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FIRST AS USUAL…….we have news of a brand new rangetopping Caterham Seven, in addition to the exclusive first drive. It’s a return to R500 for the UK’s leading manufacturer, with power coming from a Caterham-spec Cosworth-prepared Duratec HE 2-litre.

Caterham’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Andy Noble, describes it thus: "The new Superlight R500 is for all those who want hardcore Seven purity. On our teaser ad we describe it as ‘weapons grade driving thrills’ and that’s exactly what it is. Totally bonkers!”

We really weren't allowed to show you more than this of the new R500...mind you, if I'd turned up at their showroom about two hours earlier than I did, I would have inadvertently got a proper sneak shot of it...bugger!

The car delivers a stonking 263bhp with a six-speed gearbox or optional Quaife six-speed sequential, and will be all that its legendary predecessor was and a whole lot more. Fully built prices will start at £36,995 for the six-speed version, and new Superlight R500 promises to be a massively important launch for Caterham Cars. More on this one, soon.

For more information visit www.caterham.co.uk or 01883 333 700 ENDS.

More of this one SOON - I promise.

A debut-making new company at Detling this weekend…….were Maidstone-based, Speedwell Replica Cars, who are the new UK importer and builder, for the excellent, Race Car Replicas GT40. This American kit, with its fine level of build and top quality, including a highly innovative aluminium monocoque.

The cars arrive in the UK in turnkey minus form and Speedwell can either supply one to your exact specification, requiring just engine, transaxle and a few ancillary items or present you with a fully built car.

The Speedwell name is a homage, but has no connection to, one of the sixties most famous tuning houses, founded in an espresso bar in North London by John Sprinzell, before being taken over by the late, great Formula One double world champion, Graham Hill, no less. The company became world famous for their (mainly) BMC-based goodies and stuff like their A-series cylinder heads are ultra rare and highly sought after.

More information on this exciting new arrival next week in NEWS.

In the meantime visit www.speedwell-replicacars.com or 01622 725 776 ENDS.

The fabulous RCR40 is now available in the UK.

Another exciting debut maker at Detling this weekend……was the Razor, which over the past 18-years or so has been known variously as the Racecorp LAR, Eldon Roadster and Razer.

It comes from Crawley-based Razor Sportscars Ltd, run by Andrew Bause. The car has an exceptional pedigree, originally being the work of Chinnor-based Racecorp, a motor-racing team, run by Australian engineer, Steve Amos. It was created as a one-off, but proved to be so good that they decided to offer the LAR (as it became known), as a kit.

Sadly, Racecorp ceased trading when Amos returned to his homeland and the LAR was taken over by Kent-based engineer, Phil Surridge and his Eldon Autokits company, renaming the car as the Eldon Roadster.

A steady flow of kits went out of the door, with around 80 being sold. Many of them went to the Netherlands.

Phil moved on to new ventures in late 2000, not before he’d created what essentially was a Mk2 version of the car featuring several updates, with re-styled rear end, and bolt-on rather than moulded-in, rear wings.

For a time it looked like the Eldon would become one of the kitcar industry’s many ‘ones that got away’, until Which Kit magazine’s Peter Filby acquired the project, re-naming it ‘Razer’. It wasn’t long before Richard Tilly of Roadtech took-over and gave it another new name - RT1. Once again, other work pressures meant that the car took a backseat.

During this time, IT expert Andrew Bause, a friend of Richard’s and a kitcar enthusiast, decided that the little car was far too good to let fade away and yep, you’ve guessed it, bought the project, changing the name to Razor, while doing so.

Even though the Razor has Formula One provenance, it uses tried and tested components, such as a square tube chassis and double wishbone suspension, but it ranks right up there among the VERY best LSIS' and it’s really good to see it back once more. Chassis/body kits start at £3500 with more details from www.razor-sportscars.co.uk or 01293 537 664 ENDS. 

GREAT to see the Eldon Roadster, one of the finest LSIS kits ever, back on the scene with the new name of RAZOR.

Due to the South African............manufacturer, CAV, not offering ‘kit’ packages of their GT40 replica anymore, erstwhile UK importers, A1 Autocraft, have now turned their attention to a range of American made replicas, featuring a 427, a Cobra Daytona, Jaguar C-type, 356 Spyder, 718 RSK and 550 Spyder clones.

More details are awaited, but the Gateshead-based company expect to have a full compliment of demonstrators within a few months. If the cars are coming from the companies I think they are then the quality will be of the highest order and regarding the porkers, A1 boss John Dryden would only say: “They’re not Beetle-based!” More information from www.a1autocraft.co.uk or 0191 492 6010 ENDS.

A1 Autocraft will be importing a selection of American replicas to the UK.

Some of the best cooling fans around……..come from Italian company Spal Fans via their UK agent Malcolm Phillips.

The company have been around for over 50-years and they design and produce all parts used in their fans and blowers, from the mould tools through to the production of the motors, to ensure the standard of their products is maintained.

They are fitted as original equipment by the likes of Caterham Cars, Quantum Sports Cars and Westfield. Malcolm can be contacted via 01823 273 060 or www.mphillips.co.uk ENDS.

SPAL cooling fans are among the very best on the market.

Hoppa Street Buggy………is the new company name for the wonderfully monikered Fubar Factory and their Hoppa-Son of a Beach, who have moved premises from Warwickshire to Honiton, Devon and are now under the control of Barry Warner.

For those that don’t know, the Hoppa is a modern styling take on the beach buggy with kit prices starting at just £2500 and Barry estimates that a DIY build could be completed from around £7000.

Basis of the Hoppa is a ubiquitous VW Beetle with the floorpan shortened by 400mm with a sturdy subframe added for extra rigidity.

I reckon that the fresh styling created by the original design team was spot-on and the outline of the Hoppa is a brand new take on an established design without being too 'out there'.

More information from www.hoppastreetbuggy.com or 07779 079 034 ENDS.

Hoppa. New take on the beach buggy theme.

Nick Findeisen of NCF…………..has been around for many years producing all-manner of highly popular kits from the Diamond to the Blitz.

His latest creation is called the Sahara and is a rugged off-roader based on the Land Rover Discovery Mk1 300TDI (1994-1998), and mechanically sound with rotting bodied examples can easily be acquired for around £500.

The Sahara is based on an un-modified chassis so is currently SVA-exempt with kit prices starting at £3290 with a DIY build possible from just £5000.

Looks like another winner from NCF to me. More from www.ncfblitz.co.uk or a01388 526 917 ENDS.

Discovery-based Sahara comes from NCF Motors

The original Beribo Replica Automobiles………was founded by John Berry and Peter Ibbotson, in the late seventies. They produced a superb range, consisting of a Cobra 289 replica, period P (and J) Type Roadster and an exquisite three-wheeler called the CX3, which was one of the best kits of its type to ever see the light of day.

The marque was sold to two enthusiastic nutters (and good friends of mine), James Mather and David Wiles, in 1998 and the guys did a great job of developing slales of the CX3, while also introducing an easier to build and less expensive version, called the CV3, which was Citroën 2CV-based.

They went on to sell over 500 kits and fully built cars and despite selling the rights to both projects they do still support customers with parts and build help, while the great news in 2008 is that if you want to build a BRA CX3 or CV3 then you can, thanks to BRA’s large scale plan sets, which contain all the information you need to build one of these highly respected cars from scratch. Plan prices start at just £89 and full details can be found on the BRA website at www.bra-cars.com ENDS.

CX3 and CV3 plan sets are available if you fancy building one of these cracking three wheelers from scratch.

Ginetta Cars celebrate a magnificent 50 year landmark………in 2008, and although the company sadly don’t make kits anymore, their racing activities go from strength to strength thanks to G20 and Ginetta Junior classes and the recent launch of the new G50.

Ginetta was founded in spring 1958 by the Walklett brothers – Bob, Ivor, Trevers and Doug, experts in sales, design, styling and engineering, respectively. Hailing from an East Anglian farming background the company made some truly classic kit and/or racing cars including G4, G12, G15 and G27.

Happy 50th birthday to Ginetta Cars...they've produced some classic kitcars including...

The brothers sold out to a consortium led by Martin Phaff in 1989 and the marque re-located first to Scunthorpe and latterly Sheffield. It was the enthusiastic Phaff who really promoted the racing aspect of the company and the G20 basically took-off, although is actually a very good road-car, too.

Meanwhile, Ivor, Trevers and his son, Mark, formed DARE in 1991, back in Essex, primarily to build G4 and G12 for the Japanese market. Sadly, Trevers passed away some years ago, leaving Ivor and Mark to run the company, where they’ve subsequently launched all-new TG Sport and DZ for the UK market along with revamped G4 and G12.

In 2006, Ginetta was sold to Lawrence Tomlinson, boss of successful race team LNT, and the marque is stronger than ever, thanks to the race series, although sadly there’s no plans for any component-form cars…

Here’s to a legendary marque on reaching such a magnificent milestone.

More information on Ginetta’s current activities via www.ginettacars.com or www.dareuk.com ENDS.

G4, G15, G21 and this one, the G32

Custom car king to create world’s lowest VW………world-renowned car designer and customiser, Andy Saunders, is back on Guinness World Record breaking form with his latest project. The Turner-prize nominated artist (or should that be Cartist?) aims to set a new record for building the world’s lowest VW Camper as part of the forthcoming celebrations at the annual 'Bug Jam' event, held at Santa Pod Raceway between 18-20 July. Saunders and his three-man team plan to create a fully road-legal VW camper that stands around 30in tall in the shortest possible time.

Saunders, from Poole, Dorset is no stranger to the record books. His previous crazy creation, ‘Claustrophobia’, a heavily chopped and re-styled Mini that captured global attention back in 1985, was usurped by his own minuscule masterpiece 'Flat Out' in 2006. That car, based on a Fiat 126 stood at just 21¾in tall.

Never one to make life easy for himself - and ever the showman, Saunders not only plans to set the new record, but build the entire car from start to finish, including full painting and detailing over just three days, live to the estimated 35,000 visitors expected to attend the event. Drawing heavily on experience gained from tight production schedules on TV shows such as BBC’s ‘Panic Mechanic’ and C4’s ‘Monster Garage’, Saunders will start chopping and cutting on Friday’s set-up day, hoping to drive straight up the quarter mile and into the record books as the fitting finalé on the Sunday afternoon.

As well as his long-suffering team, this year’s attempt is backed by VW Camper parts emporium, Just Kampers. The Hampshire-based firm will also be providing any parts or accessories required to complete the build from their extensive range. Just Kampers MD, Mark Reynolds was delighted with the partnership: “I've been an avid fan of Andy's work for many years.” He said. “So, It's great to be working together on this rather fun project. We aim to have the Camper ready to blast up the strip as the final car on the Sunday. So if the lads are looking a bit hectic, don't be surprised to see me wading in to help!”

So can he do it? Has the world’s greatest metal magician set the bar too high? … or too low? “Well, I’m not going to get much sleep, am I?” jokes Saunders. “This will certainly be the most intensive project I’ve ever attempted…There's a lot of metal in a VW! Just keep the tea coming, and I’ll have it finished for Sunday.”

Caroline Day from Santa Pod Raceway said “The annual Bug Jam Festival at Santa Pod Raceway is the perfect home for this exciting project. We’ve seen all kinds of records set here before but this will certainly be different. The fans will love it!”  

With media attention already buzzing around this record attempt, the car looks to embark on a long life in the public eye. After completing a promotional tour, it is planned for the VW to spend the next year as a rolling attraction as part of Just Kampers extensive event programme. More on Bug Jam via www.bugjam.co.uk ENDS.

'Cartist' Andy Saunders is up to his old tricks again.

Simtek ECU. Box Clever……Respected Subaru tuners, Area 52 (the artists formerly known as Scooby Mania) have just released details on their latest 2008-spec SimTek ECU. Currently available for all Subaru Impreza models (93-07). A range of Mitsubishi fitments is also under development and is soon to be released on to the market.

In a packed ECU market, what sets the SimTek unit apart from its competitors? Well, simply put, a lot of features, for a not much money. The standard specification on each ECU reads impressively with the well-priced options list putting the Simtek alongside far more expensive competition units. Costing just £1051.63 inc VAT for 93-00 models and £1292.50 inc VAT for all 'New Age' models. SimTek packs a technical punch far beyond its price point. It's also designed for the real world, still supporting the factory AC unit, up to a pre-determined throttle position to allow you to keep cool on your cooling off lap!

The unit prices include full installation, including a brand new Air Temperature Sensor fitment to the intercooler, Dyno AND Road mapping sessions. All installation and mapping is done on a state of the art Dyno Dynamics rolling road for the ultimate in smooth, progressive driveability.

Even with a packed 'features' list, there are still a couple of optional extras available for those looking for competition levels of control and input. The Anti-Lag System (which also includes launch control) is perfect for high-output race or rally applications. This can be mapped in two stages – either with air bypass valve only or the option of jacked open throttle and ABV operation. Sensibly this option includes 3D Ignition Retard, fuel cut and spark cut to protect the engine. The cost is just £176.25 inc VAT.

For more information on the SimTek range visit their website at www.scoobymania.com call them on 0115 985 9555. Incidentally, Area 52 is now actively seeking international trade distributors for this range ENDS.

Area 52, formerly known as Scooby Mania, have the new SImTek ECU available now.