I thought I'd mention this, just on the offchance that anyone else fancied going.
I've booked a factory tour for me and son in law - to include the Classic Team Lotus tour on August 22nd. It's a long day, because Hethel is a fair trek on slow roads from Yorkshire, and it's a 1400hrs start, so late home.
This doesn't include test driving. They do the Lotus Academy circuit training, but it's quite expensive and an even longer day with an early start, so for now, I've left that alone.

I was lucky enough to see Colin Chapman in action at the British GP from 1971, and have always had a soft spot for Lotus, both as a racing car company, and the exquisite Elan and Europa - which were well outside my budget as a youngster.
For those of you who haven't cottoned on yet, my short list for next year includes Lotus, and although I'm very tempted by the Elan, I'm even more tempted by an Elise. But for now, that's for next year, and a tick all the boxes Morgan might get in the way of this master plan.

Hmmmm........temptation! I keep popping into Paul Matty's to see what they have....just missed a rather nice S4 Elan FHC...they seem to go rather quickly (sales that is!)

Put me down for a possible, just need to clear my diary

I'd enjoy this. Would make another Grand Day Out

Did you book just the Factory Tour, or a Heritage Tour?

Cheers,

Both Graham. No point going without looking at Classic Team Lotus.

Thought you probably would, but waited for confirmation. I will book the same (assuming any places are left).
May make an extra day of it, stay overnight in the area and spend Thu a.m. out with the camera(s)

Cheers,

They go fairly quickly on the road. I did the Castle Combe Lotus owners track day a couple of years back and one thing that surprised me was the relatively small difference in performance between my fairly recent Elise R and both the Elan S4 and believe it or not, the original Elite with Coventry Climax engine. Sure I was faster in a straight line as you would expect with 190 bhp, but round the corners there wasnt so much difference. You might put it down to my driving skills but maybe its also a relection of modern tyres. In other words the determinant of grip on a smooth flat surface like ( some of) Castle Combe is the rubber rather than the suspension mechanics.

To the OP. You will find the Lotus factory tour very interesting. It's a very big facility in terms of the output they have and I cannot see it being economic. Much more modern than Morgan but still a handbuild operation. The development bit inc the dynamometers and the clay body models is fascinating. As are the tales of the guides about the Colin Chapman era - Chapman doesnt come over as a nice man. I did the 60th anniversary tour and the one thing that struck us both was the enthusiasm of the workforce for Lotus as a company. I suspect this may have disappeared with the import of Bahar and his mates, triggering the present troubles.

I did the first stage of the Lotus track driving training and that was worth every penny. My teacher was ex Lotus F1 driver Martin Donnelly, the cars used were new Lotus S models and we had a full day inc lunch of learning to drive the circuit. I was knackered but fired up at the end. Strongly recommended

Heritage Tour booked for Wednesday 22nd - I'll look for a hotel/motel later, it's a 3.5 - 4 hour drive for me and I don't want to be driving home in the dark...

Cheers,

Premier Inn Thetford Graham, I've done Thetford to Tetbury in 3 hours with a clear run!

I've booked so I'll see you there then Graham I like driving in the dark so no overnight stop