New OwnerJim Knowles
Discussion
We had an informal Lotus club gathering in Minneapolis to welcome Jim Knowles of Florida into Lotus ownership. It was a nice turn out with many fellow owners congradulating him.
Jim McFadden had been assisting him in a purchase of an S4s from a dealer here and meeting him at the airport. Another example of how the tight knit Lotus community helps one another. I can not say enough about how great a person Jim Mcfadden is, always willing to lend a hand.
The car was picked up yesterday. It was so exciting seeing someone else realize a dream to own one of our type of cars. Many of us remember times of looking at car magazines and thinking one of these days I am going to get one of these cars.
Through circumstances only a few ever get to actually follow through and aquire an Esprit. It was nice to share this moment with Jim Knowles as it took many of the fellow owners present at the gathering back in time to the excitment of when we got our own cars.
After leaving Brit's pub downtown we took a drive through the Minneapolis entertainment section of the city on the way to Dave(89 SE)Cammack's Toy Box(a warehouse type building Dave owns that he rents out stalls as work space and storage for car projects). I was last in the procession of Esprits in our drive. This is my favorite position as I can see the reactions and expressions of the side walks full of people as the cars in front of me pass by them. Also it is one of few times I ever get to see an Esprit drive down the road. After all I like many other owners see my Esprit parked here and there but do not see it in motion as I am always driving it.
With Dave in the lead we had a spirited drive to the Toy Box encountering a few boy racers along the way having fun in the industrial area on a Friday night.
They made a mild challenge to Dave in the lead and I was thinking oh Sh*t here we go. All of us took off and passed them, I don't think they knew there was more than on Esprit until all of us took off. Once at the Toy Box Dave opened up the Roll up doors and all of us pulled in and Dave closed the doors while they boy racers parked outside. He waved them off and they left.
We took a tour of the workshop and Dave's 78 Esprit restoration project. Some police showed up questioning about some activities of some cars late at night in the industrial area. With all of our cars in there they look over to the corner at a V8 car and remark "Hey is that Dodge Charger in the corner of the shop"? Obviously American muscle car fans. Shortly after they left we heard the sounds of sirens in distance and deduced they found the boy racers.
As we left we stopped at a gas station before leaving the area. We bumped into the same policemen. Dave struck up conversation with them. One of the officers remarked about the possible speed of our cars. His reply was pricless. Fast? no all of our cars have just the 4 cylinder engines, now the new ones, the V8's are really fast. We have the slow ones.
Well I am going to see Jim Knowles off today as he is leaving town soon, even if he lives in Florida he has elected to join our club. It might be hard for him to make meetings as it is over 2k miles from home. I'm sure you will be seeing Jim Mcfadden and Jim Knowles postings about his buying experience soon.
Calvin
Jim McFadden had been assisting him in a purchase of an S4s from a dealer here and meeting him at the airport. Another example of how the tight knit Lotus community helps one another. I can not say enough about how great a person Jim Mcfadden is, always willing to lend a hand.
The car was picked up yesterday. It was so exciting seeing someone else realize a dream to own one of our type of cars. Many of us remember times of looking at car magazines and thinking one of these days I am going to get one of these cars.
Through circumstances only a few ever get to actually follow through and aquire an Esprit. It was nice to share this moment with Jim Knowles as it took many of the fellow owners present at the gathering back in time to the excitment of when we got our own cars.
After leaving Brit's pub downtown we took a drive through the Minneapolis entertainment section of the city on the way to Dave(89 SE)Cammack's Toy Box(a warehouse type building Dave owns that he rents out stalls as work space and storage for car projects). I was last in the procession of Esprits in our drive. This is my favorite position as I can see the reactions and expressions of the side walks full of people as the cars in front of me pass by them. Also it is one of few times I ever get to see an Esprit drive down the road. After all I like many other owners see my Esprit parked here and there but do not see it in motion as I am always driving it.
With Dave in the lead we had a spirited drive to the Toy Box encountering a few boy racers along the way having fun in the industrial area on a Friday night.
They made a mild challenge to Dave in the lead and I was thinking oh Sh*t here we go. All of us took off and passed them, I don't think they knew there was more than on Esprit until all of us took off. Once at the Toy Box Dave opened up the Roll up doors and all of us pulled in and Dave closed the doors while they boy racers parked outside. He waved them off and they left.
We took a tour of the workshop and Dave's 78 Esprit restoration project. Some police showed up questioning about some activities of some cars late at night in the industrial area. With all of our cars in there they look over to the corner at a V8 car and remark "Hey is that Dodge Charger in the corner of the shop"? Obviously American muscle car fans. Shortly after they left we heard the sounds of sirens in distance and deduced they found the boy racers.
As we left we stopped at a gas station before leaving the area. We bumped into the same policemen. Dave struck up conversation with them. One of the officers remarked about the possible speed of our cars. His reply was pricless. Fast? no all of our cars have just the 4 cylinder engines, now the new ones, the V8's are really fast. We have the slow ones.
Well I am going to see Jim Knowles off today as he is leaving town soon, even if he lives in Florida he has elected to join our club. It might be hard for him to make meetings as it is over 2k miles from home. I'm sure you will be seeing Jim Mcfadden and Jim Knowles postings about his buying experience soon.
Calvin
That is really nice Calvin am sure Jim had the best welcome from you guys.
Just to share....We have a similar bunch of people in our club who just cant get enough of new commers. When I bought my car privately I thought shivers I am gonna need some expert help on this baby, so I joined the club straight away. We turned up on club night not knowing if people were going to be snobby or could be bothered with girl owner all that sort of stuff, but no they really couldn't get enough of me! It was almost like o.k one at a time please. I had people emailing me phoning to hook up everyone wanted to do so much for me.
Since last year on joining I have now had my arm twisted to go on the track a few months back, been away for touring weekends, numerous outings show and tell. Just amazing support and have made lots of new friends. Am sure other car clubs are probably the same, but I felt this club has something special about it.
Calvin you were saying about you like driving last in a convoy of esprits to see impressions on peoples faces, I admit to being a little show off at times as you do and is nice to be at the back end for this. The partner always saying "oh look another jaw dropping", "did you see the look on that guys face"
When the esprit is having a nap, we quite often hook up with another couple who have a stunning blue 69 mustang convertable for sunny days, so we go with them for a picnic or just cruise round town. As nice and grunty as it sounds or looks, it never gets the double takes from people like the esprit does.
Just to share....We have a similar bunch of people in our club who just cant get enough of new commers. When I bought my car privately I thought shivers I am gonna need some expert help on this baby, so I joined the club straight away. We turned up on club night not knowing if people were going to be snobby or could be bothered with girl owner all that sort of stuff, but no they really couldn't get enough of me! It was almost like o.k one at a time please. I had people emailing me phoning to hook up everyone wanted to do so much for me.
Since last year on joining I have now had my arm twisted to go on the track a few months back, been away for touring weekends, numerous outings show and tell. Just amazing support and have made lots of new friends. Am sure other car clubs are probably the same, but I felt this club has something special about it.
Calvin you were saying about you like driving last in a convoy of esprits to see impressions on peoples faces, I admit to being a little show off at times as you do and is nice to be at the back end for this. The partner always saying "oh look another jaw dropping", "did you see the look on that guys face"
When the esprit is having a nap, we quite often hook up with another couple who have a stunning blue 69 mustang convertable for sunny days, so we go with them for a picnic or just cruise round town. As nice and grunty as it sounds or looks, it never gets the double takes from people like the esprit does.
In Mississippi the only Lotus Club I know is in Atlanta, which is 6 hours away. The only way I could ever attempt to tackle the rebuild of my '83 is through the knowledge and experience that's on Esprit Fact File. Thanks to everyone!!
Does anyone know of a club besides Atlanta??
louis
Does anyone know of a club besides Atlanta??
louis
Gassing Station | Esprit | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff