theduisbergkid Posted September 9, 2011 Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 Words from Dazzer, my hands were too shaky to type after this trip... “Simplicate, then add lightness” has long been the Lotus mantra as laid down by St. Colin of Hethel, and it has served his followers well. I’ve always liked Lotus; in my head it has always conjured up patriotic images of Roger Moore’s Bond, BRG paint jobs and good old British pluck. Even if the reality means that there’s a bit more coconut milk being used in the staff canteen these days, I don’t care. I still think Lotus are great. The xenophobe in me likes the fact that cars like the Elan and Elise have been the antithesis to the American muscle car. I like the way they are lovingly lashed together with bits of old Rover, broken canoe and Araldite. You don’t get that sort of character from the robots in Hiroshima, and the Germanic alternatives are perhaps too obvious. Ironically for the British option, Lotus ownership is pretty classless. From the Cat-D VX220 to the latest Supercharged Exige, you can instantly become part of that unofficial “No Nonsense Driver’s Club”, where tradition dictates that members give a bloke-ish wave should they pass on their morning commutes. While on a factory tour some years ago it was interesting to hear Lotus employees say how proud they were to be part of the brand, and that they also felt like part of one big family. This was high praise indeed, especially in this insular part of rural Norfolk were most married couples have fathers that are brothers. So imagine my excitement when an opportunity arose to test out a modified Series 1 and S260 Series 2 Exige around the Eifel Mountains in Germany with my fellow s2b2 chum TDK.... Full story an' more pics an' sh!t online here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted September 9, 2011 Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 I hope you boys don't start going all corporate on us, just so you can get to drive lots of cars! Nice little write up, but lacked the usual p1ss taking/high jinks we've come to expect from S2B2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted September 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 There's more to come from us following this trip I have so got the horn for Lotus at the mo, the Exige S1 was hugely uncomfortable, roasting hot, noisy, rattly and bit battered. I fukcing loved it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Posted September 9, 2011 Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 Hi TDK, my name is Lotus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted September 9, 2011 Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 Just_chick = Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted September 10, 2011 Report Share Posted September 10, 2011 Mk1 Lotus Exige in orange. Loved them ever since I saw one at Palmer Motorsport being tracked. Quite rare now, but every time I see one i want one. Got in one at a show once, mmm getting out was how could you say, interesting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Posted September 10, 2011 Report Share Posted September 10, 2011 Didn't think it would sound the same from anyone else (apart from Mook) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted September 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2011 What, you're plastic, expensive and unreliable ? /confused.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted September 11, 2011 Report Share Posted September 11, 2011 Got in one at a show once, mmm getting out was how could you say, interesting! First time I sat in one, the exit routine involved falling out through the door onto the floor, then getting up and checking no-one was watching. Have managed to refine it a little since then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted September 11, 2011 Report Share Posted September 11, 2011 TDK, was that the RSR Lotus Rally you did at the Ring? We did that on this years Nürburgrun. Great trip, not long enough, although I'm glad we had two people per car - I would have been very pissed off at spending 250 Euros for that 2 hour or so trip, which mostly consisted of walking and listening to Ron. Looking at the Sudschliefe was amazing though. We didn't do that round a couple of times in the Scooby. Honest... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted September 11, 2011 Report Share Posted September 11, 2011 Looking at the Sudschliefe was amazing though. We didn't do that round a couple of times in the Scooby. Honest... Hmm, next time we're out there, you'll have to show me the bits of Sudschliefe, I searched for them a few years ago, but never managed to find more than a couple of bits that were gated off, or bits that had been built over! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted September 11, 2011 Report Share Posted September 11, 2011 Road follows some of the route, but there's one section you can get to but not drive - think of wooded country lane with a 1 in 3 gradient, then drive down it at 150+ in a 1950s race car. Mental... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted September 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2011 Yup, RSR rally, with Craig not Ron. By the end of the tour we had convinced him we weren't chancers and he let us tootle off on our own. He looked mightily relieved when we finally returned though. We did a few other fun things, story to follow, once I've got my finger out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted September 11, 2011 Report Share Posted September 11, 2011 Craig's a nice bloke. He'd just started in May, so came with us too hear the Ron-speak Trusted you..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now