Ashton’s President’s Prattle for July, 2027

2026 10 Hour Endurance Relay

Morning everyone,

Look at that, halfway through the year already!

At least the sun has shown its face occasionally, although last weekend was spectacularly changeable, and even more spectacularly wet, which was particularly tiresome as we were competing in the NSWRRC 10 hour endurance relay. I happened to be the one out on the circuit as the heavens opened, and for two laps, it was interesting. Then, as the circuit turned from tarmac to a river, it became challenging. Then cars started spinning and falling off the river, and the safety car came out, and finally the session was red flagged. Which meant the cabin filled with steam while parked in parc ferme, and the team decided it was no fun anymore!

Never mind, we managed to place 24th out of 36 teams, and despite some mechanical challenges (one of which necessitated me changing cars, as the eagle eyed will note from the photos), it was a great learning experience, and we’ll try and do it again next year and apply the learnings from this one!

In other news we held the mid-year committee meeting on 20th of June, and the minutes are published on the members area of the website. Highlights include the fact that we appear still to be solvent (thank you Greg!) and there’s a decent calendar of social and motorsport activities ahead of us.

Amongst them is a fantastic dinner being organised by Peter Eppel at the RACA to celebrate the Roaring Twenties, and the Maroubra Speedway circuit. Who knew Australia had one of the first banked speedway circuits in the world? It’ll be a fun, garrulous and thoroughly enjoyable evening, so please do come and join us on 22nd August – full details are at this link.

2026 10 Hour Endurance Relay

The week before that we will be joining in at both the Shannons Classic and the CLA CSCA Supersprint (15th and 16th August respectively). Tickets for the Shannons Classic display are available on the member site here.

And then there is the option for a weekend drive for those interested over the weekend of 4 – 6 September, centred around the Cootamundra Sprints, but with no obligation to join the sprints if you have no desire. Saturday will be available to enjoy the Temora Warbirds Museum as well.

This will be followed closely by the All British Day on 13th September at the Hawkesbury Showgrounds – tickets once again available through Member Jungle.

October will hopefully see the re-running of the very successful Fish and Chip Run on-or-about the 25th, and then its the run to Christmas, believe it or not!

We are also connecting with the Queenslanders to understand what the plans might be for the Biennials next year, so I will try o keep you abreast of plans there as they emerge.

Otherwise, I hope you have a fun July. Please keep safe, upright and mostly on the blackstuff.

Pip pip,
Ashton.

2026 10 Hour Endurance Relay

Join Us at the Royal Automobile Club of Australia for the Roaring Twenties Maroubra Speedway Cabaret Dinner

Long time member of both Club Lotus Australia and the Royal Automobile Club of Australia Peter Eppel is organising the Roaring Twenties Maroubra Speedway Cabaret Dinner on the evening of Saturday, August 22. We’d love to see you there!

Held at the Royal Automobile Club of Australia from 6:00pm on August 22, the event will feature ‘Maroubra Speedway – The Musical’ by Andrew G Ford with his jazz ensemble, telling the story of Sydney’s epic racetrack 100 years on. The dress code is for a big night out roaring ’20s style, with a prize to be presented for the best dressed lady and gentleman. The cost is $110, plus a cash bar.

This year marks the centenary of the first year of racing at Olympia Motor Speedway, an amazing one mile concrete oval with 48 degree banking that permitted 100mph lap averages by both cars and motorcycles. Built in the sandhills of Maroubra by enthusiastic promoters, it was only the third such racetrack in the world, preceded by Brookland in England and Montlhery, Paris.

The Roaring Twenties had arrived and the Kings of Speed on both two and four wheels thrilled huge crowds and became household names. Wealthy owners imported the latest fastest racing cars to compete – Grand Prix Bugattis, Indianapolis Ballot, Alvis, Alfa Romeo, et al.

The Royal Automobile Club of Australia, founded in 1903, had many members competing at, or otherwise involved in, Maroubra Speedway. We think that this is an important milestone to celebrate and invite members of Club Lotus Australia to join us in an evening of entertainment in best Roaring Twenties style.

Bookings may be made either at this link for non-members of RACA, or in the RACA member portal for RACA members.

If you’d like to know more, reach out to Peter Eppel via Seth at [email protected], or call the RACA on 8273 2300 and ask for Edwina.

Ashton’s President’s Prattle for June, 2026

Good morning! Yes, this is vey late for the May edition, and might almost qualify as June’s edition. Apologies, I got distracted by work, and some fun things!

Including a last minute drive day which a few of us did over the long weekend. Amazingly (and counter to the doomsayers who predicted us being impounded by the filth) we had a clear run all day, no plod, one camera car driving the other way, and clear roads, sunshine and great company – in fact exactly what was needed! Photos from the trip up Putty Road, and back down via Mangrove Mountain and Wiseman’s Ferry. And it was particularly good to catch up with Zed who joined us for coffee in Wolombi (white Evora below!)

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