74 lines
3.3 KiB
Plaintext
74 lines
3.3 KiB
Plaintext
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Lotus Eclair - Too Fat To Race
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Most Lotus enthusiasts are aware that the 1970's Elite
|
|||
|
|
took its name from the original Elite of the late 1950's, but
|
|||
|
|
not many realise that the Eclat derives it's name from a much
|
|||
|
|
earlier model - the Lotus Eclair.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The exact origin of this tasteful little sports racer is
|
|||
|
|
unknown. Thought to originate from the Betty Crocker design
|
|||
|
|
school, several rather advanced features were included: The
|
|||
|
|
yeast-west mounted engine, rack and rolling-pin steering and
|
|||
|
|
coil-over choc absorbers made the Eclair a very popular little
|
|||
|
|
number in its day.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The road version of the car had a beautifully flexible
|
|||
|
|
little ohc (over-head cream) 600 mil engine developing a
|
|||
|
|
whopping 215 calories, while the works race version had double
|
|||
|
|
overhead cream and an even greater 250 calories (one problem
|
|||
|
|
being that it tended to run a bit rich.)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
One particularly notable example was quite successfully
|
|||
|
|
raced by the great Gordon Bleu. He put alcohol in the mixture
|
|||
|
|
for an even more potent result, but it also made the vehicle
|
|||
|
|
less predictable. (A large squirt away from the line and the
|
|||
|
|
wee Lotus simply did donuts.) Bleu's first attempt at racing
|
|||
|
|
was abysmal - well into the race he overcooked it and had a
|
|||
|
|
massive melt-down. He was lucky to escape with only burnt
|
|||
|
|
fingers.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The second time out, however, things began to go right.
|
|||
|
|
It was the Meal Miglia and weather conditions were not favourable
|
|||
|
|
(the Lotus may have been superb in the dry, but in the rain it
|
|||
|
|
handled like a wet sponge), but in spite of severe icing Bleu
|
|||
|
|
fought on and successfully creamed the opposition.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Unfortunately from there it was all down-hill. Gordon
|
|||
|
|
desserted Team Lotus and claimed he could privately eat anything
|
|||
|
|
that would care to take him on. This he did, and was several
|
|||
|
|
times disqualified for breaking weight restrictions.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
With the demise of Gordon Bleu's racing career the little
|
|||
|
|
Eclair, sadly, was doomed and the model that we photographed is
|
|||
|
|
thought to be the only one left. (The rest having decayed or
|
|||
|
|
been eaten away.) Restoration is not really a practical
|
|||
|
|
proposition, so the only hope is that another well preserved
|
|||
|
|
specimen may surface.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Until then we are very grateful that we were able to get
|
|||
|
|
a taste of such a car, magnificent with its cream stripe and
|
|||
|
|
real chocolate upholstery.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Technical Data:
|
|||
|
|
Make: Lotus Price: $3.95
|
|||
|
|
Model: Eclair Engine: SOHC 600 mil
|
|||
|
|
Body type: Choux Monocoque Output: 215 calories
|
|||
|
|
Steering: Rack & Rolling Pin
|
|||
|
|
Suspension: Gas Shocks at rear (caused by too much alcohol)
|
|||
|
|
Max Speed: Over 200 mph (Air New Zealand in flight catering)
|
|||
|
|
Standing 1/4: 1 min 15 secs (with fruit & causing indigestion)
|
|||
|
|
Sitting 1/4: 2 min 45 secs (Ahh - much more comfortable, thanks)
|
|||
|
|
0-60 mph: 6.7 secs (Balanced on lap whilst driving a Europa)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Phil Quagg.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
Donated by Phil Quagg for the library of:
|
|||
|
|
The Banana Republic BBS & El Presidente (Sysop)... Thanks Phil!
|
|||
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|