Elan 25th Birthday celebrations (possibly....)

[daveiow]

When do we consider the 25 Aniversary to be?
The launch date? Sales to the public?
As a relative newcomer here and having missed some obviously memorable trips in the past ( IoM Le Mans The Lake District Hethel) I thought I would start this thread as a discussion point.
P.s I don't expect someone to organise a fantastic event and just turn up, I would be willing to help in any way i could allowing for my somewhat isolated position both geographically and socially from the "centre" of LEC

David

[Rusty Wishbone]

If it is 25 years, it would be good to see that recognised in the classic car magazines, and in Club Lotus News. Clearly, Classic Car magazine isn't going to celebrate it like it does when the E-Type has a big anniversary, but I'm sure that they would be keen to do something. Perhaps we owners should promote the anniversary to raise the profile of the car as a really useable 'sleeper' classic.

And I like your suggestion of a special owners' event.

[maz_r]

It looks to me like there won't be a Donington this year, which is a shame as it is the 25th anniversary etc.

Therefore, I've done some digging around for a place to hold a 'LEC event'.

I know these things are emotive and that trying to satisfy everyones requirements is almost impossible; I have been here before and got weighed down by everyone having a different opinion. However, never say I'm not one to try again!

I have been in contact with the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon and they are very happy to have us there for a rally day (for a fee, naturally) AND they also have camping facilities which they will make available to us. Now I know it is a long way for many of you and I know not everyone loves sleeping under canvas but it looks very promising to my mind.

The upsides of the deal are that we get:

an 'official rally day' in the HMC calendar of events
use of a conference room in the centre (which can hold 100) on the day
to camp onsite
to park up in a reserved parking area in front of the centre on the day
free entry to the museum (for 60 people and reduced cost for more than that)

The downsides are:

there is a minimum number of pitches we must purchase (35)
there is a cost to having the event at the HMC
there will be only us, so no trade stands etc like at Donny (judging by last year though, not much of a loss.....)
no convoy as such - nothing precluding a drive out though
there isn't a great deal else to do once you've got bored of fellow LECers and been round the museum

So the questions are:

Would people support this and come along?
Would we prefer to arrive Friday, camp & curry on Friday night, rally on Saturday or what?
What sort of date is best - I've said probably June/July to the HMC but that was a guess
How much would people pay? I've done some quick maths and it might work out at something like £20 for the day and £45 with camping (for one night), but that's all dependent on numbers...

Finally, is there any appetite to try and get hold of some of the design team/engineers from Lotus for talks etc seeing as it's the 25th?? I don't have any contacts in this area, so it would be over to someone else to co-ordinate.

WDYT????

[theelanman]

Im still in touch with Peter Stevens.....
Im sure he'd love to come and see us.....

[theelanman]

how about a chat with the factory.....???.....
might be nice to have a weekend there....and (he says crossing everything) a whizz round the track a few times.......

[JohnB]

how about a chat with the factory.....???.....
might be nice to have a weekend there....and (he says crossing everything) a whizz round the track a few times.......

[dapinky]

Would they allow us to camp at the factory, or would we be looking for somewhere else to stay? - it's a bit 'out of the way' for a day trip!

(But I like the idea of going 'home' to Hethel)

[markv]

Hethel would be a brilliant venue. I was there for the Lotus 60th celebrations, which included a Factory Tour, exhibition, a chance to drive my Elan round the test track and a test drive in an Evora. If we could get any or all of those it would be great!

[rip]

It looks to me like there won't be a Donington this year, which is a shame

I'm not sorry about that at all.
It was a complete shambles last year. Between them leasing off the overflow car park to a heavy plant auction company & that they told us BTCC would not be a problem...then it was a major issue.

Gaydon is not so far from Donington...not so far from the middle of the country.
June/July would be ideal for camping.
Visiting Hethel would be good.

I believe that we need some sort of event to generate enough interest for a good turn out.

[Rice crispy]

I'm up for either but would prefer the factory as i've not done the tour or driven round the track

[maz_r]

Fair enough.

I have emailed the factory to see whether they would be interested in supporting such a celebration.

Will let you know what they say (assuming they respond at all )......watch this space....!

[TrevorB]

I'm up for either but would prefer the factory as i've not done the tour or driven round the track

Yes, the factory would be my choice as well. I don't do camping though

Trevor

[Fredjohn]

Would be happy for either.
The factory has it's obvious attractions: I too was there for the 60th and after 2hrs driving to get there, spent the next 2hrs doing 2 miles to get in!!!! Including having to drive over a small grass bank through a removed panel in the fence to get in. Chaos and very badly organised. Was also in the S4 which duly over-heated.

But as I live closer to Gaydon than maz-r and could do a daily drive, that would be my preference! NB there is a (bigger) test track there too............

[tigerdog]

Factory might even be enough to get an old dog to start swimming east. Sounds like a brilliant idea.

[Enright]

There were some good campsites near to Hethel last time I was down there. Snetterton is also local of course. Last time as I recall there were Lotus test drivers taking people round the track as there was a track day organised to coincide with the anniversary event. Might be worth putting the feelers out to see if they would be there again...

[maz_r]

Just to keep everyone in the loop, I have had a response from the factory saying "thank you for your interesting suggestion" but all of the PR team are at the AutoSport show!

They have said they will discuss it internally on Monday and come back to us......fingers crossed....

The basis of what I asked is below, just so we are all aware:

"As you are aware, this year is the 25th anniversary of the launch of the M100 Elan and the members of the club would like to celebrate this landmark.

One idea that has been put forward is a visit to the factory; many of the members took part in the 60th anniversary celebrations and talk fondly about it.

The club wonder whether it would it be possible to arrange a similar, but obviously much smaller, event in conjunction with Lotus Cars? The 2 stand-out parts of the 60th anniversary were the factory tour and the chance to drive their own cars on the track.

I would be very grateful if you could let me know whether this is something that Lotus would be interested in assisting with."

Softly...softly....

[Rambo]

Well done Maz - you've got the ball rolling.

PS Don't hold your breath too long about Dony 2014 - you will pass out

[theelanman]

There were some good campsites near to Hethel last time I was down there...

LOL....
if I remember correctly it was the Wensum Valley Hotel and Country Club that was an excellent brick and concrete campsite

[theelanman]

there may be a few weekends to miss in order to get a good turn out......
just thinking thinks like Goodwood fos and revival, British GP, Gold Cup, Le Mans, Le Mans Classic......
I wonder if later in the year might be better in order to give everyone a good stab at working the date into their diaries from all over the world........the 60th being a prime example as people came from all over.....

[maz_r]

"In the October Lotus launched the Elan (Type 100) roadster at the London Motorfair."...October....just sayin'....