hedgerley

Of course, I should have remembered. It's a long time since I was on a LEGS run with you and the gang. Nice to get a reply to one of my spots. Doesn't often happen so it makes me wonder, why aren't they on TLF?

The acceleration between 200kph and 300kph looked mind boggling. And if I read it right he peaked at 344kph. 213.752mph. 😳

About 7pm this evening, Stirling Road, Milnathort heading towards the M90. Passed my new gaff as I reversed into my drive. Lovely colour. Hope I got it right....

Saturday afternoon just South of Dunfermline. Probably only saw you as I was driving a van and could see over the barrier! Definitely popped in the bright sunshine, in between the showers today.

Wow. I've worked in tech and that could be any tech company these days, apart from the cars on show. Bet there's fuzeball and free beer as well. Certainly looks impressive and I guess having just raised $700m on the listing they can afford it. But I sincerely hope a good chunk of it gets channeled into the post SUV sports cars rather than fancy offices in expensive locations.

Spotted my first Evija in the wild today. Serving behind the counter in Pret at Farringdon tube station this lunchtime. Yes, the young lady who served me coffee had her name tag on - Evija. I did point out that she carried the same moniker as the Lotus hypercar and she was aware. I'm not the first to point out the coincidence apparently. Now, she is Latvian and assumed that's where the name originated but according to Wikipedia it's origins lie in ancient Hebrew. She does pronounce it differently though, more Ehvia than Eevija. With the E as in Evian. You learn something new every day...

No flat 6, no 911? Discuss. Nice colour though. Also at Scotch Corner lunchtime Sunday. PS - An Everatti convertion I believe.

Ha! I said to Jane, hey that looks like Brian! Pity we hadn't turned in a few minutes earlier, I would have embarrassed us all by flagging you down. Glad to have popped your Lotus Spotted cherry 😉 You should have seen what pulled in a few minutes after you'd left. See me next post.....

Just leaving the car park @ 4:45pm as I arrived. Dark Verdant I presume. Sounded lovely.

Ah yes, the pay wall. Well, if you can zoom in far enough, it's yours to read. But nothing new at all and totally uninteresting to the Lotus cognoscenti. In fact, don't know why I bothered posting it 😄 Nice pictures though.....

Absolutely nothing new but nice to see Lotus getting significant exposure in the business section.

Heading North on the Edinburgh road mid day Saturday, just North of Peebles Could have been an S2 or 3, I was deep in discussion with my navigator at the time... But it looked good, hunkered down flowing along the road.

Well bugger me. My first Esprit, which I lost on black ice in early 2008 on the A1, has just popped up for sale. I had it shipped back to Hethel for assessment. £30k in new parts plus paint, labour and VAT. Not counting a very bent chassis at the rear that would need to go on the jig to straighten. As expected, it was written off for £15k (what I paid for it two years earlier) the then market value. It reappeared at Douglas Valley Breakers a few weeks later as a £10k 'project'. Someone obviously took on the challenge and got it back on the road. Very impressive. And very weird to see it 15 years after I gave it the last rites! https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1317522628901020/?__cft__[0]=AZUD7cxOczOI40v-zqfLEQlIq3QWXIsjdWojOkGuUOx9Kz5m6q6rdmdX_huBegCbDI8ftlB-cWj09GCKTXuoPCQcxQ89KHwzhuQqbyt5j1idjRfqa6sYEgPjGfdm3ysjdq-n-LCisEtW04PgsM3ZwVR8v9s_w8PNiRouloCFq5EM_w&__tn__=-UK-R

@Bibs do you have visibility on their pipeline of appointments? Wondering if there is anyone in Scotland pitching for it. I'm planning a major refurb and will need some paint defects addressing, maybe a full respray.

Chuffed to see my letter about meeting up with Barrie's Essex Esprit in 2008 published in the new issue of Absolute Lotus. Looking forward to seeing him/it in 2028...

LF63 ***. You caught us up as we entered a very murky Perth then we swapped places a few times as we headed South on the M90. Top down, very brave although the weather North and South of Perth was pretty good. Loved the Santa hat. I was in the blue Volvo XC70 and gave you a thumbs up as I turned off for Dunfermline, although I am sure I was instantly forgettable 😆

Nice to hear from you Al and congratulations on retirement. It's been a few years since spoke and I know you were having issues with house so I really hope you are settled now. As a founding member of LEGS I am somewhat embarrassed by my lack of engagement over the last few years. I will fix that soon - the Esprit is in for a major refurb in early Spring with a load of new bits so I will be back on the road in a few months hopefully. Having said that we've had a s**t year family wise, with my step mother passing away in April, my Dad in September and Jane's Dad in November. So I've spent ot of time in Yorkshire, including Christmas. It's been tough I did attend one meet earlier this year on my motorbike at the Boness museum but just got funny looks. But I did get a sit in Sharon and Dave's Emira, which was nice. Hope to see you all soon. Iny Esprit 🙂

That's the ancient Egyptians for you, knowing that in 2,300 years we would need someone to pray to/curse when our pride and joy dumps it's fluids all over the drive. And I speak from experience here...

Had my test drive today. I won't repeat what @Footie says as I'd just say the same things. This was my first drive in an EV and it blew me away. I would only add that I got to push it in the twisties in sport mode for a short distance and it was astonishing. The way it hunkered down and exhibited virtually no roll it was almost car like. It confirmed my initial view in the first few minutes of the drive that the bulk almost disappears once on the move. And the steering has much more feel than I expected. I forgot I was in a huge SUV. I should mention the HUD. Again a first for me. I was surprised how quickly I adjusted to it and I barely looked at the slim dash. Interesting discussion on who is buying it (they've handed over 4 this past week or two with plenty ordered) It's a real demographic mix apparently but one thing is notable, folk moving from the Taycan or considering a Taycan. All have gone for the Eletre. Looks like it's top of my list for next year.

I've been invited to test drive the Eletre by Lotus Glasgow. Its tomorrow. I'm also going to ask if I can take an Emira out while I'm there. My V8 Esprit is about to undergo a major refurb which I am hoping will significantly improve its value as I am considering selling/chopping it in for either an Eletre (new daily required soon) or an Emira to maintain my sporting credentials, probably in the Spring. I'll probably end up keeping the Esprit but the opinions of the esteemed members here would be most welcome!

Saturday 21st around midday, A1 Northbound at Catterick. K* **T. Roof off making swift progress in the outside lane. Looked lovely.

Welcome Simon. I think I've seen that S3 around - I am in Dalgety Bay. Was it laid up there for several years before it got moved on for the restoration, or was that a different one? Where did you pick it up and where abouts are you? My V8 should be back on the road before the end of the year, would be nice to hook up and take a look some time.

Riding the recently reopened Tomontoul Road, I stopped to take a photo of the old bridge, when this beaut blasted across the new one. He stopped a bit further on and I passed him. He then went past me as I took lunch in Gorgarf then I overtook him again when he stopped to put the roof on just before The Lecht. Yes it rained and yes I got soaked. Hope his flappy covering didn't leak 😄

Old news I know but great to ride the Tomontoul road today, with the new bridge now open. Took the bike out on "The Ski Lodge Loop" as I've now christened it. 256 miles. I'm a bit sore... Nice view of the old bridge and Gairnshiel Lodge. And as luck would have it what should blast across as I was taking photos...

Over an hour long review from Pebble Beach, The Quail. Pretty comprehensive and yes, they reckon Lotus has smashed it. Interspersed with other exotic machinery including Jenson's Evija manouvoring in the car park!