lets see your Lotus(s)!
Discussion
Discovered the Evora 400 on standard tyres isn't a great choice for light offroading...
Let's offroad by James Thorburn, on Flickr
Let's offroad by James Thorburn, on Flickr
Tractor pulling by James Thorburn, on Flickr
Let's offroad by James Thorburn, on FlickrLet's offroad by James Thorburn, on FlickrTractor pulling by James Thorburn, on Flickr
wet grass and muddy underground...very bad, if you go, you go, but a little up and a bit more gas, which could mean slipping wheels...then it's gonna get messy and hoping you can get out :-)
On the subject of off-roading in a Lotus, I once made the mistake of going to the GP at Silverstone in an Excel. The mistake was not the choice of car. The mistake was paying big money to attend the low rent circus show that passes as the flagship event of UK motorsport. The chiselling f
kers don't bother with car parks (and our expensive tickets gave us access to flippy thin plastic seats on a bit of scaffolding), and mine was one of many cars that had to be towed out of the swamp that passes as a car park (there was plenty of hard standing unused, but for no apparent reason parking there was not allowed). I have not been to Silverstone since.
kers don't bother with car parks (and our expensive tickets gave us access to flippy thin plastic seats on a bit of scaffolding), and mine was one of many cars that had to be towed out of the swamp that passes as a car park (there was plenty of hard standing unused, but for no apparent reason parking there was not allowed). I have not been to Silverstone since. As an avid Motorsport reader as a lad, I was besotted by Elan reviews that said things like 'averages 70mph without exceeding 71mph' and 'sell the television set, the washing machine, the wife's car, give up smoking, even give up drinking, but scrimp and save and buy an Elan, you won't be disappointed.' The latter from Jenks in 1965. That was heady stuff for a teenager and I spent many happy evenings with my nose pressed against the showroom window of Welling Sportscars (anyone remember them?) imagining myself turning in to Paddock Hill bend in an Elan. I still dream of the Colorado Orange over white Sprint with Sundym glass in the showroom that was beyond my wildest dreams at the time.
Elan Sprint dhc, 1971. Owned since 1986. Bankrupted myself to buy it and figured I could complete a rolling restoration. First task was to repair the faulty fuel gauge. 5 years later the car went back on the road with new chassis, new rear and n/s/f body sections, repaint, engine rebuild etc. This involved the advice and services of the names of the day, including Peter Day, Paul Matty, Robin Alabaster and Miles Wilkins...thanks to all for your patience and good grace. Since then she's been on track days, trips to Le Mans and most of the notable car events. Still gets used regularly in summer to get to work and run to the coast. I would sell the television set etc, before selling her
Elan S3 SE fhc, 1966. Owned since 1994 and given a thorough revamp by Tony Thompson a couple of years later to include slip diff, 145hp, solid driveshafts, alloy wheels, roll cage etc. Intended for light competition use, that never happened and use has been limited to track days, Le Mans and other car events. Indecently quick on B roads and the embodiment of less is more.
Finally, an interloper, McLaren 570GT, but I have grounds for inclusion (unfortunately I can't work out how to post another picture, doh). The 570 is what the Esprit should be today, IMHO. With McLaren having tempted several key folks from Lotus to initiate their road car program the 570 surely has Lotus DNA. The driving experience confirms this. I read that Jean-Marc Gales plans to recruit from the McLaren pool to develop the next Lotus models. If that happens, I'll want to have my name down for the fruits of that project.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/iKf1DsyU.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/0mpeuTsQ" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/0mpeuTsQ.jpg)
Elan Sprint dhc, 1971. Owned since 1986. Bankrupted myself to buy it and figured I could complete a rolling restoration. First task was to repair the faulty fuel gauge. 5 years later the car went back on the road with new chassis, new rear and n/s/f body sections, repaint, engine rebuild etc. This involved the advice and services of the names of the day, including Peter Day, Paul Matty, Robin Alabaster and Miles Wilkins...thanks to all for your patience and good grace. Since then she's been on track days, trips to Le Mans and most of the notable car events. Still gets used regularly in summer to get to work and run to the coast. I would sell the television set etc, before selling her
Elan S3 SE fhc, 1966. Owned since 1994 and given a thorough revamp by Tony Thompson a couple of years later to include slip diff, 145hp, solid driveshafts, alloy wheels, roll cage etc. Intended for light competition use, that never happened and use has been limited to track days, Le Mans and other car events. Indecently quick on B roads and the embodiment of less is more.
Finally, an interloper, McLaren 570GT, but I have grounds for inclusion (unfortunately I can't work out how to post another picture, doh). The 570 is what the Esprit should be today, IMHO. With McLaren having tempted several key folks from Lotus to initiate their road car program the 570 surely has Lotus DNA. The driving experience confirms this. I read that Jean-Marc Gales plans to recruit from the McLaren pool to develop the next Lotus models. If that happens, I'll want to have my name down for the fruits of that project.
Edited by Type45 on Saturday 28th April 11:41
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