Club Lotus Track Day Castle Combe 26th May - are you coming?

[elanfan1]

Been asked to relaunch this subject here to get more viewings.

Just seen this:

From our friends at Club Lotus:

Those of you who came to Castle Combe last year will no doubt have been disappointed ? to say the least ? by the lack of space in the paddock due to race transporters and motorhomes being parked seemingly everywhere. It really spoilt the day and was especially annoying to us because we?d spoken to the circuit about it in 2010 and they?d promised it wouldn?t happen again. They did apologise but by then of course it was too late to do anything about it.

Our May trackday at Combe has always been one of the most enjoyable events of the year and we really want to re-establish this day as a great Club Lotus day out as well as a good value and safe Lotus trackday. We?re not going to let it be spoilt again and therefore we?ve moved the date away from Bank Holiday weekend which removes the overcrowding problem at a stroke. We?ll now have a completely empty paddock solely for our use with plenty of room for all our individual model groups to park together, get the picnic out and enjoy a great day?s entertainment. Combe is in a beautiful part of the country and has first class facilities, the best racetrack restaurant in the UK and plenty of good spectator viewing areas on the high grass banks around the circuit.

Track sessions (?94 for two guaranteed 15 minute sessions then open pitlane from around 2.30) are on sale now from Club Lotus ? just call us on 01362 694459 or email [email protected] for more info and to book. If there?s a group of cars who want to go out together that?s no problem and if there?s 12 cars you can have an exclusive 15 minute session. Free professional instruction is available from the resident Castle Combe instructors and crash helmets can be hired FoC on the day. Only Lotus cars are allowed on track and whilst there?s no speed limits we insist on good driving standards and behaviour so that everybody can enjoy themselves safely at their own pace. Please book early to guarantee your place.

Everyone who arrives in a Lotus will be invited to take part in the FREE lunchtime parade laps and as usual we?ll be running fast lap rides in Elise Trophy racecars and some other special Lotus cars in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust. We?ll have enough room to display the many historic cars properly and recreate the spectacle our Castle Combe day always used to be. We?re going to sell some trade stands at very reasonable cost and we?re also offering FREE autojumble spaces so bring your unwanted spares along and make some cash. So please come along, join in the fun and make it a memorable day out.
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Looks as though they are actively seeking Trade stands and Autojumblers - wouldn't it be great to be able to get back to the days when there was a fantastic turnout of the specialists, the racers and jumblers - all made for a great day out.

All we need now is to book the weather - as I recall it is either always peeing down or sunstroke weather no happy medium.

To my mind its a 'well done' to Alan and his team for trying to resurrect this as a major Club Lotus event of the year. How about we all try to make an effort to contribute to and support the day.

[Jason1]

Sounds like a great idea to me. I have been to Castle Coombe a few times in my +2 and even though I have never been on the track I always enjoyed looking at the cars and having a picnic. There was always a few people selling parts from their car boot so a few trade stands would be great.

Well done Club Lotus.

Jason

[Spyder fan]

Thanks for the heads up Steve,

I'm bringing both my cars to Castle Combe ( zetec +2 & Duratec Elan S4), both will be going out on track to give the modern stuff a fright and my kid brother Fast Freddie (ex kart champion) will be terrorising everything on track.

I have confirmation of at least 3 other modified Elans and a Europa zetec coming to join us, we really need another 15 - 20 cars to come along so we can take over part of the Paddock and show those smug gits in the HLR that we have our own club which is definitely not open to non Elans

As per Steve's post above, you don't need to pay anything to attend, just turn up with your car and enjoy the atmosphere. Some of us going out on track may have a spare passenger seat, you just need to borrow a crash helmet (free) and sign the disclaimer to get a memorable run at high speed around the circuit in relative safety (as compared with the road!). Please be warned that rides with Fast Freddie are a bit hair raising!

Please make an effort to attend, it's a great day out.


Kindest Regards and hope to see some of you there.

Alan

[elanfan1]

How about posting up if you are coming:

1) to use track

2) just to socialise/meet up/put faces to names/nice day out

3) to bring some autojumble -

(if there are enough maybe we can persuade Alan to let us have a section of our own? Traditionally it was always on/around the concrete pad)

4) who knows which specialists are coming

[types26/36]

How about posting up if you are coming:

2) just to socialise/meet up/put faces to names/nice day out

+1

[Spyder fan]

Latest news about the track day:

Spyder Cars have been invited to attend by Club Lotus so that they can display their latest creations and also to provide passenger rides on track. Cars attending will include the new Europa Zetec conversion, my own Elan Duratec conversion and at least 2no +2 zetec conversions, all of which will be available for passenger rides. I will be piloting the Duratec Elan and at least one of the +2's and Fast Freddie will pilot anything that he can get his ample frame into which might unfortunately rule out the Europa

There may be a small charity donation required for a ride (details not worked out yet) or just drool and say you want to buy one and no doubt a free demonstration will be laid on

It's a good chance to get a fast ride on track and evaluate one of these conversions from a real world perspective.

If you have only read about these types of conversions and not experienced them first hand, perhaps thinking they are not right for you or not in the spirit of Lotus then get down to Combe and be prepared for a pleasant surprise.

Regards to all, and please make the effort to come along, it's a free day after all.

[elanfan1]

OK - with a fortnight to go until the day I thought it tiome to bump the thread.

Why no let us know if you're coming? and to do what?

[Spyder fan]

General lack of interest it seems...........surely not?

Castle Combe may not be in your neck of the woods..... it certainly isn't within 3 hours of my home, but it's the best free day you will ever have with your Elan,.

Come on guys, give a little support to Club Lotus and the best UK historic race venue there is. Membership is not required, fee is not required, just turn up and enjoy


Alan

[Baggy2]

Yes, I'm planning on going subject to decent weather.
Baggy

[rjaxe]

Yes.

[Robbie693]

I imagine most, who are not going on the track, are waiting to see what the weather is doing

Robbie

[Spyder fan]

Robbie,
it always rains at Combe No need to wait and see what it's doing

Alan

[Robbie693]

Boo! I'm sure I went there once and it was sunny !

[elanfan1]

The weather at Combe is usually one extreme or the other - I've been very sunburnt (in May!!) but there was that year record rainfall fell something like 4 inches in an hour or so. The soil was dry and hard and the rain didn't really soak in and was just bouncing off - the roads became mini rivers. Also recall someone leaving their roof off and they literally had to bail water out of their car.

Anyway I find this website pretty good - 10 day forecast for Combe - doesn't quite reach 26th yet and gets more accurate the nearer the day - includes a precipitation forecast:

http://local.msn.com/worldweather.aspx?q=castle combe-gbr&eid=7407996

I can't get the 'header' I'm copying to 'hold' the information about Combe (someone more intelligent might be able to help with this?) -you'll need to click on 'Find Location' (NOT THE BING TOOLBAR) and type in Castle Combe then click on the 10 day forecast tab near the bottom of the screen.

[elanfan1]

26th Sat: 22?/13? - 61 % precip or 17?/9? - 70 % precip or 18?/9? - 0% precip

The above represents 3 weather companies views of what the weather will be next week at Castle Combe. These week ahead forecasts probably aren't to be trusted but vary from a high of 22 degrees and a 70% chance of rain to 17 degrees and no rain at all.

Hope there'll be a consensus nearer the day!