LOG 37 Birmingham, AL May 19 - May 22

[DeanG]

A schedule of major events has been posted as well as the registration form

http://www.lotusownersgathering.com/

Friday
Talladega Super Speedway Laps
Autocross
Reception

Saturday
Concurs Incl. Sat. Vintage Race Tickets
Evening Banquet

Sunday
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Evening Buffet

Monday
Driver’s Education
Wet Skid Pad Car Control

[DeanG]

I made my hotel reservations today. This will be my 25th LOG. I'm taking the Seven not the M100 as it will be a celebration of 60 years of the Elite and Seven.

Last time I did the laps of Talladega. I'm doing that again. I may remove the windshield on the Seven in order to get more speed. That and the engine work I had done may allow me to go fast enough to stick to the banking this time. 80-85 mph wasn't enough without cranking in a bit or right to turning up the track. I can say that I did a lap and a half at Talledega foot to the floor.

I missed the auto-X and skid pad events last time. I heard that the "Wet Skid Pad Car Control" was an awesome learning experience. I signed up for both. This time I'll skip the Driver’s Education event at Barber Motorsport Park.

The newly expanded museum will be great. There is a vintage race going on during LOG so that should add to the atmosphere. Loads of Lotus race cars should be there.

Last time Dan Gurney was the special guest. I haven't heard what special guests will be in attendance. There have been some great ones at past LOGs.

Note that a few of the people who are putting on this event are owners or former owners of M100's.

[steve matthews]

I may remove the windshield on the Seven in order to get more speed.

Dean how will you keep the bugs out of your TEETH

Looking forward to all the Track Events.

[tedtaylor]

I've decided against driving my '72 Elan Sprint down to LOG37 but rather will be driving down in the M100 Elan instead. I think i'm part of a caravan coming from North Jersey, PA area. Any other M100's driving down from the northeast?

[Tyger]

I've decided against driving my '72 Elan Sprint down to LOG37 but rather will be driving down in the M100 Elan instead. I think i'm part of a caravan coming from North Jersey, PA area. Any other M100's driving down from the northeast?

I shall be going down... Atwell said he was organizing a group that would meet up at Ft Indiantown Gap, PA (Funk's Restaurant). Is that the group you are going down with? I took my M100 to Princeton last year but I think I'll take my Esprit this time for the track events.

[steve matthews]

Ted, let me know your route and schedule maybe I can meet up with you and join the Caravan in Virginia.
Dean when are you going?
Steve

[tedtaylor]

I can provide specifics later, but in general, we are leaving the NJ/NY/PA area on Wed morning. We are taking 2 days to get to LOG37 by Thursday evening. This is to have Friday open for the laps at Talladega. The group is going two different routes up here initially to accommodate the broad area starting point. The main group is coming down Rt 78 to Rt 81 in PA. The sub group (including me) is coming down the I95 corridor and off the Baltimore beltway heading to Harper's Ferry and catching Rt 81 there.
The main target the first day is Wyethville, VA. We're staying at a hotel (TBD) there, then Thursday morning, taking a detour to do the "Tail of the Dragon". Then later in the day, head down to LOG.
There is a return caravan planned, but i won't be a part since i will be leaving right after the Space Center outing Sunday and heading back north late afternoon myself (unless someone else has the same idea they can come along too).

That's the gist of the matter and preliminary plan. If interested, i'll provide more details when they are finalized.

[tedtaylor]

Hi Folks,
We have been working feverishly on our plans to drive in groups down to the Lotus Owner's Gathering 37 in Birmingham, AL. My thanks go to Lee Klauber for doing a lot of the route planning. It's time to commit. Read about trip details below. If you will be joining us, please reply to ME ONLY at (NOT Reply All!!!) with the following info:

Name of everyone in your car.
Model Car driven (A loud Raspberry to those not driving a Lotus!)
Trailer: Yes (BOO!) or No (Yay!)
Cell phone of everyone in the car (in case someone's cell battery dies!!)
Intended Meeting Place (see route descriptions below)
Rendezvous point you prefer
Departure Day from Birmingham. (If you stay on Monday for the track day/skidpad, we will depart Wednesday 5/23, but some folks have needs to leave earlier. We will help coordinate.)
Other comments or needs. (We have one person who is doing a banzai continuous run to B-Ham & Back, I can coordinate if you want to do join him .) =-O

We will be traveling in two groups the first and last days. On Wednesday, 5/17, one group will depart from the Cracker Barrel Restaurant in Clinton, NJ (Exit 15 of Interstate 78) at 8:30 AM. They will join others at Funck's Family Restaurant, 1805 Fisher Ave, Annville, PA 17003 around 10:30 AM (near the jct of I-81 and I-78). From there, they will be traveling directly via Interstate 81 to the Comfort Inn in Wytheville, VA

The other group will leave from the NJ side of the I-95 Delaware Bridge at 10:00 AM (the Denny's in the Flying J Travel Plaza, 326 Deep Water Slapes Corner Rd, Carneys Point, NJ 08069). They will take I-95 to I-695 in Baltimore, then I-70 to US 340, then I-81 to Wytheville. There will be a Rendezvous point at the junction of I-70 and US 15/340 in Frederick, MD if needed.

The second day to Birmingham will be a LOT of fun! We will be running the Back of the Dragon, a delightful 90 minute mountain drive, about 30 minutes south of our motel. We have a spot to unload trailers. Then, it's a sedate Interstate cruise to the LOG HQ hotel in Birmingham.
+++++++++++++++++++
Day One of the return trip will be fun also! Leaving LOG HQ on Tuesday morning 5/23, we intend to drive the Tail of the Dragon on the way North to Wytheville. We have permission to park and unload trailers nearby.

On Day Two the groups will leave Wytheville and go our separate ways en route. You will be arriving home on Wednesday evening.
+++++++++++++++++++
Overnight lodging, both ways:

Comfort Inn
2594 E Lee Hwy,
Wytheville, VA 24382
choicehotels.com
(276) 637-4281
NOTE: this Inn's location is called Max Meadows, VA on some map programs, make sure you book the correct Comfort Inn!
Be sure to tell/forward our plans, to any Lotus friends that may be inclined to join us. Have them contact me via email.

Safe Travels,
Atwell Haines
"Fearless Leader"

[tedtaylor]

No other LOGGERS interested??

[steve matthews]

Ted, will meet up Wed. night in Wytheville Comfort Inn.

Steve

[lotusrepair]

We are thinking about joining one of the groups for the trip down. Is there any idea when the group would pass through Frederick? It looks like 2 hrs drive time on the map.

Chris

[tedtaylor]

Chris,
details are a couple posts above and should give you approximations.
You can email Atwell Haines to coordinate a rendezvous point and time. His email is "carbuff" at "lotusowners" dot com

[lotusrepair]

My wife told me that she is working on Wed and we can't leave until late. So much for meeting up. I will try and make the same hotel.
Chris

[DeanG]

There is a group forming to drive along the east coast to LOG. There will be a detour to drive the tail of the dragon. Starting out Wednesday and arriving at the LOG hotel Thursday.

Apparently the auto-x will be at the Tallegeda facility. You get to alternate between low speed and high speed events. Apparently the touring laps are limited to 110 mph.

In addition to the normal car show, craft show, dinners and technical sessions there will be expeditions to the newly expanded Barber Motorsport Museum and the weekend vintage racing there will be a trip to the US Space & Rocket Center.

Looking forward to seeing everyone.

[DeanG]

Support by the members of this forum for the largest Lotus gathering in the Americas is somewhat underwhelming. I'll post pictures during the event if I am able. Otherwise. I'll do it after the event.

Is anyone on this forum going to drive down with the Atwell's group (NJ)? They are planning a stop at the dragon. I may join the group for the drive back.

[Tyger]

Support by the members of this forum for the largest Lotus gathering in the Americas is somewhat underwhelming. I'll post pictures during the event if I am able. Otherwise. I'll do it after the event.

Is anyone on this forum going to drive down with the Atwell's group (NJ)? They are planning a stop at the dragon. I may join the group for the drive back.

I am going down with Atwell's group, but heading back separately, so I guess I shall miss you.

[LotusEnthusiast]

I'll be there but with my dads Elise this year. Can't wait to see all of you there.

[tedtaylor]

THE Lotus caravan from New Jersey (the southern contingent of a larger NY/PA/North Jersey group) is leaving from "TaylorMadeClassicCars" (my residence) on Wednesday morning at 9:00AM. I seem to be the only M100 in this norteastern caravan. We are doing a 2-day drive down to LOG37 in Alabama as referenced in posts above. It's not too late to join in.
Hey, I can't be the only Lotus from the South Jersey area?!?!?!?!

[tedtaylor]

several M100 Elans in white, red, yellow and green for LOG37 today

052017 016a.jpg

[DeanG]

There was a good turn out of M100s. I think there was at lease one in every driving event: Talladega, tour, auto-X and HPDE.

No M100 breakfast this year. I'll rectify that next year in Cleveland. Also I plan to coordinate a drive to www.sweetiescandy.com It turns out there are a lot of candy fiends in the Lotus community. I was sitting with a group that launched into a discussion of ju-ju-be