The Alexander Garage Sale is This Saturday, the 25th of November

Alexander Garage Sale

This Saturday, the 25th of November, the Alexanders are holding a garage sale of tools and parts with a portion of the proceeds to be donated to beyondblue in memory of Mark Alexander. We would greatly appreciate your support of the family and this extremely worthy cause.

The sale will be held on Saturday the 25th of November from 10am to 12pm at Freemans Reach, NSW. If you would like to attend, please confirm your interest with an email to beyondgok4rtlegacy@gmail.com.

The sale will include a collection of tools and parts suitable for supporting motorsport in a Lotus. Download the catalogue from the following link (right-click and ‘Save-As’):

The Alexander Garage Catalogue [PDF]

The Alexanders Garage Sale

Photo Gallery: Targa High Country 2017

Images by Gino Valdes

This past weekend, over the 10th to the 12th of November, a huge crew of Lotus legends made the run to the hills in Victoria to take part in the 2017 Targa High Country Rally.

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November 2017 Edition of Chunky’s Chatter Available for Download

Image thanks to Mel & Gino Valdes

The latest edition of Tom Devitt’s lighthearted, occasionally irreverent and always enjoyable Chunky’s Chatter is ready to go and has been emailed out to members. If you’d like to download a copy, you can do so from the members page.

Inside this issue:

  • The final CSCA round, run by TSOA and reported for us by Melanie Valdes
  • Brian Caldersmith comments on the demise of the Australian car industry
  • We have a look at the classifieds from the Club Lotus UK magazine
  • All the info about this year’s NSW Christmas party

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!

NSW Christmas Lunch at Peppers Craigieburn Confirmed for Sunday 3rd December

2017 Christmas Lunch at Peppers Craigieburn

Image via Peppers Craigieburn

Our annual Christmas Lunch is confirmed for Sunday the 3rd of December at Peppers Craigieburn, including a run south from Loftus Oval and a coffee break very kindly hosted by Ed and Kath Burton just outside of the lovely coastal town of Kiama.

The cost will be $55 per head for a casual buffet lunch, not including beverages. Children are, of course, most welcome. We will book your place upon confirmation of payment to the CLA bank account. Please deposit $55 per head as follows by Friday the 24th of November:

BSB: 633 000
Account: 1442 79056
Name: Club Lotus Australia Inc
Payment ref: Xmas Joe and Joanna Bloggs (your name)

It would be very much appreciated if you could do this ASAP so that we can provide final confirmation of numbers to Peppers Craigieburn.

The plan for the day is as follows:

  • 8AM: Meet for the run at Loftus Oval (Farnell Ave, Sutherland NSW 2233)
  • 8.15AM: Run departs, heading south the scenic way to Ed and Kath’s place near Kiama
  • 10AM: Arrival at Ed and Kath. If you would like to join us there, the address is on the members’ page
  • 11:30AM: Depart Ed & Kath for drive to Peppers Craigieburn
  • 12:30PM: Arrival at Peppers Craigieburn in Bowral for a 1PM lunch. Meeting those not joining us on the run and parking up to eat, drink (if not driving) and be merry.

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone, catching up, reminiscing and celebrating another fun and rewarding year in Club Lotus Australia.

Ashton’s President’s Prattle for November, 2017

President's Prattle

Oh my goodness, it’s nearly Christmas already and in the chaos of the last month I have completely forgotten to remind everyone that we have our Christmas Party on Sunday the 3rd of December.

The plan is to meet at Loftus Oval at 8.00AM for an 8.15 departure. We will then head south the scenic way for coffee chez Ed and Kath Burton near Kiama, before taking the fun roads to Peppers Craigieburn in Bowral. There, we will park, eat, drink (for those not driving) and be merry. If you would prefer to join us there you are, of course, most welcome!

We will book your place upon confirmation of payment to the CLA bank account. Please deposit $55 per head as follows by Friday the 24th of November:

BSB: 633 000
Account: 1442 79056
Name: Club Lotus Australia Inc
Payment ref: Xmas Joe and Joanna Bloggs (your name)

Caroline and I are very much looking forward to seeing lots of you to close out what has been a tumultuous and busy, but ultimately fun and amazing year – we do hope you will join us for a lovely day out.

In other news, I am delighted to see that we continue to dominate the CSCA series. Many thanks to the Motorsport Committee for this month’s report and the glorious photos already on our website from Gino and Mel Valdes.

Personally, I must apologise for not having participated in as many rounds this year as I would have liked. Having retired the Elise from track work, and broken the Eleven, I find myself missing a car suitable for the last couple of rounds!

As I am writing this, the third of this year’s Simply Sports Cars Lotus Only Track Days (LOTD) is wrapping up at Winton. All reports suggest another fabulous event, so many thanks to all involved in the organising. I’m very much hoping that next year I can get to more than the one I managed in 2017. These days are what Lotus ownership is ALL about – plenty of track time, lots of friends having a great time, and the whole thing running like a Swiss clock thanks to SSC’s organisation. Can’t wait!

Following fast on the heels of LOTD is Targa High Country in two weeks time (10-12 November). This year we have a record 26 Lotus teams participating, with representation all the way through the field and plans for a lot of fun over the long weekend. Giles and I are using Targa to start accruing some cabin time while the Healey we’re prepping for Peking to Paris 2019 is still in pieces – we’ll let you know how we go.

And before you know it, it will be our Christmas party, and then everyone will be parking up cars for the festivities of December, when driving is generally a bad idea 🙂

Sad news reached me this week that Peter Lumsden, who famously piloted the well known Elite WUU 2 to victory at Le Mans, passed away earlier this month. Another great driver has headed to the great racetrack in the sky. While this is terribly sad news, on the subject of Elites, it is heartening to read that several Elites have changed hands in recent months, including Richard Fewster’s, which is now in the hands of CLA member Frank Foster. Similarly, one sold shortly after being passed in at Motorclassica in Melboune recently, so hopefully the next generation of owners will bring them out to play!

Righto, I’d better get this to Tom so I don’t hold up yet another Chunkie’s Chatter. Looking forward to seeing you all at Craigieburn in Bowral! In the meantime, take care, stay safe and keep it upright and on the blackstuff,

Pip pip,
Ashton