Lotus Festival 2018

[Mike D]

We had a really enjoyable day and were very impressed with the event and the super weather made it perfect! We've owned our Elise for a long time now and this has restored my Lotus mojo! 

Many thanks to all those involved in the organisation, we appreciated your efforts!

 

[RRSSS]

Great turnout well done @Bibs and everyone else attending!

Nice chat with @hedgerley prior to the parade laps 👍

[Composite guru]

58 minutes ago, JerryS said:

I was going round thinking how could this day get any better? – Then heard Clive say on the PA that Hazel would be attending.

 

It was great to finally get to visit the factory. With the future looking so positive and so many key people from the past there it was all so good.

 

Thanks Bibs for getting SLOC along. Great to be there on such a fantastic day!

 

 

 

Nice to have a pic of my car with Clive and Hazel in it.

May I ask for an original please Jerry?

[Flaming June]

On 30/09/2018 at 10:09, rizla603104 said:

It was indeed the purple nasty - in Palacio Purple. I was pleased to be fortunate enough to be behind a palacio purple M100

That's '009' my partner's M100, which needed two visits to Rapid Mechanical Services on Friday before it was fit to make the journey (thanks Dave, Andy and Trevor for the help at such short notice).

A beautiful shot taken of the two of them parked together on the track, made more so in that it doesnt show the masking tape holding the fuel filler flap in place (1 of the 2 problems which arose arose)!

A day which vastly exceeded our expectations and so our big thanks too to Bibs, Lotus/Geely and everyone else who had a part to play in it.  Special mention goes to the '70' gear sellers who battled through any tech issues to ensure we got what we wanted...to the extent they had stock left to flog anyway!  

[The Modifier]

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?

 

 

[minor5]

Thanks Bibs, a great day was had by all.

[JNW3]

6 hours ago, LJR said:

@Bibs Thanks for putting together a fantastic day. We both enjoyed it enormously. @JNW3 it was great to meet and chat with you. @Sparky thanks for the advice we made it home eventually. @Dan E and @makkyh good to see you again and to everyone else I chatted too thanks for giving me a chance to share my enthusiasm.

p.s. would love to get one of those Lotus 70 fence banners too.

Great to meet you too Lucas and delighted you made it home! Did it turn out to be the handbrake then?!  

[Kimbers]

23 hours ago, stephenwhyte said:

One of my stand-out funny moments was walking past you and your Dad @Kimbers early on just after I arrived and probably when you had just arrived.

You both walked past me, and your Dad was walking with a walking stick - you quizzed your Dad as you passed me.....”if I kick that away from under you.....will you fall over!” - I had a proper laugh at that one - brilliant!!😉😂

Would loved to have shaken your Dad’s hand and had a chat but I’m sure he had plenty more worthwhile chats to have - a very inspirational fellow& I’m sure you’re very proud he’s your Dad👏👏

Yeah....erm....maybe I said that too loudly! You should have stopped and said hello to both of us! 

I know he doesn't need it, I was making a point that it made him look older than he was (he's only 80) and he left it in the VIP tent thereafter My job as his PR guru was complete!!

[martynv]

Excellent job Bibs, well done   Can't believe the weather either after the weekend before. Great deal on the Dunston Hall room Friday night too, it was huge and even had it's own ensuite  patio  not to mention the five wild bunnies on the grass !

Martyn

[Kimbers]

16 hours ago, Loose Cannon said:

Epic.

Does anyone know if Clive Chapman and Ollie Winterbottom's brief interviews made it onto video? I heard them both on the tannoy but the official Lotus coverage on Youtube doesn't include them for some reason.

Also did Hazel say a few words, I didn't see or hear her although Clive announced she arrived midday?

MJK's is on You Tube  

10 hours ago, Buddsy said:

Yes well at least Ollie's was. Did make me laugh when he was talking about his book and the review  He looks a bit of a fearsom charecter but when he started talking his passion and humor came across.

 

buddsy

He's my Godfather (Though he had conveniently forgotten that last time we spoke). He's a lovely guy TBH, bit like MJK in that he knows what he likes and doesn't have time for fools. Grew up with his kids and it was great to catch up with how they are getting on after a chat while the old man was off signing peoples cars!!

8 hours ago, Sparky said:

Fantastic fun day in the sunshine, pretty much bumping into loads of people and chatting!  Huge apologies to @Escape and @LJR (PM me) for failing to catch up again later, but we had no choice but to route straight out after the track!  

Our journey home took over 9 hours, as we we chose a meandering route to check out some localities for our potential house move.  And we dropped in for a quick visit to the beautiful and historic Salisbury Cathedral.

Well done @Bibs for herding cats AND their kittens.

Norfolk?

[Sparky]

1 hour ago, Kimbers said:

Norfolk?

Bit of a language barrier.

[hedgerley]

Thanks @JerryS for capturing the moment Hazel gave us a little wave as we pulled onto the pitlane. I had the good fortune to have a brief word with her 10 years ago when my Esprit won Car of the Show at the 60th Anniversary Celebrations. Now I have photo record of our Chapman connection. however tenuous and brief 😃

Could I be cheeky and ask you for a copy of your original photo? Many thanks.

[Loose Cannon]

12 hours ago, Buddsy said:

Yes well at least Ollie's was. Did make me laugh when he was talking about his book and the review  He looks a bit of a fearsom charecter but when he started talking his passion and humor came across.

 

buddsy

Ollie is a riot. I have met him a few times due to my involvement with the 4 seaters, he'll talk to anyone at length, a lovely chap. When I spotted him at the 60th and collared him he couldn't believe anyone remembered who he was. Nice to see in the intervening 10 years he has had his profile lifted again somewhat. Also like Tony Rudd he is a gifted and entertaining writer.

[NR2k]

On 30/09/2018 at 17:21, Bibs said:

TBC but it was discussed yesterday. Watch this space.

I think there was a 70th pin badge about, but I didn't see it on the merchandise stand. I would like to be able to buy one of those.

[Softlysoftlycatchymonkey]

Just a great weekend, loved every minute of it, well done Bibs.  Well done everyone else who was involved in organising any part of it and everyone that brought their cars along.  I was blown away by pretty much everyone's cars, the condition they were all in was pretty amazing given the age of some of them, you could see how much love and care has gone in to them.

Loved driving round the track at the end, just great seeing all the cars to the left and right of me going past.

I was mentally fried after the drive up on Friday so we didn't stay long at the bbq, however my father's still banging on about the BBQ chicken  ("best chicken I've had in my life son").

[LJR]

@JNW3 we've narrowed it down to the handbrake, the fuel system and the flugelplunger valve

[NR2k]

Another shot of Clive and Hazel going out to the pit lane.

[stephenwhyte]

17 minutes ago, LJR said:

@JNW3 we've narrowed it down to the handbrake, the fuel system and the flugelplunger valve

Problems maybe Lucas - but for me your Esprit was the nicest one I saw on Saturday........it’s in fantastic condition👏🏻👏🏻

Would have been nice to have mine there but just felt it a tad far.......so went with work car😬 Look after yours - she’s a beauty

[NR2k]

More interested spectators during the f1 demos.

[LJR]

1 hour ago, stephenwhyte said:

Problems maybe Lucas - but for me your Esprit was the nicest one I saw on Saturday........it’s in fantastic condition👏🏻👏🏻

Would have been nice to have mine there but just felt it a tad far.......so went with work car😬 Look after yours - she’s a beauty

Thank you Stephen, it was good when I bought it but have been working to make it as good as it can be. Shame we didn't cross paths, would have liked to have a chat, you know as well as anyone how long term low usage causes issues but we're getting there.

Edited October 1, 2018 by LJR

[stephenwhyte]

15 minutes ago, LJR said:

Thank you Stephen, it was good when I bought it but having been working to make it as good as it can be. Shame we didn't cross paths, would have liked to have a chat, you know as well as anyone how long term low usage causes issues but we're getting there.

Yeah - it’s a bit of a challenge........but I’m sure you know what you’re doing by now. I also passed by you on the return journey home.......but like I said I was in the work car so just passed by unnoticed😄 The Esprit looked great cruising on the A11 heading into the sun😎👌😉

[Hornsey Boy]

Just echoing everyone's positive view on this wonderful event.

I've been to the factory nearly a dozen times over the years and this event was the best. The buzz on the way up and in the crowd was simply amazing. It reminded me of the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the very early years.

The future in Geely's hands is looking great and the banner over head on the way out summed this well "see you next year" .........love to see Nigel Mansell next year in one of the old F1 cars 

So thanks to @Bibs for all your efforts on organising this, and I think the best way for us to show our appreciation is by at least becoming full forum members. Without Bibs and this forum the event wouldn't have happened.  

[Colin P]

8 hours ago, The Modifier said:

 

My +2 is pictured below, did any of you spot it on the A11? if so what did it sound like?

 

I did, sounded good, I could hear it even with the 400 with the valve open. Mine is 1 row in front of the red exige just out of shot. 

[johnpwalsh]

The future in Geely's hands is looking great and the banner over head on the way out summed this well "see you next year" .........love to see Nigel Mansell next year in one of the old F1 cars 

Never saw the banner with the see you next year, probably to busy gawking at all the other cars on site. But wow, wouldn't that be a blast. I might even make it with one of my own up and running.

What a fantastic event and surely seems to have put a real positive vibe into Lotus and owners both old, new and future. Just exactly what they all need now. I spoke with several staff while on the factory walkabout and everyone of them were very upbeat on the future and how things have changed.

Can I safely say. See you all there next year.  

[theelanman]

I've been to 3 events like this at Hethel........the infamous Wensum Valley trip for the 40th Anniversary of Lotus at Hethel.......then the 60th....and now the 70th......

and I must say they've all been a blast..........but I must say that with @Bibs help they've managed to make this one the best.....

and long may we have to keep coming back