CANCELLED: Scones & Jam at Ebony Hall Next Sunday, 26th March

We regretfully have had to cancel Scones & Jam due to Sydney’s relentless rain and some low numbers.

Anne Blackwood has very kindly invited us to Scones & Jam at Ebony Hall in just over a week, Sunday the 26th of March, and we need numbers to make it happen!

We will be heading to Anne’s beautiful’s beautiful property just outside of the city to take advantage of (hopefully) beautiful Sydney Autumn driving weather and catch up over scones, jam and no piss-and-wind cream. Anne has organised a barista to ply us with good coffee, and it should be a very civilised gathering featuring particularly great company.

Ebony Hall is also the venue for Round the Buckets, so we plan to hold a few practice sessions to get geared up for the event, which will be held in September. Round the Buckets is consistently brilliant, and these practice sessions should be no different!

Numbers are a little low at this point, so if you are interested please get in contact with Anne and let her know that you’ll be joining us. Get your friends and family involved as well, and we’ll make a great day of it. Please RSVP to Anne by Wednesday the 22nd of March, 2017.

Looking forward to getting together on Sunday the 26th!

Lotus Photos: 2017 CSCA Round 1 at Wakefield Park

2017 CSCA Round 1 by Gino Valdes

Club Lotus Australia hosted the first round of the 2017 CSCA series this weekend, Saturday March 11th, at Wakefield Park.

It was a beautiful Autumn day, and the motorsport was as fine as the weather. Enjoy the photos below, thanks to Jennifer Hogan, Craig Sheppard and Gino Valdes.

Thanks to Jennifer Hogan

Craig Sheppard’s son Liam – a CLA member competing in his first sprint having just finished karting enjoying his first time in the car. Thanks to Craig Sheppard.

Thanks to Gino Valdes

Lotus Photos: LOST Fraternity Run to Hawkes Nest and the Tea Gardens Motorfest

Tea Gardens Motorfest

Images: Jack McLaughlin

The LOST Fraternity got together this Saturday, the 11th of March, for a run to Hawkes Nest and the Tea Gardens Motorfest.

Starting at McDonald’s in Hexham they drove across the Hexham bridge, down the Pacific Highway via Raymand Terrace and Karuah before turning off to Myall Way and Motorfest.

It looks like a magic day, and you can get a feel for it with these great photos by Jack McLaughlin.

Ashton’s President’s Prattle: March 2017

President's Prattle

Don’t know about you, but already I am starting to think this that year might be vanishing before my eyes.

Big thanks to the seven stalwarts who braved rather less than perfect weather for the Gerringong Lions Car Show – we scooped two trophies (Ken Miller and Richard Carter – well done gents!) and the photos are on the website. Thanks too to Evan for leading the charge in my absence – a stomach bug picked up in sweaty Brisbane – ’nuff said.

March is upon us, and there is lots to see and do!

Simply Sports Cars has their New Car launch next Tuesday (7th March) so if you haven’t received an invite, call them and invite yourself – you will be most welcome.

CLA hosts the first round of the CSCA sprints down at Wakefield on 11th. As this is the day before my birthday, I have asked the other competitors to be kind enough to let me appear in the top 20 FTD – something tells me that was a red rag to a load of bulls…..

The following weekend is the Phillip Island Histerics, so a number of us will be down there, either racing or (in my case) learning the ropes so that I might get a chance next year

And the 26th March has us invited to Ebony Hall on for Scones and Cream – how frightfully British. We’ll also be running P1 and P2 for September’s Round the Buckets, so come prepared.

Otherwise, life continues apace. Brian Caldersmith’s planning for the mother and father of all Lotus parties is well underway, with expectation for around 100 Lotus cars to attend the Shannons CMC day in August in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of the Type 14 Lotus Elite (there will be around 40 of these beautiful cars alone). Since it is also the 60th Anniversary of the Seven and the 50th birthday for the Elan +2, Type 49 and Type 51, there are lots of good reasons to put it in the diary (12th-13th August in case you are wondering).

Elsewhere in the “alternate” world (or AntiSocial world) I have been interested to see the rise in quite specific interest groups – one for the 50s-70s Lotus cars, as an example on Faceplant. I do wonder about the long-term sustainability issues some of these platforms might face, and what they may mean for the integrity of the data, but in the short term it is wonderful that so many are willing to post up so much fascinating information.

Anyway, enough of my philosophising. I am sure that I have as usual missed more than I have remembered, so Tom will do his usual tremendous job of sweeping up the mess!

Meantime, I hope to see lots of you out and about this month, so please be safe, keep it upright and on the black stuff.

Pip pip,
Ashton

March 2017 Edition of Chunky’s Chatter Now Available for Download

March 2017 Chunky's Chatter

The March edition of Chunky’s Chatter is on its way to members, and is now available for download from the members’ page. Grab a copy, and enjoy!

Features in this month’s mag include:

  • Bernie Bows Out
  • Great Roll-Up in Gerringong
  • All British Day in Adelaide
  • The Race Version of the Exige Sport 380

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!

Lotus Photos & Report: Lions Club of Gerringong Motor Fest

Gerringong Motor Fest 2017

Images thanks to Gino Valdes

The Gerringong Lions Club’s Gerringong Motor Fest was held this past Saturday, the 18th of February and saw a stunning collection of Lotuses join in the show.

The Club Lotus Australia display included seven cars – two Elise series 2s, a Series 1 elise, two Elans, an Elan +2 and an Evora. It was an enjoyable day all ’round, and we’d like to send our thanks to those who came out to enjoy it with us.

Congratulations to Ken Miller, who won a trophy for ‘Best Performance Car’.

Gerringong Lions Club Best Performance Car

Keith Watson of the Lions Club of Gerringong has sent around a lovely report and thank you, which you can find below. Gino Valdes has also kindly shared some photos from the day, which follow the report.

Read More

A Thorough Look at the Correct Fitment of a Race Harness and HANS Device

Jen Hogan has done some great research into the correct fitment of a race harness and HANS device and has some very interesting, and extremely useful findings to share with us here.

If you are interested in competing in a sporting event in your Lotus, or are just interested in good set up and safety, take a few minutes to read through her article and consider the things she has learned.

Read More