Registration is now open for the Golden Gate Lotus Club’s first track day of the year at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California on Tuesday, February 21, 2012. Please note that this event is not open to beginners. In order to maximize track time, there will only be two run groups for this event – Open Passing Group and Restricted Passing Group. You must have a minimum of 20 track days experience to register for the Open Passing Group and a minimum of 5 track days (or equivalent – driver’s schools, etc.) to register for the Restricted Passing Group.
Sessions will be approximately 30 minutes long. Cost will be $230 for members and $250 for non-members. There will be no bridging of run groups. Also, be aware that there will be absolutely no refunds. If you cancel before February 7 and we can fill your spot, we will give you a rain check for a future event. Only sign up if you know you can attend.
Click here to sign up, please sign up early to ensure a spot.
In addition, we currently have the 5 following track days tentatively scheduled for 2012. If you attend the first 4 track days, we will offer the 5th track day to you at $99.
Feb 21, Tuesday – Laguna Seca
April 4, Weds – Laguna Seca
July 6, Fri – Thunderhill
Sept 25, Tues – Thunderhill
Oct 23, Tues – Thunderhill
The GGLC is once again arranging for a Lotus Corral at the 2011 Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca Raceway on August 19-21, 2011. Purchase your Monterey Motorsports Reunion ticket and Lotus corral pass from the GGLC and for a discount. The GGLC must sell at least 25 tickets and get 25 Lotus cars in the corral. Please order early and reserve your spot in the corral. GGLC membership is NOT required, but you must drive your Lotus to the event to park in the GGLC Lotus Corral.
A few things to keep in mind.
The GGLC/Lotus Corral is available all 3 days!
A corral pass is $10 and is good for all 3 days.
You must purchase a ticket from the GGLC to be able to purchase a GGLC/Lotus Corral Pass.
We are offering “Priority Mail” delivery
GGLC/LOTUS CORRAL PASSES ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE GGLC AND PURCHASING A TICKET FROM THE GGLC!
Click here to buy your tickets on the GGLC website. Typically the tickets are sent to the GGLC 2-3 weeks prior and we will then immediately distribute them to you. Expect your ticket(s) and corral passes approximate one week prior to the event.
DEADLINE TO BUY TICKETS & CORRAL PASS: JUNE 25, 2011!
We will not be able get tickets and corral passes after this deadline!
On Saturday April 30th and Sunday May 1st. The SCCA, along with HSR-West, will be holding their only “vintage” race event of the year at Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca. In addition to some other featured races, we are gathering for a ENGLISH FORD Reunion featuring Anglia’s, Escort’s and the legendary Lotus Cortina.
There will be plenty of track time for all involved. Saturday will have a 15 minute warm up session, a 15 minute timed qualifying session and a 25 minute feature race. Sunday will have a 20 minute warm up and a 25 minute feature later in the day. Our cars will be run in a “small bore” production class with the exception of later model Escorts that have the option to run in “big bore production”. All this on one of the most beautiful and challenging world class facilities around.
The SCCA has asked that all of the English Ford race cars park together in the paddock. Special parking for all street cars will also be available. SCCA is also offering a lap of the track and lunch for $20.00.
On Saturday night, we will feature a special dinner for all of you English Ford and Lotus fans out there. Legendary racer Bob Winkelmann will be one of our special guests, bringing along a ton of old race photos and the stories to back them up. Joining Bob will be former TEAM LOTUS mechanic, Syd Carr. Syd worked on the Team Lotus Cortina race team with Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart and a host of other hero drivers from the 60′s. Syd also worked on the Formula Two and Formula One race teams. Syd will also be sharing photos and stories. We are in the process of scanning all of these photos will use a LCD system to show them. Both will be open to Q & A during the evening. This is a night not to miss.
The number of those attending will determine the venue. Most likely THE BAJA CANTINA in nearby Carmel Valley. Great mexican food and a new banquet room that seats up to 80. A great place that is very racer friendly.
THE ORGANIZERS NEED TO GET AN IDEA ON HOW MANY WILL ATTEND. If you think you are attending the weekend please get back to them asap. We have had interest from New England to Florida to Washington State to Texas. Ross Bremer has inquired about bringing 4 cars all the way from Florida. Three Lotus Cortinas are coming down from the Pacific Northwest. Our own list master, Bob Woolner, will be in attendance. The Winkster, Syd Carr! There are no more excuses………..this is the event to attend.
For you Lotus fans this is a chance to meet some of the folks who made history. We invite you all.
Additional event info will be posted as it develops. This is also a “normal motel rate” weekend in Monterey. Nice places can be had for as little as $80 a night.
For more information on the weekend please contact Mike Summers at bluesbrother30@yahoo.com
The main feature race of the 2010 Monterey Motorsports Reunion celebrated 60 years of Formula 1 and had a grid featuring an incredible 24 F1 cars including 3 Lotus (Types 77, 79 and 81) and 6 championship winning cars (Lotus 79, Williams FW07, 2 Williams FW08, Tyrrell 006, Ferrari 312 T2). The following are some quick video snippets showing the action as it went down.
The most iconic turn at Laguna Seca is the Corkscrew and we got this quick clip of the cars navigating it during the Sunday morning practice session. You can also see another video from a different angle here.
This clip shows the cars lining up for the grid and labels them for the folks who don’t remember all their historic F1 liveries
Unlike Europe, Historic Grand Prix racing in the US generally uses a rolling start. The Williams FW 07B and FW 08C make up the front row.
A clip showing Turn 11 passing from lap 2. We have the two Williams FW 08C cars trying up and under moves while the Lotus 79 outbrakes the Penske PC4
The final turn of the race featured a finish line drag race between the Lotus 77 (driven by GGLC member Chris Locke) and the McLaren M30.
The full results and entry list are now posted on the official website.
While the Lotus Exos was deservedly getting all the press after the Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion, Lotus also held the North American Premiere of the Evora GT4 Cup car at the same time.
Developed from the highly acclaimed Lotus Evora sports car, the Lotus Evora Cup GT4 race car has been engineered to give drivers a competitive racing package straight “out of the box”. The car has been developed in conjunction with a number of prestigious technical partners and features a world class chassis, steering and brakes delivering exceptional ride and handling.
The Cosworth tuned engine is bored out to a 4 litre capacity and produces 360 bhp (Vs 3.5L and 280 bhp in the road car). Further upgrades include a six speed sequential paddle shift racing gearbox, full FIA specification roll cage, FIA-compliant 96 litre fuel system, FIA fire extinguisher system and kill switch. Unladen weight has also been reduced by over 200kg to just 1190kg.
While the Evora Cup looks quite similar to the road car, there are a number exterior changes to improve downforce such as the beautifully integrated carbon fiber rear wing and diffuser package above. Other downforce enhancements include the front splitter and wheel vents on all four corners. The body panels are also easily removable for easy access to various internals.
Since the premiere event was being held a Laguna Seca, Lotus had test driver Johnny Mowlem on hand to give prospective buyers some “test rides”. The GGLC was able to speak to Johnny in this exclusive interview to hear his thoughts on the development of the Evora Cup GT4 and how it compares to the street car:
Lotus Challenge Series racer and all around Lotus fan Andy Kern was one of the lucky few that got a ride and gave us this feedback comparing it to his Lotus 211 racecar:
I first thing I noticed going down the pit-out lane was the seamlessness of the paddle-shift sequential box… and next I thought, gee… Johnny’s going to go around the pit out corner at T2 pretty quick, and he did: the car definitely has some serious grip. The next two corners, T3 & T4 are relatively flat; no camber… I usually ease into the brakes so I don’t upset the car too much, then transition into the turn. Johnny waited much later to brake and broke much harder, but it didn’t seem to faze the Evora’s chassis at all, the car just has great grip and poise during transitions. The rest of the ride was more of the same, as the tires warmed up and Johnny broke later and harder than I would have expected; but always completely smoothly. The shifts were so smooth I barely noticed them. The car has good acceleration too… better than my 2-Eleven everywhere with the possible exception of the steep rise from T6 to the corkscrew.
As I’d said, it’s always tough to compare one car from the passenger’s seat with another from the driver’s seat… but the overall impression is that the Evora Cup is very much a Lotus… fantastic braking, tenacious cornering, great chassis dynamics… and maybe somewhat of a welcome surprise… very torquey.
All in all the Evora Cup GT4 appears to be another fantastic race car from Lotus and should do well both as a track day car and as a competition GT4 racer. For more information about the car please visit www.lotusevoracup.com.
For more pictures from the premiere event please use the slideshow below or head directly to our Flickr Set. We request blogs and news outlets that use our content, photos and video to please credit Rahul Nair and the Golden Gate Lotus Club as well as link back to this post.
