Like minded Lotus owners

[classiclotus]

Like minded Lotus fans`

May I start by saying what a fantastic job the club is doing by supporting, representing and promoting the Lotus name. As an avid classic car supporter, I am generally interested in all things cars, my real passion however lies in Lotus badge. Having owned several early Lotus models I am firmly in the camp that believes Colin Chapman was Lotus, and along with his untimely death the marque also died. I have been a member of the club and also attended several meets as a none member although I cannot get passionate over the new era (post Colin Chapman) Lotus cars. Unfortunately for me the vast majority of cars at the meets are Elise`s, Exige`s etc……. outnumbering classics 20 to 1. Would it be possible to have separate meets for the different eras in The Lotus history? I am sure that this feeling is not one way traffic, and your average Elise owner is not interested in the workings of an Elan, the quirky looks of the Europa or the construction of an Eclat!
I have decided to set up a Facebook page, Classic Lotus , where any likeminded Classic Lotus fans can chat, advise and arrange meets and runs, you can also email me on [email protected]

Chris

[Dennis]

Speak for your self, while I am an S1 owner I would love a classic Europa ideally in JPS colours

Re Chapman being lotus, there were a fare few other inviolved as many of the presentations at the buckles have shown

[softlips]

I love seeing the old well cared for classics and if I'd room I'd have one or two.

Seeing these cars at "meets" has introduced me to cars I'd have never had the privilege to know otherwise. For example the Climax Elite. It would be a shame to hide them from new enthusiasts

[albutch]

The classics are always well represented at NYLOC meets and as far as I know none of them stay away because of the predominance of the Elise models. Give us another try and seek out the wise and bearded ones, they'll make you very welcome I'm sure.

Lots of us have modern and ancient Lotus cars and alternate between the two (or three, or more!)

[Matt R]

NYLOC wouldn't be the club it is without the 'group hug' mentality of old and new lumped in together. I'd love an Elan, love the old F1 cars and have been exposed (ooh err) to most of the models in the Lotus stable through the club.

I'm sure some of the beards have lamented the filling of the car park with Elise varients and as enthusiasts of the marque we'd all love there to have been Elan, Excel, Elite, Eclat, Europa and Esprit variants running through from the Chapman days till now to give some variety to the car park but that's not how it happened unfortunately.

It's always a shame when division is mentioned, the exceedingly boring S1 vs S2 debate for example, and pre and post Chapman division would not be in the spirit of this club. I wish you well in your Facebook endeavour and you'll always be welcome at the normal club meetings

[classiclotus]

Hi

first let me appologies if I have upset anyone, that was certainly not my intention. I have great respesct for the make, both pre and post Chapman. I also do not wish to drive a division between old and new, mabye I did not explain myself very well. As the years go by the` newer models `will increase year on year in numbers, their needs become quite different to the needs of a classic owner, road runs, shows, rallys etc...... at some point there comes a natural division. Clubs like the Historic Lotus Register cater for this as do the many Elise clubs out there. The comment I made regarding the death of Colin Chapman is obviousley a personal view, although it seems a natural break within the history of Lotus Cars to make the division between old and new. Appologies again, I too wish I had the funds and room to run a modern Lotus along side my classic.

Chris

[Matt R]

I'm sure you've not upset anyone Chris, but thanks for the clarification.

We do on occasion get visitors who pop in, decide the clubs not for them and try and get us to alter the club to suit. We're always up for new ideas and involvement but the club is different for a reason to all the others in that it's the people in the club that are it's heart not necessarily what's sat in the car park

[PaulT]

it's the people in the club that are it's heart not necessarily what's sat in the car park

Have you been studying philosophy again, Matt? That's a rather well-written statement if I do say so myself!

As far as I'm concerned, I think any division between Lotus of old and new is daft. Fair enough, the Europa owners will always be discussing the virtues of the twink and dual petrol tanks - birds of a feather and all that, but we do all get along together and it's that camerarderie which makes the club what it is today. If anyone is dividing things, I've seen evidence of this at certain car shows where the old guard have taken to physically distancing themselves from cars which don't fit their criteria. It's their decision but it's a one-way feeling because as an Elise owner I don't automatically discount the older cars and neither does anyone I know who has anything to do with Lotus.

The sight of a bunch of old and modern Lotus cars picking its way through a winding country road is something to behold. Even better to be part of it.

[elanman999]

As one of the bearded ones I would say that NYLOC is what it is because:-
1 We actually have meetings.
2 Just being interested in anything Lotus is a good reason to come to a meet.

As for the comment of post Chapman cars being not true to the marque, you only have to go out in an Elise or Exige to realise your mistake.
Chris, best of luck with your project but facebook is not for me.
Cheers
John

[softlips]

As one of the bearded ones I would say that NYLOC is what it is because:-
1 We actually have meetings.
2 Just being interested in anything Lotus is a good reason to come to a meet.

As for the comment of post Chapman cars being not true to the marque, you only have to go out in an Elise or Exige to realise your mistake.
Chris, best of luck with your project but facebook is not for me.
Cheers
John

Agree entirely.

[Paul H]

As one of the bearded ones I would say that NYLOC is what it is because:-
1 We actually have meetings.
2 Just being interested in anything Lotus is a good reason to come to a meet.

As for the comment of post Chapman cars being not true to the marque, you only have to go out in an Elise or Exige to realise your mistake.
Chris, best of luck with your project but facebook is not for me.
Cheers
John

[Dennis]

I recall spending some tim with Julian Thompson in 04, I was so impressed (and shicked) by his knowledge of all the old Lotus and I mean old Lotus, remember much of the Elise s1 was inspired by the old

[Doug]

Like minded Lotus fans

Well Chris you have come to the right place for that.

May I start by saying what a fantastic job the club is doing by supporting, representing and promoting the Lotus name. As an avid classic car supporter, I am generally interested in all things cars, my real passion however lies in Lotus badge.

So are we here at Nyloc.

Having owned several early Lotus models I am firmly in the camp that believes Colin Chapman was Lotus, and along with his untimely death the marque also died. I have been a member of the club and also attended several meets as a none member although I cannot get passionate over the new era (post Colin Chapman) Lotus cars.

You will find quite a number of peeps in Nyloc own a Classic and "new era" car of one description or another.

Unfortunately for me the vast majority of cars at the meets are Elise`s, Exige`s etc……. outnumbering classics 20 to 1.

Well I am afraid that's the way it is, most classics are not used everyday (even though I know some are), the new era cars can more readily be used everyday. Hence the greater number at the Buckles and I would dare bet the number of classics actually running is far out numbered by Elise and Exige models.

Would it be possible to have separate meets for the different eras in The Lotus history? I am sure that this feeling is not one way traffic,

Probably would be possible to have seperate group meet, I for one would like to see all the Nyloc Classics parked up together just for once, but it would take SOME organising, as Nyloc that's not really what we are about. Would be nice to try though.

and your average Elise owner is not interested in the workings of an Elan, the quirky looks of the Europa or the construction of an Eclat!

Your average Elise owner is not interested in Lotus or Nyloc full stop, let alone the history. I say again at Nyloc we are family, all things Lotus, all things people who belong to Nyloc and as such would not take to kindly to divisions in the camp.

I have decided to set up a Facebook page, Classic Lotus , where any likeminded Classic Lotus fans can chat, advise and arrange meets and runs, you can also email me on [email protected]

I do NOT mean to pour cold water on your idea, as I said I would like to see a lot of classics together (for once) but on a regular basis I cannot see it happening, unless you want to try and see if you can drum up enough support to sustain the effort put in. A number of people try to organise meets other than club meets some are well supported and others less so. I believe you are looking at a limited number of classic owners and as such would struggle to maintain interest.
At Classic Le Mans 2006 they tried to put all the Elans together along the front row of the Lotus park, it was marvellous, however in 2008 and 2010 it just did not happen, all Lotus drivers who were there early wanted to be on the front row.
However 2012 will be the 50th anniversary for the 2 seater Elan and I am sure there will be a lot more effort made.

I do appreciate you have only good intentions and it wouldn't do for us all to be the same, try it next year some time, I for one will try and support the idea, but I do think it would be a one off rather than a regular thing.

Oh and as John said facebook is not my thing either.

Just my worth or maybe

Doug

[sjw]

Face what ?
Get off yer arse and come to the Buckles and actually talk to people.
Its far more social networking than staring at a screen

[chevronb37]

Face what ?
Get off yer arse and come to the Buckles and actually talk to people.
Its far more social networking than staring at a screen

Almost spat my drink out! As subtle as a brick to the face...

If I can offer some reassurance, I run a new-era Lotus but also love the old cars and take a keen interest in Lotus generally, most especially the Chapman-era racing exploits. Plenty of younger Elise/Exige owners who can only afford to run a single Lotus and like the convenience of something more modern but are still keen students of the marque's heritage. Come down to the Buckles and have a chinwag and a look around - you'll find plenty of kindred spirits