A thought..

[pereirac]

Hi,
Wandering around Hethel yesterday looking at all the car club stands, there was a group of Excels (lotusexcel.net) and a group of M100s (http://www.lotuselancentral.com) amongst others showing off their members cars. Older cars like Elans, +2 and Europas seemed rather lost amongst all the other more modern Lotus cars on the other club stands such as Club Lotus and The LDC..

We have a great group of owners here but it would be nice to meet up with other 60s -70s built Lotus members at events as a 'club'.

Just wondered what other people thought?

Carl

[tedtaylor]

Carl, you (and myself included - "we") are getting old! and so are our "vintage" cars. I have the same issue with original authentic Lotus Sevens. they are now pushed aside as vintage cars and the more robust, high technology 7 clones (like Brunton Stalkers, Caterham, and others) have taken their place at tracks and driving events. More aggressive, higher speeds, tighter corning, etc. are demanded anymore.

Don't get me wrong, i get your point and agree with you, but times, they are a changin and i have seen, felt and experienced the phasing out or dating of my favorite Lotus cars over the years for newer, faster, more technilogically advanced examples like the Evora 410.

Just my 2 cents.

[The Veg]

A vintage-Lotus club is an even bigger fantasy over this side of the world, just because of numbers. For example, I live in a metro area of about 6 million people, in which I am aware of the presence of 3 Elans and my Plus 2. Another 2 or Elans could possibly be in the local area, but they don't associate in any online circles or come to car shows so that's just a guess. The only Seven of which I'm aware in the local area is a Caterham built just a couple of years ago. There is a small handful of Giugiaro-era Esprits here, at least two and maybe 3, but they never get driven (there used to be one more that DID get driven, but I sold it to a bloke in California four years ago).

With Lotuses so few and far between, I have been trying via Facebook to start a local club for old sports cars of any make. It has yet to take off, but maybe it could yet.

[pereirac]

I think it was the sight of 20 or so Excels all parked together that got me thinking, after all they seem even rarer on the roads than Elans?
Carl

[vxah]

Did you see the 15 Carltons all in a row?

[pereirac]

Did you see the 15 Carltons all in a row?

Missed that!!

[RonR]

vxah wrote:
Did you see the 15 Carltons all in a row?

pereirac wrote:
Missed that!!

They looked a bit like this:

[pereirac]

vxah wrote:
Did you see the 15 Carltons all in a row?

pereirac wrote:
Missed that!!

They looked a bit like this:

How on earth did I miss that!! Must have been too busy looking for Elans and Excels or they were all the same colour!!

[prezoom]

Some wonderfully energetic people here in the San Diego area have formed a San Diego Chapter of the Golden Gate Lotus Club. Mostly new stuff, Evoras and Elises, but right now 2 Elans and 2 Sevens, and probably 1 more Elan shortly. The shame is, there are probably 6 or 7 more Elans here in North County alone. While the new group has just recently been formed, hopefully more of the owners of the older cars will join in, and get their cars out of their garages and start enjoying them, rather than having them as static displays.

[mbell]

I think it might work in the UK where there density of cars is much better that other places. TBH as this site is so strong and has a good community around it, it kind negates a lot of the need of a dedicated model specific club.

I have a similar problem to the other US based people in that there aren't enough local car to get any kind of formal group together for older lotus. For example I went to the Texas All British Car Day yesterday, I was the only Classic Lotus there! Last year I was of 3 Red +2's. I know there a couple of other of car's in Austin but not enough to have any regular type event/club.

[velo5338]

Hey Mr Veg,

I'm just down the I-20 in Augusta and am often in Atlanta (kids and grandkids live in Decatur).

I sometimes bump into Greg Z and very occasionally Frank F. You may have just potentially doubled your 'vintage' Lotus (semi-local) count.

I think our best option is to form unofficial sub-groups at local events such as the Mitty and the Norcross Brit Day.

I've now got 3 of my 5 Loti on the road and intend to put my wife behind the wheel of one (the +2) and my son in another (the 7) and the 3 of us will start hitting the local events - so make sure you publicize any that you hear of.

Mike

'60 Elite S1
'67 Seven
'70 +2 (not S)
'72 Elan Sprint (85% complete)
'73 Europa Special (75% complete)
'72 TVR 1600M (but we don't talk about that one)

[pcarew]

... For example I went to the Texas All British Car Day yesterday, I was the only Classic Lotus there! Last year I was of 3 Red +2's. I know there a couple of other of car's in Austin but not enough to have any regular type event/club.

I was originally planning on attending TABCD now that my Elan is back together, but due to some bad organization on my part, I had airline tix to travel back to UK that weekend.

I'll be back in Austin on the 24th Oct. I'd be happy to meet up sometime after that. I have also been interested in reviving the Hill Country Lotus club.
Paul

[mbell]

Hey Paul,

I was wondering if you'd come. I meant to ping you ahead to see but never got to doing it.

Getting the Hill Country Club back running would be great! Seems North and South club are running but just too far away to work! I know Michael who has a S3 waiting for restoration and see a few Elise's around. There was a few Evora's at TABCD so might be enough for some kind of club or informal group....

Ping me when you're back and we'll try sort a meet up out.

Cheers,

Mark

[pcarew]

Ping me when you're back and we'll try sort a meet up out.

I'm all for it......to everyone else, any other Texas based cars around?
Paul.

[pcarew]

Mark, Was this your Plus 2?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/115499245141733/permalink/2447864265238541/?comment_id=2450907618267539&reply_comment_id=2451006431590991&notif_id=1538514142573770&notif_t=group_comment