Elite/Eclat/Excel video & picture thread!

[ChrisJ]

Went shopping in my Excel, having posted my Esprit earlier - thought I'd best post a picture of my Excel as well.

[exeterjeep]

On Antiques road trip this week   Excel d616rkj   not get a pic though

[ChrisJ]

Taken on return from the TLF Christmas dinner last night - Christmas tree lights had been turned off compared to my Esprit picture

[89esprit]

My wife and I were at Watkins Glen for the IMSA Sahlen's Six Hours at the Glen endurance race this past June. We decided to take the Elite with us this year. 

Found a couple of "Fans" that liked the car!   They work for REGOGO Racing.  Paul Rego owns a bunch of Lotus 23's that he brought and also a Mario Andretti Type 79.  Unfortunately, he didn't have here time. He's waiting for an engine rebuild. I've seen it before at a Lotus Owners Gathering here in the states.

 

Always drawing a crowd

 

[Escape]

So, we've got some snow this week. Finally, the first part of winter was warm but wet. And just this week, the clutch fork on the Range Rover failed. So the Excel continued her duties as daily driver, with no drama, starts first time no matter how cold.

Yesterday evening I did push on to fix the Range Rover, with up to 10cm of snow forecasted today. Which means the country will grind to a halt. But you do have to watch out for those on the roads, more than for the actual road conditions. So not ideal to risk the Excel. I couldn't resist going for a little spin though, not often we get fresh snow. 😎

Easy enough to break traction, but more importantly also very easy and natural to control.

[C8RKH]

Some big screen love - Griselda Ep1 S1, Netflix, around 14 minutes in.

[Trunnion 74]

Came across this old piece of film the other day.  Lots of interesting cars, especially 19 seconds in...

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/4gJCJ5JJNQG8UwRD/

Roland

 

[EXCEL V8]

Shame you can't read the number plate - see if it's still alive!

Pete

[ChrisJ]

Isn't there an Elan+2 at 15 secs in as well.

[exeterjeep]

6 hours ago, ChrisJ said:

Isn't there an Elan+2 at 15 secs in as well.

thought the same. Also some of the lane changes were a bit poor and some tailgating, so not much changed - apart from the mainly UK cars....?

[tom kilner]

... and the speed!

[ChrisJ]

 

[Escape]

I've been a bit of a naughty boy...

Yesterday we did a reconnaissance for a charity run I'm putting together. With the Excel, as she continues to be my weapon of choice.
As always, I used Tulip to plot the route and create the road book. Only this time I failed to reckognise an unpaved road on the route. It started as cobblestones, not too bad and a very nice area to drive through. Next came grass of increasing height in the center, rubbing her belly. Still fine, right? And then the cobblestones were replaced by ruts, filled with water. 😞 We were already in for half a mile or so and even the Range Rover would have had a hard time to turn around between the high verges and plowed fields. So no chance in hell with the Excel. Nothing left to do but straddle the ruts, try to avoid the deepest puddles and hope for the best. And she pulled through! We did have a few hairy moments when the rear started fishtailing towards the ruts and I had no choice but to keep on the throttle as I couldn't afford to lose much momentum. It's a good thing I put on a set of M+S tyres 2 weeks ago. They were the only suitable ones I could find in the right size and the snow in January had proven I needed a bit more traction anyway. And my off road experience came in very handy as well. I'm sure most SUV owners would have back out. And probably ended up stuck doing just that. 😁

The moment we realised things were taking a turn for the worse:

And some footage of navigating the ruts. They went on for at least half a mile and even got a bit worse, it really was very close. (never mind the radio, I was too focused and forgot to turn it off).  

She now deserves a good wash with a soft cloth and lots of love. 🙂

[Bibs]

Any use of the word 'road' there is very optimistic!! 

[Escape]

I double checked, it's actually mapped by google streetview!

[tom kilner]

You just need the sponsorship deal from your local builders merchants or double glazing installers!

[eclat22]

 

 

Found some old photos so I thought I would post them up

[eclat22]