Local Lotus Club Los Angeles/Ventura

[shay2nak]

Originally Posted by mopho

That same flat bed and picked me up on the side of the PCH (the alternator went on the Seven) right after the MC12. The tow truck operators were telling me about it and showed me pics on the phone. Apparently the clutch blew up on the car. They said the car only had a few hundred miles on it.

They liked the Seven better, took pics of themselves with it.

oh really? ...nice!

Originally Posted by mopho

I read on another forum that the Maser was pulled over by the PoPo today on the 10

LOL

[muttpep]

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f3/l...angeles-59092/


Thought there should be a link...

[muttpep]

Originally Posted by kgalgas

Not sure how many of us joined or got our car after May 06, but I bet a fair number were not there, but just an idea.

Someone mentioned going up to Santa Ynez and do some wine tasting. While I enjoy my wine, but driving fast cars with this bunch after drinking wine, is flirting with disaster. We would need a team medical car and flatbed truck picking up pieces of fiberglass for the side of the road. Could model the Tour de France support vehicles for the drive. Oh yeah, you guys looking for spare parts, just wait until after the drive, there will be plenty in every color available.

I like both ideas. Hearst Castle would be cool.

As for the Wine Tasting, my wife and I just did that and took a Limo around to actually do the tasting. If we had a decent sized group, we could probabaly get the Limo price down around $75 per person and maybe even negotiate a decent price on hotel rooms for the night too.

[kgalgas]

Originally Posted by muttpep

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f3/l...angeles-59092/


Thought there should be a link...

The problem with this is the time place and route is all disclosed, and POPO's monitor these sites, they could send a task force to wait for us to pass by, and it would be like using a shot gun to fish in a barrel.

[delise]

Originally Posted by kgalgas

Not sure how many of us joined or got our car after May 06, but I bet a fair number were not there, but just an idea.

Someone mentioned going up to Santa Ynez and do some wine tasting. While I enjoy my wine, but driving fast cars with this bunch after drinking wine, is flirting with disaster. We would need a team medical car and flatbed truck picking up pieces of fiberglass for the side of the road. Could model the Tour de France support vehicles for the drive. Oh yeah, you guys looking for spare parts, just wait until after the drive, there will be plenty in every color available.

Wine tasting does not = getting drunk or even a little tippsy unless you have a drinking problem. If we drove around to several different tasting rooms they have spit buckets for tasting and spitting, you TASTE the wine then spit it out, not drink the wine, mainly except for a few swallows of something that was great...... I have done it 3 times in my Elise and had a great - safe - not drunk time doing it, you taste their wines, buy some and enjoy it at the hotel or home. Also The hotel I mentioned staying overnight at is within walking distance of a great winery called Palmina, We could also have dinner at the real Hitching Post in Casmalia, I know the roads pretty well and they are really fun , no traffic, it is actually on Vandenburg afb, no cops either ! Hearst Castle is in San Luis Obispo, it would be a really long journey for a day trip, we would probably want to stay in Avilla beach, I know of a great Lotus friendly hotel there... we could also swing by Smith Lotus in SLO and say hi.

Hitching Post Casmalia has some great twisties
hitching post casmalia - Google Maps

[kgalgas]

[quote=delise;1052293]Wine tasting does not = getting drunk or even a little tippsy. If we drove around to several different vineyards they have spit buckets for tasting, you TASTE the wine, not drink the wine mainly except for a few swallows of something that was great...... I have done it 3 times in my Elise and had a great - safe - not drunk time doing it, you taste their wines, buy some and enjoy it at the hotel or home. Also The hotel I mentioned staying overnight at is within walking distance of a great winery called Palmina, We could also have dinner at the real Hitching Post in Casmalia, I know the roads pretty well and they are really fun , no traffic, it is actually on Vandenburg afb, no cops either ! Hearst Castle is in San Luis Obispo, it would be a really long journey for a day trip, we would probably want to stay in Avilla beach, I know of a great Lotus friendly hotel there...

I was being a little sarcastic about the wine tasting, chaulk this up to not eating the whole day and got carried away.

As far as a BBQ, I PM Hal and told him we could meet at my house (other side of Kanan- 1.5 miles off the 101), to have our meeting. Thought we could pot luck/ BBQ. Met at the house, and drop off the food, then go for a drive and come back fire up the BBQ, blender, etc. and socialize after. Those so daring could dip in the pool to cool themselves off after a hot drive.

[delise]

Originally Posted by kgalgas

I was being a little sarcastic about the wine tasting, chaulk this up to not eating the whole day and got carried away.

As far as a BBQ, I PM Hal and told him we could meet at my house (other side of Kanan- 1.5 miles off the 101), to have our meeting. Thought we could pot luck/ BBQ. Met at the house, and drop off the food, then go for a drive and come back fire up the BBQ, blender, etc. and socialize after. Those so daring could dip in the pool to cool themselves off after a hot drive.

Sounds great and we could see the Ferrari ! Also have you and or your son been up to Greystone mansion in north Beverly Hills? Was built by the Dohey family, pretty damn ritzy but not as massive as Hearst, but for you would be a fun drive down mullholland or sunset from your place

Greystone Mansion

[RachElise]

I have an amazing connection at Hearst Castle thru my job. The curator there is also a car guy, i have known him for years.
If we decide to do Hearst, and call a few weeks ahead, we may be able to get a private tour (and see all the stuff that no one else gets to see!)

[kgalgas]

Originally Posted by delise

Sounds great and we could see the Ferrari ! Also have you and or your son been up to Greystone mansion in north Beverly Hills? Was built by the Dohey family, pretty damn ritzy but not as massive as Hearst, but for you would be a fun drive down mullholland or sunset from your place

Greystone Mansion

No we have not been to Greystone.

I dropped the Ferrari off yesterday to have bottom and the roof painted. It should be back by the week-end, pre-1991 style was a 2 tone look, hence the black lower panels, with low profile tires on black 19 inch HRE rims, the bottom just blends in with the shadows and black top. This will bring the line down lower, which it is already, I have to be careful driving over speed bumps, it is lower than the Lotus.

[SKYVUE]

These are AWESOME ideas!!!!

But after the "LOTUS STAR TRIP" on July 26th, I'm getting a bit burned out as to organizing and leading events!!
I want to "participate" for a while, not "lead"!

I was roped to organize and lead a "Miata Mt Wilson" trip, culminates with the HUGE 100 year old 60" reflector at Mt Wilson for the evening! So, i got to lead a bunch of Miatas (I'll be driving my Elise) through the great roads to Mt Wilson, and guide the use of the behemoth telescope Saturday August 30th.
It WILL BE AWESOME!
But I'm burned out.

Can anyone take the reigns and set up the next event? Please?

THANKS!

--Hal

[SKYVUE]

Originally Posted by RachElise

I have an amazing connection at Hearst Castle thru my job. The curator there is also a car guy, i have known him for years.
If we decide to do Hearst, and call a few weeks ahead, we may be able to get a private tour (and see all the stuff that no one else gets to see!)

now THAT is WONDEFUL!!! Thanks Rachel!

Can you start this up, make calls? If you want, I'll help you. I'm sure there will be others in our group that can set up the Lotus Friendly hotel, arrangements etc.

Thanks Rachel! Put us on your list!

--Hal & Terry '05 Saffron Yellow Elise

[kgalgas]

Originally Posted by SKYVUE

now THAT is WONDEFUL!!! Thanks Rachel!

Can you start this up, make calls? If you want, I'll help you. I'm sure there will be others in our group that can set up the Lotus Friendly hotel, arrangements etc.

Thanks Rachel! Put us on your list!

--Hal & Terry '05 Saffron Yellow Elise

This sounds great. My suggestion was also to see if the NoCal Lotus people would be interested, but this thread may not be on their radar. But this may also depend on group size, e.g. private tour.

[delise]

I am cross posting in these 2 threads since they seem to be perfect for what we are trying to do and an out / picnic / back drive is one of the ideas we had from the meeting, and Chris is leading the pack so Hal can be a follower for once and enjoy the drive and not plan a thing ! http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f3/l...angeles-59092/

[RachElise]

it was nice meeting you in calabasas the other day, hal!
i sent an email to the curator today. will call him tomorrow too.
i would be more than happy to organize this event!

last time we were up he took us to all the back doors and passageways that his mistress, marion davies, would use to avoid millicent (mrs. hearst)
thats something not on the regular tour!

[gameson]

If the hearst castle event comes to reality, I am IN!!! Never been there before, so it should be fun!!

[LarryB]

Originally Posted by kgalgas

This sounds great. My suggestion was also to see if the NoCal Lotus people would be interested, but this thread may not be on their radar. But this may also depend on group size, e.g. private tour.

Sure, teaming up to make it a Nor/SoCal get together sounds great. Was around there for the last WCLM. And have done a Golden State Rally (GSR) with MR2 folks for a long weekend several times, so know of a few fun roads in the area. If the timing works out I could pitch in. Then again I take care of the GGLC autox, plan on doing the WCLM up north as well as get in some track days... so don't have too much free time.

[local600]

Originally Posted by kgalgas

The problem with this is the time place and route is all disclosed, and POPO's monitor these sites, they could send a task force to wait for us to pass by, and it would be like using a shot gun to fish in a barrel.

Sorry, I did not know that. Of course, you've got to be careful wherever you go and Mt. Wilson is no exception. They are busting super bikes up there all the time. Take it easy and enjoy the scenery. When it feels safe, let the foot get heavy. It's no different from Kanan or any of those other canyon runs in that respect.

[delise]

For the SLO Hearst castle run I recommend this hotel in Avila beach, so it has excellent Lotus Friendly spacious parking, it is quite and near the beach, each room has a fireplace and some have hot tubs on the balcony according to cost. They are super friendly and I am guessing would set us up for a group rate and special parking, I have stayed there twice with my Elise, also you get a free continental breakfast

Avila Village Inn (Avila Beach, CA) - Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor

You can see the parking and zoom out on the location here, it is about a 50 mile drive to Hearst castle, from my experience the hotels right around Hearst Castle are truck stop type kind of crappy places

avila beach inn - Google Maps

there are also some fun twisties on the way from the hotel to Hearst castle ! There is a pretty good seafood place in Morro bay called Windows on the water and there is good Lotus parking in town, and there are some cheaper hotels in Morro for those that don't want to pop for the Avila inn.

We could also still do an evening dinner drive down to Hitching Post Casmalia, it is a ways but lots of fun twisties ! Downtown SLO has some nice modern Lotus
friendly parking structures that I have parked my Elise in, and there are a lot of good places to eat. Locals please feel free to chime in and maybe we can coordinate a meet & greet at Smith Lotus downtown as well - they are behind some of the US Lotus racing league concepts - Smith Lotus San Luis Obispo California - Lotus for sale sales Elise Lotus Exige Lotus Cars Dealer California Lotus Dealership - Lotus Dealers

[delise]

Originally Posted by local600

Sorry, I did not know that. Of course, you've got to be careful wherever you go and Mt. Wilson is no exception. They are busting super bikes up there all the time. Take it easy and enjoy the scenery. When it feels safe, let the foot get heavy. It's no different from Kanan or any of those other canyon runs in that respect.

Seriously - don't sweat it, I highly doubt the CHP has the resources to monitor the multitude of LA car/motorcycle/scooter enthusiast sites and set up ambushes on the fly, and of those that they choose to monitor, I would guess the NOPI tuner, motorcycle, Harley and hot rod sites would top their list over obscure British sports car sites. I think you are totally good and safe with your run. The annual all British car "drive to no where" posts it's route and itinerary every year and last year had a big turnout, not one cop to be seen the whole time, great drive and up in the area you are talking about.

[RachElise]

For any that are interested, I propose we do a Hearst Castle run. I'm thinking meet in 1000 oaks/calabasas. drive up early morning, Saturday August 16, have lunch in San Simeon, then go to the castle.

We would not be able to get a private tour (they do not do them during the summer, and the curator doesn't work weekends) but we can get discount "regular" tour tickets. The best tour for first timers is the Experience Tour, which lasts about and hour and 45 minutes. There are other tours available as well, please check Experience Tour for more info.

My contact recommended a hotel, Best Western Cavalier (805-927-4688) who would give us a discount, if we ask for the manager Lou Fletcher. He said that the hotel is actually very nice and pretty close to the castle.

We could have dinner in San Simeon or Cambria, and he has recommended several restaurants in the area.

For those who would want to stay over till Sunday, we could do brunch, then either return to the Castle for a second tour (Gardens, Upper Floors of Casa Grande, etc) or go to Pasa Robles for a (small!) wine tasting, which is about 12 miles inland from Hearst.
Any thoughts?