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Lakeside Classic

The Lakeside Classic meeting 20/21 July will be the biggest meeting for us.

Phil Ross of Shannons has confirmed a large field of Group C & A cars will be there as part of their national championship. A special feature will be Gibson Motor Sport with Jim Richards racing one of the Nissan GTR’s.

Also, I can confirm the three times consecutive Australian Touring Car championship winning car (Geoghegan Mustang) driven by current V8 Supercar driver David Wall will be racing with us in Group N.

Phil Ross is trying to get upwards of 10,000 spectators over the weekend. This is a golden opportunity for you to promote your vehicles (Jason) and products (Cameron).

It might pay to book space early as a lot of trade stands will be there.

Lotus 2 and 3 in Germany

German GP: Kimi Räikkönen suspects Lotus’ last pitstop not required

by Jonathan Noble and Matt Beer

Kimi Räikkönen suspects he might not have needed the final pitstop that cost him the lead of the German Grand Prix.

As rivals Sebastian Vettel and Romain Grosjean came in with around 20 laps to go for new mediums, Räikkönen stayed out and assumed the lead for Lotus. But having last pitted during the mid-race safety car, Räikkönen ultimately stopped for softs 10 laps from the finish. He subsequently reclaimed second from Lotus team-mate Grosjean, but fell one second shy of catching Vettel for victory.

“I could run longer and we had to think about if we should try to run until the end,” said Räikkönen.

“But I had massive problem with the radio. I could hear the team but they couldn’t hear me, apart from at two corners. I wonder if we should have gone to the end as the tyres were OK.”

Räikkönen agreed with Vettel’s suggestion that the lead would have changed had the race been any longer.

“It’s hard to know what would have happened in the next two laps,” said the Finn.

“We had good speed. I think we would have had a big fight anyhow and probably passed him. We tried everything we had and failed to win, but I think for the team we had a good race. We’ll keep trying.”

Mark Webber: F1’s ‘proper bloke’ will be sorely missed

by Andrew Benson

Mark Webber’s decision to leave Formula 1 at the end of the season puts an already endangered species on the critical list. He is a top grand prix driver who is prepared to say what he thinks.

F1 is also losing a man who is “super-quick, one of the quickest guys on the grid”, a tribute paid by McLaren sporting director Sam Michael, who worked with Webber at Williams and has since had experience of, among others, Hamilton.

Webber’s combination of race-winning pace and forthright manner has made him a central figure in F1 over the last decade and, particularly, the last few years.

The 36-year-old Australian is what is known in his home country as “a proper bloke”. He makes time for journalists he respects, yet happily admits to an impatience with PR work in general. He is a proud and committed Aussie who lives in the English home counties, eschewing various tax havens, because it has come to feel like home.

“Britney’s in the wall”

Mark Webber’s Williams years provided a favourite anecdote about him, which says a lot about his determination, sense of justice and humour.

Like all top Aussie sportsmen, Webber is not immune to a few psychological games to boost his chances. And it was he who invented the nickname “Britney” – as in popstar Spears – for his young, blond and good-looking 2006 Williams team-mate Nico Rosberg, then in his first season.

Their final race together was in Brazil, where Rosberg rammed into the back of his team-mate’s car on the opening lap, breaking the front nose of the German’s car and Webber’s rear wing.

Because it’s relatively quick to replace a front wing replacement but a damaged rear means a likely retirement, the two were given a “priority Rosberg” message over the radio as they headed back to the pits. Webber, cross at his team-mate’s mistake, was determined to get back first and they began to race – really race – despite Rosberg suffering from lack of front grip and Webber struggling with the rear.

As they came on to the pit straight, Rosberg was just ahead, only to lose control through the flat-out kink before the pits and crash heavily into a concrete barrier.

Webber was right behind him and, as he passed the incident, the team came back on the radio with another “priority Rosberg” message. Webber paused for effect before replying in a languid Aussie drawl: “Britney’s in the wall.”

Water in the Block

You will never believe what happened to the engine block in our white 4 door race car on Thursday morning. A guy built the block for me 15 years ago which we have used as a spare just in case we blew an engine. We have spent the last couple of months putting the bottom end in the car after removing a block that was cracked on the outside and letting water out. Now we have water leaking on the inside of the motor.

Yep, told you would not believe it. While I was out paying some bills, my mate Peter Stevanovic came over to check why the generator light would not go off. He started the car after fixing the electrical problem and the motor was running real rough so he turned it off. He had a look and could not believe his eyes. Water had been blowing out the exhaust. We only got 10 minutes running out of the motor before it died. Not bad for a couple of grand that I spent on it years ago. I am going to rip it out and not sure if I will sleeve it or just redo another block. No warranty available.

We had organised to take it to Lakeside to run the new motor in but it run out before we even got it out of the shed. I said to Allan we would take the blue car up for a run so we loaded it up and off we went on Saturday morning. Trevor Norris also had put a new engine in his Datsun 1600 so he took it along for a few laps.

It was a bit different watching Allan race around the track passing late model cars instead of the old cars in historic racing. He was still very competitive. We did 2 practice sessions of about 10 laps each.

Trevor only got 2 laps in on the first run and 2 laps on the second run before his motor starting missing and losing power. When he took it home it had no compression on number 4 and the spark plug was damaged. Not good. He reckons he is going to jam it in the shed and let it sit for a while. His son Troy races an XU1 Torana which has been giving a bit of trouble on the track so we nicknamed him “2 lap Troy” – so we have started to call Trevor “2 lap Trevor”.

Greg Dalliston was there with Trevor’s old EH Sports sedan doing a couple of laps.

When we got home the next door neighbour Graham Hanson brought his RED ROCKET over as he had a problem with the steering. We fix anything at the Cortina Factory. The Army Reserve came to the rescue as Major Graham Palmer was at Lakeside with us and had come back to our place to fix his Jeep and also ended up fiddling with the RED ROCKET. Peter arrived and gave him a big hug which he greatly appreciated. Have a look at his face in the pic.

That’s it for now till the next race meeting on the weekend of 22 July at Lakeside Park.

Saundo

Noosa Hillclimb July 2013

[Show slideshow]

Binna Burra Weekend

Binna Burra Lodge

Binna Burra & Bangalow Markets Weekend
27 & 28 July

The LCQ weekend away is now the focus after our wonderful day run through the Brisbane & Lockyer Valleys last weekend.

We plan on having a leisurely Saturday afternoon drive to Binna Burra Lodge where we’ll partake in afternoon cheese platter (with maybe the odd wine), dinner and a relaxing sleep. After a hearty breakfast on Sunday morning we will drive to Bangalow Markets.

After the markets (or lunch at the Bangalow Pub) the drive back to Brisbane is a mere 1¾ hours straight up the highway.

For the drive to Bangalow there are 2 options. After Murwillumbah we can either take the longer, more picturesque (& Lotusy) drive through Uki, or we can take the more trafficked but shorter drive over the Burringbar Range along the old Pacific Highway.

Saturday 27 July:
• This will be an easy afternoon drive, we’ll meet at Macleans Bridge Park on the out-bound side of Beaudesert Road.
• Drive to Binna Burra Lodge via Canungra (coffee stop) and then onto Binna Burra Lodge
Sunday 28 July:
• Breakfast
• Drive to Bangalow via either:
• Numinbah Valley > Chillingham > Murwillumbah (coffee stop) > Nimbin (4 hours)
• Numinbah Valley > Chillingham (coffee stop) > Murwillumbah > Burringbar > Nimbin (3 hours)
• Bangalow Markets
Accommodation at Binna Burra Lodge is a choice of packages which all include Dinner, Bed & Breakfast (incl. 10% discount):
• Acacia Accommodation (Ensuite)	2 adults	$333.00
• Acacia Accommodation (Ensuite)	1 adult	$252.00
• Casuarina Accommodation (share bathroom)	2 adults	$234.00
• Casuarina Accommodation (share bathroom)	1 adult	$157.50
• Safari Tent	2 adults	$65.00 + meals ($65 per person)

Binna Burra Lodge website
Phone: 1300 246 622

Please when booking your accommodation at Binna Burra quote you are with the Lotus Car Club for the 10% discount, then let me know you will be joining us. My email is: clivewadeassoc@gmail.com.

This should be a great weekend, restarting an old tradition of one weekend each year away from home.

Lakeside Timed Laps

BOOK NOW! Second Lakeside Timed Laps
Sunday 14th July 2013

Our second Lakeside Timed Laps event for the year is scheduled for Sunday 14th July 2013

This event will be run under Queensland Raceway QMSC Licence arrangements and is open to all LCQ Members their family and friends.

The Lakeside Driver Training Centre is at the rear of Lakeside Raceway and has a combination of layouts. It is a bitumen track with fairly flat open grass safe run off areas in most parts – click here to see a course map.

The Timed Lap event format is a single car run for a timed lap. The aim of the event is to have a fun day in a safe controlled environment; it is not about winning it is about having fun.

This will be an all day event starting around 8.30am for registration, scrutineering and driver briefing etc, BYO lunch and have fun. The cost is $80.00 per driver which includes a QMSC Day licence, or $60.00 if you have a AASA or QMSC Annual licence.

Please complete these forms:

• Entry Form

• QMSC Licence Form

and email a copy to wilmac@bigpond.com with a copy of your Entry Payment Advice.

Please forward your payment by Bank Transfer to the LCQ Bank Account: BSB 633-000 A/c No: 119108751 and include a reference “DTC & your name”.

Note: You must register and pay beforehand, as NO entries will be accepted on the day.

If your vehicle is Queensland registered you will be required to obtain a Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance Rally Extension letter from your CTP Insurer. The CTP letter is to state the name and date of the event and be produced at registration on the day – see sample letter.

Please also ensure you bring the following signed original forms on the day:

1. Your signed original Entry Form
2. Your signed QMSC Day Licence Form – if applicable
3. Your AASA or QMSC Annual Licence card – if applicable
4. Your CTP Rally Extension letter

as the forms will be required by the Lakeside staff when you register.

Please register early to assist us get off to a good start on the day and have fun.

Enquiries call: Daryl Wilson Ph/Fx: (07) 3849-2220

Rocky Mountaineers

Despite a tough race in Montreal much loved Lotus grizzly, Kimi Räikkönen is set to snatch Schumacher’s consecutive points win record at Silverstone

The Canadian Grand Prix, the seventh round of the FIA 2013 Formula One® World Championship competition proved to be a thorny climb for the Lotus F1® Team when bad luck compounded with technical issues, and pit stop ‘jack faffage’ undermined the team’s usual competitive edge. Neither Lotus F1® Team driver had the best of starts. Kimi Räikkönen begun the race from P10 whilst a 10-place grid penalty from Monaco meant Romain Grosjean began at the back of the pack.

Despite the seemingly continuous difficulties both drivers displayed dogged persistence to improve their positioning. Romain hustled his way to a P13 finish, whilst Kimi managed to overcome the issues blighting his race to finish in P9. This itself was unfortunate as a last lap pass by Felipe Massa nudged Kimi back one spot, despite a vigorous defence by the Finn.

Kimi’s result means that although he equals Michael Schumacher’s record of consecutive points finishes, with both former world champions having scored points for 24 races each, unfortunately he falls to third place in the Drivers’ Championship. The team drops to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, with Mercedes 20 points ahead in third.

Kimi Räikkönen, P9, E21-03 “My race didn’t start very well and then my brakes were fading with the pedal going soft; similar to the problem we had on Friday. It wasn’t ideal but at least the brakes were good enough to slow me down for the corners. Unfortunately though it meant I lost a lot of time and wasn’t able to attack, plus we lost a few seconds in the pit stop which obviously didn’t help either. Most of my race was just following the cars in front and defending from those behind, so not the most enjoyable day nor the most enjoyable result. It’s been a bad weekend, but at least we scored a few points.”

Romain Grosjean, P13, E21-02 “It was always going to be a tough race coming from the back, but it’s still disappointing to miss out on the points. Things were looking good until we switched to the option tyres, but they dropped off far quicker than we expected which forced us to stop again. Sadly that effectively put an end to our race as by that time there was no way back. After a promising start on Friday it’s not been the best weekend, but we had good pace last year at Silverstone so we’ll come back looking to put things right.”

Eric Boullier, Team Principal “Today was certainly character building. On the plus side, Romain drove a measured and mature race through the field and should have finished in the points had we not had to make a second stop, which wasn’t to our original plan. Kimi had a frustrating day, but still scored some points. We couldn’t show the pace we wanted this weekend and will be all the more focused when we get to Silverstone as we are obviously very keen to get our championship challenge back on track.”

The eighth round of the competition takes place at Silverstone on 30th June 2013.

Run to Esk

Sunday 23rd June.
Mark your diaries

Peter & Norma have put together
the following run:

Meet at McDonalds, The Gap at 8:30am for a 9:00am departure. Travel over Mt Glorious, North around Wivenhoe Dam, to Esk.

Morning tea 10:30 am at “Julie’s at the Rectory”. Gatton-Esk Rd to Farmgate 1411 – farm stall with excellent fruit (Google it). Then past Atkinson Dam stopping at the old Lowood Motor Racing Circuit.

Lunch 1:00 pm at the Tarampa Hotel. Suggested return route is through Lowood and Glamorgan Vale.

Lotus confident Räikkönen will stay for 2014

By Pete Gill

Lotus remain confident that Kimi Räikkönen will decide to stay with the team for 2014 despite reported interest from Red Bull.

Räikkönen, who currently resides in second place in the Drivers’ Championship just four points behind leader Sebastian Vettel, is out of contract at the end of the year and has been heavily linked with Red Bull in the wake of Technical Director James Allison’s resignation.

A vacancy is widely expected to emerge at Red Bull amid suggestions this will be Mark Webber’s final season in the sport, but Lotus owner Gerard Lopez is positive that the Finn will stay on for a third season with the Enstone outfit – even if strong-arming Kimi into signing a new deal may prove problematic!

“We know we want Kimi to drive for us next year, but then we also know Kimi’s character well, which means you can’t force him to do anything,” Lopez remarked ahead of this weekend’s Monaco GP in which Räikkönen is expected to feature prominently.

“I know he’s happy, and at this stage if he had to choose, I know where he would be.”

According to Lopez, it’s not money but the potential to win races that will ultimately be decisive in persuading Räikkönen, who has also driven for both Ferrari and McLaren as well as Sauber during his F1 career, where to commit his future.

“The main thing about Kimi is he naturally wants a car to win, and he has got that with us,” he added.

“I know we’re giving him what he needs, and as long as we keep on doing that then he’ll stay with us. If he could find a better car somewhere else, and he had an option to go there, then I’m sure he would consider it.

“But I know we’re giving him what he needs, and as long as we keep on doing that then he’ll stay with us.”

Macleans Bridge oops

Macleans Bridge

I know I’m a grumpy old fart but did anyone else notice the typos? – Webmaster

Devon and Cornwall Police Lotus

A Lotus Evora decked out in police livery is being used by officers in Devon and Cornwall in the UK to raise road safety awareness over the summer.

The car had already allowed officers to chat with people who might otherwise not otherwise talk to them, Devon and Cornwall Police said. However, it was not an operational police car, and was not involved in high speed chases, the force said. The car has been lent to the police by Lotus for free.

It is appearing at motoring events across both counties, including Newquay’s Run To The Sun, from 24-27 May, before going back to Lotus. Sgt Owen Messenger said responses to the car at several events so far had “been overwhelming”.

He said: “People literally flock to it. It’s a stunning looking car and with the police badges, it’s very unusual.

“Understandably we get a lot of interest from younger drivers and those with an interest in performance cars and that gives us the chance to talk with them over issues of road safety.”

Räikkönen happy under the radar

After a hat-trick of second place finishes, Kimi moves to within four points of Sebastian Vettel at the head of the Drivers’ Championship; he’s not getting carried away just yet though…

“Unfortunately it’s second place again so it’s not time to celebrate too much. The car felt good and we did pretty much all we could today, but we didn’t have the pace to challenge Fernando [Alonso]. I drove to the maximum and it’s good for the championship that Sebastian finished behind us. It’s nice to be on the podium for me and the team; let’s see what we can do in Monaco.”

“We chose a three stop strategy and it worked pretty well for us. Fernando did make four stops, but we didn’t think we could beat him whatever the strategy today as he has looked pretty quick all weekend.

“I don’t mind if people don’t notice us. We do our work, we’re happy in what we do and we obviously try to achieve the best for Enstone. I’m just here to race the best I can. You always want to win and it’s disappointing to finish second, but sometimes we have to take what we can get.”

“No point fighting Alonso”

Raikkonen led Alonso in their penultimate stints at Barcelona, when both had one pit stop left to make, but Alonso used his fresher tyres to overtake Raikkonen and pull well clear before the final stops.

When asked if he thought that victory had been possible Raikkonen replied:

“Maybe halfway through, when we were leading, but we were on old tyres and [he had] newer tyres. It is too easy to overtake, so no point to really fight again because you cannot hold him behind. I knew if I could somehow stay a bit closer, maybe I had some chance, even if I am already behind them with old tyres. But in the end, they were just too fast.”

Raikkonen pointed to his poor opening lap, when he dropped a place to Alonso at Turn 3, as a moment that shaped his race.

“We didn’t have a good start, but I don’t think the end result was decided there. It wasn’t the win, and we are only happy with the win, but [in terms of the championship, with Sebastian] Vettel we are close and Fernando has caught me, but we are still in the hunt and hopefully we can try and win a bit more.”

Raikkonen is now just four points behind Vettel in the championship, and is looking forward to future battles as he aims to win his second world title.

“Sometimes you have bad days and make the most out of them and give yourself a chance to fight for wins,” he said.

“If you can do that often you will have a good chance in the end to fight for the championship. Only five races done… we will see what happens and see where we are at the end.”