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

[theelanman]

well its May already and its a bit quiet......I fear the factory may have missed this opportunity......

[ShaunM]

I'm not surprised, Lotus is a business and there is little financial benefit in running a day for owners of Loti from yesteryear. They've moved on! I was talking to a Lotus employee who's been there for 20 years a few weeks ago and it was quite a shock to me the differences in mind-set between the company and it's employees vs the owners of the cars.

And to be fair, I think that's how it should be. They should always be moving forward, not looking back and living in the past. Did Colin Chapman ever stand still, or was he constantly pushing to move forward with new technology and innovation?

It's really up to US if we wish to organise an event to celebrate this car that we love so much. We could ask for a special mention at the (already organised and popular) Lotus Festival this year viewtopic.php?f=28&t=22910

Or if we really wanted to "GO BIG", we could have a special section of M100 Elans at the Silverstone Classic viewtopic.php?f=28&t=23033

Both events are ideal for a single day visit or camping to make it an entire weekend (like the good old days of camping and BBQ's Donington).

I am going to both of the above and would be more than happy to help in planning and execution of celebrating the Elan at either venue.

EDIT:
On the other hand, looking at the previous posts in this topic, if so many people want to come to Hethel then maybe we should get some definite numbers and then approach the Factory. It would be more appealing to them if we could say we had 30 people wanting to come for a factory visit on the same day. I could help find a campsite if people wanted to make it a weekend, and there is the option of the
BTTC Touring cars at Snetterton 2nd/3rd August http://www.snetterton.co.uk/calendar/20 ... st-sn.aspx
Beer festival at Larling which is 1st/2nd August http://www.angel-larling.co.uk/our-beer-festival

[theelanman]

???????
Im not sure about your forward and backward thing....
nothing ever stands still........but everything has history
its not like its done every year....
an whilst I understand that its a business all they need to do at the outset is tell us NO....easy....
its better to have yes or a no answer than a half hearted yes...then say nothing hoping it'll be forgotten....

the thing about Hethel was (as is always)....its like a trip down memory lane...taking the car home.....looking round whats new.....talking to the staff....eyeing up your new purchase (whilst its still on the production line...or at least dreaming about it)

if they don't want to do it (tours/owners clubs) anymore that's fine just tell us.....although I'm sure the like of CL, LDC, TLF would also argue the toss about Lotus not looking back and its associated Clubs

I don't want a race weekend.......I do plenty of that nearer to me.......
good luck to the Scots on a day trip to Brands Hatch

I don't know whatd be best.......

what Id envisaged if we went to Hethel would be say meal/curry/beer Friday night.....Saturday would be factory (tour/meet and greet) and a good long drive out in convoy followed by a right old knees up in the evening...Sunday run out in the morning or just recovery from hang over....sod off home about lunch time

its a shame Donington didn't happen this year as we could have had a big turn out there....

as it stands at the moment I think the 25th will just pass us by.....

[novacaine]

Could we not just have a 25th anniversary for the Elan at the Lotus Festival?

[JohnB]

A definite "YES or "No" would be nice.

Also as a business, Lotus should know that customer relations is very important. From my experience, a lot of M100 owners have a second newer Lotus, but in any case, if they aren't buying new cars, they are buying parts and promoting the Lotus marque by caring for this fantastic elderly sportscar.

[theelanman]

Could we not just have a 25th anniversary for the Elan at the Lotus Festival?

I never think it works at this type of event.....
you turn up......have a chat with people you know.....watch cars on track.....and go home
the Lotus Festival is about the festival....not the 25th anniversary of the elan.....

[ShaunM]

A definite "YES or "No" would be nice.

Totally agree - who called Lotus in the first place? Surely another phone call would be all it takes for and update (of course, giving Lotus a estimated number of attendees would help - there's no point in them bothering if no-one turns up!)

Could we not just have a 25th anniversary for the Elan at the Lotus Festival?

I never think it works at this type of event.....
you turn up......have a chat with people you know.....watch cars on track.....and go home
the Lotus Festival is about the festival....not the 25th anniversary of the elan.....

For me, it's the people that make an event. So "have a chat with people you know" seems to be the most important bit?
What better place to celebrate a Lotus Car's birthday, than in the company of other Lotus supporters? (The Ford Mustang is happy to celebrate it's 50 years at the Silverstone Classic this year, in the company of hundreds of other car makes and models)
There is nothing to stop us organising a meal on the Friday or Saturday night at Brands Hatch and a drive around the road on either day.

[theelanman]

For me, it's the people that make an event. So "have a chat with people you know" seems to be the most important bit?
What better place to celebrate a Lotus Car's birthday, than in the company of other Lotus supporters? (The Ford Mustang is happy to celebrate it's 50 years at the Silverstone Classic this year, in the company of hundreds of other car makes and models)
There is nothing to stop us organising a meal on the Friday or Saturday night at Brands Hatch and a drive around the road on either day.

I agree.....but this is already an event about something......and not just the elan
we are a 'sideline'......a chat with the people you know is good too....but my fear is that people will arrive at different times.....see different things over 2 different days.......and may end up seeing little or no one they wanted to.......

the ford thing is slightly different as they're pushing the 50th anniversary of the mustang all over the world......and chucking money at it......there have so far been tv and radio programs all about it.....
iconography...I think they call it.....

the original elan had its 50th in 2012....who knew......?.....
unless you had one it sort of skimmed past....
the only people who made a big deal out of it were the French at classic le mans.....
go figure.......the French of all people.....
and that was because CL france pushed it.....

[novacaine]

As the Lotus Festival event list hasn't been posted yet, could we not ask a possible Elan M100 Lap for a birthday celebration?

[Stef]

Well, I shall be free for the first weekend in August, if I'm not at my Nan's for her Birthday.

Sadly I've got way too much on currently to help organise anything; moving house, changing job etc...

Also at both Brands Hatch Lotus Festival and Silverstone Classics.

Not sure what is involved in getting a club stand at SStone Classics and the potential for a LEC area. My Bubble club also didn't know and should have a presence! Missed the opportunity for this year, but maybe next??

Thanks to those who are keeping this on the agenda and doing what they can!

[maz_r]

Hi Folks,

Apologies for the radio silence - after all the original excitement and positive responses from the factory, they went quiet too, despite my gentle nagging. It transpires that they have revolving-doors and I am now exchanging emails with the 4th different person in as many months - lets just say it has been a bit 'painful'...

The bottom line is that the factory ARE NOT going to be doing anything to celebrate the M100 25th at all. What we have been offered is a factory tour and (if people wish) a tour of Classic Lotus Racing as well as a couple of laps round the test track (probably with their guys 'riding shotgun' to meet their insurance requirements).

That's the good news.

The bad news is that (as mentioned above) Lotus is a business and doesn't seem too keen on supporting our particular venture, so they want £50 per person which I think is about the going rate for group bookings. And to add to the negativity, they can't fit us in until October 11th!

So....I believe there are 4 options:

1. Take them up on the offer, in which case we need to start taking names
2. Do our own thing somewhere else
3. Tag along with another event, as mentioned above
4. Forget the whole thing and wish we'd never started (guess where I am at.... )

Appreciate that this isn't really very marvellous - so much so that I've been avoiding the forum

All better now though.....

[lotusnut]

Is that £50 irrespective of numbers attending?

[maz_r]

Is that £50 irrespective of numbers attending?

Good question - I have sent so many emails to them and had so many replies from so many people I think it's all got a bit muddled; I mentioned numbers right at the start but haven't said anything about it for many months... I'm guessing they'd like some form of commitment to minimum numbers but I don't know what that lower limit is. I will ask on Monday.

[nicowalker1]

I would be up for the £50 experience of it all plus a burn around the test track... I don't think its particularly over priced. I also appreciate that many have already been and done it previously so I wouldn't blame others for not being as enthusiastic.

[maz_r]

Another update from Lotus regarding the use of the test track:

"I can confirm that this activity will be OK to go ahead subject to

the test track is booked exclusively for this activity
the visitors follow a lead car at all times
the laps are not at a high speed

Please make the visitors aware that their vehicles and occupants will not be insured by Lotus and they carry out this activity at their own risk."

I'm not sure what gets defined as "high speed"

Do I take it from the minimal responses on this thread, that this isn't something that is grabbing peoples interest too much? Happy to let the factory know that they don't need to reserve the date if that is the group decision.....

[ShaunM]

Like Nicowalker said, some of us have done this before, but don't forget the track is now the NEW F1 TRACK, not the old one, so I'd be interested in going. With it being October, I think the uptake on camping might not be high (but I can source a campsite and local curry house for the friday night if people want it)

The Fish n Chip run to Southwold might be a good idea for the drive, or I could plan a route along the North Norfolk countryside and coastline. October though, so roof-down only for the brave (or foolish!)...

Well done to maz_r for chipping away at Lotus until they finally gave us a reply on this

[theelanman]

It sounds good to me......

[lotusnut]

I'm not available till on 4th/5th October, otherwise I'm up for it.

[maz_r]

Thanks folks.

I feel a list coming on......

[Stef]

Potentially in. Depends on date etc.

Had a good time with the Lotus GT team at Silverstone recently, nice people, but there seems a real split in Team Lotus and Hethel and race teams like those in GT racing. They had to poach an engine from the Evora on show in order to compete on race day! Good shed style engineering Lotus budget style

The Classic Lotus Racing insight would be interesting!

Thanks for all the ground work!