RE: Lotus 2-Eleven: Spotted

RE: Lotus 2-Eleven: Spotted

Author
Discussion

HeMightBeBanned

617 posts

177 months

Wednesday 3rd January 2018
quotequote all
RobM77 said:
HeMightBeBanned said:
RobM77 said:
I loved mine smile I bought it from PHer 'Stephanie Plum', who had the excellent taste to spec it from new in Lotus 49B colours. It was an original Lotus Sport built one. Three years of track days and occasional road use followed my attempt at quitting motor racing, but after three years I sold the 2-Eleven to go back into racing!
Sadly, the chap who bought the car from you passed away last Saturday. Really super guy. I shall miss him very much.

Sorry to hear that. The guy I sold it to privately traded it in very quickly and it appeared for sale at Lotus Silverstone shortly afterwards. Are you referring to the guy who bought it directly from me, or the car's eventual owner? The guy I sold it to originally hillclimbed an Elise and was having problems getting in and out through the roll cage due to a health problem.
The guy you sold it to (Grayham) - his Elise was a complete monster: very light with a 1.9L K-Series, but was indeed a bugger to climb in and out of. I compete in the same series as he did. He was an absolute gent.

RobM77

35,349 posts

233 months

Wednesday 3rd January 2018
quotequote all
HeMightBeBanned said:
RobM77 said:
HeMightBeBanned said:
RobM77 said:
I loved mine smile I bought it from PHer 'Stephanie Plum', who had the excellent taste to spec it from new in Lotus 49B colours. It was an original Lotus Sport built one. Three years of track days and occasional road use followed my attempt at quitting motor racing, but after three years I sold the 2-Eleven to go back into racing!
Sadly, the chap who bought the car from you passed away last Saturday. Really super guy. I shall miss him very much.

Sorry to hear that. The guy I sold it to privately traded it in very quickly and it appeared for sale at Lotus Silverstone shortly afterwards. Are you referring to the guy who bought it directly from me, or the car's eventual owner? The guy I sold it to originally hillclimbed an Elise and was having problems getting in and out through the roll cage due to a health problem.
The guy you sold it to (Grayham) - his Elise was a complete monster: very light with a 1.9L K-Series, but was indeed a bugger to climb in and out of. I compete in the same series as he did. He was an absolute gent.
Oh, that is a shame. Yes, he was a very nice guy and very easy to deal with regarding the sale. Was deteriorating health the reason he sold RX08 AUL on so quickly?

Some days I regret selling it to be honest, it was far easier to use than the Formula Renault that replaced it, I could just book a track day whenever I wanted, turn up on my own and pop home again with no hassle and no work on the car, tyres fitted etc. I've also idolised the 49 since childhood, so the colour scheme meant a lot to me.

HeMightBeBanned

617 posts

177 months

Wednesday 3rd January 2018
quotequote all
RobM77 said:
HeMightBeBanned said:
RobM77 said:
HeMightBeBanned said:
RobM77 said:
I loved mine smile I bought it from PHer 'Stephanie Plum', who had the excellent taste to spec it from new in Lotus 49B colours. It was an original Lotus Sport built one. Three years of track days and occasional road use followed my attempt at quitting motor racing, but after three years I sold the 2-Eleven to go back into racing!
Sadly, the chap who bought the car from you passed away last Saturday. Really super guy. I shall miss him very much.

Sorry to hear that. The guy I sold it to privately traded it in very quickly and it appeared for sale at Lotus Silverstone shortly afterwards. Are you referring to the guy who bought it directly from me, or the car's eventual owner? The guy I sold it to originally hillclimbed an Elise and was having problems getting in and out through the roll cage due to a health problem.
The guy you sold it to (Grayham) - his Elise was a complete monster: very light with a 1.9L K-Series, but was indeed a bugger to climb in and out of. I compete in the same series as he did. He was an absolute gent.
Was deteriorating health the reason he sold RX08 AUL on so quickly?
Mostly, yes.

RobM77

35,349 posts

233 months

Wednesday 3rd January 2018
quotequote all
HeMightBeBanned said:
RobM77 said:
HeMightBeBanned said:
RobM77 said:
HeMightBeBanned said:
RobM77 said:
I loved mine smile I bought it from PHer 'Stephanie Plum', who had the excellent taste to spec it from new in Lotus 49B colours. It was an original Lotus Sport built one. Three years of track days and occasional road use followed my attempt at quitting motor racing, but after three years I sold the 2-Eleven to go back into racing!
Sadly, the chap who bought the car from you passed away last Saturday. Really super guy. I shall miss him very much.

Sorry to hear that. The guy I sold it to privately traded it in very quickly and it appeared for sale at Lotus Silverstone shortly afterwards. Are you referring to the guy who bought it directly from me, or the car's eventual owner? The guy I sold it to originally hillclimbed an Elise and was having problems getting in and out through the roll cage due to a health problem.
The guy you sold it to (Grayham) - his Elise was a complete monster: very light with a 1.9L K-Series, but was indeed a bugger to climb in and out of. I compete in the same series as he did. He was an absolute gent.
Was deteriorating health the reason he sold RX08 AUL on so quickly?
Mostly, yes.
That's a real shame. As you say, a really nice guy.

Marwood79

209 posts

186 months

Wednesday 3rd January 2018
quotequote all
RobM77 said:
HeMightBeBanned said:
RobM77 said:
HeMightBeBanned said:
RobM77 said:
I loved mine smile I bought it from PHer 'Stephanie Plum', who had the excellent taste to spec it from new in Lotus 49B colours. It was an original Lotus Sport built one. Three years of track days and occasional road use followed my attempt at quitting motor racing, but after three years I sold the 2-Eleven to go back into racing!
Sadly, the chap who bought the car from you passed away last Saturday. Really super guy. I shall miss him very much.

Sorry to hear that. The guy I sold it to privately traded it in very quickly and it appeared for sale at Lotus Silverstone shortly afterwards. Are you referring to the guy who bought it directly from me, or the car's eventual owner? The guy I sold it to originally hillclimbed an Elise and was having problems getting in and out through the roll cage due to a health problem.
The guy you sold it to (Grayham) - his Elise was a complete monster: very light with a 1.9L K-Series, but was indeed a bugger to climb in and out of. I compete in the same series as he did. He was an absolute gent.
Oh, that is a shame. Yes, he was a very nice guy and very easy to deal with regarding the sale. Was deteriorating health the reason he sold RX08 AUL on so quickly?

Some days I regret selling it to be honest, it was far easier to use than the Formula Renault that replaced it, I could just book a track day whenever I wanted, turn up on my own and pop home again with no hassle and no work on the car, tyres fitted etc. I've also idolised the 49 since childhood, so the colour scheme meant a lot to me.
That colour scheme is beautiful. There was a similar one for sale at JCT600 a few years ago... may have had a twin yellow stripe though. Sadly respray costs are mental!

86wasagoodyear

381 posts

95 months

Wednesday 3rd January 2018
quotequote all
Spotted one once on the lower slopes of the southern side of the San Bernadino Pass (proper old road, not the M-way). Yellow. We passed each other on a hairpin, him going down, me on the way up. Both busy sawing at the steering so no waving, but an exchange of beaming grins saying to each other 'great car, isn't this the best Saturday morning ever?!' Fabulous moment.

ESOG

1,705 posts

157 months

Thursday 4th January 2018
quotequote all
L100NYY said:
They are fantastic things, had many a drive in them but one of the most memorable was an autumnal blast through leafy lanes.......
This exact scenario is what dreams are made of. Autumn in New York has for me always been a time of great content in my life, made all the better by carving through out the leaf filled roads of car and motorcycle enthusiasts favorite upstate New York road - Bear Mountain. I have been fortunate enough through out my entire 20s to have had the experiences of owning just about every sports car (and motorcycle) I desired, within my financial budget of course. To name just a few; 89 Esprit, 93 Mustang 5.0 LX Notchback, 92 Mustang 5.0 Hatchback LX, 2008 Mini Cooper with tuned ECU, 2008 BMW 335xi with tuned ECU, 2008 Porsche 911 twin turbo with tuned ECU (and fastest g'damned car ive EVER experienced... there is Mustang 5.0 with every bolton offered, Cobra upper/lower intake, and entry level Paxton Novi supercharger fast... AND THEN there is world class Europeans finest machine, 30 + years of heritage and German engineering FAST!!!! It cannot be explained. it can only be experienced...)
2004 350Z, 2008 BMW 135i TUNED ECU, 1999 Yamaha YZF R6...

NOTHING, IN MY OPINION, comes close to having the windows 3/4 the way down, floor heater on, the crisp Autumn air being sucked into the intake and the beautiful, no, INTOXICATING sounds the intake and exhaust make in such a climate as I remember as if it were today, BLASTING throughout the Bear Mtn roads and every where else I could think of. Sometimes I would just ride my motorcycle without a destination and on mental autopilot, my focus solely on blasting through open miles of road, staying at 8,000rpms and above and eventually, who knows how many hours later, I would see a diner or rest stop and pull in, get off my bike, look around, and realize that I have not the faintest damned clue as to where I am.... And I LOVED IT!!

And now.... 2018.... I am nothing but an empty shell of the man I once was and all the lovely rolling art I had in my possession and or at my leisurely disposal.... I don't even own a car, or motorcycle....

Life sure is crazy that way.

V5Ade

226 posts

209 months

Thursday 4th January 2018
quotequote all
There was a mention of 'cooling on track issues' earlier, but that's a bit misleading. The intercooler sits on top of the engine so heat soak can sap some power if it's sitting in traffic. I'm on the 4th year of ownership (previously I had an S2 Exige), it's never had a problem and has only needed servicing. They are just bloody awesome cars for track and amazing on the road too. The steering is so much more detailed compared to the Exige. I think I'll be keeping mine forever.

likesachange

2,630 posts

193 months

Thursday 4th January 2018
quotequote all
Great cars, admired them since having a fast passenger lap around 10yrs ago ...

Was tempted for one recently but took a gamble and bought a Zenos instead, a 18month old E10R for less than the N/A one advertised here ... hope the gamble pays off


That green one really does look ace

maxgas

176 posts

166 months

Thursday 4th January 2018
quotequote all
They are brilliant cars to drive , I remember picking mine up from Southampton and
the drive back home was bloody amazing . The steering is just so light and accurate you
could use just a couple of fingers n the wheel to turn it. Found myself oversteering it first of
all , much better to drive then the caterham I had before , very planted in fast corners
and in my opinion a much better looking car then all the Caterfields, Atoms etc.

Had some tt on a motorbike drive into the back of it the other month in Surrey , just
could not wait to overtake me on a dual carriageway. He was lucky not to have a serious
accident the numb nut 🥜, the paint protection film took most of the tyre marks so
just needed polishing and putting the ppf back on. Quick plug and thanks to Wombat wrapping in Kent who did a great job.!

Just wish this weather would get better so I can drive it .


cib24

1,115 posts

152 months

Thursday 4th January 2018
quotequote all
Cool car but it really did not perform well against the KTM and Radical in back-to-back tests at the time. Seemed like it was lacking. I think the 3 Eleven is on a different level of course.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnAJRiJO1sE


RobM77

35,349 posts

233 months

Thursday 4th January 2018
quotequote all
cib24 said:
Cool car but it really did not perform well against the KTM and Radical in back-to-back tests at the time. Seemed like it was lacking. I think the 3 Eleven is on a different level of course.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnAJRiJO1sE
I'll watch that later, but it's worth pointing out that a Radical isn't a proper two seater (the passenger seat is an extremely cramped afterthought, at least it was in the SR4 I rode in once), and to be honest a Radical is not really a proper road car either, with notoriously high running costs for track use, compared to the 2-Eleven's "turn up and go" trackday nature - my 2-Eleven was just like my Elise to run in terms of servicing requirements, even though I mainly just did trackdays in it. The KTM I don't remember going down too well at the time due to the turbocharged engine and various other shortfalls (feedback etc).

Ultimately though, these sorts of cars aren't about lap times, because timing is banned at track days, they're about driving sensations.

One thing I must mention in balance to the ample praise for these sorts of cars is that they're all a compromise. Like an M3 or AMG Merc is a compromise between a family car and a 911 style GT/sports car, a trackday lightweight is a compromise between a racing car and a sports car. For pure track use I actually prefer a single seater, which is what I have now, because unlike all of the above cars you get a car designed optimally for track use. For example, you get a longitudinal engine in the middle of the car mounted on the floor for optimum weight distribution, a dry sump, usually a sequential box, proper aero, central driving position, slick tyres, rose jointed ideally designed suspension, inboard springs and dampers etc. That lot also brings much greater performance than the 2-Eleven (Silverstone GP in my 2-Eleven was 2min27, in my FR it's 2min01). The biggest compromise on track for the 2-Eleven was probably its weight and its weight distribution - that engine is a long way back and quite heavy, and if you pushed the car at racing speed it dominated proceedings. For road use I prefer an Elise, because with the 2-Eleven I found the lack of visibility an issue, the need to wear a helmet not that nice on the road, and the ludicrously high limits meant at legal speeds it felt like you were barely moving, plus there was the amount of attention the car got, which got tiresome and often quite threatening. The Elise is just a glorious experience full of feedback and perfectly suited to UK roads.

However, for a mixture of road use and trackday use, these sorts of cars are of course perfect and great fun smile Each car mentioned above brings different talents to the party. Caterhams are lairy old school fun with a forgiving chassis and often bonkers performance, whereas the Lotus 2-Eleven was more of a delicate device of accuracy, which unlike the Caterham punished lairy behaviour, but was usually ultimately faster.

maxgas

176 posts

166 months

Thursday 4th January 2018
quotequote all
I quite like the Xbow , the carbon tub is beautifully made and the car looks as if
it has just been dropped on planet Earth from a alien mothership . A bug like
vehicle from Uranus , not driven one so can’t comment on it other then that.

You would not want to drive a radical on the road , it is far to stiff , low and bloody
noisey. I spoke to a owner at Donnington once and he tried for about 10 minutes was n the
road and took it straight back home again. I was going to buy a radical but could not
be bothered with all the trailering and fluffing about that goes with it , plus you really need
2 people at a track to run one - hence the 211 .

Yes you would not want to drive it in n the rain on the road but it is fantastic both on
road and track and is very reasonable to maintain and service.



Lagerlout

1,810 posts

235 months

Friday 5th January 2018
quotequote all
Mine on the left, Rob's old one on the right.


Lagerlout

1,810 posts

235 months

Friday 5th January 2018
quotequote all
Such a special place to sit, closest I'll get to living out my CanAm fantasies!


GavKirby

10 posts

74 months

Tuesday 9th January 2018
quotequote all
With the feature car being NA it won't suffer any cooling issues, you could lap all day and the power delivery will be consistent. The supercharged cars suffer power loss due to heat soak on the intercooler after prolonged track sessions. Problem is not the size of the i/c but the amount of airflow over it and the position it sits in. You can do a couple of easily reversible mods to help. Use an additional heat sheild below the i/c, a 3-4mm Ali sheet work best (as pictured), you can also add baffles in the i/c shroud to direct the incoming airflow from either side onto the i/c rather than hitting each other head on. Fans can be added to the back of the i/c to draw more air through. You can also look to remove the mesh on the intakes and cut away the 5-8mm return on the panels to wide the mouths of the intakes, that's a more permanent mod mind.



Edited by GavKirby on Tuesday 9th January 12:13

LotusOmega375D

7,580 posts

152 months

Tuesday 9th January 2018
quotequote all
Nice colour. Maybe a homage to the gas turbine car of yesteryear?


GavKirby

10 posts

74 months

Tuesday 9th January 2018
quotequote all
Believe it or not, that car certainly helped in swaying the decision to paint it gold!!

hondansx

4,562 posts

224 months

Tuesday 9th January 2018
quotequote all
Cool!

L100NYY

35,075 posts

242 months

Tuesday 9th January 2018
quotequote all
Any more pictures of it Gav?