Lotus Club Queensland
Dedicated to the promotion and enhancement of the Lotus experience
  • Home
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Monthly Meeting
    • Join the Club
    • Stay informed
    • Membership Application
  • Events
    • Current Events
    • Day Run Sign On Form
    • Articles
    • Lotus 2019
  • DTC
    • 2021
      • DTC Live Results – March 2021
      • DTC Live Results – Feb 2021
    • DTC Results Archive
    • DTC Entry
    • DTC Articles
  • Calendar
  • For Sale
    • Classifieds
    • Merchandise
  • Technical
    • Expert Panel
    • Model Info
    • Driving
      • Paul Stokell’s Driving Events
    • Autokhana Layouts
  • Links
    • Suppliers & Parts
    • Video Links
    • Lotus Racing
    • Lotus Cortinas
      • Lotus Cortina Articles
      • Lotus Cortina Videos
  • Galleries
    • All Galleries
      • Gallery 2020
      • Gallery 2019
      • Gallery 2018
      • Gallery 2017
      • Gallery 2016
      • Gallery 2015
      • Gallery 2014
      • Gallery 2013
      • Gallery 2012
      • Gallery 2011
      • Gallery 2010
      • Gallery pre-2010
    • Articles
  • Magazine
    • Magazine 2021
    • Magazine 2020
    • Magazine 2019
    • Magazine 2018
    • Magazine 2017
    • Magazine 2016
    • Magazine 2015
    • Magazine 2014
    • Pre-2014
      • Magazine 2013
      • Magazine 2012
      • Magazine 2011
      • Magazine 2010
      • Magazine 2009
stanthorpe-banner

Stanthorpe Murder Mystery Tour

Friday 23 August started out like any normal South East Qld day.

Story by Rob Preslmaier, photos by Gloria Wade.

The day was sunny and a tad cool in the morning, but by 0900 it had started to warm up was looking normally wonderful. The ladies and gentlemen of the Lotus Car Club gathered in the bucolic location of Marburg in their generally charming contrivances, gossiping gaily about the upcoming weekend. It all seemed so normal. But everything was about to change. Within 5 minutes of departure the motor vehicle of Nigel and Allison suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure that could have ended badly. Coincidence? Read on!

As Nigel and Allison retreated home with their Lotus on a flatbed to fetch another vehicle for the purposes of bravely rejoining us, the remainder were left to proceed to the morning tea destination (Allora) still in a state of blissful ignorance. The route was devious and tortuous, and good fun was had in the Lotus with the Main Range and eventually Allora attained in good time. Ultimately Stanthorpe was reached and everything was well with all.

The dinner at the fine Italian dining establishment of Anna’s, an iconic Stanthorpe family restaurant, was tasty and enjoyable. I can say that the pasta meals and roast vegetables drizzled in oil were wonderful. But was the experience lulling attendees into a false sense of security?

Saturday morning another member of the Club simply disappeared! One minute Vyvyan (with the two vs and ys, which annoy people who enjoy traditional vowels), resplendent with beard and traditional English driving cap, was with us, the next he was gone. Vanished! Car and all.

Was there a murderer in our midst? What was driving this strange chain of events? Read on or go and make yourself a cup of coffee and get on with your day’s activities.

Saturday was an unusual day also in that, for a driving weekend, there was no need to actually drive a car. A bus magically appeared and it was all aboard and off to visit the wineries. Before lunch the tour visited Summit Estate Wines for a well-informed, sit down wine tasting to delight the oenologists amongst the group, and Stanthorpe Cheese, where there were many tasty cheeses and sausages on offer.

Lunch was taken at the delightful Blue Pot Pantry where there were also varied home-made jams and chutneys available. The freedom of being able to enjoy a wine or other drink with your meal and not have to worry about spearing the Lotus into the wilderness has to be experienced to be fully appreciated.

After lunch the magic bus took us to the Golden Grove and Ballandean Estate wineries, where more oenophiles were amused, entertained and encouraged to part from their hard earned, and finally to the Heavenly Chocolate shop to sample some delicious chocolates and to watch the antics of the rooster and his harem.

Later that evening the magic bus returned and picked us all up from the motel and transported us to the Granite Belt Brewery where there was much jovial conversation, sampling of beers, ciders and wines, and eating of delicious food. Late in the evening the charity raffle was decided. Lucky ticket holders received one of four bottles of very old port generously donated by Daryl Wilson. Given that these bottles had sat unattended for many decades they were in surprisingly good nick. Recipients were somewhat rudely required to open and partly drain their bottles into the glasses of the assembled masses. Satisfied patrons stumbled out into the cold night air for a comfortable bus ride back to the motel and a good night’s sleep.

The next morning Peter Watters and Stephen Tancred from the Stanthorpe Rotary Club joined us for breakfast at the motel where they were presented with $750 collected by Steve Lennox and Daryl Wilson levying various and generally spurious $5 fines for infractions of the Lotus Car Club Behaviour Code (no-one told me that wearing a hoodie in a cold location was an finable offence!).

While it was obvious from the sight of the arid state of the countryside and empty dams that Stanthorpe is in drought, the anecdotal evidence provided by Peter from the Rotary Club provided further evidence that the funds collected on this run will be put to much needed use.

But I digress from the mystery! In the same manner that you, dear reader, have forgotten about the sorry state of affairs (where was poor Vyvyan?) behind this tale of wine tasting and charitable works, tour attendees had forgotten about the potential murderer lurking in the shadows! Ken Philp watched the sun rise on an otherwise lovely Sunday morning feeling very unwell as he had spent an awful night creating multi-media Jackson Pollocks in his motel bathroom. Was Ken the victim of foul play? Had some mysterious malefactor slipped a toxin into the meal of our event organiser? Was Ken the intended target and the others merely cunning distractions? Did the events described above actually happen or is it just simply the demented ramblings of a brain addled Lotus driver? To find out you will have to come on the next Lotus long weekend. To those of you that missed out or could not attend please consider coming along on the next one. They are a lot of fun and exceedingly well organised.

By no means an anticlimax to the events of Friday and Saturday, the troupe of Lotus departed Stanthorpe for lunch at Mt Alford via Spring Creek Rd (a great road, pity they couldn’t afford to make it wide enough for two cars) and morning tea (melting moments yum!) at the Spring Creek Café.

All up a great weekend. Thanks to Ken Philp, Daryl Wilson and Craig Wilson for organising the event. A ‘great job’ to Steve Lennox and Daryl for organising the charity run. And thanks to everyone that came along and enjoyed the weekend, and put their hands in their pockets for a good cause (especially Craig and Caroline for throwing in a little extra cash and Daryl again for contributing his dad’s port for the raffle).

On a final note, Ken would love to hear from people with ideas as to where we should run future long weekend events. He can be contacted at kphilp2007@gmail.com.

Justin-SamMike_GW
The-tasting-table_GW
LeighCarolyn-Craig-wine-tasting_GW
Ready-for-Dinner_GW
John-Penny-with-Red_GW
Summit-Estate_GW
Summit-Tasting-Room_GW
Organisers-Margi-Ken_GW
Rob-blending-his-wines_GW

[Show slideshow]
◄ 1 2
Mo­tor­sport revs up help dur­ing drought Targa Great Barrier Reef 2019

Related Posts

gear-banner

Events, Gallery 2020, Homepage, Lotus Cortina, Racing

GEAR Club Nov 2020

dtc-banner

DTC, Events

DTC – 28th March 2021

noosa-hillclimb-banner

Events, Gallery 2021, Homepage, Racing

Noosa Summer Hillclimb 2020

Random images

img_1115
IMG_0143
Allan Greenbery Hillman Imp
Ploughman's Lunch
IMGP2257
F1000001
P1060077
Grahame_Vaughan
P1010410
IMG_4904
main-1
Christmas-at-the-New-Farm-Deli-
main-30
Jan-main-26
Mar-main-8
Mar-main-47
main-8
main-10
image_091
image_159
image_160
IMG_7399
IMG_5098
IMG_8545
IMG_6326
BDR_on_the_prowl
P5250041
P1020782
P8310149
P1050431
2009_Maccleans_Bridge_011
John_Lungren_Phil_Charles_and_Lotus_7
P1060270
1953_Jaguar_C_Type
PICT7253
10_Entering_the_Maiala_Rainforest_Teahouse
12a
IMG_8932
IMG_6632
image_029
image_135
IMG_6548
IMG_8430
IMG_8790
IMG_6513
MGP2189
MGP2196
IBT1_Markets_in_the_Mountains
P1060040
4-Breakfast-at-Birches-1
btiu-04
greg-bray-europa
IMGP3618
MG_6119
Clive
MG_8300
Greg-and-Tim
Mt-Warning-group
George-Rowes-Lotus11-overall-winner
Wybe-Wade
dtc-7
dtc-19
dtc-jon-young
Happy birthday, Craig
Is the mad hatter serious__
Peter Cox 1990 Mazda MX5 - 1
Gabi-James-Kinghorn-with-Candy-Robert-Costa-and-a-friend-with-a-great-bow-tie
Wybe-Geertsma
Martin-OBrien-by-SDPICS
Photo-28-11-20-8-30-06-pm
Group-N-Lotus-Cortina
The-pits-GPitt
maccas meetup
20200315_110210
unnamed-1
_MG_9540 as Smart Object-1
IMG_8200
Buckle Up
healeys-by-the-score
Monument-at-the-original-Track-Airfield
Timing Crew
Great Ocean Road
AN5W4522
IMAG6104
_MG_9593 as Smart Object-1
Isolated-Terminal
A Special
Club-Corner
photo-16
barrys-new-exige
Richard
esprit-2
Norma-Sharon-Daryl-and-Craig-enjoying-afternoon-tea-by-Gavin-Goeldner
Daniel contemplating
LeighCarolyn-Craig-wine-tasting_GW
main-24
awaiting the line
IMAG5956
IMG_9112
Muddy Pits

Recent Articles

  • The rebuild of my 1965 Lotus Elan S2 SE
  • GEAR Club Nov 2020
  • EMR to Mt Glorious 05/01/2021
  • December Day Run
  • DTC – 28th March 2021
  • Noosa Summer Hillclimb 2020
  • Interclub Challenge MGCCQ – Hillclimb Round
  • Off-street parking in Cairns

Latest Gallery Images

The-Europas Shanes-Seven Europas-new-and-old Daryls-Seven Daryl-manning-the-timing IMG_20200621_104957

Search articles by category

Archived articles

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