Club meets and 'other kits' ?

[SeftonH]

I am casting around looking for my first 7 style car, rapdily learning things that are important. As it is my first of this kind of car I am looking at the budget end of the range to test the water, and down there I am also seeing interesting (perhaps better value) looking Tigers, MK Indy's etc. 

Last night I went and visited a caterham club meet, lovely guys, very welcoming, were friendly and let us test car sizing (an s3 is a real squeeze for me, my brother couldnt get into anything less than an SV chassis even that would need to be adjusted to fit a little) but it was very clear they were exclusively caterham club not a generic 'seven style' club. 

I had, perhaps naively, assumed a 'more the merrier' approach to runs, and club groups. The social aspect of going on group meets and runs is a large part of the appeal. Does this exclusivity equally apply to westfield club meets? Do you have to pick your tribe or forgo the social side if you pick a niche car? 

Of course no one can speak for every club, but just generally are the westfield clubs more open to more marques ? 

[Bigfoot]

Speaking for our area we have a Tiger and Locost, even a Mk2 Jaguar that come out with us.

Also the occasional visit to GBS cars for there tea and cake days.

[SeftonH]

1 minute ago, Bigfoot said:

Speaking for our area we have a Tiger and Locost, even a Mk2 Jaguar that come out with us.

Also the occasional visit to GBS cars for there tea and cake days.

Nice.. Thats the vibe I assumed.. 

Without throwing stones already (they were great guys) its maybe 'caterham' and 'not caterham' ? 

[Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO]

Welcome @SeftonH you're very welcome here in any 7 type kit, we've got lots of non Westfield members with Tigers, Macs, MK's GBS etc.

 

[Kingster]

We’re a very inclusive club. In our area there’s owners of Westfield, Tiger, Caterham (who found that their own clique were far too cliquey!), Dax and Lotus (like me). 
 

Our very own Speed Series sprint competition is open to all “sevens” as well. 
 

If you have Caterham money available then look at the classifieds and just buy the green ecoboost, or I’d you want to spend less, I know of a nice Tiger for sale if that floats your boat 😁

[SeftonH]

16 minutes ago, Kingster said:

If you have Caterham money available then look at the classifieds and just buy the green ecoboost, or I’d you want to spend less, I know of a nice Tiger for sale if that floats your boat 😁

 

As my brother and I said on the way home, after being very impressed by the SV bodied 420R !! I can afford the money, I just cant justify the money.. I only come to uk for 3 months each year so it really is a short summer season plaything, plus like most of us, storage for toys is an issue. The first one where I learn 'whats what' with will be a 4 digit (and midish 4) kind of car, if the bug bites me, and it becomes a passion I suspect it might, then I can justify it to myself easier. 

PM me any info about the tiger you know of. Happy to travel anywhere in the country for the right car (that we fit into) and deal. 

 

[Kingster]

17 minutes ago, SeftonH said:

will be a 4 digit (and midish 4) kind of car

Tiger is more than that I am afraid, it’s a very nicely built one with a Duratec on ITBs and high spec gearbox. Those two items alone are worth more than £4-5k 😁

[SeftonH]

I meant 4 digit xxxx rather than 4xxx.. It could be midish xxxx the other way but it wont be 9xxx and would need to be very tempting to be over 8.. Honestly getting anywhere past 6xxx becomes harder.. 

But its more about value than absolute hard price, I do love a discount .. The zetec tiger (bike carbs) I am keen on would be close to the mid point and from what I have seen looks nicely sorted. Not sure how I feel about a aeroscreen and no hood option at all.. Dont need a full hood but a half hood would sure help if caught in the wet. 

[dvd8n]

If you've got a budget then I'd stay away from caterham.  They're fine cars but the caterham tax is a real thing and other marques offer better value for money.

 

On the other hand, caterhams do hold their value well.

[AndrewBClarke]

I have found that the WSCC has been fantastic. I’ve made life long friends. Changed my life for the better. 

[Kingster]

22 minutes ago, SeftonH said:

meant 4 digit xxxx

I got that. But if the engine/box is “midish 4” then that’s not a lot left for the rest of the car 😁 

[Flying Carrot Steve]

2 hours ago, SeftonH said:

I am casting around looking for my first 7 style car, rapdily learning things that are important. As it is my first of this kind of car I am looking at the budget end of the range to test the water, and down there I am also seeing interesting (perhaps better value) looking Tigers, MK Indy's etc. 

Last night I went and visited a caterham club meet, lovely guys, very welcoming, were friendly and let us test car sizing (an s3 is a real squeeze for me, my brother couldnt get into anything less than an SV chassis even that would need to be adjusted to fit a little) but it was very clear they were exclusively caterham club not a generic 'seven style' club. 

I had, perhaps naively, assumed a 'more the merrier' approach to runs, and club groups. The social aspect of going on group meets and runs is a large part of the appeal. Does this exclusivity equally apply to westfield club meets? Do you have to pick your tribe or forgo the social side if you pick a niche car? 

Of course no one can speak for every club, but just generally are the westfield clubs more open to more marques ? 

 

 

Let's call a spade a spade, the Caterham lads are famous for being 'snobby' about their cars. Not all of them of course but I have found a large percentage are like that. Turn up at one of their meets in another Seven and it's unlikely you will be made welcome.

 

I keep on threatening to go to their famous fish and chip run and see what happens! Fancy doing that @Craigieboy? 😂😂😂

 

We are not like that here in the WSCC, not at all, in fact I'd say were are the polar opposite. Even our local WSCC WhatsApp group has quite a few varieties of kits and non-kits. 

 

Also you could look into joining KitNet.uk, there are quite a few us here who are members of both. KitNet has a huge variety of kits and also some non-kits, classics etc. Basically if you love cars you are welcome. 

[mega ade]

You get what you pay for go to cheap and you'll probably buy a box of trouble and get put off the whole 7 experience I honestly don't think 4-5k is a good budget I think you have to go north of 8k to be safe there will be no doubt the odd decent car below this but with no experience with a 7 you'll have trouble finding that gem.

[Flying Carrot Steve]

1 hour ago, SeftonH said:

 

As my brother and I said on the way home, after being very impressed by the SV bodied 420R !! I can afford the money, I just cant justify the money.. I only come to uk for 3 months each year so it really is a short summer season plaything, plus like most of us, storage for toys is an issue. The first one where I learn 'whats what' with will be a 4 digit (and midish 4) kind of car, if the bug bites me, and it becomes a passion I suspect it might, then I can justify it to myself easier. 

PM me any info about the tiger you know of. Happy to travel anywhere in the country for the right car (that we fit into) and deal. 

 

 

 

My old Tiger is for sale. I sold it to a mate a few years who is now looking to sell.

 

It is what I'd call an entry level Seven. 2 litre Pinto on twin 40s giving about 152bhp. Goes very well in fact. 2003 year. Black and silver. Aeroscreen. Roll bar not full cage. Q plate so easy when comes to MOT time.

 

I'd say it's probably in the 5 to 5½k bracket. Give or take a bit.

 

Sump has a tiny weep of oil but he has a new shallow sump pan ready to go on.

 

It was my first kit car and I'm still very fond of it, I had just as much fun in that as I have in my 3 times the price Westie!

[Craigieboy]

23 minutes ago, Flying Carrot Steve said:

 

 

Let's call a spade a spade, the Caterham lads are famous for being 'snobby' about their cars. Not all of them of course but I have found a large percentage are like that. Turn up at one of their meets in another Seven and it's unlikely you will be made welcome.

 

I keep on threatening to go to their famous fish and chip run and see what happens! Fancy doing that @Craigieboy? 😂😂😂

 

We are not like that here in the WSCC, not at all, in fact I'd say were are the polar opposite. Even our local WSCC WhatsApp group has quite a few varieties of kits and non-kits. 

 

Also you could look into joining KitNet.uk, there are quite a few us here who are members of both. KitNet has a huge variety of kits and also some non-kits, classics etc. Basically if you love cars you are welcome. 

 

I'll be your wing man