Moving to MN - Looking for other Lotus Drivers - LotusTalk

swede · 12-12-2008, 04:59 AM

I just finalized my arrangement for my next work assigment and I will be moving to Duluth, MN.

I initially thought about selling the Elise but after doing some research on the roads up there I am keeping it. (For none snow days

)

I know there are a few Lotus cars in MN, and that is probably the dealer I have to use as well.

So if anyone lives in the area of the frozen tundra please let me know, I would like to get together for some driving in the spring.

Mats

ajp33 · 12-12-2008, 05:20 AM

NOOOO! A fellow Nightfall Blue owner can't leave the area! Who can I convoy to LOG29 with now?

(Just kidding. When do you head out? Any chance to meet up before you dissapear?)

swede · 12-12-2008, 05:43 AM

Starting January 1st

But I will have to sell my house in Cleveland first so I will be back and forth for a while. Lets make sure that we can get together for a beer or two in the spring, Lotus weather prefered

Conan · 12-12-2008, 05:46 AM

Unfortunately, I'm way down in Rochester. Duluth is about the same distance as Madison, WI --4 hours.

Hope you like cold weather. I'm trying to move to NC. Too freakin' cold here. At least you'll have some beautiful scenery around you. Maybe all of us MN lotus folks can meet in The Cities this summer.

teekster · 12-13-2008, 04:16 PM

Most of our cars are asleep for the LONG winter. Look us up in the spring. Otherwise, the LOON group seems to meet fairly regularly.

Esprit2 · 12-16-2008, 08:07 AM

Swede,

The LOON is based in the Cities, about 3 hours south of Duluth (Dahlute). You can contact the club through me, I'm the membership secretary.
TSEngel@comcast.net

If you like to do track days, Brainerd International Raceway is the closest road course. New ownership has extensively revised the track to make it more sportscar friendly, and is trying to set up regular motorsports/ trackday events. Blackhawk Farms and Elkhart Lake are doable, but they're both a trek from Duluth.

Anything Minnesota autocross related is posted on mnautox dot com Redirect. The website includes a forum and an events calendar, both of which will help you stay in touch with autocross and some trackdays. The Minnesota Autosports Club owns the site, but all clubs that sponsor autocross & trackday events, including the SCCA, post their events on the MAC/mnautox calendar.

The InterMarque is a Twin Cities club of European sportscar clubs, including the LOON. It only sponsors one event of its own per year, the Spring Banquet and Car Show, but it is a info clearing house that allows the various clubs to share activities. You should connect with the InterMarque when you get settled.

There's an InterMarque Breakfast every Saturday morning, year 'round. Fred A. is an Austin Healey owner who lives outside Carlton (just outside Duluth), and he drives down for the breakfast more often than not. If you're interested, I'll introduce you to him and you can work out a car-pool with him.

There is an Esprit owner in Duluth, but he's not been responsive. He posted on another Lotus forum a couple of times when he needed repair help, then went silent. You might ask around up there (up Nordt), but I don't have any hints on where to find him.

In the meantime, you should pick up a copy of "How to Speak Minnesotan: A Visitor's Guide", by Howard Mohr. You should at least have a few basic survival phrases nailed down before you arrive.

Good luck with the house sale and the move... and all that jazz.

Regards,
Tim Engel

lawn guy · 12-29-2008, 12:38 AM

Good luck with the move! We will have to meet up sometime I love duluth and would love to live there one day. Hopefully this summer I can make a trip in the exige up there and we can meet up.

Good Luck
Justin

greenwar · 12-29-2008, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swede

I just finalized my arrangement for my next work assigment and I will be moving to Duluth, MN.

I initially thought about selling the Elise but after doing some research on the roads up there I am keeping it. (For none snow days

)

I know there are a few Lotus cars in MN, and that is probably the dealer I have to use as well.

So if anyone lives in the area of the frozen tundra please let me know, I would like to get together for some driving in the spring.

Mats

I went to school in Duluth in the early 2000s

It's a great city in summer. But, the winter is horrible. Lake effect snow plus high winds with below 0F windchill makes it a tough place to survive.

Duluth almost has no highways. There is only I35 which you will occasionally get on to go from the east end to the west end of the town (and vice versa). Then there is HWY 61 which goes north. HWY 61 actually is a great road for spring drives. Most of HWY61 goes next to Lake Superior.

BTW, You would want some snow tires on your vehicles for winter driving. Duluth is very hilly.

Last but not least, if I can help you in answering any question please feel free to send me a pm.

swede · 12-29-2008, 05:52 AM

Thanks for the great info Gent's.

Mats

shinoo · 12-29-2008, 08:01 AM

Duluth is beautiful. I used to get an early snowboard fix there as the slopes were usually open by Turkey Day. If you love the outdoors, you are in God's country! remember, there is no such thing as bad weather - just inappropriate clothing!

I lived in MN for almost 10 yrs and found it a great place to live.

swede · 12-29-2008, 08:03 AM

Thanks Shinoo,
Looking forward to the snow since I like skiing and snow mobiling

thomasde · 12-29-2008, 08:32 AM

I am also moving to Minnesota! Will be there in early February, living in downtown Minneapolis. My Lotus, however will NOT be asleep in the winter. I'll just be putting the Pirelli Snowsport tyres on it in the Fall and taking transit when I can. Thanks for the tip on LOON. There's no doubt that the group is from Minnesota if it has the word "Oftha" in its name!

Esprit2 · 12-29-2008, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomasde

I am also moving to Minnesota! Will be there in early February, living in downtown Minneapolis.

Is living downtown "the plan", or is that a temporary set-up while you look for permanent living space? If it's a stepping stone, then ask and we can probably give you some tips and opinions on where to look. If not on this forum, then perhaps within the club.

Rush-hour traffic into and out of downtown is no fun; so if you're going to work downtown, then there could be an advantage to living downtown. Just step into the Skyway system and you can go just about anywhere in shirtsleeve comfort. On the other hand, downtown is not the best sports car environment. Seriously not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomasde

My Lotus, however will NOT be asleep in the winter. I'll just be putting the Pirelli Snowsport tyres on it in the Fall and taking transit when I can.

There's a fellow in Stillwater who drives his Elise year 'round; but for the most part, the specialty-cars in this neck of the woods usually go into hibernation over the winter. We can talk about the whys and wherefores if you wish, but I strongly suggest you trailor your Lotus in and find a safe place to park it until Spring.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomasde

Thanks for the tip on LOON. There's no doubt that the group is from Minnesota if it has the word "Oftha" in its name!

Never take yourself too seriously...
;-)

Regards,
Tim Engel

MNlotus · 12-29-2008, 09:21 PM

There are quite a few people from the southern cities that like to meet up and go for drives.
Dan

Esprit2 · 01-25-2009, 03:44 PM

Have you moved to Duluth yet? You've been pretty quiet.

For car stuff, try these guys...

Arrowhead Sports Car Club - Duluth, Minnesota
Attn: Tim Winker

Not many ASCC members own sports cars in the traditional 2-seater sense, but they're into motorsports and fast driving.

Regards,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North

craracer · 01-25-2009, 09:53 PM

Newbie here, and my maiden post. I live North of St. Paul. I'm flying out to California on Tuesday. With any luck, I'll be shipping an Elise back.

You are going to enjoy the weather here (Ok, maybe not. It's going to be minus 15F tonight).

Esprit2 · 01-26-2009, 07:03 AM

You have Lotus company over there. How far north of St. Paul?

I hope your Elise deal goes through. This is a tough time of year to buy a new toy. Great in terms of favorable pricing, but it will be a frustrating several months waiting for the roads to clear off so you can play with it. You'll just have to sit in it in the garage and make motor noises. Be careful of chapped lips.

Later,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North

Jeff and Pamela · 01-26-2009, 07:06 AM

Welcome, we're north of St.Paul also.

Jeff and Pamela

Quote:

Originally Posted by craracer

Newbie here, and my maiden post. I live North of St. Paul. I'm flying out to California on Tuesday. With any luck, I'll be shipping an Elise back.

You are going to enjoy the weather here (Ok, maybe not. It's going to be minus 15F tonight).

craracer · 01-26-2009, 09:18 AM

I'm just North of WBL.

I'll be leaving in the morning and returning on Wednesday night. Time permitting, I will be looking at 4 cars. Man is this stressful! I can't tell if it's excitement or stress.

I've got a transport company lined up and the garage is prepped for it's arrival. Fingers crossed!

swede · 01-26-2009, 05:38 PM

I have not driven my Elise up here yet, just put the house in OH up for sale. Trying to find something here in Duluth with a four car garage whiche seems hard. Best I found is a three car

Let me know if you buy an Elise. We are only a couple of hours apart and it would be fun to go for a drive when some of the snow has melted.

Good luck!

12-12-2008, 04:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
swede Stick a fork in it Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gone byebye Posts: 831	Moving to MN - Looking for other Lotus Drivers I just finalized my arrangement for my next work assigment and I will be moving to Duluth, MN. I initially thought about selling the Elise but after doing some research on the roads up there I am keeping it. (For none snow days ) I know there are a few Lotus cars in MN, and that is probably the dealer I have to use as well. So if anyone lives in the area of the frozen tundra please let me know, I would like to get together for some driving in the spring. Mats __________________ R44

12-12-2008, 05:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
swede Stick a fork in it Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gone byebye Posts: 831	Starting January 1st But I will have to sell my house in Cleveland first so I will be back and forth for a while. Lets make sure that we can get together for a beer or two in the spring, Lotus weather prefered __________________ R44

12-12-2008, 05:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
Conan with future lotus driver Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 2,122 Images: 24	Unfortunately, I'm way down in Rochester. Duluth is about the same distance as Madison, WI --4 hours. Hope you like cold weather. I'm trying to move to NC. Too freakin' cold here. At least you'll have some beautiful scenery around you. Maybe all of us MN lotus folks can meet in The Cities this summer. __________________ Fast in, fast out. 2006 BRG Lotus Elise, 2010 Honda Fit (gas miser), 2007 Honda Odyssey (the wife's)

12-13-2008, 04:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
teekster Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Minnetrista, MN Posts: 706	Most of our cars are asleep for the LONG winter. Look us up in the spring. Otherwise, the LOON group seems to meet fairly regularly. __________________ 2005 Lotus Elise 2008 Land Rover RR 2008 Jaguar XJ Vanden Plas

12-16-2008, 08:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
Esprit2 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 86	Lotus Owners Oftha North (LOON) - Twin Cities Swede, The LOON is based in the Cities, about 3 hours south of Duluth (Dahlute). You can contact the club through me, I'm the membership secretary. TSEngel@comcast.net If you like to do track days, Brainerd International Raceway is the closest road course. New ownership has extensively revised the track to make it more sportscar friendly, and is trying to set up regular motorsports/ trackday events. Blackhawk Farms and Elkhart Lake are doable, but they're both a trek from Duluth. Anything Minnesota autocross related is posted on mnautox dot com Redirect. The website includes a forum and an events calendar, both of which will help you stay in touch with autocross and some trackdays. The Minnesota Autosports Club owns the site, but all clubs that sponsor autocross & trackday events, including the SCCA, post their events on the MAC/mnautox calendar. The InterMarque is a Twin Cities club of European sportscar clubs, including the LOON. It only sponsors one event of its own per year, the Spring Banquet and Car Show, but it is a info clearing house that allows the various clubs to share activities. You should connect with the InterMarque when you get settled. There's an InterMarque Breakfast every Saturday morning, year 'round. Fred A. is an Austin Healey owner who lives outside Carlton (just outside Duluth), and he drives down for the breakfast more often than not. If you're interested, I'll introduce you to him and you can work out a car-pool with him. There is an Esprit owner in Duluth, but he's not been responsive. He posted on another Lotus forum a couple of times when he needed repair help, then went silent. You might ask around up there (up Nordt), but I don't have any hints on where to find him. In the meantime, you should pick up a copy of "How to Speak Minnesotan: A Visitor's Guide", by Howard Mohr. You should at least have a few basic survival phrases nailed down before you arrive. Good luck with the house sale and the move... and all that jazz. Regards, Tim Engel

12-12-2008, 05:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
ajp33 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sunny Pittsburgh Posts: 687	NOOOO! A fellow Nightfall Blue owner can't leave the area! Who can I convoy to LOG29 with now? (Just kidding. When do you head out? Any chance to meet up before you dissapear?)

12-29-2008, 12:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
lawn guy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: mn Posts: 64	Good luck with the move! We will have to meet up sometime I love duluth and would love to live there one day. Hopefully this summer I can make a trip in the exige up there and we can meet up. Good Luck Justin __________________ 06' Exige-Aspen White, Ohlins, Larini Sport SE Exhaust, Larini Decat

12-29-2008, 05:52 AM	#9 (permalink)
swede Stick a fork in it Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gone byebye Posts: 831	Thanks for the great info Gent's. Mats __________________ R44

12-29-2008, 08:01 AM	#10 (permalink)
shinoo Project Nirvana Elise Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 2,709	Duluth is beautiful. I used to get an early snowboard fix there as the slopes were usually open by Turkey Day. If you love the outdoors, you are in God's country! remember, there is no such thing as bad weather - just inappropriate clothing! I lived in MN for almost 10 yrs and found it a great place to live. __________________ shinoo sector 111 - tasty bits for your elise & exige

12-29-2008, 08:03 AM	#11 (permalink)
swede Stick a fork in it Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gone byebye Posts: 831	Thanks Shinoo, Looking forward to the snow since I like skiing and snow mobiling __________________ R44

12-29-2008, 08:32 AM	#12 (permalink)
thomasde Calls it Mr. Bigglesworth Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 68	I am also moving to Minnesota! Will be there in early February, living in downtown Minneapolis. My Lotus, however will NOT be asleep in the winter. I'll just be putting the Pirelli Snowsport tyres on it in the Fall and taking transit when I can. Thanks for the tip on LOON. There's no doubt that the group is from Minnesota if it has the word "Oftha" in its name! __________________ Daily driver: Arctic Silver 2005 Lotus Elise. Weekend toy: Arctic Silver 2005 Lotus Elise. Road tripper: Arctic Silver 2005 Lotus Elise.

12-29-2008, 09:21 PM	#14 (permalink)
MNlotus 06 elise Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: apple valley MN Posts: 901	There are quite a few people from the southern cities that like to meet up and go for drives. Dan __________________ 2006 Lotus Elise-way too many mods to list (k24 swap planned. 300+whp) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjIcCsvhWvY 2003 Caterham Super Seven DeDion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1ysO...e=channel_page 2008 Maserati Quattroporte Executive GT

01-25-2009, 03:44 PM	#15 (permalink)
Esprit2 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 86	Duluth Car Club Have you moved to Duluth yet? You've been pretty quiet. For car stuff, try these guys... Arrowhead Sports Car Club - Duluth, Minnesota Attn: Tim Winker Not many ASCC members own sports cars in the traditional 2-seater sense, but they're into motorsports and fast driving. Regards, Tim Engel Lotus Owners Oftha North Last edited by Esprit2 : 01-26-2009 at 07:16 AM.

01-25-2009, 09:53 PM	#16 (permalink)
craracer eTard Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 296	Newbie here, and my maiden post. I live North of St. Paul. I'm flying out to California on Tuesday. With any luck, I'll be shipping an Elise back. You are going to enjoy the weather here (Ok, maybe not. It's going to be minus 15F tonight).

01-26-2009, 07:03 AM	#17 (permalink)
Esprit2 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 86	North of St Paul You have Lotus company over there. How far north of St. Paul? I hope your Elise deal goes through. This is a tough time of year to buy a new toy. Great in terms of favorable pricing, but it will be a frustrating several months waiting for the roads to clear off so you can play with it. You'll just have to sit in it in the garage and make motor noises. Be careful of chapped lips. Later, Tim Engel Lotus Owners Oftha North Last edited by Esprit2 : 01-26-2009 at 07:17 AM.

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01-26-2009, 09:18 AM	#19 (permalink)
craracer eTard Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 296	I'm just North of WBL. I'll be leaving in the morning and returning on Wednesday night. Time permitting, I will be looking at 4 cars. Man is this stressful! I can't tell if it's excitement or stress. I've got a transport company lined up and the garage is prepped for it's arrival. Fingers crossed!

01-26-2009, 05:38 PM	#20 (permalink)
swede Stick a fork in it Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gone byebye Posts: 831	I have not driven my Elise up here yet, just put the house in OH up for sale. Trying to find something here in Duluth with a four car garage whiche seems hard. Best I found is a three car Let me know if you buy an Elise. We are only a couple of hours apart and it would be fun to go for a drive when some of the snow has melted. Good luck! __________________ R44