The Lotus Grand Tourers

I see people are getting together at The Seahorse (pub), Shalford, about 2 miles south of Guildford on the A281 - that's this coming Sunday, 2nd December at 12 noon.

I'm a new boy - can I come, please? I'm going to, anyway!

There has been correspondence on the adjoining SPOTTED/NEW MEMBERS forum under the heading "New Owner Member" and it looks as if six cars and owners will be there.

That's a nice number, but are there any other owners out there who can come and make the meeting even merrier? It should be fun and a good time to check over a variety of Excels and Eclat Excels. Please make a note in your diary and come if you possibly can!

See you there!

Derek

i will be there assuming i can find long enough jump leads...

(I havent started her since 2 weeks ago when we went to brands hatch!)

Snap! Flat battery. And radiator fans not working - hoping they won't be needed anyway!

Derek

Anyone know if the Seahorse is kid friendly.

Because of the South Africa v Barbars match today Quins (who were supposed to be playing today) had to postpone the match till tomorrow. Trying to figure the easiest way of doing both which is to bring my 11 year old along and go straight there. He's a petrol head any way so he'll enjoy it (actually he is a NO2 head but 'spose that's to be expected - scoobies )

Colin - the phone number of the Seahorse at Shalford is 01483 514350 in my BT Directory (though various websites show it as 514351 - I guess each is right). I was going to phone them to see if I could bring my dog in, but he's not too well so I'll leave him behind!

Derek

Thanks Derek, been checking the internet and quite a few comments about kids eating there so looks OK.

On the plus side, anyone who has not met me before will just have to look out for the quartered shirts!!

see you all tomorrow

Hi guys good to meet you all today - Derek, Bill, Colin and Steve (and kids) - sorry nearly forgot Oz and wife (sorry didnt get your name) in the Smart - Excel wouldnt start

Looks like you got a good buy there Bill very tidy

I will PM you Duncan when the SA is on the road

Cheers

Martin

Anyone take any pics?

Sorry forgot the camera

blue early one green and silver G reg

red H reg

Burgundy "k" reg but on a private plate - I think

and Ozzy's Smart



Martin

I forgot my camera as well unfortunately.

I think Bill got a few pictures though.

I remembered my camera, but forgot to take any pictures! Someone did, though, Dougie.

Great to meet everyone and a good pub, with good food (mine was fine and the other meals looked OK- and friendly service. There were four of us, plus Steve's two nice children who were a model of good behaviour. A lot of useful information was exchanged - I think (most of it was over my head) - and I learned that I should either chop my SE in for an SA with fuel injection or realise that I'm far too old for a sportscar! Yes, Martin, let's be in touch when you're used to your new SA. Three Lotuses - SE, SA and M100 Elan - you are keen, aren't you! I hope your Lotus hire company goes well and that none of the cars gets damaged!

Pity Ozzy and his beautiful wife couldn't stay for lunch and ditto Colin and son, heading for the rugger!

What nice cars Excels look! I liked Steve and Colin's red and ice blue cars and especially BillB's silver SE. I have also always rather had a hankering for a green one, like Martin's. As you know, the burgundy car was mine, Martin, and it is indeed a 1992 SE; the number plate is an old one with my wife's initials. The car is said to have been one of the last 15 Excels made.

A special thanks to Bill. We were the last two Lotuses in the car park and mine started and then stopped. Bill investigated over the best part of an hour. The lunch conversation had covered fuel problems and I think it was Steve who said that Excels occasionally had faults with the pump and all it needed was a bit of a bump with a hammer. So Bill stripped out the inside of the boot and gave it the required blow. The car started again - and stopped again. Anyway, after much investigation and my suggestion that the distributor might have got wet from all the huge puddles I had gone through and Bill's indication to me just where the distributor was and my thoughts turning to the AA who extract a lot of money and never get called by me - after all that, the car suddenly behaved itself and started and went on running.

Bill lives in Camberley and very kindly followed me up on to the Hogs Back and the car was evidently sorry for the trouble it had caused because it didn't miss a beat. But I forgot where Bill would turn off, so suddenly saw he wasn't there. Many thanks, Bill, you're a great man and I'm sorry I didn't wave goodbye.

However, realising Bill was no longer behind us, the car started to have momentary cut-outs. I suppose some electrical fault. As I got to Farnham and changed down, it cut out again and was just coasting - so I rammed it into 3rd and it picked up again. I hurried home like a dog with its tail between its legs and heaved a sigh of relief when I got there!

Talking of dogs, I had left my old boy indoors and some friends had come and put a packet of biscuits through the letter box. Tom left the mangled paper for me to deal with, but he was wagging his tail when I got in! So I took him out for a long walk before it got dark. We both got soaked...

Now we're dry again and Tommy's going to get rather less for supper than he usually gets.

What a great day - thanks everyone. We must do the same sort of thing again - with even more cars next time!

Derek

PS I haven't mentioned Ian, who came without his Excel, but with his wife. Good to see you, Ian. We rather got separated at lunchtime and I was sorry not to have more of a conversation with you and also not to say goodbye to you. Some other time, I hope ...

Best wishes

Derek

On account of the fact that you guys (and gals) have bought together what is probably the largest selection of Excels 'down south ever! And I'm gutted that I couldn't make it, but how many of you would be up for a regular early morning run down to Goodwood, when the Breakfast club starts again in March?

It's every first Sunday of the month, and I've been going for a couple of years. It would mean an early start, but it would be a good blast, and there's always hundreds of cool cars to drool over when you get there.

Oh, did I mention, they do a bloody good breakfast too!

I'll start a new thread. I know Oz and Garry have been. Any one else up for it?

http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2306

Hi Dougie

I would be up for it

Martin