82 replies to this topic

[Mark A]

The main date for the diary for any Lotus F1 fan has to be the 20th June 2010, and the place to be is Snetterton.

http://www.lotus-cen...-june-2010.html

Unfortunately the list of cars is still to be published, but I have seen it and it's huge, and includes some very significant cars, the star of the show will be the Indy 500 Winning Lotus 38 that Classic Team Lotus have been restoring.

Edited by Mark A, 31 March 2010 - 20:15.

[Mark A]

Hopefully the details on what cars will be there, and what old drivers/lotus staff/family will be there will be announced after Easter.

[kayemod]

I hope there will be one of the current Lotus F1s there, amongst 38s and the like. I know that the re-emergence of the name is frowned on by many, comments like "It's not a proper Lotus without Chapman, degrading the memory etc", but despite being ex-Lotus myself from the Chapman era, I don't feel that way at all. In fact I've been very impressed by their performance so far, a very fine effort indeed. They've obviously had to play safe in areas like cooling, which won't have helped performance at all, but I can see them making an occasional top 6 finish by the end of the year. Whatever some purists might think, if Colin Chapman's son and widow have given their unequivocal support, what right has anyone else to complain about them using the proud name of Lotus?

[SeanBlue]

I read that first as "It's not a proper Lotus without Champagne" haha. i'd agree with both statements

[Mark A]

I hope there will be one of the current Lotus F1s there, amongst 38s and the like. I know that the re-emergence of the name is frowned on by many, comments like "It's not a proper Lotus without Chapman, degrading the memory etc", but despite being ex-Lotus myself from the Chapman era, I don't feel that way at all. In fact I've been very impressed by their performance so far, a very fine effort indeed. They've obviously had to play safe in areas like cooling, which won't have helped performance at all, but I can see them making an occasional top 6 finish by the end of the year. Whatever some purists might think, if Colin Chapman's son and widow have given their unequivocal support, what right has anyone else to complain about them using the proud name of Lotus?

Unfortunately the New Team are yet to confirm as it's the weekend between Canada & Valencia but it is still in discussion I believe.


I fully agree with your comments as well.

[kayemod]

I fully agree with your comments as well.

And, speaking as someone who knew and worked with 'The Old Man' (as a fairly junior Lotus employee I hasten to add), I honestly believe that Mr Chapman would agree as well, so no grave-spinning in East Carleton churchyard.

[maplestone71]

There's some more info on the Snetterton / MotorSport Vision page below - am booking my ticket today
http://ticket.motors...0-lotus-sn.aspx

Jon

(P.S. Please note this is Father's Day - what a treat!)

Edited by maplestone71, 06 April 2010 - 09:13.

[Mark A]

New website for the event.

http://www.lotus-festival.com/

[Mark A]

Classic Team Lotus have posted the following on Facebook tonight.

Among the array of unique vehicles on display will be three Jim Clark racing cars together for the first time - his 1963 F1 World Championship-winning Lotus type 25, a 1965 Indianapolis ...500-winning type 38 and the 1967 Dutch GP-winning Lotus type 49.

At least 30 classic machines will be on display, many of which will be fired up and demonstrated on circuit as part of the festival celebrations.

[Rob]

Looking forward to this!

[elansprint72]

Cheshire Lotus Owners Group will be using this event as a practice for the Le Mans Classic camping trip; if you are going to forget the frying pan and tent pegs, it's best to do it nearer to home.

[Formula Once]

Don't know if this has been mentioned here already, should be a good day:

http://www.lotus-festival.com/

[Mark A]

Latest update.

Lotus Festival Update


Clive Chapman believes they are probably on for having one of every Team Lotus F1 car, and the new Lotus racing F1 team are hoping to be there.

[Giraffe]

Quoting from the update:

'Meanwhile, work has been going on a-pace at CTL’s Hethel workshops to ready the Type 38/1 in time. Things are on schedule with the restoration of Jim Clark’s 1965 Indianapolis-winning machine, with the car due to be set down on the floor by the end of this week. The race is on to meet the deadline for a photoshoot that will see her star as the cover girl on the front of Motor Sport magazine’s June issue, due out ahead of the Snetterton Festival.'

Highly unlikely as I have the June issue infront of me right now!!!

(This contentious issue (no pun intended) has been discussed to death elsewhere on TNF)

Edited by Giraffe, 06 May 2010 - 18:01.

[Macca]

Clive Chapman believes they are probably on for having one of every Team Lotus F1 car, and the new Lotus racing F1 team are hoping to be there.

Including a 43?

Paul M

[Formula Once]

Thanks Alan, sorry I didn't see that

[Pullman99]

Including a 43?Paul M

Now that would just be Lotus overload! It would be truly wonderful to see it there. Does anyone have an update on how Andy Middlehurst is getting on with 43/1's restoration?

I certainly intend to be at Snetterton. Set to be one of the very best events of the year!

Edited by Pullman99, 07 May 2010 - 06:21.

[Giraffe]

Including a 43?

Paul M

The restoration of the Jock Russell 43/1 must have been completed by now?

[Pullman99]

The restoration of the Jock Russell 43/1 must have been completed by now?

Hi Tony!

Well, they do have quite a few cylinders to sort out! Not to mention the state of a very bent tub having been stored for about four decades. Did you ever see these run in period with Jock Russell and Robs Lamplough? I remember the TV coverage of the first Oulton Park meeting in 1969 with the Russell car in its vivid tartan livery and thought that was a poor way of treating an ex-Jim Clark car with the unique claim of being the only 16 cylinder powered winner in the World Championship era. Another reason to go to this event if it is on the list (if the 49 Dutch GP winner - sort of - and the Indy winning 38 aren't enough).

Hope to be at Mallory next Wednesday!

[Giraffe]

Hi Tony!

Well, they do have quite a few cylinders to sort out! Not to mention the state of a very bent tub having been stored for about four decades. Did you ever see these run in period with Jock Russell and Robs Lamplough? I remember the TV coverage of the first Oulton Park meeting in 1969 with the Russell car in its vivid tartan livery and thought that was a poor way of treating an ex-Jim Clark car with the unique claim of being the only 16 cylinder powered winner in the World Championship era. Another reason to go to this event if it is on the list (if the 49 Dutch GP winner - sort of - and the Indy winning 38 aren't enough).

Hope to be at Mallory next Wednesday!

Hi Ian,
Yes I was at Oulton that day and saw both 43s run! Hope to make Mallory next Wednesday as it's shakedown time for the International Trophy the following weekend!

Edited by Giraffe, 07 May 2010 - 09:44.

[Mark A]

A bit more info and a pic of 3 of the cars that will be there.

Glimpse of Lotus

[Falcadore]

Would the 39 be available? I know it was sold last year, but don't know where it went and I assume it would not be available having lived on the otherside for so long and in Repco Tasman trim to boot.

[Pullman99]

A bit more info and a pic of 3 of the cars that will be there.

Just some travel information that may help some visitors. Although I am sure that most people will travel by car to Snetterton, there is some forthcoming engineering work starting between Peterborough and Lakenheath on the Norwich line and lasting for 9 weeks on Saturdays and some Sundays. Sunday 20th June will be a normal timetabled service (although there appears not to be a local Sunday bus service between Norwich and Snetterton).

On Saturdays from 19th June. both East Midlands Trains and NatEx East Anglia will be operating an hourly rail replacement coach service between Peterborough and Norwich. For East Midlands Trains, the first coach from Peterborough will be at 0629 (arriving Norwich at 0839) and then approx. hourly until 1944. The first coach from Norwich is at 0507 (arriving Peterborough 0717) and then hourly with the last departure at 1907. If any more info is needed, contact Traveline on 0871 200 2233 or visit their website.

Looking forward to being there.

Traveline website

[Elanman]

Good afternoon all, just a quick note to let you know I spoke with Clive Chapman and he has confirmed that there will be at least one example of every Lotus F1 car present at Snetterton on the 20th June, including a 43, albeit one without an engine fitted!
Nick

[Pullman99]

Good afternoon all, just a quick note to let you know I spoke with Clive Chapman and he has confirmed that there will be at least one example of every Lotus F1 car present at Snetterton on the 20th June, including a 43, albeit one without an engine fitted!Nick

Wonderful news. Hooray!!!!!!!!!

[Macca]

A thought occured to me.........Snetterton is not a million miles from Caister Castle near Great Yarmouth, where the last-ever Lotus 33, c/n R14, resides in their motor museum - might Clive Chapman have contacted them to see if it could be borrowed for the weekend, perhaps with the offer of loads of free publicity as an incentive?

Paul M

[Pullman99]

A thought occured to me.........Snetterton is not a million miles from Caister Castle near Great Yarmouth, where the last-ever Lotus 33, c/n R14, resides in their motor museum - might Clive Chapman have contacted them to see if it could be borrowed for the weekend, perhaps with the offer of loads of free publicity as an incentive? Paul M

Lotus 33 R14 was / is a totaly original example of the type. It was used in the early races of 1966 until the 43 was ready. I vividly remember Jim Clark's heroic drive in the Dutch Grand Prix (covered on British TV). Jimmy finished third, two laps down, behind Jack Brabham and Graham Hill but it was a magnificent race and possibly one of Clark's finest drives. For quite afew years afterwards it had resided on display with the other motor vehicles housed at the Herbert Art Gallery (predecessor of today's Coventry Transport Museum) in Coventry having been presented by Colin Chapman to Leonard Lee, the MD of Coventry-Climax (as a "thank you", I suppose). I first went to live in Coventry in 1970 and visited the museum almost straightaway. If anyone remembers the illustrations by Peter Driffin in "Car" in the 1960s and '70s, a number of the cars featured were from the Herbert Art Gallery (Sir Alfred Herbert, of machine tool fame, was an important benefactor to the arts in Coventry).

When Lee died, the Lotus, as well as an early GWK car (built in Maidenhead but using a Coventry-Simplex engine), were put up for sale and I know that the Museum were investigating whether or not Chapman's "presentation" to Coventry-Climax had actually allowed its Managing Director to claim title to it. This did seem to be the case and as a result both cars were put up for auction. Coventry City Council was unable to raise the funds to keep one of its most iconic products in the City where it had been made and the Lotus was bought by the Caister Castle Motor Museum. I believe that there have been several previous attempts to purchase this car but I sincerely hope that this chassis remains in the original condition in which Clark raced it. Would be great to see it at Snetterton!.

Edited by Pullman99, 28 May 2010 - 11:46.

[Andrew Kitson]

I heard that the type 38 indycar was fired up at Classic Team Lotus for the first time today..well for the first time since the victory lap at Indy '65 in the chassis. The motor has been back to the states for a rebuild and most certainly on the dyno over there. 'Very loud' were comments I received! The chassis looks stunning. I saw it at CTL last week now fully restored..every tiny detail meticulously done to period photos and records, even the decals..positioned within millimeters of the originals, again from photo reference.

Hopefully it will run at Michael Hipperson's Elise Garden Party fundraiser at Hethel on the 30th ( but 'tight lipped' rumours suggest it might be on a plane in a day or two to do demo laps at this years Indy 500 ) before appearing back at the Snetterton Festival on June 20th. Can't wait to hear it.

[arttidesco]

The easiest to spot true mark of authenticity on R38/1 is surely the welded patch on the back of the roll bar where persons unknown in their rush to get the car ready some how got the hole for the fuel breather spot on the wrong side of the roll bar support bracket.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Lotus 38, 03 07 09, Goodwood Festival Of Speed, with owners permission.

Shame I'll not be able to make the trek to Snetterton to see it with my own eyes :-)

Note how this pic almost won the TNF nobly knee competition :-)

[hipperson]

Here's hoping............Clive is a great supporter of our fund raising for children's hospices ( as of course is Andrew Kitson) and I never know what might appear !

If anyone on here wants to come...Hethel May 30....£30 each includes top quality buffet/tea/coffee/soft drinks all day and the feel good factor is £20 goes to Quidenham Hospice.
Lotus lend us their facility FOC.

Here is the payment page

http://www.lotus-on-...om/various/EGP/

Somewhere on here there are pics of last year

My email michaelhipperson@hotmail.com

Our Hotel dinner for 200 the night before is sold out....THE 'original' STIG is the speaker...Richard Noble OBE the charity auctioneer.

[Andrew Kitson]

Here is the previous thread Michael, lots of sunny photos!
http://forums.autosp...p;#entry3662912

Edited by Andrew Kitson, 21 May 2010 - 07:11.

[Andrew Kitson]

New F1 team Lotus Racing has announced it will be present at Snetterton and will demonstrate its current GP car. Trulli, Kovalainen, test driver Fauzy and many team personnel will also be present to support the Chapman's at this event.

Edited by Andrew Kitson, 26 May 2010 - 14:06.

[Mark A]

Latest info can be found here.

Lotus Festival

[Pullman99]

Sadly, from the event website, it looks like the 1965 Indy winning Lotus 38/1 will not now appear at Snetterton for the Lotus Festival on 20th June. Still plenty to see, however!

Does anyone know any more about this?

[Andrew Kitson]

Yes. But it will still be a great event without it.

[Pullman99]

Yes. But it will still be a great event without it.

Absolutely. I've booked already!

[Pullman99]

Any other TNFrs heading Snetterton way on Sunday?

[Odseybod]

Any other TNFrs heading Snetterton way on Sunday?

I'll be there (but working).

[Tony Matthews]

I'll be there, as will three cutaways in the art tent.

[Mark A]

I'll also be there, helping to keep the Elise Trophy drivers under control..

A few pics from Snetterton today.

Early Snetterton Pics

[Andrew Kitson]

The F1 cars looked great lined up in their tent today..two 25s, the immaculate Zandvoort debut 49, never seen so many JPS cars in one place, Emerson's 72, the bi-plane rear wing 76..the turbine 56, more cars on the way arriving tomorrow including heroics from a CTL friend from Italy with a transporter I hear, picking up a type 63 from Germany especially, last minute.

Snetterton has never looked better, the staff have worked late for weeks on this event, lots of fresh paint. As I left today tucked in the corner of the paddock was one of Jimmy's Cortinas awaiting its display place and the snorkel type 47. Tony's cutaways are going up in the art tent tomorrow together with many of my works and prints on a Lotus theme, together with images from the CTL collection from Kettingham Hall.

If you are a fan of Lotus, get to Snetterton on Sunday!

[elansprint72]

A few pics from Snetterton today.

Six people pushing an Evora? I have suspected for some time that Lotus cars are getting heavier. Two of us used to push an Elite, three an Elan and four a +2.

[willini]

As a big Lotus fan from the days of DeAngelis and Mansell and I would have loved to be there this weekend but Snetterton is a little too far from Melbourne I'm afraid. Would especially appreciate any pics of the deAngelis Type 91 and the Type 88 (looks like both the Essex and Courage cars are there!) To those that go hope you have a fantastic time, I am very envious

[Tony Matthews]

Would especially appreciate any pics of the deAngelis Type 91 and the Type 88 (looks like both the Essex and Courage cars are there!)

What are you looking for, overall shots or detail?

[willini]

Hi Tony, Thanks for your kind offer. Really just want some overall shots, but always interested in the detail. I have plenty of Lotus books but haven't seen too many detail shots of the 88.

[hipperson]

[kayemod]

Is the 4th photo down the Lotus 80?

Yes, that's right, just about the only car that didn't look great in Martini colours, who was responsible for choosing that particular shade of green?

[hipperson]

[hipperson]

[Pullman99]

Is the 4th photo down the Lotus 80? When Mario Andretti placed 3rd at Spain with the car, I thought there would be much more to come. I always liked the look of the car in the few pictures that I've seen.

The Lotus 80 was intended to run but although started up it looked as if it would not run cleanly enough for any lappery. Pity. I have memories of John Miles taking a Martini liveried Lotus 79 round Hethel in 1979.

My personal highlight - in a day of highlights - was seeing the Lotus 43 for the first time in the metal. I chatted briefly with owner Andy Middlehurst and he is hopeful of running it later this year or early next. Engine preparation is coming on apace. I can hardly wait.



The sound of a BRM H16 should be heard from this space shortly!



The quality of the work on this restoration is a delight to behold.

Edited by Pullman99, 09 October 2013 - 15:50.