Happy Christmas everyone,

For those able to make the (most excellent!) Christmas Party last weekend, that’s a double up of my best wishes to you and your families as we head into the Christmas holidays. I hope you all have a thoroughly relaxing and enjoyable time.

We wrapped up this year with our second visit to Bombini, and thank you to the 60 members and families who came along.

It was a lovely day, kicking off with a fun scoot up the Old Pacific Highway. Caroline was persuaded to join me in the Eleven, although she did point out there was no point in putting on perfume as she would just end up smelling of Eau d’Eleven – which is mostly petrol. We had a great showing of cars parked up at Bombini (see Seth’s lovely photos on the website for the evidence); we arrived at almost exactly the same time as the LOST fraternity, who joined us from the Newcastle area – always a great pleasure.

I think I’ve probably said enough about all the fun events we have had this year, so I won’t labour the point, except to say a big thank you to you all for coming along to them, whether that’s to the runs, the Tyre Kick and Coffee, the general meetings, or the motorsport – it has all been a gas, entirely because of you.

And next year kicks off in short order, so get your diary out, go to the website and make sure you get all the events in there. Better yet, buy one of the lovely glossy Club Lotus Australia calendars that Rob Costa has pulled together, in spite of a temporary and inconvenient visit to the hospital. It’s great to have you back and heading for fighting fit Rob! Details of how to purchase and pay are in the magazine.

While on the subject of committee members, many of you will be remembering that it is a year ago that we lost Maurice to the black dog; he continues to inspire and amuse me, every time I see a photo of him (which is surprisingly often). Anne, James and Jen are particularly in our hearts at this incredibly hard time of the year for them.

May I also thank the committee for another year of unstinting hard work in the pursuit of fun and happiness in the shape of a Lotus – without your Committee, this whole shamozzle would fall in a heap, so I for one am particularly grateful for you help guys and gals. I look forward to more fun in 2017.

Right, on that subject, two dates for your diary:

First up, a drive day (on a Saturday, unusually) to the Gerrigong Motor Fest on Saturday 18th February; more details to follow, but likely as not, a reasonably early start to get there in time for set up.

And secondly, the highlight of the motorsport calendar is the CLA CSCA sprint on Saturday 11th March – Mike will be sending out details a bit nearer the time, but get the date in the diary!

OK, that’s enough from me. All that remains is to wish you a fantastic Christmas break, and I very much look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

In the meantime, keep it safe, upright, and on the black stuff (and avoid the rozzers over the double-demerits-revenue-raising-scrooge period)

Pip pip,
Ashton