New Guy From Tuscon

[Hasbro]

Greetings,
I joined a week or so ago. I've been a Lotus lover for about 35 years and have owned a 74 Europa and a 80 Esprit that had all the Essex livery but the color. Had to sell my 02 dare/Ginetta due to a divorce and decided several years ago that the M100 is the smartest way to go Lotus. Anyway, I'm going to take my time and find just the right one. I would like to lighten it as much as would be reasonable for a street legal car but am much more interested in performance than comfort.
The next step is to sell the newer Si and get a cheap daily driver, either a CRX, Civic, Miata, or an older small pickup. Knock all the payments out so I can stay poor by spending it all on the M100!
Anyone in the Tuscon area?
Thanks,
Barry

[Doug]

Hi Barry,

the Elan's stock seats are the first thing to lose to save weight. Each weighs more than my 7-year-old son!

Unlikely you're going to dump the A/C in Tuscon -- there's not a lot to lose unless you really want to strip it down. Dave M. has done what he can to lighten his Track Elan and I'm sure he can point you to the right things to do.

-Doug

[Hasbro]

Thanks, Doug. I've been reading up on all of the mods that have been done for a week or so. I'm not in a hurry. Was about to take the plunge about 18 months ago but left my job to take care of a sick brother but will get back in the swing of things soon.
Normally I gut just about every car I own but not sure if I can do it to an M100. But 200 lbs. off would make a huge difference to a 2200 lb. car...
And air conditioning, well it is very dry here...
Another alternative is to just give it 225 hp and a few conservative mods and then strip a CRX or something else. No wonder I'm still single.

[tweetdriver63]

I realize kjeld's car has some added weight with the LGM roll bar, but also by working with LGM, he's got one hell of a nice car, and one of only two I know of with LGM's double bubble tuneau (I know I spelled that wrong) cover. Everybody's trying to talk him out of selling it, but you might want to do the opposite.

Here's the link to his thread.

[Hasbro]

Yes, I had read about kjeld's car, seems very nice. I'm still a bit away from any action as, not to be morbid, my brother's health is at an up or down point.
His outcome will affect my actions.
Does anyone know of any Lotus people in the Tuscon area? I've only seen one Elise on the road in a year!

[tweetdriver63]

Click on "Memberlist" up at the top of the screen. You can sort by location. There are a lot of people who didn't put their location in their profile, so I suggest you also choose "descending" for the sort order, since in "ascending" order, the ones with blank locations appear first. I'm sure you'll find some members in your area. I know there are some in Pheonix.

Best wishes for your brother. I will pray for him. I know how you feel. I lost my brother on New Year's Day, 2006.

[Hasbro]

Most kind, Chris, thanks. Lots of Lotus guys up in Pheonix.
The red Elan (in ad section) I checked out was from Pheonix. The guys on the other side of the pond wouldn't believe it, not a speck of rust.

[GeoffSmith]

Barry,

There's a Google map based on a recent membership list here, but it's not linked, so recent changes may not be reflected. Apparently WayneP has just bought one in Tucson and edhand is 'just up the road' in Phoenix, but I think he has moved.

Geoff

[tweetdriver63]

That google map is a neat idea, but it's totally fubar. I look at the SE US, and when I click on the pointers, they say, Cork, or Glasgow, etc.

[Hasbro]

Thanks for the info. Read WayneP's posts and he tested the same red one I looked at!

[GeoffSmith]

That google map is a neat idea, but it's totally fubar. I look at the SE US, and when I click on the pointers, they say, Cork, or Glasgow, etc.

Garbage In, Garbage Out!

It was a neat idea that Al put forward here ,but is reliant on having Google recognisable locations, otherwise it does a best guess. Unfortunately, it is not going to work unless an active link can be made to the LEC member list 'cause I'm buggered if I'm going to download all 40+ membership pages again!