Sunday 23rd Sept '07 - Hethel Open Day

[ShaunM]

WOW! What a day.

Awesome, just awesome. Great to be able to have all-access to the entire site, lots to see and do with plenty of games and rides to keep the kids happy.

Was surprised how hard they pushed the Elises and Exiges around with passengers in - I luckily ended up in an Exige the best £5 I've ever spent and well worth the 1 hour queue. Also had a rabbit on the back straight, so the moving chicane made it even more fun!

It would fantastic if they could have an "annual open day".

I met Russell on the LEC Stand, but had just missed the rest of you, would have been nice to put faces to names...

Dave Eds - Garage Queen is Beautiful.

[Nige]

Just got back home (long drive A11 closed owing to seriously smashed Elise, hope you are ok, and a slow M11). Very good day lots to see and do, well done Lotus and thanks. Saw Mike Kimberly as I left so took the opportunity to thank him in person. Dave, Dave, Dave, Neil, Gareth, good job on the display. I hate to say it but we need to be thinking about Donington 2008 now .

[DaveT]

Some piccys shortly to appear in picture gallery.

Great day and thanx to all who helped and to those who attended also.

Accident on the A11 also caused us to detour- sorry to hear it was an Elise- hope everyone is OK?

To the many who expressed a desire to own one- get it done- dont talk about it anymore.

Remember what Mike Kimberley said yesterday- "The M100 Elan was the best car Lotus ever produced"

Be proud.


D

[Gary]

Also held up on the A11 and the A1 was shut too. Where was everyone going on Sunday ???

But fantastic drive home, roofs down all the way. Guess that wasn't possible for people with a hard top fitted

[Dave Eds]

BIG THANKS in no particular order (after the first one anyway)

Katie Hupton for looking after LEC.
Bibs for the guidance.
Kimbers for sorting the hotel for those who used it and for bringing Dad to see us.
Nige for the display material.
Neil for the oily parts display and the laptop.
Specky and Dave T for the display cars and setting up.
Gareth, Sy, Ailwyn, Texas et al, and all the LEC guys I didn't see, for manning the stand all day. Also the LEC guys just visiting the stand to help it look busy and saying hello.

Brilliant day only "spoiled" by all that Lotus traffic on the A11

[Kimbers]

Guys in the Elise were fine, no injuries.

For those who didn't stay at the hotel it was an epic Saturday night of drinking! Those who started at 4 went to bed at 1am but those of us who started at 7 managed to go on until 3am!

Awesome. Great to see that nearly a half of those still up were piss heads from LEC!! Great to meet you all and hope you had a great time. Pics to follow.......

[Enright]

I totally agree with Shaun and his "WOW! What a day" quote.

These Lotus events just seem to get better and better.
We had such a plumb spot in the factory that people were filtering past us all day, and we got loads of interest. I didn't make it away from the stand until the afternoon!

To say that we were just "winging it" with what cars, posters, parts and merchandise we had available, I reckon we put on a fantastic show. Well done Nige for getting the DVD's down to us - and DaveEds for the projector.
It looked pretty professional (although without Bibs from the LEF's help in showing me how to work my own computer, it probably wouldn't have! )

Thanks again to DaveEds for getting me past security. I thought it was just going to save me a walk with all the stand gear, but it turned out to be preferential parking instead! Good job I gave the car a bit of a clean before we set off from the hotel.
Oh, and that leads me onto another thanks - to Gareth for letting me crash in his room after arriving so late (from picking up the parts from Derek Rodman's) that I didn't even get chance to pitch my tent at the campsite down the road.
Yet another thanks: to Ailwyn, Sarah, Surferphil and his charming ladyfriend for a great evening's entertainment. And to Sy for not grassing me up!

The practically unrestricted access around the factory and site was incredible. As was the mental driving on the track. Like Shaun says, best £5 I've ever spent and well worth the queue.

It's no wonder no-one wanted to leave Norfolk at the end of the day! If anyone named Dave ever says "follow me", here's a tip: don't.

DaveT gave me £30 which the kitty had made at the end of the day which was quite a bonus, so I'll be sending a cheque to there's only on f in Geof Smith. Oh, and I think I owe Sy a tenner too (from Gareth). That will be in the post as well.

Brilliant job Dave Eds, Dave Speck and Dave T for the stand organisation, putting up and packing up posters and things. We are now DEFINITELY not "the forgotten Lotus" any longer. One to be proud of.

[Dave Eds]

Dave Eds - Garage Queen is Beautiful.

Better put that in the past tense

So tired when I got home I couldn't negotiate my way into the garage properly, so now need to have some paintwork done

If that wasn't enough, Neil's review of the day has got me filling up

Still while it's in I might get some BRG stripes done

[DaveT]

Try parking sensors too!!!!

[Paul.P]

8)
Try parking sensors too!!!!

Perhaps parking lessons from Mrs Eds

[ailwyn]

Great to see that nearly a half of those still up were piss heads from LEC!!

That'll be Neil and Gareth then... as I can't remember anything past 12 I must have gone to bed

Great to meet you all and hope you had a great time. Pics to follow.......

Likewise, it was good to put faces to names of the LEF crowd, a very enjoyable weekend.

[DaveT]

Dave " the garage wall" Eds and Dave "the trainers" Speck

What happened to the peshwari naan breads I had in the oven?

When I had a senior moment and asked 'what had I forgotten', the answer was- ?


instead you took me to the pub and then Hethel and I got back on Sunday night to find the peshwari naan breads still in the oven. I have made some sandals today from-?


DaveT

[GeoffSmith]

"welsh belly dancer lap dancing in the Wensum?"

Now do you remember Ailwyn?

[DaveT]

"welsh belly dancer lap dancing in the Wensum?"

Now do you remember Ailwyn?

I feel sick-

glad I missed that one.....

[paulwatkins]

"welsh belly dancer lap dancing in the Wensum?"

Now do you remember Ailwyn?

Ailwyn, sounds like you're going to be getting embarrasing flash backs for the foreseable future!

It sounds like everyone who went had a good time! Well done guys and gals!

[Kimbers]

The Welsh belly dancer was Simon350S from LEF, on Sunday night, from all accounts it was both gross and obscene, but apparantly the lady golfers enjoyed it!

Don't believe Ailwyn, he was there, he just......erm....forgot, like many of us, musta been something in the water !

.......................it's called whiskey!

[Kimbers]

Oh, yes. Before I forget, I will be collating messages of how much everyone enjoyed their day to be sent to Lotus and circulated to all staff.

[GeoffSmith]

The Welsh belly dancer was Simon350S from LEF

You bast***. You've spoiled a good windup!

[JOSLER]

Josler, one for you mate!

Nice one Nobby good pic better than my pics from the last meet !! .Im glad all of you had such a nice time on sunday ,I feel that i have missed out on a great day out.Sorry to hear about your paint work Dave hope its easy to sort out .Cant wait to see the rest of the pic from this event.

Joss

[Gary]

Kimbers,
Didn't meet you in person, but if you are giving feedback, what about suggesting an annual event ?

They could easily charge more entrance money and restrict it just to owners ?