The Lotus Grand Tourers

The Resto Show opens in just over 3 weeks. This is my annual call for volunteers to come and join our stand.

What's involved:

• You can volunteer for one, two, or all three days.
• You get free entry to the show at the NEC, Birmingham.
• You should be there for most of the day, but it doesn't have to be absolutely from opening time to closing time.
• You should spend at least half your time on the Lotus Grand Tourers stands, but that leaves plenty of time to explore the rest of the show too.
• You will need to welcome and chat to visitors to our stand. You don't need to have an encyclopedic knowledge of Lotus or our cars, but a reasonable overview of the cars is helpful, people ask all sorts of interesting questions.
• You may also have the opportunity / be asked to help out with the activities on the stand - Mike's Excel restoration and engine installation, and whatever I'm fiddling with on my Excel.
• You might get free parking - we have 4 car parking passes per day, not all of which will be needed by those bringing display cars, but supplies are limited!

As it stands, we should have 32 wristbands (2 per display car plus 2 for the organiser, per day, plus 2 for sending publicity details in early; doesn't look like we'll get any bonuses for ticket sales this year). We'll need 15-21 for those of us bringing cars, so that still leaves plenty for other volunteers.

Post here, or PM me, if you would like to come, and which days.

I'll be available. Can review which days based on others responses

Many thanks to all who have volunteered - a good show of hands, and a nice mix of regulars with a few less familiar faces.

I've now had confirmation that we will get 32 wristbands (30 basic, 2 for submitting publicity material, didn't sell enough tickets to get any bonuses that way). These will be allocated as follows:
I hope that matches what everyone thinks they have volunteered for. I've got three more reserve volunteers, so if anyone finds themselves unable to attend please say, so I can get someone else in.

Show opening times are as follows:

• Friday 10:00 - 5:30
• Saturday 9:00 - 6:00
• Sunday 9:00 - 5:00

As an exhibitor you can get in from 8:00am, but for those volunteers who didn't get their wristbands on Thursday, you won't be able to get in until I get there as I'll have your wristband! I'll be coming in by train Friday and Saturday (Tony's giving me a lift Sunday), I'll get to the show at about 8:45am. If you want to get in earlier (and haven't got your wristband(s) off me a previous day) I can see if there will be someone else I can leave them with who'll be there before me.

Parking - the NEC now has a new ANPR parking system. This means that we no longer have four passes that each work across multiple days, instead we get 12 passes that are One Use Only! Once it has been used once, it is invalid, so no more tricks of handing it over to someone else to use once they are through the gate

I will try and ensure an equitable share-out of these amongst those who need them, but I expect some people will end up having to pay for parking - £13.50 if you do it in advance, £18.50 if you pay on the day.

If you could use a parking pass, please let me know in advance so I can share them fairly. If you can get to the NEC another way, all the better. You can get 20% discount on train tickets here https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/class ... onshow2026. I've also just discovered that motorbike parking is free!

Hence the lack of Yorkshiremen parking up. Well done everyone who is there you do a great job promoting the club.

Bash

Hi Richard, late to the party as usual

I would like to offer Friday assistance maybe Saturday too.

Stu

I appreciate the offer Stu, but sadly a bit too late, all the wristbands are spoken for. I’ve got a few reserves already too, but if for any reason we are still short I’ll be back in touch.

A brief overview of what's involved, for those who have signed up to volunteer at the show. Regulars will know all this, but with a few new volunteers this may be helpful.

• Wristbands - you need these to get in to the show. I will collect all the wristbands on Thursday before the show, and I will give you yours as soon as I see you. For those not there on build-up day on Thursday, you will need to come to the Hall 5 entrance and 'phone me, I'll come out to meet you there and give you your wristband. For those who've not met me in person, I'm tall, messy brown hair and 'tache, and will be wearing a dark blue Lotus polo shirt.
• For those not working on their own cars, your main task is to chat to visitors on the stand.
• Please be pro-active, and initiate conversations with anyone you spot lurking on the stand or looking at our cars. Many may just be browsing, and be happy to move on after a few moments, but others will end up having a long chat and a really positive experience if we make the effort. Even those who don't stay long will appreciate the friendly welcome.
• You don't need to be an expert in every detail of the cars - we get asked all sorts of questions, it's OK to say you don't know! If appropriate you can always drag in another club member who may be able to answer better.
• We have flyers - anyone with an Elite/Eclat/Excel, or considering buying one, please give them one and encourage them to sign up to the forum.
• We also have merchandise - polo shirts and mugs - no need to push them actively, but do help with sales. It'll be cash only (there are cash machines in the Piazza).
• I will prepare a list of cars currently for sale, if anyone is interested or curious.
• I'm happy for visitors to get in my car and check it out from the inside - particularly children! Please do invite them to do so. Other owners may feel differently, so check with them first, but the aim is that cars not accessible to the public will generally remain locked. If the interior is being worked on or is at all dismantled, then it's out of bounds for visitors - this obviously applies to Mike's Excel for the whole show.
• Please keep an eye out for visitors getting too close to live working activity, particularly anything with the slightest possibility of them getting injured, and encourage them to back off a bit. The person actually doing the drilling, or whatever, may not notice the curious onlooker getting too close, so we are all responsible for our visitors' safety.
• If a visitor appears to have some disability - e.g. mobility issues, sight - please offer to help.
• I've made a Risk Assessment - it is a show requirement that all volunteers are aware and familiar with it.
• You are welcome to, and might be asked to, help out with the live working on the cars.
• You are expected to spend at least half your time at the show on the LGT stand. That still gives you plenty of time to explore the rest of the show.
• Please do not leave the stand if that will leave fewer than three club members there.

There, I think that should do it. Any questions, or anything I've forgotten to mention, do say here or message me directly.

Set-up day tomorrow, then the show opens on Friday! Looking forward to seeing all who come, either as a stand volunteer or visitor.

Can I ask stand volunteers to take a quick look at this Risk Assessment. It's a show requirement that we are all aware of its contents - but more importantly we all want to have a safe and enjoyable show, and if someone, whether one of us or a visitor, has to be taken off to hospital, that might be a bit of a mood changer. I've done my best to keep it brief, and all common sense.

Resto Show 2026 Risk Assessment

Good luck everyone, have a great show. Brings back memories of the 'GEX' delivery and collection this time last year....

Andy