The Modifier

Yes that's right, it won again last week at Goodwood driven by Andy Middlehurst, absolutely creamed the rest of the field. link to Youtube video

Here's my pictures in no particular order. Phil Harrison and myself travelled up the day before and took a detour to see the old factory at Cheshunt. The owner of The Monster Gym (Steve) turned up, saw our cars and came over to say hello and would we like him to open the gate so we could take the cars down the alley to the ramp for some photos. He's a really nice guy and we chatted about the buildings to learn that he has three years left on the lease at which point The Monster Gym and the office/assembly building will be no more. He said he was making sure to remove the commemorative plaque before this happens to keep it safe, I know that some of you keep in touch with Steve and it's good that he takes an interest and is always so welcoming. I chatted to Clive Chapman when he visited the event and showed him the photos, he's aware that the buildings are going and mentioned that he was going to try and salvage the gantry that lowered the finished cars down to ground level. These are pictures hosted off site, if you click on the thumbnails they open the pictures in a new tab. Go to www.classiclotuselan.com for the report

Just two tickets left for the 11am Classic Team Lotus tour 25th September on the day of the Elan Picnic at Hethel. Bargain price of £27.50 per head (normally £50) The 2pm tour has 4 tickets available 11am link http://www.wixevents.com/viewEvent/v2/b7411375-dac7-474a-b1c9-36b388dc0256/7b185d80-f34d-49a4-89bd-1971ff76eed6 2pm link http://www.wixevents.com/viewEvent/v2/b7411375-dac7-474a-b1c9-36b388dc0256/4d658197-e4f1-4759-ae06-f83d1c8689f1

I'm one of the organisers of this event and I realise that it seems to be aimed at just classic Elan owners, that's not the case it's aimed at everyone who appreciates Lotus in it's classic or contemporary form. The 72 event has sadly been cancelled to spectators, but this Elan event will go ahead and is free to attend. Classic Team Lotus are supporting us and are opening up for the day on Sunday 25th September. Richard Parramint is conducting tours of their facilities that include many historic F1 cars on the day for the bargain price of £27.50 which is considerably less than the £50 they usually charge, in addition there's 10% off merchandise and you get to see the new parts department that takes over/incorporates from Paul Matty. Other than that, it's a free to attend event, how many of those are there these days? Please support us and visit www.classiclotuselan.com for registration and details kind regards Alan Thomas, Mark Kempson, Tim Wilkes ( Classic Lotus Elan Register)

The Classic Lotus Elan Register (CLER) is pleased to invite all Elan (Types 26, 36, 45 & 50) owners and enthusiasts to gather for a ‘Picnic at Hethel’ to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the launch of the Lotus Elan in October 1962. By kind permission of Lotus Cars Ltd, we aim to have a simple free-to-enter gathering at Hethel on Sunday 25th September 2022. Come and park up at the home of Lotus, meet old friends and new, bring your own picnic too. Gates will be open from 0830 hours and visitors should be away from the site by 1700 hours. Please note there will be no access to the factory or the test track. There will be portable conveniences bought in especially for the event, but there will be no trade stands or food outlets. Classic Team Lotus will be open for the day and we have arranged tours of their facility for the bargain price of £27.50 (normally £50). In addition there is a 10% discount on their merchandise. The new parts department will also be on display. For full details please visit www.classiclotuselan.com

Just to bump this topic with an update in that Classic Team Lotus will be opening up for tours of their works in return for a £25 donation for charity, details are on the website www.classiclotuselan.com Also we are taking "interest" bookings for Lotus factory tours to be run by Guy Munday If you are planning on coming along in your Elan, please register for a free ticket on the website. Regards Alan Thomas

Find a good twin cam and put it back to original, it used to make sense to go down the Zetec route ten years ago or more, it used to make financial sense as well as making a nice resto mod car, but now Zetec is old hat and expensive to do properly, ask me how i know? I have a Zetec +2 and a Duratec Elan S4..... both full Spyder conversions, very expensive to do now.

The Classic Lotus Elan Register (CLER) is pleased to invite all Elan (Types 26, 36, 45 & 50) owners and enthusiasts to gather for a ‘Picnic at Hethel’ to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the launch of the Lotus Elan in October 1962. By kind permission of Lotus Cars Ltd, we aim to have a simple free-to-enter gathering at Hethel on Sunday 25th September 2022. Come and park up at the home of Lotus, meet old friends and new, bring your own picnic too. Gates will be open from 0830 hours and visitors should be away from the site by 1700 hours. Please note there will be no access to the factory or the test track. There will be portable conveniences bought in especially for the event, but there will be no trade stands or food outlets. For full details please visit www.classiclotuselan.com CLER ELAN PICNIC EVENT.pdf

Thanks Colin, Did we nearly have some fun after a roundabout just before the 2 Esprits & Police at the side of the road? I was just about To give it the full beans and see “wot yer got?” When blue flashing lights ahead stopped play. It was all really good natured fun, someone mentioned early Goodwood Revival/Festival atmosphere, I think that’s spot on. regards Alan

Bibs, Thanks for organising a great day, my only problem now is that I want one of those Evora 410's quite badly having seen and heard a few of them throughout the day. Both my cars are heavily modified classics (Elan +2 zetec and Elan Duratec) and I have a lot of fun with them. I took the +2 as already mentioned by Tim (TRW999), it was built 10 years ago and could shame most of the factory Lotus cars at the time, but wow, how the cars have moved on now. I have now bought a couple of tickets for the Jim Clark Evora (here's hoping!). My +2 is pictured below, did any of you spot it on the A11? if so what did it sound like?

The whole Festival is one great show and shine, if you have a VIP parking pass just turn up early and find a good spot. People will enjoy looking at all the cars and not just those in the S&S or on TLF Stand. VIP parking passes were handed out with the tickets on a first come first served basis for Lotus cars, you just had to tick a box on the ticket application. I think there were a few hundred of them,

I will make sure to check the dates properly for next year and get at least one of my cars entered for Show N Shine. I always treat these things as a bit of fun, but some take them quite seriously and mistake them for official concours. Looking forward to the show now, I have a parking voucher, so plenty of opportunity to wind up a few purists.

Is there a modified class for Elans (not M100) ? I already have tickets but it's nice to see people shake their heads when they see a Duratec engine in an Elan's engine bay

Bibs, many thanks to you and all who gave their time and effort for this very enjoyable day out. I think I might need to raise the ride height on my car slightly or go on a diet though! as I managed to scrape and grind my exhaust going in and out of the car park. We came early and stayed late, taking in MBW and the Brooklands museum as well as a picnic and good chat with the very friendly crowd who turned up, a really good array of cars to look at. PS: Mike - I'm not sure what Colin would have thought of my modernised S4 "SuperSprint"