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Elan visiting home

PostPosted: Sun Aug 26, 2018 7:58 am
by hgw_andree
Goodwood!
As a child I admired the people who took their MGs or Jaguars on the ferry Hamburg to Harwich to visit homeland.The ferry service no longer exists but I kept speaking about this. And speaking only. Until our children now presented us with tickets to Goodwood Revival. "Now you have to go!" So the plan is to drive from Hamburg to Calais in one day and then visit Kent and Sussex more leisurely prior to Goodwood. I just wonder if any members live there in the south? In case I need a screwdriver, a water pump rebuild or need to clean the oily hands...
Don't worry the car should be in good condition. Although I am a bit tense, over the years I just drove to the local posing place and now we want to do 2000km in a short time.
img_7222.jpg and
Elan waiting for new tires

Regards from Hamburg
Gunther

Re: Elan visiting home

PostPosted: Sun Aug 26, 2018 8:52 am
by Certified Lotus
Gunther, all I can say is the car is meant to be driven! Some friends of mine and I drove our Elan?s over 1000 miles a couple of weeks ago (to a Lotus meet) and no one had any issues. We all carried a variety of spare parts, none were needed (outside of the normal oil top off every once in a while). There is a video posted on this site called ?LOG38 Road Trip?. The return trip was in pouring rain for two days, the cars still ran fine.

Unfortunately I live in the states and can?t provide road side support for your trip. Our Lotus Club in the US publishes an annual member list that identifies what type of Lotus Car expertise each owner has and what type of support they are willing to offer. I wonder if other Lotus clubs in Europa do the same?

Enjoy your trip and post some photos and your experiences when you return!
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Re: Elan visiting home

PostPosted: Sun Aug 26, 2018 8:58 am
by Concrete-crusher
Gunther

Good wood revival is a fabulous event , I normally go but missed getting tickets this year.
I live about 50 miles to the west , just under an hour to drive

My only advice is to plan your travelling time to be early around the event itself as the roads get totally jammed and Sept. Here is normally hot so not the best time to be stuck in a jam.

Have a good trip , if a ticket crops up I might see you there.

Steve

Re: Elan visiting home

PostPosted: Sun Aug 26, 2018 9:17 am
by Pastapesto
Hi Gunther

There are quite a few of us around the Kent & Sussex area and the roads are very nice for driving on. I live on the Kent/Sussex border in the town of Tunbridge Wells. It is a "Spa" town (similar to Bath but very much smaller) & has some very nice places to visit, in and around the surrounding area. I will "private message" you my phone numbers & if you say what sort of things you like to visit (castles, large old houses & country estates etc) then I will make a list of possible places & attractions for you to consider. Goodwood (Revival & the Festival of Speed) is a fantastic event to visit and there are an immense amount of things to see & take in.

I am not sure if I will be around for that weekend but if you keep my number, if you have any problems then please call and I will try my best to help.

That is a very nice looking "Sprint 5" you have there.......is it one of the 4/5 that were made at the factory or a retro fit 5 speed car?

Good luck with the trip & all the best.

Adam

Re: Elan visiting home

PostPosted: Sun Aug 26, 2018 1:28 pm
by hgw_andree
Thank you very much for your encouragement, Glen.
I studied the messages about your trip LOG38. I realised that quite a few jobs back I had to work occasionally in Bloomsbury and stayed in Allentown. But it would need time travel to join you for your last trip.
Good suggestion - I will post occasionally how it is going.

Steve, thank you. We have to get up early than on the Saturday we attend Goodwood. We come from Lewes, all booked out closer to Goodwood or $$/??! Hope you get tickets.

Adam, thanks for your contact details and help. Sprint 5, there seem to be more than 4 or 5 original Sprint 5, as some were additionally exported to Sweden. Details at elansprint page from Tim Wilkes.

I look forward to the trip to Kent and Sussex!
Kind regards
Gunther

Re: Elan visiting home

PostPosted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 10:17 pm
by daleb
Hi Gunther,
I hope you have a great trip in your lovely looking Sprint. I live on the south Hampshire coast approximately 25 minutes from Goodwood and will be attending the Revival on the Friday but am around all weekend if you need help.
I will PM you my phone number and hopefully we may meet up if you are there on the Friday.
Cheers
Dale.

Re: Elan visiting home

PostPosted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 1:39 pm
by hgw_andree
Hi Dale,
just sent a private message with phone etc.
But now here I realise you will there Friday "only".
Thanks for the offer of potential help.
I hope everything will be ok.
BTW I asked my local car workshop to make a total check of the car and they charged me 25?!
They said all is ok.
Kind regards
Gunther

Re: Elan visiting home

PostPosted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 3:20 pm
by 69S4
Hi Gunter

Just wanted to say good luck with the trip but if the car's in good condition you shouldn't need it. I've just come back from a similar length trip down to the French Alps and back - around 2500km total, and had nothing at all go wrong. I didn't even have to add any oil. Hamburg to Calais is about 700km isn't it? I did 600km in a day - all on back roads in France and it was tiring. I'm sure you'll take loads of spares but don't forget a set of ear plugs; it does make everything so much more relaxed :D

Re: Elan visiting home

PostPosted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 8:41 pm
by hgw_andree
Hi Stuart,
thank you very much, good luck is always good. 600 km on secondary roads make me speechless.
So 650 km on Autobahns is a child's game?!
But noise at higher speed... My glove box is already an ear plug box. When open I do not want to be irritated by lorry tire sound. And with the roof up the sound from the roof is deafening. Now my son initiated to tape the transition between windscreen and roof silent. What an effect. Will see how long the tape lasts.
I looked at your webpage, interesting business you have there in the Alps.
Kind regards
Gunther