‘The Preserve’ April 2020 Available for Download

The Preserve April 2020

‘The Preserve’ is the newsletter of the Council of Motor Clubs. It’s made available to members of CMC-affiliated clubs, and that means you!

The April edition is the first since lockdowns began and brings news on that topic as well as helpful information about committee handover and conditional registration, historical photos and more.

You can grab it from the following link, and we’ll archive it on the members page here.

The Preserve April 2020 [PDF]

‘The Preserve’ is provided by the Council of Motor Clubs.

Ashton’s President’s Prattle for April, 2020

President's Prattle

Hello everyone, and welcome to the new ways of working and living (temporarily, we all hope). Where to begin?

The work side of things is pretty dull, so I’ll switch tack to the domestic and interests aspect of the COVID-19 debacle.

On the bright side, the opportunity presents itself to spend more time in new home (or garage!) based activities. So, what have you decided to use the enforced leisure time to do? Once the list of DIY chores you’ve been delaying in favour of taking the car out for a drive has been completed, of course (don’t pretend, we’re all in the same boat!)

On the list so far are:

  • Making models (not done this since school, which, I hardly need tell you, wasn’t yesterday)
  • Relearning the piano (which has sat untouched in our dining room for ten years – probably need to learn to tune it first)
  • Sorting out the garage and flogging all the junk on the mezzanine floor to make room for more junk
  • Get into the attic and turf out all the stuff we’ve accumulated
  • Set up the Scalectrix set that’s in the attic, and break out the Lotus models
  • Set up an eSports CSCA series perhaps

The problem is, what to do when the list runs out…

Sadly, the restrictions we have to endure will inevitably curtail not only the motorsport activities we all enjoy so much, but also the social side of things.

As you will possibly be aware, the second round of the CSCA series has been cancelled. We will keep you informed as we hear more about the rest of the season, but at this point, rounds three and four are also unlikely to progress.

For the moment, the monthly Tyre Kick and Coffee will be suspended as well, at least until we are allowed to resume normal contact with others. We will revisit this decision at the end of April.

In the meantime, if anyone would like to make a short video of something that they are working on – a project, an idea, please feel free to get in touch with Seth ([email protected]) and we will put it up on the website and Facebook, which naturally enough will become more central to the fabric of the club.

Anyway, enough about COVID-19.

I am pleased to report that last weekend we conducted the first virtual meeting of the Lotus 2021 Committee. With grateful thanks to Mel and Seth for setting us up with a Google Meet, and to all the committee for being game to try the new technology, we made good progress:

  • The team agreed that we should continue to progress the planning for the event
  • We also agreed we would not start to either pay deposits, nor ask for payments, until more certainty is established
  • We confirmed the key roles and responsibilities which will be fundamental to the success of this event, including reaching out to the Tasmanian contingent of CLA
  • We have agreed to increase the meeting frequency to once a month until further notice

So we are still, at this stage, planning to be in Tasmania in February 2021. We hope that will provide a suitable respite and holiday opportunity for everyone to look forward to, and we will of course keep you informed as we progress the planning.

Other than that, please do look after yourselves, and particularly those less secure near and dear to you – the old, the infirm, and those struggling with the emotional impact of current circumstances – please make sure to reach out regularly and frequently.

Pip pip,
Ashton

CSCA 2020 Round 2 Cancelled

Club Lotus at CSCA 2018 Round 2 Sydney Motorsport Park

We are sorry to announce that CSCA 2020 round two has been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

We fully support the Sprite Club’s decision to cancel the round and we’re sure that you will understand their position. At this stage, rounds three and four look unlikely, and rounds later in the year will be considered as we get further along.

We will keep in touch to keep you up to date with our plans going forward. Stay safe everyone, look after you family and friends and let’s make next year the best year ever.

Round Wrap-Up: CSCA 2020 Round 1 at Wakefield Park

 Images thanks to Peter Klumper, Chris Pearse and Melanie Valdes

We woke on the morning of Saturday the 14th of March to cold and rain. It was a good day, because it was finally time to get the cars back out on the track. 2020’s motorsport season kicked off over the weekend with round one of the CSCA series hosted by Club Lotus Australia at Wakefield Park.

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Ashton’s President’s Prattle for March, 2020

President's Prattle

Morning everyone,

The year marches on into Autumn, and with it, an increase in activity as it becomes easier to use the car. In fact I had a lovely run out to Sackville yesterday in the Elan, and it reminded me how much fun you can have at or below the speed limit, with the accompanying symphony from the twin cam and twin webers. Great fun! Must do it more…

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March Social Evening to Feature Ashton Roskill and Tales from the 2019 Peking to Paris

Gidget in the Peking to Paris 2019

Photo by Gerard Brown: Ashton, Giles and Gidget coming out of a sandpit in the Gobi Desert. Gerard Brown’s image won the Sports Car Digest Historic Racing Photo of 2019

Our dear president Ashton Roskill will share stories from his run in the 2019 Peking to Paris Rally with Giles Cooper and Gidget, the Austin Healey 100/4 they subjected to the challenge, at a social evening on Tuesday the 10th of March.

Simply Sports Cars (17 Hotham Parade, Artarmon) have kindly offered to host the evening. Formalities will kick off from 6.30pm and the usual bite to eat will be provided. Guests and friends are most welcome.

Ashton, Giles and Gidget tackled the rally over several weeks in 2019, not only completing the mad event but finding quite some success along the way. This evening is an opportunity to hear a little about the journey, enjoy some photos and footage, take a look at Gidget and of course catch up with friends and have a look around the spectacular selection on offer at Simply Sports Cars.

We look forward to seeing you at Simply Sports Cars on the evening of Tuesday the 10th of March!

Lotus Photos: February 2020’s Tyre Kick & Coffee

February 2020 Tyre Kick & Coffee

Images: Peter Walker

We had a mighty roll-up to Sunday’s Tyre Kick & Coffee at the Kokoda Cafe in Rhodes Park this past Sunday, the 16th of February. Peter Walker kindly reached out with some photos of the morning, and you can enjoy them below.

Our monthly meet-up is going from strength to strength, and Sunday’s meeting was no exception. Decorated expertly with Lotuses of all descriptions, this is perhaps the best the car park of Kokoda Cafe has ever looked. Thanks to all who came along and took part.

Our monthly Tyre Kick & Coffee is held on the third Sunday of every month at Kokoda Cafe in Rhodes Park (Killoola St, Concord West NSW 2138). We catch up from 9am to spend an hour or two chatting life, Lotus and everything before resuming normal weekend programming.

The next event will be held on Sunday the 15th of March, and we’d love to see you there! It’s the day after our Club Lotus Australia-hosted round one of the 2020 CSCA sprint series at Wakefield Park, so we’ll surely have plenty to discuss, along with a few tales to share.

Thanks again to Peter Walker for the photographs.

‘The Preserve’ February 2020 Available for Download

‘The Preserve’ is the newsletter of the Council of Motor Clubs. It’s made available to members of CMC-affiliated clubs, and that means you!

The February 2020 edition kicks off the year to come, looking back at the Vintage Speedcar Association of NSW’s Christmas Picnic, looking forward to some of the motoring events coming up this year and catching up on all the news for motoring enthusiasts.

You can grab it from the following link, and we’ll archive it on the members page here.

The Preserve February 2020 [PDF]

‘The Preserve’ is provided by the Council of Motor Clubs.