What's your story?...

[The_Bishop]

Hi, all.

Been trolling about for the past couple of months and decided it time for a quick introduction:

As a long-time Sportscar International reader, my first into to the Elise was through the wonderful pages of that great mag. My first in-the-flesh sighting was in a car park shortly after beginning work assignment in the Midlands of the UK, Spring 2002. My first drive occurred on the tarmac of Silverstone during a “Supercar Experience” in March of ’05. The love affair deepened later that day as I was hurtled around the circuit properly by the capable hands of a professional F3 driver. As an MG driver for the past 11yrs, my mind has flitted from cobra replica to boxster, but there’s no denying the capability, sex appeal, and purpose of a Lotus. I look forward to answering the question next spring, “Are you a Lotus driver?” My answer will be a resounding, “ Damn straight!”

From my trolling over the past few months, I’ve noted this to be a fun-loving group, a gathering of a diverse family sharing talents and celebrating with enthusiasm the community of Lotus. What a cool place to be.

A buddy of mine calls this my bobblehead photo:



What’s your story?

Cheers!

- Al.

[skiddo]

the story is still unfolding, welcome bobblehead al!

[milehitom]

Yours is pretty hard on to top! I like the British flag coming out of your helmet...how do you get in the car with that?

Anyway, First intro: Discovery Channel 1997 or '98, when I saw the making of the 111 documentary. Very intrigued, but I knew it would never come to America.

Second intro: Top Gear 2003, when they tested the 156bhp Rover-powered S2. Wowed by that video. Third intro: Car and Driver's review of the Federal Elise. Thrilled, I began dropping hints all over the place to my wife...at which point, she scheduled a test drive for me the second one showed up at Ferrari of Denver. I test drove it on a snowy day in December. When I climbed out after the drive (and, man, did Mike let me open her up!), the smile on my face communicated everything my wife needed to know. "Let's write it up, " she said. That was my first in-the-flesh-sighting, BTW.

Best day: When Roland Linder (racer and driving intructor) whipped my car with me in it around Pikes Peak Intl raceway for 12 insane laps.

Tom

[Stig Wannabe]

I've been aware of the Elise since Romano Artioli announced it would be produced and named after his grand daughter. I've read about Elises and Exiges scores of times in various English and American magazines, but I never really felt a strong need for one until recently when my brother and another automotive enthusiast friend of mine were talking about our "attainable dream garages". Recent HPDE sessions has us all thinking that we needed something affordable yet trackable. My initial choice was a used BMW M Coupe. Shortly afterward, I was at the European Auto Festival at the BMW Zentrum in SC. There were a couple or three Elises there, and with them fresh in my mind I began to read about them with even more interest online. I found PureSportsCar.com first, but Larry's posts there led me to here.

So, I don't have one yet (still making up for recent financial sins), but I hope to acquire one within the next couple of years. My brother will probably have his by this spring, so that's only going to make me long for one all the more.

My sighting of one in the flesh: S1 Elise in London, England, 1999

My first experience behind the wheel: about three weeks ago, courtesy of the ever-kind and generous DragonRider1