Wrapping Up the 2019 CSCA Season at Wakefield Park

Images thanks to Melanie Valdes

Sunday the 10th of November, 2019, saw us rise from a sleepover in the country to head to the thrilling conclusion to the 2019 CSCA series, very kindly hosted by the Triumph Sports Owners Association at Wakefield Park.

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Your November 2019 Edition of Chunky’s Chatter is Available for Download

CLA 2018 Christmas Party

2019’s penultimate edition of Chunky’s Chatter is available for download from the members’ page, with thanks to editor Tom Devitt.

The November 2019 edition of the Chunky’s Chatter features:

  • Lotus Returns to Two Wheels for the 2020 Olympics
  • A Small Tribute to a Renowned Automotive Engineer – Peter Molloy
  • Dane Rowe Tells Us of the Great Toilet Blaze of Finland

And much more! Head to the members’ page to enjoy Chunky’s lighthearted and sometimes irreverent monthly look at the world of Lotus.

If you’re not a member already, have a browse around the site and hit up our membership page here to find out why you should become one!

We’re Invited to a Private Screening of Ford V Ferrari!

The Vintage Sports Car Club have very kindly invited us to a private screening of the upcoming Ford V Ferrari film, to be held at the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace on the 21st of November.

The film releases on the 15th of November, 2019, and dramatises the famous rivalry that saw Ford build a car to challenge Ferrari in a territory that they had very much claimed as their own in the early ’60s – the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The screening will be at 8:30pm on Thursday the 21st of November in the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace (380 Military Road Cremorne, Sydney, NSW). Tickets are $16 per person, plus a booking fee. There are no concessions for this screening.

Purchase online through Try Booking by clicking this link. As this is an invitation-only event, tickets are not available online via the Orpheum’s website.

We look forward to seeing you there!

November Edition of Lotus Notes Available for Download

Lotus Notes November 2019

Cover photo by Simon Messenger. The Lotus Cars Australia Exige Sport 350 race car in the famous Gulf Oils livery at Lotus Melbourne.

The November 2019 edition of Victoria and Queensland’s Lotus & Clubman Notes is on the way to Lotus Club Victoria and Lotus Club Queensland members, and is available to download from the members’ page.

November 2019’s Lotus Notes features:

  • Northern NSW Lotus Run
  • Concours at the All British Day
  • LCV Club Night at Melbourne Performance Centre
  • My First LOTD
  • Motorclassica 2019

And much more!

The magazine is kindly provided to Club Lotus Australia by Lotus Club Victoria and Lotus Club Queensland in its digital form, and will as such require you to be logged in to your members account. Download it from our ‘Members‘ page.

If you’re not a member yet, hit this link to find out more about the club and why you should become one! To learn more about Lotus Club Victoria, hit this link to their website and for Queensland head to lotusclubqueensland.com.

Ashton’s President’s Prattle for November, 2019

2018 Club Lotus Australia Christmas Party

Image thanks to Gino Valdes & Paul D’Ambra.

Hello!

November already. What the? Oh well, only a few weeks until our Christmas party and, importantly, our AGM, which we are again combining with the Christmas party.

So, make sure that you have put your name on the list so that Tom can organise the excellent catering again. Email Elliott at [email protected] with names of attendees, and transfer $24 per head for adults and $10 for children under the age of 16 to the CLA account:

BSB 633 000
Acct No 144279056

Summer has finally arrived, mostly, and the last round of the CSCA series is coming up next weekend (on the 10th) at Wakefield Park. If you fancy a run, there are still some places available, and this is a great way to get a load of track time for very little money. We need all the support we can muster, as otherwise we may lose this round if the Triumph Club can’t make ends meet. So please dig deep.

Speaking of digging deep, I am participating in Movember again this year. The last time I did so was about eleven years ago (just before I moved back up to Sydney from Melbourne in fact), but the cause is as dear to my heart as ever, so please, if you aren’t growing a disgusting ‘mo yourself, support one of us that is. You can click this link to visit my fundraising page. And here’s a threat – I might keep the ‘mo for the Christmas party so you can see what you have supported!

Just a reminder, Movember supports (particularly) mens’ mental health. As we have all been touched by the terrible possibilities and very debilitating effects of depression and suicide in recent years, please, dig deep. Thank you!

Next weekend (also on the 10th) I’m taking the Elite out to a Concours e’Elegance – who would have thought it! The event’s taking place at the William Inglis Hotel, near the old Warwick Farm circuit, and there is a celebration of racing cars from the Warwick Farm period. As my Elite ran there in the ’60s, I’m taking it along to be embarrassed by all the shiny cars 🙂 So, feel free to come along and keep me company/sane! Full details at this link.

Then there’s our Christmas party, just in case you missed my comment earlier.

And all of a sudden we’ll be into the Christmas break, and then 2020. What an amazing year it has been – Lotus has announced its electrifying supercar, the Evija (no, I don’t know), Lotus Cars Australia have run another series of amazing Lotus On Track Days and supported the Targa series, in which Lotus has shone brightly. We have had another successful year in the CSCA series, our Tyre Kick and Coffee has found its home at Kokoda Cafe, and is going from strength to strength, and we’ve started planning for the joint club event for Lotus 2021, with our Tour of Tasmania. Oh, and on a personal level, I had a ball with my great friend and now fellow rallyist Giles in the Peking to Paris Rally. If you get Octane Magazine, have a look at page 140 of the December issue 🙂 We did OK, and Gidget is now getting tidied up while I decide what I do with her next.

Thinking ahead into 2020, I’m hoping to get the Elite out onto the track a bit, and apart from probably running Gidget in some of the CSCA sprints, I have entered for the Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motorsport the weekend before the Grand Prix (6-8th March). For those who haven’t ever paid this great event a visit, it is well worth the drive down – think a somewhat lower key version of Goodwood Revival without the rain. Or the need to get dressed up. It has become a magnet for some tremendous international cars, so come along for the fun. I’m hoping to run in JKL, otherwise I will act as a moving chicane for Syd in Group S.

Righto, that’s it for the moment. I look forward to seeing you at the Christmas party and AGM, and if there is anything you’d like on the AGM agenda, please drop a line to Elliott.

Meanwhile, keep it safe, upright and on the blackstuff,

Pip pip,
Ashton

Kiama Auto Expo 2019

Kiama Auto Expo 2019

Kiama Auto Expo is an annual auto expo held by the Rotary clubs of Kiama and Gerrigong. It’s coming up on Sunday the 24th of November and looks like a good day out. In 2019 it will be held in support of people living with Parkinson’s.

The event will be held on Sunday the 24th of November, from 9am to 2:30pm at Kiama Showgrounds and Pavilion Kiama. It will include displays of vintage, veteran and classic cars and bikes, which is where we come in, events for off road remote cars, as well as emergency services displays, trade stalls, music, food and drink and a raffle for an MG ZS SUV.

Entry is $5 per person, which will be donated in support of people living with Parkinson’s. There is no fee for display cars and under 12s get in for free.

A raffle will be held during the event to benefit the Parkinson’s support group’s Kiama and Rotary projects. First prize is a 1.5-litre automatic MG ZS including 12 months rego and on road costs.

It is possible to purchase raffle ticket ahead of time by downloading the following form, filling it in and returning it based on the instructions contained within.

Kiama 2019 Auto Expo Raffle Ticket [PDF] Please note that Club Lotus Australia is not involved in the organisation of this event or the raffle.

We have supported this event in the past and thoroughly enjoyed it, so we’re looking forward to doing so again. Please let us know if you’d like to be a part of a Club Lotus Australia display.