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
deeper-conversation

Polly’s Kitchen capers

August Day Run to Springbrook

Some events that Robyn and I have been to this year, in reverse order of importance, and their associated weather:

• Warbirds over Wanaka: Rain
• Imperial War Museum Duxbury, ‘D’ Day flying display: Heavy rain
• LCQ August drive day: Rain?

Or so the cryptic phone call I received from Clive on the Thursday before seemed to imply:

“Hi Colin, Clive here. Would you and Robyn still be interested in coming on the outing on Sunday if it rains a little?”

Now I know the Elan is a soft-top, but it is reasonably watertight, so what is he talking about?

Found out on the day before the drive as 70mm of rain filled our rain gauge, and a similar amount also fell on the rest of S.E. QLD!

Sunday loomed overcast, with a forecast of clearing showers. Sometime after gathering at the Yatala BP, two Elan owners were observed to be praying to ACBC for some sunshine and dry roads. Either that or they were:

A. counting oil drips
B. comparing chassis colour
C. discussing why one of the Elans had sagging front suspension or
D. all of the above.

They must have been praying, as the day turned into brilliant sunshine with barely a drop of rain.

All those intending to participate finally arrived and some serious chatting got under way. Central to the conversation was the appearance of an Exige S. A striking looking car in an equally striking Khaki colour. Rob and Erin Bell were quite happy to talk about their new car and gave us all an insight into the difference between their old Series 1 Elise and their new Exige S.

Apart from the Exige, there were:

• A Series 2 Elise – Peter Upham (our drive leader)
• Two Series 1 Elises – Clive and Gloria Wade and Mal and Chris Kelson
• Two Elans – Greg and Chris Bray and Colin and Robyn McKay
• Honda Integra ISO Caterham 7 – Darryl and Moira Wilson
• Subaru ISO Series 1 Elise – Rob and Helen Flaherty
• BMW 125i – Richard Wade

Clive called the group together and handed out driving notes with maps and discussed the route. Yatala – Tamborine – Canungra (coffee break) – Upper Beechmont – Numinbah Valley – Pine Creek Road – Mudgeeraba Springbrook Road down to Polly’s Country Kitchen.

A fairly straightforward first leg ensued with the road surface drying out nicely and just the usual Sunday drivers to contend with. Peter first showed his leadership ability, by ensuring that the road hog, sitting in the r/h lane of a passing section, stayed there whilst we all undertook him to get by, everyone eager to get to coffee at Canungra. Sunday drivers!

The second leg, which climbed up towards Binna Burra on the Lamington Plateau and on to Upper Beechmont, was the beginning of the more interesting part of the drive and affords some great Lotus type roads and breathtaking views toward the Gold Coast and the ocean beyond.

Continuing from here the road descends toward the Numinbah Valley via a narrow, twisty mountain road. This was our first taste of what was to come, corners dry in the sun and damp in the shade. However, Peter led at a pace that was brisk, but considerate of the varying conditions.

The third leg up the Numinbah Valley road can be driven at quite a pace and is a satisfying drive. However, passing places are few and frustrations can build. Hence our change of leader at the next intersection for our climb up toward Springbrook.

Our fourth leg was thus led by Mal, with Darryl as passenger, who courageously cleared the way for our enthusiastic squirt up this long and winding road. This road ascends for several kilometres with barely a straight stretch to be seen. Fortunately, it was quite dry with no traffic and we all enjoyed the freedom to lift the pace a little.

The fifth and final leg from Springbrook to Polly’s Country Kitchen was another long descent similar to the one down from the Lamington Plateau; in and out of shade with corresponding wet and dry patches. This combined with some wet, wooden, one way bridges required a certain amount of care to negotiate without coming to grief.

A large table had been set up for our arrival at Polly’s, and after a photo session and a chat about the drive and the difference in performance of one brand of tyre over another in the damp conditions, we retired to the café for lunch.

To our delight, but not necessarily to all the other diners, we were joined by several hungry kookaburras looking for an opportunistic snack. After finishing our country fare, and watching Clive and Gloria devouring a large piece of chocolate chestnut torte, thanking them both for organising the day out and Peter for leading, the group drifted off in dribs and drabs all happy that the weather cleared enough for a great day.

Now, what were those two guys really looking at under the Elans?
C. Greg is sagging!

Cheers, Colin.

A-meaningful-conversation
An-even-deeper-conversation
Daryl,-Peter,-Richard,-Clive-Rob
Gathering-at-Earthly-Delights-Cafe
Greg-and-Colin
Helen,-Rob,-Clive,-Mal
Lotus-line-up-at-Polly's
Meet-and-greet-at-Yatala
Parking-at-Polly's-Country-Kitchen
Trio-of-Lotus

[Show slideshow]
Lakeside Cortinaring Lakeside Timed Laps October 2014

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

36_MG_2552 McL_13 121_2151_IMG 121_2135_IMG IMG_4451 image_141 IMG_5035 IMG_7619 112_1297_IMG 15a IMG_9039 PICT7307 PICT7303 Austin_Healy IMG_5653 Club_Lotus_Dec_08_020 P8310145 IMG_3029 P1090178 _MG_4504 as Smart Object-1 4 Winno-Kerri-Will-Piddington-with-Elisa 20180916_072314 20180916_072024 Mal Kelson 1997 Lotus Elise - 1 Front Line Up Jason the Cat Man Peter Stringfellow img_0945 Geoff-at-dusk MG_5997 IMGP3186 george-anita 05 Daryls-new-paint-job CRW_6396_RJ IMG_0025 F1000015 Jan-main-0 Craig- main-7 main-0a lec_0183 Hang_gliders_on_Tamborine Anita_Dean_in_340R Thallon_MRCF_Shearn_Lotus_18_Reid_Cooper_Williamson_Ausper_race_1_31_1 DSC03859 PF1_Powerboat Classic_Team_Lotus MG_7012 IMG_0008 IMGP8559 IMG_9101 IMG_0466 20130629_113105 image_026 IMG_5164 IMG_5191 IMG_3636 IMG_8049 IMG_5133 image_169 image_014 IMG_8486 IMG_8462 Mar-main-10 main-31 BTP2-Temporary-spare-acquired Mar-main-37 A-Pride-of-Sevens Europas-new-and-old Zaids-Exige What the_ 20200816_080349 DSC_4135 Evaporator-box Photo-of-the-flinstone-on-track-not-actually-at-AGP-or-phillip-I-2-lr Judges-nitpicking-for-Concours-d’Elegance Signing In IMG_7747 Shanes-Seven main-5 Spaced-around-the-picnic-table photo-9 Steve and Co Granite-Belt-Brewery_GW DSC_4139 A27I4710 Alans 7 main-14 morgan-3-wheelers P1020961 IMG_8805 Out the back IMAG6114 Stanthorpe-photo-by-vyv IMAG5954 main-43 IMAG5999 Chris and Patty

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