Wednesday 2nd December 2009

Drive the Lotus Test Track (Virtually)

Google Street View sends its camera car to Hethel

---

The Lotus HQ in Norfolk has been added to Google Street View, meaning that Google Maps users can now have a virtual poke about the nooks, crannies and service blocks of the Hethel site, including the 'top secret' test track.

The former RAF base has been Lotus's home since 1966, and the test track is built partially out of the old runway. Now, thanks to the magic of the internet, anyone can 'float' around the track and see the corners that have contributed so much to so many important cars' development.

By marvellous coincidence, quite a few interesting Lotus models just 'happened' to be being simultaneously put through their paces as the Google camera car trundled its way around the circuit, and a full lap on Street View turns up a few interesting scenes.

This is the first time a European racing track has been added to Street View. To find the Lotus test track on Street View, click here to get the main maps view, then click on the postcode and then click 'Street View'. If you 'drag and drop' your little orange man about an inch to the left, you'll be on the circuit.

[tvrman]

Even more fun sniffing round the car park there to see what they all drive :-)

[Craigy_97elise]

What's the yellow thing? a 211?

C

[Craigy_97elise]

Craigy_97elise said:

What's the yellow thing? a 211?

C

I should have looked harder. Definately a 211.

[TheRoadWarrior]

Thats quite fun :-) Was a struggle to actually find any cars on the circuit, had to move away from them which actually brought them closer. I guess the google cam van isnt that quick!

[Craigy_97elise]

TheRoadWarrior said:

Thats quite fun :-) Was a struggle to actually find any cars on the circuit, had to move away from them which actually brought them closer. I guess the google cam van isnt that quick!

Look at the horseshoe-shaped bend at the far north of the circuit. Look at the 211 on opposite lock as it drives round the outside of the google car.

rinse, and repeat.

C

[toppstuff]

If you go the factory, you can actually go into a part of it !

Just been in a stockroom with alloy wheels piled up and you can see bodyshells in the factory lined up !

[timmather]

That is just way too cool! Tried clicking as fast as I could, never caught up with them

[Forbes82]

What a fantastic car park!

[Craigy_97elise]

Forbes82 said:

What a fantastic car park!

The one with skodas and minis, or the lotus sport carpark?

[ccr32]

Craigy_97elise said:

TheRoadWarrior said:

Thats quite fun :-) Was a struggle to actually find any cars on the circuit, had to move away from them which actually brought them closer. I guess the google cam van isnt that quick!

Look at the horseshoe-shaped bend at the far north of the circuit. Look at the 211 on opposite lock as it drives round the outside of the google car.

rinse, and repeat.

C

you mean here

very nice indeed!

[Craigy_97elise]

ccr32 said:

URL that doesn't work as you want

very nice indeed!

YES!

Also, I've just noticed: Lotus let the google car inside some of their buildings...

C

Edited by Craigy_97elise on Wednesday 2nd December 13:34

[Blayney]

Craigy_97elise said:

TheRoadWarrior said:

Thats quite fun :-) Was a struggle to actually find any cars on the circuit, had to move away from them which actually brought them closer. I guess the google cam van isnt that quick!

Look at the horseshoe-shaped bend at the far north of the circuit. Look at the 211 on opposite lock as it drives round the outside of the google car.

rinse, and repeat.

C

You can see a similar, although not quite as good, scenario at the south "hairpin". I think that 211 lapped the google car twice!

[Ivanhoe Trousers]

"Top Secret" test track? Pay £100 and Lotus let you drive an Elise around the track for 20 minutes with one of their instructors. If you're lucky, you get Martin Donnelly as your instructor (top bloke). Well worth the cash, but I didn't trouble the lap record (and wouldn't have threatened the Google car!)

Edited by Ivanhoe Trousers on Wednesday 2nd December 14:05

Edited by Ivanhoe Trousers on Wednesday 2nd December 14:06

[Monkey boy 1]

tvrman said:

Even more fun sniffing round the car park there to see what they all drive :-)

Yep, my old Mk1 Mondeo is there, (it's in the scrap yard now)

[Arun_D]

Ivanhoe Trousers said:

"Top Secret" test track? Pay £100 and Lotus let you drive an Elise around the track for 20 minutes with one of their instructors. If you're lucky, you get Martin Donnelly as your instructor (top bloke). Well worth the cash, but I didn't trouble the lap record (and wouldn't have threatened the Google car!)

Indeed, it usually plays host to sprint championship events as well, was going to do a round there this season if I didn't sell my car.

[i remember]

toppstuff said:

If you go the factory, you can actually go into a part of it !

Just been in a stockroom with alloy wheels piled up and you can see bodyshells in the factory lined up !

I got in there , but now i cant get out

[chevronb37]

Ivanhoe Trousers said:

"Top Secret" test track? Pay £100 and Lotus let you drive an Elise around the track for 20 minutes with one of their instructors. If you're lucky, you get Martin Donnelly as your instructor (top bloke). Well worth the cash, but I didn't trouble the lap record (and wouldn't have threatened the Google car!)

Edited by Ivanhoe Trousers on Wednesday 2nd December 14:05

Edited by Ivanhoe Trousers on Wednesday 2nd December 14:06

We did it a couple of weeks ago - 10 of us from NYLOC. It was raining all day which made the first hairpin good fun...A very welcoming and genuine company.

[wobert]

I worked for Lotus Engineering from '91 til '95, and have been around the track many times in various bits of kit, ranging from an Excel with the CPS valve-train fitted, to Lotus Carlton, M100 Elans and Corvette ZR1.

At the time the main straight was exactly that, straight.

No cones to slow you into the far hairpin. Managed 165mph in a Carlton down there before firmly hitting the brakes! The Elan's would take both the hairpin & steering pad at in excess of 60mph safely with no understeer.

IIRC they added the cones after "an incident".

[lankyarcher]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...

The good car park!

[i remember]

sorry but what the hell is this beast?

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...

it's an icechallenger obvs but!!!!

Edited by i remember on Wednesday 2nd December 16:35