President’s Prattle February 2015

President's Prattle

Happy 2015 everyone!

A big thank you to all those who turned up to the Christmas Party in early December, making it the largest we have had to date, I think – and certainly putting the acid on us to find a bigger location for this year.

And just before Christmas, Lee and the team at Simply Sports Cars held the first joint Lotus Only Coffee Break (name still to be confirmed!) with CLA, which was enormously enjoyable – lots of friends chewing the fat over decent coffee and very conveniently located in Artarmon – so watch out for the next one!

I hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable break, and are back with lots of achievable resolutions for the New Year. I say achievable with some trepidation, as I have several, including trying to get the Eleven running in time for the Nationals in October. As you will see elsewhere, progress is slow, but steady.

Last year was one of significant change in a number of areas, not least our communications with you, and I hope you have all found your way to the website (let’s face it, you aren’t likely to be reading this if not!) and our new Facebook page.

As everyone gets busier we are trying to become as responsive as possible, and that means adopting modern communications techniques where we can. So you will see much more emphasis on the use of the website and Facebook page for communications to you. If you are still having any issues, or know of anyone who is, please put them in touch and we will sort it out.

And the New Year means about 160 of you (we now have over 300 full members plus associates I am pleased to report) are due to renew your dues. You should have received an email from Elliott asking you to renew – please, can we ask you to do so promptly (like NOW!) as I would hate for it to get forgotten, and for you not to receive correspondence for the rest of this year, the next calendar or EOI for overalls, or whatever we have in mind for this year! Remember we are still offering a three-year membership deal for $100, which makes CLA one of the (if not the) most cost-effective car clubs to be a member of, and I hope you feel you get good value from it – so go to the website fill in the Membership form, direct deposit your dues (details on the form) and email the form to Elliott.

A warm welcome to all of the new members who have joined over the last year – we are well represented nationally now, with members in all states and most territories, and I would like to take this chance to ask that, if you have any photographs to share, or even better, an article to go with it, please make sure to send it either via your local State rep, or direct to Tom (Editor) and Seth (Webmaster) – they will ensure it is published with your name in lights. Contact details are here on our website (is that a recurring theme I hear?).

And so we plunge headlong into the fun for 2015 – in fact we will have already had the first two by the time you read this – CARnivale is the annual motorfest on Macquarie St, on Australia Day. This year for the first time in a long time (possibly ever?) Club Lotus had a presence – albeit a relatively small one (see the photos and a note elsewhere) but I hope it is the beginnings of something bigger.

Next year I would love to have at least ten cars there, so all those with a car over 30 years old, please look out for the notification in about September and come along – the atmosphere is very convivial, and there’s plenty to see and chat about.

This weekend just gone (1st Feb) James Chan has organised our first run up the coast to catch up with our friends in Newcastle – photos on the website I hope. While you are there, have a look at the calendar, where we are trying to keep as up-to-date as possible with all the events across Australia that might interest you.

February’s General Meeting will kick off the batting at the Woolwich Pier Hotel so please come along and have a steak and catch up on plans for the year. This includes the more advanced stages of planning for Lotus 2015 in the Barossa Valley – by the time you read this the booking website will be up and running at www.lotus2015.com.au so head over and get yourself booked in for the fun. And contrary to popular opinion, there are still rooms available at the Barossa Motor Lodge (not the Weintal, which is full) – contact details through the website BUT you MUST mention Lotus 2015, otherwise you will be told it is full.

We are also looking into the possibility of flat-bed transport for cars to and from Adelaide, so if you are thinking of driving one and taking another, get in touch and I will add you to the list of potentials.

I think that’s enough of my rabbit. I’m off to get the seats in the Elan reupholstered so they don’t wreck my back again…

See you out there on the road soon I hope, and in the meantime, keep safe, upright and on the blackstuff,

Pip pip,
Ashton

Lotus 2015 Website Live and Taking Bookings

Lotus 2015

Lotus 2015, celebrating 20 years of Elise, is set for the 2nd to the 5th of October, 2015, in the beautiful Barossa Valley. Their very shiny and exciting new website is now up and running, and taking bookings for the event!

Head to lotus2015.com.au to check it all out, book your spot and catch up on everything you need to know about the bi-annual Lotus extravaganza.

The website is taking bookings, with an earlybird offer for bookings made before the 31st of March providing entry to the Lotus 2015 Trackday at a discounted price of $200 per entrant.

When making a booking please make sure to click on ‘Participant and Vehicle Information’ after reaching the Event Checkout and provide your details to complete the booking. You will then receive a confirmation email with your booking reference number, and a second email with details of your booking.

Launching a website can be a tricky thing, so Lotus 2015 organisers are looking forward to your feedback and appreciate your patience with any teething problems you encounter. This is something we can sympathise with!

We can’t wait for Lotus 2015, and hope to see it become a great success!

www.lotus2015.com.au

Catching Up with CARnivale

Lotus Club at CARnivale

This morning dawned distinctly wet and miserable, which was in stark contrast to the 36 degrees we had yesterday.  Thanking goodness I put the hard top on the Elan last night, we headed into the city for CARnivale, the annual Australia Day automotive celebration held in Macquarie St between Hyde Park and the harbour. Generally there are car clubs from all over Sydney and the environs represented, and this year we decided to try for a Club Lotus presence.

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Lotus Memories: Our First Social Event – 29th July, 1973

OUR FIRST SOCIAL EVENT – 29TH JULY 1973

Andrew Jones was present at our first social event on the 29th of July, 1973, and recently contacted us with his memories from the day. His story adds a wonderful warmth and colour to the photos we have, so we thought we’d share it with you here!

If you have photos or recollections from events throughout Club Lotus history, please drop us a line at [email protected]. We’d love to share them with the club!

The following recollections are kindly shared by Andrew Jones.

“I was looking through the Club Lotus website today and came across the photo of the first outing in Sydney in 1973.  To my surprise, there are a number of remarkably familiar aspects of the photo.”

“The small boy with his father is none other than yours truly.  My father, Mike Jones, owned the ex – Moss Angliss S2 Super Seven.  You can see the small aero-screen on the car from its racing heritage days.  We kept the car for some years, after which Bill Wade bought it and he subsequently did a restoration.  The car is featured in its restored condition in the ‘Lotus Seven’ book  I think written by Ortenburger.”

“If my memory serves me correctly, the S3 FHC elan in the foreground belonged to Ian ???, the Elite is possibly Adrian Shaeggan’s pre-restoration, the seven is ours, the + 2 I think is Owen Wullerman’s, the S4 Elan – either Clive Bendons or Bill Wade’s and the MK II Lotus Cortina is Steve Fryer’s.  I think Steve would confirm he was running a 1665 cc Twin Cam with Cosworth L1s in those days.  I remember it was a really quick car and driven accordingly.”

OUR FIRST SOCIAL EVENT – 29TH JULY 1973

“I feel I must share a brief story about the next part of the day.  The gathering got a little larger than this photo, with David & Susan Levy arriving in his Alfa Spider, another +2 and several other Elans and Europas.  I remember them because I’d never seen one before.”

“We set off for Camden museum at a cracking pace – first outing and all, and I now realise this was actually the first official leg ever driven.  The competitive spirit was no doubt running pretty high and I have no idea how quick some cars were traveling, however – I can tell you the Seven and Elite didn’t have the legs to keep up with the Europas, Elans and Steve’s Mk II. “

“When we arrived at the museum, engines and exhausts could clearly be heard cooling in the car park and that magnificent smell of hot oil, hot engines and brakes, some cars were running racing fuel – so a bit of that avgas fume scent, and generally hot Lotus cars.  Everyone had enjoyed the leg and it was bloody brilliant for a boy of 11 years old. “

“After almost two hours in the museum, we returned to the cars for lunch  – only to observe Steve’s Cortina still had faint wisps of smoke curling from the exhaust. A testament to the effort the cars had made in getting to Camden. Even more impressive to the 11 year old boy.”

“Dad bought Steve’s MK II some years later and then sold it back to him in the 80s.  I used it as my first car and it spent a year in 1980 hidden behind Barker College when I was a yr 12 boarder.  It was fabulous for getting from my girlfriend’s 1st hockey fixture to my Rugby fixture on time in the days before speed cameras and mobile radar.  My father is now in his 80s and he and Steve are still great friends.”

The Preserve January 2015 Available for Download

The Preserve January 2015

‘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!

Council of Motor Clubs is back with their first edition of The Preserve for 2015, which kicks off the year with motoring news, upcoming events, part 2 of the 2014 Goodwood Revival Tour, a Volvo 121 Amazon and 1937 Packard, and a whole lot more.

If you’re a Club Lotus Australia member, head to the members page here to download your copy.

And if you’re not, head here, and take a browse around the website to see why you should be!

Collect a Club Lotus Australia Calendar!

Club Lotus Australia 2015 Calendar

Good news, everyone!

We have a few 2015 Club Lotus Australia calendars left over from an extras run, and they’re looking for new homes. These homes could be yours! So could the calendars!

If you’re interested in picking up a 2015 Club Lotus Australia calendar please drop us a line at [email protected] and we will arrange things. Calendars are $7 each, plus $10 postage, and we’ll send payment instructions via email.

Those of you who have already ordered extras should have an email notifying you that they are in the post and on the way.

CSCA Presentation & 2014 Final Results

A HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!

As we approach the Australia Day Weekend and start thinking about the 2015 Season, it’s time for a quick recap of the 2014 Season. We did very well, and everyone enjoyed themselves a great deal, so congratulations and thank you to everyone involved! Hit the following links for the results and final pointscores for 2014.

CSCA Class Final Pointscore 2014 [PDF]

CSCA Club Final Pointscore 2014 [PDF]

CSCA Drivers Final Pointscore 2014 [PDF]

To celebrate last year’s fun and acknowledge the winners we will be have a Presentation Evening at Sports House, 6a Figtree Drive Sydney Olympic Park, on the THURSDAY 12th February in Ken Brown Room 1.

Entry is from the carpark at the rear of the building with plenty of (Lotus friendly) secure parking available. This is a catered event by the CSCA so food and drinks will be provided for a token $5 fee at the door. All are welcome and encouraged, including wives and girlfriends.

I would be especially thankful if all trophy winners could be in attendance to accept the accolades from their fellow competitors, and save me the job of distributing uncollected trophies throughout the year. As you will note CLA again won the Club Championship so in effect all CLA competitors are trophy winners and I hope to see you all there on the night!

I’ve made a hard copy of the calendar for the 2015 season available for download below. This calendar includes other events that we feel you might be interested in. You’ll also be able to keep up to date with what the club is up to in the online calendar here.

2015 Sporting Calendar Full Version [PDF]

I expect 2015 to be a busy year, so now is the time to mark up you calendars! The first event will be hosted by Club Lotus Australia on the 22nd of March at Wakefield Park. Supplementary Regulations will be available early February via Motor Event Entry, and once again entry will be via the site with no paper entries accepted.

I hope to see you at the presentation. Please drop me a line letting me know that you’ll be attending for catering purposes.

Mike Basquil

CLA BUILD STORIES: TUFT’S ELEVEN JANUARY 2015

Lotus Eleven Build

Club Lotus Australia is full of interesting people who are up to interesting things with interesting cars. We think that’s wonderful, so we’re going to share their stories with you here!

If you’d like to share your story on the club website, just send Seth a quick email at [email protected]

In this post, we catch up with Ashton to find out more about his journey with the Tuft’s Eleven. You can enjoy part 1 here, part 2 here and part 3 here.

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CLUB LOTUS NEW ZEALAND EDITION 55 AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD

Lotus NZ Edition 55

Our friends from Club Lotus New Zealand have kicked off 2015 with their latest newsletter, and we’re pleased to share it with you here!

This edition catches up on what’s going on in the world of Lotus before enjoying a photo shoot with the Ganley Eleven, interviewing Howden Ganley, going touring by Lotus with Allan Walton, spending three days at Hethel, doing Shanghai to London and a whole lot more.

Download it from the following link, and enjoy!

Club Lotus New Zealand Edition 55 [PDF]

Please also make sure to head to their official website here, their Facebook page here, and their YouTube channel here to keep in touch with everything they’re up to.