LoT Race series

Post by **Shug** » Tue May 16, 2006 9:53 am

Just received my monthly promo email from Lotus on Track, usual stuff about forthcoming events with this interesting little announcement buried in there...

LoT race series
Those of you who frequent the forums will have already read about our plans for 2007. We are in the process of setting up a Lotus race series for LoT members. We hope to get a number of cars prepared by the end of June with many more coming together in the Autumn with a test race in September/October before the series kicks off in 2007. Jez Braker and Steve Williams have led the way and completed their first race on Saturday at Lydden both finishing safely and putting on a good show. It should cost between £1200 and £2000 max to prep your Elise depending on how much work you do yourself and we will be providing details on works involved over the coming months. All those active members who have expressed an interest will be involved in the various decisions that need to be made to make the series appeal to track day members. We already have a strong team made up of experienced racers and total novices to get things off the ground without affecting the core track days. Their priority is to make the series safe and affordable as well as giving a std Elise a chance against some of the more powerful Elise conversions that are now common place. Entries will only be open to those who have attended LoT track days safely as we want to carry the track day ethos into the races and believe this will encourage more members to participate. More information will be posted by the end of June but if you are interested please let us know either at an event or via email.

Obviously it's gonna be very south-centric, but I'm going to have a root about the forums (that I haven't logged into for ages) and see what the chat is....

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Tue May 16, 2006 9:55 am

what do you want to know

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Tue May 16, 2006 10:04 am

Sounds great, but a lot of potential for paint exchanging surely

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Tue May 16, 2006 10:05 am

uh huh. thats why i have a shed.

Post by **Shug** » Tue May 16, 2006 10:19 am

I was partcularly interested in the bit about equalising performance. I'm assuming a class structure. I'm not gonna be anywhere near the fastest (car wise or driver wise, cos I'm just too rusty and don't get the track time I'd like)

Like I say though, interested.

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Tue May 16, 2006 10:26 am

firstly, you need a roll cage, plumbed in fire extinguisher, electric cut off switch, harnesses, proper nomex race suit, ards license, and a few other things that i've forgotten. budget around 1500 to 2000 quid for this alone, just to get you on the grid. then there race entry fees, petrol, travel, accomodation.

the equalising performance rules are quite clever. hard to explain by writing, i really need to blether sh*t and wave my hands around to get the point accross

but put it this way, a standard car has as much chance to win as a S/C honda. the way this works should also eliminate a massive first corner pile up

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Tue May 16, 2006 10:36 am

As much as i fancy this, sounds like it may cost at least a couple of clams. Having said that seeing as i can only use 2nd cam for about 2 laps currently due to some problem yet to be identified, not sure what I'm worried about

Look forward to hearing if you boys go for it

Post by **Shug** » Tue May 16, 2006 10:41 am

Andy G wrote:As much as i fancy this, sounds like it may cost at least a couple of clams. Having said that seeing as i can only use 2nd cam for about 2 laps currently due to some problem yet to be identified, not sure what I'm worried about

Look forward to hearing if you boys go for it

Poof - clams are a consumable

Post by **Shug** » Tue May 16, 2006 10:51 am

mckeann wrote:firstly, you need a roll cage, plumbed in fire extinguisher, electric cut off switch, harnesses, proper nomex race suit, ards license, and a few other things that i've forgotten. budget around 1500 to 2000 quid for this alone, just to get you on the grid. then there race entry fees, petrol, travel, accomodation.

the equalising performance rules are quite clever. hard to explain by writing, i really need to blether sh*t and wave my hands around to get the point accross but put it this way, a standard car has as much chance to win as a S/C honda. the way this works should also eliminate a massive first corner pile up

Dude, can I be a lazy cnut and get you to post a link to the thread about the rules, etc. (if there is one) Or has it been more of an offline discussion so far?

M Blur · Post by **M Blur** » Tue May 16, 2006 11:24 am

mckeann wrote:firstly, you need a roll cage, plumbed in fire extinguisher, electric cut off switch, harnesses, proper nomex race suit, ards license, and a few other things that i've forgotten. budget around 1500 to 2000 quid for this alone, just to get you on the grid. then there race entry fees, petrol, travel, accomodation. the equalising performance rules are quite clever. hard to explain by writing, i really need to blether sh*t and wave my hands around to get the point accross but put it this way, a standard car has as much chance to win as a S/C honda. the way this works should also eliminate a massive first corner pile up

Sounds really interesting - could be really fun -

I might be game for next year - all hard work done so once Rob sorts out

I'm guessing with 400-500bhp p/tonne I may be amply penalised..

Stage4 X180R turbo work planned for the winter (400-440bhp atw).

Is it aiming to be low-cost - i.e. fees etc..?

I'll check onto LOT and have a gander..

Post by **Shug** » Tue May 16, 2006 11:37 am

I believe it's elise only, Blurry. Something of a single make series, by invitation, for those having already shown they aren't going to cause pile ups, having already done a LoT TD without major incident

Pretty sure that's the score, but I'm not sure they've finalised things yet.

M Blur · Post by **M Blur** » Tue May 16, 2006 11:42 am

Shug wrote:I believe it's elise only, Blurry. Something of a single make series, by invitation, for those having already shown they aren't going to cause pile ups, having already done a LoT TD without major incident Pretty sure that's the score, but I'm not sure they've finalised things yet.

That'd be a shame - I've emailed Paul - have been a LOT mbr for a while now and am down at their S'stone GP circuit day in August.. no reason it can't be done with a handicap system. The old gal has raced with Elises for at least half her life.. albeit Motorsport ones. Think there's one other Esprit in LOT as well so fingers crossed.

Post by **Shug** » Tue May 16, 2006 11:43 am

Agreed - It'd be great to be out there in a pack of varying cars. Would make the spectator element that much better too.

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Tue May 16, 2006 1:47 pm

Shug wrote:I believe it's elise only, Blurry. Something of a single make series, by invitation, for those having already shown they aren't going to cause pile ups, having already done a LoT TD without major incident

Pretty sure that's the score, but I'm not sure they've finalised things yet.

ding. the invitational bitty, thats how its going to be to start with. Its the same people who started the Seloc BMW championship a few years back, and they watched that grow from what they started, into a massively expensive, competitive race series with loads of accidents.

i think this one is by invitation to people the know well, have done a lot of days on track and are looking to progress onto something a bit more challengine. Not saying there wont be accidents, but at the end of the day, everyone who has expressed an interest is using there road car. I.E no special race cars.

besides, dont see why we should have to suffer a handicap so an old esprit can be made competitive.

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Tue May 16, 2006 1:51 pm

Shug wrote: Dude, can I be a lazy cnut and get you to post a link to the thread about the rules, etc. (if there is one) Or has it been more of an offline discussion so far?

there isnt anything on LoT yet. there was another website setup that was password protected so only competitiors could see it. no idea how you could get get on it, but no doubt all the stuff will be transfered over to LOT when the time is right.

as it says in the thread you quoted. As we are building the series, we get to make the rules. its a series for us to enjoy, rather than to entertain crowds etc (although i'm sure it will) so its being designed to be fair, and cheap