Unlikely Elan reference in a book.

[Quart Meg Miles]

Just reading Ranulph Fiennes book "The Headless Valley" 1973. He is describing a hot spring emerging in the Artic Circle and humming-birds nesting there.

"The birds can fly backwards and sideways like a helicopter and have acceleration and braking capabilities which would make a Lotus Elan blush".

Top speed 25 mph though, it's a long migration back to Brazil for the winter.

[Chancer]

I saw him on a chat show and took a very strong and I admit irrational dislike of him, never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Many years later I read his book "Mad, bad and dangerous to know" and thoroughly enjoyed it, he is a very good writer, or perhaps storyteller, who knows but the result is very entertaining, you cannot however doubt many of his incredible achievements, I am now a fan and as an adventurer (not in his league) and late life athlete find him very inspirational, I will seek out the book.