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A world record at Snetterton


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#1 Andrew Kitson

Andrew Kitson
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Posted 15 June 2009 - 07:12

Glorious weather at Snetterton at the weekend for the Lotus festival. Hundreds of cars old and new in attendance, although the racing was for only for modern cars in the Lotus-on-track trophy series. Among the competitors was world land speed record holder at 763mph, Wing Commander Andy Green. He was racing an Elise painted in Bloodhound SSC colours, sponsored by many within the Lotus community to help raise funds for this exciting project (with Richard Noble) to raise the LSR to 1000mph. Clive Chapman and Classic Team Lotus were there with an impressive display and the type 30 & 79 did a few demo laps.

In the lunch break, all owners of the Lotus marque were invited to join in a track parade to try and set a new world record for the number of Lotus types on track at the same time. With so many cars, they joined the track from 4 seperate points around the circuit, eventually forming up three abreast behind Andy Green driving the Evora pace car. All types of road going Loti were on track, lovely old Elites, Elans, Europas, etc to the modern ones, although a couple of old racing versions did join in, including a type 20 single seater. They had to do 3 laps to claim the record, following Andy at about 10mph. A fantastic sight with 436 Lotus cars setting a new record. As the pace car reached the Russell chicane, the back of the queue was crossing the startline! The place does look devoid of spectators in these snaps, infact there was a very big crowd but the outside of the circuit from the bombhole to Riches is closed due to building works, construction of the soundproofing bunds.

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Peter & Allison Cotes have driven this lovely old Elan from their home near Snetterton to many far away destinations, Morocco, Dakar, Egypt & the pyramids, The Himalayas, Thailand, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Kwai bridge, a lap of the Sepang F1 circuit in Malaysia etc..I'm told South America is the next planned trip!
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Andy Green, not quite reaching 763mph around Snetterton.
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Chris 'The Doc' Dinnage did a few laps in the lovely 79:
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Edited by Andrew Kitson, 15 June 2009 - 07:29.