This unusual 1980 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus Mk 1 is being offered for sale by David in South Australia. Read on for all the details.
Ashton’s President’s Prattle for October, 2025
Good morning everyone! I hope you are enjoying the spring sunshine as much as I am – there is something joyful about the warmth finally replacing the damp, and I can at last start removing the mould from every leather surface in the cars, knowing it won’t be back until next winter. By the way, why is leather so attractive (actually, the dashboard material in the Elise appears quite furry too)?
It’s time to start blowing the cobwebs away, as we’re getting into the driving season. A good start to which would be Simply Sports Cars fantastic Lotus Week running in the High Country of Victoria at the end of this month. I believe there are a few places still available – get in touch with Richard Gibbs or Mark O’Connor at SSC if you’ve been wavering!
As a reminder, we have our two tyre kicks – this weekend at Carss Park and next weekend at Gough Whitlam – and then our inaugural fish and chip run to Berowra Waters on the 26th. And not forgetting that Round 6 of the CSCA series is next Sunday (19th) at SMSP – entry details are here.
There’s the possibility that a few of us might take off from Carrs Park for a bit of a drive, so please come along with ideas – nothing is set in stone yet!
And there is a certainty that we will have the joyful company of Eddie and Vicki Lankhorst from Lotus Club Victoria for the Gough Whitlam Tyre Kick. They are on a road trip up the east coast, and are staying in Sydney over the weekend, so we will be catching up with them. Please come along to say hello if you possibly can.
Before we know it, it’ll be November, so I need to get a bit organised for the AGM and Christmas Party on Saturday December 7th. If you’ve not got it in the diary as a placeholder, now is a good time to do so, and we will get the invitation out on Member Jungle shortly so you can register. Full details to follow with that, but it’s on at the Royal Automobile Club in Macquarie Street, and there will be food and great company!
Over at Hethel, all appears to have descended back into chaos! It’s always a bit harder to understand what’s going on in a fast moving situation when you aren’t on the ground, so most of what we are witnessing is possibly unintentional or even not based in fact, but it does appear that Lotus might have hit another of its sadly repetitive milestones of over-optimistic business case failing to materialise, and resulting in mass layoffs, radical cost cutting, and possible restructuring. I’m not optimistic that Geely has a grasp on how to manage a small volume sports car brand, but sadly I’m afraid only time will tell.
In happier news, we have had a very successful season of car meets so far this year, with a great showing at the All British Day last month, and my grateful thanks to all those who came along – there is something joyful and colourful about a bunch of Smartie-coloured cars parked up with their owners chatting away!
Right, better get this to Seth so we stand a chance of it getting to you this month, so take care, drive carefully and keep it upright and mainly on the blackstuff.
Pip pip,
Ashton
For Sale: 1963 Lotus Elan S1 Developed to 26R Specs
This extensively and conscientiously developed 1963 Lotus Elan S1 is offered for sale by Chris Wade. Read on for the details.
Lotus Photos: Sandy Bay Tasmania, October 2025
Our friends in Tasmania get together most months at Sandy Bay to kick tyres and chat about life, Lotus and everything. Robert Verhey made it to the October catch-up, and very kindly reached out with a few photos that you can enjoy below.
Entry to CSCA 2025 Round 6 at Sydney Motorsport Park Now Open!
Entries are now open for round six of the 2025 CSCA series, which will be hosted by the Jaguar Drivers Club of Australia on Sydney Motorsport Park’s Druitt (North) circuit on Sunday October 19.
Entry is via Motorsport Australia member portal at motorsport.org.au, and you can download the supplementary regulations at the following link.
CSCA 2025 Round 6 Supplementary Regulations [PDF]
Read on for the invitation thanks to event secretary Lionel Walker of the Jaguar Drivers Club of Australia.
Regards,
Your Club Lotus Australia Motorsport Committee
Lotus Stories: SA’s 2025 Father’s Day Get Together
Catching up with our South Australian friends with thanks to Andrew Stevens // Father’s Day Gathering at Beaumont Rd
The South Australian group gets together on the first Sunday of each month, which means that every year our September get together coincides with Father’s Day. This often presents challenges, with cafés in the Adelaide Hills being booked up for family activities. 2025 saw a solid turnout at the Beaumont Rd meeting spot and by 9:00 am we had 10 cars lined up ready to roll. The weather was fine, but the bureau had predicted showers, so roofs on was the majority verdict.
Wrapping Up Round 4 of the 2025 CSCA Supersprint Series
On Saturday August 16, 2025, we held our Club Lotus Australia-hosted CSCA round four at Sydney Motorsport Park for a healthy field of 76 drivers. Let’s catch up on the action and enjoy some photos from the day.
Lotus Photos: Cootamundra Sprints
Photos thanks to Syd Reinhardt
Syd, Caroline and I, Garth and Francis, and Mark all headed off to Cootamundra over the last weekend in August for the VSCCA’s annual Sprints, and had an absolute blast!
Ashton’s President’s Prattle for September, 2025: Welcome to Spring!
Finally, the rain seems to have abated a bit (at least here in Sydney), and looking out of the window I see that orange thing up in the sky that I had forgotten about for too long. So, that means getting out there, and, more importantly, getting cars out there!
Before we get to the upcoming plans for that, a moment to reflect on an awesome weekend at the end of August. A few of us went to the Cootamundra Sprints, organised for the 16th year by the wonderful Tim Shellshear, and in the company of the Vintage Sports Car Club of Australia, which represents a truly eclectic and varied collection of cars of all sorts, shapes and ages.
While the day of sprints itself provided much entertainment (seeing 100 year old cars like the OM in the picture running up the strip is well worth the drive on its own), the significant extra value, I realised, was in the company we kept and the drives there and back.
The drive there took us out to Lithgow, cross country via O’Connell to Blayney and down through Cowra and Young to Cootamundra. On the way back on Sunday morning, in the most glorious sunshine and early mist, we drove the truly magical road from Coota to Jugiong. Which, apart from the roo that nearly upset proceedings, was one of those memorable drives with the car singing back to the birds, the countryside green and lush, and life feeling like it could hardly be better.
So, thank you to all those who were there, as you made it very special – great conversations, much laughing, and it is always lovely to catch up with friends after too long. For those who missed it, there is always next year! I’ve made a promise to myself to do more to try to twist your arms next year, as you don’t know what you are missing out on!
Of course August would not have been complete without mention of the excellent CLA CSCA sprint at the Gardner Circuit at SMSP on 16th, followed by the Shannons Classic on the Sunday. Huge thanks to Graham, Brett, Colin, Mark Hannah, Georgina and Cath and Craig Sheppard for the impeccable organising and running of the day, and to Liam Sheppard, who with Graham and Margarita Weir, kindly manned marshall points for the day – the most thankless task of all, so particular thanks to you!
Thank you to those who made it to the Shannons Day, although I admit I was disappointed that of the 15 tickets issued, only 7 cars made it. Please could I ask that if you ask for tickets, that you do all in your power to turn up, as not only does it diminish the impact of the display of cars, but also makes it harder next time we ask for a prime spot (which we have managed to keep for a number of years now). Thank you!
Now, looking ahead, and dates for your diaries, as follows.
Next weekend, Sunday September 14, we have the All British Day out at Hawkesbury Showgrounds. As Seth has mentioned in his note, there is the upcoming round 5 of the CSCA sprints, run by the MX5 Club, who have, frankly, saved this series from oblivion with their attendance, so please do join in the fun!
Looking ahead slightly further, we have our Fish and Chip run planned for October 26th. Fuller details elsewhere, but we are hoping to make this (along with the Burrawang Run and one or two other events) an annual event. So, come along to this year’s inaugural event, and you can say to your grandkids that you were there at the first running! Or just turn up for the fun. And very fine fish and chips I gather.
We have had confirmation of our booking for the Christmas Party (and AGM) on Sunday 7th December, once again at the Royal Automobile Club in Macquarie Street. We have asked for some reserved spaces for those wishing to bring their cars, although last year was quite a bibulous affair, so you might prefer to come by train or cab! Either way, put a placeholder in your diary, and I very much look forward to seeing you there for the AGM ahead of a fine lunch.
Right, I’d better be getting this to Seth so he can get it out. And I need to get into the garage and finish a few tasks. Looking forward to seeing you out there this month, and in the meantime, keep safe, upright and mainly on the black stuff.
Pip pip,
Ashton
Ashton’s President’s Prattle for August 2025
Ashton & Syd Reinhardt at the Cootamundra Sprints a few years back, image by Robyn Mackay
Hello! How on earth did it get to early August without me paying attention?