LEO Spirited Drive - Nov 14 2010 - Pic thread

[Croc]

The annual Lotus Enthusiasts Organization (LEO) Group of NJ/NY/PA/CT held its annual November Spirited Drive yesterday in Frenchtown NJ. As was the case last year, we started at William Thomas Roadsters in Frenchtown NJ. The sky was clear, the sun was shining, fresh coffee and cake was available and there were lots of tasty cars arrayed on the front lawn. Very impressive turnout of cars, not just Sevens.

Here is Bill’s anniversary Seven next to Alan and Kathy’s BRG Seven.

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00416_edited-1.jpg

 

 

From right to left – Stewart’s Crossflow, Ron’s Vauxhall powered S3, Karl’s insanely desirable R400 (as an aside I now know why white spots form on carbon fiber over time – they are drool marks from other owners!) and mine.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00419_edited-1.jpg

 

 

MG, Austin Healey and Triumph were well represented.

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00417_edited-1.jpg

 

Even a pair of Miata’s made an appearance. At this stage the green one was fairly unmolested by its owner….

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00420_edited-1.jpg

Edited November 15, 2010 by Croc
pics added

[Croc]

JPS Europa and another Seven. This owner picked up his car the day before this drive – bought it second hand from Hemmings and lives next to Alan and Kathy – there are 3 sevens within a mile of Bill’s place. If you add a few miles to the radius then Bruce Bowker’s Seven comes in. Al Navarro might also be counted if he gets another Seven!

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00418_edited-1.jpg

 

Steve’s S1 – nice to see you brought along Betsy for the drive – it was great to meet her.

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00421_edited-1.jpg

 

 

Bruce (budlite11) doing a Cheshire cat impersonation as he drives across the lawn – thanks for allowing me to the chance to meet Nancy:

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00422_edited-1.jpg

 

Other exotica:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00423_edited-1.jpg

Edited November 15, 2010 by Croc

[Croc]

A panorama of Bill’s lawn – sure beats a few garden gnomes, a flamingo and a fountain:

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/WTRlawn_Panorama1.jpg

 

 

The drive was through the back roads of NJ and PA. Very scenic and peaceful. There was an entertaining moment when the group broke into 3 and eventually got lost. I think I went over Beaver Creek at least 3 times.

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00428_edited-1.jpg

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00429_edited-1.jpg

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00432_edited-1.jpg

Edited November 15, 2010 by Croc

[Croc]

Midway stop was Van Sant airport with a couple of hundred (it seemed) biker friends to check out the planes, enjoy the views and generally chat cars, bikes, performance or whatever. L to R here is Bruce, Stewart, Karl, and Ron.

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00434_edited-1.jpg

 

Steve’s S1 and my car:

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00435_edited-1.jpg

 

 

Karl – the proud father!

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00438_edited-1.jpg

 

Jon and Steve sharing an intimate moment

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00436_edited-1.jpg

Edited November 15, 2010 by Croc

[Croc]

And the airport:

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/vansantis_Panorama1.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00446_edited-1.jpg

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00449_edited-1.jpg

Edited November 15, 2010 by Croc

[Croc]

Then the drive kicked on for lunch. So off we head from the airport with Jon leading and a daisy chain of Sevens behind. Jon disappeared around a left hander in front of me, I hear squealing tires, a crump and I come around the corner to see empty road except for a Europa a fair distance ahead of me – WTF!

Pull up at a drive way and run back and there is Jon’s car sitting in a fairly muddy paddock. He had gone left off the road over a ditch, hump and through a hedge/trees. Very luckily he was unscathed as 6 feet to the right was a power pole.

View from the road into the field

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00451_edited-1.jpg

 

 

Looking back from the field to the road

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00452_edited-1.jpg

 

 

The immortal lines were said - it will buff out!

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00453_edited-1.jpg

 

 

Car survived its ordeal pretty well – radiator pushed back onto the anti roll bar, some fan shrouding messed up, new bumper needed along with a paint job and a leaf blower for the interior would be useful. While the car ran, it was unable to make any traction in the greasy mud so a Toyota 4wd came to the rescue:

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Drive%20Nov%202010/DSC00455_edited-1.jpg

 

 

 

 

Sorry I missed Karl at the end – the misadventure separated us. I hope Bruce and Nancy made it home safely to CT without Nancy freezing herself to death.

Despite Jon’s misadventure it was a great day with a great bunch of people from LEO and probably the last run of the season. Bring on 2011 good weather!

Edited November 15, 2010 by Croc

[Kitcat]

Mike:

 

Glad you made it back from GB in time for another Excellent Se7en adventure and ensuing comprehensive write-up and pictures.

 

Do we now have a snake-bit Miata? I think Karl put a curse on Jon's non-7 car when he hugged him-I thot I detected an evil glint in his eye in that photo:).

 

Damage, think of what it would have been in Jon's Se7en! If it's any comfort Jon, and I know it's not, I have had my Miata in a similar predicament. I narrowly missed a large tree rather than a pole. Also needed a tow to get out, but my rugged little Miata was no worse for the wear.

 

An amazing collection of cool cars, all playing supporting roles for the starring se7ens, of course.

Edited November 15, 2010 by Kitcat

[yellowss7]

Box probaby saw a hunter in Blaze Orange in the woods and thought it was a cone. :smilielol5: And if that's Karl hugging Jon, then Steve has a twin. :leaving: Mike, it looks like you are continuing the tradition of taking the 7's off road as you did at LOG 30.

 

Sorry I missed the event. Looks like it was a good one. I'm Jealous of all the 7's in that area.

 

Tom

[11Budlite]

Box probaby saw a hunter in Blaze Orange in the woods and thought it was a cone. :smilielol5:

 

Good one Tom!

[S1Steve]

Jon, WTF !!!!! But glad you are OK. SCCA has a thing called RallyCross, seems like it may be something you would enjoy !!!!

[Boxologist]

i know. The wagon would have just kept on going and came out the other end. I would have looped back and found everyone stopped and looking at the tyre tracks that would go off into the distance. The muck that's on the meotters wheels and wheel wells is something fierce. It needs a good scrubbing or pressure wash, the regular hose barely did any dislodging.

[Croc]

Not surprised to hear about the mud - I still have not fully cleaned it off my shoes or the trousers I was wearing - it is strong stuff with the consistency of axle grease.

 

Despite the light fun we are having with you (ok..at your expense), I for one am very relieved that you came out unscathed. For a long moment on Sunday I was freaking out thinking the worst - I figured there had to be pretty significant damage given what happened. Luckily not.

 

Anyway, I know all about going off road - after all I used to own a Series 2 Seven nicknamed Elvis (because it had so many hits) and was referred to the gardener when I was racing as I was always off track digging up dirt. Its so nice that I am not the only one anymore!