Hello all!
Welcome to halfway through 2017. Already. How did that happen?
May has been another up-and-down month.
Let’s start with the down. Our friend, racing buddy and all-round lovely guy Mark Alexander lost his battle with the black dog this month. To say that we were stopped in our tracks by this news would be understating it severely. Our thoughts and prayers are with Annette and all of Mark’s family during this difficult time.
Thank you to Martin Duursma for organsing the impromptu gathering the weekend after Mark died. Thank you as well to the significant number of Mark’s Lotus mates who turned up for the funeral service last week, including several from interstate. We will miss him, particularly next weekend when we go to the track for the first time since his death and his bright orange, beautifully-prepared Exige isn’t there.
On behalf of Club Lotus Australia and Aussie Elises members, we have created a tribute page for Mark on the Beyond Blue website. Please hit this link to view the page and consider supporting the cause to help combat depression and anxiety. Huge thanks to everyone who has contributed already!
On a more positive note, today (Sunday 25th) Anne hosted the auction of a whole lot of Maurice’s stash of Elan, Seven and assorted Escort parts in aid of Lifeline. She raised over $6000, so many congratulations to Anne, and many thanks to all those who turned up and dug deep for this very worthwhile charity.
Last weekend we had a small but very animated and enjoyable Tyre Kick and Coffee at Gough Whitlam Park. While I appreciate this is considerably more convenient for me than for many others, it would be lovely to see more cars there on a regular basis. Please put the third Sunday each month in your diaries and try to come along. We might even go for a drive one of these days!
I also managed to have a lovely run up to Kurrajong in the Blue Mountains to meet and chat with Patrick Quinn, who among other things edits the Oily Rag and the Austin Healey Magazine. He wanted to chew the fat on the build of the Eleven, but is also interested in following the build of our Healey for Peking to Paris. So I had a fine day out in the hills.
Today your Committee met to asses the next half of the year; there is lots happening over the next six months, so we had animated conversations about lots of topics. Full minutes will appear on the members’ section shortly, but the most important ones (in no particular order) are:
The Lotus Elite Diamond Anniversary Celebrations on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th August.
This event will coincide with the Shannons Day at Sydney Motorsport Park. If you have been hiding under a rock, head here for details. We want as many varied Lotus cars of all ages to come and join a fun family day out.
We have support from Simply Sports Cars (thanks guys) who will have some new cars on display. To date there are 26 Elites coming, along with several interstate Elevens, Sevens and Elans. If you can come, please do.
We have sole use of the South Circuit pits, so should be able to comfortably house 60 cars, if not more. And we will be conducting our annual Concours d’Elegance at this event, so if you are in the running, you need to make sure you are there. Contact Brian if you need more details once you have read the low down in here.
2018 Christmas Party – Put Sunday the 3rd of December in your diaries. Not confirmed exactly where we might go, but will try to make it south of Sydney this year, following two years heading north. We will probably not be subsidising the meal and we are aiming to find somewhere a little more cost conscious (having seen the YTD club finances!)
2017 AGM – Our 2017 AGM will be held on Wednesday the 20th September, at the usual venue of Shannons in Frederick St, Artarmon. Come one come all to hear how we’ve been spending your money!
2017 All British Day at Kings School – The All British Day will be held on Sunday 27th August. We have 30 tickets for this lovely day and we need to put up two marshalls willing to help direct traffic on the day – you will only need to work for a couple of hours in the morning. Please let me know if you can manage this as it would be very much appreciated.
Eggs Benedict 2017 – Eggs Benedict has moved from its usual weekend at the end of September to Sunday 10th September. The usual rules apply (email Anne if you intend coming otherwise you will go hungry) and we will be running Round the Buckets in the paddock at Ebony Hall.
That should get you started – there’s more to come, but some of the details still need firming up!
Many thanks to the Committee for extending the day at Anne’s to have this meeting, and, as always, if you are willing to put up your hand to help, we always need willing volunteers.
Of particular concern is how we fill the shoes of Mike Basquil in the role of Competition Secretary. Please do let either him or me know if you are willing to have a conversation about what his role involves to help you decide if you can face doing some of that work. We also need some help organising social events and drives, so if that’s your thing, please do let us know.
That’s about it for this month. I look forward to seeing lots of you out and about this month, and in the meantime, keep it safe, upright and on the black stuff.
Pip pip,
Ashton