Castle Combe - 26th May 2012

[GeoffSmith]

I'll be there about one hour after I manage to crawl out of bed...

[GeoffSmith]

Is Phil coming? I've got a couple of tins of radiator paint for him.

[dapinky]

Well, as the general consensus is to arrive at 1000 (as Chris is the only one to mention any sort of timing), I will probably aim to leave home at 9ish

[chris.t]

Dave, see if we commandeer the grassy knowle as previous years except last

[MPx]

10:00??! I'll be there soon after 8:00am to get booked in, noise tested, boot emptied and briefed - ready for the track opening at 9...

I always try to use my two guaranteed sessions in the morning, then I can do the lunchtime parade and be ready to go again when it goes open pitlane at about 3:00pm

[chris.t]

10:00??! I'll be there soon after 8:00am to get booked in, noise tested, boot emptied and briefed - ready for the track opening at 9...

get the teas in then

[GeoffSmith]

10:00??! I'll be there soon after 8:00am to get booked in, noise tested, boot emptied and briefed - ready for the track opening at 9...

get the teas in then

... and dump the contents of your boot on the grassy knoll.

[MPx]

10:00??! I'll be there soon after 8:00am to get booked in, noise tested, boot emptied and briefed - ready for the track opening at 9...

get the teas in then

... and dump the contents of your boot on the grassy knoll.

Would do....but I'll be in the wrong car so I suspect persona non grata

[JonT]

Back home, cooling down with a nice cold one

Great day, nice to meet some more LECers. Rip - thanks again for the ride to see what the Nitrons are like. Dammit.


A few of my pics - not many of the track sessions - seemed very quiet on track.



Don't think I've ever seen so many M100 Elans in one place





:wub So many lovely Esprits


Think this had a Lancia badge on the wheel - no idea what it is, but again :wub


Overall a really good turnout of Lotus cars and nice to catch up with people.

Hmmm. Pictures get auto resized to show on SELOC. If anyone knows how to get the forum to render nicely rather than showing full size images, let me know and I'll update the links.

[GeoffSmith]

Home again. What an excellent day but a shame for CL that more track sessions weren't taken up. Thanks to Kier for giving Peter a lift on the parade lap. Thanks to Pinky and Chris for the BBQ. Have a safe journey home all you non-locals.

[rip]

What a day!
After being invaded by loads of Mazdas last year, it was great to see a paddock full of Hethel's finest & a line-up of Elans in more or less 'our usual' spot.
We could not have asked for better weather. Dry & hot but not uncomfortably so.

This year's event was back to the fantastic days I remember there in 08 & 09.

Alz (who I know through a Calibra forum) enjoyed it too. I let her loose behind the wheel of my Elan for the parade laps. She thought this would be a gentle cruise around. Her reaction to the first few cars passing at around 70-80 as we sat in the pit lane awaiting our turn was quite amusing.

[chris.t]

Should have remembered the sun block. Keeping my long sleeve top on was uncomfortable and has resulted in me having 2 red hands. Dave you investigating your eml during the parade laps gave me the impression you were leaving gaps for a more spirited drive

Twas a good day, even enjoyed the 200 mile round trip which was mainly motorway. Nice to meet new faces especially the female ones. Convoyed with the red/black Evora on the way back for about a minute Kier get yourself a Black roof oh and the rest red :lol;

If any one is ill or has subsequently died from my cooking then you ate at your own risk

anyone like a portion of pork???

[j700tus]

Good to finally meet some of you, all be it very briefly... Had thought I'd get there a bit earlier but my friend had some problems in his excel! I now have a fine tan.... Well redness at the moment helped by the 200 mile odd drive but am sure will go brown by work on Monday!
Hopefully will get to meet you all properly soon.

Paul

[GeoffSmith]

For the interloper.....

Img_1625cs.jpg

Img_1623cs.jpg

[MPx]

Thanks Geoff - not quite sure where I was going in that second one - one of my experimental lines maybe.

I'm hoping Spud may have some more of one of the sessions.

Great to see everyone again. Enjoyed my laps with Beverley, Paul and Sparky. Sad that the fun was curtailed with some dubious rumbling in the car - hopefully just a wheel bearing, but a bit worrying. Had time to get in at least another couple of sessions like Martin managed but decided not to risk the car! Anyway....you all need to get there earlier - I did the first session on my own so a seat went to waste! All great fun, and a pleasant change for me that I wasn't as slow relative to others this year and few of the sessions had a full complement of 12 cars, so I'm guessing the professionals stayed away for some reason.

[Kier]

Thanks to Kier for giving Peter a lift on the parade lap.

pleasure. Good to see you & everyone else again, shame I couldn't stay longer.

Kier get yourself a Black roof oh and the rest red :lol;

I thought we established earlier that other than the thingy-me-bob in the engine, the colour is the best thing about my car  ;-)

[rip]

Kier, your Evora looked fantastic. The roads are too full of dull grey cars these days so bright orange is certainly a refreshing change.

Good to see you soon, even though I only managed to say a quick hello.

[DavidEJM]

what a lovely day! nice ride in and home (thanks rip, good to see you), great to meet and chat with everyone, though I too must remember the sunblock next time, my family are offering no sympathy for my bright red arms and legs!

Must try to get out on track next time.

[rip]

I always have sun cream in the Elan. Not strong stuff but better than dry skin. Pity you didn't mention it.

[Dave Eds]

Just got home!

Pictures later - gotta go to work already!