Points West (Wiltshire) LEC - Potential Get-Together

[Artaban]

With a science background I thought we'd open with string theory then move onto sugar phosphate bonds in DNA. Actually I'm rather hoping to find out if anyone has done some good European drives that I can do next year.
Andy

[Saltire]

Actually I'm rather hoping to find out if anyone has done some good European drives that I can do next year.
Andy

Here's my starter for 10:

1. Former Grand Prix circuits; Clermont Ferrand is great, Reims is pretty good, as is Spa
2. Follow the route of the Mille Miglia in Northern Italy
3. Gorges de l'Auvergne in France
4. Stelvio Pass (Austria-Italy)

My next one, hopefully, is to take the Elan down to Millau and across the viaduct. And one I'd love to do, but probably will never find time for, is to go by car to the North Cape of Norway.

[Ultimatt]

I'm still in chaps.
Will be in the Elan, complete with all her current rattles - she needs a bit of TLC so is not exactly in show condition at the mo.

Infact if any of you are mechanically minded... bring along your spanners and we will have something to keep us occupied when the conversation dries up.

Matt

[Saltire]

Get in the queue, please I still have my replacement gear cables and short shift ready to fit. Maybe this winter . . .

[Fredjohn]

With a science background I thought we'd open with string theory then move onto sugar phosphate bonds in DNA. Actually I'm rather hoping to find out if anyone has done some good European drives that I can do next year.
Andy

Check out my 2 trips in the touring thread: S France

and Lake Como via Stelvio

I am also going on a trip next September to the Black Forest along with 7-8 other Lotus, including some M100s. Still places left............

[Kathryn]

What time will you guys be there until? I'm planning on going to Cirencester and Whitehall garden centre on Saturday so I'll be nearby, but first I need to go near Oxford so completely the opposite direction! I won't join you for lunch but it would be nice to come and say hi.

[Saltire]

What time will you guys be there until? I'm planning on going to Cirencester and Whitehall garden centre on Saturday so I'll be nearby, but first I need to go near Oxford so completely the opposite direction! I won't join you for lunch but it would be nice to come and say hi.

Whitehall Garden Centre? Your credit card will regret it

We haven't actually set a 'breaking up time', but I'm certainly in no hurry to get away. I'll PM you my mobile number; why don't you text us an ETA when you know, and I can let you know the situation. Be great to see you, Kathryn - but don't worry if you don't make it; we'll make sure we do anothe one in the spring.

[Kathryn]

Thanks Jonathan. If I leave Cirencester at a decent time I'll text to see if it's worth making the detour, and if I don't I won't worry about it.

I'm hoping to get my sister-in-law a birthday present, if I wanted a major spending spree I'd go to Burford Garden Company, it makes Whitehall look cheap!

Maybe see you tomorrow, if not, next time!

[Saltire]

I'm hoping to get my sister-in-law a birthday present, if I wanted a major spending spree I'd go to Burford Garden Company, it makes Whitehall look cheap!

Maybe see you tomorrow, if not, next time!

Been there, done that, got the 2nd mortgage

[Saltire]

Looking forward to seeing everyone later. I'll be in the BRG S2 Elan (assuming it starts- haven't tried it for a couple of days). I'm wearing a red sweater and I'll leave the Lotus keyfob on the table if I get there first. If there's a decent phone signal, I'll also keep an eye on LEC for any last minute messages.

See you then

[Artaban]

See you there about 12.30. White haired 57 year old in jeans so for a pub in Wiltshire thats probably most of the clientele. I was going to bring my red folder with me just in case someone wanted to know how much some of the improvements had cost and I can usually never remember when asked.
Andy

[Ultimatt]

Might be a little delayed as waiting for the wife to get home to look after the puppy before I can escape to join you.

Matt

[Ultimatt]

Should be with you by 1pm though

[Saltire]

Well, the inaugural meeting of the Wilts and Dorset LEC was an excellent way to pass a Saturday lunchtime. We ate and drank moderately, and spent much time enthusiastically discussing each other's cars, and their minor specification differences. Artaban and Ultimatt were in their SEs, while I made up the threesome in my slow and overweight (according to the others) S2. We were sorry that Kathryn couldn't make it, but hopefully we'll all meet up at Castle Combe in May.

Fortunately, my coolant leak didn't recur on the journey, but, more importantly, I learned from two veterans of 6 and 16 years ownership experience (who's owned their Elan for the longest on LEC, I wonder?) that a) there's always one more job to do, even when you think you've finished them all, and b) the new job that's just come up will be difficult to get parts for, impossible to reach, and beset by the challenges of seized fasteners. In spite of that, we wouldn't change our Elans.

For now

[Ultimatt]

More to the point... have you sorted that flappy throttle cable bungee yet?

It was great to meet you chaps and would be fab to get another meeting in and drag in a few others from the region.

[Kathryn]

I'm sorry I couldn't make it. I didn't find the birthday present I was looking for either!

Slow and overweight eh? Actually doesn't bother me! As a <8 stone lady I add little weight to it myself and my brother tells me I drive too slowly for the car I have! (He terrifies me as a passenger in his Evo!) Great quote from my brother: "you drive too softly, it's a sportscar, it's designed for you to give it some stick!" So next time he's in the car I give it some stick..... and overboost! He was s**ting himself! (stuck wastegate -all fixed now)

Hope you were all home before that rainstorm, I wasn't!

Hopefully next time.

[Saltire]

More to the point... have you sorted that flappy throttle cable bungee yet?

Absolutely! Adjustment made as instructed by the SE Boys Now running fine, with no slack in the linkage at all. Shortest time a job has ever been on the 'to-do' list, and I even managed to get the B-pillar cover back in today as well, with the new trickle charge point.

By the time I've had the car as long as you, Matt, I might have finished all the jobs, and then I can do what Mr Chapman intended:

[Saltire]

Hope you were all home before that rainstorm, I wasn't!

Just about - the last four miles north from Malmesbury were covered at pretty high speed so all the rain went over the top. Sorry, officer, but otherwise I'd have got wet

[Bern]

Sounds like a good time was had, sorry i couldn't make it.

I'll definitely try to make the next one, maybe before Christmas (as that's when the Elan's MOT runs out, and I think it'll need some work to gate another)?

Cheers,

Bern.

[Artaban]

Great to catch up with Matt and Jonathan. Rained most of the way back and was feeling really chuffed that I was completely dry until I glanced over to the passenger seat that was covered in water. Yet another bit of adjustment to do.
Andy