In the lead-up to the 2017 Lotus Elite Diamond Jubilee, Brian Caldersmith reached out to luminaries in the Elite community for messages and stories about the iconic Lotus.
He received an awesome response, including messages from Michael Kimberley, Clive Chapman, Ernie Unger, Warren King, Chris Barber and John Wagstaff. Read on, and enjoy some of the wonderful stories and memories from these luminaries of the Elite community.
Sunday the 10th of September saw us cruising through to Anne Blackwood’s beautiful Ebony Hall to enjoy one of our favourite events of the year – Eggs Benedict, featuring Round the Buckets – in joyful memory of Maurice Blackwood.
We were treated to a stunning spring day, completing the perfect backdrop for our beloved social brunch. The brunch itself was awesome, with Anne even organising a barista to ensure coffee cravings were satisfied with aplomb.
Efforts to raise money for Beyond Blue were very successful and we raised $1,027 on the day. Thanks to Anne for organising and to all who contributed!
Making an already great day even better was the inclusion of our yearly Round the Buckets. Read on for a little history on the event, thanks to Anne.
The much loved late Hon. John Dawson-Damer, Patron of Club Lotus Australia, started the annual Round The Buckets on his historic property Oran Park in the 1970s.
His property had previously contained a golf course which was smooth as a bub’s bum. Now, in those days, alcohol was a huge part of life and motoring and this event was often conducted under the influence. One year, in the wet, we even had a Rolls Royce taking part. (Quite a sight to see 4 tonnes sliding out of control sideways…)
D-D was also famous for distributing hay to his cattle from the whale tail of his Porsche 930. He also had one of the greatest Lotus Formula One collections in the world. All were bought for a pittance and included the FWD 63 which took him to his death at the 2000 Goodwood Festival of Speed. He had a terrible habit with seat belts and they were rarely tight.
At Lotus 1987, in torrential rain, he did not want to disappoint us and brought out the ground effects 79 to demonstrate at Oran Park Raceway. Another great sight and sound to see him spinning this wonderful toy down the straight at Oran Park and hearing that cranky DFV.
We need lovely, eccentric and passionate people like D-D and he is much missed. He was my friend. The world is definitely a bit vanilla without him and his like.
Anne Blackwood
Back in 2017 and Stephen Palmer was able to hang on to the John Dawson Damer Trophy for another year, fending off steep competition from Anne, Graham and 2015 winner Peter Walker. Congratulations Stephen!
A monumental THANK YOU to Anne for hosting the event, putting together a beautiful meal and encouraging us to play cars on her lovely property. Eggs Benedict is as pure an expression of the spirit of the club event as can be found, and is a highlight of the calendar each and every year.
Gino Valdes has very kindly shared some images from the day, which you can enjoy below.
Thanks to Gino Valdes
LOST shepherd Jack McLaughlin enjoyed a very good weekend over the 9th & 10th of September, taking in the sights and sounds of the 2017 Goodwood Revival.
He’s kindly reached out with some photos of the Lotus action at the leading historic motorsport event, and you can enjoy them below! They include Lotus-Climax 16s, 15s, 17s and Elevens as well as Lotus 24s and much more. Enjoy!
Thanks to Jack McLaughlin.
Graham Smith in his Elise S
The 2017 South Australian Hillclimb Championship was held this weekend, over the 9th & 10th of September, at the Collingrove Hillclimb track in the Barossa Valley. Andrew Stevens has kindly prepared a report on the action, which you can enjoy below!
Hard working editor Tom Devitt has completed the September 2017 edition of Chunky’s Chatter, and it’s been sent out to members. It’s also available to download from the members’ page, so head over there to download a copy, and enjoy!
Inside this issue:
And much more! Enjoy Chunky’s lighthearted and sometimes irreverent monthly look at the world of Lotus.
Head to the members’ page to download your copy. And 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 be!
Hi there!
My apologies that this month’s CC is late. It’s prolly my fault, as I’ve been too busy having fun!
I’m writing this from Trappers in Goulburn as the HSRCA Spring Festival is on and the Eleven is, as ever, proving delightful company (as are all the competitors of course!). It’s amazing seeing all these wonderful and historically important cars being given a good time out on the track.
I’m delighted to report that the Eleven even survived the 30 minute Enduro with only a small oil leak and some slightly squishy tyres! And she did it on 5 litres of fuel.
We had a massive August that included Brian’s brilliant Big Lotus Weekend (also huge thanks to SSC for the LOTD on the Monday) followed closely by another beautiful day at Kings School for the All British Day. I spent rather more time than I should have under Austin-Healeys at both of these events as Giles and I struggle to build Gidget (as she is now christened) into an as-bulletproof-as-possible rally car.
We now tear headlong into spring and the last third of the year. This month of course is Eggs Benedict (Sunday 10th) and AGM time (Wednesday 20th). Please come and hear about the wonderful Motorsport Committee who have agreed to pick up some of Mike’s work. We would also love to hear your ideas for events or technical nights or whatever else you’d like us to organise.
A quick reminder to register your interest in the Christmas Party at Peppers Craigieburn on Sunday the 3rd of December – we will need to lock it in so the sooner we know numbers the better and please don’t be the one kicking yourself because you forgot!!
Right, I think that’s it from me – as ever, please keep it safe, right side up and on the black stuff!
Pip pip,
Ashton
Get up to date with all the action going on in the Western Australian Lotus community, thanks to Eddie Lankhorst’s September edition of Quokka Talk.
This month’s newsletter includes a wrap-up of the Targa West Tarmac Rally by Vicky Rowe and Richard Cooper’s story ‘Lotas Hell’ as well as plenty of great photos.
Read on, and enjoy, with thanks to Eddie, Richard and Vicky.
Sunday the 27th of August saw us gathered at the magnificent grounds of The King’s School, Parramatta, for the annual celebration of all things British Automobilia – The All British Day.
For the second year running we were greeted by absolutely stunning spring weather. This made for a lovely backdrop to the day’s activities, which included displays of every marque and model of British automobile imaginable, as well as the fete, market and entertainment of the broader Kings Fest event.
We were very pleased to be joined by an awesome Club Lotus Australia contingent, so thanks to all involved for putting together a great display and sharing the Lotus passion with the Kings and All British communities.
Scroll on, and enjoy a few photos of the day thanks to Seth.
A group of Club Lotus Australia members made the road trip to Phillip Island late in July, to take part in the 2017 Victorian 6-Hour Regularity Relay. Scroll on, and enjoy some photos thanks to Gino Valdes and Syd Reinhardt.
Image via Peppers Craigieburn
Having enjoyed two Christmas parties at Bombini in Kincumber, it’s time to change up the venue and go for a run in the opposite direction. Preliminary arrangements have been made to hold the Christmas party at Peppers Craigieburn, but we need to confirm numbers to proceed.
The Christmas party will be held on Sunday the 3rd of December and the current venue of choice is Peppers Craigieburn (Centennial Rd, Bowral NSW 2576, www.peppers.com.au/craigieburn).
The cost will be $55 per head for a casual buffet lunch, not including beverages. Children are, of course, most welcome. We are sad to say that this year we will be unable to subsidise the cost of the meal.
To get us there in good company, we will organise a run south and enjoy our cars, great roads and New South Wales’ beautiful countryside along the way. Arrangements will be made to park and display our cars at the venue. Details will be confirmed closer to the date.
In order to go ahead, we need to confirm numbers by the end of October. Please get in touch with Anne Blackwood by Friday the 27th of October and confirm who is coming (you, your partner and any children that you would like to bring along.)
The expression of interest date is final and if we do not have sufficient numbers by the 27th of October, 2017, we will progress alternate arrangements.
We have traditionally enjoyed an excellent response to our Christmas events, so we’re looking forward to celebrating another year with the Club Lotus family at this lovely venue!