Have a Google round the Lotus factory

[neilsjuke]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sourc ... m&t=h&z=15

Left click on yellow man and drag to track

Neil

[leifanten]

very cool. if you pick the right spot on the track, you can use the arrows to follow a group of elises around the track until they turn off the track and back onto the factory grounds.

[tcsoar]

Hi,

I picked up the yellow man and managed to put him inside one of the factory buildings

Chris.

[alaric]

wow! That's from a video that's been submitted - not satellite - is it ...

[leifanten]

this is from the google "spy van" that drives around and films/shoots pix of street views all over the world. imagine the sinister ways of govmts to exploit this. Cool for tourists though.....

[type36lotus]

My gosh a lot of little A/C units in the front of the building. And a Mini Cooper S out front no less! But not a Lotus in street view.

[tdafforn]

There also seems to be an ELEVEN on by the hairpin
Tim

[type36lotus]

Ah, I found the Lotus parking spot! So there are some lotuses! I just had to look around enough. Kinda fun.

[Lincoln62]

Interesting to have a look around. When I was in England in 1989 I went there to see about having a look around the factory. Everyone in the club had told me how laid back and friendly it was there and there was no need to book ahead. Security said no dice. Not only that, when I stopped on the way out to get my picture taken with the Lotus sign out the front the security came out and hunted us away. I was very disappointed and it soured my view of Lotus as a company and as a result it's unlikely I would ever buy one of their products.

Still love my Elan though.

And at least I now get to have a look around there.

Pete
66S2

[robertverhey]

I've been on tours twice (1986 and 1992). First time I even got driven around the test track in an Esprit Turbo by John Miles! I found it very laid back, no probs about tapping busy workers on the shoulder, hunched over a sewing machine making seat covers, or showing us how to lower an engine into an Excel, or (second time) showing us how the amazing water jet laser cutter trimmed the edges off the Elan panels....These people really loved their work (and why not!)

Only the racing division was out of bounds, for obvious reasons.

All these images, mind you, are in my head, not in photos, of which I have none. So there must have been a "no photos" rule both times.

Don't write off the whole marque because of one over-zealous security guard!

Robert

[Lincoln62]

It's nice to hear that the factory is still somewhat like I had envisioned it. Thanks for the images.

I haven't written off the marque, I still love all kinds of Lotus.

What is lost is that romantic notion of a small band of enthusiasts making great sports cars just for our enjoyment. I don't have the tunnel vision I once had when it came to sports cars.

Pete
66S2

[archigator]

I booked the "Scare Yourself Sensible" track and factory tour package at the Lotus factory this past September (on my way to the Goodwood Revival) and it was such a great experience! Everyone was SO FRIENDLY (except for that security guard at the front gate, but he's just doing his job... not rude but firm. You are allowed to take a picture from the street however, but no cameras are allowed inside the property.) The "Scare Yourself Sensible" package includes 20 minutes driving around the track in an Elise with a professional driver giving you instruction. (Former Lotus F1 driver Martin Donnelly was one of the three instructors.) My instructor was Graham White, who rebuilds Elan twin-cams as a hobby. As we're barreling down the runway straight at 130mph, he was calmly asking me what size Webers I had on my Elan. After the factory tour, you climb back in the Elise, but now your instructor is behind the wheel for two laps. What a ride!!! Too cool!!! The whole package is well worth the 99 pound fee!

I was happy to find that Lotus cars are still hand-made, not a robot on the premises. Everyone I spoke with there said what a great company Lotus was to work for. They just hired over 100 new employees! They were also building Evoras and Teslas while we were there. Classic Team Lotus was located right across the street. That evening my wife and I had dinner at the nearby Bird in Hand Pub, which I think is the Lotus after-hours hangout to go to have a pint. Lotus posters on the walls. That's also where Lotus brass took Jacques Villenueve for dinner on his recent visit there as a possible driver for the new Lotus F1 team.

Based on my recent factory experience, I am sold on Lotus! More than ever, I feel a part of the Lotus fraternity. If you have the opportunity, you MUST go!

Gary
'71 Elan Sprint FHC
Miami, Florida