Lotus Club Queensland
Dedicated to the promotion and enhancement of the Lotus experience
Login
Register
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Membership
    • Member Login
  • Events
    • Calendar
  • Motorsport
    • Lakeside DTC Timed Laps
    • LAKESIDE DTC RESULTS
  • Magazine
  • For Sale
    • Merchandise
    • Classifieds
  • Posts
  • Galleries
  • Directory
    • Suppliers & Parts
    • Advertisers
  • Archives
bseries-banner

Morgan Park B Series Rd 1 – May 2017

Story by Vyvyan Black, Photos by Gloria Wade & Vyvyan Black.

The day started at the wretched hour of 4.30am. What strange misadventure is this, I thought.

What kind of idiot gets up at this time? What I didn’t know was that all the sensible people leave late on Friday and stay overnight. Never mind. Off I go, into the blackness and the cold, and the fog. And what a fog it was!

The further from Brisbane, the thicker it got. So much so that at one point I’m zooming along at over 120kmh with just ten feet ahead visible – only the occasional reflector as my guide. It was almost dreamlike and I might have lost myself in it if it weren’t for the thought that a big red roo could jump in front at any moment. Where was I heading?

Just outside of Warwick there’s a track at a place called Morgan Park, that I’ve heard about but never actually seen. Being the webmaster of this glorious club I get to look at all the photos that have ever been taken at the various events members attend, and this event comes up a lot. Looks pretty serious I thought.

For those who don’t know, I’ve recently acquired my 1968 Plus 2 and have managed to have a go at a couple of hill climbs. These events marked the first time in my life I have ever raced a car. Well, apart from my foolish youth – and that was only on public roads where I always was a bit of a leadfoot! Still can’t stand slow drivers in front – sheesh!

So, I’m a complete novice. I have to say it’s pretty daunting when you turn up, having driven to the track, and you see the magnificent vehicles that you’ll be driving against. They all seem to have arrived via trailer, unregistered and built specially for track use. Slicks, and modifications everywhere, even sponsorship logos. What am I doing here?

But there’s a number of cars that also drove to the track, mostly have very few modifications and don’t have any sponsorship decals. These cars are of course the Elises. No chance against them either, but luckily everything’s roughly classed into like capacity.

So here’s my first real race situation. But I quickly felt at ease, and after a bit the Elise guys turned up. Here’s the club attendees and times:

Geoff Noble S2 (SC Honda) Silver 03:54:581
Garry Pitt S2 (NA Honda) Red 04:20:366
Martin O’Brien S3 (SC Toyota) Orange 04:20:627
Joe Arico S2 (NA Ford) Black 04:28:337
Jason Patulo S2 (NA Honda) Yellow 04:28:579
Clive Wade S1 (NA Honda) Green 04:34:474
Rob Stevens S2 (NA Rover) Blue 04:43:830
John Flynn S1 (NA Rover) Green 04:51:190
Vyvyan Black Elan Plus 2 (NA Lotus) Navy & Silver 05:33:068

It’s a very nice track. Recently resurfaced and lots of variety. On my first warm-up lap I was getting giggly. This will be a gas! In a way I felt like a lad again. Pity I don’t have the daredevil attitude and the stamina I used to. But what fun!

Some had hiccups – Geoff repaired a small suspension component and Clive was alarmed by a noise in his newly refurbished powerplant that actually turned out to be a window rattle. Over the course of the two day weekend I got slightly better each run, enjoyed some ding dong bouts with a couple of the others in my group and had a total ball. On the drive home I realised that I didn’t think (and the scrutineer didn’t ask) to remove my spare steel wheel, tools and wooden boot lining. Talk about just adding lightness!

I cannot understand why more members don’t do these events. There’s nothing like it for driving your car the way it was meant to be. It’s not even that expensive. And if a complete schmuck like me can do it, what’s stopping you?

Last chat of the day
Homeward bound

[Show slideshow]
◄ 1 ... 3 4
More Duratec Madness HSCCQ Khanacross – May 2017

Related Posts

mp-banner

Events, Gallery 2022, Homepage, Racing

Morgan Park Sprints R4

gold-rush-banner

Events, Gallery 2022, Homepage, Racing

Gold Rush Hill Sprint – 2022

leyburn-banner

Events, Gallery 2022, Homepage, Racing

Leyburn 2022

Random images

Chris_and_Greg_Bray Darryl Ringuet - Special award 3445 LCQ-Pits 1-Arrival-at-the-Carseldine-servo Peter-Seears-1959-Lotus-7-S1-3 George-Rowes-Lotus11-1 IMGP3186 7-Penny-John-Ken-Clive-Peter newer-elan img_0942 DS7_3404_full 123_2366_IMG IMG_4883 122_2203_IMG IMG_4382 IMG_4442 IMG_4426 IMG_8613 image_093 IMG_7427 elans-4 20220220_093827 07252021-copy4 ICC-Competitors Matthew Nayler 2000 Subaru BRZ Lotus_Only_Track_Day_at_Mount_Panorama_Bathurst_Februar_2018-371 Bathurst Pit Bay gw_John and Darryl gw_Cat in the Lotus line up Lunch Time go-fast-red _MG_9165 as Smart Object-1 20170226_070602 MG-8144 Paul Martin Kelly, speed demon dtc-2 Overall Championship trophy to LCQ IMG_0239_1 main-36 Musicians---Bangalow-Markets- Standing-Daryl,-Colin-and-Robyn-Seated-Craig,-John,-Greg Mike-G-and-his-Talisman- Jeff-finding-how-low-an-Elise-can-go Darryl- P1010409 2006_08_27_Gympie_Skid_Pan0036 16a Greg_and_Chris_Bray_Elan Chris_Beecham Alan IMGP2258 Ploughman's Lunch IMG_0285 DSC_5297 IMG_0363 29e P1060272 CRW_7673_RJ P1050574 P1050557 Club_Lotus_Dec_08_016 P1050442 P1060561 PICT7285 P8310153 P8310110 IMGP7294 image_156 IMG_7995 IMG_5156 DSC03834 nh01dr Sheep-and-Porsche-hold-us-up-China-Day-1 IMG_9684 Jasons-Exige Fossys-XTR2 Getting-ready-for-the-home-run The Murphy's Jon-Young Catching up main-12 Seven Heaven alex-gostwyck-chapel-3 IMGP8730 main-21 batmobile-2 Steve-Lennox blasts from the past IMG_6142 scott-evora-2 IMG_8811 mga BEST EDITED GROUP SHOT main-44 Vyvs-Plus2 main-55 IMAG5990 IMAG6157

Recent Articles

  • Morgan Park Sprints R4
  • Kev’s Big Day Out
  • Duratec Elise – better late than never
  • Gold Rush Hill Sprint – 2022
  • Marburg Pub Run – 4 Sept 2022
  • Unique +2 Road Trip to Brisbane
  • Leyburn 2022
  • August 2022 DTC

Latest Gallery Images

20220220_093834 20220220_093818 20220220_093827 20220220_093743 20220220_093812 20220220_093730

Search articles by category

Archived articles

Lotus Club Queensland
© Lotus Club Queensland   |   Site by Black Eye Studios