Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

The three Elans at LMC 2018.

*** Images removed due to unauthorised use ***



I can't remember how to post photos directly to this place.

These images are my Copyright- please do not use them for any purpose without my written permission. Thanks.

2 comments....

Thanks to Tim for the story behind the only Elan to participate at LeMans. To bad the Elans did not enjoy the same great success achieved by the Lotus Eleven and the Elite at the great 24 hour race. So many high placements, class and index victories by those Coventry Climax powered Lotus cars. After the great Lotus 23 fiasco in 1962 Colin Chapman vowed to never return so perhaps that sealed the deal for no Elan success in the following years.

Thanks to Paul Tooms for adding his experiences. We've all enjoyed Paul's many amazing and entertaining YouTube videos. I'm always impressed by the amount of time that Paul and others spend in top gear at or near terminal velocity when racing at circuits like Spa....very impressive. Thruxton is frequently billed as the "Fastest Circuit in the UK"....it looks like a 2.4 mile oval with a couple of chicanes thrown in.



Plenty for straight or nearly straignt for reaching 8,500+ RPM.

The 2nd car that Peter posted a photo of - the silver Elan #38 -also took 2nd overall at the 2018 Tour Auto.

In 26-R5, fitted with a Hart 416B engine, I was able to hold 8000rpm consistently with a 4.1 diff ratio-on Avons-which was almost 140 mph according to my arithmetic at the time and also a 2.7 Carrera driver at Seattle (Long straight) or Westwood. One didn't think about the possibilities...

On Goodwood's Lavant straight, my Roadsports spec S3 would reach and hold 8500 RPM. My shaky back of the envelope maths got me to the high 120s with the diff / tyre combination I had at the time.

Frankly, it scared the life out of me. It is not mentioned above, so perhaps it was just me, but the car seemed to get very light at the front - I assumed because of aerodynamic lift. I really wouldn't have wanted to go any faster, even if the car did.

some pictures @ Le Mans Classic

more pictures on :

http://www.oldtimerweb.be/fotos-oldtime ... _6993.aspx

and

http://www.oldtimertips.be/pictures/det ... t=0&page=1


Best Regards,

Michel SCHAUWERS

car 67 Grant Tromans and car 68 Nick Pink both are genuine 26R's and both have my bodyshells on.
Dave Hughes

Now that brings back memories,

My children's school was just off center right. Satellite picture. I fondly remember a very rainy day doing a sponsored walk around the curcuit with a picnic break halfway round.

Not quite as good as watching the historic races or bikes but fun day none the less

Given that there have been new-build "evocation" GT40s, etc running for the past ten years, why not just slap in a 3.54 diff and take a chance?