Aug 21 - Lotus Group Catskills Spirited Drive

[Croc]

I joined the Lotus Enthusiasts Organization (LEO) of NY and NJ for its annual Catskills run yesterday. About 2 hours north of NYC, the area is very scenic, great views and excellent twisty roads.
Meeting place was at Montgomery NY, at a truck stop before proceeding for the drive. About 16 cars turned up – 2 x Esprit, an Elan, number of Elise and Exige, 2 Sevens, a Porsche GT3, an NSX, and a Corvette plus 1 on a bike.
Here is Stewart’s Seven Classic (crossflow powered). Originally from CT (so you may remember this being up for sale on Ebay last year) but Stewart managed to navigate the pitfalls of NJ registration to get it on the road:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00030_edited-1.jpg

The business end of his car:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00034_edited-1.jpg

Here it is again next to my fat bastard Seven:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00033_edited-1.jpg

A lovely Elan – not sure that exhaust looks stock?
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00031_edited-1.jpg

[Croc]

An Elise and an Esprit. The Esprit is nicknamed Frankensprit as it has had a few turbo modifications that make it somewhat faster. Still I would like to see Frankenseven slap it silly in a straight line.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00036_edited-1.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00037_edited-1.jpg
The one up man ship game for modifications was one by this Exige – a kit had been fitted to make the entire clam rotate back for complete access. Held down by some thumbscrews it looked remarkably simple. Very neat design – so simple you would think the factory would do this:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00039_edited-1.jpg

Off on the drive we were probably too big to keep together as a group. We always seemed to be stopping to try and keep the group together. Here was a 10-15 min stop as we waited for Tom who fell victim to a traffic cop stopping him for “speeding” Made no sense as he was following our train of cars, had only just left the truck stop and we were coming up to a red traffic light. Escaped with a warning.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00041_edited-1.jpg

[Croc]

We stopped for a mid point break at Phoenicia. Lovely little Catskill town that has a strong focus on visitors to go river tubing or on bikes for lunch/coffee/etc. The owners of this place were dumbfounded by our cars.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00043_edited-1.jpg

Some drive pictures. I got stuck behind a block of apartments….oh…a Volvo 240 who pushed in without giving way from a side street and then went slow. First opportunity and I passed him:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00050_edited-1.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00046_edited-1.jpg

[Croc]

The end of the day was at the Lotus Shack. The owner from the LEO group built it next to his business in an industrial area to store his toys. It has to win the ultimate garage award or come a close second. Lots of food and drinks to snack on while we prowled the contents of the garage. Excellent fun!
David (owner in the green/yellow t shirt) welcoming us to the Lotus Shack:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00051_edited-1.jpg

The cars....drool....
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00052_edited-1.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00053_edited-1.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00054_edited-1.jpg

[Croc]

Here is the interior of the Europa – note the autographed dashboard from LOG 28.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00058_edited-1.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00056_edited-1.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00055_edited-1.jpg


http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00057_edited-1.jpg

[Croc]

Interior of the Elite
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00059_edited-1.jpg

Being a scrounger at heart I went prowling in the storage areas for interesting things – any guesses on the shell?:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/DSC00060_edited-1.jpg

Karl (Blubarisax) and his wife joined for the party at the Lotus Shack. His new car from Caterham USA is about a week away and all of the potential registration problems look to be overcome so he will be roadgoing in no time at all.

[MHKflyer52]

Hi Mike,
Looks like your links to the photobucket are broken or the photos have been deleted or moved.
Sure would like to see the photo DSC00039 of the rear clip hinged.

[Kitcat]

Great cars! Funny how they all pale next to the se7ens tho :). (OK, not the Elan).

And what a garage! You cant take 'em with you but you sure can collect them while you are here!

Martin try again. I had the same result on Photobucket but then all the referenced photos magically appeared here, after I'd ckd there (data migration?).

[Croc]

I was having problems with the links...not quite sure what I was doing wrong....if you continue to have issues then here is the link to the photofucket album where they are stored:
http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/ (http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Aug%202010%20Catskills%20Spirited%20Drive/)

[Proj217]

I'm aroused.

[DeanG]

I need to see the Lotus Barn someday!

The shelf looks like spares for an Elan +2 and assorted others.

Thanks for posting.

[S1Steve]

Mike, ( Croc)
More good photo work from you and photofucket, LOL. Can't wait to see Stewart's classic in person, as it looks like a stunner. Looks like a nice day was had. Steve

[Croc]

Some more photos got posted by others on the Lotus Talk site. Plenty of gratuitous Seven pics plus some ribbing for an indiscretion I made.

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f110/nj-ny-catskills-spirited-drive-saturday-august-21-a-90732/ (http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f110/nj-ny-catskills-spirited-drive-saturday-august-21-a-90732/)

[Sabbot]

Just a quick note of thanks to Atwell, David, Alan, Sandy for organizing, working out the route, providing food etc. A great day out, perfect weather, great roads, not too much traffic, interesting mix of cars, a really nice bunch of folks and and even the 160 miles there and back on I287, I87 were good fun - if only for the bemused looks of SUV drivers trying to work out of somebody really was driving a go-cart on the interstate.
After a few months of ownership I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that you don't so much drive a seven as wear it .....and the outfit comes complete with a fairly large grin.
Excellent fun.
Stewart
p.s. Thanks Mike (Croc) for advice on registering the 7 in NJ and not sliding into the Catskill undergrowth while I was following your tire tracks at reasonable speed.

[blubarisax]

Mike,

I'm looking forward to joining you and Stewart in the 7's. Ben is waiting for one missing bit to finish the car. Not so sure I'll get the Superlight by Labor Day...

Thanks for posting the photos.

Karl

[MHKflyer52]

Hi Mike,

Great post and photos.
Enjoyed looking and reading your comments.....had to laugh about the Bus AKA Volvo you were stuck behind......

[Croc]

p.s. Thanks Mike (Croc) for ........not sliding into the Catskill undergrowth while I was following your tire tracks at reasonable speed.


Shhhh! Don't tell everyone about my screw up on the hairpin turn....:o I will start to get a reputation like Boxologist!:D