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Re: Club Lotus Show April 2013 -Anyone going

PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 2:33 pm
by Old English White
Hi,
I should be around, as -now- usual.
Will be late on saturday morning, will quit early on sunday.
This year, I will be chasing parts for my S1 111S Elise, mainly...
And make some pictures of the Elan's in the area.
See you there!
Christian. :mrgreen:

Re: Club Lotus Show April 2013 -Anyone going

PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 6:28 pm
by PeterK
Enforced change of plans, so will be here Sunday now.
Peter

Re: Club Lotus Show April 2013 -Anyone going

PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 4:56 pm
by ElanSeries2
I'll be there, Saturday morning until lunch. I'll try to fashion some sort of LotusElan.net badge, so I can be recognised as one of the team :)

Are we going to arrange a meeting (or a couple of meetings for those coming at different times)? Maybe midday at Cliveboy's stand?

Re: Club Lotus Show April 2013 -Anyone going

PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:22 pm
by Spyder fan
There is a Saturday afternoon 3:30pm meeting arranged in the caf? area between myself, Tim Wilkes, Derek John Pelly (Grumpy bodger) Mark Kempson (Elan in the Forest) MarkB,, Adam (pasta pesto) and some others, all welcome to say hello.

My Elan is on Spyders stand and I will be there on and off during the whole day. I'm sure Sean and Andy from spyder will be pleased to say hello to anyone calling by and I will leave my mobile number displayed on the car if anyone wants to make contact.


Regards

Re: Club Lotus Show April 2013 -Anyone going

PostPosted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 8:44 am
by 512BB
Everyone was so overwhelmed by the show that they are all speechless!

And forgot to take their cameras.

Leslie

Re: Club Lotus Show April 2013 -Anyone going

PostPosted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:05 am
by Coupe
Thought the whole show a little disapointing compared to other years. Nice to see Jim Clarks Elan there and had a chat to Brian Buckland. Sue Miller looked very busy. Spyder had quite a large stand but not really into kit cars :lol:

Re: Club Lotus Show April 2013 -Anyone going

PostPosted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:42 am
by gino1
Hi All,

Regarding the show I was very disappointed...All the parts suppliers, bar Susan Miller, were not present as if the show had been boycotted !!
In total I purchase a used key ring a Europa badge and two rocker cover gaskets.. :( which sadly reflects how e bay has affected this sort of event.
I was also disappointed to see that the car park outside was open to visitors with normal cars, which in the past had been reserved only for Lotuses , and the number of Lotuses present were indeed less than on other occasions.
It was good to meet up with some friends but on the whole, after three tours of the pavillion and three hours later I left :shock:
On previous events I even went on the Sunday morning before returning to the airport.
Gino
Milano
Italy

Re: Club Lotus Show April 2013 -Anyone going

PostPosted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:55 am
by Spyder fan
Coupe wrote: Spyder had quite a large stand but not really into kit cars :lol:


So why do you like Lotus Elans then? :mrgreen: But I do know what you mean, don't worry :wink:

From a visitors point of view the show was disappointing and the parking area which always provides at least half of the reason for going to the show was severely lacking and poorly organised.

I met up with quite a few people from here which was very nice, Grumpy Bodger, TRW99, Jannik from Denmark, Aussie John, Pasta Pesto, Brian Clarke, Steve Elanfan from Welsh Wales, I'm sure I have missed quite a few people out, it's all a bit of a blur still as I was quite busy chatting all day long. From an exhibitors point of view it was a very good show if you had something interesting for people to look at and talk about and perhaps buy, there were minor crowds around Spyders stand all day on the Saturday.

Leslie,
I took some photo's, and will post them later, just too much work today and too tired yesterday.

Re: Club Lotus Show April 2013 -Anyone going

PostPosted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:05 am
by adigra
I thought the show was a bit disappointing as well with the notable absence of many specialists and parts suppliers, although I had a good time nonetheless.. The lecture/talk area was a bit depressing, shoved against a back wall behind a curtain. A couple of the talks were packed, so there was definitely interest.

I picked up the newly released softback of the Robinshaw and Ross Elan book from Paul himself, who kindly singed it for me. I also arranged to have a rollcage and side protection fitted with Spyder, as well as some new suspension parts (to finally replace my federal spec fronts). Met Cliveboy in person and told him how impressed I've been with his products, and chatted to Susan MIller and ordered some parts. So, overall, I can't complain, but all of that was done in 2 hours flat.

There were a lot of Lotus cars there, but the parking was very poorly signposted (as in not at all), so many people parked right by the entrance which is quite a way from the hall. I parked right in front of the hall where there was a lot of empty space.

Re: Club Lotus Show April 2013 -Anyone going

PostPosted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:09 am
by Coupe
Spyder fan wrote:
Coupe wrote: Spyder had quite a large stand but not really into kit cars :lol:


So why do you like Lotus Elans then? :mrgreen: But I do know what you mean, don't worry :wink:

Pleased you can take a joke - I thought your car looked very nice.
We made use of the 2 for 1 offer down at the Grand Prix collection which was worthwhile. I didn't realise they had a BRM Elan there.

Re: Club Lotus Show April 2013 -Anyone going

PostPosted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:22 am
by Elanintheforest
There were a lot of Elans around the museum on Saturday...maybe many went there instead of the exhibition hall!

There were a few spectacular cars in the hall, including a stunning yellow S3 Coupe on the Option 1 stand, Tim Mees' old S2 now fully restored, and a jaw dropping 26R in the Historic Lotus section. I spend quite a while examining the very green SuperSprint Alan, and it is a very impressive looking machine. I'll bet it goes a bit as well! I saw you a couple of times when I was nattering with other folks...perhaps we'll meet up at Castle Coombe in a few weeks time.

I enjoyed myself catching up with quite a few folks and looking at the cars and chatting to the owners. But then I don't go to those shows to buy bits, so not let down by the lack of trade stands.
Mark

Re: Club Lotus Show April 2013 -Anyone going

PostPosted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 11:25 am
by jimj
It was a great couple of hours if you live an hour away, as we do, but I do worry when hyperbole attracts overseas visitors who must be disappointed. I didn`t look at the "Elans" that only have an Elan body and different everything else. I just don`t see why you`d want an elan that wasn`t one but as long as the owners are happy that`s OK.
It was nice in the sunny car park and especially the cars for sale with an interesting variety of asking prices. Did you see the Lagoon blue Sprint at ?32,000 with free micro blistering on the nose and front wings?
I took a TR4 owning pal who was very taken with the incredible value of M100s. So interested he`s actively searching right now to replace his wife`s soft top Mini. Well it`s a start.
Jim

Re: Club Lotus Show April 2013 -Anyone going

PostPosted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 4:24 pm
by PeterK
Took us 2 hours on Sunday to do 140 miles up to the M1 junction at Donington, then a further 55 minutes to do the last 4 miles :-( Saw Alan departing the hotel in SuperSprint while queuing. Then didn't see any signs for the show until the final entrance, when there was a Club Lotus one blown inside out, then no signs inside the circuit.

Nice to chat with Sue (Miller) in person rather than just on the phone, but gave up trying to talk to Spyder. Loved some of the Lotus 11s, had a great chat with the guy who drove Jim Clark's Elan to the show, and had a sneaky look around the Elan Plus 2's. I think that MattElan managed to take around 250 photos !

Went with a long list of things needed, but only came away with a box of self tappers and some pipe clips. ?2.80 for a cup of brown liquid !, Overall I think the show was over-hyped /under delivered against my expectations, but looking forward to Castle Coombe which I enjoyed last year.

There were some nice Esprits in the car park though, plus a selection of Plus 2's to ogle :-)

Peter

Re: Club Lotus Show April 2013 -Anyone going

PostPosted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:31 pm
by Maulden7
I was helping out on one of the other Club stands on the Saturday, but was able to get outside in the afternoon & have a walk around (plus got a drive in a Lotus Sunbeam!)

Clearly lots of non-Lotus's in the "Lotus Parking Area" for some reason, but on walking up towards the museum I did think that there were a lot of Lotus cars spread across just about everywhere. Clearly the lovely weather had brought owners out. I arrived just before 8.30am so no problems driving in & parking right in front of the main entrance!

I've been attending these shows for a long time (going back to the Stoneleigh days - before Donington) & the number of trade / parts areas has dwindled almost to nothing in comparison with the past (though it was good to see Sue Miller still supporting the requirements for parts) All I wanted was a set of Elan handbrake pads (with an old set to exchange) but nobody had these. Had I even thought that this might be the case I would have asked Sue to bring a set (no Classicar Automotive for the first time ever)

I did however buy a rare unused nos Lotus Sunbeam sump for the Club, & the trader did me a good deal after my pleading Club poverty!

Lots of nice cars in the car parks.

Castle Combe next, & let's hope for weather like last year so we can all enjoy the track just as much.

Re: Club Lotus Show April 2013 -Anyone going

PostPosted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:26 pm
by john.p.clegg
My Two-penneth..

After pleading for a separate queue for ticket holders there was no need,there was no queue. The weather was good,the car park opposite the hall, I think ,should have been Lotus Only as cars were dotted around all over the place, and the standard of Auto-jumble was meagre to say the least,dealer numbers were low,didn't bother with a return trip on the Sunday...

It's sadly been going this way for the past few years....

Disgruntled of Denton :wink: