Lotus Festival 2018

[Bibs 11,654]

Sadly not, the gaps were too big to count as a continuous display of cars.

While I'm broken and can't walk, I feel very proud and privileged to have played a small part in making some Lotus history yesterday. I had the best of days, we couldn't have been luckier with the weather and the culmination of a lot of planning and organising by the fantastic, dedicated, hard working gang at Lotus resulted in an event which will be remembered and make those who came smile for a long time to come.

Thanks to Lotus for letting me be involved, the all the owners and enthusiasts who came and to the clubs, the 'One of every Lotus' display cars, the track display teams and everyone who asked me a question, what a great day it was! #Lotus70

[Turbo 9]

Well done Bibs.

I've been many times to Hethel over the last 30+ years and the 70th was by far the best organised.

Thank you

Peter

[PaulCP 730]

Shame about the record but maybe some weren’t aware of the requirements of maintaining 15mph with a small gap.

I watched it from the grandstand and saw a few, who were a very small minority , slow up to create a large enough gap in front of them so that they could accelerate hard in 2nd and listed to their exhaust.

BTW, did anyone get a piece of birthday cake 🎂 

[Iain 48]

Absolutely superb day - with brilliant people.

Thoroughly reinforced why I've always believed Lotus as a manufacturer, Lotus owners as a community, and the relationship between the two must be almost unique in the automotive world. It would appear that Geely understand that.

Great to make new friends and catch up with old.

My 11 year old had his first exposure to Lotus (the company) and the community yesterday - although he's grown up with our Elise and Esprit - and I get the impression he was just a little blown away by it. Wants to be an engineer when he leaves school - and this was perfect inspiration.

And good to see you again Bibs - must be 10 years since we last chatted - the display looked great!

Special shout-out from us to Elisa Artioli who very kindly 'signed' our Elise... 😎

Oh , and we were interviewed/photographed by the guy from Evo - as were many others - hopefully a really positive Lotus 70th feature to follow in that mag.

I've got a fair few photos - will hopefully be able to post later once my son has finished homework and I can get to the family PC.

BiG thank your to Lotus Cars, Classic Team Lotus, Bibs and everyone that obviously worked very hard to put together a brilliant event.  👍😎

Iain

Edited September 30, 2018 by Iain

[TJS10 5]

A great day, many thanks to all those who organised and marshalled it. 

[Iain 48]

48 minutes ago, PaulCP said:

Shame about the record but maybe some weren’t aware of the requirements of maintaining 15mph with a small gap.

I watched it from the grandstand and saw a few, who were a very small minority , slow up to create a large enough gap in front of them so that they could accelerate hard in 2nd and listed to their exhaust.🎂

There were certainly some of the later arrivals, at the back of the pack, that weren't aware that it was a record attempt and just thought it was a series of parade laps - they didn't get copies of the handouts that we were given when we arrived (both about the Record and the 'Contact me' sheet').

The accelerating/breaking was annoying - we were desperately trying to stay as close as we could to the gorgeous Mk 1 Exige in front of us - but it was obvious that some weren't fully 'briefed'.

But, record aside, it *was* brilliant to be going around the track with so many other Lotus cars...

As others have mentioned, signs said 'see you next year' - so perhaps another try - with clearer briefing notes to drivers?

Iain

Edited September 30, 2018 by Iain

[Steve1 62]

Just a quick one, don't know if mentioned this but how posh we're those toilets....😮. There not cheap to hire, no dodgy porter loos. Music and ambient lighting and the smelly hand wash, my misses wanted to pinch a bottle... Looks like Lotus really has got money now...😃

[chipp 146]

Yes Steve and how the food outlets were all reasonably priced compared to lots of other events.

 

chipp

[AndyHamp 13]

6 minutes ago, chipp said:

Yes Steve and how the food outlets were all reasonably priced compared to lots of other events.

 

chipp

Yes, was very impressed with the prices, great to see and I'm sure they still made loads of profit. 

Just need to be more outlets if they do it again as the wait times were a bit too long... But having said that everyone one in the queue was chatting and having a great time 

Overall a great day out and I hope we get to do it again. 

 

[Mrs_L 9]

32 minutes ago, Iain said:

There were certainly some of the later arrivals, at the back of the pack, that weren't aware that it was a record attempt and just thought it was a series of parade laps - they didn't get copies of the handouts that we were given when we arrived (both about the Record and the 'Contact me' sheet').

There were loads that didn't get the handouts - us included (we arrived around 8ish) but when we were getting underway the guy walking down the middle was clearly telling everyone about the 2 car lengths maximum gap 

Such a pity we didn't get the record, but another try next year hopefully - easily the best organised event I've had the pleasure to attend  

 

Edited September 30, 2018 by Mrs_L

[LotusFella 127]

1 hour ago, Bibs said:

Sadly not, the gaps were too big to count as a continuous display of cars.

While I'm broken and can't walk, I feel very proud and privileged to have played a small part in making some Lotus history yesterday. I had the best of days, we couldn't have been luckier with the weather and the culmination of a lot of planning and organising by the fantastic, dedicated, hard working gang at Lotus resulted in an event which will be remembered and make those who came smile for a long time to come.

Thanks to Lotus for letting me be involved, the all the owners and enthusiasts who came and to the clubs, the 'One of every Lotus' display cars, the track display teams and everyone who asked me a question, what a great day it was! #Lotus70

Fantastic day Andy, you did us all proud.  One of the best car days I’ve ever been to.

cheers chris

[TomE 294]

Thank you Bibs for a fantastic event and to all at Lotus, Geely and the various owners, clubs, volunteers and helpers for making it such an amazing day.  Great to see coverage on the big screens while walking round the rest of the site, interesting interviews by Guy, epic cars on track and around the site and to feel the collective love of the Lotus family celebrating an iconic brand.

The Sport 110 Owners Club were honoured to be invited and kick off the demo laps on the circuit.  Reuniting 3 of the Type 108 Olympic bikes was very special, particularly with designer Mike Burrows also with us for the day.   Several current and former Lotus staff also stopped to chat about their involvement with the bike projects.  Great also to chat to petrolheads taking an interest in this important part of Lotus history from 26 years ago and we were honoured to have the Lotus CEO and VIP party visit the stand for a chat about Lotus bikes.  Perhaps they might think about an updated Sport 110?

Great to meet old friends and make new ones.  It seems most people now know me as "that guy with the bike on his roof"!

<-----

[KAS-118 229]

Bad luck about the record - but I watched the stream on YouTube and it looked a great day.

I did notice that at  some times the parade of cars, in particular one lane, came to a stop - so you probably got big gaps when the car in front accelerate to move of.

Maybe, next time this is tried the importance of maintaining a steady speed with minimal gaps can be emphasised a bit more.

However, well done to all those who organised the event - and all those who turned up 👍

[21gg 423]

We arrived about 815 and we're just past half way down the que.  Walking up we passed the young lady handing out the sheets but only realise afterwards what they were.  Call it a practice run for next year. Onwards and upwards!

[Troy5925 60]

great day

 

did we break the parade lap record?

Never mind just seen it

[RichardC 125]

Excellent event and thanks to all those who put in the hard work. Good to see all the new building and refurbishment work going on at the factory. 

 

I think that we were really lucky with the weather, considering that it's late September. Is the month significant for the 70th anniversary? I set off from home in Yorkshire, in the dark at 4am, and got back home from Hethel, also in the dark at 8pm. A long day but well worth it. Maybe earlier on in the year would be better for future events?

As for the record attempt parade lap, it was brilliant seeing so many Lotuses running at once but a shame that we didn't get the record. It was hard to know what to do when gaps in the traffic developed - carry on at a steady 15mph, or speed up to close the gap but risk meeting up with stationary cars unseen ahead. The problem was that you only had a limited view of what was going on elseswhere on the track and the few marshalls couldn't really help. Next time what about getting one of those temporary event FM radio licences to relay the commentary and instructions to everyone's cars? (well those of us who have the luxury of a car radio).

See you all for Lotus 71/75/80 - whenever the next one is!

 

[TomE 294]

Is any of the merchandise going to be in the Lotus or TLF shops?  I got everything apart from a poster, which had sold out, and would love to have one for the garage wall.  I heard it might have been limited to being available on the day only, which would be a shame.

[Bibs 11,654]

TBC but it was discussed yesterday. Watch this space.

[TAR 419]

@Bibs

I'd love to get my hands on one of the barrier covers with the 70th cars image or the Lotus 70 image. Would look great on the wall of my garage.  

[Kimbers 1,905]

20 hours ago, Kimbers said:

So we walked over to MJK and just before we got there a totally different guy with a walking stick and 2 sons helping him walked over. My dads face lit up and he called him by name (can't remember now....Mike maybe). Dad gave him a big hug and the guy burst into tears. He said "You don't know how much this means to me!" and there was a long conversation and much hugging. the guy had had a stroke and just wanted to talk to his old mate again. He choked up again when they parted. It was amazing to see what dad meant to someone.
 

1

Thanks Alan Robins for capturing this moment. Spoken to dad today and they worked together in the Early 80's both for COlin on a personal basis.

 

[stephenwhyte 2,002]

One of my stand-out funny moments was walking past you and your Dad @Kimbers early on just after I arrived and probably when you had just arrived.

You both walked past me, and your Dad was walking with a walking stick - you quizzed your Dad as you passed me.....”if I kick that away from under you.....will you fall over!” - I had a proper laugh at that one - brilliant!!😉😂

Would loved to have shaken your Dad’s hand and had a chat but I’m sure he had plenty more worthwhile chats to have - a very inspirational fellow& I’m sure you’re very proud he’s your Dad👏👏

[nigeninja 62]

Shame about the record,but as someone has already said we never got the instruction,but at the end of the day it was still brilliant to go round the track with that many lotus cars.

I fact not getting the record is not worth a mention,the rest of the day was OUTSTANDING and AWESOME one very happy TLF'er        

[Bibs 11,654]

We did discuss emailing instructions to all ticket holders before the event but GDPR makes that illegal sadly.

[100th_Idiot 368]

Thanks for helping to put this together Bibs. While I wasn't at the TLF club I was there in spirit.

 

[Bazza 907 1,111]

What a fantastic day. Huge thanks to Bibs and all those involved in making it such a brilliant day. Just got back home having stayed overnight in Suffolk.

Funniest moment with a doubt was when the F1 cars were on track mid afternoon. We saw them go off before heading back to the car which was parked in the line on the track. On the way we walked passed the Classic Team Lotus marquee. Mrs Bazza (who has owned the Elise for 16 years) stops and says "hang on a minute that jacket looks nice, let me have a quick look" Not one to say no (years of training) I agree but highlight it's all roped off/closed as the guys were all on track demoing fettling the F1 cars. Undeterred and with years of retail experience she spots a bloke and calls him over. After a brief chat he unclips the rope, lets her in and shows her the jacket. After a few minutes she say its not for her but then I hear hime explain "it had been modelled on the one my Dad used to wear".

Mrs Bazza; "Oh, who's he?"

Bloke: "Colin Chapman"....  

I desperately tried not to laugh and have to say Clive was the perfect gent, very gracious - top, top man