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Published by the Golden Gate Lotus Club www.gglotus.org Jan/Feb 2018

Jan/Feb Meetings

SATURDAY, January 20, 2018 — 10:00 AM

Hosts: Tom and Cherie Carney

Long-time GGLC member and sponsor, Barry Spenser, presents his generous award to Dam Wise who aced Barry’s The annual kick-off meeting for the new year returns to the annual Lotus Christmas Trivia Contest Carneys’ home. Be sure to attend this year to give a proper at the 2017 Gala Holiday Party in Pleasanton. See page 9 for more photo welcome to our new President, Jackie Feakins, and to hear coverage of the fun event. about the club’s exciting plans for a fun year of Lotusing in 2018!

SATURDAY, February 17, 2018 — 10:00 AM

Hosts: Jenni Dietsch and Hoover Chan TurboHoses R&D and DietschWerks 5948 Las Positas Rd. Livermore Directions from I-580 in Livermore: Exit at Vasco Rd. and go South (towards Livermore) Photo Credit: Jonathan Matheson Right at Naylor Ave. (approx. 1/2 mile from exit*) Left at second opportunity into parking lot for Turbo LCoSC board members, Jared North- rop and Liyan Zhu, explain some of the Hoses R&D fine points of driving the Streets of Wil- low circuit in a classroom session as *there is no stop sign or traffic light at Naylor—if you part of a special trackday event de- miss it, the next traffic light is Las Positas. A Right on Las signed to introduce mostly novice driv- Positas and then your second Right will get you into the ers to the performance capabilities of their . Find out more about South end of the TurboHoses parking lot. this successful trackday in the article starting on page 2. page 2 driver was then paired with an With the support of Galpin instructor (many of whom are Lotus, A1 Automotive, and GGLC Prymr, it members), turned out to and they be a great were led day that through ended with a classroom population time, skid of about 20 pad exer- formerly (JM) cises, and timid track on-track instruction throughout drivers, salivating over the final the day in a very controlled and open lapping session. LCoSC Discovers safety-focused environment. As an extra bonus, there a New Breed of were just about as many in- Lotus Driver by Mathew Kaplan

Sure, Southern CA has a great history of car culture; but let's be honest, a lot of that re- volves around looking at cars— not actually using them the way they were meant to be used. In fact, much of a typical Lotus owner's natural habitat in SoCal is the “Show and Shine,” “Cars and Coffee,” or maybe the 405 traffic scene. As a result, the special breed of Lotus Track Rat is fairly rare in the warm, dry, SoCal climate. In an effort to grow this population, the Southern CA chapter recently hosted its first track day on the Streets course of Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, CA. The event was specifically designed to attract the Lotus drivers who had yet to realize that their genetics in- clude a bit of track rat DNA. Focused on drivers who had very little (or zero) track experi- ence, the eager students who attended this event were shown how to prep their cars and themselves for track use. Each page 3 structors willing to commit to (JM) supporting a similar event in 2018. In fact, I think we can now conclude that the Lotus Track Rat community is thriv- ing in SoCal. Check out the accompanying photos to get a feel for the ac- tion during the day. The photo credits are: (JM) - Jonathan Matheson and (MS) - Mark Salazar.

(JM)

(MS)

(JM) AuthorizedAuthorized Caterham Caterham Dealer Dealer 1967619676 Eighth Eighth St. St. East, East, Suite Suite 102 102

(MS)

(MS) page 4 Building a / Sort of by Ben Beames

As the old saying goes, reality bites. I dream of owning a vintage F1 or Indy 500 Lotus race car, but naturally I can’t afford one (not that any of them are for sale). But even if by some miracle someone gave me one, I could not afford to main- tain it or hire a crew just to fire it up to do some laps at an AutoX or track day. So the obvious an- swer is to buy a 1960s vintage Formula Ford (or one of the other formulas of that period). But be- ing “vintage” cars rather than “old” cars they are also now priced well out of my price range. So, finally, in a fit of frustration, I decided to build my own car. I’m that stupid. This isn’t news. And since I was not going to be restricted to any certain set of rules, I decided to build a car like my absolute favorite, the 1965 Indy 500 winning Lo- tus 38 driven by . Yes, the 49 is more famous, but it is also smaller, more elegant and delicate looking. Meanwhile, the 38 is bulkier and more American-manly looking. Kind of the mus- cle car of Lotus open wheelers. As for an engine, a Ford 302 would be an affordable stock block en- gine with a slight relation to the 38’s racing dual overhead cam Ford 260. Though I would be build- ing an engine with 100 fewer horsepower, it would still be a big V8 with enough grunt to no doubt scare me silly. My goal for the project was to build it for $10,000. That’s a lot of money, but compared to the quarter million that even a non-famous Indy car goes for, it's not too bad. I also planned on building the car over a 3-year span, which would mean expending only a few thousand a year. If I am honest, I had been dreaming of doing Carlos Costa something like this for long time. But I wanted to [email protected] build an aluminum monocoque (like the 38), and what finally got me to start was finding a few web- sites that documented restorations of several dif- ferent 38s. Using the photos on the sites, I could see the inner structures and confirm what was there and more importantly just how much wasn’t there. Combine that with: Haynes Manuals on the and 72, which list aluminum gauges as well as alloys; a book by , designer of page 5 Calendar Date Activity Location

Jan 13 Breakfast/LCoSC LA Jan 17 Dinner/Meeting Sacramento Jan 20 Member’s Social / Burlingame Meeting Jan 27 Annual Anti- Mill Valley Football Drive Feb 10 Breakfast/LCoSC LA Feb 14 Dinner/Meeting Sacramento Feb 17 Member’s Social / Livermore Meeting Feb 27 Track Day Laguna Seca March 10 Breakfast/LCoSC LA March 14 Dinner/Meeting Sacramento March 20 Member’s Social / TBD Meeting See www.gglotus.org for additional information about upcoming events. the 38, on his design philoso- stiffen them up. It also meant I phies; and throw in a truck load had exact, 1/4-scale templates of pictures I have taken myself of every sheet of aluminum. of vintage cars Due to my humble fabricat- and even Jim Clark's 38 at car ing skills (everything I do I week in Monterey over the learn from watching YouTube years, and I had a lot of infor- videos), I decided on making a mation to get me started. steel subframe for the front sus- I wanted to see if I could pension utilizing square tubing, Scan to get current GGLC calen- make the car without any com- and a subframe for the engine dar on your mobile device. pound curves in the aluminum and rear suspension again made skin (so that I would not have to out of square steel tubes. While the front subframe was a use the English wheel combination of Lotus 49 forming machine). In and Zink 10C FF, the rear order to work out any subframe was built to issues, I tested my de- mimic what should have sign by building a model been the rear portion of at 1/4-scale using graph the aluminum monocoque. paper for construction. I did this for a number of This worked better than reasons, including longev- I expected, and even ity of the structure (I do allowed me to find the weak points in the struc- ture and take steps to (continued on p. 6) page 6 (cont’d. from p. 5) old Quatro. I got one from a guy and a fiberglass nose cone that I not want to re-rivet this thing with a GT40 replica that was made through the trusty method every year), and also because I stepping up to a ZF transaxle. He of repeated trial and error. needed a structure to support the sold it to me complete with a I ended up with a car that street car I planned Ford adapter kit for $1,200. The weighs 1,500 lbs with all fluids to use from behind the output downside to this transaxle is that (including fuel). After I have shafts rather than in front of it is not sturdy enough for the done some shakedowns with them (as done on a Hewland or full power potential of a V8, so the car, I’ll move up to alumi- ZF transaxle). my engine build has been mild, num wheels and shorter vintage Once the aluminum was and I am cautioned to take it Hoosier tires that will shave folded and riveted, and the steel easy in first gear. another 30 lbs. One day, with welded, the challenge became The rear suspension is cen- more money, I would like to finding parts I could afford to tered around the Ford T-Bird replace the engine block with turn my lump of metal into a car. IRS uprights (Ford calls them an aluminum 302 block and I got a short-block Ford 302 with knuckles) and Mustang hubs. take another 90 lbs off the car, a roller cam from an SCCA These are commonly sold for kit which would bring the car very autocrosser who was stepping up cars with independent rear sus- near to the reported Lotus to a stroked en- pension. The 38weight of 1,350 lbs. gine in his Cobra front suspen- In the end, it only took me a replica. I topped sion uses year, working on it about 6 to 8 it off with alumi- Mustang II hours a week, mostly split be- num heads and front spin- tween a couple of evenings dur- intake manifold dles with a ing the week and a few hours for lightness plus 2” drop in on Saturdays and Sundays. an Edelbrock their height. I have to say, driving the car carburetor to These are out of my driveway and around keep it simple commonly the block, with my neighbors and affordable. coming out One day I’d like to move up to sold to hot to cheer me fuel injection with individual rod build- on was one throttle bodies that look like We- ers, and the of the most bers, but for now I am on a buyer has rewarding budget. the option experiences I was planning on putting a of stock of my life. Renault UN1 transaxle behind ride the engine. These were used in heights, a V8 Lotus Esprits, and there is a 1” drop, or place in England that sells them a 2” drop, for GT40 replicas with a bell as well as housing that mates to the Ford multiple bolt patterns for the 302 with some beefed-up inter- wheel and multiple brake disc Obviously, I cannot describe nals. Unfortunately, they adver- sizes. The upper control arms are all the details of the build in the tised the transaxle as roughly 1982 Renyard Formula Ford space available here. But if you $3000, but, in actuality, they rockers I picked up ever want to talk about alumi- wanted $5000 and couldn’t give on apexspeed.com, and the rest num alloys, rivet selection, anti- me a quote on shipping it. So I of the suspension arms are made dive geometry, or roll center gave up and went with the other of tube steel with threaded ends. heights, I can go on for longer common GT40 kit transaxle in I finished the car off with a than you will want. the U.S., the Audi 016 out of an custom built radiator I sprung for page 7 Pedal is down as the RPMs to hit the brakes, so I let it coast Just Add Salt climb slowly to 6500. The car is off-throttle all the way to mile 4 Part 4—Top Speed drifting towards the left side of and then slowly squeeze the by John Zender the track, and I make a slight brakes and pull off to the return correction to keep off the blue road. I’m elated that the motor In the last installment, I hit line. survived 7000 RPM for as long 133 mph on my first run and Check the tach again and it’s as it did. got a bit scared when the car 6600. Looks like I’m tapped- I stop at the timing shack spun sideways at 120+ mph. out and it’s not going any and get my slip: 141.956 mph at But after that run, I get right faster. There goes the 1-mile the 2-mile trap and 141.88 mph back in line to do it again. Mom marker, then the 1-1/4. Check average over the 2-3 mile! I and Rex drove the RV over to the tach, 6700 RPM. Pass the 1- know from previous dyno runs the start line to wait with me, 1/2 mark and then the 1-3/4 (continued on p. 8) and quite a wait it was. Since mark without Day 1 of the event was can- checking the celled due to wind, Day 2 was tach as I’m too extra busy, and the wait was focused on driv- about 3 hours. ing—and a bit I am not sure if I would get afraid to look another run this day, and I down. Just be- kinda wanted to head home in fore the 2-mile the evening rather than stay mark, I glance over for the last day of competi- down for an in- tion. (On our drive east, I no- stant to see ticed a billboard for the Reno 7000! The revs Air Races scheduled for this had been climb- weekend. If I can leave Utah ing so gradually Saturday night, I can get to the that I didn’t no- Reno Airport and check one tice. Through the more item off the ‘ol Bucket 2-mile marker, List.) and I leave it My plan for this run is to put pinned through the loud pedal all-the-way- the 2-1/4 mark to down and leave it there. If I can get my trap get the motor to turn 7500 RPM speed. As I pass and not disintegrate, then I the 2-1/4, I real- should be near my ultimate goal ize I’m having so of 150 mph. much fun that I Since I’m going all-in I de- change my plan cide to tape up the gaps around and leave the the passenger door, and cover loud pedal on the the air vents above the motor floor all the way along with about 80% of the to the 3-mile inlet to the radiator. marker. The green flag is waved, and I pass the 3- I take off. There is major mile mark and wheelspin off the line and at back-off slowly each shift. I’m into 5th around on the throttle. I the ¾ -mile mark at 6000 RPM. am really afraid page 8 (cont’d from p. 7) turbine-powered streamliner If a Bonneville adventure is pitting next to each other, and on your list, don’t wait too that my HP goes flat around both are happy to lend you long. The salt is thin and getting 6000 RPM and starts to drop tools, advice, and stories. thinner. In the 1940s, the salt around 6500 RPM. With wind resistance increasing and HP de- creasing, I figure that’s all the Flamer has, and I decide to head home (and experience the Reno Air Races on the way). Yes, it will be two bucket-list items in one weekend!

Utah is a long haul for a total of two runs, but it’s well worth it. The whole scene at Bonne- ville is something that every mo- torhead needs to witness at least once in their lifetime. It’s a unique event with a unique group of car people who are all there for the same reason. All the competitors are equal comrades in their shared mission. There’s the guy with the 42 HP Karman Before beginning this adven- was a few feet thick. This year Ghia and the team running the ture, I had figured I would do it it was down to about 1.5 inches. once and that The club searches the lake- would be it. But bed for just the right spot to cre- now I’m kinda ate a decent track where we hooked, and I won’t break through and hit the plan to return in deadly mud below. The salt has 2018 and try to been “mined” for the last hun- hit 150 mph. dred years, or so, to reclaim the I’ll invest in a magnesium to make gunpow- set of 15” rear der. All the Bonneville racers wheels to gear know that the end is near, and the car up to hit their children will not be able to 150 at 6500 continue the sport that they love RPM. But I am unless something changes. not sure if gear- Go to Savethesalt.org for ing alone will information about why the salt get me another 8 is disappearing and what we mph, so I may racers can do about it. also need to add an aero pan un- der the engine and rear suspen- sion.

page 9 (WT-R) 2017 Holiday Party (WT-R) Photo Album editor

About 60 of us celebrated a very successful GGLC year with a gala Holiday Party at the Faz restaurant in Pleasanton on December 9, 2017. The accom- panying photos capture just some of the fun. Special thanks go to profes- sional photographer Wayne Torres-Rivera who attended and provided his images. Wayne’s photos are designated (WT-R).

(WT-R)

(WT(WT-R)- R)

page 10 that puts BMW in the EV camp. At (maintenance, tires, parts and insur- Reflections on the the same time, however, BMW was ance) except fuel. It could even 2017 LA Auto Show talking up levels of self-driving, break down to “by-the-mile”, so by Kiyoshi Hamai which, when you think about it, you only pay for your trips. These sounds strange coming from the vehicles would not be owned by The 2017 LA Auto Show held in same car company that not long ago individuals, but rather fleet opera- December illustrated again why this was pitching themselves as produc- tors and/or Ford itself. is one of the most significant auto ers of the “Ultimate Driving Ma- shows in the world. It not only at- chine”. Under The “WTF” Heading tracts every mainstream auto manu- Mazda stood up at the LA Auto I was at a loss for words when I facturer, but it also has a unique po- Show and boldly announced that learned that Chris Bangle, ex-chief sition in the auto show world. they do not see the internal combus- BMW designer, had emerged with a Of course, there is the North tion (IC) engine going away, and new car company called Redspace. American Auto Show in January in they intend to continue producing They showed an EV, that was Detroit, which in recent times has IC engines through 2030. smaller than a Mini, tall like a been the place to introduce SUVs, At the same time, GM will be phone booth and looked like Dali Pick-Ups and massive HP. Then about technology, more EVs, but and Picasso had a child while on there is Frankfurt, which has be- even more connectivity and ma- LSD! It was simultaneously weird, come a combination of new styling chine-to-machine communication odd and disturbing. concepts, dreams and hyper- that will lead to autonomy. performance. The buzz word at Ford is Barely Any… So where does LA fit, specifi- “Mobility”. That means things like Sad to say, but there was barely cally as Southern CA is where new changing the business model to any Lotus content at the LA Auto trends are set and where “Car- “Subscription”. The user Show this year. I found a lonely Culture” perhaps burns more (subscriber) “rents” the vehicle a green Evora 400 shown by Galpin brightly than anywhere else in the month at a time. Everything is in- Lotus on display. That’s it! world? In two words, it's technology cluded in the subscription cost and ecology. It should be no surprise, then, that major car brands use LA to roll out their most cutting-edge technol- ogy (the Silicon Valley effect) and clean-vehicle technology. The buzz words this year were: EV, Auton- omy and Mobility.

“The Crystal Ball Says…” Then we ask: how are the key car makers positioning themselves for the next 10 years? If you ask GM, BMW, MBZ, Ford, Mazda, Toyota, Volvo, Renault-Nissan, Honda, Fiat-Chrysler or any other automaker what they will be doing in 10 years, you will likely come away confused as no two companies seem to have the same thoughts or strategic plan. They are all starting to hedge their bets, though. For example, BMW announced they will intro- duce at least 20 EVs (BMW & Mini) by 2025. Rumor has it that all Minis will be electric by 2025, and page 11 Anti-Football Drive January 27, 2018 by Kiyoshi Hamai The GGLC Annual Anti- Football Drive is planned for Saturday, January 27, 2018. This year we explore the North Bay where we will enjoy the roads around Mt Tam on this casual, moderate-paced drive. The road conditions are always iffy at this time of the year so Photo Credit: Vince Chiaro the pace will take into consid- eration recent conditions and  After a stop, we return San Francisco Bay Model: current weather at the time of down Ridgecrest going past The Bay Model is a few the drive. Pan Toll Rd and continuing blocks from Avatar's. The Bay

on Ridgecrest. Model is maintained by the Start:  Then right at Fairfax- Army Corps of Engineers, and Meet at 9:00 AM at Star- Bolinas Rd and on to Boli- it has been in operation for over bucks in Strawberry Village in nas Rd to Fairfax. 50 years. The model has been Mill Valley (306 Strawberry  Right at Stop Sign and con- used to study the effects of Village, Mill Valley). tinue on Center Blvd and weather and human develop- For GPS/Map directions enter: follow signs to Ross. ment on the hydrology of the 800 Redwood Highway, Mill  Next right onto Sir Francis San Francisco, San Pablo and Valley, CA. Drake and follow signs onto Suisun Bay systems. Bay If you’re coming from San Hwy 101 South. Model - 2100 Bridgeway, Sau- Francisco on 101 N, use Exit  Exit Hwy 101 and head to- salito, CA 94965 - #446 (Seminary Drive) and wards Sausalito. spn.usace.army.mil then left at the signal.  Once on Bridgeway, we

stop for lunch at Avatar's IMPORTANT: We will depart from Star- Restaurant located at the An RSVP by January 24 is bucks at 9:30 AM sharp. corner of Coloma and required for the Lunch and

Bridgeway. Bay Model stops! Route Description: Email me at: The route will be straight- Lunch: [email protected] forward and easy to follow. The No-host lunch  From Starbucks, we cross will be at Avatar's at 101 into Mill Valley. 2656 Bridgeway, Sau-  We will wind through Mill salito, CA 94965 Valley and up to the Pano- (415) 332-8083. ramic Hwy via Edgewood Lunch will be from and Sequoia Valley Rd. 11:30ish to 1:00 PM.  From Panoramic Hwy, we

veer right onto Pan Toll Rd

at Mt Tamalpais State Park.

 Then right at Ridgecrest to

the top of Mt Tamalpais.

page 12 For Sale: '72 Twin records. Included is the original Classifieds Cam, 4 speed, 49,491 miles, clean starter, fan and exhaust manifold. (non-commercial ads are free to GGLC members title, CA registration "72Lotus". No carburetor, and other parts may and will run for 2 issues before requiring renewal) Very good condition, runs well, no also be missing. I have no idea of For Sale: '69 Elan DHC, re- CA smog required. Class winner the actual condition of the motor. It stored and upgraded to the high- UBSCC Dixon All British Car could be perfect, or it could need a est standard. Body-off restora- Show and Auburn Valley Country complete rebuild. I'm not a me- tion completed in 2007, 500 road Club, 2003, numerous other class chanic so I'd recommend taking a trophies. $25K OBO. Car is lo- look. $400. Also For Sale: Weber miles since restoration. Numer- cated in Sacramento. 32/36mm carburetor and a mani- ous upgrades including fully fold for a British Ford Crossflow. built, dynoed motor; completely Contact Brian at (916) 474-9130 Both are used and in great condi- new interior and custom dash; or bonjjovi13—at—gmail.com tion. $150. Items are located in So- roll bar with side impact mem- Cal. bers; 26R headlight conversion; For Sale: 1300cc British Ford mo- tor removed from a '68/9 Escort Contact Brent at (661) 644-6057 or adjustable coil overs; alloy ra- showing ~ 80K miles. The motor brentcar—at—pacbell.net diator; steel braided brake lines; has been sitting ~ 3 years and turns cartridge water pump; aluminum over freely by hand. It has some bell housing; HD oil pump; newer parts so it was possibly re- more. Full documentation, re- built at some point, but I have no ceipts, and photos available. Car The Chapman Report is published bi-monthly by the Golden Gate Lotus is located in Stinson Beach. Club, PO Box 3903, Redwood City, CA 94064. The GGLC is a non-profit $49,500.00, Firm. incorporated car club, and it is not affiliated with Group Lotus, or Lotus Cars USA. The GGLC’s annual membership dues are $25.00. Opinions expressed in Contact Dan at (415) 868-2426 the Chapman Report are those of the authors and do not represent those of the GGLC or its officers. or dmf332—at—yahoo.com. Contributions to the Chapman Report are accepted and encouraged. Please email them to chapmanreport-at-gglotus.org in MS Word, rtf or ASCII text. For 2018, the GGLC Officers are: President—Jackie Feakins, Vice Presi- dent—Jenni Dietsch, Treasurer—Laura Hamai, Event Coordinators—John Zender & Scott Hogben, Membership Chairman—David Ellis, Secretary— Scott Hogben. Chapman Report Staff: Editor—Joel Lipkin; Copy Editor—Noni Richen; Circulation Management Team—Tom & Cherie Carney. Advertising Manager—Mel Boss, MultiMedia Producer/Editor—Ben Beames, Website

Manager—Kiyoshi Hamai.

PO Box 3903, Redwood City, CA 94064 94064 CA City, Redwood 3903, Box PO

Club Lotus Gate Golden The