Part 5 of the Lotus Esprit VQ Build: The Inlet Manifold

Finished

Club Lotus Australia is full of interesting people who are up to interesting things with interesting cars. We think that’s wonderful, so we’re going to share their stories with you here!

If you’d like to share your story on the club website, just send Seth a quick email at web@clublotus.com.au

Last time we met Geoff Winder, he was fabricating and wrestling the sump into his Lotus Esprit VQ. In this post, we rejoin Geoff as he fabricates an inlet manifold to fit under the bonnet of the Esprit VQ.

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Support the Soar & Roar Festival By Offering a Ride in Your Lotus

Special Olympics Soar & Roar Festival

The Special Olympics Australia Ride Festival is a fund raising initiative that gives people with an intellectual disability the experience of riding in a performance vehicle. Special Olympics Australia reached out to Club Lotus Australia and Simply Sports Cars to get involved by offering a ride in a Lotus to Special Olympic Athletes.

The event itself will be held on Sunday the 26th of November, 2017 and involve a drive from North Steyne Surf Club in Manly to Sydney Motorsport Park, where there will be a lap of honour as well as other festivities. The Dream Rides will run from 12pm to 5pm, with each marque allocated a one-hour slot.

Partners are welcome and will be offered transport from the Manly starting point to Sydney Motorsport Park. Drivers and partners will have access to the Hospitality VIP Grid Club throughout the day.

The money raised will be used to give more people with an intellectual disability the opportunity to participate in weekly sports. The most successful fundraiser in Team Lotus will lead the team for the drive and the highest overall fundraiser will be presented with a Soar & Roar trophy and lead the full field for the lap of honour. There will also be an award for the Ambassador’s Choice and Best Dressed Car.

Registration and fundraising are both open now. To register, please follow the following instructions:

  1. Go to your team’s page at https://www.mycause.com.au/page/153648/lotus
  2. Click ‘Join this team’ down the right side
  3. Complete your details with either email or Facebook
  4. Select ‘I am registering as a car driver’
  5. Complete the event questions
  6. Complete the registration (no payment is required)
  7. Share the Lotus Team page with your friends, family and professional networks to get off to a roaring start with your fundraising

If you have any questions, please contact either Seth, Paul at Simply Sports Cars or Mabel at Special Olympics Australia.

Special Olympics Soar & Roar Festival Info Sheet

2017 Lotus Elite Diamond Jubilee Mid-July Update

Lotus Elite Diamond Jubilee

The Lotus Elite Diamond Jubilee, to be held over the 12th to 14th of August, 2017, is coming up fast. Brian’s latest update includes a few important reminders about the Saturday night celebrations, commemorative shirts and concours d’elegance, as well as info about access to the event on Sunday. Read on!

Thanks to Brian Caldersmith

Folks,

As we get close to the big event please note a few points for consideration.

  1. Don’t forget that you need to book for the big celebration dinner on Saturday night. No booking = no meal.. And that cut-off date is July 28th. The numbers are heading towards 100 on the night, so don’t delay
  2. The commemorative shirts are now being manufactured and will be in the mail to you very shortly
  3. And don’t forget that it is the annual Concours d’Elegance, so get it sparkling clean. Especially as we have been given special permission on our circuit laps to pause and form up on the main grid for a photo opportunity. Should be the biggest group Lotus photo for some time.

Lotus Elite Diamond Jubilee

Access to the event on Sunday

A car pass is required for access to Sydney Motor Sport Park on Sunday and you can see it above. These are normally on the windscreen of each car that arrives in the morning and allows all the occupants entry to the event.

Club Lotus Australia has paid for those tickets and I will be handing them out at the dinner on Saturday evening to all the Elite owners. If your car is already inside the circuit (having arrived on Saturday afternoon) and you are walking back in from the hotel, hang on to the pass – you will need it for access on Sunday morning. Otherwise you will have to pay for entry.

If however, you are driving your Elite to the circuit on Sunday morning you will need to stick the pass on to the top right hand corner on the inside of the front windscreen.

If you are bringing a different model Lotus you need to contact Evan Jones on evanj@optusnet.com.au for your sticker.

The attached map shows access points, trailer parking, the hotel and where “Lotus land” is based at the circuit.

It’s getting close,
Brian Caldersmith

Lotus Elite Diamond Jubilee Lotus Land Map

Lotus Photos: LOST Run to the 2017 Jaguar All British Day

Jaguar All British Day Raymond Terrace

On Saturday, the 15th of July, the LOST Fraternity gathered for a run to the Jaguar Drivers Club Hunter Region All British Display Day at Raymond Terrace.

The run began, as is the case with many great runs, at McDonald’s. They left Hexham, enjoying a road trip through to the Riverside Park at Raymond Terrace before setting up their display and taking in the lovely collection of British motoring machinery gathered for the day.

Enjoy the photos below, thanks to Jack McLaughlin.

 

 

An Opportunity to Drive Your Lotus at Mount Panorama

2015 Bathurst 12-Hour

Mark O’Connor in the 2015 Bathurst 12-Hour, thanks to Martin Duursma

Simply Sports Cars, in association with Challenge Bathurst, are offering 12 entrants an awesome opportunity to unleash their Lotus around Mount Panorama this November 16th & 17th.

The team will be participating in November’s Challenge Bathurst, which offers two days of track time on the iconic circuit. Simply Sports Cars will provide support and will be bringing along four-time Bathurst 12-Hour class winner Mark O’Connor to act as a guide.

The cost for the event is $3,299 including GST, and entry includes:

  • Entry to the 2017 Challenge Bathurst Sprint Group (a vehicle can be shared by two drivers)
  • Two days of track time including 8 20-minute sprint sessions
    • 1 familiarization run
    • 1 practice
    • 6 timed sprints with Mylaps timing
  • Simply Sports Cars support for both days, which includes a mechanics and engineers team, as well as access to the wealth of knowledge that the team has gained from winning multiple Mount Panorama racing events
  • A dedicated Lotus pit garage
  • Lotus Pit Suite
  • Gourmet lunch for both days
  • Comfortable 40-car grid

If you’re interested in this opportunity to drive your Lotus on one of the world’s greatest race circuits, hit the Simply Sports Cars website here, or send Paul an email.

To get inspired, check out this video of Jeff Morton putting in a 2 minute 23 lap on the way to a Class B win in his Lotus Elise at the event last year.

Lotus Photos: July LOST Fraternity Run to Caves Beach

July LOST Fraternity Lotus Run to Caves Beach Hotel

Image thanks to Jack McLaughlin

Sunday the 9th of July saw the LOST Fraternity getting together for their favourite run to Caves Beach Hotel for a catch up and a coffee. Photographer and LOST Fraternity shepherd Jack McLaughlin has kindly sent through some photos from the run, which you can enjoy below!

A dozen Lotus owners, along with a few similar thoroughbreds, met in Belmont by the lake, before enjoying a run up to to the beautiful spot on Caves Beach to enjoy good company and a few coffees. Enjoy the photos below, thanks to Jack McLaughlin.

LOST Fraternity

July Edition of Chunky’s Chatter Available to Download

Chunky's Chatter July 2017

Annette and Mark Alexander at the 2017 Phillip Island 6 Hour Relay

Tom Devitt’s latest Chunky’s Chatter, for July 2017, is hot off the digital presses and on its way to members. It’s available to download from the members’ page, so head over there to download a copy, and enjoy!

Huge thanks to Tom and contributors for putting together another awesome edition of the magazine, and for the effort each and every month.

Inside this issue:

  • Anne Blackwood holds a fantastically successful auction day on behalf of Lifeline
  • The Lotus Diamond Jubilee draws closer – all the information inside
  • Classic Team Lotus holds a tribute to Elio de Angelis
  • Geoff Winder concludes the tale of the fabulous Esprit VQ

And much more! Enjoy Chunky’s lighthearted and sometimes irreverent monthly look at the world of Lotus.

Head to the members’ page to download your copy. And if you’re not a member already, have a browse around the site and hit up our membership page here to find out why you should be!

For Sale: Collection of Lotus Books Featuring Elan, Europa and More

A collection of Lotus books, in particular featuring Elan, Plus 2 and Europa models, is up for sale through former Elan & Escort owner Geoff.

The books will be available for individual purchase. The full collection is as follows:

  1. The LOTUS ELAN & EUROPA A Collector’s Guide by John Bolster
  2. Autobooks Special Workshop Manual LOTUS ELAN & Plus 2 (1962/74)
  3. LOTUS ELAN The Complete Story by Mike Taylor
  4. LOTUS ELAN Super Profile by Graham Arnold
  5. Autosport File LOTUS 1976-1987
  6. LOTUS TWIN-CAM ENGINE A comprehensive guide to the design, development, restoration and maintenance of the Lotus-Ford twin-cam engine  BY MILES WILKINS (Hard Cover copy in as new condition)
  7. WEBER CARBURETTORS Owners Workshop Manual to 1979 By Haynes & Legg
  8. THE DEVIL BEHIND THEM By John Bentley – Nine Dedicated Drivers Who Made Racing History – Shaw, Varzi, Moss, Nuvolari, Ascari, Seaman, Sommer, Caracciola & Fangio.

Please contact Geoff on (02) 94494720 to make an offer, or send Seth an email and he’ll put you in touch.