March/April Meetings

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Published by the Golden Gate Lotus Club www.gglotus.org March/April 2011

Friday, March 18, 2011 – 7:30 PM

Host: Pete and Noni Richen

Kevin Enderby and Stefano Natoli engage in a little bench racing at the Club Auto Sport Dietsch Werks GGLC club meeting in February.

Friday, April 15, 2011 – 7:30 PM

Host: Rahul and Nithya Nair

Alexander Komlik trains a next generation driver on one of the Trinity Racing Concepts simula- tors at Club Auto Sport. (Alex is also helping out with his finger on the “go” pedal since the driver cannot reach it!) page 2 GGLC Recruits and Parties at Club Auto Sport for February Meeting editor GGLC prez, Jen Dietsch cold and wet weather that did (with some help from Rob and little to dampen the spirits of Sebastian), organized a special the attendees. club event for the February Many of the tenants at Club meeting held at the Club Auto Auto Sport opened their doors Sport facility in San Jose. Club for the attendees to hang out Auto Sport is the new home of and swap stories. The immacu- Another special feature of the Dietsch Werks, and it provides late show and race cars on dis- evening was a chance to get a an outstanding venue for car play in the main meeting area first look at the spiffy new paint folks to gather and share experi- and at Borelli Motor Sports pre- and decals on the GGLC equip- ences. sented the perfect backdrop for ment truck. the event. One of the highlights of the evening was the chance for attendees to try out the state-of-the- art racing simu- lators being developed by Jack Ulstad and Mar- The new look is bound to at- tin McKeefery at tract some positive attention dur- Trinity Racing ing the upcoming AutoX season, Concepts. They and it will serve as a great club The evening focused on intro- generously opened their doors billboard at this year‟s LOG ducing potential new members for the evening, and many event in Las Vegas. to the GGLC, and the turn out guests took advantage of the was impressive, especially con- free seat time. sidering the uncharacteristically

page 3 Lotus Puts on a ing elaborate graphics and dis- extensive world-wide coverage plays along with an array of Hol- of the new car lineup. Big Show in LA editor Last year‟s LA Car Show took place November 19-28, 2010, but space limitations in earlier issues of the Chapman Report forced me to delay coverage of the spec- tacular unveiling of 5 new Lotus cars at the show. It was an amaz- Suspense builds as we wait ing event, and, with help from for the covers to come off. Dave Simkin and Carl Jackson from LCU, Kiyoshi Hamai, Ra- hul Nair and I were able to get passes to the Press Preview days held before the opening of the show to the general public. That means your exclusive GGLC re- porting team had some very spe- lywood stars to add to the glam- The atmosphere in LA was no cial up-close time with the cars our of the event. The show in LA less festive, and it was combined and the people involved. was essentially a repeat of the with a rare chance for us to see Lotus corporate and LCU put first showing of the cars at the and talk to the people behind the their best face forward showing prestigious Paris show in early off the exciting concept cars us- October 2010, which resulted in (continued on p.4)

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cars. In particular, Rahul was able to get some exclusive one-on-one video interviews with key Lotus personnel, and the content of those interviews pro- vided some special insights as well as lots of attention when they were posted on his GGLC Chapman Report Online blog.

Sharon Stone at the wheel of the new Esprit with Lotus CEO, Dany Bahar in the passenger's seat.

Check out the accompanying photos to get a fla- vor of the excitement Lotus has been generating with these concept cars that will hopefully be turned into customer cars delivered to a re-vitalized dealer network in the not too distant future.

Ace GGLC blogger Rahul Nair videos his interview with an enthusiastic Lotus CEO, Dany Bahar.

page 5 Calendar

Date Activity Location

March 5 Car Club Chal- Fremont lenge (Karts)

March 18 Social/Club San Francisco Meeting March 31 Track Day Thunderhill

April 15 Social/Club Daly City Meeting

Apr 23 AutoX Marina

May 15 Marin/Sonoma Marin Concours

May 17 Track Day Thunderhill

See www.gglotus.org for additional information about upcoming events.

wards Big Basin and Santa Cruz. GGLC’s Anti-Football Fun Run Eventually, we reached the coast and began the scenic drive north Attracts a big Crowd towards Half Moon Bay. editor Rest stops included Boulder The first fun run of the new out on the roughly 90 mile trek Creek and an especially scenic year was organized by Kiyoshi that Kiyoshi had laid out. visit to Pigeon Point. Hamai, and fortunately enough it The route first ran through the The final destination for the was scheduled for a glorious, hills while heading south to- fun run was Cameron‟s Pub in bright and clear CA day on Janu- Half Moon Bay where the par- ary 22. No matter that there were ticipants could share some sto- no major football games actually ries and find a traditional British scheduled for that day as the fish-‟n-chips lunch if that was owners of the 20+ cars that their pleasure. joined the fun run did not need an excuse to exercise their vehi- All in all, it was a great day cles on some of the best of Bay combined with a great outing to Area back roads. start off the new year of club The group gathered at Buck‟s events with style. And, as an ex- restaurant in Woodside where tra bonus, no one had to forgo early arrivals could enjoy one of their favorite football game to the classic restaurant‟s hearty enjoy the excursion! breakfast specials before setting Photo credit: Kiyoshi Hamai page 6 An Elan at Last by Royce Hong Reprinted from Motoring Con Brio (www.motoringconbrio.com) I started sketching and draw- ing cars at the tender age of five, and I have always sketched and drawn a “top 12″ list of cars that I—an industrial designer and motoring enthusiast—consider to be the best cars ever made. I am a die-hard fan of ingenious engineering wrapped in simple, sumptuous curves that give an inimitable driving experience. These attributes are the very es- sence of industrial design: genu- Elan S3 for sale on a British car are anything but perfectly engi- ine, accessible, yet highly rigor- enthusiast forum. One look at the neered. Nor are they exactly reli- ous in concept, form and per- posted photos and I‟m be- able. They have a „well, it more formance. witched. The seller is a well- or less works‟ build quality Two Lotus cars sit on my top known professional car photog- about them and ALWAYS give 12 list: the Series 1 Elise and the rapher, and the photos really you an unpredictable driving ex- original (1960s) Elan. Being a capture what it feels like to own perience. Something unexpected loving owner of a Series 1 Elise and drive the car. always happens with these in Taiwan for almost ten years I showed the pictures to my cars—be it mishap or delight— now, I have lusted over its wife, and to my absolute delight, and mine is no exception. predecessor the Elan for as long she urged, “Get it! Get as I can remember. Due to both it!” (above all else, per- work circumstances (I split my haps definitive proof that time between Taipei and the San Royce Hong is an incredi- Francisco Bay Area) and way- bly fortunate man- Ed.), ward luck, I had never crossed thereby sealing the deal paths with an Elan that ended up for me and my Elan. After going home with me. a friend checked it out for Although the Elan had eluded us in LA and came back me for a long time, I would al- with a favorable nod, we ways think how absurdly fantas- bought the Elan, sight un- tic it would be to drive a roadster seen. Lotus in Northern California. I For me, driving is about a to- The adventures started during could just imagine how the Elan tal experience formed by how delivery, before I even had a would drive down a twisty the car works, how it looks, how chance to drive it. We had the mountain road as I hear the car it sounds, and how it performs. It Elan trucked up north to an auto working with me. Honestly, is about the injection or superim- shop in the Bay Area as we what could be a purer driving position of personality, story, wanted to have the car properly experience? and poetry into a precisely engi- looked at. On the day of the As luck would have it, late neered performance machine. scheduled arrival, a severe win- last year I finally met my Elan. Unlike the various Porsches ter storm broke out. Worried that I‟ve owned, British cars— the car might be caught in the An old college friend from LA shot over a link to a blue ‟67 especially older British cars— storm, we asked the trucking page 7 company for an update on their with the track-prepped Miata on business trip in Asia, so I headed truck‟s whereabouts but were Skyline‟s numerous curves. We straight for the hills with the told they were not able to locate stumbled upon some seriously Elan the minute I got back. Trail- the truck or their driver! A huge narrow and twisty back roads, ing a beautiful (and considerably panic ensued and phone calls where the Elan really shined! It more powerful) Aston Martin V8 raged as hard as the blowing was such an incredible feeling Vantage all the way up the wind. When we finally located carving through the turns so ef- twisties, the Elan danced beauti- the truck, they insisted, quite ve- fortlessly. The car swung and fully and was engaged in full- hemently, that the car was deliv- swayed in smooth, lithe swing mode. I was having loads ered, even though our auto shop rhythms—light and springy, yet of fun keeping up with the big said they never took delivery of nimble and powerful. As if on Aston when suddenly I felt a an Elan. More phone calls en- cue, the swing music of the hesitation from the car. I imme- sued, and a good deal of further bandleader Benny Goodman diately realized that I was so im- hell raising later, mersed in the driv- we finally found ing experience that the Elan. As it I had completely turned out, the forgotten to check truck driver had the fuel gauge! The dropped the car off car was literally at another auto running on empty. shop next door! By then, the Aston The car was finally was already way found, without out of sight. I windows and top coasted down the (removed by the mountain for about previous owner for five miles until the lightness, consis- car slurped up its tent with Colin last drop of fuel. Chapman‟s phi- Having this much losophy) and with fun had left us boxes of parts in without gas in the the trunk. middle of nowhere. As we waited for the rainy started playing in my head, con- I had no navigation tools with winter to pass, we had the top jured from thin air. For a con- me, and no idea where we were. and windows put back on, the tinuous 20-mile stretch, I really A car eventually came along racing roundels removed, the did feel like I was dancing with and, with the Elan by my side, I bumpers painted, and the run- the car, swinging to the big band managed to convince the Prius ning gear given a good once- sounds of Benny in glorious driver that I was no serial killer, over. Spring finally arrived and California spring weather with- thereby successfully hitching a out came the Elan for a drive. I out a care in the world. I was ride to the nearest gas station met up with a friend driving a having a gasoline-fueled meta- five miles away. I hitched an- Miata—perhaps the Elan‟s spiri- physical bonding experience other ride back to the car with tual successor—at Alice‟s Res- with the Elan—a sort of tarmac the station attendant who had taurant on Skyline Blvd. nirvana, and a moment I will just clocked off. Once gassed up, Next to the compact Miata, never forget. I turned the Elan around and the Elan looked like a 70% re- Similar driving highs would headed back for the hills. duction of a car, tiny and help me get stranded on Skyline One of the reasons for getting svelte—more like a toy than a sometime later, albeit through no the Elan was that I wanted to real car. Yet my 43-year-old fault of the car. Once, I needed Elan had no trouble keeping up to recharge after a month-long (continued on p. 8) page 8

(cont’d from p. 7) that for awhile, trying to figure my pleasant surprise, my ad- out why the car wouldn‟t start. I hoc, slapdash fix to my starter start autocrossing. The local and remembered the bratwurst from did not dampen the car‟s per- very active Golden Gate Lotus the night before and the mysteri- formance at all. Club runs a great series that is ous sound I heard in the parking usually held at the Marina Mu- lot, so I jacked up the car to have I‟ve never owned a car that nicipal Airport near Monterey. a look underneath. I was shocked developed so many problems Two nights before my first to see that half of my starter was over the course of ownership event, I went to dinner at a Ger- missing! and left me stranded so many man restaurant with some I immediately hopped into my times. Yet I am starting to feel friends in Sunnyvale. Later, as I daily driver—not a British car— that they are an integral part of walked out to the Elan in the and headed back to the restau- the vintage motoring experience (that is, assuming you decide to really uncork it). I was quite surprised at how calm I was during each event, which I began to think of as the space time and me- chanical temperament of the Elan. In fact, I‟ve started to anticipate and accept these mishaps as adventures, and the mo- ments of transcendental connections with the Elan as some sort of man-and-machine-as- one cyborg fantasy. parking lot, a heavily modified rant. From a distance, I could see I think Peter Egan said it best late-model Mustang was warm- dark hunks of metal on the in one of his recent Road & ing up next to my Elan. It was ground. It was the other half of Track columns about the Elan: loud, visceral, and it sounded my starter, in pieces—still there “One minute I‟d think, I‟m free good. I started the diminutive 24 hours later! I gathered up the at last, finally done with British Elan, then heard a loud clunk, parts and scrambled home for an cars; I can see a whole new life followed by some clanging ad-hoc fix, just in time for the ahead of me. And the next min- sounds—as if something had autocross the next day. ute, I‟d swing through a big fallen off the Mustang amidst all With the skinny M+S tires sweeping S-bend, feel that al- the V8 noise. The two guys in which were on the car at the most miraculous Lotus road the Mustang got out to check out time, the Elan slid around quite a holding, and say to myself: This their car. I didn‟t think much of bit, yet in a totally controllable is the best sports car anybody it and drove off. Come the next manner. My times were obvi- ever made. I must fix this thing day, I started packing up for the ously not competitive with the and keep it forever.” autocross and wanted to warm modern day Elises and Exiges, up the car. This time, the Elan but I was absolutely amazed by wouldn‟t start. I had just fixed the telepathic handling of the car the solenoid and a faulty starter and became addicted to her ef- switch, so I fiddled around with fortless four-wheel drifts. And to page 9 This & That News abstracted from the Chapman Report online

Lotus T125 makes its track debut:

Earlier this year, the Lotus F1 inspired customer race car, the Type 125, had its first official run at the Autodromo di Valle- lunga in Italy as F1 legend Jean Alesi and Lotus factory driver James Rossiter completed over 200 kilometres during a two-day test. Jean Alesi said: “Testing is al- „normal‟ person can get to driv- Commenting on the test, Lo- ways a big challenge, it‟s a dif- ing an F1 car. Vallelunga was tus‟ Director of Motorsport Op- ferent kind of pressure to racing great, we learned a lot about the erations, Miodrag Kotur said: but you still can‟t relax for a sec- car there and I‟m really looking “We‟re very happy with the ini- ond. I enjoyed my first outing in forward to the next test at Yas tial performance of the car, there the car, it‟s great to be involved Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi‟s F1 are still some things that we at such a crucial stage in the track, since it will be really inter- want to improve on but that‟s cars‟ development, I really feel esting to see how the car re- natural at this stage and that‟s like I can help to make this car sponds to the conditions of a exactly why we test. Between as fun to drive as possible.” Lo- very different track.” them, Jean Alesi and James Ros- tus factory driver James Rossiter siter have an incredible wealth of said: “The Type 125 is unique, experience and they put this to it‟s intense, it‟s extreme and it‟s good use in Vallelunga.” very raw. I can honestly say that Lotus vs. Lotus—the Lotus Type 125 Ambassador I think this is the closest a game‟s afoot:

The good news is that there will likely be four Lotus-branded F1 cars supported by two different teams on the starting grids at this year‟s F1 races. The bad news is that you will need a score sheet combined with an instant updating capability to stay abreast of all of the team and owner intrigues. That is, if you are interested. The two-Lotus saga continued earlier this year with the Lotus Renault team launching their (continued on p. 10) page 10 (cont’d. from p. 9) is primarily spon- new F1 livery in January. This sored by Air Asia, team has sponsorship from has begun rebrand- Group Lotus, but it is primarily ing their headquar- owned by Genii Capital. Along ters with new sign- with the introduction of the liv- age that displays ery, the Lotus Renault F1 team the classic Team announced that they would be Lotus logo and col- racing under a British license ors. The livery of this year, which means that any the Team Lotus F1 wins would be accompanied by a cars will retain rendition of “God Save the green and yellow Queen”. colors used by Lo- Meanwhile, Team Lotus tus Racing last year. (formerly Lotus Racing), which In another aspect of the drama, the Chapman family has formally withdrawn support from the former Lotus Racing team, and the British High Courts are set to rule on the ownership of the “Team Lotus” name later this year.

Confused yet? The question used to be: “what‟s in a name?” but now it‟s: “who (if anyone) owns the real Lotus F1 car?”

Group Lotus adds to management team:

Group Lotus recently announced two new appointments to their management team: industry leader Karl-Heinz Kalbfell and former Ferrari Gen- eral Manager, Guillaume Chabin.

page 11 Heinz Kalbfell makes a wel- talented people working together of its development and I really come addition to the Group Lo- effectively, and Karl-Heinz has feel that now is the perfect time tus management team. Based at incredible experience from for me to contribute towards the the Lotus headquarters in Hethel, working in extremely senior po- future of Lotus. I have many Kalbfell, formerly of the BMW sitions throughout the automo- years and some very demanding Group, will provide operational tive industry to bring to the ta- positions under my belt, which support and advise Group Lotus ble...His main role initially will allow me a lot of experience to Chief Executive Officer Dany be to bring together all our exist- draw upon. I‟m ready for all the Bahar on the most efficient de- ing efforts across the depart- challenges that Lotus will bring.” livery of the business plan. ments and ensure that we are In addition to Kalbfell, Lotus working effectively as a united Commenting on his new role, has appointed Guillaume Chabin force.” Guillaume Chabin, Director of as Director of Sales. Chabin held Sales for Lotus Cars, said: senior positions at Ferrari, and Karl-Heinz Kalbfell said: “Joining Lotus was an easy deci- he was formerly involved in the “I‟ve been aware of Lotus over sion for me to make—having re-launch of Bentley. the years and like many in the previously been involved in the Commenting on the appoint- industry, I have watched with re-birth of an iconic British ments, Group Lotus CEO Dany growing interest as Lotus has brand when I was working at Bahar said: “We are very developed under Dany Bahar Bentley, I know the challenges pleased to have both Karl-Heinz and his team. It‟s not often that and opportunities that lie ahead. and Guillaume on board. One of you get the opportunity to work This is a crucial time for Lotus the keys to the success of any with such an iconic automotive and I‟m very happy to be on business is having exceptionally brand at such an exciting stage board.” 2011 Track Days Set

The Golden Gate Lotus Club is pleased to an- nounce 5 Open Track Day dates for 2011, with pos- sibly more to come. Stay tuned!

GGLC Open Track Days are designed to give the Lotus and sports car enthusiast an opportunity to enjoy driving in controlled conditions without random traffic and law enforcement. GGLC Open Track Days are not races, but they allow a driver to run at his or her own pace and to enjoy their car‟s capabilities.

Mark these dates on your 2011 calendar and enjoy the fun!

February 24, Thursday -- Laguna Seca March 31, Thursday -- Thunderhill May 17, Tuesday -- Thunderhill July 12, Tuesday -- Thunderhill September 6, Tuesday -- Thunderhill

page 12 Upcoming Events of Interest Classifieds (non-commercial ads are free to GGLC members It is shaping up to be a big year for Lotus enthusiasts on the West and will run for 2 issues before requiring renewal) Coast, and there are several events coming up that will be of special interest: For Sale: Elan +2 steel wheels March 5 — Karting challenge enduro at the LeMans Karting and trim rings. Four original Center in Fremont. The GGLC will field at least 2, and perhaps 3, wheels (13x5.5), powder coated teams to compete with teams from other Bay Area car clubs. black, and five polished alumi- See http://www.lemanskarting.com/events/car_club_challenge.php num trim rings (rim embellish- for details. ers). All in very good condition. May 15 — Marin Sonoma Concours d‟Elegance at the Marin Can be sold separately or to- Fairgrounds in San Rafael. The organizers have put out a special in- gether. Wheels for $450 and trim vitation to Lotus owners, and they hope to have 20+ Lotus cars at the rings for $100—plus shipping event. Note the Concours entry fee is a charitable contribution. cost from Jackson, CA. Photos See http://www.marinsonomaconcours.org/home/index.php available on request. for details. Contact: Lee Cohee at (209) 223 June 11 — GGLC traditional summer fun run and BBQ at Mel -1502, vancoh-at-volcano.net. and Darlene‟s in Danville. Get ready for those stuffed Portobellos! October 14-16 — LOG 31 will be held in Las Vegas, NV (the westernmost venue for this annual Lotus gathering). The Red Rock Casino and Resort The Chapman Report is published bi-monthly by the Golden Gate Lotus Club, PO Box 117303, Burlingame, CA 94011. The GGLC is a non-profit is confirmed for this blow out event featuring incorporated car club, and it is not affiliated with Group Lotus, Team Lotus or an AutoX (GGLC managed), Concours, sce- Lotus Cars USA. The GGLC‟s annual membership dues are $25.00. Opinions expressed in nic drives, awards banquet, open Track Day the Chapman Report are those of the authors and do not represent those of the event (optional) and more. GGLC or its officers. Contributions to the Chapman Report are accepted and encouraged. Please See http://loglasvegas.com/ email them to chapmanreport-at-gglotus.org in MS Word, rtf or ASCII text. for preliminary details. For 2011, the GGLC Officers are: President--Jennifer Dietsch, Vice Presi- dent--Rahul Nair, Treasurer--Laura Hamai, Event Coordinators--John Zender December 10 — GGLC Gala Holiday & Scott Hogben, Membership Chairman--David Anderson, Secretary--Scott Party at Club Auto Sport in San Jose. All the Hogben. Chapman Report Staff: Editor--Joel Lipkin, Circulation Management Team--Tom & Cherie Carney, Advertising excitement of previous parties at a great new Manager--Mel Boss. venue. Mark your calendars!