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
    • DTC Entry
    • 2021
      • DTC Live Results – Feb 2021
    • 2020
      • DTC Live Results Sept 2020
      • DTC Live Results August 2020
      • DTC Live Results June 2020
      • DTC Live Results March 2020
    • 2019
      • DTC Live Results Oct 2019
      • DTC Live Results Sept 2019
      • DTC Live Results July 2019
      • DTC Live Results March 2019
      • DTC Live Results Feb 2019
    • 2018
      • DTC Live Results Aug 2018
      • DTC Live Results July 2018
      • DTC Live Results April 2018
      • DTC Live Results March 2018
    • 2017
      • DTC Live Results Aug 2017
      • DTC Live Results July 2017
      • DTC Live Results June 2017
      • DTC Live Results March 2017
    • 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 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
sunshine-coast-run-banner

Sunshine Coast Day Run

By Gary Wrenn. Pics by Gloria Wade.

On the morning of the coast run the weather in Samford, my starting point, was damp with drizzling rain, so I made the decision to drive the TVR and leave the Seven behind. A decision I regretted by the time I arrived at Beerwah. The Sunshine Coast lived up to its name, the weather turned out to be perfect for club driving, especially if you were driving a Lotus.

Any concerns that I may have had about being a relatively new member on my first big Day Run with the club disappeared the moment I drove into the car park at Beerwah. At first, I was surprised that so many people knew my name, until I realised that I was wearing my Lotus Club badge. To see the number and quality of Lotuses that took part in the run was quite amazing. In total 27 cars and 45 people participated on the day, the range of Lotus models out to enjoy the sunshine included Elise’s, an Exige, Elans, Evora and a Seven thanks to Lockie Beecham who braved the weather to bring his Caterham.

After a lovely breakfast supplied by the friendly staff at the Vianta Café and a well-presented briefing by Clive and Gloria we were all set to go. The first leg was from Beerwah to Kenilworth but not by the ‘normal’ route. We went West out through Peachester up to Maleny and on to Kenilworth using highway 22. Although I have driven on this stretch of road in the past I have never experienced the feeling of seeing Lotuses in front and behind me for the whole 1 hour plus drive.

Kenilworth was a good choice for Morning Tea, great little coffee shops like Nanna McGinn’s where we enjoyed our morning break. More importantly it has ample parking even for an additional 27 Lotus’s on a busy Sunday. A special thanks to Clive and John Barram for paying the bill of those members who ‘did a runner’. I know a little about this kind gesture as I was one of the guilty ones.

The second leg from Kenilworth to the Glass House Mountains Village took one hour and fifteen to one hour and thirty minutes depending on what route you chose, or should I say if you chose the wrong route and found yourself lost. This section of the run has amazing views of the mountains and some of the best drives of the run, especial the single lane section on the way up to Mapleton. Another part of the drive worth a mention was the dusty section before Kenilworth, Giles Copper, the Peking to Paris veteran would have been reminded of the Gobi Desert roads if he had been with us on the day.

As with Kenilworth, the Glass House Mountains Tavern was a great spot for lunch and to end a really enjoyable morning, plenty of parking and good food. The Campfire Restaurant and the Outback Bar well worth a visit if you find yourself in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast.

Being new to the club and partaking in my first Club Day, one obvious thing that stood out was how everyone was not just enjoying the driving and the magnificent scenery but how everyone was enjoying the camaraderie. I am sure other members would have noticed the friendliness of some of the locals as we passed through the smaller towns. On one section of this drive, before Maleny, even the local police were so friendly that they stopped one Elise just for a chat and to admire the paint work. I was going to stop to say hello myself but the driver of the blue Elise appeared to be in a deep conversation and exchanging contact numbers at the time so I gave it a miss. Just another example of camaraderie, well done Peter.

One word to sum up my first club day drive: brilliant, I enjoyed every minute. Thank you to all the members who made me feel so welcome. From all who took part on the day a big thank you to Clive and Gloria for putting in all the hours of driving it took to organise such an interesting day.

A-wiggle-here-there_gw
At-Nana-McGinns_gw
Bling-on-the-landscape_gw
Boy-toy-talk_gw
Glass-House-Mtn-Tavern_gw
Keep-those-wheels-turning_gw
Lotus-left-right-centre_gw
Maleny-bound_gw
The-odd-one-out_gw
The-old-the-new_gw
Vianta-Beerwah_gw
Waiting-in-line_gw

[Show slideshow]
Run to Terranora Australian Hillclimb Championships

Related Posts

noosa-hillclimb-banner

Events, Gallery 2021, Homepage, Racing

Noosa Summer Hillclimb 2020

dtc-may-16

DTC, Events

DTC – 28th February 2021

ICC-Europa-banner

Events, Gallery 2021, Homepage, ICC, Racing

Interclub Challenge MGCCQ – Hillclimb Round

Random images

img_1051
Elan S1
2006_08_27_Gympie_Skid_Pan0090
main-11a
John-going-off-road-driving
Daryl-ready-for-action
Daryl's-Seven
Guest-driver-Frank-from-Westfield-Club
Dick,-Alister,-Peter-and-Nick
Mar-main-48
main-22
IMG_4296
IMG_5074
P9190081c1
IMG_8517
IMG_8589
0088
DSC03825
IMG_0531
IMG_8002
IMG_8060
IMG_6335
IMG_6362
P5250044
n751569074_589943_7282
IMGP7314
P8310122
IMG_3982
Club_Lotus_Dec_08_002
Gloria_John_Maggie_Graham_Mike_standing_Pato_Melinda_Gary_Maree_Geoff_JPG
20090822_065
20090822_069
IMG_1340
Derek_s_340R
PICT7310
IMG_7820
Coffee_stop_at_Winery
DSC_1532
10e
IMG_8896
IMG_8926
119_1967_IMG
IMG_6223
Aug_F02_2388a
IMG_4438
IMG_7665
IMG_6243
Perusing_the_menus_Milawa
IMG_5310
MG_9455
sunbeam-alpine
IMGP3420
MG_6002
MG_6293
Robyn-and-Colin
George-Rowes-Lotus11-5
Shane-Murphy-announcing-winners
concours-14
_MG_4587 as Smart Object-1
Jason & Garry
dtc-24
Col-Spring-Creek-Cafe-what-a-view
Rob and Joe
Front Line Up
20161106_145748
europas-2
gw_Lotus's garages
IMG_2464
Group-1.10-Eddie-Lankhorst-A-Stevens
Vyvyan-Blacks-Elan-2-V-Black
Mt-Cotton-2007
9
Gathering-at-Eaton-Hills-gw
170521 Khanacross - Long Track
IMGP8286
Shane & Dick - Race Ready
Daryl-manning-the-timing
front-cover-and-new-pulley
Jason-Dick
20181111_144904
Shanes-Seven
main-9
joe's-1947-alfa-1
MG_4426_GW
Fiat-850
Amos and Co
Beep Beep
flamin-rod-rear
170722 Track
Rob's-Elise-2
IMG_9112
Torana XU1
M100-2
lets-walk-this-way
bsa-bloody-sore-arse
Last chat of the day
main-68
main-110
main-70
Winters Morning in a Seven

Recent Articles

  • Noosa Summer Hillclimb 2020
  • DTC – 28th February 2021
  • Interclub Challenge MGCCQ – Hillclimb Round
  • Off-street parking in Cairns
  • Targa 2020 for Rookies
  • Mid Week Run
  • A Very Special Thank You
  • Townsville Supersprint 2020

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