The Lotus legend has become one of the great success stories in automotive history, both in the world of motor racing and high performance cars. The cars designed by Colin Chapman have taken drivers to international success from Europe and the United States to New Zealand and Australia. Today the company continues to produce breath-taking automotive designs and has a world renowned engineering facility helping other car makers achieve success with their own products.
As a brief outline, Club Lotus (CLNZ) was started in New Zealand in 1976 and modelled on the Australian and English clubs. Active branches were started in Auckland and Wellington which held regular meetings and events such as car trials, sprints, and general get-togethers. In 1983, we became aware that a branch to cater for Lotus owners and interested parties in the southern region was past due. Our club, the Southern Lotus Register was formed to foster a common interest in the Lotus marque and to promote the marque's achievements by helping the public become aware of the marque through use of Lotus cars on the road and the race track.
In 1991, our club became independent of, although co-operational with, CLNZ and changed its name to the Southern Lotus Register to concentrate our efforts in this region. We are an incorporated society. Over the last five years the Club has been very successful with membership increasing to nearly 70 individuals and their families. While most current members own at least one Lotus car, ownership of a Lotus is not a requirement to join our Club. The emphasis of our Club is a common interest in performance cars.
We have a technical evening or social evening on the first Monday night of each month, and over the warmer months we also take the cars for a spin each month - usually on more challenging sealed roads in Canterbury. Once per year we also hold our Tranz Alpine rally where we venture further afield to meet up with members located throughout the South Island. The 2003 Tranz Alpine rally recognised the 20th anniversary of the Club with an ambitious run having Queenstown as a destination.
We also aim for a Ruapuna track day each year in association with other Car clubs, although this is getting more difficult at the moment owing to MANZ regulations.
If you wish to join the Club then you are most welcome, and you can contact any of the Committee members for further information on membership.
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