem to have their contortion. He later explained that this was a was on the cards. Scrutineering was less trau• own private championship and are becoming temporary Class 4 'cooking' engine of just matic than expected, and the other drivers more competitive than the men. As long as i89.7bhp, since the original had unfortunately seemed pretty friendly. It was looking good. they enjoy it and support us proper racing destroyed itself. Hmm. So why would anyone The 'race' started a lot earlier than I drivers, that's fine. (Take cover, Alan... Ed.) ever need more than i89-7bhp? >

Lowflying July 2008 11 Right and below: a press-on performance from Paul Forster in Class 4, attacking the kerbs at Llandow.

Right middle: a different kind of Seven... an Austin Seven racer; and below, picking a route through the chicane (and the odd puddle). Far right: the coveted Golden Trowel - which is awarded for the driver who most recently went 'off-track gardening'. Pictures from Rob Spencer.

INDEPENDENT LOTUS & CATERHAM SEVEN SPECIALISTS We buy and sell new and secondhand Sevens. We also offer a kit build facility, plus any help you may require. Please contact Stuart Wylie on 01737 645213 Beechwood, Gatton Bottom, Merstham, Surrey RH1 3BH www.woodcotesportscars.com

12 Lowflying July 2008 Beginner's bluff

After testing I had a great drive up through wheel spin; ist, 2nd and-oh no-5th gear mid-Wales to stay overnight with 'Maestro' again. The run was doomed unless I tried Bowler Senior overnight. That's 'Maestro' as in something radical, so I shifted back into yes• Fangio, not the much underrated hot hatch terday's banzai attack mode of driving. Sliding pitched between the Metro and Montego. His on every corner, whacking the curbs and advice was to not spin the wheels too much at bouncing off the rev-limiter. the start and drive smoothly. That sounds like The time was fantastic-I'd knocked 4 sec• solid advice for an MGB, but what does he onds off! I'll be in Autosporti I then took a know about my 'race car for the road'. Drive it deep breath, rejoined reality, and politely The trophy you don't want, like you stole it, I say. Then I had a look at the asked the timekeeper to double check. Rats! but then don't want to give up! remains of my tyres. Oh dear. Out came the Tippex-YA actually gone slower. The Golden Trowel. Maybe there is something to this smooth RS: And did you win the Sprint this time? driving business after all. AB: According to my new scoring system, yes I stayed around for the prize giving: my -but more of that later. Anyway, I'd forgotten round 2: times were good, but not enough for silver• how big Wales is, and how much it rains. So I ware just yet. There was no mention of prize Llandow sprint 10 • 5 • 08 still had to set off unreasonably early to sign money either, but I guess it's a taboo subject. I on at 7.30, after 30 minutes baling out from time points wanted to put some faces to names, see who where the tonneau had leaked. The Maestro the class winners were, and see how big the Class 1: didn't even get up to make me breakfast. champagne bottles were. To add insult to 1 Jonathan Ward 87- 39 100- 00 Thankfully the Circuit cafe opened early. injury, rub salt into the wound etc. the final 2 Richard Ormson 92 41 94 57 I attached my timing strut and checked over trophy for Fastest Lady was awarded 3 Alistair Gibbins 93 51 93 46 the car. This time the scrutineer wanted to see to. ..Tamara Calvert. No! It's just not dignified my log book. I explained that, pretty as the car Class 2: for women to drive that quickly. I crept back is, it wasn't for sale. He looked cross and went 1 Michael Sankey 83 •1 4 100- 00 quietly to the car to pack up. on about needing it to confirm the engine was 2 Roger Cumming 85 26 97 51 On the long journey back down the M4, and correct in case of dispute. Luckily Mark was 3 Stephen Herring 86 61 95 99 while hotwiring the car again at the services, I on-hand to move him onto the next car before had time to ponder where it had all gone Class 3: it turned nasty (and before I got sent home in wrong. Nobody could be a better driver than 1 David Nelson 80 13 100 00 disgrace). me-the track day organiser from MotorSport 2 Michael Calvert 80 26 99 84 First practice was OK, but I went a bit more Events had passed on the mantra that "If any• 3 Jeff Smith 81 19 98 69 sideways than planned as I'd forgotten that the one catches up with you, it's because they've tyres would be cold compared to my semi-pri• Class 4: got more horsepower. They couldn't possibly vate endurance testing yesterday. One of the 00 be a better driver, could they?" 1 Martin Sargeant 79 59 100 marshals came over to have a polite word 2 Mark Durrant 79 86 99 66 All I need is an improved points scoring sys• about me having all 4 wheels off the circuit on 3 Nigel Fox 80 96 98 31 tem, based on fairness, equality and honesty; both laps. Oops. Another black mark. so here we go - a 3 second penalty for using a Class 5: The timed runs started off badly. I'd sort of trailer {apart from Mark because he let me put 1 Simon Rogers 74 95 100 00 reconciled myself to not winning after seeing my stuff in his); 3 second penalty for having 2 Adrian Williams 76 63 97 81 some of the other practice times posted, but better tyres (actually, make that 'different 3 Robert Margel 79 11 94 •74 could still try to improve. Maestro finally tyres' because some of the Class 1 and 2 people showed up, and watched my first timed run. I were quicker than me!); 3 second penalty for Class 6: took off smooth-and-slow liked he'd sug• loud paint schemes; 5 second penalty for 1 Graham Ford 82 48 100 00 gested and, as I thought, took longer than I teams: so far I've identified the Welshmen of had in practice. My times were very close to a 7 Tips, the Drowned Rat Racers and Team few others, including'T Calvert', who had been Hawkes with their fancy matching racesuits; about even with me at Goodwood. So long as BTD: 10 second penalty for sequential gearboxes. I beat him, I'd be satisfied. Maestro told me to Simon Rogers 74 95 Also, anyone with a silver bonnet stripe gets ignore his earlier advice and drive with 'a bit a 2 second bonus. That should do it. more passion'. My next event? Curborough. I don't sup• The second run was almost perfection. pose anyone has been there before, so at least Nobody could drive the car faster or smoother, we'll all be new to the circuit. That should level and I knocked a good chunk off my time. Now Detailed results for all the classes can be the playing field... seen in Competitors' Korner on the I was just three hundredths behind T. Calvert, RS: Er, thanks... Club's website at www.lotussevenclub.com so I knew I could win. I prepared for he final timed run and was 'in the zone' (once I'd AB: It was a pleasure. Please forward my new hotwired the car to get it to start). Nothing scoring system to the Competition Secretary, was going to stop me. Green light; loads of anonymously. •

Lowflying July 2008 13 Speed Championship

The Lys y Fran hilldimb event saw our Speed Eventers in fine form. Ray Snoates reports on some great performances and Seven Club sporting spirit. Michael Calvert took the pictures. Llys y Frantastic

IN THE DEPTHS of rural Pembrokeshire lies a Youtubel A storming Michael Calvert, in his picturesque wooded valley in the lee of the newly refurbished crossflow engined car, Llys y Fran reservoir. The hillclimb course improved by over two seconds for second snakes its way beneath the foot of the dam and place and an ever-colourful Robin Brackett rises, via some 'very interesting' corners, to a put in a great run for third. However, David's viewpoint across the water and the rolling pas- first run was good enough to win the class tureland beyond. and, as it eventually transpired, fourth fastest Sounds like an idyllic venue doesn't it? Well, time of the day. it is but you'd never have known that when we Class 4 welcomed 'new' entrant, our came for our first visit in May last year. View, Competition Secretary Mark Durrant, who, what view? Mist, rain (and I mean torrential having suffered a major engine failure in his Welsh rain) obscured everything bar the track R500, had joined the slower boys by dropping -or the river-just ahead of the bonnet, for the in a lcjobhp K-series. Mechanical gremlins (or whole day. In fact, I think that it got worse as fairies possibly) seemed to plague the higher the day went on. classes and Mark seemed to spend as much But what a contrast this year was! Blazing time helping others to fix things in the pad• sunshine and high temperatures for most of dock as he did behind the wheel. the day gave rise to sunburnt scalps, some The most serious incident occurred when great times and talk of actually coming to Martin Sargeant holed his sump at the end of Wales for a holiday... which shows how the the (grandly named) 'Monaco', on his first heat can affect the functioning of even the run. Martin was disappointed to be facing the most logical brains. possibility of early retirement, but this was

The day was organised by the Swansea Typical action from the tricky lower hairpin. nothing compared to the despair of his dual Motor Club and the paddock contained MGs, drive-and-fiancee, Julie Greenhalgh who had Renaults, several Westfields, a Jedi, Morgan, award as he came in from his first practice so much enjoyed the drive in her first ever rally Escorts etc. but the Lotus Seven Club had with nicely decorated wheels adorned with sprint. I am not sure whether it was Julie's by far the largest turnout. After signing-on Welsh grass. The yellow trowel (similar to the enthusiasm, Martin's expertise or the sterling and scrutineering, proceedings got off to a Maillot Jaime in the Tour de France!) is just as efforts of all the willing helpers in the pad• very pleasant and leisurely start, with much one might find in garden centres and is tie- dock, but somehow they managed to patch the sunbathing, tyre-kicking and talk of daring wrapped to the rollover bar or cage of the car up for just one timed run each. This was deeds to come. And the day exceeded all driver who most recently strayed off stray off enough to give Martin third in class with 49.09 expectations! the black stuff. Mike managed to (just) keep and Julie an excellent sub-60 seconds time. In Class 1 Alister Gibbons and Alan Johnson ahead of Rob all day, finally winning the class Predictably, Mark took the class by storm were given great encouragement by usually- with 50.38 seconds, justifying a celebratory with a 47.32 which was not only the fastest in quick Richard Ormson as he was the slowest cigar in the paddock. Class 4, but nearly good enough to get overall of the three in the two morning practice ses• As usual, Class 3 was hotly contested with BTD, being second only to the Jedi single sions. The timed runs in the afternoon saw last years victor, Jeff Smith, hoping to defend seater. Second in class was taken by Nigel Fox experience come to the fore as Richard bet• his honour. The first timed runs saw the book• who posted an excellent 48.79 seconds in his tered his first morning effort by nearly 9 sec• ies' favourite, David Nelson put in a blistering (eBay sourced) Zetec-engined car. onds, for an excellent 50.81. 47.62, with Jeff, Robin Brackett and Michael By the time the Class 5 runners were on the Alistair just managed to stay ahead of Alan by Calvert all very close behind. On his final run, hill for their last run, there was a reminder of a mere 0.33 sees for second place. David's apparent desire to set BTD resulted in a why West Wales is so green. A short, sharp, Class 2 was rather sparsely populated (with comprehensive exploration to the surround• thundery downpour made it difficult for these only Mike Sankey and Rob Spencer compet• ing pastureland. This firmly secured the yel• cars to use their considerable power. ing) but exciting nevertheless. Rob evidently low trowel award and the eventful run can be Despite a mysterious misfire, Adrian made a gallant effort for the Yellow Trowel watched in the comfort of your own home on Williams conducted his new R500 to a class

14 Lowflying July 2008 Below: Julie Greenhalgh storms up the narrow confines of Llys y Fran on her first ever hillclimb. Julie had entered her first ever speed event-the sprint at Llandow-the day before and enjoyed it so much that she jumped at the chance to take over a last- minute cancellation. TECHSPORT

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win in 47.54, followed by Shaun Elwell and then Rob Margel RACING with his new Hayabusa engine sounding very businesslike. Local (well he's Welsh anyway) hero and 7 Tips leader, Simon Specialists in Ford based Rogers couldn't get his engine to run properly and had to set• 7's and early models tle for an uncharacteristic fourth place. Have you ever been accused of'driving like a girl'? Well, if All Seven work undertaken: what I saw at Llys y Fran was anything to go by, take it as a sin• • Road and Race Engines. cere compliment! • Rebuilds, Upgrades. All four ladies present (including novices Julie Greenhalgh • Road and Track Suspension Setup. and Gemma Hawkes) were sub-60 sees with Gill Elwell posting a 56.74 and Tamara Calvert an outstanding 51.16 to take the Telephone For More Details ladies' prize both in the Seven Club and overall competitions. 01362 820831 So at the end of a great day it was, for most, the long trek or back to civilisation with the Seven in tow. Not so for the 07986 961948 (slightly mad) Calverts who insist on driving their hoodless and aeroscreened (and Xflow-engined-hooray! Ed.) car to events in all weathers. Along with the equally-deranged Elwells We Have Moved they formed Drowned Rat Racing here last year and I remem• ber pitying them as they passed me on the M4 in the incessant 46 Hale Road downpour, with the prospect of three more hours of severe Bradenham discomfort... This year my emotions were somewhat closer to Norfolk envy as they smiled their way past on a beautiful spring evening. Maybe Wales isn't so bad after all! • IP25 7RA See page 21 for results.

Lowflying July 2008 15 SSSSSSSSSi Weekend wonder

Caterham's Duratec-powered R500 was in attendance on the Club's stand at Stoneleigh. Barry Sweeney recounts his weekend with this latest high-specification Seven.

SURPRISE! A COUPLE OF WEEKS before the Stoneleigh Kit Car show, during a 'phone call clutch and stalled the engine! This fairly with Steve Winterberg, he dropped into conversation something along the lines of embarrassing moment was made worse as the start sequence took a few seconds longer than "How would you like to take the new R500 up to Stoneleigh?" Once I'd collected my just turning a key or pressing a big red button. thoughts I said that I'd let him know in a day-or-so's time. I'm not known for having I promised myself that I'd be more sensitive sleepless nights-but that night, as I laid my head on the pillow, I considered the with the clutch pedal and eased myself offer that had been put to me. Sleep didn't come quite so easily that night... towards the roundabout in first gear. The change into second was made at rea• The new R500 had been announced fairly of things that I would need to look out for. sonably modest crank speed but the 'crack' recently and, naturally enough, I'd glanced at The first was the starting procedure: the from the propshaft and/or diff was something the spec to see what I'd be missing. My own car's ignition is secured by a proximity sensor of a surprise. Nevertheless, onwards and Seven is some 21 years old now and the only and card. Unfortunately, the card was not very upwards out of the town and I still couldn't other Sevens that I've driven for any great dis• proximate; in fact it was in Dartford. Not to get the hang of the gear changes. One of the tance have been a couple of Series 11 Lotuses. worry though, they had programmed in an other problems I'd been told about was that All these cars have been 4-speed 'manuals' (H- override start sequence which would enable the Stack dash wasn't showing the amount of pattern selection, that is) with cast-iron firing up without the card. I was shown the fuel left in the tank. engines, exhausts exiting on the left and I sus• sequence and Andy demonstrated how easy it "Ah, so how many miles per tankful then?" pect that the total bhp would have been less was to start the car without being in it. Not "About 200." came the reply. than that of the machine on offer. something I'm used to; generally there's a cou• "Well, that'll be OK, but can you show me the I found the idea of a weekend looking after ple of prods needed on the throttle pedal, a odometer then?" a 26obhp, 6-speed car priced as 'starting from kickback from the wasted-spark, then a gentle "Er... that's not working either." £36,995' a little daunting. I consoled myself tickling of the accelerator to get my car run• At the filling station in nearby Godstone I with the knowledge that there were two of the ning in the morning. pleasantly surprised to find that the pump new cars and that I would probably be lent the There was a quick demonstration of the nozzle went cleanly into the tank and I was regular non-sequential 6-speed one with full sequential gearbox and a run-through of the able to fill up without it spitting back or cut• windscreen and weather gear. Stack display and I was almost ready to go. ting out. An improvement over times of old. Needless to say, I accepted the offer and in After changing my footwear to something The traffic on the way home was pretty turn spoke with Andy Noble to arrange collec• more appropriate, Andy said he was going to unpleasant with lots of queuing to junctions; tion. Andy didn't seem too concerned about 'leave me to it' and he hoped that I would the clutch was heavy compared with others

my lack of experience of R500S, so I let him remember the start sequence. He was going I've used, but the 'box was easy to get into have my details for the insurance and starting back inside now to watch me through neutral so it wasn't too much of a chore. looking forward to the coming weekend. the darkened windows and wait for me to A problem for me was that I'm used to come back to ask him to show me again. Ha! double-declutching which with a sequential Arrival There's confidence for you. 'box just isn't possible and occasionally I Friday was a nice hot day. On arrival at Anyway, buckled in with car started (quite released the clutch too sharply, causing more Caterham I was delighted when I was told that pleased-almost smug- that I hadn't made a sharp bangs from the transmission. I took the I would be leaving in the white car with the fool of myself!) I trickled out to the edge of opportunity to squeeze the throttle pedal a orangey-red stripes-the one that I had seen in the forecourt. few times and delighted in pick-up from low- the pictures on the EVO and BBC websites. A nice person in a large saloon let me out engine-speed. I was looking forward to using Andy explained that since this was actually a into the short queue, and as the pedestrian more of the power, but the roads just weren't 'pre-production' model there were a couple crossing lights turned to green I engaged the clear enough.

16 Lowflying July 2008 Passengers rested very comfortably on the transmission Although the road was slightly damp, there Of course, the first thing that one must do tunnel cover and cockpit side at such angles was ample grip in the bends to give an inexpe• having taken possession (albeit temporarily) that it was as if I was sitting in a deep armchair rienced passenger some idea of the fun we all of a new car, is to show it off. I had to pick my -albeit a firm one. I'm 5'n" and the lower sit• have. "Now I get it!" was Emily's comment as a 12-year-old son, Jack, up from his friend's ting position and carbon-fibre deflec- large smile appeared on her face. I didn't have house. Said friend's father is Hortus Infinitus's tor/aeroscreen meant that I couldn't see the such a smile on my face when it started rain• Tony Smith (a veteran of Hampton Court and cycle wings; a shame, as it was something that ing late in the afternoon. I bought a couple of Chelsea shows) who shares a Seven with his I was looking forward to experiencing as a Club rain jackets for Jack and me to wear on father. Now Tony's a tall chap and has a little change from my flares. the journey back to the hotel. I'm glad I did: I difficulty getting in to a Series 3-sized car, but Sunday morning's run to the Showground hadn't picked up any half-doors from that wasn't going to stop him coming for a provided me with a 'moment' as I found out Caterham (not that they'd been offered) and quick spin in this particular Seven! It was very early on just how little grip there is under those cycle wings don't help, do they? early evening and there are a few roads close to braking with cold brakes and CR50o's. Monday morning was very wet and an his house that are good country routes for Having parked up in front of the Club ESV, opportunity for spinning wheels safely; only I someone who's still getting used to a different I took a closer look at the car. As I mentioned, didn't find it so easy, such was the amount of car-mainly straight with some nice bends the seats were comfortable, and the tunnel top grip available at the back. We arrived at the but, most importantly, virtually empty. was nicely padded. The boot cover is made of Club marquee and I slowly turned the car, We took the road south and once into sec• a carbon-weave effect proper nylon-backed slipped the gearbox into reverse and parked ond gear squeezed the throttle open progres• waterproof material that is really nice, up. Having watched me do this, Nick Chan sively and let the car have its head. Being wary, although the extra tubes in the boot area (the approached and asked how easy it was to get I was changing up before the Aces lights were extra bracing for the diff mounting) do make reverse, as on a motorcycle-sourced gearbox, close to coming on but still the acceleration it a little less usable than earlier versions. finding neutral can be awkward. I can confirm was quite special; the road just streamed towards us like that in a video game where the image of the car stays still but the surround• ings career around at unrealistic speeds. With Tony home safely, I left with Jack in the pas• senger seat, gave it a big squirt up the hill and his reaction said it all really: uncontrollable laughter, gasping to get his breath back and waving his hands in front of him like Wallace BOO having discovered that he'd forgotten the crackers.

On Saturday, Jack and I set off for the pre- Stoneleigh Club management meeting close to Kenilworth. It wasn't long before I was able to Another satisfied customer that with this Quaife 'box, all you need to do is use the accelerative ability of this car to per• On discovering after the AR meeting that lift the collar and push the lever forward to form overtakes in places where, in my own our Membership Secretary Emily had never select neutral, and reverse is simply another Seven, I just wouldn't have considered it an actually been in a Seven, I offered my serv• push forwards; it really is very easy. option. The quickest, if not most exciting, ices... Well, it would have been rude not too, It wasn't until that Monday morning drive route from south of London to Kenilworth is wouldn't it? The car was still warm after the in to the show that I finally got the hang of the via the motorway network. drive in, so we strapped ourselves in and made sequential gearchanges. It's fair to say that the R500 is not a quiet car. our way out of the showground for a quick Whilst talking to Simon Rogers, about the Yes, I know that it did a day at Jonathan trip around the lanes. We trundled along technique he employs with his Elite sequential Palmer's Bedford Autodrome (8/dB!) without sedately at less than 5omph to allow Emily to gearbox, he suggested that using 25% clutch being black-flagged, but it's jolly noisy in the get used to being in a car so low and we talked on up-changes and maybe 75% on down- cockpit at motorway speeds. I attribute this about how fast it seemed even at such a low changes, would make the transition much mostly to the gearbox; I'm used to a straight- speed. I pushed the gear lever forward gently a smoother. cut 'box, but this was loud and I think that couple of times to drop into second gear and With this particular Quaife 'box and clutch, earplugs would have made the journey some• let the revs rise, then opened the throttle. I found that less than 25% on up-changes what more comfortable. Wide. That sequential 'box is great at giving together with an easing off of the throttle Talking of comfort; I was very surprised at you the full feeling of driving a proper racing pedal (not a lift really, just the merest ease of how good the Tillet seats are and the 140-mile car, with it's ability to let you just keep pulling pressure on the ball of the foot) was sufficient journey in them left me feeling very relaxed. back on the lever and continue accelerating to finesse the change and make the car much, The lowered floor also meant that my arms unbelievably quickly. much nicer to drive. >

Lowflying July 2008 17 R500

During the show I spent some time talking the car back on Tuesday morning; I think I to a few interested (and interesting) owners made it with a few minutes to spare, and glad of other Lotus Seven inspired cars. Naturally I that I hadn't dropped it with the knowledge was enthusiastic about the car's capabilities that it was booked out to the press for the and, just as naturally, they were shocked that next few weeks. a space-framed 'kit car' could cost as much as, or more than, £40,000.1 too wondered about In summary that, but when you already make a great car, I admit that I am sceptical and often cyni• making the next one even better is going to be cal. I'm something of a traditionalist: I love difficult, and is going to cost ever more; as is the view over the flared wings and the fact promoting it sufficiently to get wider expo• that all factory Sevens have had the exhaust sure through the decent magazines and the exiting on the left hand side. But whilst I still more respected web sites. And you'd have to like the view over the flared wings, I was Above: two excited kids with say, the car has been well received. pleasantly surprised at how I never really a fabulous new toy- As you can imagine, it created lots of inter• noticed that the exhaust was on the 'wrong' Barry, Jack and an R500. est among Seven owners. Possibly too much: side, except when getting in and out and Below: some look on in when I returned from exploring some other when the water vapour rose after a trip fascination, whilst others try to appear nonchalent. areas of the show, I found the bonnet and through a puddle. Meanwhile, Emily Bransom nose off with people poring over the engine I handed the car back very, very reluc• gets her first taste of bay. Understandable curiosity of course, but tantly. There's no way I could afford a car of the Seven experience; what a hey, it's not their car-it's not even mine! I that price, but could I justify it? Oh yes, and place to start! Pictures by Steve Winterberg think that pubishing pictures on the web of without too much difficulty: the gearbox the inlet valves (for which the the airbox must itself is lovely to play with and I'm not sure Right: R500 at the Club stand at Stoneleigh. have been removed) was pushing things that many people will be opting for the stan• Picture by Ian Blokeman just a bit far though! This did cause some dard H-pattern six-speeder if they've had a go embarrassment actually: I had, after all, with the sequential one. What a tool this car is pledged to take good care of the car-then -a great piece of kit.

Andy saw the pictures before I did. I do hope I don't really have anything detrimental to Caterham will not look too unkindly upon say about it at all and it must be fantastic on a us after that. Sorry Andy... track where you can use much more of the available performance. An old friend rediscovered Many reading this will have driven power• At the end of the show, Jack and I made our ful K-series or Duratec-engined cars and will way back down the M40 and decided to take have experienced the glee available with this the long way home, dropping down the A34 sort of power and delivery on tap and that to Winchester to pick up the A272 and head extra 'lightness', but most of my time behind east. I'm so glad that we did; I used to drive the wheel these days is spent in a Ford Focus, that road quite a lot some years ago, but when and driving my Zetec-engined Seven after• I'd used it more recently, the traffic was such wards shows you what a leap forward the that the road simply wasn't enjoyable any• Seven is in performance terms. more. Driving it in the R500 was just like it This R500 isn't a leap ahead of my Seven, was all those years ago, when traffic was it's a 'Neil Armstrong' step. scarcer and hot-hatches weren't as quick as I must thank Andy Noble and Caterham they are now: overtaking was a joy and the Cars for offering me the chance to take their road invited it. flagship to Stoneleigh and whilst I realise that it was in part to enable Caterham to have a Unhappy returns (small) presence at the show, their willingness I'm not one for polishing, but I did give the to let me, of all people, take their new car car a quick rinse, (something else that's much there, and the Club to be just the fourth easier with cycle wings) before setting off for organisation to have the car to drive says a lot Caterham. By now, I was very much happier about the relationship between the Club and with my gear-changing and I took some nice Caterham Cars. Of course, having driven the winding roads back to Caterham to enjoy car on the road, I'd dearly love to get it on a it all the more. Andy had said that he wanted track so that I could lean on it a bit more! •

18 Lowflying July 2008 Lotus Seven Club

Lowftying July 2008 19 Sprinting

A huge entry at the ever-popular Curborough sprint course faced tricky and changing conditions for the fourth round of our Speed Events series. Pictures by Michael Calvert.

Below: massed ranks of Sevens assembled in Curborough the startline holding area, awaiting their turn to brave the elements and set a time.

WITH 75 ENTRIES, including a record number of 12 lady drivers, the fourth round of the tained considerable front suspension damage. championship at Curborough was shaping up to be a good event. The weather forecast didn't (When will your luck change, Adam?) look great with heavy showers predicted in the morning, but at least it was going to clear in Class 4 newcomer Julie Greenhalgh was the afternoon to give the competitors dry timed runs. happier on the drying track, knocking a full 17 seconds from her first practice time-with First practice, wet... Second practice, drying... Lynn Gilbert, also in Class 4, finding her feet First practice got under way and with show• So, on to the second practice and with a rap• and putting in a good time on her first time at ers keeping the track wet things were very slip• idly drying track the times tumbled. Michael the track. pery indeed. The conditions certainly pro• Calvert, obviously spurned on by his thrash• First runs, wet. Very wet... vided some entertaining runs with Graham ing earlier responded with a stunning time of And then the rain came returned... but Ford's powerful Class 6-car on slicks-finding 61.92, making him quicker than most of the properly this time! With the rubber laid down it difficult to stay in a straight line. Class 4 and 5 runners and throwing down the from the morning runs the track was more Adam Hay's Class 6 turbocharged Hayabusa gauntlet to quick Class 3 men, Dave Nelson slippery than ever and no one improved on was back in action following oil pressure and Jeff Smith. their practice times. Only the quality of the problems at Llandow but was struggling to get With the electrical problems resolved, numerous excursions onto the grass round, finally stuttering over the line with Adam Hay spectacularly exited the event by improved, Richard Price being particularly electrical gremlins. The ever improving going off hard on the long sweeping start at entertaining with his usual committed driving Tamara Calvert, in Class 3, put in an excellent paddock bend. After some checks by the style and looking to do a fast run-until dou• time and I'm sure husband Michael didn't medics Adam was pronounced fine, which is ble-pirouetting off exiting the Molehill. mind one bit that she beat his time! more than can be said for his car which sus• Graham Ford was having trouble keeping >

20 Lowflying July 2008 on the track and did well to keep his car on the Ray Snoates reports... black stuff after a scary tank-slapper up the finishing straight, while Class 1 runner David Grewcock decided the fastest way around the Flagpole hairpin was backwards! Class l novice Johnathon Ward put in a round 3: round 4: cracking time given the conditions to keep Llys y Fran hillclimb n-5-08 Curborough sprint 17 5 08 Malcolm Hickey in second spot.

time points time points Second runs, a touch less wet... The rain eased as the second timed runs got Class 1: Class 1: under way. Competition between the ladies 1 Richard Ormson 50- 81 100- 00 1 Jonathan Ward 80- 39 100 00 was fierce with an excellent drive by returning 2 Alistair Gibbins 53 41 95 13 2 Malcolm Hickey 80 72 99 59 sprinter Patricia Chan, who managed 81.44 in 3 Alan Johnson 53 74 94 55 3 Matthew Willoughby 81 22 98 98 difficult conditions. Class 2: Class 2: In Class l, seasoned sprinter Malcolm 1 Michael Sankey 50 38 100- 00 1 Graham Howard 79- 94 100 00 Hickey improved his time, but not by enough 2 Robert Spencer 51 60 97 64 2 Roger Cumming 80 48 99 33 to prevent Johnathon Ward securing his sec• 3 Paul Collins 80 50 99 30 ond class win of the season and Fastest Male Novice award. In Class 2, a close-fought battle Class 3: Class 3: between Graham Howard and Roger 1 David Nelson 47 62 100- 00 1 David Nelson 74- 11 100 00 Cumming ended with Graham taking top spot 2 Michael Calvert 48 19 98 82 2 Jeff Smith 74 16 99 93 by just over half a second. 3 Robin Brackett 48 83 98 33 3 Mark Gibson 76 33 97 09 Richard Price improved on his first run Class L: Class 4: pirouetting, this time managing to traverse 1 Mark Durrant 47 32 100 00 1 Mark Durrant 71 40 100 00 from the Molehill to the finishing straight in 2 Nigel Fox 48 79 96 99 2 Martin Sargeant 72 88 97 97 fine style! 3 Martin Sargeant 49 09 96 39 3 Paul Forster 74 07 96 40 Tamara Calvert went grass cutting too, so Michael, not to be outdone, added to the col• Class 5: Class 5: lection of horticultural specimens on the 1 Adrian Williams 47 54 100 00 1 Robert Grigsby 69 74 100 00 underside of their newly-rebuilt car, leaving 2 Shaun Elwell 48 94 97 14 2 Simon Rogers 69 98 99 66 the Class 3 win to Dave Nelson, with Jeff Smith 3 Robert Margel 49 70 95 65 3 Adrian Williams 71 94 96 94 hot on his tail. BTD: Class 6: New to Class 4 this year (from Class 5) Mark Mark Durrant 47 32 1 Graham Ford 74 82 100 00 Durrant got his final run a little less sideways, 2= Adam Hay no time pushing Martin Sargeant into second place 2= Darrell South no time after a close fought battle throughout the day with Lynn Gilbert who improved on her pre• BTD: vious time to take the Fastest Female Novice Robert Grigsby 69 74 trophy. In Class 5, Rob Grigsby secured his first-ever BTD in a borrowed car (courtesy of Detailed results and championship Niftys Styles) to win the class with Simon positions can be found on the Club's website Rogers only 0.24 seconds behind on his first at www.totussevenclub.com outing at Curborough. So, all in all, an eventful Curborough, with the rain providing some challenging sprinting and no less than 18 cars taking excursions onto the grass (thanks to Nick Chan for counting!). Many thanks go to Colin Heseltine and family for their excellent organisation and the many volunteer marshals who braved the weather throughout the day. Above: Curborough yielded a first trophy for It was with a tear in his eye that Dave Nelson Mark Gibson. Mark is in his second season passed the coveted Yellow Trowel trophy (pos• of competition; he runs a Xflow-powered Seven in sibly the most prized of all the awards) to Class 3 and drives the car to the events. Clive McCall for the last 'off' of the day in Right: Mark Durrant presents the award for Fastest Lady Novice to Lynn Gilbert. his Class 4 car. And so, to Pembrey for the next round and hopefully some sunshine! •

Lowflying July 2008 21 Insurance Prices that won't throw a spanner in the works

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22 Lowftying July 2008 Island hopping

Last year a new event appeared on the Club calendar and was an immediate hit, supassing its organisers' ambitions and expectations; this year's version built impressively on that success. Simon Craddock reports on April's WightBlat.

%^gr 1^1 mm ^m nilli mm IFFEREN (Advice presented to motorists arriving on the Isle of Wight) ULLY!

"No, you don't need your passport..." The Island's economy is largely driven by tourism and it is a fact that

"Yes, it is the same currency..." some hotels can register 95% occupancy five years in advance, so find• "No, it's nowhere near Jersey, Guernsey or Sark..." ing an alternative to Atherfield presented us with an enormous

"No, that's the Isle of Man..." headache. Surprisingly, Whitecliff Bay-one of the Island's better holi• day camps-did have some room and so we block-booked chalet space

AT ONE TIME or another most of us who live on the Isle of Wight (or and started praying for good weather. The Island as it is known in the local vernacular) have been asked ques• When preparing the itinerary for we decided to keep the formula tions which tend to show that few people actually know much about that had worked so well before. The Island is a relaxed place at the best our little offshore diamond. of times and we didn't want to over-organise everyone with rigid

In 2006, Alex 'WightSkipper' Moore decided that he would try to instructions on where to be, when and which route to take. We recog• change this situation and proposed that the Island's very informal nised that for many people, coming on the WightBlat could be a per• WightSevens owners group lay down a welcome mat for the Sevening sonal pilgrimage; a chance to visit some half-remembered childhood community, inviting everyone to visit us for a get-together that was holiday destinations or the venue for school trips and scout camps. For tentatively named Wight Blat and which, he suggested, would attract others it was just a chance to have a relaxing couple of days with like- maybe ten people. minded people and friends old-and-new.

Phil 'DiZz' Dyer, Jai 'Ziplobb' Nolan, Mark Roberts, Andy Moore, We arranged the main activities to take place in the evenings, with Dave Curran and me, Simon 'SiCrad' Craddock, all agreed that it was a lunch-stops each day over the weekend for those that wanted a place to bloody good idea. Little did we know however, that the 2007 event congregate. In response to a request from some of the Surrey Sevens we would attract 49 Sevens and just under 100 people and that this year's also arranged for the Isle of Wight's Military History Museum to open event would further build on that success. its doors especially for our group on the Saturday. This is more of a

Alex has a lot to answer for. coup than it perhaps appears since much of the our local tourist indus• WightBlat07 was held at Atherfield Holiday Camp on the south• try is closed until May Bank Holiday kick-starts the tourist season. west of the Island and once we'd started the ball rolling the event came After the venue hiccup, all progressed well in the run-up to and went in a bit of a rush. If we're honest, those of us involved in the WightBlat08: chalets assigned, ferry bookings made, logos designed, T- 'organisation' were a bit shell-shocked by its success and the over• shirts produced, catering organised. The whole camp at Whitecliff Bay whelmingly positive response that the event garnered. We were so sur• was freshly painted and a room set aside for our sole use for the week• prised that we even forgot to put together a short write-up for end. From our perspective everything went so smoothly that we were Lowflying'. just waiting for something to go wrong!

Given the above, it may not surprise any of you that have attended On Thursday-the day before most people arrived-Tracy and Roy either of the events to know that none of us are professional event Howard checked in to the venue, having driven south overnight from organisers... "No, really?" we hear you cry. In light of our first-event the far north of Scotland. Imagine my surprise when, talking to Roy on success (and our own naivete in taking on the organisation so will• the Friday morning, he asked if I'd mind if he and Tracy had the chalet's ingly!) it took a bit of soul-searching to decide whether or not we double bed, leaving Louise and me to fight with Chris and Gemma would carry on and stage a WightBlatOS. Ok, that's a bit of a lie: it took Hawkes for the twin beds, or the bunk beds. Yes, that's right, bunk beds maybe twenty minutes to make that decision since we had placed a and children's bunk beds to boot... marker on the Atherfield Camp's books for a 2008 event and booked Frantic phone calls followed: would 100-plus people be arriving to the band She Said to reappear before the 2007 weekend was finished. find that one couple in three would be squeezing adult frames into a

At that stage, all looked rosy and we decided to buy ourselves some pair of bunks designed for someone shorter than 4/10"? We were-not time by announcing WightBlat08 on BlatChat in September 2007, feel• afraid to admit it-slightly concerned... Sixty tense minutes passed ing that six months would give us plenty of time to arrange things and before the management confirmed that this chalet was actually the only allow us to work at a more leisurely pace. Straightaway we started to one so equipped... Once there it took just a second to convince the register interest from Seveners far and wide; then the fates conspired front desk that I, for one, probably wouldn't fit in a child's bunk! against us when the campsite was sold for redevelopment. (But had they seen the airs you arrived in? Ed.) >

Lowflying July 2008 23 Wight BLat

Others began arriving from lunchtime and Compared to 2007's 49 cars and 94 people, the generosity of those of you who attended, things progressed more smoothly from there 2008 saw 75 cars and 134 people making it to we are very pleased to be able to announce on. Excitement levels were raised when an the Island. Our visitors came from far and that we raised £1,500 for the good causes and RAF Chinook made a low, slow pass overhead wide, with groups of Sevens travelling from all cheques for £500 have been paid to NtL, the on its way into Bembridge airport. Some over the UK and abroad while Charlie Odell, Isle of Wight MS Society and the Island's Earl thought the helicopter was bowing at us (and aged just 5 weeks, was our youngest guest. The Mountbatten Hospice.

some thought it was mocking 'Cannonball event even had a BlatChat'Spotted' with a dif• As the darkness drew in, Saturday became Bob' Larcombe for having to drive to an event ference as Roy "gin-fizz-whizz" Brazier flew in She Said night, with the local duo providing a -see Lowflying Jan '08) but it turned out that from Portugal, spotting Sevens at Whitecliff couple of hours of high-decibel music. During it was 'just' Prince William at the controls Bay as he passed overhead en route to their performance Alex was accosted by a man combining a training flight with a visit to his Gatwick! James Drake and Emma Bloomfield in a dressing gown who swooshed majestically great-great-great-great-grandma's favourite from Caterham Cars also came along to see up the stairs... Alex simply grinned and waved home and his cousin's stag weekend... what all the fuss was about. at him. Despite his expression it could just be

The first evening's entertainment, which Saturday was mostly spent driving, blatting that the chap simply wanted to pass on his consisted of a pub-quiz combined with some hither, thither and yon. The local paper, The compliments... {Can't help feeling there's more drinking, seemed to go down well (although County Press, had included some pre-event to that story... guess you had to be there! Ed.)

in the minds of some it may be recalled as a publicity so most locals were primed and- Alex's anticipation of Saturday night's show night's drinking with some pest bugging them proved to be their usual welcoming selves with resulted in him forgetting to tell everyone that more than a few "aah, I breakfast would be served earlier on Sunday used to have one of those" morning. The result was that he had a nice misty-eyed reminiscences relaxing breakfast on his own while everyone reported. A gathering in else had to queue when they arrived late and Newport on the Saturday en masse. We'll try to get that better sorted lunchtime provided paper next time: we're still learning!

with a follow-up photo- Sunday morning saw the marshalling of 65 opportunity and the visit remaining Sevens (some had to leave to catch to the Military History early ferries) for the obligatory group photo. Museum mid-afternoon Just as this exercise was completed that the was also very well-attended rain-that had been threatened all weekend- and well received. Saturday finally arrived. Thank goodness for the Club's evening saw local man Support Vehicle and its awning; and thanks Derek Harvey (subse• Barry (Sweeney) and Steve (Winterberg) for quently made an honorary manning it all weekend.

member of the Club, After check-out from the camp, many made thanks to Chairman Steve their way to the Hare and Hounds pub for Winterberg) give a talk on lunch before leaving us and wending their way with questions in the background). The one his experience of building one of the first home. WightBlat08 was officially consigned to late arrival was Octane Magazine's Jack Carfrae Lotus Sevens in the late 1950's-a car which history and we all took a break from thinking at the wheel of a Caterham loan-car who con• was recently restored and is still used today. about it.

trived to arrive at a similarly-named but Saturday evening saw the 'WightBlat Raffle' Will we do it again? I think so; we've created entirely different holiday camp. The lack of with prizes donated by the Club and a bit of a monster that sucks time out of our Sevens there only served to reinforce journal• Caterham Cars, as well as a range of local lives but we all enjoyed it and it's now a part of ist Jack's innate suspicion of PR people: "It'll companies such as Arnold Heal's Gunshop, our Seven-owning experience, so watch this be great, there'll be loads of them there, you'll Island Mustards and the local breweries. space for news.

love it...". This year's top prize, as in 2007 (when it was To those of you who came either last year or Although 1 write that he was the only late won by Liz and Peter 'PeterG' Griffiths) was a this year (or both), thanks; we hope you arrival, this is not strictly true as Dave21P's day on the Solent with Alex and Andy Moore enjoyed yourselves and we hope to see you newly-rebuilt Caterham 21 expired with gear• in their Rigid Inflatable Boat. This was won by again in 2009. To those of you who didn't box trouble about five miles short and ended Viv and Robin 'Clawhammer' Brackett: we'll make it, well, where were you? Perhaps we'll up being 'attended to' in Cowes for much of submit some pictures of their day on the water see you next year.

the weekend. Sadly the car never actually when it happens. To all of you, if you do come in 2009, don't made it to the event-and in fact enjoyed an We made a decision that the proceeds of the necessarily expect the same thing-we may 'extended break' here- although happily Dave raffle (and our own regalia sales) would be have some surprises in store! (and his '21' flag) and Sarah themselves were split equally between NtL and two local chari• Oh, and yes, as many of you now know, our present for most of the festivities. ties with personal relevance to us. Thanks to roads are different: please drive carefully! Si

24 Lowflying July 2008 Lowflying July 2008 25 Regular offers and fundraisers: Ten years after

Back in 1998 we raffled the 'Car the Club built' For the benefit of newer

50th Anniversary pictures: members this was a Seven assembled by the Club, using components, spares and labour donated by members and businesses and the completed machine raffled Dr John's pictures from our glorious celebration of fifty years of the Seven are still online at www.pixagogo.com/3735444252 as a major Nuke the Leuk fundraising event. The present owner, Marc Nelson- Please make a donation if you download any to keep. Smith, has been in touch with news of the car's recent appearance at Earlsham Hall, near Bungay in Suffolk. BlatChat grins! Marc writes: "The event was a craft fair with all gate receipts and raffle pro• Contact Barbara Swift for 'BlatChat' Smiley Stickers, ceeds going to Leukaemia Research. The event raised many thousands of email enquiries to: [email protected] pounds and we went along to add support. The car itself raised £85 with dona•

Curborough Sprint DVD: tions from people for sitting in it! The car is ten years old this year and to mark this we will be taking it to LRF events throughout the year." Contact Barbara Swift at [email protected] The car will be attending the Club's 25th birthday party at Silverstone later Eyewear: this month (see news elsewhere in this issue) and we'd like

Richard McCann offers Wiley XL-1 glasses to Club members at as many as possible of those who £50 per pair, delivered within the UK; for each pair sold, NtL contributed to the project to join gets a fiver! For ordering details, contact Richard on his mobile: it for an anniversary photo-shoot. 07702 600696, or at work on: 01772 454910

Fletch's Seven 'mosaic' posters:

Visit http://community.webshots.com/user/fletcherja and go to 'Mosaics' for more info.

Email [email protected] or ring 07786 177132

4-speed to 5-speed conversion parts:

For details contact Brent Chiswick at [email protected]

Insurance valuations:

Valuations of Sevens, for insurance purposes, are provided by Guy Munday; he'll need details of the cars age and spec, etc, plus a photograph (of the car, not you-usually a front three-quarter view). You should obtain the appropriate form from your insurer; please don't send email pictures; a donation to NtL is requested. See contact detaib on Page 1.

Mobile phone logos:

Nifty's Seven Club mobile phone logos: send a fiver to Nifty (cheques made

out to Leukaemia Research Fund) at The Car the Club built: a decade on and still raising funds for LRF. 30 The Street, Garboldisham, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 2RZ Include mobile number, make and model. If you have any

problems, email [email protected] It's designed for the Nokia 6230 but may work with others with same screen size. Another marathon milestone Nifty's parts courier service:

GONADS - "Good old Nifty's altruistic delivery service" One of our regular band of spirited long-distance athletes, Ross Maclagan Go to www.blatchat.com/t.asp?Id=61584 has previously completed three London Marathons, but this year decided to or [email protected] head home and take part in Edinburgh's event. It took place in May and Ross was aiming to finish in less than four hours-a personal landmark. The note I Scalextric for your get-together? received from him was joyfully (and derservedlyl) triumphant, saying: Admit it-you love it! For details of loan of Scalextric kit, please "Mission accomplished-3 hours 58 minutes and 15 seconds; the mythical contact Jeff Deung at [email protected] sub-4-hours time I had failed to achieve 3 times before!

Nurburgring in-car footage: The Edinburgh Marathon was excellent, I really enjoyed it and despite doing no serious training at all, I managed to complete it without blowing up!" For Richard Ince's laps on DVD, contact [email protected]

Trackday photos: So well done Ross! If you hadn't sponsored him and would like to do so- there is still time-please go to: http://www.justgiving.com/rossmaclagan Shots from Club trackdays by Paul Davis to download; Rachael check out Paul's website at http://sevens.fotopic.net/

26 Lowflying July 2008 Si Li- Monthly standing order from a shy, team sparring partner of old... 25.00 8 s Monthly give-as-you-earn donation from another shy club member 25.00 a> 8 -d Grant Taylor donates money raised by letting club members "C -3 weigh their cars at the Cadwell track day 30.00

Kevin Russell says thanks to Roger Swift for the help

in upgrading his HPC 10.00 co |)

J Considine thanks Dave Pearson for the Autosport Show ticket 15.00 c John Brooks makes a very generous donation 100.00 C3 Garry Talbot makes a donation in return for downloading some of cs Dr John's 50th anniversary photos (and then forgot to post

the original cheque so has penalised himself the same amount!) 50.00 —J

Geof Carlton-Smith also downloaded some of Dr John's brilliant 50th anniversary photos 10.00 A; IS (brings total to £85) 3 Is IS Richard Foster makes a generous donation 25.00 Q Nigel Bent thanks Paul Davis for the photo of his CSR at Donington 20.00 C is 13 IS Finlay thanks Ric for fog light 5.00 "3 o o Alex Moore sends on the money raised by the WightBlat- •5 many thanks to all those who made the perilous journey over CS the Solent to the Isle of Wight in April 500.00

Tim Smith donates the proceeds from the sale of an oil pressure IS gauge to Bruce Yale 10.00

Thomas Rosselle makes a donation to say thanks to Mark Durrant for the K-series parts 20.00

Paul Weatherill thanks Heather Larkin for the pair of wing protectors 20.00

This month's total: £865.00

Total to date, for 2008: £8,130.37

Plus fundraising history, 1991 to 2007: £321,701.15

Total to date: £329,831.52

Contributions, Gift Aid, receipts:

Please send cheques payable to Leukaemia Research donate. You can download a form from the Club included the Gift Aid form if you wish to use it, but do Fund unless otherwise stated (there's no NtL account) website, at www.lotus7club.co.uk/lrf/default.htm say who you are 'thanking' if appropriate. to the address above or to the individual fundraiser; No receipt is given unless requested, but please include LRF can't always advise me of online donations; if you and please, please include a completed Gift Aid form your email address: email receipt is proof of donation want yours included in the Club's total, please send me -the taxman gives LRF another 28p for each £ you for tax purposes. A Reasons for donation space is an email giving date, amount and reason.

Cash, tokens, points: they're worth money to LRF

Petrol tokens, cigarette tokens, used phone cards, airmiles, points on smart cards; BP, Gulf, Shell etc. Old Green Shield Stamps - all can help to find a cure. Please send to: LRF Voucher Appeal, 8 Stavordale Lodge, Melbury Road, London WU 8LW

Coin appeal: that unwanted cash is worth real money! Foreign coins, notes, pre-decimal obso• lete ones from Euro countries... LRF can use it. Please pass any such cash to your Area Rep for the collection service through local LRF branches. Borders 7 Isle of Man Roving venue-phone or email for details The Crosby Hotel, Isle of Man 2nd Sat 1st Tues > Richard Lee 01387 375777 or 01387 376722 [email protected] > Matthew Biggart 01624 851871

Bristol and Bath Jersey, Channel Islands The Boar's Head, Aust, BS35 4AX, near the junction of roving venue, please contact for details the M48 and A403 at the southern end of the Severn crossing. 4th Sun 3rd Tues > Mark Le Lay 01534 867743 or 07797 728939 [email protected] > Rob Walker 0117 923 9941(h) 07963 834138 [email protected] Kent and Sussex (East) Cambridge The Ringlestone Inn, Ringlestone Hamlet, nr Harrietsham, The Red Lion, High St, Grantchester Maidstone, Kent 2nd Tues 2nd Thurs > Mark Miller 07764 186 367 > Chris Clark 01634 321167 [email protected] > RachaelSangha 07974 097771 or 01223 292 400 Kent (North) Canada, West (Alberta) The Plough, Eynsford, Kent DA4 OAE meeting place and times currently variable; please contact for details 1st Tues > Terry Johns > Richard Brunero 07974 927618 00 1 403 347 3117 or 00 1 403 872 2153 (mobile) CcA^I [email protected] ^ ^ Kentish Weald 3rd Tues Cheshire and Staffs Spotted Dog in Penshurst/Smarts Hill The Swan Inn, Main Road, Wybunbury, Cheshire > Matthew Aves 01732 770660 or 07702 891213 2nd Weds > Nick Chan 01782 621818 or 07915 610629 Lakes and Lochs > Richard Price 01782 616493 or 07770 617127 Roving venue, roving organisers, please ring for details 2nd Wed Cornwall > Dave Eldon 01946 841558 roving venue and variable dates; for latest details please contact.. > Christian Storr [email protected] Lancashire and District (LADS) > Geoff Martin 01872 864772 or 07887 604013 The Blundell Arms, Chorley Old Road, Horwich, nr. Bolton www.cornishse7ens.co.uk 1st Wed > Paul Richards 0161 763 5410 www.lads7.co.uk Devon Warren House Inn, on Dartmoor Leics, Notts, Derby and Staffs 1st Weds evening (April-Oct) 1st Sun lunchtime (Nov-March) The King's Arms, at Hathern > Jerry Parker [email protected] 1st Thurs > Brian Robinson 07956 034941 > Graham Bass 01530 814546 (h) or 07710 155674 (m) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lotus7swarea [email protected]

Entre Deux Mers, France Lincolnshire Chateau de La Tour, at Cadillac, CD temporary venue (please contact for latest information) (on the Ave. Liberation, on the way to Beguey) France The Bell, Colbey on the A607, about 8 miles south of Lincoln last Sat 3 rd Tues > Hugh Dent +33 (0)55 623 9931 [email protected] > Mai Page 01522 875722 [email protected]

Essex London (Central) The Compasses, Littley Green, CM3 1BU The Raj Tandoori, Cowcross Street, London, opp Farringdon stn. off the A130 between Chelmsford and Great Dunmow last Wed at 6.30pm 2nd Thurs > Tamara Calvert 07939 041946 [email protected] > Debbie Stott 01277 354239 [email protected] London (Clapham) Flanders, Belgium All Bar One, 32 Northcote Rd, Clapham Junction, SW11. roving venue, please contact Sven for details; No car parking - so train, tube or bus it! 1st Sunday, alternate 'even-numbered' months 1st Wed > Sven De Loenen +32 (0)496 065 188 [email protected] > Peter Carmichael 07973 731710 [email protected]

Gloucestershire Merseyside and District (MAD) The Highwayman, off the A417 at Duntisbourne, The Ring O'Bells Pub, Daresbury, Warrington (midway between Gloucester and Cirencester) last Wed 1st Thurs > Martin Richards 07884 437652 [email protected] > Andy Couchman 01451 821982 Middlesex and London (West) Guernsey, Channel Islands The Ace Cafe London, roving venue- please contact Stuart for details: Ace Corner, Old North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD > Stuart Butler 01481 722070(h) 01481 704648 (w) 07781 128002 (m) 2nd Tues [email protected] > Thomas Rosselle [email protected]

Hampshire (W) and Dorset Michigan, USA 1st Tues The Bell Inn, Brook, B3079, 1 mile off M27, Jl meeting place and times currently variable; (USA) 3rd Tues Weld Arms, East Lulworth please contact for latest details > Adrian Bateman 01794 323776 www.7club.org.uk > John Donohoe 00 1 517-655-5125 (home) [email protected] www.simplesevens.org Hertfordshire The Crooked Chimney, nr. Brocket Hall, Hatfield to Wheathampstead road New Zealand 1st Weds meeting place and times currently variable; > Dick Dixon 01920 871153 please contact for latest details [email protected] http://freespace.virgin.net/herts.lotus > Nigel Riches 00 64 3318 1440 [email protected]

28 Lowflying July 2008 Norfolk Staffs (Mid-) The Scole Inn, atScole (A140/A1066) The Swan with Two Necks, Longdon, off A51, between Rugeley/Lichfield near Diss, (postcode IP21 4DR) 3rd Thurs 1st Mori at 7pm > Colin Heseltine 07774 878475 > Steve Wright 01842 890708 (home) or 07789 907646 (mobile) [email protected] www.carrotland.co.uk Suffolk The Scole Inn, at Scole (A140/A1066) near Diss, (postcode IP21 4DR) Northants, Beds and Bucks 1st Mon at 7pm Roving venue-please contact Paul for details > Geof Carlton Smith 01728 860608 or 01728 860550 (work), 3rd Weds or 07775 938405 www.carrotland.co.uk > Paul Marriot 01525 382669 www.number7.org.uk/ Surrey North East The Parrot Inn, Forest Green, between Ockley and Ewhurst) The Church Mouse, on the A167 near Chester-le-Street, Durham 3 rd Tues last Weds > Martin Bushaway 07802 262876 [email protected] > Brian Ramsey 07985 235180 > Doug Phillips 020 8669 2159 [email protected] www.ne7club.co.uk Sussex (East) The Red Lion, Lewes Road, Chelwood Gate, on the A275, Northern Ireland south of East Grinstead/Forest Row The Pheasant, 410 Upper Ballynahinch Road, Annahilt, last Thurs Hillsborough, Down BT26 6NR > Nigel Roberts 01403 249299 [email protected] 2nd Thurs > Johnty Lyons 02897 542349 07774 672338 Sussex (West) [email protected] The Gribble, Oving, off the A259 Chichester to Bognor Regis road 2nd Weds Northumbria > Steve Newman 01243 601943 or 07771 907401 Newburn Motor Museum [email protected] 2nd Wed > John Sweeney 01661 825623 Thames Valley The Pelican, Froxfield, on the A4, 2 miles West of Hungerford Oxford towards Marlborough The Wagon and Horses, at Culham, on A415 Abingdon-Dorchester Road 1st Weds 1st Tues > Ben Long 01635 677996 or 07785 100 100 > Brian Soper 01235 531632

Wales (North) Pennine The Wild Pheasant, on the A5, just outside Llangollen The Old Hall Inn, Threshfield, on the B6265, 1 mile S. of Grassington (Summer months venue) 2nd Wed 2nd Sun, Noon to 14:00, April to September > Anthony Milling 01484 653584 > Paul Formston 01352 754831 [email protected]

Penn Sevens Wales (South) The Squirrel, Penn Street, Penn, Bucks HP7 OPX, at 12pm Piercefield Inn, St Aryans, near Chepstow, on the A466, last Sat at 12 noon 1 mile north of Chepstow Racecourse entrance > Alan Carswell 01494 728717(h) 07788 568646(m) [email protected] 1st Thurs at 7.30pm > Mark Williams 01908 521382(h) 07798 766696(m) > Alan Henderson 01633 413020 [email protected] [email protected] > Ash Bailey 07976 273664 [email protected] http://penn.lowflying.co.uk

Warwickshire Reading, North Hants and Berks (ReHaB) new venue to be announced-see news in this issue The Phoenix, Phoenix Green, Hartley Wintney 1st Weds 2nd Wed and last Thurs > commencing August: Jane Varnum-Wilson 07788 411861 email: tbc > Brent Chiswick 07778 459663 [email protected] > Andy Webber 07721 722111 and... 3rd Sun The "AWESOME" meet at Wiltshire (North) The Cricketers, Cricketers Lane, Warfield, Bracknell, at 1pm Freke Arms on the B4019 Highworth to Blunsden Road 2nd Weds > Tony Whitley www.7rehab.co.uk > Geoff Brown 01793 876465

Scotland: Capital Se7ens Wiltshire (South) Stable Bar, 50 Mortonhall Gate, Edinburgh EH16 6TJ Bell Inn, A361, Trowbridge side of Seend 3rd Sat 3rd Weds > Area Representative and contact details to be confirmed > David Smitheram 07718 368173 [email protected] www.lotus7club.co.uk/scotmeet.htm > Trevor Parry 01985 218852

Scotland: North of the Smoke (SNOTS) Worcestershire Belmont Arms on the B954, 1 mile South of Meigle Brook Inn, Callow Hill Lane, Elcocks Brook www.belmontarms.co.uk/find.htm 2nd Weds 1st Sat > AO position vacant Come on-we need a volunteer! please phone or email, in case there is a road run that day > Ross Beaton 07801 568865 [email protected] Yorkshire (North and East) Crown & Cushion, at Welburn on the A64 nr. York Shropshire 3rd Weds The Gate Pub at Bratton, off the B5063 > Steve Brown and Ann Brown 01937 530950 last Tues at 7.30pm www.enyorkslotus7club.co.uk > Robert Morris 01952 240730 Yorkshire (South) Somerset and Wessex The Royal Oak, Ulley, off A618, nr J31 of Ml The Rumwell Inn, Rumwell, Taunton, Somerset TA4 1EL last Weds 1st Thurs at 8pm > Chris Beardshaw 01142 309993 or 07967285095 > Paul Jacobs 01823 421748 or 07753 834151 www.yorkshirese7ens.com

Lowflying July 2008 29 The London Caterham Motorsport & Service Centre www.ratrace-motorsport.co.uk

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30 Lowflying July 2008 From the other side of the fence

Words and pictures by Steve Yeomans Trackside

Being based in the West Midlands means that time at this venue. The fact that people are pre• it's easy for me to get across to Curborough to pared to travel hundreds of miles in their Seven witness the spectacle of the Lotus Seven Club to take part in the Club Speed Championship Speed Championship. Curborough is visited shows just how special this track is. twice in the season and is accompanied by a Saturday's meeting was exclusively for our Club 'Marshal's Sprint' (as organised by Shenstone & Speed Championship competitors. With the less- District Car Club) on the same weekend. Having than-ideal weather, the times became progres• cleaned the Seven before setting off to on sively slower as the track became wetter Saturday it was pretty much inevitable that it through the day. During the afternoon runs it would rain. With the half-hood in place, and was a battle for the 74 competitors just to get brolly packed, I set off for a day of spectating, around the two laps without ending up on the photography and Seven-banter. grass or embedded into the safety barriers! In For those of you that haven't been to the vast majority of cases where competitors Curborough, I can heartily recommend a visit. leave the tarmac at Curborough they spin harm• As well as the on-track action (you get a great lessly onto the infield. Unfortunately, on this view as spectators are very close to the track), occasion, one entrant made contact with the you'll find plenty of other owners around to Recticel safety barriers. There was no harm to chat to and you can also get down to the pad• the driver, but his car will need some work dock to have a good look at the cars. The fact before it will be race-ready again. that entry is free is an added bonus! The return visit on Sunday, for the Marshal's Sprint was much more agreeable on the weather front-sunny and pleasantly warm. A handful of

The Marshal's Sprint event attracts a competitors from the previous day were running fascinating variety of cars, not just Sevens. their Sevens alongside a wide array of hardware

From the top: belonging to members of the Shenstone & Nutrition is an important of driver preparation, District Car Club. At the lower end of the spec• but speed events are a relaxed and sociable trum were humble everyday road cars like Novas affair off the track. and Metros. The 3-series BMW was a popular Classic Brit-sportscars much in evidence. choice of car and we also got to see a couple of Mascots seem to abound on competing Sevens. Porsches, a smattering on Seven-esque cars Beautiful Brabham single-seater. (Westfields, Locosts etc), a brace of Lotus Elises Pensive faces - hoping the weather will turn. and a variety of single seaters. Rather unexpect• Very desirable Lotus 23B. edly there were also a few brave souls hurtling around in their old classics-such as a TR6, an MGB, a Reliant Scimitar and even a historic Lotus, a 23B I think. Most surprising of all though was seeing a brand-new gleaming white E92 BMW 3 series being hustled around the track at an impressive pace. Despite being driven to a The nearby village of Curborough has been ear• class winning time it was very noticeable just marked as one of the sites for the Governments how quietly this £50,000 4-litre, V8, 420bhp car proposed 'eco-towns', so there is some doubt ran compared to a standard Caterham. about the long term future of venue. This is a I'll certainly be back again at Curborough come great shame as sprinting competitions have the August Bank Holiday, and look forard to been held on this former RAF Lichfield site since seeing some of you there. I just hope that the 1963-and many enthusiasts have enjoyed track weather is a bit drier next time around! •

Lowflying July 2008 31 2005 CSR 200: What? Cars for sale 2.3 litre Cosworth, 200bhp. 7,000 miles, but rarely used due to girlfriend refusing to get Ads are accepted for 2005 (05) Roadsport 140: in it. Bought from Caterham in Caterham in Cars for sale (Sevens only please), 2006, serviced by Redline, professionally One owner from new, 12,500 miles. Red with Parts and miscellaneous and resprayed to Red, with Ferrari Yellow centre silver bits and carbon stone guards on rear Wanted wings, cycle wings on front, full weather stripe, nose and arches, and full-time garaged. Really sexy car, and usably quick gear, Softbits half hood, 7 hood bag, 4-way Maximum 100 words tonneau and carbon aeroscreen. Pace dry with excellent road manners. Stack dash, sump and 5 Ford RS2000 wheels 13" fitted removable Momo, and all the usuals. Winter with Avon CR500 Tyres. 5 standard 14" and summer covers included. £26,000 ono. How much? minilites (low wear) on Avon ZV3 tyres will contact: Nick 07798 806432 or [email protected] also be sold with the car. Leather seats, Club members, Free intercom, FIA rollbar and Caterham 4-point (quote your membership number) harnesses. Serviced when required. The car Roadsport 40th Anniversary: Non-members, £10 per insertion has been fun and I am very reluctant to part P375 JAL, June '97, Ruby red and silver. Payment by cheque with my pride and joy but a change in life 1.6 K-series 138bhp Supersport. One owner payable to 'Seven Club Limited' has forced sale. £16,500 ono. from new, very very low mileage - 6875 miles sent to the address below contact: Ed Denmark 0772 274625 (day) with full history and documentation. Built by 01525 873733 (eve) or Classic Carriage (now Caterham Midlands). [email protected] Full standard equipment and weather equipment plus half leather interior, leather Where to? 1700 Supersprint 1991: seats, tonneau, and 5-point harnesses, by email, to: Ford Xflow 135 bhp, de Dion. Red with black 15 inch Prisoner alloy wheels, flared wings. [email protected] cycle wings and nose cone. Full wet weather Photographs and more information available. gear including tonneau. 12,000 dry miles. £10,850. or by post, to: MoT until January 2009. Serviced and main• contact: [email protected] Sam Pearce, tained by Caterham specialist. £9,200 ono. (Solihull) Lotus Seven Club, contact: Andy 02380 693989 P0 Box 7, (Winchester) 2006 (June) 260 CSR: Abergavenny, NP7 5WQ Titanium silver, 4,000 miles, every option in 1996(P) 1600XF Caterham Sprint: the brochure. Cost £44,000. Offers around Aluminium/black with Minotaur alloys and £36,000, will take cheaper 7 in part exchange. Deadline? Yokohamas, hood and tonneau, 4-point belts, contact: 01900 61220 or 07810 265303 Momo wheel, FIA roll bar, adjustable to be received by 8th for dampers and cut off switch. 16500 miles, 1600 Rover K Supersport: inclusion the following month taxed/MoT October. More details and pics Factory-built, first registered April 1999. on email. £7500 ono. Good specification and a well cared for contact: Mike 07747 623172 or example. 31,000 miles Caterham green with [email protected] (Essex) yellow bonnet stripe. MoT and taxed to April 2009, usual extras. Not raced and no 1983 long cockpit model: track days. £10,000. I'm buying a new one! Minister Xflow engine with twin Webers, contact: Barrie 07718 539546 or built to 1980s Formula Ford spec producing [email protected] cl20bhp. Flared arches, 4-speed gearbox, live axle, Caterham 4-point harnesses, adjustable Superlight 1600: 2006 SV Roadsport, 1.8 x-Power 140 bhp: seats, full weather equipment. Genuinely Unmodified, low mileage, virtually one Factory built, 3,500 dry miles, no track, all under 9,000 miles. An excellent example of a owner, immaculate. 138bhp Supersport history. Green with yellow noseband. classic Seven. Offers over £7,000. engine, only 9500 miles. Roulette Green Leather seats, Momo, push button starter, full contact: 01795 533769 Metallic with exposed carbon front and rear weather equipment inc. tonneau and hood wings and nose cone front lip. Genuinely bag. £20,000. Super Seven Scholarship 1600 (1999): immaculate condition inside, outside and contact: Ken Rayne 07836 742 378 or 9,500 miles. One owner. Caterham green, underneath. Heated screen and full weather [email protected] (Surrey) yellow noseband. FSH. Vauxhall 8V 1600, gear, carpeted boot, rear bulkhead and 5-speed, full weather kit, tonneau, heated transmission tunnel, 6-speed, LSD, carbon Caterham Seven: screen, Vecta immobiliser, Motolita steering dash and door entries, black Tillet seats, Factory kit 1995, 1.7 Crossflow, 4-speed, wheel, racing seats, dust cover. Q/R Momo, latest spec FIA roll bar, FIA 3" Q plate. 24,000 miles. Midnight blue, BRM Always garaged. Not tracked or raced after belts, Apollo tank recently fitted. Tax to Orange nose & FIA bar. Roger King engine, 1999 season. Last Caterham service Nov '07. March '09. Oil tight, water tight, full oil twin 45s, 160+bhp. Quaife LSD, kwikrak etc. MoT Nov '08, Tax Jan '09. £8,950. pressure, totally reliable and, in its condition, Excellent condition. One owner since new, Pictures and more information available. worth £16,995. build manual, all MoTs. Easy to service, no contact: Jerry 01732 762225 or Photos available. electronics. £7,950. [email protected] (Kent) contact: 01661 822922 or 07850 960096 contact: Alan 01625 523819 (Cheshire)

Lowflying July 2008 Parts, miscellaneous pTrackDays.co.uk Track day wheels and tyres: Four silver,6x 13 alloy wheels (Minator style), complete with part-worn A008R tyres. Good track day wheels and tyres, reasonable life left in tyres. Wheels undamaged and Brands Hatch recently rebalanced, but not 'pretty' enough for road use! £200. contact: Simon 01462 790310 or 07713 Oulton Park 154994 (Herts)

4 wheels and tyres: Cadwell Park Minilite-style, fitted with Avon CR500 tyres. About 4mm tread left. Polished rims with black spokes and centre caps. Castle Combe Excellent condition. Fit ford 4 stud pattern. Photos available. £275.00. contact: 07734 126 090 or Croix-en-Ternois [email protected] (West Yorkshire)

Taken from 2-litre HPC: Front brakes, disc pads and calipers. Small entry list, open pit lane Tyres 5x 185/60/14 Michelin. Flared wings and brackets. Pair of front headlights. Offers BHP TrackDays Ltd, 23 Rushfords, Lingfield RH7 6EG please, buyer collects. contact: Clive 07880 731309 Tel +44(0)1342 837957 *^^JJ or 01243 785386 (West Sussex) Email [email protected] 4 wheels: 4 x latest spec multispoke Anthracite 15 inch wheels with 195/45/R15 Avon CR500. Only 2000 road miles and in totally immaculate, as new condition. £700. Photos available. contact: 01661 822922 or 07850 960096 SIPIC Starter Motors: Competition + Kit Car EXTRA POWER (to 2.3 litre spec) Caterham Transmission Specialists type pre-engaged Starter Motors but smaller and more powerful; built to race spec.

Also High power Inertia Starters in original classic size for Twin Cams and older 5 Speed Type 9 Gearboxes with st cross- & pre-Xflow engines. Ideal for Elans. Long 1 gear in stock Use less battery for nearly TWICE the power. £200 + vat (fitting extra) Race tested for 5 years.

For full decription or orders contact: Dick Dixon on 01920 871153 Large stocks of Quaife s/cut email: [email protected] or visit: and semi - Helical gearboxes http://freespace.virgin.net/herts.lotus

Please phone for best prices

Wanted

Cash, cards tokens, points etc: For all your transmission requirements cigarette tokens, phone card, airmiles, points Ask for Steve Perks on smart cards, odd change, notes, foreign, Trade Enquiries Welcome + Mail Order + Export Worldwide Lighthouse Works. Feckenham Rd. Astwood Bank, Redditch B96 6DS obsolete currencies... Leukaemia Research Telephone / Fax 01527 894232 Fund can turn all of these into funds. see Nuke the Leuk news pages for details s Sat 5 Sat 26 3 o Lotus Seven Club Speed Championship, round 8 Lotus Seven Club Speed Championship, round 9 Shelsley Walsh, near Worcester (hillclimb) Loton Park, near Shrewsbury (hillclimb) 3 E entry forms will be sent to competitors who have entry forms will be sent to competitors who have -a registered for the championship registered for the championship > Mark Durrant, Competition Secretary > Mark Durrant, Competition Secretary on CD IS) Sun 6 ro a RAF Brize Norton Bike Club speed trial Timed, but non-competitive quarter-mile sprint and Sat 2 - Sun 3 S runway dash of approx 2 miles; a unlimited runs booked in advance, £30; Woodvale Rally on on the day £40; single runs £10. Woodvale, near Southport E No restriction on number of cars attending. one of the biggest car gatherings in the country - c > Geoff Brown let's make it one of the largest gatherings of Sevens ai E t: 01793 876465 in the North, to celebrate 25 years of the Club! e: [email protected] > Paul Richards, Lancashire and District Area (LADS) tickets at reduced rate of £5 per Seven, must be Sat 12 purchased in advance from Lotus Seven Club, PO Box 7, Abergavenny, NP7 5WQ, 'Fastest Caterham in the World' cheques payable to Seven Club Ltd. Shakespeare County Raceway, Warwickshire a fun day of drag racing, organized by The Taffia; Sun 3 cost: £12 entry into the Raceway for Saturday then £20 for unlimited runs Lotus Seven Club Speed Championship, round 10 A weekend ticket (spectating on Sunday) is £25 Harewood, near Harrogate (hillclimb) Please note. entry forms will be sent to competitors who have that if the weather is very wet on the day, registered for the championship the event will be cancelled. > Mark Durrant, Competition Secretary > for more information, see contact details for Wales (South) in Area meetings directory Fri 8-Mon 11

West Coast of Scotland Tour Sat 12 > Borders 7, see Area Meetings directory Northumberland drive and Hogwarts Drive through Northumberland and a visit to Sun 17 Alnwick Castle-the location for Hogwarts School in Fish and Chip Run to Aberystwyth the Harry Potter films with The Taffia > Borders 7, see Area Meetings directory please note date now confirmed 20 people, zero cost... Wed 16 > for more information contact Wales (South) Caterham Drift Day see Area meetings directory Brands Hatch, near Swanley, Kent Sideways is the new forwards! Sat 23 > please email for details or booking form Marshals Sprint at Curborough e: [email protected] not a championship event-open to all Club members entry forms can be obtained from... Sun 20 > Mark Durrant, Competition Secretary please note change of date Millwoods Open Day Sun 24 Dursley, Gloucestershire Lotus Seven Club Speed Championship, round 11 open to everyone, this day out features cars, Curborough 2, near Lichfield (sprint) a free barbecue and a quiz, a chance to buy spares entry form will be Lowflying and accessories; head off for a blat through > Mark Durrant, Competition Secretary the Cotswolds-or just come along for a chat > Andy Couchman Sun 24 e: [email protected] Wings & Wheels Tue 22 Dunsfold Park, Cranleigh, Surrey a great family day out, featuring aircraft displays, Lotus Seven Club trackday race cars, motoring displays, Lotus Seven Club area. Oulton Park, near Tarpoley, Cheshire 40 places available, £10 per car and driver, 105db noise limit, open pit lane, free instruction passengers £10. > Geoff Pickin, trackday coordinator see news in this issue for more details. (originally scheduled for June) > Steve Mell e: [email protected] Fri 25- Sun 27 Fri 4 - Sat 5

The Swiss International Meeting Lotus Seven Club 25th Anniversary and International Event St Moritz, Switzerland > Debbie Stott Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, Northants at the Siverstone Classic historic racing event, with t: 01277 354239 or 07850 273369 Sat 6 e: [email protected] 21 races spanning eight decades of motor sport The Club's site will be on the outfield, close to Copse Dunsfold Handling Day Corner and the bridge over the pit straight Dunsfold Park, near Guildford, Surrey Sat 5 > Geoff Brown cost £40; Slalom event at Dunsfold e: [email protected] booking form will be in Lowflying in due course Dunsfold Park, near Guildford, Surrey > Dick Dixon > for booking details contact Emily Bransom Drive it like you stole it! e: [email protected] (Membership Secretary) > please email for booking form > for details about the event contact Steve Mell on e: [email protected] t: 07831 789333 e: [email protected]

34 Lowflying July 2008 Sat 6 Taffia Trackday, Ltandow Circuit, near Cardiff EWEEKS open to Lotus and Caterham Sevens and 21s; Club members only; cost £70; extra drivers also £70; only 45 places-book soon! UNIQUE PRODUCTS > contact Wales (South) for details; see Area Directory

Fri 12-Sun 14

Manx Sevens 'return visit' to Scotland A long weekend of drives, sightseeing and visits > Borders 7 (see Area Directory)

Sat 13

Lotus Seven Club Speed Championship, round 13 Wiscombe, near Honiton (hillclimb) entry forms will be sent to competitors who have registered for the championship > Mark Durrant, Competition Secretary

Sun 14

Lotus 60th Anniversary Lotus Factory, Hethel, Norfolk open day at Lotus to celebrate 60 years of the marque and preview the new Eagle. UPGRADES AND ACCESSORIES Cost tba; booking details to follow. > Steve Winterberg t: 07855 846963

e: [email protected] Seven Tweeks Ltd. The Haybarn 2 Old Farm Stoke Doyle PE8 5TB Wed 17 Lotus Seven Club trackday Brands Hatch GP near Swanley, Kent 101 db noise limit, sessions, free instruction www.seventweeks.co.uk Details and booking forms in Lowflying in due course email - [email protected] > Geoff Pickin, trackday coordinator

Sat 11

Caterham Drift Day Silverstone Circuit, near Towcester, Northants Sideways is the new forwards! > please email for details or booking form e: [email protected]

Sat 11 & Lotus Seven Club Speed Championship, round 14 Anglesey 1, (hillclimb) Competition Car entry forms will be sent to competitors who have registered for the championship Q > Mark Durrant, Competition Secretary Insurance Sun 12 Cover for your Caterham Lotus Seven Club Speed Championship, round 15 Anglesey 2, (hillclimb) or Motorsport Insurance requirements entry forms wilt be sent to competitors who have registered for the championship 0115 941 5255 > Mark Durrant, Competition Secretary please note change of dates for these rounds www.competition-car-insurance.co.uk -

Sat 18 [email protected]

Lotus Seven Club trackday 72 Maid Marian Way, Nottingham, NG1 6BJ Rockingham, Northants 103db noise limit, open pit lane, free instruction We offer discounts on your road insurance for holding a current certificate from Details and booking forms in Lowflying in due course > Geoff Pickin, trackday coordinator www.cadcnce.co.uk IDrinr Dnckxunut into

Competition Car Insurance and Caterham Insurance JANUARY 2009 are trading names of Towergate tic Ltd Registered in I-ngland No. 01970491 Registered Address: Towergate House. 2 Sat 10 Count\ Ciate. Slaceys Street. Maidstone. Kent MI-14 1ST Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Serviees Authority Borders 7 'Christmas' get-together > Richard Lee, Borders 7 (see ,4rea Meetings directory) Tel: 013873-75777 5 web: www.carbon-bits.com e-mail Richard fRiFJ: CARB0N'B1TS%%& [email protected]

113 /14" FRONT WINGS IN FULL CARBON OUTER SIDE SKINS ONLY £110 INC VAT EACH ITERNAL SIDE PANELS REAR WINGS & NOSE CONE TO FOLLOW KEVLAR CRASH PROTECTION FLOORS, FOOTWELLS BOOT FLOORS, TURRETS PETROL PIPE COVER TUNNEL TOPS (ALL MODELS) EXHAUST INSULATED COVER STONE AND SILL PROTECTORS DASH, SWITCHES, DIALS SCUTTLE PLUS HORIZONTAL BONNET, PEDAL EOX COVERS AEROSCREENS, MIRRORS PROPSHAFTS IN CARBON HEAT REMOVAL GEAR GAITER CYCLE WINGS! TRAVEL 'BAGS' REAR^LIGHT BLUCKS* g»" i* 'WIL^E^X^AVSES " • g' FLOOR, tt I" I INTERIOR PANELS , STEERING "WHEELS^|I-"|I-7| RE-USABLE SILICON EAR-PLUGS JlRACWNG lE"QUIPMENT7*lr.AP. SEE: WWW.CA07BON.COM £1.00 OR £1.50 WITH CORD -j i"-.ii--ig::*t:zi m DESIGNED FOR RACING BUILT FOR LIVING CATERHAM AT MILLWOOD MILLWOOD MITSUBISHI ONLY OFFICIAL INDEPENDENT DEALERSHIP OFFICIAL CATERHAM UK SERVICE CENTRE

We're very proud to be the only factory appointed dealership As one of only three Caterham Approved Service Agents in the country. It shows the trust and confidence put in us by in the UK, you know you're in good hands. Caterham and our many customers. Expert, factory-trained hands in fact. We supply the whole range of current models, whether factory built or for home assembly. From demo to delivery. We've a large workshop complete with M.O.T. bay, laser Our showroom always displays a selection of the very alignment and corner weighting facilities. best used models. So whether it's a service, parts, accessories, a full build, Please call first, to arrange your visit at a time that suits you. an M.O.T., or simple help and advice you need, talk to us.

T: 01453 541511 E: [email protected] T: 01453 544321 E: [email protected]

MILLWOOD MOTOR COMPANY AND MILLWOOD MITSUBISHI,

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Sole manufacturers of Lotus & Caterham Seven chassis for over forty-five years

All chassis body unit repair & restoration is carried out using only correct specifications and production tooling. All forms of tubular and monocoque chassis component restoration by the specialists.

For further information contact: Bruce Robinson Arch Motor & Manufacturing Co. Ltd Redwongs Way, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE29 7HD Tel: 01480 459661/2/3 Email: [email protected]