Elisetalk Trip to UK Aug-Sept 2007

[Randy Chase]

A new year, a new thread.
THE TRIP IS ON. THIS WILL HAPPEN. RESERVATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. TICKETS BOUGHT. NOW YOU NEED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN ON YOUR END. We think that as the time approaches, the spots will be sold out. So until then it is being done on a basis of money received.

THIS IS GOING TO BE AN AWESOME TRIP! Imagine going all around England with a group of friends sharing an experience that you will long remember. This will be a good time!

First, let's get some business out of the way:

I need to start making a list of names. These will be commitments that will need to be followed by a deposit to hold your reservation. We need to do this because we will be prepaying for your spots in advance (Lotus track day, Goodwood, transportation, etc). Should one need to cancel, everything will be done that we can to accommodate you and find a replacement/refund.

edit to add pricing info

Pricing is as follows. Contact us for any special arrangements please!

Price includes-

Coach (with driver) transportation from London, Monday at around noon until Friday night back to London. Coach is a high quality bus with on-board restroom, AC/Heating, double glazed panoramic windows, video players, reclining seats and more.

Lodging Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights in Bury St Edmunds and then Winchester. Please see page three of this thread for lodging details, but I think you will see that these are going to be nice rooms.

Admission to Lotus for the Lotus Factory Tour and the optional track experience. Includes lunch as supplied by Lotus.

(TBD) Brewery Tour in Bury St. Edmunds

English Breakfast Tuesday and Wednesday morning

Dinner Thursday night in Winchester at the famous Loch Fyne
http://www.lochfyne.com/pages/conten...=232&RestID=45

Admission to Goodwood Revival on Friday.

(Note, you need to cover all other expenses including (but not limited to)- Airfare. Transportation to London to meet the bus. Lodging on any other night. Breakfast on Thu/Fri. Lunches other than Tuesday. Dinners other than Thursday. There will be options for dining where ever we go including simple pubs to fancy restaurants to the local grocery store. You will also need to cover admission to tours or places such as Stonehenge, but most of those are very reasonable. Stonehenge for example is under 5 pounds per person.)

Couples will save on costs due to shared lodging. If two singles wanted to save on costs, they could room together. Just a thought.

Single person, including Lotus Track Day- $2000.00
Couple, one person doing the Lotus Track Day - $2500.00
Couple, both people doing the Lotus Track Day - $3000.00

Payment must be made out to Lotus Garage, Inc. Payment can be done via phone for credit cards (see web site www.lotusgarage.com ) or by check. We have a finite number of people we can accomodate on the coach, lodging, and at Lotus. We will only accept the first 36 people that send in payment in full.

We will be paying in advance for most of this, so we need the money up front. Thanks.


A quick stab at a timeline for our planning-
January start taking names for the list.
February or March - ask for firm deposits to hold your place.
April-May - firm up some details
June - Final list of people to attend. All expenses allocated.
August - start trip

Please reply below if you are in and I will revise this list to match. Please note, this trip is limited. We can only accommodate a certain number and if it is full, then we are full. We could perhaps make some arrangements to meet up with people traveling on their own of course. The fun of this trip is traveling with a group of friends.

KEY:
T=Track Day at Hethel
H=Day at Hethel (no track)
G=Goodwood Revival

1. Randy C - TG
2. Toni C - HG
3. Robert P - TG
4. Babak M - TG
5. Babak's guest - TG
6. Craig L - TG (CaLTD)
7. Polly N - HG
8. Michael S - TG (ms355) Will be driving his Elise
9. Jared S - TG (JnC)
10. Tim T - TG
11. Billie T - TG
12. Avery W - TG (Hans)
13. Bobby K - TG (Climb4fun)
14. Steve R - TG (Willard)
15. Stephanie R - HG
16. Josh C - TG (VBCarGuy)
17. Anna F - HG (VBcarguy's GF)
18. Joe C - TG (VBCarguys dad)
19. Mary Anne K - HG (VBcarguy's dad's GF)
20. Jack A - TG
21. Rosie A - HG
22. Fred Z - TG
23. Jacob T - TG
24. Christian K - H
25. Anna H - H
26. Dave C - TG
27. Michael R - TG
28. Chris C - T
29. Eric N - T

Malcolm B (ex-Lotus Sport and track guy) will attend Goodwood with us
Lillie (ModernWedgie) will join us at some point

[Randy Chase]

Here is the plan in a nutshell, details to follow and revisions/fine tuning should be expected. This is basically an open ended 5 day trip with suggested side trips before and/or after. We will arrange transport, accommodations, and breakfasts for the group portion. For those who want to experience, the English countryside without driving, this could be a good opportunity.

We will all meet up on Monday somewhere in London. This will be on August 27th. I recommend flying in a bit earlier to take in some sights that we are not doing as a group... but that is your option. On Monday, we will have transportation take us up north out of London to Cambridge. We will spend Monday night in Cambridge.

Tuesday the 28th will be the day at Lotus. This will be an all day affair. For those that elect to, there will be a track day at Hethel with private instruction in the factory cars. Everyone will be able to take the factory tour and get a factory supplied lunch and talk. We also will plan on seeing some of the usual stuff at Lotus. Perhaps get an accidental sneak peak at an Esprit. For those that have no interest in cars, the day can be spent in Cambridge touring the area. There is a lot to see and do in Cambridge. We will spend the night at the same place, so transport will take us all back to our lodging Tuesday night. There will be suggested dinners.

Wednesday the 29th, we will depart from Cambridge and head out to the Cotswalds and farther west. Expect to see Stonehenge... and possibly even Woodhenge. We are looking into potential sites to visit, such as Bath and potential places to stay Wednesday night and where the good pubs are. We possibly might be able to arrange a private tour of a Formula 1 factory... or a private test drive at a local track. No promises at this time.

Thursday the 30th we will do more touring, and then in late afternoon, we will head south towards Goodwood. We might stay in a village outside of Goodwood, somewhere near the very south coast of England.

Friday the 31st. Change to plans. Everyone will be going to Goodwood Revival. There should be enough here to interest everyone. You can get good food and drink there, you can shop there, and it is a spectacle...so one could sit and people watch the folks in period dress. At the end of Friday day, we will be transported to London...probably arriving at around 7:00pm. Everyone will be dropped off where we we started the trip.


More details to come.

[Randy Chase]

Keep in mind that costs in England are subject to the dollar/pound conversion. When the pound us $2 each, our cost is roughly double what the pounds are. Also keep in mind that most things in England have VAT added on, at 17%. So a dinner that starts at 6 pounds, becomes 7.02 pounds with VAT...and in dollars will work out to $14. Should the exchange rate change, your costs may also vary. It is hoped that the rate becomes more favorable.

There will be some fixed prices. And we will attempt to find suitable lodging that will not be a budget buster. You will have some flexibility in spending for food other than breakfast, and for lodging/transport before and after the group section of the trip. London is not cheap, but can be done on a budget. Just not easily. It is my opinion, to try to not save too much money in London, but instead to be more frugal in the countryside. It is hoped that shared transportation on the ground will also be less expensive than hiring one's own driver or renting a private car.

Costs:
Airfare. This will depend on the whims of the airlines. I just flew back and forth for $480 round trip (off season) on Virgin Atlantic. But keep in mind that there are a lot of taxes and fees which will add about $250 per person to whatever price you can get. I think the more typical fares at that time of year will be around $900-1100 per person roundtrip flying economy..and a bit more if you have to fly to an international airport. I personally like Virgin Atlantic simply for the service and good entertainment selection you can watch. Something like 40 movies and more, like your own personal TiVo.

Getting into and out of London. You have options including the train/tube.. or taking a taxi. It makes a lot of sense to take a taxi, specially if you can combine with 3 or more people. Expect to pay about $50 each way for a taxi. Taking a taxi in London is an experience in itself. The cars look like they are out of toontown and are nothing like the old passenger cars we convert over for taxi use. Perhaps we could try to find out when other people are coming and going to/from Heathrow and see if we can arrange things?

Staying in London is not cheap. A nicer good place will run a couple hundred pounds minimum. It costs to be central and in a nice place. But it can be worth it. We can post some recommendations later. But here you can span the budget from hostel tents to 5 star accommodations.

Expect a few pounds here and there also for admission to things like Stonehenge, teas, pubs.

Group expenses:
Ground transportation.
Lodging Mon-Thu nights including breakfasts
Day at Lotus
Goodwood Revival entrance

I will post more details as I can later, but expect to pay around $1500-1800 for one person and another $700-800 if traveling as a couple. Very rough math!!!

[Randy Chase]

Some suggestions.

If you don't have a passport, get one now. Do not wait until the last minute. It is easy and you should have one.

Flying a red-eye to London makes a lot of sense. You can sleep and wake up and its the next day because you are 8 hours later (compared to PST) there. Flying back, you get those hours back, so flying out around noon, could mean arrival in the states in the afternoon. If you are like me and don't sleep, again I recommend Virgin Atlantic for the best in-seat entertainment.

Flying in and out of London might have more restrictions. One new one we found was an insistence on one carry on item... including your personal bag if you had one. In other words, a purse or a laptop bag counted as your one bag. Many people were caught by this and trying to stuff their laptop into their carry on.

Noise canceling headphones are worth it for long flights.

Weather in England runs a very wide range. It can be windy and very cold, rainy, or a nice sunny day. Pack accordingly. Most people in England don't use an umbrella, unless it is really raining hard. The wind makes the umbrellas silly. A hat is a good thing as is layering.

Notify your credit card company, just in case they are the type to stop your card from all the suspicious activity in England. Or carry more than one card.

Your cell phones will probably not work. Some of us will have cell phones that do... and you can buy a cheap prepaid phone in England if you need to be reachable. Expect to pay about 50 pounds.

When stepping off the curb... make sure you look the correct way for oncoming traffic. We don't want to lose anyone.

Most places will serve a "full English breakfast." This includes an egg, sausage, English bacon, baked tomato, toast (possibly fried), fried mushrooms, and sides of cereal with tea of a coffee press. There may also be baked beans and black pudding. A hearty breakfast.

[Randy Chase]

The day at Hethel will start promptly at 9:00am, where we will be briefed, sign waivers, etc.

At 10:00 until 12:00 noon, one group will be out on the 2.25 mile long track working on improving their skills under the excellent and expert instruction of Lotus drivers. Each driver will get two 15 minute track sessions. The other group will be taking the factory tour, showing how the Lotus cars are assembled. You will get to see the Elise, Exige, and Europa being built.

Lunch will be from 12:00 noon until 1:30pm.

At 1:30pm until 3:30, the groups will do the activity they did not do previously.

3:40-4:15, exhibition ride alongs with the factory drivers. This will get your heart pumping.

4:15-4:30. De-brief and certificates.

5:00pm, ride back to lodging.

[Randy Chase]

Here we will list some places we will be going. This is in discussion now, so speak up if you have a thought. The one must see on the list is Stonehenge.

[Randy Chase]

http://www.goodwood.co.uk/revival/

The Goodwood Revival is the world’s most popular motor race meeting and the only event of its kind to be staged in the romantic time capsule of the Fifties and Sixties. As well as recreating the golden era of motor sport, the Revival offers exceptional wheel-to-wheel racing around a classic circuit, untouched by the modern world.

...the Revival is far more than a series of races for historic cars: it is a magical step back in time and a chance for visitors to revel in the romance and theatre of motor racing as it used to be. The lovingly restored circuit is unchanged from its heyday, and great lengths are taken to ensure that everything on the site is exactly as it was. This means that many visitors wear appropriate period clothing and no modern vehicles are allowed within the circuit perimeter throughout the weekend. There are also theatrical sets that bring the past back to life.

This is the only event that places motor racing into a carefully choreographed historical backdrop. The result is a truly unforgettable experience, and an atmosphere unlike any other sporting event.

This is a very different and cool event. The entire grounds is like a step back in time. The guys are really out there racing these beautiful old cars. Vintage warplanes fly overhead. Great food and drink and shopping. It is a three day event, but we recommend one day, Friday, as the best experience. If someone wishes to stay on and attend more days, they would be welcome to, but they must arrange tickets. You can't get tickets to Goodwood at the door, they must be pre-ordered in advance. Friday is a practice day for the competitors.

We are going to try to arrange a private group lunch area for us. Lunchtime can get quite busy there and it would be nice to have our own area.

It should be noted that period dress is strongly encouraged. And "period" refers to the era from the 40s to the 60s. Keep in mind that weather is always an unknown so don't plan on something that will only work if the temps are in the 70s and it stays dry. It should be comfortable for the entire day and for a lot of walking around. Period dress is not mandatory, just encouraged and welcomed. The website above has links for suggested looks for men and women.

If we end up staying in Chichester.. then there is an additional chartered bus that runs through the day, which would enable one to leave at different times. Goodwood is located 60 miles south of London on an Estate. It is about 30 miles from Southhampton, where the Lotus cars are shipped out of.

[Randy Chase]

We are starting and stopping our group trip in London... because London is the hub of most everything. I highly recommend taking the opportunity to explore London for a few days as best you can. If possible, perhaps some smaller groups will want to hang about together in London.. there is strength in numbers.

My plan is to get to London on Saturday August 25th, I will be arriving at Heathrow around noon and then taxiing into London. That will give me Saturday afternoon-evening (to also get over the travel) and all of Sunday, and half of Monday to tour around. Then when we come back from the Goodwood trip on Friday, we will have all of Saturday and all of Sunday to tour some more. Monday morning I will head back out to Heathrow for the return flight.

This gives me a total of 3 and 1/2 days in London. Enough time to see a bit. Others may want to stay longer... and even go across to Paris.

There are a number of "must see" things in London and a lot of them are very close geographically. You do not want to drive in London. Take the tube or taxis to get around... or mostly enjoy walking.

[CALtd]

Polly and I were looking at an 8 day London/Paris to link to a trip to Hethel. We were thinking April/May but Aug/Sep would work.

[Randy Chase]

Cool. Let me know if you can change to fall. This would give you a good opportunity to add some days for London/Paris. May want to add couple more than 8.

[CALtd]

The Fall works for Polly, especially if everyone in the group is not a gear-head.

[Randy Chase]

This will not be a car-guy only trip.... and the idea is, where it is car oriented, the opportunity will exist to do something else. We should have enough people that small groups can break off and do things differently. For example at Goodwood, some might want to cruise the paddocks and ogle the car porn/machinery, or sit in the stands and watch the cars raacing. Others may have no interest and a group goes off to shop or drink *PIMMs or have a tea. Goodwood is much more than cars. People watching at Goodwood is an activity.

And then at Lotus, someone may not car for the factory tour/lunch either.. there is a lot to do in Cambridge instead. Take a punt on the river. Visit a castle and gardens. We will have some suggested places.

*PIMM's is a popular alcohol based drink in south England, associated with picnics and parties, cricket matches and polo matches. You will find PIMM stands at Goodwood. I highly recommend you try one. Sort of like a lemonadish spicy, long island iced tea.

[Taxcheat]

I'm in

(Also up for an unofficial side-trip to the Nurburgring)

[Parramint]

Not wishing to step on Randy's toe's, for those who cannot make the Aug/Sept tour I am putting together another tour in April/May 07for Lotus Ltd of America. The 5 day event will be as follows....

Day1 Arrive and collection from London airports, back to Norwich via local Lotus dealer (Lotus, Morgan and Aston) to hotel.

Day2 Factory visit, tour of Classic Team Lotus with Clive Chapman (son of Colin) visit to Ketteringham Hall, ACBC final resting place, East Carlton Manor plus other places of Lotus interest.

Day3 Visit to Donington F1 museum (the largest collection of F1 cars).

Day4 Day of rest..maybe, tour of Norwich city (Norman Castle and Catherdral)
Evening, Lotus dinner with Lotus speakers.

Day5 Full day driver training experience at Hethel test track with Alastair McQueen, Dave Minter. 3 events in the morning session (under/oversteer, braking and slalom) afternoon, full track driving.

Day6 Return to airport(s)

I will be the tour escort for the 5/6 days. Based at the Oaklands Hotel in Norwich. Limited to 12 people only on the driving experiece. For more details contact me on richard@positivespeech.co.uk of take a look at www.lotours.com

[VBCARGUY]

Randy sent you a Pm. This trip is going to be awsome. Thanks for planning it.

[JnC]

I'm in!

If Hethel can handle novices, put me down for TG. Thx!

[wallabyguy]

Looks like I'll be asking for a lot of time off this summer.

[Randy Chase]

Originally Posted by Parramint

Not wishing to step on Randy's toe's,

And nor do I wish to step on Richard's toes either. His trips are highly recommended and should be considered if the timing works out better for you... and if you are looking for a more "Lotus" focused trip.

[ms355]

Randy, please put me on the list including Hethel and Goodwood. I am going to send details by pm. Thank you.

[Randy Chase]

Originally Posted by wallabyguy

Looks like I'll be asking for a lot of time off this summer.

It is good for business. I put you and Stephanie down as attending. Good thing you work for an awesome dealership.

Everyone else... please note I can use names if I don't know your's...and I am assuming you will do the Hethel track day and Goodwood, unless you tell me otherwise. We have time to make changes, just make sure you are correctly listed on the first post. Thanks!

Now up to 16 people.