British Invasion 2004

From: Bruce Jadarian
To: president@nelli.org
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2004 10:35 PM
Subject: My tireless weekend in Stowe, Vt. for the British Invasion

Hi John,

Well, it was a very exciting weekend for Lori & I, we didn't have any rest wherever we went all weekend! The car drew people like flies to fly paper!! From the moment we checked in to our place of stay at the Commodore Inn, there were 4 teenaged boys greeting all the cars arriving in all night long at the main entrance. (I put the car cover on the car so I could get some sleep!!)

Saturday morning, up at 7 to go and wash the car. There was also a bus tour from NH to Stowe that had a stay-over at the Inn, and all the nice retired folks came over to see the line of old Morgan's & MG's, and then they came across this odd looking car of mine, and the questions came out from all.

Onto the show...I was pre-registered & had to get my registration. I pulled onto the dirt road and couldn't even park the car outside the tent, the swarm started and I almost bumped them pulling up to the fence. I made it out of the car and after 2 minutes of questions, I broke away to head under the tent for my registration, now I had to get back in the car which was now unseen by the ring of onlookers in front of the Elise. After trying to back up, I needed the assistance of the main entrance staff members. The window is the same size as the Europa with little visibility.

Feeling like the pied piper with a following of onlookers to where I was headed to Row C, slot 24, to the Lotus Pit stop.

I really enjoyed talking to all the different people from all types of questions, and to see their expressions on their faces when they realized it was indeed a Lotus Elise, that it was finally here in North America, in the flesh that this was the 3rd Elise delivered in all of New England!

From little kids to much much older little kids to ask so many questions. From all the Canadians, who's every first questions was "How Much"? And finally to the one older gentleman who was at least 6'5" asked to sit in my car and I first said in a very polite way, I think your a little too tall (with at least size 14 shoe!!), he told me I was discriminating he insisted and insisted and did everything except throw a temper tantrum, so before the situation got out of control, I agreed to let him to "try" to sit in the car. (What do you say?) Without giving any instructions on how to get in, I simply watched him "plunk in" a** first into the drivers seat, that was at least a 4 foot drop down for him with his legs hanging out, and then he finally conceded that he indeed could not fit in this car! His friend that he was with totally agreed with me saying that he knew he couldn't fit in and that I was an exceptionally nice person with patience to allow his friend to try. I told him that I was not a dealer but in-fact just an ordinary person with a Lotus. (Is that possible??) Ha-ha...

Last but not least I really didn't think I didn't deserve the 2nd place trophy being a new car and all but it should have instead gone to Ken Duclos' beautiful Cortina. Maybe we should start to ask for the class to be split from 60-80 and 81 - present to split the newer Esprits, Elans, etc from the nicely restored older ones. I think we are the only marque that doesn't have a multi class and deserve one depending on pre-reg at any show.

I have had my share of Loti (8 now) and other British cars, and never owned anything as exciting as the Elise. Thank you Lotus and mostly to Arnie Johnson for fighting to bring this car over to us.

Thanks to all for a good time again.

Bruce

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Last updated: 01 March 2007