Well, I did warn you last month that things were starting to hot up, but I didn’t expect that to refer to the temperature. Today I was working on my trailer, to get it ready for the trip to Alice Springs, in 25 degree heat! I’m feeling a bit frazzled about what is supposed to still be winter, and clearly our daffodils think so too as they are all out already.
July has rather flown by, but not without the Wakefield edition of the Simply Sports Cars Lotus Only Track Day. The LOTD was, as always, very well attended and expertly run, and great day was had by all. Sadly I wasn’t able to make it, but the beaming smiles in the photos tell the story (full details on the website).
Also on the website is a recap and photos from the very successful evening we had at Carbonix, hosted very kindly by Carbonix owner and Club Lotus Australia member Dario Valenza, and well attended by members. Many many thanks to Dario for having us, and thank you to all the members who showed up to support Dario and his team. My apologies once again that I had to be in Melbourne Dario – we need to do it again!
We are in the blocks for the start of the busy season. Next weekend sees the sprinters out at SMSP for the Morgan round on Saturday the 11th. The Shannons Classic will follow on the 12th, still at Sydney Motorsport Park. If you haven’t got your ticket for the Shannons Classic yet, make sure you drop Evan a line.
Don’t forget to put Tyre Kick and Coffee in your diary for Sunday the 19th at Gough Whitlam Park.
More sprints follow on Saturday the 25th August (MG clubs) and again on Saturday the 8th of September (Sprite club). That should keep everyone with sticky tyres happy!
Also happening in late August is the inaugural Targa Great Barrier Reef (31st August – 2nd September). The event is based out of Cairns and will be running around the Atherton Tablelands. It’s shaping up to be a stunning weekend!
Sadly Giles and I won’t be competing this year as we have to be in Alice Springs for the Central Outback Trial from 16th-25th August. We are using the Central Outback Trial to shakedown Gidget, the Austin Healey that we will be campaigning in the Peking to Paris Rally next June. The likelihood of Giles getting Gidget back to the Gold Coast, never mind up to Cairns in time, is too slim and stressful to make it worth trying. Have fun up there for us, though! Let’s hope we can get organised for Targa High Country in November instead.
While we are thinking further ahead, remember that unfortunately Anne has had to cancel Eggs Benedict this year, so that won’t be happening. As we were to hold our AGM on the same day, we will now hold it at the Christmas Party, which will be on the 2nd December.
The Christmas Party is being organised by Tom and will at this stage involve a picnic get-together in Lane Cove National Park, where we held our 2014 Christmas Party. This year we have ideas for a slightly different approach to catering, so watch this space!
The Lugarno Lions Club are set for their annual festivities on the 16th September – full details on the website. This falls on the same day as our September Tyre Kick & Coffee, so we might drive down from there for a peek.
The following weekend (22-23 September) is both the HSRCA Spring Festival and, on the Sunday (23rd), the All British Day at Kings School. This is a slightly annoying clash as they are both great events, and the Eleven and Elite might actually be ready by then!
Finally, you will see elsewhere in Chunky’s that the biannual gathering of the clans is going to be happening on the Sunshine Coast over the Anzac Day weekend (25th-28th April) next year. Full details will be available soon and booking will be open at www.lotus2019.com.au. In the meantime you can reserve rooms at the Mooloolaba Beach resort, which will be used as the centre of all the action.
I hope that brings you up to speed with all the goings on. As you may have gathered, I am getting a little excited at the idea of driving Gidget in her first competitive rally and I will try and get some photos for next month.
Keep it safe, upright and on the blackstuff (mostly!)
Pip pip,
Ashton
