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
Clive-trying-to-get-a-grip

Skid Pan Day with Paul Stokell and his team

Skid Pan Day – Saturday 11th June

By Adam Kingston, Photos Gloria Wade

With the not too distant memory of 25mls of rain on the previous Saturday, a group of excited Lotus owners mingled at the Mt Cotton Truck Skid Pan, on a beautiful Queensland winters’ morning. It was 8.30 am, a bit fresh, but the sun soon warmed us.

The cones had been strategically placed, the water had started flooding across the pristine bitumen, a few “skid pan virgins” had even washed their cars. Our instructors for the day, Steve Owen (Mark Winterbottom’s co-driver) and Andrew Price (from Paul Stokell Motorsports) ran through the program – three different courses through the day. On the first course, which was ready for us, we would have a few test runs, then the timing would start. The competition was on!

After the obligatory procession around the course, just to learn the route, the first few drivers made their initial runs. The discussion on the grandstand (Toilet block with coffee making facilities and some shade from the rising sun) was about which turns were causing the most difficulties. There also seemed to be quite a few drivers struggling to slow enough to stop inside the finishing box, ultimately resulting in a two second penalty. The challenge for some, was traction control on or off – others didn’t have the luxury. Some, myself included, always wondered what the button on the dashboard DTC actually did… we certainly found out.

The race between the 7’s/Caterham’s was as competitive as usual, with Shane, on his skinny tyres posting the best times, but the main competition was between El Presidente` showing electric pace, with his new tyres on the green S1 Elise and Garry in the heavily modified red S2. With each driver pushing, trying to find the limit – which they managed to do with ease and regularly spinning, finding the balance between power and the trusty handbrake, it was Garry on the final run who managed to shave a second off his previous time and pip Clive.

The biggest cheer from the grandstand, during the morning session was for an out of control Garry who managed to spin just in front of the finishing box, as he slid sideways towards the cones, somehow, he managed to slide the car in backwards, demonstrating the fine art of reverse parking at speed.

A big thank you for the hearty BBQ lunch which was provided and cooked by Mal and his two capable assistants, Jake and Lachlan. While we ate and discussed the finer detail of the morning’s event, the course was modified to allow two cars to race against each other. Clive threw down the gauntlet to Gary and the rest of us, with a quip about only seeing the back end of his car this time. Would he be able to back it up?

Again, after a couple of drives through the course, to learn the route, we lined up to take on the next challenge. With instructor Andrew doing his best impression of the start of the car race in the movie Grease, luckily without the outfit, we got under way. Surprisingly, or not, the biggest challenge seemed to be getting the cars around the correct course with many drivers, crumbling under the pressure of competition and missing some of the cones.

The final course change for the day, turned the entire arena into a mini Queensland Raceway, with a high speed sweeping horseshoe, starting and finishing in the same box.

Unfortunately, I and a few other drivers were unable to stay to the end of the day, the call of watching the Wallabies take on the old foe England at Suncorp pulled us away. I can only imagine the conversation in the grandstand, of, if only, and how much fun was that!

Thanks to the silent few who organised the day and to the Lotus Club who subsidised the event, it certainly is a great and safe way to find out what the cars and drivers are capable of.

Steve, Scott and Adam Kelly, speed demon Male bonding On your marque One good belting Paul giving it a belt Peter with Dana Relaxing before the event Scott Shane surveying the skid pan Shane Simon with Peter Jeff Steve The fastest Seven The gang's all here The line up The Pits The Uphams Tim Verne Waiting in line Which way did you two go_ Danielle Aaron Adam and Paul Adam Alan Cat 'n' Seven Cat vs Elise Cats getting ready to pounce Clive giving it a bath Clive trying to get a grip Clive with Lachlan A contemplative Dick Daryl, Dick and Shane Daryl, Steve and Adam Daryl Dick Garry Girls just wanna have fun Jake with Mal James Jeff and Co Jeff, Verne and Dick
[Show thumbnails]
A Definite Plus – the Elan Plus 2 DTC Lakeside – Sat 27 August

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

IMG_6519 _MG_4507 as Smart Object-1 DS7_3467_full Steves-Europa Adams-Elise-2 21-Lotus-51-Allan-Mike-John.jpg Sheena_Paulette_LCV_and_Angela_at_the_cheese_and_chocolate_tastings_Milawa P6210137 P1020657 IMG_0043 Garry 117_1795_IMG IMG_4866 IMG_4378 IMG_4453 IMG_6810 IMG_4904 image_147 image_078 IMG_7480 vb-Pitstop Lodge Garage Little-bit-wet Lindsay-Norris Photo-28-11-20-8-11-31-pm Garry-Pitt-heading-down-the-mountain-by-SDPICS Cossette-Woolleys-very-first-track-day Mitch-and-Darryl-braving-the-wet Elisa-gave-a-presentation-and-of-course-her-grandfather-Romano-featured Liam chasing Matt George img_1030 Garry group-1 Tony - Just Doing It pontiac-silver-streak-rear-end Dressed tree in the main street Dick Catching up with friends Jason & Garry 2006_08_27_Gympie_Skid_Pan0050 img_1057 Mar-main-56 main-27 John-in-his-Cheetah-and-on-track Elise-garages main-31a IMG_0286 IMG_0333 P1010432 IMG_7408 IMG_0408 DSC_5334 IMG_9106 IMG_0058 MG_6954 The_41_head_on lec_0177 P1060101 IMG_8050 P1060562 Garry_heading_down_the_straight 1953_Jaguar_C_Type P1060232 20090822_057 PICT7253 22_Hotmail_Mt_Glorious 013_13 DSC03844 DSC03834 DSC03823 IMG_5149 IMG_7354 image_114 122_2242_IMG IMG_4334 DSC_0093 20200314_151052 Exige-DIY-Shopping image1-3 martin Mal-Greg-Chris-Janette-Giles Trophy-for-best-car-of-show-Lotus-7 20170923_112858 Green Machine Fencing-wire-jury-rig Nailed It Parked at Qld Transport Museum 2 keeping-the-flag-flying Pit Pass Display-6 Martin IMG_6138 Engine-starter-motor main-64 Transport-Museum-Toyota-S800-3 alvis-2 IMAG6117 IMAG5985 main-113 IMAG6151

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