See Europe in a 40 year old Lotus

Following in Alex’s excilent sugestion, Maybe we can start to plan to tour some of Europe as a group. Weather seems like an important factor and would need to be taken into account for for the perfect tour. Possibly get a support vehicle and trailer in case of any mishaps or problems, not sure if this is nessessary but I know on some of my trips the spares packages were a bit heavy to enjoy the handling much. I thought a New topic would be nice instead of morphing the last topic on trips you have taken in your Elan into elan.net journeys of tomorrow.

Hi Gary,

Count me in! I took my Elan from Dublin to Stelvio and back last year, and I definitely want to do more continental driving. France has lots of empty roads and I think may be a good choice. (I got done for speeding there two weeks ago. A cop was waiting for me at a toll station — all very polite and civilised. I just handed over the money and on I went.)

Regards,

John

I have a friend with a range rover and trailer who recently gave support to the ‘Frazer Nash’ club during their recent european trip.

This could be a wonderful trip!

This is definitely the kind of thing I had in mind with my Elan. My wife and I were just on the Mediterranean coast of France and I was starting to plan a drive back down there in the Elan next summer. The roads were half empty and the weather was glorious. To drive across the continent with a group of other Elans would be superb.

Adi

Are +2s invited?

Some customers of mine just took their cars to the south of France on the train, then drove round in the sun, and came back on the train again. Less boring miles to get to the sun and back etc etc.

Plus 2’s, Elan’s, Europa’s, Lotus Cortina’s, Twin Cam Escort’s, or other Twin cam powered vehicle. :slight_smile:

See www.classiccarjourneys.co.uk/classic-europe/ We`re doing it in an Elan this September having done the Classic India with the same guy (Excellent) last year. There are other Lotus owners on the trip which is non-competitive but does include (half) a track day.
Sounds good.
Jim

Zetecs?

Sure, you can bring it on the trailer for a modern support vehicle for all of those twin cams that are going to drop by the wayside. :slight_smile:

Yeah, you’re right. Maybe I should start a Zetec only touring holiday…don’t see why Zetec owners should contribute for the support vehicle when they are not going to break down! :smiling_imp:

Hi Rich

Anyone is welcome to go anywhere with anyone.

Gary

p.s. - please feel free to take my place, I don’t think I will be able to attend the first Annual Elan.net Around Europe Challenge

This is elan.net … so I would think it will be self limiting to elan.net/elan owners. My view would be any lotus welcome. I have been here with ‘Clubs’ b4. Honda st owners are the same. Some poor bugger arrives on something else and its like the plague, There can be reasons. I am going to the Pan Gathering in Germany. Honda st owners from all over europe and further go to this. We have had Australians turn up! All we ask is an interest in the bike and pref’ be an owner and if poss’ turn up on your ST. This year, the 1st for many years, I will not be on my bike. Most of you know why. Open heart surgery and bikes (Big ones!) dont mix well.

So… lotus nuts from far and wide will be welcome in my eyes. pref’ in their Elan or +2 or whatever lotus they have. But I would run with the maj’ decision.

We will form a small committee for organizing this trip.

Alex B… :sunglasses:

I agree with Alex, after all its people who drive lotus in any guise the more the diverse the better the experience from which all derive the greatest pleasure?

After all is there a point at which no one can learn?

Richard

Are we talking about summer 2010?
If so I’ll give this serious consideration.

Nigel

I’m assuming so - otherwise my ongoing restoration i.e. rolling chassis with no body might be a rare sight to see!

Richard

Sounds like a nice plan gents but how do we get ourselves organis(z)ed??
Planning such an event is quite an undertaking so the main question is do we sub this out or is there anyone in here that wishes to do this labo(u)r of love?
Here are a couple of things that came to mind when thinking aloud:

  1. timing what time of year, how many days
  2. Milage ties in with location and # of days on the road
  3. where do we start and where do we end?
    Europe may be smaller than the USA but still there’s plenty of nice roads to
    choose from. You can sometimes do three countries in one day.
  4. Budget, support vehicles, crews, hotels, food etc, ferry crossings when you start in the UK.

Our forum members come from many parts of Europe and may provide valuable input on some of the legs of this tour by using their local knowlegde. But somewhere some one needs to take the lead here and get ourselves organised.

Anyway that’s my tuppence (two cents) worth.

Well… Lets ge the holidays out of the way 1st.

Tim /Mark/ and I look to be up for the org’ etc. We do need a small committee for this.

1st we will post the proposed trip/suggestion etc. Once this is aggreed best not to change it. You can’t please everyone all of the time.

The trip suggestion ‘post’ will contain proposed date(s) and destination/route. Where we should meet up.On the continent no doubt. For EG a town near the route and close to ferry port/chunnel. Some will use ferries (me for EG), others the tunnell possibly. Once we know the numbers and route/date we can use local knowledge if any to set up visits and give hotel/ guesthouse suggestions.

Those up for doing the trip can add their name to the list. Up to them then to arrange ferries or whatever and book the proposed hotel(s)
We then meet up at the aggreed place and go touring. Heading to the 1st Hotel.

In the 1st instance we need to find out how many European touring ‘newbies’ we have. How long milage wise a trip and decide from there. My initail thoughts are not a big milage to start off with. We have loads of options. Even a trip to the ring with a couple of days on the rivers. Mosel / Rhine etc. Some shopping for the ladies? Rhine cruise? Day visit to Koblenz?.. Then a gentle trip back up again. Just a thought. Perhaps some of the French specialists can propose something. Le Mans? do the24hr thing? etc etc. Possibilities are endless.
Longer trip could be Italian lakes via a pass or two? tour round Lake Como/Garda ?? Interlaken for a few days? Do some microlite flying? Paragliding? hill walking etc… Great fun! Longer trip like this would be a min 10 day with 14 being better. Alps visit could be lengthened by using the autorail overnight back up into N Germany. Gives an extra day where you prefer to be.

Lets have your thoughts on a trip.
I am off for Germany on the 22nd this month. 14days…

Alex B…

Well, Alex, I’m probably not up for the grand European tour. Trouble is, I’ve spent the last 30 years working in Europe, Australia and the US, and travelling a lot in those places…I now want to see more of the UK!! I feel the need to get back to basics…fed up with sunshine, airports, hotels and the normal touring routes…I need pubs, rain, greenery and tents! Probably not what a lot of others are after, methinks.

Mark

Mark I am with you, I have done the European stuff in a convertible (far too blooming hot) spent more time with the hood up. (which is why less people in the hot countries have soft tops) we in uk have far more soft tops per head than any where else in europe due to our more changeable and cooler climate. I have for the last 20yrs done the uk in my Healey and the Elan and the diversity of climate and scenery is unbeatable.

Dave.