Month: April 2011

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Corkscrew Mania 2011


Lotus and Laguna Seca are two of the most famous names in motorsport and have a long and illustrious history together:

The Golden Gate Lotus Club, Lotus Cup USA and Lotus Cars USA presents the newest chapter in this historic tradition: Corkscrew Mania 2011!

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What is Corkscrew Mania? It’s a FULL day of Lotusing. There’s Lotus Cup USA racing, a VIP Hospitality tent, a Lotus Autocross, a Lotus Tech Session that will cover track preparation, tires and more. On top of that there’s a VIP BBQ lunch, track rides around the famous 11-turns of Laguna Seca (including the renowned “Corkscrew”) and a Lotus Corral. To be held on Sunday June 26th at the famed Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Corkscrew Mania is THE Lotus event for every Lotus enthusiast in Northern California.

CORKSCREW MANIA SCHEDULE
Sunday, June 26, 2011
(tenative schedule)
Check-in & Registration 9:00-12:00
GGLC Lotus Corral 9:00-5:00
VIP Hospitality Tent 9:00-5:00
Lotus Autocross 9:30-12:00
Lotus Cup Tech Session 11:00-12:00
Lotus Track Rides 11:45-12:15
Lotus VIP BBQ Lunch 11:45-1:30
Lotus Cup Racing 1:30-2:30
Lotus Autocross 1:30-4:30
Lotus Cup Awards 3:00-3:30

 

REGISTER TODAY!!!

  • Advanced Registration is required. NO Walk Ups!
  • Please bring a helmet if you want to autocross (some loaners are available)
  • Only Lotus cars will be allowed to park in the GGLC-Lotus Corral
  • Entry fee is ONLY $10/car for GGLC members. Non-members are welcome. Non-member entry fee is $25/car. (There is a separate $10/car track entry fee to enter the paddock area)

Register by going to www.gglotus.org/corkscrewmania

Registration deadline is June 20, 2011.

Corkscrew Mania is sponsored by Dietsch Werks and Exotic Autoworks.

Questions can be directed to webguy-at-gglotus.org or to prez-at-gglotus.org

Are you interested in racing, time trials or track events? Want to participate in the Lotus Cup USA events? Check out www.lotuscupusa.us for details.


Photo by Lotus Cup USA

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Track day #3 reg is now open (May 17, Thunderhill)

Registration is now open for the Golden Gate Lotus Club’s third track day of the year at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, California on Tuesday, May 17th. Early Bird pricing is $150 for members and $170 for non-members. This price will go up on May 3rd to $170 for members and $190 for non-members so please sign up early to take advantage of the lower price.

This event will be run in the standard counter-clockwise direction WITH THE BYPASS. We will run our regular Lotus club format which allows you to bridge two run groups for maximum track time. You will be signing up for either Novice/Intermediate or Intermediate/Advanced.

We will also include 3 slots for beginner track drivers. Each beginner will receive all-day coaching from experienced GGLC drivers. These 3 spots are first-come, first-served and only offered to current GGLC members thru Friday April 20. To enter as a beginner, send an email to events@gglotus.org and include a callback telephone number. Non-newbies can click here to sign up.

The month of May at Thunderhill usually means good temperatures. And who knows, the grass may still be green – don’t miss it!

See you at the track,

John & Scott

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Lotus to cease production of 2ZZ-GE engined Elise/Exige

Lotus Cars has notified US dealers that the current generation of 2ZZ-GE engined Exige and Elise will cease production this July on Model Year 11. Toyota has already stopped production of the 2ZZ-GE engine and Lotus has been buliding cars using stockpiled engines ever since.

There are to be 3 final Elise and Exige versions – “Final Editions” to be built between now and July 2011, for arrival in the US and Canada between June – August 2011. These are to be produced in strictly limited numbers as the supply of engines for production is approaching exhaustion. Interested customers need to reserve their cars NOW. The specifications of the 3 final edition cars are listed below:

Exige S260 Final Edition

Production Run: 30
An excellent value proposition, available in choice of color, these are based on the current Exige 240 spec with power enhanced to 260bhp. Tour pack, track pack and LSD are standard equipment.

Basics
• 257 horsepower supercharged and intercooled 1.8 Liter, mid-mounted 4-cylinder engine
• Multi-point fuel injection system with electronic ignition and throttle control
• Synchromesh 6-speed transaxle with lockout reverse gear
• Variable slip traction control
• Launch Control

Standard Fitment
• Touring Package with sport seats trimmed in your choice of black, red, magnolia or biscuit
leather.
• Track Package with double adjustable Ohlins dampers.
• Torsen (Torque-sensing) Limited Slip Differential.
• Black Y type 5 spoke forged wheels with A048 tires.
• Metallic paint range at no additional charge.

Options
• Choice of full range of current colors
• StarShield

Production Details
• Limited to 30 units for North America
• May/June production

MSRP
• $67,500 plus destination

Exige S260 Final Edition – Matte Black

Production run: 25
Based on the stunning Matt Black Exige Scura sold in Europe with great success, some changes for the US market to ensure that this car is even better value.

Basics
• 257 horsepower supercharged and intercooled 1.8 Liter, mid-mounted 4-cylinder engine
• Multi-point fuel injection system with electronic ignition and throttle control
• Synchromesh 6-speed transaxle with lockout reverse gear
• Variable slip traction control
• Launch Control

Standard Fitment
• Touring Package with sport seats trimmed in black Alcantara
• Track Package with double adjustable Ohlins dampers
• Torsen (Torque-sensing) Limited Slip Differential
• Black 5-spoke ultra lightweight forged wheels with A048 tires
• Special Matte Black paint
• Special numbered plaque

Options
• No options available

Production Details
• Limited to 25 units for North America
• May/June production

MSRP
• $69,900 plus destination

Elise SC Final Edition

Production run: 15
With a color scheme based upon the “Club Racer” Elise sold in Europe. Available in four colors with a high standard specification makes this Final Edition Elise an excellent value proposition. Extremely limited production run of 15 cars to close out the model in North America.

Basics
• 220 horsepower supercharged 1.8 Liter, mid-mounted 4-cylinder engine
• Multi-point fuel injection system with electronic ignition and throttle control
• Synchromesh 6-speed transaxle with lockout reverse gear

Standard Fitment
• Touring Package with sport seats trimmed in black Alcantara
• Bilstein sport pack dampers with Eibach springs
• Torsen (Torque-sensing) Limited Slip Differential
• Black 5 Y- spoke forged wheels with A048 tires
• Black rear diffuser
• Matte Black painted hard top, roll bar cover, transom panel and door mirrors
• Special numbered plaque

Options
• 4 no charge color options: Ardent Red, Aspen White, Chrome Orange and Carbon Grey
• StarShield

Production Details
• Limited to 15 units for North America
• May/June production

MSRP
• $57,500 plus destination
• $995 StarShield

Information via Lotus of Atlanta and Lotus of Newport Beach

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Lotus Evora featured on Desperate Housewives

Lotus PR has had a great coup with the Lotus Evora being featured in a long segment on the hit AB show Desperate Housewives.

The car is shown and mentioned by name multiple times along with shots of the main characters getting taken in by the driving experience. By working a mention of the price into the show, Lotus has manged to make it simulateousely aspirational and affordable – kudos to Dany and the team.