Ashton’s President’s Prattle for November, 2019

2018 Club Lotus Australia Christmas Party

Image thanks to Gino Valdes & Paul D’Ambra.

Hello!

November already. What the? Oh well, only a few weeks until our Christmas party and, importantly, our AGM, which we are again combining with the Christmas party.

So, make sure that you have put your name on the list so that Tom can organise the excellent catering again. Email Elliott at enicholls@clublotus.com.au with names of attendees, and transfer $24 per head for adults and $10 for children under the age of 16 to the CLA account:

BSB 633 000
Acct No 144279056

Summer has finally arrived, mostly, and the last round of the CSCA series is coming up next weekend (on the 10th) at Wakefield Park. If you fancy a run, there are still some places available, and this is a great way to get a load of track time for very little money. We need all the support we can muster, as otherwise we may lose this round if the Triumph Club can’t make ends meet. So please dig deep.

Speaking of digging deep, I am participating in Movember again this year. The last time I did so was about eleven years ago (just before I moved back up to Sydney from Melbourne in fact), but the cause is as dear to my heart as ever, so please, if you aren’t growing a disgusting ‘mo yourself, support one of us that is. You can click this link to visit my fundraising page. And here’s a threat – I might keep the ‘mo for the Christmas party so you can see what you have supported!

Just a reminder, Movember supports (particularly) mens’ mental health. As we have all been touched by the terrible possibilities and very debilitating effects of depression and suicide in recent years, please, dig deep. Thank you!

Next weekend (also on the 10th) I’m taking the Elite out to a Concours e’Elegance – who would have thought it! The event’s taking place at the William Inglis Hotel, near the old Warwick Farm circuit, and there is a celebration of racing cars from the Warwick Farm period. As my Elite ran there in the ’60s, I’m taking it along to be embarrassed by all the shiny cars 🙂 So, feel free to come along and keep me company/sane! Full details at this link.

Then there’s our Christmas party, just in case you missed my comment earlier.

And all of a sudden we’ll be into the Christmas break, and then 2020. What an amazing year it has been – Lotus has announced its electrifying supercar, the Evija (no, I don’t know), Lotus Cars Australia have run another series of amazing Lotus On Track Days and supported the Targa series, in which Lotus has shone brightly. We have had another successful year in the CSCA series, our Tyre Kick and Coffee has found its home at Kokoda Cafe, and is going from strength to strength, and we’ve started planning for the joint club event for Lotus 2021, with our Tour of Tasmania. Oh, and on a personal level, I had a ball with my great friend and now fellow rallyist Giles in the Peking to Paris Rally. If you get Octane Magazine, have a look at page 140 of the December issue 🙂 We did OK, and Gidget is now getting tidied up while I decide what I do with her next.

Thinking ahead into 2020, I’m hoping to get the Elite out onto the track a bit, and apart from probably running Gidget in some of the CSCA sprints, I have entered for the Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motorsport the weekend before the Grand Prix (6-8th March). For those who haven’t ever paid this great event a visit, it is well worth the drive down – think a somewhat lower key version of Goodwood Revival without the rain. Or the need to get dressed up. It has become a magnet for some tremendous international cars, so come along for the fun. I’m hoping to run in JKL, otherwise I will act as a moving chicane for Syd in Group S.

Righto, that’s it for the moment. I look forward to seeing you at the Christmas party and AGM, and if there is anything you’d like on the AGM agenda, please drop a line to Elliott.

Meanwhile, keep it safe, upright and on the blackstuff,

Pip pip,
Ashton

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