Castle Combe - 26th May

[Maulden7]

Hi - I'm new to this forum but have been going to Castle Combe on the Club Lotus track day for many years.

Back home earlier today & what a great time I had yesterday. The track was in super condition, but if anything it was too hot, & I felt that my tyres were going off towards the end of the day. It makes such a nice change to go on a track day where everybody is so polite.

I did six sessions (3 on my own & 3 with passengers) & it was super fun mixing my old 65 Elan into the far more modern Lotuses on track. Thanks to all for making it a such an enjoyable day.

Dave M.

[nigeninja]

was this you,if it was I said to my mate I wonder if you would have any tyre left to get home on

[MPx]

Oh yes...that was Dave! (Good to see you here matey). Well worth a passenger spot in Dave's Elan if you get the chance. The four wheel drift around Quarry is quite a different experience to my attempts at carving around.

[Paul C]

Popped in early afternoon on my way to Wales, nice to see familiar faces again, and a welcome back for some guys I've not seen for a while, nice Aston GKP! Sorry to miss Mark B, guess I got there to late as I arrived two hours after I'd normally have packed up and gone.

A castle combe Lotus day with no rain?

Took a couple of photographs:

[nigeninja]

who's VW beetle is that then

[Maulden7]

Red old Elan with the silver hard top, yes that's me! Lots of smiles all round (Mike knows me very well)

Lots of tyre left, though the tread had "picked up" quite a bit by the end. That's Falken standard road tyres, & I am very impressed with them. I've been sent a great pic taken from the rear showing a massive amount of tyre wall deflection (with a fat Greek passenger loading up up the n/s suspension) but the tyre was hanging on in a very controllable fashion.

As I said, I'm new to this forum, but I'll try to get a pic posted.

Dave M.

Edited to add pics - look at the tyre wall deflection on the front n/s tyre! Pic 3 - got the front o/s wheel off the ground?

Edited May 27, 2012 by Maulden7

[Dunc]

looks like you were having fun!

Good to hear Sue's esprit just needed an adjustment, and I hope Simon's S3 made it back into london with a single fan hotwired.

The parade lap was fun for a bit, and made me kind of wish that I had shelled out for a lid and a trackday session, but I think I'm too much of a coward, and the car is wet sumped.

I think a proper lotus track slag might be a better idea than killing the clutch/brakes/tyres/crank/ego on my road toy.

Had a super day out yesterday followed up with a great day at Motorsport at the Palace (Crystal Palace sprint). Good to see a couple of Loti giving it plenty at the sprint!

Only bummer was the arrival of a Kent police speeding who was driving enquiry.... :-(

[Paul C]

who's VW beetle is that then

The best that you have is a complement indeed. Many thanks.

Had a lovely drive this weekend, went from CC down to Wales and then came back today. Have not owned a car with working aircon since 1997 (Esprit S3, Esprit SE had broken aircon, Elise had none, first 911 had none) and I must say it made a HUGE difference in how much I enjoyed driving in the sun. I hate being hot.

Rock solid, 3.6 litres of aircooled engine purring through hundreds of miles effortlessly, accelerating fast lag free and silk smooth, burbley overrun, icy cold cabin, and the most comfortable seats I've ever had.

Walking round Castle Combe I do miss my Lotus's, Interestingly I miss the S1 Elise most of all. I was chatting to Martyn and despite owning Esprits for ten years, I think the Elise S1 will be the Lotus I remember and miss the most, it's the last car Lotus made I'd really want to own. Vicki misses it more than me. I'd still own it but I can't/don't want to/don't have room to/ own more than one car. And besides, when you have owned all the ones you wanted to, committing to only buying one brand forever is pretty mindless...

Hand on heart, my ideal Lotus is an S1 Elise, non VVC,. And I really enjoyed seeing so many again yesterday. Just need Vicki to buy herself one!

[nigeninja]

[esprit22]

Thanks Nige....Lionel's looking good in those. And yes please Gary/Chris I'd love to see the others you got. Either email, or maybe best I bring a disk up with the car when I come up for its annual fettle and you can put them on CD for me.

Sadly the car started making a bad rumbling noise after a while and its definitely getting worse - could feel it through the throttle pedal, steering wheel and seat on the way home and it also sounds a bit laboured. Overall, its not happy! B****r!

On the other hand it did get me home quite quickly which is more than can be said for the "L" reg Norfolk Mustard Esprit I saw on the hard shoulder of the M4 westbound soon after I left. Felt a complete B'****d not stopping, but apart from beying of no practical use myself, I was a bit concerned about Lionel making thre trip so wanted to keep going. Hope you got going again and home safe whoever you are - and apologies!

Great to see all who made it - not at all a bad turn out, although I agree with Alan P it wasn't just the usual suspects this year but still lots of lovely machinery. Track sessions were ominously underpopulated. Ideal for those of us taking part, but I do worry that with such a low demand for track action, Alan M may end up having to up his prices even more, or worse still stop running the day. I do hope not, that was my 20th straight year and it still gives me a buzz when I get some of those corners spot on - shame I cant do it more consistently!

Just clean the engine and all problems will go!

[MPx]

Just clean the engine and all problems will go!

Ho ho - if only it was that simple! I dont use my TE much Chris, but certainly enough that keeping it as clean as yours is not an option. I'll just keep staring at yours to see what might have been....and continue enjoying mine from behind the wheel! Spoil yourself next year and take yours around at full chat....

[Bazza 907]

Mike

Chris's won't be there if there is a cloud in the sky..

[Loose Cannon]

Any more pictures anywhere or links to photo accounts?

[nigeninja]

http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/hotshot-1/castle%20combe/

[Loose Cannon]

Cheers!

[Dave Eds]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39573340@N02/sets/72157629941848142/

[esprit22]

Mike

Chris's won't be there if there is a cloud in the sky..

Never missed a meet in 20 years mate!!

Cliff, the Bellringer ale at the White Hart was superb!!! you missed a great weekend mate..

Edited May 29, 2012 by esprit22

[Gasman GT3]

http://s7.photobucke...1/castle combe/

Top pics mate

[nigeninja]

Thanks mate,the in car video is quite good as well but cant down load to youtube so cant get a link

[nigeninja]

http://youtu.be/E3JsmumccJg

Dont get too excited,its my first attempt at using my camera in video mode

[Mark Blanchard]

I've just added some pics of the day to my website. I added one of Nigel's excellent pics too, hope he doesn't mind.

http://www.lotusespritturbo.com/Lotus_Track_Day_2012.htm

[nigeninja]

No probs,its one of those sites firmly stuck in my favorites

[wolflyn]

I've just added some pics of the day to my website. I added one of Nigel's excellent pics too, hope he doesn't mind.

http://www.lotusespr...ck_Day_2012.htm

hi mark,, as much as i wish it was,,, mine isnt an Essex

[Mark Blanchard]

hi mark,, as much as i wish it was,,, mine isnt an Essex

Ah yes, didn't spot that. Silly me, it's changed. Nice looking car you have.