From the Chairman's Desktop

GR ER EE V N E C A B lotus lines R C L U OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE EVERGREEN LOTUS CAR CLUB November-December 2011 From the Chairman’s Desktop by doug jackson As the weather winds down seriously toward fall and winter and you possibly begin to think about maybe putting your Lotus car (or cars) into the garage for cold weather storage, I hope you all enjoyed them as much as you could during the warmer weather. Of course, this time of year makes me and other people think about possible projects you might like to accomplish on one or more cars that you own which you can’t easily do while you’re using them for out-on-the-road fun. I know that there are a number of There was an interesting mix of cars ELCC members who have several and people who took part in this tour, cars that might be classified as including ELCC-members Jess & Eddie “Projects” and the cooler and often Marker who drove their 1991 Lotus times wetter months during the fall, Elan. There was one additional Lotus winter and early spring here in the in attendance, a very nice looking Pacific Northwest is the perfect time black 2005 Elise which was driven by to put on a pot of coffee, turn up the a person who doesn’t belong to our heat in your garage or shop a little club, but may join. I gave him one of bit and work on these things. our newly printed Membership Forms. This past spring and summer were I hope you really enjoy this issue of filled with many opportunities to Lotus Lines because several of our exercise your Lotus cars and I hope members have stepped forward and that you took part in as may of these written some very interesting articles. activities as you wanted to. There still are a few things that our club And, as an aside, while reading has planned for you during the last a special UK published Classics couple of months of the year, things was organized by the Kirkland Concours Monthly Magazine called “50 Years such as: the “First Thursday” get together d’Elegance people. This was an activity of the Jaguar E-Type”, the author makes an on November 3rd; a two-club drive in- that began at the LeMay Auto Club in Fife interesting reference in the chapter that the-country with the local DeLorean Car (right next to Tacoma) and after some talks about a 1968 E-Type Plus 2 model’s road Club on Saturday, November 12th, and; welcoming coffee and donuts and a short handling characteristics while driving the the ELCC Holiday Party sometime early in “Driver’s Meeting”, we wandered around the twisty sections of a so called B-road in that December... more about these things soon! countryside for a couple of hours on some “Lotus owners would have nothing to fear enjoyable roads before arriving at Griot’s from the big Jag in such scenarios.” Nice! One of the most recent automotive activities Garage in South Tacoma for a hosted that my wife and I took part in was the lunch and tour of Richard Griot’s private Enjoy your Lotus cars as much as you can “Tour d’Jour” on September 9th which collection of cars. during these cooler months. | ll A Second Lotus Seven LOTUS LINES IS THE OFFICIAL by don christopher NEWSLETTER OF THE EVERGREEN I wasn’t looking for a second Lotus Seven. I was looking for new tires for the Lotus Seven I bought from David Caley almost a LOTUS CAR CLUB. decade ago now. After I sent a request for 145R13 tires source to the ELCC newslist, several members responded including Dan Opinions expressed in Lotus Lines are those Morrison, whom I hadn’t heard from in about eight years. This eventually led to meeting him in person at the Bellevue ABFM, of the author and do not necessarily represent where he told Andre Samson and me that he had just bought a Lotus Seven off Craigslist LA and that the seller had a second those of the ELCC or its officers. Use all technical information at your own risk. Please rotary-engine-powered Seven for sale. submit all articles, artwork, and photographs to the Editor. All other official business should be directed to the Chairman. Other Lotus clubs are welcome to use the material printed in Lotus Lines, provided that the ELCC, Lotus Lines and the author are duly credited. The ELCC is not affiliated with and does not represent Lotus Cars Ltd., Group Lotus, Team Lotus, or any Lotus related organization. Membership in the ELCC is $25/year, with the membership year starting in January, and is prorated in three month increments. Two thoughts immediately and simul- the same trailer that the seller said had many holes where original parts would Membership includes a club roster and a taneously passed through my mind and been used to move the car between race have been bolted. Then we started looking subscription to Lotus Lines. Andre’s. First, the rotary-Seven is probably tacks for years and the same trailer on at the frame, chassis and engine numbers. the infamous Gallagher Seven that Andre which it had been parked in LA for the The frame number (probably the most im- Contact us: owed for a while years ago (Stay Away from past two decades. An all-black Seven on a portant for identifying an original Seven) EVERGREEN LOTUS CAR CLUB it! — the reasons require a separate article). rusty trailer heading north on the I-5 in LA was in the correct place and stamped P.O. Box 40481 Second, there’s no way these are original traffic. It must have been quite a sight. with the correct font and sequence. It Bellevue, WA 98015-4481 Lotus Sevens. The cars aren’t particularly matched the range for the chassis number. www.elcc.org expensive, but they are rare and there After the car arrived in Seattle, Dan let me “Hmmm. I’ll be damned. It’s an original is no chance whatsoever that two would see it early on a Saturday morning at one Seven.” We did some basic testing in the The ELCC Officers are elected bi-annually appear for sale from one Craiglist seller of his garages. Dan has several garages, of garage. There were still fluids in most of and currently those officers are: for those prices. They had to be Caterhams which I got to visit three that morning. I the places that fluids should be. The en- or some other clone. But Dan was willing stopped counting cars after about 25. The gine turned. Wow — that’s a race-prepped Chairman: DOUG JACKSON to gamble that they were genuine. Based Seven was tucked into a corner of garage Twin Cam stuffed in there and some frame phone » (206) 300-9130 only on a few tiny photos and an hour-long #2. It looked like the right shape for a Lo- braces that looked like what Gallagher of e-mail » [email protected] telephone call, he had already had bought tus Seven (the clones all tend to have weird the rotary-engined-Seven fame would have Membership: ALAN PERRY one and it was its way to Seattle. angles in the body or fiberglass) but was added for stiffening an auto-crosser Seven. phone » (206) 855-9464 painted black nose to back and in a dark e-mail » [email protected] The Seven was towed from LA to Seattle corner. Very menacing looking. Standing “And you paid how much, Dan?!?! Wow. Treasurer: ANDY KECK on the back of a home-made 1960’s trailer, over it, I could see many original parts and You got a deal.” “And you want how much phone » (206) 390-3870 e-mail » [email protected] Editor: GRAD CONN e-mail » [email protected] fly lotus Web Master: DON CHRISTOPHER e-mail » [email protected] Advertising: AIMEE HOU e-mail » [email protected] Printing by DOYLE PRINTING COMPANY web » www.doyleprinting.com est. 1952 Design by MICHAEL KARST web » www.michaelkarst.ca lotus lines » november-december 2011 3 for a re-sell?” “Hmmm. That’s still a good modified SB2012 to stiffen the frame for Seven book. The pictures are in the same ORP is a fun track and devotees should put V6 results in a very capable vehicle. used cars at the dealership, hear the latest deal.” “But it’s going to cost a lot to get it better cornering. The Twin Cam was added chapter where the Gallagher rotary-engine it on their Short List; however, it is not the The addition of a supercharger to the S news from Lotus and Lotus Cup USA and back running and road-legal — the wind- for more power and speed, thus losing the Sevens are shown. It looks like SB2012 was place for your first Track Day. model pushes it to a whole new level! visit with fellow Lotus enthusiasts for screen, lights, wooden steering wheel, original 116E Cosworth engine forever. in Gallagher’s shop in 1979 or so having its several hours. All in all a great evening!! are all missing and will be expensive to But the car still had its original gearbox, extra frame tubes fitted when Ortenburger PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY Although the track was damp in the replace. After all, they only made about frame, most body skins, petrol tank, and visited to take photos for his book. OPEN TRACK DAY morning, and wet after lunch, it dried Chris is covering most of the details about a thousand of them and that was almost enough other parts that it is still a very quickly and the day was without the Sunday but I would like to add one thing.

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