Gallery 2014

Sounds like a great day out. In fact it turned out to be the most fun I’ve ever had in a car.

By Aaron McKenzie, photos by Gloria Wade.

We headed out to the Mount Cotton Driver Training Facility on the 6th December under looming stormy weather with a belly full of nervous anticipation.

A great mix of daily drivers and Lotus alike arrived – all with one thing in common, a big grin. 

We were split into two groups, each with a tactical course to complete before switching over and breaking for lunch. After the initial few runs, the majority (not all!) of fishtails, doughnuts, extended handbrake turns and maniacal wheel spinning were out of the system and competition grew a bit more serious as times were recorded for ultimately what was the main bragging right at the end of the day. 

Each course proved to have its own challenges. Sharp tight turns and hairpins or wider, sweeping figure eights provided their rewards of car control and excitement. 

After a short break for a sausage sizzle and some story telling we all sat back and watched the moving of cones by Paul, wondering what was in store for our afternoon session. 

A mirror image track was set up for two cars at a time to test their new skills against one another. No time for showboating here, this was all about control and clean lines, and proved to be the most exciting part of the day. 

When all was said and done our times were irrelevant, our tanks overflowed with joy and our anticipation is building towards the next event. 

A big thanks must go to Garry and his team for doing a brilliant job of organising the day, to Paul and his team for allowing us to enjoy our cars in a safe environment, and to all the LCQ members for a great turn out. 

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What a blast we had at the LCQ Christmas Barefoot Bowls!

By Vyvyan Black. Photos by Gloria Wade


A great day was had by all as a host of members and their families arrived for our ‘End Of Year Blast’ – a fun afternoon of barefoot bowls at the Toowong Bowls Club on Sunday the 23rd November.

Classical summer libations were consumed along with a great spread of steaks, snags, barbecued chicken and various salads – all this while the sun soaked our shirts and shorts in sweat and the enjoyable entertainment by The Recliners was arousing our aural senses.

All in all a fab day and an excellent way to bring the Lotus crowd together. Many thanks to all who attended and much gratitude to the Toowong Club.

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A fantastic weekend away was had by four members, and in two cases, their partners over the 1st and 2nd of November.

By Tim Moore. Photos by Gloria Wade

Organised by Rob Stevens and Clive Wade to absolute perfection, the participants were Clive and Gloria Wade in their Land Rover Discovery, Rob Stevens and his two children in their Toyota Prado, John & Penny Barram in their Mitsubishi Pajero, and myself in my Land Rover Defender.

We met Saturday morning at Peak Crossing Park and, after a short briefing and organising what radio frequency we would communicate on, we headed off. The first stops were on the Head Road and at Teviot Falls. There wasn’t much water coming over the falls but what a sensational view from this point, it was truly stunning. Then over the hill towards the Condamine River. At this stage we were greeted by some of the most beautiful country I’ve seen anywhere, undulating plains with some trees, and green as green. Our next adventure was to cross the Condamine River, which we did 14 times, as we made our way down Condamine Gorge, it was a great adventure for someone like myself with my limited 4WD experience. If there was more water running it would have been a lot more challenging, but it was still challenging enough.

At the first crossing we stopped for a compulsory cup of tea and a morning snack. Then we were off to Killarney, a couple of us needed to bolster the larder as we had forgotten some key stocks needed for the overnight stop. Next off to Queen Mary Falls for lunch in the park and a walk to the falls. The falls were spectacular as normal with a large amount of water, a great photo opportunity. Then we were back to the café at the falls for a cappuccino and iced coffee fix, as well as a close up with the exquisite King Parrots.

Next we were off to our camp site for the night; Manna Gums Camp Site in the Main Range National Park. Clive led us on a journey down memory lane where some of his friends had property. First stop Tannymorel. for a photo opportunity with the statue of a coal miner (coal mining was carried out from 1909 to 1967). After this short interlude it was on to the Goomburra Valley and Manna Gums Camp Site via Emu Vale and Yangan.

Arriving at about 3.30 in the afternoon it all became very busy setting up camp for the night, all of us admiring some element of the others set up. Rob Stevens took the prize for all the gadgets he had developed, obviously perfected with his wife on their many excursions into the great outback. While the adults set up camp, Rob’s children were straight off through the rainforest to the creek where they found a rock pool to go swimming.

Meanwhile, we were greeted by a variety of bird life, cheeky Satin Bower Birds that came right into the tent as well as the wonderful calls of both the bellbirds and whip birds.

Once all was set up we met in the meeting room area that John and Penny had provided; an Oz Trail tent with a number of tables in the centre and stoves on the side. Soon after the afternoon cuppa it was obviously “drink o’clock“.

A couple of beers, then onto some white wine followed by red. A sumptuous dinner was cooked and then it was time to light the fire, which Rob and his kids got underway followed by all of us sitting around the fire and doing what we normally do in these circumstances; solving the problems of the world. We all turned in at about 9 pm, and we experienced something that we haven’t seen in Brisbane for a long time; constant rain, which continued through to about 2am, testing all of our tents, happily with no leaks reported.

In the morning we were again greeted by the call of the Bell and Whip Birds, we cooked up bacon and eggs, and then bid John and Penny farewell as they were off to pick up John’s dad for his 94th birthday lunch.

The remaining team headed up to Sylvester Lookout, a short drive through rainforest followed by a 500 metre walk to a sensational vista across the Fassifern Valley and Moogerah Dam.

After returning to the cars from the lookout Rob headed off leaving Clive, Gloria and I to make our way back to the camp site for morning tea and Clive’s final pack up.

Then, too soon, the weekend was over and we headed down from the range. A stop at Aratulla for lunch and coffee, then Clive led us on a drive via Kalbar, Peak Crossing and on to the Cunningham Highway, a much more interesting route than travelling down the highway.

Clive and Gloria turned off to the Moggill Ferry leaving me on my own to head home.

For all those Lotus members who didn’t make it on this weekend; after my story and the photos Gloria has provided, I hope we can get a larger contingency next year. It really was a fabulous weekend away with some very nice people, and a camp site that was truly iconic Australian bush.

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August Day Run to Springbrook

Some events that Robyn and I have been to this year, in reverse order of importance, and their associated weather:

• Warbirds over Wanaka: Rain
• Imperial War Museum Duxbury, ‘D’ Day flying display: Heavy rain
• LCQ August drive day: Rain?

Or so the cryptic phone call I received from Clive on the Thursday before seemed to imply:

“Hi Colin, Clive here. Would you and Robyn still be interested in coming on the outing on Sunday if it rains a little?”

Now I know the Elan is a soft-top, but it is reasonably watertight, so what is he talking about?

Found out on the day before the drive as 70mm of rain filled our rain gauge, and a similar amount also fell on the rest of S.E. QLD!

Sunday loomed overcast, with a forecast of clearing showers. Sometime after gathering at the Yatala BP, two Elan owners were observed to be praying to ACBC for some sunshine and dry roads. Either that or they were:

A. counting oil drips
B. comparing chassis colour
C. discussing why one of the Elans had sagging front suspension or
D. all of the above.

They must have been praying, as the day turned into brilliant sunshine with barely a drop of rain.

All those intending to participate finally arrived and some serious chatting got under way. Central to the conversation was the appearance of an Exige S. A striking looking car in an equally striking Khaki colour. Rob and Erin Bell were quite happy to talk about their new car and gave us all an insight into the difference between their old Series 1 Elise and their new Exige S.

Apart from the Exige, there were:

• A Series 2 Elise – Peter Upham (our drive leader)
• Two Series 1 Elises – Clive and Gloria Wade and Mal and Chris Kelson
• Two Elans – Greg and Chris Bray and Colin and Robyn McKay
• Honda Integra ISO Caterham 7 – Darryl and Moira Wilson
• Subaru ISO Series 1 Elise – Rob and Helen Flaherty
• BMW 125i – Richard Wade

Clive called the group together and handed out driving notes with maps and discussed the route. Yatala – Tamborine – Canungra (coffee break) – Upper Beechmont – Numinbah Valley – Pine Creek Road – Mudgeeraba Springbrook Road down to Polly’s Country Kitchen.

A fairly straightforward first leg ensued with the road surface drying out nicely and just the usual Sunday drivers to contend with. Peter first showed his leadership ability, by ensuring that the road hog, sitting in the r/h lane of a passing section, stayed there whilst we all undertook him to get by, everyone eager to get to coffee at Canungra. Sunday drivers!

The second leg, which climbed up towards Binna Burra on the Lamington Plateau and on to Upper Beechmont, was the beginning of the more interesting part of the drive and affords some great Lotus type roads and breathtaking views toward the Gold Coast and the ocean beyond.

Continuing from here the road descends toward the Numinbah Valley via a narrow, twisty mountain road. This was our first taste of what was to come, corners dry in the sun and damp in the shade. However, Peter led at a pace that was brisk, but considerate of the varying conditions.

The third leg up the Numinbah Valley road can be driven at quite a pace and is a satisfying drive. However, passing places are few and frustrations can build. Hence our change of leader at the next intersection for our climb up toward Springbrook.

Our fourth leg was thus led by Mal, with Darryl as passenger, who courageously cleared the way for our enthusiastic squirt up this long and winding road. This road ascends for several kilometres with barely a straight stretch to be seen. Fortunately, it was quite dry with no traffic and we all enjoyed the freedom to lift the pace a little.

The fifth and final leg from Springbrook to Polly’s Country Kitchen was another long descent similar to the one down from the Lamington Plateau; in and out of shade with corresponding wet and dry patches. This combined with some wet, wooden, one way bridges required a certain amount of care to negotiate without coming to grief.

A large table had been set up for our arrival at Polly’s, and after a photo session and a chat about the drive and the difference in performance of one brand of tyre over another in the damp conditions, we retired to the café for lunch.

To our delight, but not necessarily to all the other diners, we were joined by several hungry kookaburras looking for an opportunistic snack. After finishing our country fare, and watching Clive and Gloria devouring a large piece of chocolate chestnut torte, thanking them both for organising the day out and Peter for leading, the group drifted off in dribs and drabs all happy that the weather cleared enough for a great day.

Now, what were those two guys really looking at under the Elans?
C. Greg is sagging!

Cheers, Colin.

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Simply Sports Cars
Lotus Only Track Day 27 June 2014

Story by Clive Wade, photos Gloria Wade

This is the southerly trip for the year (unless I can find a way of doing Winton too… wouldn’t mind a go at Phillip Island either).

Again, the weather just isn’t dear old SEQ this June, it has gone the other way; warmest winter for many years, looks good for Goulburn! Lovely place in winter is Goulburn. Guaranteed to get up to 3 or 4 degrees by the middle of the day, absolutely looking forward to it. And for the drive down? We freeze. From the time we leave Brisbane the mercury disappears out the bottom of the thermometer never to be seen again, a southerly gale pipes in, parts of Sydney are blown off the map, the SES come out. Just the thing for a cold pork pie and salad in a park at Glen Innes.

Before the drive down there is always some planning, and mine starts early this year. A certain president in NSW always manages to get his S1 around Wakefield Park two seconds quicker than me, not to mention the indignity I suffered (after his rescue for Lotus 2011) when he encouraged me into a spin on my home track, after suggesting I show him the ‘lines’ at Morgan Park. And Joe has been widening the gap up here in Qld too! So I tackle my ground clearance of ‘road settings’, enlist a couple of local experts (you know who you are, and thank you), and tackle a job I have always considered a dark art – I lower the car and learn how to re-align the wheels.

Off come the wheels, measure this, measure that, move this bracket, move that bracket, stick in these shims, stick in those shims, jack the car up lots of times left then right, right then left, clean off a few years road grime, get half way through the process, jack the car again only to watch green fluid trickle out of the RHS chassis rail. Hmm, don’t remember reading about that one in the Lotus Elise Suspension Section of the manual. Right! I know what that is, I’ve read about the dread fixing screw in Elise chassis’ making love to the coolant feed pipe. I’ll fix it later.

How many old fellows who own a Lotus, right now, have a sense of deja vu? I almost feel like I really do own a real Lotus – start one job, get some more for your trouble!

Suffice it to say; I finish the job before our 2nd round sprints at Morgan Park, test it there and come home grinning like a Cheshire Cat A few more adjustments and the car is ready for the SSC LOTD, I’m ready to sit on the rear bumper of a certain NSW S1. Bring it on!

Now the Qld contingent is a mixed bag, one member spectacularly fast, some members pretty quick, me and a few others not so fast. We do have one thing in common though; 1,250km of road. Add an extra 160km for Mike Moore, or an extra 1,000km for Deon Attard (Deon cheated a little by leaving his car ‘down south’ after the first of the SSC LOTD’s this year). Both these lads drove their cars down, Deon in AC bliss, Mike in the elements in the 340R, wearing helmet and weatherproof clothes. The Brisbane contingent made it a 2 day trip, stopping at either Raymond Terrace for sleep, pizza and beer (boys week away stuff). Or being a little more civilised; stopping in the Hunter Wine country for Chateau Briand and Shiraz. 340R Mike, Gloria and I won! Though Gloria and I smugly felt warm and cosy in the Land Rover when we saw Mike pull up behind us in the 340R, outside temperature; 5 degrees!

The second day saw us and the boys take the Pacific, the M7 and the Hume to Goulburn, except of course, Mike. Mike did the Putty Rd Lithgow and on down to Goulburn via Oberon. You’ve just gotta love him.

And on to the main event, sort of, because the main event starts the night before; it starts with dinner in Goulburn. This is when ‘the whole do’ has the feeling of the Biennial Lotus Club Meets. This is when we catch up with folk both local and far away. Friendly, familiar faces from NSW (local), Victoria and SA (far) appear and chat. Conversations change rapidly as more join the group, and the evening quickly disappears into catch ups and camaraderie, the Lotus community might have flash new Elises and Exiges, powered by either tiny little Rover motors, various Toyota 4’s, or testosterone enhanced supercharged V6 Toyota motors (they need big motors now for all those heavy AC’s, ABS’s, air bags and stuff), but we all have in common the uniqueness that started with the 6’s, the 7’s, the Elites, Elans, Europas, Esprits, et al – we all share a passion for a strange little company in the middle of a turnip field in Norfolk. We are a fortunate and unique group.

And the day after the night before?

Well, this is when Simply Sports Cars, Lotus Australia and Mark O’Connor come into their own! This is the culmination of some very polished organisation. We, the participants, are quickly and efficiently grouped into the four groups of Drive, Race, Sprint 1 or Sprint 2. The sprint groups are defined by the claimed PB’s of the entrants. And amongst all this the scrutineers are doing their thing; scrutineering, and the organisers; cross checking entries, issuing numbers, and fixing the never ending ‘last minute I didn’t realizes’, and even getting to brief us all.

And then the fun begins; Drive Group go out, the Race Mob assemble, I get coffee, Gloria starts clicking (look at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/126181690@N04/sets/ she’s got some great photos here), others do precious little tasks like checking tyre pressures, resetting dampers to get them to carry-out the task of the springs, others query and learn.

All day, 15 minutes in every hour, we get to test ourselves against the clock, only ever comparing our own time improvements, never do we check other folks lap times, for that is not the purpose of the day. As an example, I didn’t know a certain S1 from Sydney got down to 1:09’s whilst I got down to his last year’s 1:12’s. Truly I didn’t! (for you Qld’ers, I’ve given up comparing your Honda powered, supercharger powered, slick tyre enhanced results)…………..:)

The Race Group put on a spectacular show, Mark in the V6 Donut King Exige doing constant battle with Tim Mackie’s Exige (courtesy of Mark O’Connor) and Geoff Noble’s Elise. The lead swapping constantly with others butting into the adventure on occasions, and not one bump, not one, some very close racing (look at Gloria’s pics) without any tears. Well done, guys. And their last race? The handicap race, the battle for the David Mottram Trophy (DMT), the fiercely-fought-for trophy which David held for 2? years, then stolen by Geoff Noble, the guy who all thought would never relinquish the DMT ever again! Well done, Ian Peters. Ian is now the proud holder of the trophy. But will he still have it for ‘show and tell’ at Lotus 2015?

The Sprint Groups ran like clockwork, though there is video of one S1 doing a strange turn onto the main straight, and photos of two different S1’s taking odd lines at turns 2 and ‘The Fish Hook’. It should be noted that all three came from NSW, and Wakefield is their local circuit! But I’m not going to mention that Syd and I could have had a quiet chat at turn 2 if we had been in the same group, Gloria’s camera was pointed elsewhere at the time, so I’m not going to mention it.

And the Drive Group participants were also seen to be out enjoying their very new cars, or having their first time track day experience, or, in particular, Pat Mottram enjoying the family’s Lotus Seven S1 (1959) powered by a Climax engine.

Yes, all up, it the SSC LOTD is a thoroughly enjoyable day. Great cars, great camaraderie and a great catch up with old friends.

Thanks must go to Lee at Simply Sports Cars, Alistair at Lotus Australia and Mark O’Connor. You guys are doing a very wonderful service for the Australian Lotus Community. Thank You!

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