Chunky’s Chatter August 2016 Now Available for Download

Chunky's Chatter August 2016

Catch up on all the Club Lotus Australia news in the August 2016 edition of Chunky’s Chatter, which is now available to download from the members’ page.

Features in this month’s mag include:

  • Simply Sports Cars appointed Lotus Distributor for Australia and New Zealand
  • Details for the August CLA Concours and Kings School day
  • Join us for the Coota Sprints
  • Don’t forget the AGM in September
  • Your free CLA name badge is on the way

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!

Image thanks to Mark and Annette Alexander

Ashton’s President’s Prattle for August, 2016

President's Prattle

“August brings the fresh Spring showers, on and on for hours and hours”.. OK, so I pinched that from Flanders and Swan, and changed it to suit the Southern Hemisphere, but it still resonates as I’m spending too much time in cold and wet Melbourne!

And as a result I missed another monthly gathering, which I understand went well – even if Rory didn’t persuade any of you to buy Andy’s Eleven. This month we are off to Bruce’s shed, which is always a highlight of the year, particularly as it tends to fall close to the anniversary of my buying his Eleven (can you see an obsessive theme emerging here?) Please come along and keep us company on the 17th so Bruce doesn’t get bored to death by me.

By the time you read this the five or six (I lost count!) teams of Lotuses will know the results of the Philip Island 6 hour, so be ready to crown the conquering heroes on their return.

This month is about to get busy with all sorts of fun coming up. Tom’s Lotus Lunch is this coming weekend (I have to try to persuade Mrs R to drive me there in the Elan/Elise – you should come just for the giggles :)). Then there’s the Morgan round of the CSCA sprints on 13th, with the Shannons CMC Classic the following day where, God willing, we might have two Elevens side by side. A fortnight later is the glorious All British Day, with our biannual Concours d’Elegance.

Plans are afoot for a trip to the magnificent Gosford Motor Museum sometime in September or possibly early October. Watch this space.

And talking of road trips, who’s coming to the Cootamundra Sprints on 3-4 September? What better way to celebrate Fathers Day?

Also in September are two CLA institutions – our AGM on Wednesday the 21st – nomination forms on the members’ page – please do think about joining the fun of the Committee – I promise we don’t bite. We are welcoming Greg Cliffe as our new Treasurer and saying a huge thank you to Kris so please come along to join me in saying my thank you’s to them and all your committee.

The following weekend (25th) is Eggs Benedict, in sad but joyful (if that’s not an oxymoron) memory of Maurice, and we will also be running the second annual Round the Buckets. Anne is looking out for some fun roads for you to try en route there or home.

I think that’s possibly enough diary management, and as I really can’t bear to pass comment on the aftermath of Brexit and Boris Johnson as Foreign Minister, the recent horrifying evidence of home-grown torture, or the looming possibility of the lunatic fringe running the worlds largest nuclear arsenal (with another nutter with his hand on the other button), I shall leave it at that.

I look forward to seeing some more of all of you over the coming months as I re-organise my diary to be more Lotus friendly.

In the meantime drive safely, keep it upright, pointing the right way, and on the black stuff,

Pip pip,
Ashton

Lotus Eleven Engine

PS here’s a picture of my engine which, by the time you read this, will be in the car 🙂 There, my final mention of an Eleven…

Tickets Still Available for the Shannons Sydney Classic

The Preserve June July 2016

The Shannons Sydney Classic is coming up on Sunday the 14th of August, and Evan still has tickets available for Club members.

The event will be held at Sydney Motorsport Park and feature nearly 2000 veteran and classic vehicles from more than 150 clubs. Cars, bikes, scooters, military vehicles police vehicles, ambulances and fire engines will take part in the display and parades.

Other entertainment will include double-decker bus rides around the circuit, trade displays in the pit garages, live music, the Free Spirit Markets, Rock ‘n Roll dancing and an art show.

Entry for those displaying their cars is free.

Gates open to the public at 10AM and general admission is $20. Admission for kids under 12 is free, and so is parking.

To get in contact with Evan for a ticket, please send me an email here.

For more information head to the Council of Motor Cars website here.

Letting You Know about the Lugarno Lions Spring Festival and Classic Vehicle Show

Lugarno Lions Spring Festival

The Lugarno Lions Spring Festival and Classic Vehicle Show will be held on Sunday the 18th of September, 2016, at Gannons Park in Peakhurst, and should be a lot of fun.

As its name would imply, the event has two sides – a Spring Festival, and the car show. Entry to the car show is open to all interesting cars. It costs $10, which goes entirely to charity. While displaying your car is not mandatory, it enters your car in the judging and provides cheap and convenient parking for the rest of the show.

For more details and to download the invitation and registration forms, hit the Classic Vehicle Show website here.

Entry to the Spring Festival is free. The festival offers great family entertainment including stalls, rides, music and dancing.

Club Lotus Australia member Peter Walker is the secretary for the Lugarno Lions Classic Vehicle Show, and you can contact him with any questions at [email protected].

Hit this link to head to the event’s official website.

Black Sheep in the Fast Lane by Ian Scott-Watson Now Available

Black Sheep in the Fast Lane

Cover features Jim Clark in the Border Reivers team Aston Martin

Thanks to Brian Caldersmith for passing on the news that Ian Scott-Watson’s new book ‘Black Sheep in the Fast Lane’ has finally been published.

Ian Scott-Watson is known for setting Jim Clark on the path that led to his legendary career in motorsport. Jim features prominently in the book, which provides insights into his friendship, early motorsport career and time with the Border Reivers and Team Lotus.

Read on for Brian’s explanation of the value of the book for Lotus enthusiasts.

Read More