This just in:

Welcome everyone to November. How did that happen, you might ask. As indeed I recall doing so last year, and the one before that prolly.

Read More

Well, here we are into the last quarter of 2022 – who’d a thunk it? Where has the year gone so far?

It’s certainly been a bit up and down, both weather-wise (and sadly I gather we are heading into the third La Nina cycle) and emotionally. We have lost some close friends, and had our share of disappointments, but also some highs.

On which subject, the crew currently galavanting around Tasmania appear to be having an absolute ball, with fantastic roads, loads to stop and see, and by all accounts some great food and lots of drink being consumed. And all with the sun shining on them.

And of course we’ve actually managed to string together the bulk of the CSCA series, although the closing (possibly permanently) of Wakefield Park would be a terrible shame. If you haven’t signed the petition online, and would like to see Wakefield re-open, please lend your voice to the conversation. It is a complicated situation, and probably not that easy to recover from what has been said in the past, but we can but hope that good sense can prevail and we can go back to enjoying the weekends in Goulburn.

In the meantime, Motorsport Australia has re-categorised the Pheasants Wood circuit resulting in the track densities being increased, so potentially this will allow for slightly larger fields and more frequent meets there, which may help alleviate the loss of Wakefield if our hopes don’t eventuate.

While we had the very successful Shannons Classic in fine weather, and with a very strong showing across the board, we weren’t able to hold the All British Day at Kings School. So, we are busy planning for a get together over the Christmas season to try to compensate a little for the lack of social events outside our Tyre Kicks, which have, it must be said, continued with enthusiasm.

If you fancy a proper Christmas gathering (and can face joining us for the AGM), please join us on Saturday 10th at the Hydro Majestic – tickets available through the Member Jungle app or through this booking link.

Just in case you haven’t already booked in for the Elan’s 60th birthday weekend in the Hunter, details for this are also on the website, including the gala dinner booking – get in fast as there’s a lot of interest!

Looking slightly further out, we are also getting our skates on for a celebratory weekend in recognition of our 50th Anniversary in June 2023; pencil it into the diary (the weekend of Friday 23rd-Sunday 25th June) and we’ll start getting some details circulated shortly.

And right now, I need to get a bit of focus on the imminent Perth to Sydney Marathon rally, leaving from Perth on 28th October and arriving into Warwick Farm (just like the original London-Sydney Marathon which this is replicating the last leg of) on Sunday 6th November. There is parking for car clubs near the finish, and I would be very grateful for any support at the finish line if you fancy a drive down!

On the previous day (Saturday 5th) we will be in Cooma, coincidentally at the same time as the Motorfest which I gather we are participating in. So if you fancy joining us down in Cooma, that would also be lovely. The car is almost ready to go on the transporter on Friday (it was supposed to be going by boat, but shipping is all thrown up in the air currently) and having spent some time in her over the weekend, I am quietly hopeful we have solved all the issues Gidget had when she returned from Paris. Wish me luck!

With that, I need to get this over to Tom, so to all those reading this from the Tour of Tassie, I’m not really jealous at all!

Take care, stay safe, and keep it mostly on the blackstuff.

Pip pip,
Ashton

Words by Andrew Stevens, pictures by David Hopper

The Sporting Car Club recently held a Lotus themed night at their Adelaide clubhouse, with two of local legend David Tye’s cars on the stage and an entertaining talk followed by a question and answer session.

Read More

An occasional contribution from our SA correspondent, recapping our South Australian friends’ recent run, with words and pictures by Andrew Stevens.
Read More

Welcome to spring everyone!

Traditionally, the time to get the cover off the car, make sure all the fluids are still in the right place, and get out on the road.. except it still seems to be very damp and drizzly, at least here in Sydney (and I gather from friends down south in Mexico that it’s started doing it there too now!)

So as a result, sadly the traditional Kings School All British Day has been rained off this year. But don’t let that stop us from gathering for Tyre Kicks, and, if the mood inclines for those in Sydney, perhaps making a run to one of the several larger cars and coffee gatherings that have sprung up – for example there’s Machines and Macchiatos on 18th September at 1 Echunga Rd, Terrey Hills.

And who could possibly forget that our Tour of Tassie is only a month away! 35 or so intrepid explorers will be heading off on October 1st to find (and hopefully report on) the finest roads, vineyards and fresh air Australia has to offer, all in a compact island within easy reach – it’s a mystery why we need to go further afield! Sadly I am not able to join them, as I’m deep in the weeds of prep for the Perth to Sydney Marathon which happens at the end of October, and for which I (and Gidget) am not yet ready!

There is a lovely cross-border celebration of the Elan’s 60th birthday planned for the weekend of 21st-23rd October based in the Hunter Valley – if you are interested to join (no obligation to have an Elan) please drop a line to Paul Schmidt via Seth at [email protected] for details and to book into the dinner at, appropriately enough, Chateau Elan.

Following that, all of a sudden it will be November and December and we’ll be (hopefully by then) into the beginnings of finer weather. Just in case, this year, we are planning for the NSW Christmas Party and AGM to be an indoors event. We’ll be getting an EOI out shortly for lunch at the Hydro Majestic on (hopefully) Saturday 10th December, so please mark it in your diaries if that appeals, and please respond to the EOI as we’ll need numbers. As in prior years, we’ll be bribing you to join us with a subsidy of the meal.

Elsewhere, Lotus has recently announced an initiative to provide owners of cars built since 1980 with parts and support – the new website is parts.lotuscars.com and is still in development, so have a look, and drop them a line with feedback (constructive hopefully) on how it could develop. I suspect it is unlikely that earlier (pre-1980) cars will get a look-in just yet, but this is a good start, and part of the emergent LAP programme that Matt Windle and his team outlined during their recent visit to Australia. Geely are very interested in the history and heritage of the brand, so I am quietly hopeful this is the beginning of exciting times.

And hopefully some of the Emiras promised to owners here will start to be built soon! I had hoped to fit in a visit to Hethel while in the UK recently, but I was in the area on a Sunday (for the historics race I mentioned last time) so Hethel were not particularly interested in a visit!

Looking slightly further ahead, planning is well advanced on the 50th anniversary celebrations for the Club, planned for 23rd-25th June 2023. Please bookmark the date if you’ve not already. We expect to be able to start getting firmer details out later this year or very early in 2023.

I’m sure I have missed something important, but if so, I expect someone to tell me!

Meanwhile, stay safe, and keep it upright and on the blackstuff (mostly).

Pip pip,
Ashton