Ashton’s President’s Prattle: December 2016

President's Prattle

Happy Christmas everyone,

For those able to make the (most excellent!) Christmas Party last weekend, that’s a double up of my best wishes to you and your families as we head into the Christmas holidays. I hope you all have a thoroughly relaxing and enjoyable time.

We wrapped up this year with our second visit to Bombini, and thank you to the 60 members and families who came along.

It was a lovely day, kicking off with a fun scoot up the Old Pacific Highway. Caroline was persuaded to join me in the Eleven, although she did point out there was no point in putting on perfume as she would just end up smelling of Eau d’Eleven – which is mostly petrol. We had a great showing of cars parked up at Bombini (see Seth’s lovely photos on the website for the evidence); we arrived at almost exactly the same time as the LOST fraternity, who joined us from the Newcastle area – always a great pleasure.

I think I’ve probably said enough about all the fun events we have had this year, so I won’t labour the point, except to say a big thank you to you all for coming along to them, whether that’s to the runs, the Tyre Kick and Coffee, the general meetings, or the motorsport – it has all been a gas, entirely because of you.

And next year kicks off in short order, so get your diary out, go to the website and make sure you get all the events in there. Better yet, buy one of the lovely glossy Club Lotus Australia calendars that Rob Costa has pulled together, in spite of a temporary and inconvenient visit to the hospital. It’s great to have you back and heading for fighting fit Rob! Details of how to purchase and pay are in the magazine.

While on the subject of committee members, many of you will be remembering that it is a year ago that we lost Maurice to the black dog; he continues to inspire and amuse me, every time I see a photo of him (which is surprisingly often). Anne, James and Jen are particularly in our hearts at this incredibly hard time of the year for them.

May I also thank the committee for another year of unstinting hard work in the pursuit of fun and happiness in the shape of a Lotus – without your Committee, this whole shamozzle would fall in a heap, so I for one am particularly grateful for you help guys and gals. I look forward to more fun in 2017.

Right, on that subject, two dates for your diary:

First up, a drive day (on a Saturday, unusually) to the Gerrigong Motor Fest on Saturday 18th February; more details to follow, but likely as not, a reasonably early start to get there in time for set up.

And secondly, the highlight of the motorsport calendar is the CLA CSCA sprint on Saturday 11th March – Mike will be sending out details a bit nearer the time, but get the date in the diary!

OK, that’s enough from me. All that remains is to wish you a fantastic Christmas break, and I very much look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

In the meantime, keep it safe, upright, and on the black stuff (and avoid the rozzers over the double-demerits-revenue-raising-scrooge period)

Pip pip,
Ashton

Stop Press: Lotus 2017 Registration to Close by End of Year

Lotus 2017 Bookings Now Open

Lotus 2017 preparations are well under way, and the event has received significant interest from the Lotus Community. In order to get things going in earnest, the registration process will close by  the end of the year. Read on for the official word from organisers.

STOP PRESS!

This important event, scheduled for the Anzac Day weekend next year, has attracted strong interest from Lotus enthusiasts around the country.

Logistical planning for the event is now underway in earnest.  Therefore we need to round off the registration process for those wishing to attend by the end of the year. We also need to set deadlines for the payment of registration fees.

For those of you who have registered or are intending to register would you please note the following arrangements:

Deadline for registration: 31 January 2017

Deposit required: (50% of registration fee)  when registering

Final payment of registration fee: by 28 February, 2017

You can register online on the Lotus 2017 website here. If you have any queries please contact the event coordinators.

The Preserve November 2016 Now Available for Download

The Preserve November 2016

‘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 October 2016 edition of the newsletter has been sent out to members, and is now available for download on our members’ page here.

This month’s edition includes important details on the Historic Conditional Registration Scheme and Classic Vehicle Scheme forum to be held in January, a wrap-up of the London to Brighton Run 2016, details on the upcoming USA Route 66 tour, information on upcoming events and much more.

Club Lotus Australia members can head to the members page here to download your copy. If you’re not a member of the club head here, and take a browse around the website to see why you should be!

Final Call for the 2016 Club Lotus Australia Christmas Party at Bombini!

Club Lotus Australia Christmas Party

Happy Christmas to all of Club Lotus Australia!

We’re off to Bombini just outside of Avoca this weekend, on Sunday the 4th of December, for our Club Christmas Party.

The running order is as follows. We’ll meet at the Thornleigh McDonald’s (all the most salubrious options explored here!) at 8:30AM for an 8:45 departure. From there we’ll take the scenic route along the Old Pacific Highway to Bombini planning a 10:30AM arrival.

If you’re coming from Newcastle and would like to join the LOST Fraternity on the way in, they’re meeting at 9am at the Shell service station on Thomas St. in Wallsend for a 9:15 departure.

Tea, coffee and biscotti will await us, giving us an opportunity to hang out and chat for a while before lunch. We’ll be ushered in to lunch at 11:45AM and the two-course meal, main and dessert, will be served at 12:00PM. By 2PM we’ll be well-fed and a few important speeches will have been made, and it’ll be home time!

Bombini have made the menu available to us, and we’ll include that below.

At time of writing we have over 40 people confirmed, with an upper limit of 80. So, if you are dithering, please decide now and drop me a line at [email protected]. We need to provide the restaurant with our final numbers by Wednesday evening, the 30th of November.

We look forward to seeing you at McDonald’s for the road trip!

Safe travels,
Ashton.

Bombini’s Menu for the Club Lotus Australia Christmas Party 2016

Secondi – mains

Grilled kingfish fillet with braised sweet peppers & capers, green olive & pistachio pesto OR Roast Pinnacle dry-aged grass fed sirloin rib with red wine, grilled spring onions & beets, grated horseradish OR Roast Berkshire pork loin with crackling, grilled radicchio, onion marmalata & wild hops

All served with: Leaf salad with lemon and extra virgin olive oil Baked potatoes

Dolce – sweet

Amedei chocolate ganache cake OR Rhubarb & strawberry compote with jersey cream & vanilla gelato, toasted artisan panettone OR Selection of house-made Gelati & Sorbetti

Lotus Photos: LOST Fraternity Run to Caves Beach

LOST Fraternity Caves Beach

The LOST Fraternity gathered on Sunday the 20th of November for their Caves Beach ‘Favourite’ run.

They met in Belmont and cruised down to Caves Beach on the Swansea peninsula. Jack McLaughlin has kindly shared a few shots from the day, and you can enjoy them below!

Images thanks to Jack McLaughlin