Alright!! Big hats off to Jim!! I'm always eager for a new episode and new experience on the road with you Nicole! Seems like a few of the other guys might have been a little scared when it came to you driving their cars. This has to be by far the best! Great build by Jim! It's just...I'm ecstatic about this episode, because, like, zero tension on anyone's part. Just show up and everyone's ready to have fun. And that little machine boogies! I like that Jim was encouraging you to go for the full experience! Gawd! I just love the energy of your show, your knowledge and enthusiasm for automobiles. I wonder, if you could get Jay Leno talked into doing an episode, what car would he choose to share an experience with you!? Keep up the great programming!! Kudos to to everyone who has a hand in putting this content together! This is quality! I mean it is up there with stuff like Jay Leno's Garage in my opinion! With your own spin with a healthy splash of your personality! I can't say enough, how much I love this show!! 🙏👏😍👏
Thank you so much for the positive comment and vote of confidence! This truly made my day and I'm so grateful for loyal subscribers so early into the channel. I appreciate the optimism, Craig! 😊👍 And I agree that working with Jim on this episode was a very fun experience!!!
Craig, what a wonderful comment you left! Thanks for the compliment and yes, I agree Nicole has the recipe for making this show great. Cars are meant to be driven and I enjoy driving mine and letting others enjoy the fun. There has been many times I have thrown the keys to one of my cars to a friend and “said have fun”! Part of my fun is watching someone else have a blast with it!
@@mr.cubascarculture2153 that's really a great attitude! That's how I am about it too. At least I was when I had things on the road. Right now I have a few projects that I can't wait to get out on the road again and share with friends and fellow enthusiasts!
@@mr.cubascarculture2153 My kinda car guy!!! I build or buy expensive time consuming cars and trucks and then let my degenerate friends beat the ever loving piss out of them. If they get timid at all I'm just like you. "PUNCH IT!!!"
@@NicoleJohnsonsDetour A neighbour and me built on of those back in the mid 90s, The goal of the book is to help someone construct their own Lotus 7 replica car ("Lowcost") ` "Build Your Own Sports Car For As Little As £250" :):):)
LOVE that Jim actually looks thrilled to have Nicole driving it and doesn't look like he's having a panic attack in the passenger seat! (unlike some past guests)
@@mr.cubascarculture2153 I love how you kept encouraging her to go faster! You let her do her own thing as she was driving too. Hit the rev limiter, no worries. You are an excellent car owner who lets others drive his car like he would. Well done to you!
The rotary with turbos was a make your ears bleed monster killer when IMSA GTP /GT /GT1 RACING was active before the spec this can't do that template crapola the ROTARY WAS A TERROR to be respected and feared it could run variable boost and well give teams fits and when pushed a missile in skilled hands
See, this is why you are so cool. These are the type of guys that need some props.. To come up with something like this and put it altogether needs to be showcased. Uh...jeans again. .,"squirrel" Guys like this sure know their stuff. I'm sure they appreciate your interest. It must make them feel so much better when you understand what they are talking about. They really delve into the build because they can tell that you are interested and you understand what they are talking about. Real interesting shop talk. Ughh...and then the drive.. love the camera work in every video so far. So cool. So pretty...btw..hair looks good as it is.
Wow! This is by far my favorite episode. Cars are meant to be enjoyed. Hearing Jim tell Nicole to push it and floor just made me smile. Nicole is a professional and Jim knows it. Thanks for bringing us along for the ride!
I had an orange Mazda Rotary 4 door sedan that would not start off the battery. I always parked it on a hill and jump started it. It ran perfectly and I loved the torque and smoothness and sound of the rotary engine. Mechanic said that the internal gasket material couldn't handle the rotary design and that's why it wouldn't start. Wish I would have kept it and figured out the solution. Thanks for great video.
This show seems to have the formula for greatness.. enjoyable content with good variety, grassroots yet nice quality cars and ballsy NJ, an accomplished racer yet humble on screen with a personality that pulls it all together ...many thanks and congrats
This chassis and engine is the perfect combination. Make that a 3 rotor, naturally aspirated 10.000rpm SCREAMER, add wings front and back and you're the trackday king.
What a great bloke! Didn't give you special instructions, like other owners have, or was prissy about how it should be driven. A proper car guy and you weren't frightened to give it it legs. Loving these videos and the cars you're driving.
I love these Lotus 7 style cars, there are numerous variations of the design in the UK. Just enough variation to keep Caterham's lawyers happy. Brilliant design and the whole ethos of fitting whatever engine you have is brilliant. A friend of mine built one with a Fiat 2litre twin cam engine. Mad little pocket rocket. Love the fact that Jim's attitude to hitting the rev limiter was 'that's what its there for' also noted that later on he just said those immortal words ' just floor it' . That's a man who has no worries about sharing his toys and believes that they are there to be driven, not polished. One day when I get my dream workshop.........
Jeremy. I love getting comments like this. I have made this car pretty bullet proof. It has rev limiter, overboost cut, and a top speed limiter set to a little over 120 mph right now. (Fully adjustable). Also out of all these comments, no one asked what boost I had it set to. Believe it or not, it was only set to 6 pounds of boost for this video shoot. I wanted to keep the car manageable and I felt it still gave a good impression of the performance. This car can go to 16 pounds of boost, that is where it currently makes its full power.
I’ve been fascinated by 7’s and Caterhams my entire life. In the early nineties, I was at an autocross event, and a competitor offered me the opportunity to take a couple of runs in his beautifully-prepared Caterham. Sadly at 6’ 3”, my shins were simply too long to allow entry. Needless to say, I love the opportunity to live the experience vicariously through videos like this one...
'We're not dying today', that used to be my mantra since I was first traveling Pakistan on public transport, with the most reckless drivers specializing in minibus transport. It's been my mantra since in whatever dangerous activity I was involved. Go Nicole Johnson, as fast as you can without dying on the occasion!
FANTASTIC.!!! Many years ago I worked at a BMC/Lotus dealership and lusted for a Lotus 7. I stupidly passed up a chance to buy a Caterham 7 last year.. been kicking myself since. I think it is time to shed my MGB fetish and build a Lowcost 7. Thanks for a great video. Tip of the hat to you both.
Oh 7000rpm my limit. Thats the thing with rotaries they rev so smooth you cant guess redline , my 1st drive in a rotary 74 rx4 i kept hitting redline. Biggest automotive mistake i ever made was selling that car, theyre really expensive now compared to how much i paid for it 20yrs ago
Because of space, yes, but the weight is a bit higher compared to other engines. In a car light as those sevens, the engine weight can make a hugh difference, because of the total weight and also weight distribuiton
@@C42ST3N The rotary might be heavier than, for example, a Miata engine, but that’s the smallest 400 bhp package that you can get in there. After that you’re talking about a Ford or BOP small block.
I'm so glad I stumbled into your channel, I get to see cool hand built cars that just rip it up and a very pretty girl having the best time sharing them.
Very cool build, very cool owner! How many vids have we watched and on the ride along the owner looked constipated! I think sometimes it’s bc they don’t trust their own car not to break. Other times, they don’t trust the person driving their car. You can see them gripping the “oh crap” handles, the seat bolsters and their seat belt. This dude though! Totally relaxed! This tells me that he totally trusts his car or doesn’t care if it breaks bc he knows he can fix it. I’m pretty sure it has something to do with having done track racing! Really enjoyed this vid!
I love that she's asking questions and already has knowledge of cars not enough of that in this world. My momma blows all her cars up because she doesn't know oil exists. I offer to change her oil often and she's like no I'm fine i took it in when I know damn well she didn't.
The owners of the cars you drive, Nicole are real super stars! Thank you and Jim for a great video! I don't think I've seen a rotary engine explained better!
Thanks for the kind words. Rotary engines are intriguing. They are not always the most reliable, but this engine was build all new and built right. Also it helps that I rarely turn the boost up past 6-7 pounds and rarely take it to the 7500 RPM cutoff. This enhances the life of the engine.
I have one running a Olds Quad 4 engine, about 200 HP. still a ton of fun. I knew a guy here in Houston who built one with a twin turbo Masda he got from Japan. He described it as scary and he sold it real soon after completion. but this was a fun you tube to watch. thanks
Isn't the United states the greatest example of ingenuity and creativity in the world!!! Alot of it done for technological revolution, and alot of it done for pure fun. What a great guy. Thankyou for sharing your great build with us.
@@mr.cubascarculture2153 talent and love can create amazing things and you've been blessed with both. Thankyou for sharing with us. I love what you've done.👍
What a car! Being from the UK I love seeing caterham 7s and a rotary version is just brilliantly mad! Love the clean unflitered editing, great video and a new car channel for me to watch, yay!
I worked for a Lotus dealership in the UK when I was in college, delivered many Lotus Elan kits to customers and built one with my Dad. It took just one weekend to put the kit together and then drive it back to the dealership for a complete check of the build and yes saved a lot of money.
Malcolm. That sounds like the true definition of a “kit”. All the parts there and ready for assembly. That must have really been cool to start with a box of parts with assembly instructions and have a finished car in such a short time.
"Girls just want to have fun" so the song goes.... This young Lady is having a LOT of Fun... And she knows what she is talking about..... Fantastic Video Nichol... :-))) xx
@@NicoleJohnsonsDetourPetrol, a Motor and wheels and we are in Heaven... I worked in Motor Racing for 27 years... So have sniffed some High Octane Fumes..... And am still sane....... Well almost.... You is doin a great job Dear Lady :-)))) xxxx
Mad props to Jim for representing the rotary right with this incredible build! Going full Dorito is not something most car guys do, so it was great to see such an "outside the box" idea work out so well. Also gotta commend Nicole for giving it a good brap - the 13B can eat 7k revs for breakfast, so it's no harm hitting the limiter
Thanks for the comments! I love rotaries. And yes, with side clearanced rotors, lightened rotors, race bearings, fully balanced, and lightened flywheel… hitting the rev limiter is no big deal @ 7500 RPM. 😃
@@NicoleJohnsonsDetour lol, its not about gender it’s about “feel” and some people just have it and some don’t. The fastest safest driver I’ve navigated for at speed was my late mother. 😊 R.I.P mom you made 200 km/hr feel safe 👍
Just noticed Jim's binder clips, keeping his seat belts ends from flapping around. Fantastic MacGyvering, Jim. Also, extra points for the cool leather helmets and shiny goggles.
Owned 4 rotaries, one rx4 three FD rx7 apart from the limited seating space of the FD i never got tired of driving them. Oh and they drink fuel like a drunken sailor
In the early 1970's when I was 16 years old I worked for an engineering company OxyGas & Electrical Equipment Ltd that had an industrial unit right next door to the Caterham Cars factory unit at Kennet Road, Crayford Kent UK where this type of car was being manufactured, there were several young apprentices working there and we all got to know each other well enough that we were not prevented from walking round their workshop now and then to see the cars being built. I had friends who bought these tiny cars and installed very high performance engines in them, one of them was my best friend Blair Rutherford who I will say was the finest human being I ever knew and who was killed driving one while on holiday with his girlfriend in France when he made a mistake making a U turn and got T boned, the girl was ok fortunately. This really put me off these cars because in a wreck you just don't have much of a chance. That happened over 40 years ago and I still think of Blair most days..
Been rolling this idea round in my head over last few months. Built a locost years ago. My daily driver is an RX8. And now I've a spare RX8 lying doing nothing with poor bodywork. This video makes me want to build another locost. This time with a rotary engine. Looks like it's a lot of fun.
KJ! You should do it! The rotary engine really works well in a Locost 7. You could have your Renesis Rotary, 6 speed transmission and the independent rear suspension out of your RX8. That thing would be a rocket!
There was a company forty-five years ago that actually made and sold these. The company was located in Fredrick, Maryland. They called them the Rotus. They were up at Summit Raceway in West Virginia during the ‘70s.
Just picked up on your channel. I built a Westfield 7 here in the UK many years ago using Ford Escort xr3 components, not as quick as the Mazda powered one your drove but would still hit 60mph in 5 seconds. A lot of fun, take care, stay safe
Thanks Kraig! Yes I will be at the Porsche Club of America AutoCross event this Sunday. I will be racing this roadster and can’t wait! Check us out! riversidepca.org/
So I show up to my first ever AutoX, which happens to be with all you guys in Fontana that morning, get out of my silly little salvage 986, and the first guys I meet are Jim, Brian, and John. Immediately blown away by, “Whoa, dude, what the hell is that impossible Caterham doing a hundred feet over there!?” They took me by the hand, all just such a classy, fun and sincere bunch, and super kind to my Molly. Of course of course of course this machine is totally mind blowing, for real. And it totally rips in person. But I was even more blown away by what a good group you all have here with the Riverside Chapter... you guys, along with Kraig, Tibor, and TBH just everyone else, such down to earth folks and so much good will. Can’t wait to see you all again. Lots of love!
@@lincolnpeters6113 you are exactly right! Our group of folks at the Riverside Porsche Club are the most UN-pretentious, down to earth, fun group of folks I have ever hung out with! We have a blast and everyone is there to help! I will be at the next event and look forward to seeing you at the next event!
You two had a great time I could tell this and a great attitude. Live the excitement and the drive thank you for sharing this one and all others as well
As a Brazilian who loves cars, I have to say “God Bless America!!!”. I wish our laws could become more flexible to be able to do this things here as well!!!!
hey Nicole! Whatever you do, it's fun to watch you. And you look very cute in that aviator outfit! Jim did an outstanding job. And the Mazda rotary engine is a perfect fit for this light car!
Love all the technical details and loved getting to visually see how a rotary motor works! I thought I understood how they worked, but didn't know about a few details like the leading and trailing plugs and the eccentric shaft.
Great one! And I agree with other commenters that Jim was the most relaxed yet (VW guy was on the other end of the spectrum). I also love to let my friends drive my cars but I usually have them take it solo. That way I'm not nervous and they can have more fun thrashing it without having to worry about making me nervous!
Kai! Glad you mentioned that! Come over and check out my new UA-cam channel I just started. I will have more videos about this car and other cool cars! ua-cam.com/video/66qgXBNHLaA/v-deo.html
I owned an original 1962 Lotus 7 back in the late 80s. It had about 100 hp out of a 1400 cc four cylinderFord with twin Webbers. Just an awesome car for the serious driving enthusiast. Razor sharp handling and quick. Can’t imagine what 400 hp would feel like. Great video and an awesome build.
Thanks Joe! I bet that original Lotus was cool. You just don’t see those out there. I can say this, 400 HP is too much and that is why I don’t run it at those boost levels. In the video with Nicole, I turned the boost down to 5-7 psi. That reduces the HP to a more manageable 275 HP. This HP level is where I drive it 99.9% of the time.
This is turning out to be the most interesting car related vlog I've seen from the U.S., Jay Leno will come into trouble sooner or later! Ace presenting, Nicole! 🤗
Those "7" kits and copies are a lotta fun and I helped a mate with one years ago with a 4ag Toyota driveline, So much fun got even edgier when I welded the diff solid until we could figure out what to replace it with and then it really got all GoKarty and a lot of fun. My Wifes current toy is a C107 Benz coupe but shes in the middle of some loving (The Car) and she can drive stick really well too like you, mechanical sympathy is the trick. My Current toy is an early 80's Range Rover V8 (Buick 215 cube rover motor) with the LT95 4 speed manual which is bulletproof off road even when she's bouncing over uneven tracks and rocks but its a cranky box and hard to please and my wife cant handle the notchy shift lol Love your work, Im still playing catchup and LOVING IT!
Very nice. I have a wonderful Land Rover with that same Buick designed aluminum V8. I have almost 200,000 miles on the original untouched engine!!!! And some folks say these Landy’s are unreliable!!??
Just stumbled across your channel Nicole. It was so much fun to watch, had me laughing out loud. Jim was such a good sport. A wankel powered 7 has been a dream build of mine for years. Beautiful car and host 😍
These LoCost cars are an absolute rip. If you hit the LoCost USA forum, and check out the completed builds section, there are several that look like a professional factory built them. And many of the builds in progress have the same level of quality. Mine is based on a C4 Corvette suspension and driveline. Seeing how much fun you two had in this video, now I have to get back out in the Garage and get after finishing mine! Great video!
Thanks Eric! I am 80’s old school on the Locost forum. I have not been active in years, but there is some stuff about mine when I was building it. Come check out my new UA-cam channel sometime. I will be doing more Locost 7 stuff as well as other car related goodies. ua-cam.com/video/66qgXBNHLaA/v-deo.html
I like Jim's style of driving. He says "floor it" as they are approaching a curve sharp enough for him to mention how sharp it is. Living in the Smokey Mountains that's exactly how we drive around here. Another great episode as I look forward to many more! Thanks Jim and Nicole both!
Thank you for your kind words. It is nice having roads like this practically in my back yard! I drove tail of the dragon a few years back. It was great! Unfortunately I was in a rent car…. At least the rent car was a 2017 Camaro. V6 though, but still fun to drive.
power to weight and small package size are rotary engines great advantages. Turboing it makes the power to weight even better and improves low end torque. Makes sense to put it into something as light as a Caterham replica. Decent rubber and suspension, with well sorted brakes. The thing really limiting this is aerodynamics. Makes you wonder what a turbo rotary in a lotus Exige with some aero upgrades could do.
Yes you are right. The aerodynamics of this car is horrible. In this video shoot we were at around 5000-5500’ elevation. Sometimes I drive the car up to 7000’ elevation. The turbo keeps making power at elevation where a NA car would lose substantial power. Also, yes. The turbo makes a typically low torque engine much better.
Nicole you and Jim reminded me of a couple of WWll Pilots on a Sorte'... and yes you two do look Good in the Leather Helmets and Glasses Thanks for the Video..
TIDY REARENDS , SWIRL POTS , OH MY , SO MUCH ENTERTAINMENT ! CAN YOU SAY SWIRL POT ? I KNEW YOU COULD !!!! GREAT CAR ! THEN THE LEATHER HELMETS AND GOGGLES ! THANK YOU NICOLE , PUNCH-IT !!!!!
Welcome to my new channel! If you're having fun, please subscribe. Need more backstory? Get to know me in 2 minutes >>> ua-cam.com/video/aycCw6fkONs/v-deo.html
That was just super!! And what an excellent build! Loved it,, I could almost feel myself driving it!! That rotary with the turbo boost,, smooth and powerful,, what a lovely combination,, Caterham could take a leaf out Jim´s book!
Alright!! Big hats off to Jim!! I'm always eager for a new episode and new experience on the road with you Nicole! Seems like a few of the other guys might have been a little scared when it came to you driving their cars. This has to be by far the best! Great build by Jim! It's just...I'm ecstatic about this episode, because, like, zero tension on anyone's part. Just show up and everyone's ready to have fun. And that little machine boogies! I like that Jim was encouraging you to go for the full experience! Gawd! I just love the energy of your show, your knowledge and enthusiasm for automobiles.
I wonder, if you could get Jay Leno talked into doing an episode, what car would he choose to share an experience with you!?
Keep up the great programming!! Kudos to to everyone who has a hand in putting this content together! This is quality! I mean it is up there with stuff like Jay Leno's Garage in my opinion! With your own spin with a healthy splash of your personality! I can't say enough, how much I love this show!! 🙏👏😍👏
Thank you so much for the positive comment and vote of confidence! This truly made my day and I'm so grateful for loyal subscribers so early into the channel. I appreciate the optimism, Craig! 😊👍 And I agree that working with Jim on this episode was a very fun experience!!!
Craig, what a wonderful comment you left! Thanks for the compliment and yes, I agree Nicole has the recipe for making this show great.
Cars are meant to be driven and I enjoy driving mine and letting others enjoy the fun.
There has been many times I have thrown the keys to one of my cars to a friend and “said have fun”! Part of my fun is watching someone else have a blast with it!
@@mr.cubascarculture2153 that's really a great attitude! That's how I am about it too. At least I was when I had things on the road. Right now I have a few projects that I can't wait to get out on the road again and share with friends and fellow enthusiasts!
@@mr.cubascarculture2153 My kinda car guy!!! I build or buy expensive time consuming cars and trucks and then let my degenerate friends beat the ever loving piss out of them. If they get timid at all I'm just like you. "PUNCH IT!!!"
@@NicoleJohnsonsDetour A neighbour and me built on of those back in the mid 90s, The goal of the book is to help someone construct their own Lotus 7 replica car ("Lowcost") ` "Build Your Own Sports Car For As Little As £250" :):):)
LOVE that Jim actually looks thrilled to have Nicole driving it and doesn't look like he's having a panic attack in the passenger seat! (unlike some past guests)
It was great fun...thanks for watching!
Adrian, you're up to 7 subscribers - way to go!
Adrian, I had a blast letting her drive the car! She handled it like the rockstar she is! Hopefully she can drive one of my other cars soon!
@@JohnReynolds661 this exchange made my day - thank you
@@mr.cubascarculture2153 I love how you kept encouraging her to go faster! You let her do her own thing as she was driving too. Hit the rev limiter, no worries. You are an excellent car owner who lets others drive his car like he would. Well done to you!
He even says, “floor it”.... he must be the most easygoing host/ owner. That car rips.
I have even more respect for the rotary.🧨
He was very easygoing! Thank you for watching!
Yep! Like I said before... “I like anything fast enough to act stupid in”!
"PUNCH IT! PUNCH IT!!"
@@professornuke7562 Ha Ha!!! Let’s go punch it again!!! 😀
The rotary with turbos was a make your ears bleed monster killer when IMSA GTP /GT /GT1 RACING was active before the spec this can't do that template crapola the ROTARY WAS A TERROR to be respected and feared it could run variable boost and well give teams fits and when pushed a missile in skilled hands
This must be the ultimate combination... Seven chassis with a turbo rotary. Two things known for a lot of fun in a small package. Pure genius
And both are highly known to have Seven too in them, or atleast, one was in a Seven and now it's in a Seven, if you get my call
@@PlatinumNath illuminati confirmed? 😂
@@MasterThimself yessir 👏
As Colin Chapman said, "Simplify, and then add lightness... and then add a chonking huge turbo attached to a rotary."
“Traction limited” is an early contender for the understatement of the year.
See, this is why you are so cool. These are the type of guys that need some props.. To come up with something like this and put it altogether needs to be showcased. Uh...jeans again. .,"squirrel" Guys like this sure know their stuff. I'm sure they appreciate your interest. It must make them feel so much better when you understand what they are talking about. They really delve into the build because they can tell that you are interested and you understand what they are talking about. Real interesting shop talk. Ughh...and then the drive.. love the camera work in every video so far. So cool. So pretty...btw..hair looks good as it is.
"Rev limiter sorry"" lol , you know you are not sorry! ...that thing looks like a micro ton of fun 💪💪
You got that right!
I know I'm watching a fun video when i suddenly realize my front teeth are dry and my face is stuck in a dorky grin. This was a blast!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
😂😂😂..... Couldn’t agree More !
🤣🤣 Right!? 😆👏👏
Wow! This is by far my favorite episode. Cars are meant to be enjoyed. Hearing Jim tell Nicole to push it and floor just made me smile. Nicole is a professional and Jim knows it. Thanks for bringing us along for the ride!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I didn’t like that one guy with the ej swapped beetle, what a pansy, Nicole knows what she’s doing
ROCKS! ROCKS!...Jim is like, "Oh well, get out the vacuum". Agreed, if you are afraid to have fun with your creation, keep it on the trailer...
Yes..we totally agree!!
I had an orange Mazda Rotary 4 door sedan that would not start off the battery. I always parked it on a hill and jump started it. It ran perfectly and I loved the torque and smoothness and sound of the rotary engine. Mechanic said that the internal gasket material couldn't handle the rotary design and that's why it wouldn't start. Wish I would have kept it and figured out the solution. Thanks for great video.
Thanks for sharing!! We're glad you enjoyed watching!!
This show seems to have the formula for greatness.. enjoyable content with good variety, grassroots yet nice quality cars and ballsy NJ, an accomplished racer yet humble on screen with a personality that pulls it all together ...many thanks and congrats
I'm glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the kind words!
This chassis and engine is the perfect combination. Make that a 3 rotor, naturally aspirated 10.000rpm SCREAMER, add wings front and back and you're the trackday king.
Thanks for watching!
Honestly better than Top Gear. Please don’t change anything! 🇬🇧
Thank you..glad you like it!
Nicole, you did amazing! Jim, you are a total trooper. What a FUN video :-).
Thank you so much..glad you enjoyed it!!
Just like my Alpina - everything in the rear view mirror is going backwards. Love it!
Thank you for watching!!
What a great bloke! Didn't give you special instructions, like other owners have, or was prissy about how it should be driven. A proper car guy and you weren't frightened to give it it legs. Loving these videos and the cars you're driving.
Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed!
I love these Lotus 7 style cars, there are numerous variations of the design in the UK. Just enough variation to keep Caterham's lawyers happy. Brilliant design and the whole ethos of fitting whatever engine you have is brilliant. A friend of mine built one with a Fiat 2litre twin cam engine. Mad little pocket rocket.
Love the fact that Jim's attitude to hitting the rev limiter was 'that's what its there for' also noted that later on he just said those immortal words ' just floor it' . That's a man who has no worries about sharing his toys and believes that they are there to be driven, not polished.
One day when I get my dream workshop.........
Jeremy. I love getting comments like this. I have made this car pretty bullet proof.
It has rev limiter, overboost cut, and a top speed limiter set to a little over 120 mph right now. (Fully adjustable).
Also out of all these comments, no one asked what boost I had it set to.
Believe it or not, it was only set to 6 pounds of boost for this video shoot. I wanted to keep the car manageable and I felt it still gave a good impression of the performance.
This car can go to 16 pounds of boost, that is where it currently makes its full power.
I’ve been fascinated by 7’s and Caterhams my entire life. In the early nineties, I was at an autocross event, and a competitor offered me the opportunity to take a couple of runs in his beautifully-prepared Caterham. Sadly at 6’ 3”, my shins were simply too long to allow entry. Needless to say, I love the opportunity to live the experience vicariously through videos like this one...
Thanks for watching and commenting.
Shame if wasn't the long cockpit version.
If you build one you can make it longer.
There's a bigger, wider chassis, the CSR, you could look into. Also you can frankly just make it longer...
'We're not dying today', that used to be my mantra since I was first traveling Pakistan on public transport, with the most reckless drivers specializing in minibus transport.
It's been my mantra since in whatever dangerous activity I was involved.
Go Nicole Johnson, as fast as you can without dying on the occasion!
Nothing better than a positive attitude!!!
FANTASTIC.!!!
Many years ago I worked at a BMC/Lotus dealership and lusted for a Lotus 7.
I stupidly passed up a chance to buy a Caterham 7 last year.. been kicking myself since.
I think it is time to shed my MGB fetish and build a Lowcost 7.
Thanks for a great video. Tip of the hat to you both.
You're welcome!! Thank you so much for watching!!
Oh 7000rpm my limit.
Thats the thing with rotaries they rev so smooth you cant guess redline , my 1st drive in a rotary 74 rx4 i kept hitting redline. Biggest automotive mistake i ever made was selling that car, theyre really expensive now compared to how much i paid for it 20yrs ago
That little car is beyond cool. A rotary just seems to fit it so well. Got a good laugh when you said "we're not gonna die today!"
Haha...glad you enjoyed!
Because of space, yes, but the weight is a bit higher compared to other engines. In a car light as those sevens, the engine weight can make a hugh difference, because of the total weight and also weight distribuiton
@@C42ST3N The rotary might be heavier than, for example, a Miata engine, but that’s the smallest 400 bhp package that you can get in there. After that you’re talking about a Ford or BOP small block.
@@datasailor8132 hayabusa engine with turbo can be fitted aswell and they will weight a lot less including a gearbox.
Always liked this type of car since seeing it on The Prisoner tv series back in 1968. What a fun and wild ride!
Thank you so much for watching!
be seeing you! *7 goes by in a blur*
I'm so glad I stumbled into your channel, I get to see cool hand built cars that just rip it up and a very pretty girl having the best time sharing them.
Thank you so much..glad you found us!!
Go Nicole, everyones favorite girlie racer, she was having her best life driving that pocket rocket, and she has the most gorgeous hair too !
Thank you! We're so glad you enjoyed watching!
What a trip to get to see this again, Nicole is on a roll! Love to see the tight smiles of the owners when she really opens them up!
Thank you!!
I love the sound of a rotary.
Yes! Thanks for watching.
Very cool build, very cool owner! How many vids have we watched and on the ride along the owner looked constipated! I think sometimes it’s bc they don’t trust their own car not to break. Other times, they don’t trust the person driving their car. You can see them gripping the “oh crap” handles, the seat bolsters and their seat belt. This dude though! Totally relaxed! This tells me that he totally trusts his car or doesn’t care if it breaks bc he knows he can fix it. I’m pretty sure it has something to do with having done track racing!
Really enjoyed this vid!
Channel is great and you are absolutely adorable.....don't get rid of the outtakes that are great too!
Thank you..glad you're enjoying!! We appreciate you watching!!
I love that she's asking questions and already has knowledge of cars not enough of that in this world. My momma blows all her cars up because she doesn't know oil exists. I offer to change her oil often and she's like no I'm fine i took it in when I know damn well she didn't.
The owners of the cars you drive, Nicole are real super stars! Thank you and Jim for a great video! I don't think I've seen a rotary engine explained better!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching!
Thanks for the kind words. Rotary engines are intriguing. They are not always the most reliable, but this engine was build all new and built right.
Also it helps that I rarely turn the boost up past 6-7 pounds and rarely take it to the 7500 RPM cutoff.
This enhances the life of the engine.
Happy Mother’s Day Nicole and to all the other mothers out there!!
I have one running a Olds Quad 4 engine, about 200 HP. still a ton of fun. I knew a guy here in Houston who built one with a twin turbo Masda he got from Japan. He described it as scary and he sold it real soon after completion. but this was a fun you tube to watch. thanks
Well I'm so glad you enjoyed watching..Thank you!
Isn't the United states the greatest example of ingenuity and creativity in the world!!! Alot of it done for technological revolution, and alot of it done for pure fun. What a great guy. Thankyou for sharing your great build with us.
Yes..I agree. Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for your kind words! I enjoy tinkering and engineering things. Seems like I am working on something new every day! 😀
@@mr.cubascarculture2153 talent and love can create amazing things and you've been blessed with both. Thankyou for sharing with us. I love what you've done.👍
@@user-bd5md5cm2j that made my day to hear that! Have a wonderful day….. now I am going to go tinker in the garage.
In every video the look of fear on the car owner’s faces when you’re driving is hilarious.
She only scared me twice!!! 😀
Ha! It was great fun...thanks for watching!
@@mr.cubascarculture2153 nice car
@@mr.cubascarculture2153 Beautiful car man, well done:)
Not only can Nicole drive, she is one of the few people who can rock a leather hat and goggles😁😁
Haha!! Thank you so much for watching.
What a car! Being from the UK I love seeing caterham 7s and a rotary version is just brilliantly mad!
Love the clean unflitered editing, great video and a new car channel for me to watch, yay!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!
I worked for a Lotus dealership in the UK when I was in college, delivered many Lotus Elan kits to customers and built one with my Dad. It took just one weekend to put the kit together and then drive it back to the dealership for a complete check of the build and yes saved a lot of money.
Malcolm. That sounds like the true definition of a “kit”. All the parts there and ready for assembly. That must have really been cool to start with a box of parts with assembly instructions and have a finished car in such a short time.
@Malcolm Willis very cool!
"Girls just want to have fun" so the song goes.... This young Lady is having a LOT of Fun... And she knows what she is talking about..... Fantastic Video Nichol... :-))) xx
Ha! You get it! Thank you for the kind words, glad you enjoyed!
@@NicoleJohnsonsDetourPetrol, a Motor and wheels and we are in Heaven... I worked in Motor Racing for 27 years... So have sniffed some High Octane Fumes..... And am still sane....... Well almost.... You is doin a great job Dear Lady :-)))) xxxx
Mad props to Jim for representing the rotary right with this incredible build! Going full Dorito is not something most car guys do, so it was great to see such an "outside the box" idea work out so well.
Also gotta commend Nicole for giving it a good brap - the 13B can eat 7k revs for breakfast, so it's no harm hitting the limiter
Thanks for the comments! I love rotaries.
And yes, with side clearanced rotors, lightened rotors, race bearings, fully balanced, and lightened flywheel… hitting the rev limiter is no big deal @ 7500 RPM. 😃
Thanks for watching..glad you enjoyed it!
It's good to see a lady carving the roads like a champ. She's not scared to push the car to its limit.
Glad you enjoyed it..thanks for the nice compliment!
@@NicoleJohnsonsDetour lol, its not about gender it’s about “feel” and some people just have it and some don’t. The fastest safest driver I’ve navigated for at speed was my late mother. 😊 R.I.P mom you made 200 km/hr feel safe 👍
Just noticed Jim's binder clips, keeping his seat belts ends from flapping around. Fantastic MacGyvering, Jim. Also, extra points for the cool leather helmets and shiny goggles.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks! Unfortunately I keep losing those binder clips! 😁
@@mr.cubascarculture2153 Put some string or leather cord thru the loops and tie 'em to the roll cage.
Wow... 120 MPH...! Wicked Sweet Ride Jim...! Thanks for showcasing Jim's Custom Roadster Nicole...!!! On a 1 to 10 yall get a 25...
Wow..thank you very much. Glad you liked it!
Fantastic take on a Caterham, sounds great, looks great, good job.
Loved the video. Loved that Jim laughed as his car was blasted by rocks. He wasn't worried about damaging the car. That was awesome!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Nothing like the sound of a mazda rotary just superb and the build quality of this is unreal. 😎
Thanks! It turned out pretty nice. Not as refined as a real Caterham, but it works!
Thanks for the kind words.
✌️🥰👂🎶🎶♻️♻️ Yes is, music for my está!👍🤪👂🎶
As an RX7 guy I approve of this build:)Looks like fun!
Thanks! It always puts a smile on my face.
Owned 4 rotaries, one rx4 three FD rx7 apart from the limited seating space of the FD i never got tired of driving them.
Oh and they drink fuel like a drunken sailor
I had one of these with a Rover V8 engine in the 1990s.. it was awesome
Just spent the nicest 20 minutes on youtube with this video. In a good mood now, thanks! love the bloopers and behind the scene clips in end.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching!
I enjoyed every second of being with Nicole and her crew! Very fun and very professional folks!
Boost by gear gives you a hyaboosta in high geara and, as we all know, hyabusa rulez!
This is a rather strange looking FPV drone if I do say so
Haha 🤙🤙🤙
Can you speak human ?
Sweet ride. And Jim just loved how Nicole was driving it. Haha. Awesome.
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@NicoleJohnsonsDetour Glad I found your channel. Great stuff Nicole.
Love how you actually get into the build - the approach is refreshing for automotive content. Thank you!
I appreciate that! Glad you enjoyed it!
In the early 1970's when I was 16 years old I worked for an engineering company OxyGas & Electrical Equipment Ltd that had an industrial unit right next door to the Caterham Cars factory unit at Kennet Road, Crayford Kent UK where this type of car was being manufactured, there were several young apprentices working there and we all got to know each other well enough that we were not prevented from walking round their workshop now and then to see the cars being built. I had friends who bought these tiny cars and installed very high performance engines in them, one of them was my best friend Blair Rutherford who I will say was the finest human being I ever knew and who was killed driving one while on holiday with his girlfriend in France when he made a mistake making a U turn and got T boned, the girl was ok fortunately. This really put me off these cars because in a wreck you just don't have much of a chance. That happened over 40 years ago and I still think of Blair most days..
I'm sorry to hear about your friend. Thanks for sharing with us!!
Been rolling this idea round in my head over last few months. Built a locost years ago. My daily driver is an RX8. And now I've a spare RX8 lying doing nothing with poor bodywork. This video makes me want to build another locost. This time with a rotary engine. Looks like it's a lot of fun.
That would be awesome, you should do it!
KJ! You should do it! The rotary engine really works well in a Locost 7. You could have your Renesis Rotary, 6 speed transmission and the independent rear suspension out of your RX8. That thing would be a rocket!
Great fun to watch! Jim's very good at explaining all the details of this "7" build. Loved it!
Glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
Holy cow thats awesome !
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed!
@@NicoleJohnsonsDetour this is my favorite new show of 2021
Honored, truly!!! Thank you for the vote of confidence!
But not badass? :O
I love her spirit! The driving of the car is so fun and so funny to watch
There was a company forty-five years ago that actually made and sold these. The company was located in Fredrick, Maryland. They called them the Rotus. They were up at Summit Raceway in West Virginia during the ‘70s.
Was the owner of the company Japanese?
@@4Kandlez No.
Mazda lx7 , velly,fast.
Just picked up on your channel. I built a Westfield 7 here in the UK many years ago using Ford Escort xr3 components, not as quick as the Mazda powered one your drove but would still hit 60mph in 5 seconds. A lot of fun, take care, stay safe
Hey thanks for watching....glad you found us!
They are fun cars to build and even funner cars to drive!! 😀
That's what it's all about, build them to run them. This guy is much more fun than the VW guy. Great video here.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!!
Jim will be at PCA Autocross this Sunday in Fontana if you want to see the car in action!!! Lot 6 at Auto Club Speedway. We start running at 9am. :)
Thanks Kraig! Yes I will be at the Porsche Club of America AutoCross event this Sunday.
I will be racing this roadster and can’t wait!
Check us out! riversidepca.org/
So I show up to my first ever AutoX, which happens to be with all you guys in Fontana that morning, get out of my silly little salvage 986, and the first guys I meet are Jim, Brian, and John. Immediately blown away by, “Whoa, dude, what the hell is that impossible Caterham doing a hundred feet over there!?” They took me by the hand, all just such a classy, fun and sincere bunch, and super kind to my Molly. Of course of course of course this machine is totally mind blowing, for real. And it totally rips in person. But I was even more blown away by what a good group you all have here with the Riverside Chapter... you guys, along with Kraig, Tibor, and TBH just everyone else, such down to earth folks and so much good will. Can’t wait to see you all again. Lots of love!
@@lincolnpeters6113 you are exactly right! Our group of folks at the Riverside Porsche Club are the most UN-pretentious, down to earth, fun group of folks I have ever hung out with! We have a blast and everyone is there to help!
I will be at the next event and look forward to seeing you at the next event!
Massive smiles per mile. Jim was great in this episode and I’d say Nicole is a natural Star 💫. Thank you so much for the Top quality videos ❤️
Glad you enjoyed it..thanks for watching!
Thanks! I really enjoyed working with her team on this shoot! It was a blast!
Love the helmet and goggle look here! Was expecting to see wind wrinkles in their faces...
You two had a great time I could tell this and a great attitude. Live the excitement and the drive thank you for sharing this one and all others as well
Our pleasure! We really appreciate you watching!!
As a Brazilian who loves cars, I have to say “God Bless America!!!”. I wish our laws could become more flexible to be able to do this things here as well!!!!
Thank you for watching. We're so glad you enjoyed it!
13:48 punch it!!! What a load of fun! Nice build.
Haha! Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
This is officially a dream car for me!
Love Mazda’s and Caterhams- Ultimate combo with the ultimate driver!
Thank you!
Glad you were able to share the joy of driving your car Jim!!! Great video 😎
Glad you enjoyed it!
hey Nicole! Whatever you do, it's fun to watch you. And you look very cute in that aviator outfit! Jim did an outstanding job. And the Mazda rotary engine is a perfect fit for this light car!
Oh thank you! Glad you enjoyed watching!
Everyone needs a Jim next door
That swirl pot is also called a surge tank
What's a sump pump called?
Keep ‘em coming Nicole. Can’t get enough. Loving the content!! Thank you
Thank you! Will do!
Love all the technical details and loved getting to visually see how a rotary motor works! I thought I understood how they worked, but didn't know about a few details like the leading and trailing plugs and the eccentric shaft.
Hey, glad you enjoyed!
@@NicoleJohnsonsDetour What is your boost pressure?
@@VeggiePower303 I honestly don't recall... I'll have to reach out to Jim for that
What a great show! You guys are awesome! I big hello from Australia!
Hello there! Thank you so much..glad you like it!!
Great one! And I agree with other commenters that Jim was the most relaxed yet (VW guy was on the other end of the spectrum). I also love to let my friends drive my cars but I usually have them take it solo. That way I'm not nervous and they can have more fun thrashing it without having to worry about making me nervous!
Thank you so much for watching!! Glad you liked it!
Omg yes!! It's finally here! Nicole please keep these coming! I love you and the cars you feature!
Wow...thank you so much!
That little thing is rad! Need to see more!
It was a blast to drive! Thanks for watching!
Kai! Glad you mentioned that! Come over and check out my new UA-cam channel I just started. I will have more videos about this car and other cool cars!
ua-cam.com/video/66qgXBNHLaA/v-deo.html
Jim built that roadster himself? I guess that’s impressive. You should see me make a grilled cheese sandwich.. I use three kinds of cheese.
Yes..very impressive. Thanks for watching!
Yes I made the car myself in my garage. However...I stink at making grilled cheese sandwiches! 😂
I am not a car person, but I have totally enjoyed watching your videos! So much fun!
Awesome! Thank you!
This show is a great way to learn a good bit about all sorts of vehicles.
I owned an original 1962 Lotus 7 back in the late 80s. It had about 100 hp out of a 1400 cc four cylinderFord with twin Webbers. Just an awesome car for the serious driving enthusiast. Razor sharp handling and quick. Can’t imagine what 400 hp would feel like. Great video and an awesome build.
Thanks Joe! I bet that original Lotus was cool. You just don’t see those out there.
I can say this, 400 HP is too much and that is why I don’t run it at those boost levels.
In the video with Nicole, I turned the boost down to 5-7 psi. That reduces the HP to a more manageable 275 HP. This HP level is where I drive it 99.9% of the time.
Nicole, such a nerd. Love the channel, between the different builds and your personality, makes for a fun video.
Yay, thank you!
There comes a time when a video about a rotary car doesn't have an unnecessary explanation of how rotaries work, but we're not there yet.
Awesome! Go kart on steroids. The aviator setup was a nice touch.
Nice work, Nicole!!!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed!
This is turning out to be the most interesting car related vlog I've seen from the U.S., Jay Leno will come into trouble sooner or later! Ace presenting, Nicole! 🤗
How nice!! We're so glad you enjoy watching!!
Those "7" kits and copies are a lotta fun and I helped a mate with one years ago with a 4ag Toyota driveline, So much fun got even edgier when I welded the diff solid until we could figure out what to replace it with and then it really got all GoKarty and a lot of fun.
My Wifes current toy is a C107 Benz coupe but shes in the middle of some loving (The Car) and she can drive stick really well too like you, mechanical sympathy is the trick.
My Current toy is an early 80's Range Rover V8 (Buick 215 cube rover motor) with the LT95 4 speed manual which is bulletproof off road even when she's bouncing over uneven tracks and rocks but its a cranky box and hard to please and my wife cant handle the notchy shift lol
Love your work, Im still playing catchup and LOVING IT!
Thank you so much. Glad you are enjoying our channel and thank you for sharing your story with us!
Very nice. I have a wonderful Land Rover with that same Buick designed aluminum V8.
I have almost 200,000 miles on the original untouched engine!!!! And some folks say these Landy’s are unreliable!!??
That's an awesome car...🤩
Rotary in a Lotus 7.., that's heaven right there...💖
Oh yes!
Just stumbled across your channel Nicole. It was so much fun to watch, had me laughing out loud. Jim was such a good sport. A wankel powered 7 has been a dream build of mine for years. Beautiful car and host 😍
Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching!
Loving this, bring on the next episode!!!
Glad you enjoyed!
These LoCost cars are an absolute rip. If you hit the LoCost USA forum, and check out the completed builds section, there are several that look like a professional factory built them. And many of the builds in progress have the same level of quality. Mine is based on a C4 Corvette suspension and driveline. Seeing how much fun you two had in this video, now I have to get back out in the Garage and get after finishing mine! Great video!
Glad you enjoyed!
Thanks Eric! I am 80’s old school on the Locost forum. I have not been active in years, but there is some stuff about mine when I was building it.
Come check out my new UA-cam channel sometime. I will be doing more Locost 7 stuff as well as other car related goodies.
ua-cam.com/video/66qgXBNHLaA/v-deo.html
I like Jim's style of driving. He says "floor it" as they are approaching a curve sharp enough for him to mention how sharp it is. Living in the Smokey Mountains that's exactly how we drive around here. Another great episode as I look forward to many more! Thanks Jim and Nicole both!
And thank you for watching..so glad you enjoyed it!!
Thank you for your kind words. It is nice having roads like this practically in my back yard!
I drove tail of the dragon a few years back. It was great! Unfortunately I was in a rent car…. At least the rent car was a 2017 Camaro. V6 though, but still fun to drive.
power to weight and small package size are rotary engines great advantages. Turboing it makes the power to weight even better and improves low end torque. Makes sense to put it into something as light as a Caterham replica. Decent rubber and suspension, with well sorted brakes. The thing really limiting this is aerodynamics. Makes you wonder what a turbo rotary in a lotus Exige with some aero upgrades could do.
Yes you are right. The aerodynamics of this car is horrible.
In this video shoot we were at around 5000-5500’ elevation. Sometimes I drive the car up to 7000’ elevation. The turbo keeps making power at elevation where a NA car would lose substantial power.
Also, yes. The turbo makes a typically low torque engine much better.
That's too much fun... rotary hits different
You're such an enthusiastic car geek Nicole! ❤️😉
Oh thank you!
Nicole you and Jim reminded me of a couple of WWll Pilots on a Sorte'... and yes you two do look Good in the Leather Helmets and Glasses Thanks for the Video..
Love that! Thank you!
TIDY REARENDS , SWIRL POTS , OH MY , SO MUCH ENTERTAINMENT ! CAN YOU SAY SWIRL POT ? I KNEW YOU COULD !!!! GREAT CAR ! THEN THE LEATHER HELMETS AND GOGGLES ! THANK YOU NICOLE , PUNCH-IT !!!!!
Glad you enjoyed it..Thank you for watching!!
Been looking at Caterhams off and on.. Jim's a really cool guy and nerdy in a good way ;-)
Yes, he's very cool. Thanks for watching!
Thanks Roman!
@@mr.cubascarculture2153 that Haltech ECU is a nice touch
Welcome to my new channel! If you're having fun, please subscribe. Need more backstory? Get to know me in 2 minutes >>> ua-cam.com/video/aycCw6fkONs/v-deo.html
Nicole frickin’ cracks me up. So genuine, warm and entertaining!
me too
Thank you for the kind words.
Light and powerful put them both together and you have some serious fun.
That was just super!! And what an excellent build! Loved it,, I could almost feel myself driving it!! That rotary with the turbo boost,, smooth and powerful,, what a lovely combination,, Caterham could take a leaf out Jim´s book!
Glad you enjoyed it..thank you for watching!!
Thanks! What a cool thing to say. It is sad that it is so rainy and cold in SoCal right now. I can’t wait to take it back out for a spin!