Lotus Nordic Odyssey

[Foxie]

Just to prove once again that LOTUS = "Lots of Trouble, Usually Serious" is not true, we took the 1970 Elan Plus 2S on well over 3,000 trouble-free miles on the MSA Euroclassic Nordic Odyssey in September. We were one of 68 entrants who started in Stavanger, drove north over fiords, mountains and (LONG !) tunnels as far as Kristiansund, and then back through Lillehammer, Oslo, and down through Sweden to finish in Malmo. (Then a long trip through Denmark and England back to Rosslare !) Oldest car was a 1929 Le Mans Bentley Replica, youngest a 1989 Ferrari 328 GTS. A big problem arose when DFDS ferries announced the closure of their Newcastle-Stavanger route in June, AFTER around 100 entrants had paid in. The only route left was Harwich -Esbjerg, and make your own way to Stavanger. On the way to Stavanger we took in Frederikshaven - Gothenborg to visit relatives, and on to Oslo to get Ryanair home for a (badly timed !) wedding.

We were blessed with fine weather for the whole trip (the west coast of Norway is usually VERY wet) and enjoyed some fantastic scenery.

We were welcomed to Bergen by fellow +2 owner Philip Olsen and Ingrid. Philip told me (too late !) that the mountain road from Oslo to Stavanger was faster than the main coast road through Kristiansand (No 40 mph traffic)

In Oslo Bjorn Anders Haverstad and his son organised a welcome from the Norwegian Sportscar Club, although his +2 was away getting a head job done.

Drink (for those who failed to stock up with duty free) and petrol was horrendously expensive, and every vehicle in Norway seemed to drive at 40 mph or less even on the emptiest and straightest of roads, if there was a truck in front you were there for the day. Due to the remoteness of Norway, with very few foreign cars, all tolls are electronically charged on Norwegian registrations, and so you could just drive through.One of the highlights were driving up an unguarded hairpinned dirt road to the viewing point of Dalsnibba 1,500M over the Geiranger Fjord. Also driving over the Oresund and Storebaelt bridges on the road from Malmo to Esbjerg.

And the Lotus never missed a beat

Photos and route details can be seen at
http://www.euro-classic-photos.co.uk/

[John Larkin]

Hi Sean,

I've posted a report about my Stelvio trip as a reply to Nigel Robertson's post about the names he found written on his Sprint (the one that I sold him last year).

Has Bob Montgomery been in touch with you about Kirkistown on the 22nd of November?

Regards,

John

[Foxie]

John,

That's a brilliant report, full of adventure and interesting detail. And quick work too. You should send it in to Club Lotus. Pity about the weather you got, you deserve a return trip.

I think you have a bright future in journalism.

I saw Bob's post on a rare visit to Octane, and he's got back to me.

Black Eclat's put it on Classiccar.ie

I hope to get up to Kirkistown for the 22nd, arrive in Portaferry previous evening, and stay over.

Hope to see you all there.

Sean

[steveww]

Quite an adventure. I would love to do something like that. There is a big classic gathering in Sweden in the summer I have thought of driving my Elan to it.

I am off to the Arctic for a few days to drive Huskies this winter. I don't think the Lotus would cope with -40C.

[ianf]

Steve,

If you are talking about the Falsterbo event near Malmo in the summer it's a great event. Speak to the organisers in advance and they will look after you with entrance and we were even offered lunch 3 years ago. Also got a deal at the Malmo Hilton with U ground parking. The event is like a big garden party and not quite like anything I have been to before. Also lots of rarer cars in the UK eg Saab 2 strokes which just sound fab.

Cheers,

Ian

[Foxie]

Steve,

If Also got a deal at the Malmo Hilton with U ground parking. .

Cheers,

Ian

We stayed at the Malmo Hilton, U ground parking was very convenient, the scenic view from the outside lift at floor 22 was outstanding, but it wasn't cheap. Ibis hotel is nearby at 1/3 the price, anybody been there ?

[b-havers]

Very nice meeting you, Sean, after all the mailing we had in advance.
Sorry the +2 was off the road at the time (it has started now, but need to be sorted out before I take it to the MoT..).

The MG' though, took us safe to Oslo and back home. The MG was sold two weeks ago, so now I only have plastic cars in the garage again

Hope you are doing well, and perhaps we can meet when I once in the future will live my dream; take one of the Lotuses and drive all over England and Ireland.

[Foxie]

Hope you are doing well, and perhaps we can meet when I once in the future will live my dream; take one of the Lotuses and drive all over England and Ireland.

You're welcome. Let me know if you want advice planning your route

[b-havers]

That woulde be greate.
Though, target one is to get both the Elan and Europa in good reliable running condition - they are not right now...

I'll contact you by mail or PM later, I know the trip won't happend for at least two or three years..

Perhaps you'll come to Norway before we get to Ireland??
You are very welcome to stay with us for a couple of days if you'd like.