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