FULL DETAILS

[nello]

Guys - lets give Bibs and Kimbers a break here - they've organised enough here for this great day without having to worry about everyones individual insurance?! Heres to a day to remember.......

[bingoking]

Just boning up on the route to Wensum Valley Hotel and note in the Important Information sheets that "the back roads TomTom and the like recommend are not ideally suited to the Esprit".

I am travelling doon from sunny Scotland via Durham so heading down the A1 and the route suggested by http://maps.google.co.uk takes me down to Cambridge and up the A11 to Norwich. Seems a long way to avoid the back roads!

Are the roads that bad around the Hotel, are they narrow or dotted with speed bumps or what?

http://local.live.com suggests the A17 to King's Lynn from the A1, then A47 for 20 miles before turning left into Wood Lane (local roads, white roads on the map) Are these local roads to be avoided?

As an alternative the A148 out of King's Lynn to Fakenham and then the A1067 to Taverham looks OK on the map.

Anyone have local knowledge as to the best way?

On the insurance front my insurer AON Lotus Esteem Insurance will not cover me for the parade laps on the private road at the factory. It would be at my own risk but they did say that if I did the parade laps and got a letter from Lotus to say I had been on the track they would look at adding Track Day cover to my policy at no extra cost. I was given a number to phone a specialist insurer Competition Car Insurance 0115 941 5255 who quoted me

[Bibs]

The policy I have taken out at Lotus's request was with CCI and wasn't that much thank god!

When I first visited the hotel in my BMW I followed TomTom and wouldn't be happy in my Esprit on the roads, they are a bit too much like country lanes so stick to the main roads.

Those with a history of epilepsy, if you can provide a doctors note stating your history Lotus will look at it and make a decision from there. If it was long enough ago, welcome to the track

[stagowner]

Nick

Yes, or to be strictly accurate Steve L did (Esprit's co-owner). As I understand it once he'd explained exactly what was involved the young lady concerned confirmed that our cover was fully operative. Not sure who he spoke to though... will find out if Steve made a note of her name... if so will let you know tomorrow.

James

Thanks James / Steve

Now covered with RH the lady in question is Rachael Morris - I did ask her if she would like to accompany me

[Dan]

Thanks to your post I can now participate in the parade lap on the private road.

And that is in the turbo not the S3, although the interior still looks a bit like the inside of a shed (some carpet not in, one bucket, one original set, no radio, no heater controls, no dash instrument cover... the list goes on).

Andy

Cool - no radio, no heater, no dash cover, but you'll be taking part

I bet you still grin as much as the rest of us!

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Gordon - I owe you and Alan Morgan a drink!

I sacked off the track thing because of the insurance situation but I spoke to one of their operators this morning and she was fully aware fo it and it's a-ok, no charge

Many thanks to both of you!

[GordonMasson]

This might be of interest .......Birds eye view of the factory and track:

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.5635&amp...;r=66&src=2

[CarlC]

Just on hold with Admiral Insurance. I've Fax and Emailed some documentation to them on the event. Im going to be suprised if they turn me down. After all its a private road following a car so we can take pictures?

Demon Driver is trying the same approach with Elephant.

Fingers Crossed !

Edited October 6, 2006 by CarlC

[CarlC]

YES!

This is the fax/email I sent to Admiral. They have agreed that I will be fully covered under the conditions stated on my fax/email. They are also going to try and fax back to me written confirmation too.

Event Information

The members of the Lotus Esprit Forum have been invited by Mike Kimberly (Lotus Chief Exec) to attend a special Factory Visit on Monday the 9th of October which has been arranged especially for the club. We will also On Sunday the 8th of October be raising money for Cancer Research at our meeting point near the hotel located near the Lotus Factory.

There is expected to be 100 Lotus Esprit cars and approximately 200 guests.

We will arrive at the Factory at 10:00am on Monday the 9th October.

The Visit will include several activities including;

- Meet and Greet

- Factory Tour

- Forum Discussion with Lotus Engineers

- Parade Drive and Photo-shoot

The parade Drive will consist of limited groups of Lotus Esprit Cars following a Lotus Factory Vehicle on the private roads in the grounds of the Hethal factory. The only purpose of this is to photo graph the cars around the Factory with other Esprit's.

Please note that;

No helmets are required or being worn

No timings are taking place

There is no Lapping of any kind

There is strictly no overtaking

There are strict speed limits in place which are within the

legal limits for public roads.

The cars will be photographed in motion and not stationary on the

private roads at the Factory.

If you require any further information please let me know

Kind Regards,

[Bibs]

Please see post number 1 for contact details for myself and Tony Kimberley.

[CarlC]

Please see post number 1 for contact details for myself and Tony Kimberley.

Hi Bibs,

Was that directed at my last post ?

[Bibs]

Erm, no!

[CarlC]

Demon Driver - (Stuart) has just had word back from Elephant that he is covered to for the 'Parade Drive' based on the same info posted above.

Lets hope this helps a few other owners too.

[TSD]

cool - my insurance agent in Belgium confirmed to me that it if it's no racing, no timing, it's covered - 3rd party that is, so you guys are covered :-O drive safe, see you on the track - I'll be driven miss daisy

[lemoncurd]

Demon Driver - (Stuart) has just had word back from Elephant that he is covered to for the 'Parade Drive' based on the same info posted above.

Lets hope this helps a few other owners too.

Carl - You are a legend! I am sure I owe you a pint!

I just spoke to a helpful lady at Admiral who after intially refusing to cover track/off road days, luckily manged to find the Manager who had obviously dealt with the same request and said "yep, we have had a few calls about this today - you are covered!"

Ben

[Bibs]

Does anyone have a small, very portable printer and perhaps a 3G PCMCIA card I could borrow saturday/sunday night? Would be most appreciated if possible

[CarlC]

Bibs,

Given that we are taking over at the hotel wont they lend you one of there printers to plug into the laptop? they may also have broadband you could use? would that be sufficient ?

Other than that I dont have either sorry !

[esprit350]

The Hotel will probably have a buisness center which will charge by the second for any services, if it is like any of the hotels I have stayed in round the world

[Bibs]

There is dialup in the rooms and no printer, I have asked!

I can bring my own printer but it's a bit large and although I have wifi etc they aren't having the facility installed until next week.

[lemoncurd]

There is dialup in the rooms and no printer, I have asked!

I can bring my own printer but it's a bit large and although I have wifi etc they aren't having the facility installed until next week.

I guess it is a bit rural to "borrow" anyone else's connection also!

[Bibs]

And very insecure plus I doubt if there will be any networks within range, the hotel isn't in a particularly urban area.

[superdavelotus]

Yes I have a portable printer and photo paper 6"x4". I will pack this in my boot. Shame really as it's also battery operated but I don't have a battery. It's 12V I think so may work in the car!

Will let you know,

Just checked and it's 20V input like a laptop, does anyone have a car adaptor?

Dave

Does anyone have a small, very portable printer and perhaps a 3G PCMCIA card I could borrow saturday/sunday night? Would be most appreciated if possible

[Bibs]

Dave, thanks dude but it's not a photo printer I'm after, just a black ink A4 number

It's not the end of the world but would be very handy

3G card sorted, thanks Mat

[Loose Cannon]

One phone call and one fax later no problems!?

Not normally the insurance industry's biggest fan but credit where it's due; big it up for Ensign Insurance!

[Bibs]

Lotus will be taking photographs of your cars for its archives and records and future promotional use. Should you not wish your car to be photographed please tell me.

With this in mind, when we reach the factory on Monday and park up, please leave your car unlocked. It's perfectly safe there so don't panic!