Annual garage cruise

[Andy B]

Today we had our annual garage cruise. This year we picked on a member who was performing an engine swap on a 90's Seven, he has also shoehorned a blower into his Elise, look carefully it's there.
http://www.pbase.com/sarrana/image/110697402.jpg
and is building a contender for the worlds fastest wheel chair
http://www.pbase.com/sarrana/image/110697396.jpg


Next we visited a restorer who apart from doing some work to an Elise
http://www.pbase.com/sarrana/image/110697406.jpg

and an Exige S
http://www.pbase.com/sarrana/image/110697405.jpg

is building a replica Bugatti 57 on an original chassis with an original drivetrain and yes you are looking at a real magnesium body, some replica.
http://www.pbase.com/sarrana/image/110697407.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/sarrana/image/110697408.jpg

We had a good turnout considering it's still only march in the great white north. We even had 2 guys drive the 4.5 hours from Waynes neck of the woods.
http://www.pbase.com/sarrana/image/110697397.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/sarrana/image/110697398.jpg

Even those who could not stir their Lotus from deep winter hibernation brought reasonable stand-ins:D
http://www.pbase.com/sarrana/image/110697404.jpg

[WayneB]

I recognise some of those photos were taken at Dave Grangers place , The Guild of Automotive Re$toration.

I don't recognise any of the Lotuses or other cars in the photos as being from around here though, besides me around here(Quinte area) there is an S2 Seven(Belleville), R/HD Esprit World Champion #32(Napanee) and Elise S2, first Canadian spec one built (Kingston).I wont mention any of the owners names out of respect for their privacy.

All of my late friends Lotus collection has been sold.

I do see a white Esprit Turbo SE in town here from time to time,but have never met the owner though. I have been told that car is from Brighton, I remember being shown that car by Nelson Lau in Bieri's about 7 years ago (I think its a 1993), white, colour keyed Revolution wheels with a Dk Blue int.

[Andy B]

Sorry Wayne I could have saved you racking your brains, it was Harald F and a buddy neither of which brought a Lotus but both are planning on a trip to LOG. Harald is taking his US based Elise and his buddy is taking an Elan +2.

[WayneB]

Hi Andy, no I have never met Harald F, what part of Ontario is he and his friend from ?

I dont really know any of the Toronto Area Lotus owners (but I do see some of them at either Ancaster or Mossport from time to time).

There was a fellow called Ivan with a red Turbo Esprit from T.O. on another Lotus forum but I have never met him personally.

Here in Belleville there is only Norm and I who own a Lotus.

We have a Boot and Bonnet Club in the area, but it is more geared for MGB owners, so I dont have alot to do with it .
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/WayneBarr/PA100005.jpg?t=1238336713

[Andy B]

Harald is a long time member of the Eastern Ontario Lotus club, they meet at the Swan on the Rideau in Manotick the 3rd Wednesday of every month.

[Martin]

Thanks for sharing the pics Andy. Looks like it was great event. So how cold was it? ...at least you had some sunshine right? :)

....wow, that Bugatti is something else. So what will it qualify as, just a replica?

[Kylie]

Thanks for sharing Andy, looked like a great day for it. The workmanship in that Bugatti is incredible. Be interesting to see how that turns out. :icon18:

[clockwork]

Couldn`t help noticing he was resting the wheel chair next to another ex-Lotus designers work(mate).Clockwork :)

[WayneB]

Well spotted Clockwork!:)
As a coincedence I was discussing that very object (the Workmate) with an ex.Black and Decker production engineer and he had no idea that one of the first prototypes for the Workmate was made by Ron Hickman using Elan wishbones.
I found these recientish photos of Ron Hickman you all may be interested in(taken in around and outside the house he designed/lives in in the Channel Islands)
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/WayneBarr/RonHickmanworkmate.jpg?t=1238501656
Ron Hickman has kept alot of the drawings he did whilst at Lotus,here you can see on the left the Europa concept drawing (originally presented to the Ford management as a possible GT40), the Elan of course and a couple that look like they were Elite possibilities.You can also see a photo of a convertable version of the Europa.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/WayneBarr/RonHickmanLotusDesigns.jpg?t=1238502084
This is his amazing house in Jersey (Channel Islands)
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/WayneBarr/RonHickmanhouse.jpg?t=1238502374

[Martin]

Amazing stuff! Thanks for sharing those pics Wayne. That drawing of a prototype Europa is really cool.

I have a workmate, never new it was designed by a Lotus guy, cool. Now it fits the garage that much better.

[clockwork]

Yes,Ron is very proud of his house,it`s the only private house to ever appear on a postage stamp.He has a nice collection of cars ,although he hasn`t got the car he wanted most ,(clue, it`s orange and in my garage )but interesting to talk to,especialy about the early days and why things are the way they are when they could have been made differently.Clockwork :)