Lotus Tribute Car

Sam Reed

Sam Reed

Sandwich Retriever
RAW
Dec 14, 2022
184
145
43
Palmer, MA
Dave, Blair, Cale & Ben really knocked this one out of the park!

I styled it after the Lotus 311 I used to own. See the rest of the images below.

After breaking it in, I beat my PB by 2 seconds at Palmer ACW. Couldn't believe it. Fresher tires, maybe, and a bit more confidence with a tighter seat and a more comfortable seating position due to the 2" extended roll hoop.

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Brilliant! I'm also a Lotus fanboy.

First heard of Lotus after watching "Grand Prix" in '68 and learning Scott Stoddard was modeled after Jim Clark. Had never heard of either before watching that movie. Lifelong fan since.

Went to the Monterey Historics in '95, as it was the "Lotus" year. Too many tales to tell. Moss, in the Bugeye 1000 vs Hill in the Morgan 4.......EPIC!

Been racing the Lotus 49 on iRacing for MANY years. Was the perennial "high-mid-packer" and the "broadcast finance manager" for many of those. You can still watch those events at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2b2Wswly5JkBI4wGj43xey_AUouN5tO0. Some great racing there.

During the height of my Lotus mania a fellow '49er sent me a link for a discounted pair of Hunziker Lotus 49 shoes. They are immensely competent, but a bit of a slog to get in to.

For sure your RUSH is missing the prerequisite "Lotus Yellow" wheels?
 

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Sam Reed said:
Dave, Blair, Cale & Ben really knocked this one out of the park!

I styled it after the Lotus 311 I used to own. See the rest of the images below.

After breaking it in, I beat my PB by 2 seconds at Palmer ACW. Couldn't believe it. Fresher tires, maybe, and a bit more confidence with a tighter seat and a more comfortable seating position due to the 2" extended roll hoop.

View attachment 867
Click to expand...
Saw your car at the factory. HOT!!! Well done.
 
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Sam Reed said:
Dave, Blair, Cale & Ben really knocked this one out of the park!

I styled it after the Lotus 311 I used to own. See the rest of the images below.

After breaking it in, I beat my PB by 2 seconds at Palmer ACW. Couldn't believe it. Fresher tires, maybe, and a bit more confidence with a tighter seat and a more comfortable seating position due to the 2" extended roll hoop.

View attachment 867
Click to expand...
That looks fantastic. Is the roll cage wrapped or painted?
 
Bill Wright said:
During the height of my Lotus mania a fellow '49er sent me a link for a discounted pair of Hunziker Lotus 49 shoes. They are immensely competent, but a bit of a slog to get in to.

For sure your RUSH is missing the prerequisite "Lotus Yellow" wheels?
Click to expand...
I have similar Stand21 gloves and boots. I love them. I got lucky and bought them off a Lotustalk user basically unused, and they fit perfectly.

1690892857331.png


Re: the yellow wheels, you're absolutely right!! I'm going to put that on my TODO list for the spare set...
 
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It’s great to see that there are other Lotus enthusiasts in the Rush SR community. I’m on my 4th (2011 Elise SC) and 5th (2020 Evora GT) Lotuses and will be taking delivery of my Rush shortly.
 
AddLightness said:
It’s great to see that there are other Lotus enthusiasts in the Rush SR community. I’m on my 4th (2011 Elise SC) and 5th (2020 Evora GT) Lotuses and will be taking delivery of my Rush shortly.
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There are quite a few. @Jcarr906 has a similar car history to you.

There’s also a beautiful John Player Special livery on a car that just sold.
 
Hi Sam
After seeing your post it prompted me to register so I could reply. Haha.
I currently have a 311 and planning on getting a Rush soon. What are your thoughts between the two?
I’m just looking for something with a bit less risk to go track and also to run some of the west coast races in. The 311 is a bit pricey and rare if put off track as you know!
What # did you own?
Your Lotus theme looks killer 👌🏻
 
I had a 2008 Lotus 211 — sold it because I was tired of trailering and spent next 10 years regretting that decision and trying to find a replacement. I’ve had 7 Lotuses (211, Elise, Exige, Evora) and I’ve got to say that other than onlky having 1 seat, the Rush is the closest to that 211 — in some ways, better & more fun.
 

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I love Jeff's Evoras - really classic, really beautiful. And yes, the 211 appears to be have been the better car than the 311. The 311 has so much power but is just so squirrly and so expensive. I also didn't love the heat wash from the front radiator - I am much cooler in the Rush and don't bother with a coolshirt or similar.

@GRP, this is the car, it is #042.

I found the SR to be much easier to drive, much more visceral (the 311 feels like a Buick in comparison), and much easier to get on the limit. As a result, I almost immediately started doing faster times in the SR despite the lower power/weight. I liked the car so much I invested in the business, and now own 2 with an additional one on order!
 
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Jcarr906 said:
I had a 2008 Lotus 211 — sold it because I was tired of trailering and spent next 10 years regretting that decision and trying to find a replacement. I’ve had 7 Lotuses (211, Elise, Exige, Evora) and I’ve got to say that other than onlky having 1 seat, the Rush is the closest to that 211 — in some ways, better & more fun.
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I too bleed Lotus and have had quite a lot of them at this point, I make my living selling parts for Lotus's even! haha
If you are interested in a 311 mine will be for sale.
 
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Sam Reed said:
I love Jeff's Evoras - really classic, really beautiful. And yes, the 211 appears to be have been the better car than the 311. The 311 has so much power but is just so squirrly and so expensive. I also didn't love the heat wash from the front radiator - I am much cooler in the Rush and don't bother with a coolshirt or similar.

@GRP, this is the car, it is #042.

I found the SR to be much easier to drive, much more visceral (the 311 feels like a Buick in comparison), and much easier to get on the limit. As a result, I almost immediately started doing faster times in the SR despite the lower power/weight. I liked the car so much I invested in the business, and now own 2 with an additional one on order!
Click to expand...
Very good info and insight. I really love the 311 , mostly because Im a Lotus nut but its also a lot of fun. The risk of breaking something is a bit scary. Corey who bought your car on one of his first outings slid it backwards into a tire wall, broke the rear "transom" and it took about 7 months to get a new one from Lotus. While its not the end of the world it would be a pain in the butt if you dont have something else you can take to the track.
 
GRP said:
Very good info and insight. I really love the 311 , mostly because Im a Lotus nut but its also a lot of fun. The risk of breaking something is a bit scary. Corey who bought your car on one of his first outings slid it backwards into a tire wall, broke the rear "transom" and it took about 7 months to get a new one from Lotus. While its not the end of the world it would be a pain in the butt if you dont have something else you can take to the track.
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I hadn’t heard that story! I haven’t messaged him in a while. Unfortunately I’m not surprised. When I bought it, I had multiple people at the track come up to me to marvel at it and tell a story of a friend’s crashed 311.

Re: selling Lotus parts, you’re *that* GRP! I bought a Exige tow hook from you once. 👍
 
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GRP said:
I too bleed Lotus and have had quite a lot of them at this point, I make my living selling parts for Lotus's even! haha
If you are interested in a 311 mine will be for sale.
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Greg — I’ve bought some of your stuff for my various lotus cars — loved all of it! I’m currently Lotus-less — but I doubt that will last. Cancelled my order for a 1st Ed Elmira AMG — needed a daily driver to compliment my wife’s Macan GTS (soon to become my tow vehicle when the Jag F-Pace SVR lease ends in November) and she liked the Caddy CT4-V Blackwing. . . As did I. So, as they say, happy wife, happy life (we’re celebrating our 45th anniversary in August). My deal with her is I can have any car I want, whenever I want — but I cannot have a girlfriend (at my age, I don’t want a girlfriend — it’s not the acquisition or even maintenance costs, it’s the exit costs!). Hence the long and tortured but fun history of BMW, Porsche, Fisker, Lotus, Alfa, Zenos, Jag, Rush etc. In the Emira v Caddy decision, I decided to not push that as, after all, I’ve got my Rush!
 
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