Elan epic drive this summer

[GreekS1]

The plan was to drive to LMC spend the weekend then continue to the UK where I would leave it with Paul Matty for an overdue checkup. I would then fly back to pick it up a week later, spend a few days weekend in Wales then visit Silverstone classic and then slowly drive home. All in July this summer! An ambitious plan indeed!
I have the car for 3 years now and have done some miles in regularity rallies in Greece as well as leisure drives. By far my longest journey was when in 2010 I did the MSA Euroclassic. It covered a route from the Nurburgring to Bavaria via Eastern Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and Italy. Driving to and from Greece made this a long drive as well and one that wasn?t marred by any particular problems.
It was with the confidence of that trip that this one was planned.

Saturday

It started with a heat soaked 2 and a half hour drive from Athens to the port of Patras to catch the ferry for Italy. 35 degrees Celsius and driving at a steady 60 mph with the car packed to the brim. It was a formidable first test for the car to pass in view of the difficult miles ahead.
We packed 3 medium bags, a tent, 2 sleeping bags, 2 mattresses, 2 folding chairs and a medium tool bag! Problems we had before setting off where limited to a weird noise from the back axle and brake light not functioning. Our ride height was quite low due to being so heavily packed plus some geometry issues to be addressed in the UK.

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Sunday

Italy welcomed us with a heat wave even greater than Greece! 40 degrees and the air blowing steaming hot! The car was running 95-100 degrees! Our only solace where the tunnels on the autostradas. The longer they where the cooler they where! We drove to Assisi, a great drive and well worth it for the destination alone!

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The other recurring problem on this trip was the exhaust bottoming out and coming apart just in front of the end box. This happened countless times during the trip resulting in a Cobra like growl coming from the rear! It happened because for the ride height and the short length of the mid section. The first night we stayed at Lucca just north of Pisa. A very charming, walled castle town, where we watched Italy being thrashed by Spain in the Euro final. The Italians reaction to the Elan was wonderful and we even got interest from the Carabiniery just to check that everything was ok one of the times we were refitting the exhaust!

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Monday

A great drive on the Autostrada del sol. Past Portofino, Genoa, Ventimiglia, Monte Carlo and then on to Grasse, our resting point for the night. After checking out the town we couldn?t resist a drive around the Alps Maritimes??? What a scenic drive that was? however we run out of gas just on the crest of one of the passes! At a height of 700m there was nothing for it but to roll tha Elan down the mountain and hope to find a gas station at the bottom! It seems the Gods where with us that day as there was a Shell station right at the bottom! That was too close!
The roads around this part of the world are magical. We then drove to St Paul du Vence for a well deserved dinner.

Tuesday

Route Napoleon. We had the whole day to transverse it from Grass to Grenoble. What can I say about this road but that every petrolhead has to do it at some point. The first half is very good as is the last quarter. The bit inbetween being a bit of motorway and nothing interesting. A bonus was a very nice private museum near the start with low milage unrestored post war Citroens. A truly mouth watering display including the earliest DS known in the world!
Grenoble itself is a very nice town and after a walk around the old part we retired to our hotel.

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Wednesday

An uneventful drive to Limoges with the only highlight being taking the D941 at the last part. A great driving and deserted road.
The weather was holding up to this point. However things deteriorated after Limoges.

Thursday

Le Mans! At last! The last push to Le mans was soaked however once we entered the town and tried to navigate around it to get to Parking Bleu on the circuit where we had booked a camp site the sun came out! We promptly set up tent and started mingling with the neighbors. Great atmosphere mostly of Brits arriving and setting up their tents. Tvrs, 50s Sumbeams, pre war Bentleys, Elises, Esprits, Healeys, Caterhams, Mgs, Jags et al made up for an exciting mix and just strolling through the campsites was a joy!

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Friday Saturday Sunday

We parked infield at Club Lotus France and met up with Christian and the president of the club. We where part of the display of Elans mostly from France and the UK and we where probably the furthest travelled car having clocked 2000 kms already. Walked around and swa amazing cars once again such as Zondas and F40?s. The atmosphere in the pits was magical as where the practice sessions on wet tarmac! Met the guys from Classic and Sportscar wich for me was a treat as I have been a reader since 1987!
The races where great! We satyed up till 2 am to wach the night raes as well. A must in Lemans! What I have most in memory was the epic sound coming down the start finish straight! There where really too many things to remember?
Club Lotus France and Christian organized a nice champagne birthday party for the Elan 50th and we all got a nice plaque to put on our cars (mine?s going on the dash somewhere) Thanks Christian.
Also a great 3-4 laps of the circuit where memorable and mind you we were not going slowly! These where not parade laps as demonstrated by two accidents happening in front of us. One involving a modern Mustang and the other a 60?s Aston DB4!
All that was left on Sunday afternoon was to pack up and head to the UK. The car was scheduled to go for an overdue checkup at Paul Matty?s on Tuesday. I would then fly back in a week?s time to take it home, but that?s another story!

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[gino1]

Great story and lovely photos...
Where did you get the 50 years sticker from ?? I want one !!
Did Christian give you this ??
If you ever come to Milan do come and look me up.

Ciao
Gino
Milano Italy

S3 Coup? '65
S3 coup? 67
S2 Roadster '65
Plus 2 '68

[jimj]

Vassilli, great to hear your story but what happened next?
We`re off on this year`s Euroclassic on Saturday, the only Elan this time, shame.
Jim

[elanern]

Hard to believe you fit all that "equipment" (I keep going back to the photo with the air mattresses) into the Elan. Looks like you had a great trip, thanks for sharing the photos. Cheers!

[trw99]

Vassilli

Thank you for writing this up and I enjoyed reading of your trip. I look forward to part two!

Tim

[Ross Robbins]

Vassilli,

Good for you taking your Elan on a major trip. I am waiting breathlessly for the "Rest of the Story". I did have trouble with a number of the photobucket links which did not find anything. If you could check them, please, I would love to see all the photos.

[Old English White]

Great story and lovely photos...
Where did you get the 50 years sticker from ?? I want one !!
Did Christian give you this ??
If you ever come to Milan do come and look me up.

Ciao
Gino
Milano Italy

S3 Coup? '65
S3 coup? 67
S2 Roadster '65
Plus 2 '68

Hi Gino,
Yes you're right, this 50 years sticker is my design, and some have been made for the club shop...
I'll try to find one for you, if you can wait for our next meeting, CLF Lotus Festival, Montlh?ry 27oct.
To Vassily,
It has been a real pleasure to meet you and your friend, and what a great exemple for each of us you show, doing such a long trip in your Elan.
Respect.
Christian.

[gino1]

Hi Christian,

I've sent you a pm..
Ciao
gino

[richardcox_lotus]

Excellent report. Glad you enjoyed it.

Although not in an Elan, I experienced some of the roads on the Route Napolean on the way to the Monaco classic this year. For those interested, here's my write-up (Page 3 of this pdf).

http://www.northkentlotusgroup.org/Newsletters_files/June%202012.pdf

and here are the photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardc_flickr/sets/

Regards
Richard.

[GreekS1]

Thank you guys for your comments!!


Ross perhaps you can see the photos if you log into here:
http://s727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/GreekS3/

Part 2 comming soon!

[gino1]

Hi Richard,

Do you know who's is the Primrose Blue Elan ?
I have a friend up in Lancs who had a Yellow Elan (can't remebre which model) but the registration was very similar and began with CYR......

Gino
Milano
Italy

[jimj]

Richard, I enjoyed your interesting write up, much better than someone whingeing about being boring, but do take the Elan next time.
Jim

[richardcox_lotus]

Gino

The Elan at Brands (that gave me a ride on the demo lap) was owned by a guy named Jeremy, who lives in Suffolk. I met him through the Historic Lotus Register crowd that day. He's owned the car for a few years now, having upgraded from a Morgan 3-wheeler. (His wife wanted a car with a heater !!)

Jim - thanks and I will take the Elan one day. Can't do it at the moment as it looks like this:

Regards
Richard