MPx

I'm delighted to say that despite these health issues Sparkles managed to not only to finish the carb rebuild tune up and oil change on Lionel last week, but even held it together long enough ('til Thursday) for the extra job I gave him on a carb off my grinder which is now working again. Obvs that was enough to push him over the edge so I'm sure I should feel guilty, but as its no doubt crucial for his mental elf to have such a clear purpose and positive function in life I'll take it I was doing him a favour. Get back on it soon matey!

Remember it well and am all for some humane despatch method either at a prescribed time or (IMO better) by request. The what use question is much harder. I stopped doing paid emplyment nearly 20 years ago - was that the end of my use? I've never stopped "working" on stuff and am still the go to chap in the family to get things fixed/sorted. So that's for my place, my Mum, Sister, one niece, one of F's sisters, and a couple of friends - say 7 or 8 households. Does that count as of use? Even if I did just couch and watch TV I still get enough dosh to pay a lot of tax and I get very few benefits and have been lucky enough to very rarely need to use any services. So a net financial contributor - is that of use? My life philosophy has always been its all about enjoying our time here - nothing more "meaningful" than that. As a result I look to enjoy more of my time than I don't. We all have to do stuff we don't want to so its not pure hedonism but whenever the balance has gone the other way I make a change to redress the balance to get back to enjoying more. As I've aged, I have wondered about the end game. There's a lot of old people I know (have known) and I would not enjoy very much about their life and what they were able to do at all. Once I deteriorate to enjoying less than half, and I can see that its not something I can address, then I'll be actively looking for a painless way out - carrousel would be ideal...bring it on.

Only just seen this thread. I too have always used the couple of pumps priming routine in a cold car - indeed as I don't use the car much these days, I usually start with a short crank just to wake it up and start moving some fluids, not trying to start. Then 2 priming pumps and crank again to start - works for me. Also not priming but half throttle and a long crank works for hot engine. Sometimes needs a pump after a few secs cranking. However, just to add an alternative view, a while back I was lectured (well not quite - but had it explained to me) by a very well respected Lotus engineer that I shouldn't pump the throttle because the extra fuel washes down the cylinder walls stripping them of any remaining lubricant and therefore causing even more wear at the very moment of maximum wear of an engine. Likely to lead to premature wear of the rings and their failure which in turn could score the liners. He didn't go on to explain how to actually start the car though.

Some of us consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to live somewhere lovely in relative luxury and no longer "go to work" for our income. (Very different to not doing any work!) We've done some travelling over the years and seen some of the wonders as well as just other lovely places - although I readily admit pretty tame compared to many. But I've not yet been anywhere where going back was a must, or even worked out as well the second time when we did. Not yet been to a hotel at any price point where the plumbing worked as well as it does at home and the facilties were as nice as we keep them here. I fully appreciate (and am genuinely grateful) that we lead a different life to the majority - but if every day is "on holiday" then going on holiday offers little, if any, excitment - just extra ag, and we stopped bothering several years ago.

Generally looking great Barry - and normally I'm not really a fan of chops but its deffo grown on me as your project has come together. But why the single exit exhaust? Looks wrong to me - too puny for the car.

When you passing Bibbo? Are we on your tea/coffee stop schedule?

Not for me thanks Mark. But out of interest is this a Club Lotus SW or a LDC drive out?

You left a nought off there or are you cutting down these days?? 😉

That Lotus Drivers guide that Keith linked has some useful pics to show you and I'm sure Graeme will be along soon with a more difinitive set - no one knows more about the SL than him! But for now: The Series 1 were all Embassy black with a silver side stripe and grey cloth interior. The Series 2 continued with the same black pattern but added options for Moonstone Blue with either Silver or Black side stripe and they had "piccadilly" striped seats IIRC. (There were other minor cosmetic differences like bigger headlights and no frame on the tailgate but overall very similar) The rare Avon cars were all Series 2 cars numbered (red pinstripe down the side with a number by the door mirror) and many had the same number on their DDU reg. They were all two tone blue (as shown in the pic Keith linked). Inside they had a "luxurious" velour seat trim in a similar blue colour. In fact there were also a few others: The police had a few cars in different non standard colours. Some owners have chosen their own paint schemes. And of course all of the real rally cars were painted in either the factory colours (like Graeme's Poly) - or other team colours - like Andrews Heat for Hire.

Interesting thoughts Pete but I see it differently. From what I've read the expectation is that Inflation will actually dip below the 2% target over the next quarter before bobbing back up. The worry for me is the Bank reacting too late. There's always a lag - the witch doctor bit is knowing how long - between interest rate changes and anything at all noticeable happening in response. If they keep rates too high for too long they kill growth and prosperity for no reason. If they drop too soon inflation bites back before its beaten and we all get poorer again. Its likely they'll be too conservative (delay reductions) because they're central bankers so it comes with the job but having been severely panned for taking too long to raise them after all the QE they may just get goaded into coming down too quickly.

The operative word there being "modicum". Mine was fully restored (and very shiney!) on purchase and would probably have gone on for at least another couple of years when I sold it three years later. Obvs depends how well its done and how much effort goes into the anti corrosion measures. Some of the good ones are now north of Mk2 Cortina money, though few compete with the Mk1 or in period Escorts. I had intended to just keep my Lotus fleet forever once aquired but that turned out to need more dedication and outlay than I was prepared to make. My perfect garage was Turbo Esprit for high days, M100 Elan for sunny days, Carlton for family days, Sunbeam for our town car. Was wonderful for a while...

Most of the Avon cars are DDU reg. DAC are normally "ordinary" Series 2 cars. The Avon certainly has some extra cachet being a numbered limited edition with different trim etc, but the two tone blue paint with red stripe is a bit of a marmite thing and I'm not a fan. Personally I like the Series 1 embassy black cars - so that's the one I had - but they're all great fun ...

We've got a Charbroil stainless thing. Its got three big rectangular burner areas and a separate hob (that we've never used!). Had it 5 years - seems fine still, though we're already on the second cover and that's getting tatty now and the thermometers no longer work. But its me that cooks on it so it only does basic stuff - I just have all the burners on max and take stuff off marginally before cremation. Tastes good if you like the burnt bits!

Yes, despite the weather, the yucky drive down, and the inevitable volume of modded germans - I was pretty impressed once we were allowed inside. Much better standard of cars than I thought there would be. Not only the Lambos/Fezzas/Maccers/Astons, but even a Koenigsegg. All that plus maybe 20 Lotus on site and good company...whats not to like! 👍

Interesting. My joining instructions came 5 days after I bought my ticket - but I think were in response to the application to be a show car. Despite being personalised to me, the main message was to make sure that I purchased a ticket otherwise I wouldn't get in - obvs had already done that! Anyway the flyers I posted above were attached to that email. I'm pretty sure you won't be inside Ian. The category of "Show Car" appears to mean parked on site to be looked at. A normal ticket gets you into the public car parks. Not sure who you needed to sleep with to get inside.

Ticket is just this - dont know what would happen if I'm not in the Esprit... May be argueable on the day if they are reasonable enthusiasts rather than jobsworths but who knows who'll be weilding the code reader.

Yes - sent the pics, got accepted, bought my ticket. If you're not "a show car", then I think you're in the public car parks. Most of us will be outside (and James said SWLC will be outside too). They are expecting to park manufacturers together rather than a free for all....but not by model. Their first go at this so I expect some learning will go on as we arrive...

Have you not had your joining instructions Keith?

I think you're looking at this the wrong way around. All so called "chargers" don't have any smart input to how quickly the car charges. All they do is to present a source of electrikery. Some are AC, some DC, and they will have different capacities. Your Rolec will be an AC "fast" charger. But in reality the "charger" capability is built into each EV not the wallbox. It is the car that decides how quickly to charge based on what supply it detects. So if you're charging too slowly on 7kw chargers, there will be a setting somewhere in the car charging programme limiting how much it draws. In the early days most manufacturers defaulted their setting on delivery to the lowest/slowest charge rate as that's safest if you dont know what its going to be plugged into. I've no idea if they still do that. But I think its very unlikely that there won't be a setting in the car's charging software somewhere to allow you to charge at different rates. Seems very likely to me that this is set for 3.6kW instead of 7kW in your car.

Are you still going for a convoy in Ian? If so, what time at the services?

I've used JLR main dealers in the past until I'd worked around the 3 nearest me in the south west. I kept going until I caught them out in a lie. Once the trust has gone there's no second chance. So Matford Exeter; then Yeovil; then Taunton. Being JLR my cars also broke when away from home - a proper try on by Stratstones Solihull who tried to tell me I needed over £4k of work doing on something I'd just paid Matford to do 3 months earlier. Obvs I got Matford involved and that work miraculously was no longer required and the problem solved by replacing a split pipe. Similarly a much more trivial try on on parts from Syntner Coventry meant they are also forever blacked. Fortunately I also found a good indie locally (now sadly ceased trading) an OK one that I used for three years but was never quite comfortable with, and now a wonderful indie about 90 miles away in Gloucestershire. Its transformative when you get to speak to the person doing the work who clearly knows what they're doing and you get to see the bits they're talking about. When Fs Suzuki went end of life Exeter Suzuki who'd looked after it for a decade claimed it would cost over £4k to get it through an MOT so not financially viable - but they'd help us out and take it off our hands for £200 if I bought a new one off them. So I trailered it to a local 4x4 specialist. It did indeed need work for the MoT - cost me £400 and we ran it for another 6 months until the new i3 we ordered turned up. Then sold it through Motorway for £2700. Its a damning indictment on the industry that I not only have to deal with the garages for our cars, but also for most of the single women in the family circle (Mum, sister-in-law, family friend) because they have learnt that they can't trust anything they're told and are very likely to get ripped off. So am I of course, so its not purely mysogynistic but that side just makes it worse. Moral of the story...if you can find a proper engineer/mechanic who loves his cars then treat him well ...

Done but think its very poorly argued - opportunity missed I suspect. Just saying its expensive doesn't necessarily warrant any change. Making a case for keeping the classic car industry in business contributing £nMillion to the economy - or could contribute to basic transport for the beleagered in a cost of living crisis - or something other than just "it seems a bit pricey to me..."

More than welcome Mark - just hope that the cars behave this year so that you get a proper feel. Esprit not run in yet from its rebuild so likely in the M100, but we'll see how it goes.

I've not missed one in over 30 years Mark - always great fun, more so if its sunny than wet but always good anyway. Usually a few hundred Lotus there so loads to gawp at - track places for 100 in groups of 12. So its not crowded and makes for a very gentle intro to track driving as there's a no overtaking in the corners or braking areas rule - passing by consent on the right only. There's always a couple of numpties who break the rules (and get black flagged) and others that think if they don't let you pass they are faster drivers/faster cars - conveniently forgetting the "by consent" rule. But generally a very friendly and considerate crowd and a great way to get the feel of track driving. You don't really need to do much prep to your car - obvs check coolant/oil/fuel/tyre pressures - I just make them spot on Lotus spec for fast road driving - leave any "tuning" for a proper track day. The sessions are less than 15 mins on track typically 7 or 8 laps - that will probably be plenty long enough to work up a bit of a sweat but not long enough to beat up your car. If you do more than the minimum 2 sessions, you will get through a lot of fuel so take the hit on weight and fill up before you get there. The worse bit is queuing for the track - can become very tedious between about 11 and 3. There's proper instructors there happy to help for a charity donation...or if you just want a very basic guide I'd be happy to show you round - you passenger in mine and/or I'll passenger in yours.

Probably best not to mention the girl thing to any of the Chiefs...