"Club Elan" or LotusElan.net Meet, UK

PostPost by: trw99 » Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:47 am

I mooted the idea of a Club Elan on the Donnington????? thread. It has been taken up and does, I believe, deserve a new thread of its own.

In summary, this has arisen from listers noting a lack of Elans at Donnington this year. Some said it was too early in the season, that their cars were run only in the warmer, drier months or that they were still working on their car. In addition, a good deal of existing Lotus club activity has a tendency to be dominated by Elises, not surprisingly.

A Club Elan meeting (or it could be a LotusElan.net meeting) could be a good way for interested original Elan and Plus Two owners to get together. A summer meet would make sense, perhaps June or July. The location could be a pub with a large car park, or as has been suggested, the Shuttleworth Collection, Beds or at the Heritage Museum, Gaydon.

I am happy to co-ordinate this but would appreciate some help! However, it would be good to know what others think, what support there might be, what other ideas or wishes listers have before deciding on anything. Let us know, do!

Tim
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PostPost by: Elanintheforest » Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:16 am

Tim
Why have a meeting in June anywhere other than the Club Lotus venue which has been booked and all sorted?.Castle Coombe? There may be some folks who would find it difficult to make two meets in a month. It?s a great venue, lots of Loti zooming around a track, and quite a lot of Elans turn up?a lot more if we all make a concerted effort like the M100 boys did on Saturday.

On the subject of forming ?Club Elan?, as a generic gang, I think we?re here. All that?s missing is as complete a register of Elans as possible. It makes a lot of sense to me to have LotusElan.net as a central focus of Elan enthusiasm, with spin-off local groups forming to meet up, and maybe combining that with the Club Lotus events in the UK. Could be the best of three worlds.

I?m sure that a Club Elan would attract more folks than just a forum, but those would, in the main, be receivers of information, rather than givers or sharers, which is what this forum is all about. I know many of the Elan specialists in the UK, and they will never contribute to Club Lotus or LotusElan.net for reasons of time, and a bit of the old knowledge-is-????.

If we do all get together in June it may well be worth debating out some of this stuff, unless we do so in the meantime here. Which, as is the nature of this forum, we probably will. I guess that the main question to answer is?what else do we want? And having determined that, the next is?who is going to step up to make it happen?

My bob?s worth is whatever else is needed, lets try and make that happen so that it involves Club Lotus and LotusElan.net and helps build and continuously improve both of them.

Mark
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PostPost by: robcall » Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:14 am

Couple of thoughts,
1-It'd be a pity to leave out the Europa from 2nd generation models of that era.
2-How do you distinguish yourselves from the M100 lot?
Nigel Robertson
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PostPost by: GrUmPyBoDgEr » Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:14 pm

I tend to agree with Mark & Nigel & would like to add my "two penneth".
There are several events where get togethers could be arranged & also some good historic racing to be seen.
At Silverstone every summer there's a historic event where the whole of the infield is dedicated to "club areas" with free parking!
About 4 years ago there was a massive turn out of Lotus (lots of Elans & 7's) which was a combined thingy between Club Lotus & LDC.
LDC nearly always arrange infield parking at the historic race meetings at Donington.
So lots of oppertunities; which I have taken advantage of during my stays in GB.

Tim,
it was good to hear that you would be prepared to organise something along these lines, perhaps it would be helpful to make contact with the named clubs to find out what they are planning & join in.
Cheers
john
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PostPost by: Barney » Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:23 pm

Tim,

I'm with you on this point - but can appreciate some of the other sentiments posted here also.

As I've posted under the other thread there are a lot of activity based events that the other clubs just aren't providing. Organising our own events would not prevent all of us going to the other functions, and if it does come to a decision an event with participation and fun rather than park and watch would clinch my decision everytime,

But I note also that the suggested venues tend to be not a great distance from the location of each poster - strange that!

Use of our cars would - I have thought - been the crux, with a chance for all to participate - even "her indoors". Autotests, scenic/interesting drives, It's a knockout types of driving skills, treasure hunts, organised meal during a weekend would make people want to go again and again.

Classic Lotus or Retro Lotus (Lotus Flares?) - what's in a name? If there are others - (Europas & Sevens from the era) that want to join in then great!

Maybe this refects that I do not feel older than my car! (If only that were true!) and am not satisfied being just on a static display.

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PostPost by: steveww » Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:40 pm

There certainly appears to be a desire for a summer Elan meet :)

I agree that LotusElan dot Net is the place to organise this.

We need to meet somewhere where there is more to do than just park and polish. Silverstone Classic is a good idea (25/26/27 July) action on track and loads of trade stands plus other marques to look at. We can possibly get infield parking with LDC or such like or if we contact Silverstone soon may be under our own banner.

If the idea of race meetings is favourable http://www.tophatracing.co.uk/ have a number of meets as does http://www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk/

I think we need to come up with a short list of possible venues and dates and set up a vote on the forum. This should be done reasonably promptly or we might not be able to get a group booking at short notice.

I would be happy to help out with organisation etc.
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PostPost by: steveww » Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:41 pm

There certainly appears to be a desire for a summer Elan meet :)

I agree that LotusElan dot Net is the place to organise this.

We need to meet somewhere where there is more to do than just park and polish. Silverstone Classic is a good idea (25/26/27 July) action on track and loads of trade stands plus other marques to look at. We can possibly get infield parking with LDC or such like or if we contact Silverstone soon may be under our own banner.

If the idea of race meetings is favourable http://www.tophatracing.co.uk/ have a number of meets as does http://www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk/

I think we need to come up with a short list of possible venues and dates and set up a vote on the forum. This should be done reasonably promptly or we might not be able to get a group booking at short notice.

I would be happy to help out with organisation etc.
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PostPost by: GrUmPyBoDgEr » Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:27 am

I forgot to mention the great gathering that "CLOG" organise every year at the Oulton Park "Gold Cup".
That's a good venue for those of you who are a bit further up north.

Brands Hatch also hosts Historic race meetings & of course there is also Goodwood for all of you living south of the dreaded M25.

As mentioned previously, the "Club Lotus" track day at Castle Combealways attracts a great turn out & you have the chance to get your car out onto the circuit.
(Handy for all us "Carrot crunchers" :lol: )

My being "provincial" get out bit done :wink:

From my experience from attending some of the meets organised by LDC at Donington:
Regardless of the effort put into advertising the event, putting up a tent sort of thing & flagpoles; the attendance by club members can sometimes be quite dissapointing.

Cheers
John
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PostPost by: Old English White » Thu Apr 03, 2008 4:01 pm

... I don't know if we are enough abroad to have our word , but there is a small event , every 2 years (so fairly enough time to finish a car , engine , etc):
Le Mans Classic .
And speaking about an "Elan Club" , don't make any mistake : Stay in your "Lotus club" . You are not going to be more than the existing (and rolling) cars . We had the same reflexion at the French Lotus Club ... We create the "CLF Classic" , and try to attract the older cars by making cheaper prices for track-days , special events etc . Many members , thinking about to quit are happy of their decision to stay , and lot of the Elise/Exige/Speedster/etc owners are thinking about a "classic".
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PostPost by: tdafforn » Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:23 am

I agree with most of the above sentiments.
Also agree that something other than a "park up and parade" would be better.
Am in for any of the classic meets (Will be going to FOS at goodwood this year and maybe the revival)
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PostPost by: steveww » Sun Apr 06, 2008 5:55 pm

So what about we all meet up at the Silverstone Classic

http://www.silverstone.co.uk/php/rm_classical.html

July 25 - 27.

Lots else to see and do rather than just a park and polish 8)

I will certainly be there in my Elan with my other half.

If enough people are interested I will try and get some reserved parking, I have a few contacts at Silverstone.
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PostPost by: tdafforn » Sun Apr 06, 2008 7:34 pm

sounds good but'll have to check I'm not on holiday!
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PostPost by: elan_fan » Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:27 pm

Do the Lotus drivers club still have a sprint at Wellesbourne, thats Strattford? I tried the web site but got 404

or Oulton park gold cup in August

https://tickets.motorsportvision.co.uk/calendar/race-event-details.asp?ProductID=3570

or a round of the Paul Matty hillclimb at Shelsley(Kidderminster) Loton park (Shrewsbury) all various parts of the Midlands.
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PostPost by: robcall » Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:06 am

Anyone know how Club Elite(type 14) works?
Do they interact with Club Lotus?
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PostPost by: GrUmPyBoDgEr » Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:42 am

Yes LDC do hold their "Sprint?". More of a track day really but it's not at Wellesbourne but north of Birmingham. Name fails me at the moment.
I can't access their website either, have been trying for weeks.

As far as I know there is very little contact between "Club Elite" & "Club Lotus" They usually turn out at Donington & their AGM is usually held locally at the same time.

Cheers
John
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