One of the benefits of buying a new Lotus *with write-up*
Write-up part 1:
Just arrived back at the hotel after day 1 of the Lotus Academy of Excellence experience. What can I say . . . . simply fantastic!
Arrived around 12noon. Cameraphones and camera quickly removed at security!
We were met in the reception by a guy called Richard who was kinda hosting the day. We then met up in the Lotus Sport Clubhouse, where we met our other hosts for the day: Dave and Alastair. Alaistair grew up next to Jim Clark and used to work on his (everyday) cars in Dunns! It was only later on in the afternoon, during one of his talks, that I realised Dave was the guy in the "Elise: The Inside Story" video who drove the Elise for the very first time on the Hethel test track just before xmas during its first year of development! Wow! We were chatting with two guys who helped develop the original Elise!! 
They fed and watered us first and we had a general chat on their background at Lotus. Both Dave and Alaistair had been there since the 1960s. They asked us about our background, if it was our first Lotus, if we had track experience, etc. Was nice and informal and we had a good chat.
We were overlooking the test track and I spotted the Tesla being driven around it. It looks great! Very quiet though!
We then headed into the main factory for the tour. This was amazing! Seeing the cars we all love being built by hand! I learned so much and it just felt so "human". Instead of machines and robots, just to see real people building our pride and joy's! It was really cool seeing Elise/Europa/2-11 chassis up close before they have any bits added onto them. We were taken round the whole process of building an Elise or Exige. Fascinating stuff! Was very humbling to see the components of the car that ultimately kept me in one piece in my crash earlier this year.
I did try to find the guy who puts the roofs on Exiges to have a word with him about my leaky roof . . . but couldn't find him!
There were several club racers, most of which were LHD. About 10 2-11s ready to go out the door. Plus, they showed us that the area that was used to build the VX220 is going to be used for the Eagle. Saw a few Europa's mid-build process.
The coolest thing I saw is the new console on the 08 model cars. It's already on the American ones and it'll be on new ones next year. It's black with red lines/needles. Very, very cool! I want one!
We then went back to the clubhouse for a talk from Dave and Alastair about car dynamics and handling, in advance of our driver training tomorrow. Was so interesting to hear all about suspension from one of the guys who developed the Elise handling! Also heard some interesting stuff about how changing to other tyres (like toyos) changes the handling of the car. I've asked Dave to speak to one of the engineers to tell me exactly what pressure should be in AO48s!!
Then, the best bit . . .
We went to the Classic Team Lotus workshop and met . . .
Clive Chapman!!!!!!!!!
How fecking cool?!!! He was a really nice guy. Also met the mechanic who worked on all the old F1 cars and is still with them! We then got a tour of the Classic Team Lotus workshop. Saw all the old F1 cars that are still being driven in the classic series. Saw the car that was actually driven by Stirling Moss to win the first Lotus F1 race! We also saw technical drawings by Colin Chapman himself of one of the early race cars!
Then finished up about 6pm and we're now back in the (very fancy) Dunston Hall hotel. £134 per night paid by Lotus, plus £50 towards your dinner.
Overall, a fantastic day and an experience I will never forget! If you every get the chance to visit the factory, go!!
I'm off to get some dinner and a few beers, then it's a full day of driving on the Lotus test track tomorrow! Yay!
D
Just arrived back at the hotel after day 1 of the Lotus Academy of Excellence experience. What can I say . . . . simply fantastic!
Arrived around 12noon. Cameraphones and camera quickly removed at security!
We were met in the reception by a guy called Richard who was kinda hosting the day. We then met up in the Lotus Sport Clubhouse, where we met our other hosts for the day: Dave and Alastair. Alaistair grew up next to Jim Clark and used to work on his (everyday) cars in Dunns! It was only later on in the afternoon, during one of his talks, that I realised Dave was the guy in the "Elise: The Inside Story" video who drove the Elise for the very first time on the Hethel test track just before xmas during its first year of development! Wow! We were chatting with two guys who helped develop the original Elise!! They fed and watered us first and we had a general chat on their background at Lotus. Both Dave and Alaistair had been there since the 1960s. They asked us about our background, if it was our first Lotus, if we had track experience, etc. Was nice and informal and we had a good chat.
We were overlooking the test track and I spotted the Tesla being driven around it. It looks great! Very quiet though!
We then headed into the main factory for the tour. This was amazing! Seeing the cars we all love being built by hand! I learned so much and it just felt so "human". Instead of machines and robots, just to see real people building our pride and joy's! It was really cool seeing Elise/Europa/2-11 chassis up close before they have any bits added onto them. We were taken round the whole process of building an Elise or Exige. Fascinating stuff! Was very humbling to see the components of the car that ultimately kept me in one piece in my crash earlier this year.
I did try to find the guy who puts the roofs on Exiges to have a word with him about my leaky roof . . . but couldn't find him!
There were several club racers, most of which were LHD. About 10 2-11s ready to go out the door. Plus, they showed us that the area that was used to build the VX220 is going to be used for the Eagle. Saw a few Europa's mid-build process.
The coolest thing I saw is the new console on the 08 model cars. It's already on the American ones and it'll be on new ones next year. It's black with red lines/needles. Very, very cool! I want one!
We then went back to the clubhouse for a talk from Dave and Alastair about car dynamics and handling, in advance of our driver training tomorrow. Was so interesting to hear all about suspension from one of the guys who developed the Elise handling! Also heard some interesting stuff about how changing to other tyres (like toyos) changes the handling of the car. I've asked Dave to speak to one of the engineers to tell me exactly what pressure should be in AO48s!!
Then, the best bit . . .
We went to the Classic Team Lotus workshop and met . . .
Clive Chapman!!!!!!!!!
How fecking cool?!!! He was a really nice guy. Also met the mechanic who worked on all the old F1 cars and is still with them! We then got a tour of the Classic Team Lotus workshop. Saw all the old F1 cars that are still being driven in the classic series. Saw the car that was actually driven by Stirling Moss to win the first Lotus F1 race! We also saw technical drawings by Colin Chapman himself of one of the early race cars!
Then finished up about 6pm and we're now back in the (very fancy) Dunston Hall hotel. £134 per night paid by Lotus, plus £50 towards your dinner.
Overall, a fantastic day and an experience I will never forget! If you every get the chance to visit the factory, go!!
I'm off to get some dinner and a few beers, then it's a full day of driving on the Lotus test track tomorrow! Yay!
D
2009 Mini Cooper, Midnight Black
2008 Elise S, Solar Yellow
2008 Elise S, Solar Yellow
David L (Kanddl), Neil G. (NGaff1) and myself with partners done the Scare Yourself Sensible with tour last year and I had Alastair as my driver... feck he is awesome!
BTW their names are Dave Minter and Alastair McQueen for those that don't know.
BTW their names are Dave Minter and Alastair McQueen for those that don't know.
DEL
2020 Lotus Elise - Rob Walker Heritage Edition
2022 Hyundia i10 N-Line
2019 DS3 Crossback
2020 Lotus Elise - Rob Walker Heritage Edition
2022 Hyundia i10 N-Line
2019 DS3 Crossback
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Scottynic
- Posts: 418
- Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:28 pm
- Location: Dundee or in the Coil Cab somewhere?!
I went last week and it was awesome!
we never got to see classic team lotus as there was a thing on in london which the cars were away to but we got to see something else.....
unfortunately we are not allowed to tell anyone where we went or what we saw.
Alastair is an amazing drive, i thought i was doing pretty well and going quite fast round the track but when alastair drove by f@ck was he quick!!!
we never got to see classic team lotus as there was a thing on in london which the cars were away to but we got to see something else.....
unfortunately we are not allowed to tell anyone where we went or what we saw.
Alastair is an amazing drive, i thought i was doing pretty well and going quite fast round the track but when alastair drove by f@ck was he quick!!!
TOO FAST TO LIVE TOO YOUNG TO DIE!!!
Scottynic wrote:
unfortunately we are not allowed to tell anyone where we went or what we saw.
You just have.
I was there last week too. However, I have forgotten what I saw. Can you remind me please? Can't remember if it was the Eagle or Esprit replacement.?
DEL
2020 Lotus Elise - Rob Walker Heritage Edition
2022 Hyundia i10 N-Line
2019 DS3 Crossback
2020 Lotus Elise - Rob Walker Heritage Edition
2022 Hyundia i10 N-Line
2019 DS3 Crossback
Write-up Part 2:
Well, here we were thinking we'd just booked dinner for us 8 sad Lotus enthusiasts in the hotel restaurant . . . but when we turned up at dinner, we were greeted by Robert Savin (Project Planning Manager, working on Eagle and other stuff) and Tony Chute, who I immediately recognised from the Elise Inside Story video. He was the project manager on the original Elise project. Got some great chat and inside information from them.
I had no idea they did so much work for other manufacturers; in particular, engine design. Didn't realise how much involvement they'd had with Aston Martin and found it quite amusing that the engine in an VX220 was mostly designed by Lotus while the engine in the Elise/Exige was obviously nothing to do with Lotus!
Robert said there were a few Eagle prototypes floating around the factory so I'll have my eyes peeled tomorrow! Sounds like the Eagle is coming first and then the Esprit.
I also had a chat about the dealer network and they informed me that they have had a few Glasgow dealers approach them, but nothing definite yet. I really hope they can get someone to take on a dealership in Glasgow!
Had a great evening and yet again can't believe I got to socialise with one of the guys from the original Elise project! Awesome!
I don't give a toss what people think about buying brand new cars and losing all the money in the first year and all that tosh . . . this was more than worth it! Sooo excited about the driving stuff tomorrow!
D
Well, here we were thinking we'd just booked dinner for us 8 sad Lotus enthusiasts in the hotel restaurant . . . but when we turned up at dinner, we were greeted by Robert Savin (Project Planning Manager, working on Eagle and other stuff) and Tony Chute, who I immediately recognised from the Elise Inside Story video. He was the project manager on the original Elise project. Got some great chat and inside information from them.
I had no idea they did so much work for other manufacturers; in particular, engine design. Didn't realise how much involvement they'd had with Aston Martin and found it quite amusing that the engine in an VX220 was mostly designed by Lotus while the engine in the Elise/Exige was obviously nothing to do with Lotus!
Robert said there were a few Eagle prototypes floating around the factory so I'll have my eyes peeled tomorrow! Sounds like the Eagle is coming first and then the Esprit.
I also had a chat about the dealer network and they informed me that they have had a few Glasgow dealers approach them, but nothing definite yet. I really hope they can get someone to take on a dealership in Glasgow!
Had a great evening and yet again can't believe I got to socialise with one of the guys from the original Elise project! Awesome!
I don't give a toss what people think about buying brand new cars and losing all the money in the first year and all that tosh . . . this was more than worth it! Sooo excited about the driving stuff tomorrow!
D
2009 Mini Cooper, Midnight Black
2008 Elise S, Solar Yellow
2008 Elise S, Solar Yellow