Lotus Elan Central

Well here is a put your money where your mouth is trip!!!!

Some members of Club Lotus NW are planning a trip to Italy in Sept 2015. The plan is to drive down to Lake Como via the Stelvio Pass, spend some time in that area doing whatever and then drive back. The basic holiday package is being arranged by Scenic Car Tours and the relevant website is:
http://www.sceniccartours.com/lake-como ... 4574780543

This page gives you the basic outline of the trip, and covers the general itinerary we will follow.

As an outline cost, this is currently estimated as:

Dover/Calais £799.00 per person sharing a twin or double room
Hull/Rotterdam £949.00 per person sharing a twin or double room
Harwich/Hook of Holland TBA but probably similar to Hull.

This includes all the hotels en route, ferries and most food, but please read the website as to what exactly is included.

Exact prices will be known in due course, once Scenic Car Tours are able to check their various hotels etc. There are currently about 10 Lotuses (Loti?) who are more than interested, but obviously the more the merrier (up to the capacity of the selected hotels of course!). I am one of the 10, but am currently looking for a suitable navigatrice(!)

If anyone is interested please let me know: this is obviously a "couples" trip, although singles can be accommodated, but the additional cost is about £350-£500.

Anyone interested in what could prove to be a very enjoyable trip and test of our cars? I have done about 15-16 Lotus convoy style trips to Europe in my old S4 Elan and they are great fun, easy going, never any breakdowns (!!!!???? well nearly) and in great company. Good food and wine/beer at the end of a days drive to look forward to as well as the dinner table conversation.



I will start the inevitable LEC list if there is significant response.


John

Hmmmmmm..........

Bumpity bump...

Any interest in this trip at all?

Fredjohn wrote:Bumpity bump...

Any interest in this trip at all?

I'm interested but my wife's idea of cruising around europe involves water and a large ship

surprised you haven't had more interest though

Likewise the Better half enjoys cruising rather than car travel hence most of the car trips I take are with my son in the passenger seat, I like the sound of the trip but planning that far ahead is pretty dificult with University and stuff on the horizon for mine next year.

This is my idea of fun, I have never toured abroad with a group but it is on my list of things to try. One potential destination might be the Opel Treffen.

The nearest I got was taking part in the VBOA's International Meeting when it rotated round to the UK a couple of years back, which was really good fun. I saw bits of Bedfordshire I never realised existed and certainly wouldn't otherwise have visited. I have looked at the sceniccartours website and their suggested itinerary looks to be both challenging and rewarding. Perhaps when I have fettled my car I might look at it differently, but I don't yet have enough confidence in it to go planning anything too significant just yet.

And yes, my other half would rather be on a boat... Pah.

Ian.

Does anyone in England rent Lotus cars?

DeanG

Did a quick google and found these:

Here or

Here

Alternatively try an LEC member with two cars!!!................

Fredjohn wrote:DeanG

Did a quick google and found these:

Here or

Here

Alternatively try an LEC member with two cars!!!................

Thanks. Those prices are a bit rich for me. We are considering an big trip for next year. It would be great to be able to drive a Lotus and visit with some fellow enthusiasts.

The Lotus trip to Stelvio and Lake Como has now been confirmed with 9/10 cars attending.

The itinerary and dates are as follows:

13/09/2015 Either P&O Hull-Rotterdam or Stena Line Harwich – Hook Overnight sailings

14/09/2015 Novotel Nancy Ouest 1 night http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-040 ... ndex.shtml

15/09/2015 Golden Tulip Hotel, Mulhouse 1 night http://www.goldentulipmulhousebasel.com/en

16/09/2015 Hotel Stocker, Saint Valentino 1 night http://www.hotel-stocker.com/en/hotel.html

17/09/2015 Lario Hotel, Lake Como 4 nights http://www.hotellario.it/

21/09/2015 Schweizerhof Hotel, Weggis 1 night http://www.schweizerhof-weggis.ch/

22/09/2015 Hotel Gulliver Luxembourg 1 night http://www.gulliver.lu/

23/09/2015 Either P&O Rotterdam-Hull or Stena Line Hook – Harwich Overnight sailings

Dover-Calais crossings are also available, but all those currently booked are "up north".

Whilst in Mulhouse it is intended to visit the National Car Museum of France. This is the former private collection of the Schlumpf brothers who owned a textile business in Muhouse before it went bankrupt. The receivers and unions opened a museum almost immediately back in 1977/8. It features a huge collection of Bugatti (incl 2 of only 6 Royales built) and is a truly wonderfully presented museum. Spent a whole day there 6 years ago: brilliant!

Whilst at Lake Como there will be various excursions organised (optional) incl a possible trip to Modena. Presumably to buy some nice balsamic vinegar, I can't think of any other reason to go there

Any French/Swiss/Belgian/Dutch/ or any other European LECers for that matter are more than welcome to come and see us all en route, but we will not really be able to deviate from our chosen route as distances are relatively long for each day (bearing in mind some of those going are in 40+ year old cars.

I believe there may be some places left (hotel rooms are the limitation), so if any one is still interested let me know.

The Schweizerhof in Weggis sounds like a good place to meet! How is it for you Yakaz?

I have pencilled in the date

Already booked and deposit paid for me and my son Matthew.

can't wait
Having to forego Goodwood revival as the dates clash but this was a trip we had to do, need to get a few jobs done on the Lotus before we make the trip though, she needs to look her best

I'm still very tempted by this trip, but won't know until nearer the time - then I'll just have to hope that there is still a space availlable......

me too Pinkers.

Sandra and I did a similar trip to this last September on the way to Rome and back. The mountain passes will be great in any Elan, we only saw one other Lotus in 4500 miles, a German M100 at the top of Stelvio.

You will all enjoy it, but watch out for pot holes when you get into Italy!!

Geoff

dapinky wrote:I'm still very tempted by this trip, but won't know until nearer the time - then I'll just have to hope that there is still a space availlable......

Stick the tent in......I'm sure the hotels will have 'gardens'

Lol.....


On a serious note you might be able to camp although the trip company will probably prefer hotel money rather than a camp discount....

This sounds like a great plan, a year too late for me though. There is no way I could leave Isabelle for two weeks