Lotus Day Timings
ohhh yes .. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=or4iFIUUpdM
Dum spiro, spero
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Firstly a huge thanks to dunc and stu for sorting all of this.
The factory tour was impressive in its own right and just seeing how quick they can build the things and the weight of the chassis is mind boggling!!
Once we had all finished drooling over the cars and deciding which colour we wanted everyone seemed well up for the driving and it exceeded anything i could have imagined. I know lotus have a reputation for handling but even in 'basic' form those cars have so much grip and remain so balanced even under heavy braking that you cant help but smile as your confidence grows with each lap!!
The 'hot lap' with the instructor really opened my eyes as to what these cars can do even though i did have the instructor who spun on the wet grass (or so he told me!)
Im defineatly a convert to these cars, just need to get hold of some serious dough and go for an exige!!!
Once again a Big Thanks!
The factory tour was impressive in its own right and just seeing how quick they can build the things and the weight of the chassis is mind boggling!!
Once we had all finished drooling over the cars and deciding which colour we wanted everyone seemed well up for the driving and it exceeded anything i could have imagined. I know lotus have a reputation for handling but even in 'basic' form those cars have so much grip and remain so balanced even under heavy braking that you cant help but smile as your confidence grows with each lap!!
The 'hot lap' with the instructor really opened my eyes as to what these cars can do even though i did have the instructor who spun on the wet grass (or so he told me!)
Im defineatly a convert to these cars, just need to get hold of some serious dough and go for an exige!!!
Once again a Big Thanks!
First and foremost, a thank you to Rob Savin for the concept and thanks also to Dunk for finishing off what I had started 
What a bloody morning that was!
We were split into two groups, one group were to receive their factory walkaround with only a few key areas offlimits. My first 'wow' moment was when we walked in and saw about a dozen Elise lined up in a rainbow of colours.......stunning.
Over the next hour and a half we strolled around being shown the various stages of the build process. I found this both fascinating and quite humbling also. This level of hand built work is normally reserved for mega money coach built stuff, surely? I love the 'add less weight' idea. I love the purity of the form. I was impressed with the individual nature of the cars and the factory, so far removed from the souless processing plants I have seen in other set ups (Ford and Rover to name but two)
We were able to quiz our guide on various parts, whether it be the torque outputs of the supercharged VVti engines or the build times of a car from start to finish and it all gelled together to make many of us think 'I want one'
To learn that it was possible, by special arrangement, to come to the factory and see 'your' car on the production line........to see it being born. I was staggered. If I had the money, I would have written out a cheque there and then. And that was before the drive.
My instructor for the day was Glynn, a chassis development engineer and test driver for Lotus Sport. Built like a whippet he was kind enough not to laugh as I tried to limbo in to the car. I was keen to make a seemless entry as the piss taking was rife and it would only get louder if I failed to get in. Glynn was generous enough to offer to remove the roof
Such a shame then that my car had a misfire near tickover. 5 minutes later, in the same car, we were back on track.
The plan was to do 20 minutes driving with Glynn correcting, laughing and hiding whenever necessary. He was a gent. His feedback was great. I felt cumbersome driving it as I couldn't get enough lock without taking my hands off of the wheel. The laps got quicker and my confidence grew......I just wonder what I might have achieved with more than one session? I suppose that's the idea.
After what felt like loads of laps, I realised that we were going back to the pits. The Union Jack (nice touch) was being waved as a sign to come in. I was gutted........I could have honestly have stayed out there all day long. Hethel is a great track with a real mix of corners and surface changes everywhere. I will be doing my utmost to arrange a trackday there as soon as I can. Failing that I will be going back for more of the same. It was, in my opinion, that good.
The finale of the day was Glynn doing the honours. 2 laps to show me what the Elise could do in experienced hands. He changed the car from a well balanced, smooth, stable and poised when I drove it to something almost rabid in its direction changes, hard charging between the corners and it braked like someone had thrown an anchor out of the door.
I was staggered at how good the base model was, I can scarcely imagine how good an Exige would be. Let alone a 211.
If anyone is interested in any further events at Lotus, please let me know.
Great to see a lot of people having a wonderful time today. My only regret was that Gerry could not take part. I have promised him a return trip as soon as I can.
What a bloody morning that was!
We were split into two groups, one group were to receive their factory walkaround with only a few key areas offlimits. My first 'wow' moment was when we walked in and saw about a dozen Elise lined up in a rainbow of colours.......stunning.
Over the next hour and a half we strolled around being shown the various stages of the build process. I found this both fascinating and quite humbling also. This level of hand built work is normally reserved for mega money coach built stuff, surely? I love the 'add less weight' idea. I love the purity of the form. I was impressed with the individual nature of the cars and the factory, so far removed from the souless processing plants I have seen in other set ups (Ford and Rover to name but two)
We were able to quiz our guide on various parts, whether it be the torque outputs of the supercharged VVti engines or the build times of a car from start to finish and it all gelled together to make many of us think 'I want one'
To learn that it was possible, by special arrangement, to come to the factory and see 'your' car on the production line........to see it being born. I was staggered. If I had the money, I would have written out a cheque there and then. And that was before the drive.
My instructor for the day was Glynn, a chassis development engineer and test driver for Lotus Sport. Built like a whippet he was kind enough not to laugh as I tried to limbo in to the car. I was keen to make a seemless entry as the piss taking was rife and it would only get louder if I failed to get in. Glynn was generous enough to offer to remove the roof
Such a shame then that my car had a misfire near tickover. 5 minutes later, in the same car, we were back on track.The plan was to do 20 minutes driving with Glynn correcting, laughing and hiding whenever necessary. He was a gent. His feedback was great. I felt cumbersome driving it as I couldn't get enough lock without taking my hands off of the wheel. The laps got quicker and my confidence grew......I just wonder what I might have achieved with more than one session? I suppose that's the idea.
After what felt like loads of laps, I realised that we were going back to the pits. The Union Jack (nice touch) was being waved as a sign to come in. I was gutted........I could have honestly have stayed out there all day long. Hethel is a great track with a real mix of corners and surface changes everywhere. I will be doing my utmost to arrange a trackday there as soon as I can. Failing that I will be going back for more of the same. It was, in my opinion, that good.
The finale of the day was Glynn doing the honours. 2 laps to show me what the Elise could do in experienced hands. He changed the car from a well balanced, smooth, stable and poised when I drove it to something almost rabid in its direction changes, hard charging between the corners and it braked like someone had thrown an anchor out of the door.
I was staggered at how good the base model was, I can scarcely imagine how good an Exige would be. Let alone a 211.
If anyone is interested in any further events at Lotus, please let me know.
Great to see a lot of people having a wonderful time today. My only regret was that Gerry could not take part. I have promised him a return trip as soon as I can.
Would definitely like to get back out there for a trackday ... and a sprint sometime this summer.stuart wrote: If anyone is interested in any further events at Lotus, please let me know.
Great day today. Particularly liked the way the instructors encouraged and coached to get you to do your best in the car. And the hot laps of course; wow!
Andy
Glad you all had a great time. It was quite amusing, sitting in the car park watching you all returning to your cars in various stages of 'cheshire cat' mode.
Yes please Stu, organise another as soon as poss and put me down for a ticket. Sounds fantastic. Meanwhile, there's always the B19 sprint to look forward to
Yes please Stu, organise another as soon as poss and put me down for a ticket. Sounds fantastic. Meanwhile, there's always the B19 sprint to look forward to
Handle every stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or hump it, piss on it and walk away!
Sorry, I would have hung on and said hello before leaving!