The Classic Motor Show will see a rare outing for Classic Team Lotus. On display at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham between the 22nd and 24th October, will be a number of legendary racing Lotus' including cars driven by Ayrton Senna, Emerson Fittipaldi and Nigel Mansell. This is a truly unique opportunity to see some of the UK's greatest motor racing heritage under one roof.Classic Team Lotus will be showing the 99T/4, which competed in the 1987 Formula One World Championship, driven by the great Ayrton Senna. This particular car completed 6,129 miles during the 1987 season driven exclusively by Senna and demonstrated typical Lotus innovation featuring true active suspension and computer controlled hydraulics. Another race car on display will be the type 86 experimental car designed to evaluate the twin chassis concept. This car was tested by Nigel Mansell at both Hethel and Snetterton.
The type 72, driven to victory in the 1972 World Championship by the youngest ever Championship winner Emerson Fittipaldi, will also be on the Classic Team Lotus stand. The type 72 competed for six seasons winning 20 grand prix races and due to the longevity of its competitiveness is arguably the greatest F1 car design of all time. Classic Team Lotus will also have a unique type 32B, as driven by the great Jim Clarke on display alongside a type 49 that carried both Graham Hill and Mario Andretti to victory in 1968.
As well as the conventional racing Lotus', the type 56B, which is powered by a jet engine, will be making an appearance. The only gas turbine powered car in the history of F1, this is the last surviving example of this particular variant and represented a rare experiment in four-wheel drive. Raced by Emerson Fittipaldi in the 1971 Race of Champions at Brands Hatch, the F1 56B derived from the 56 Indy car. The turbine produced around 500 brake horsepower versus the 450 of its three-litre Cosworth engined rivals. It was most recognisable for its dramatic wedge shape and the lack of big wings, and was considerably quieter than most of its noisy counterparts.
Andy Rouse, organiser for the Classic Motor Show, said, "It's a bit of a coup for us to have Classic Team Lotus in attendance. We will have some of the finest examples of British racing heritage on display. Lotus led the way in innovative F1 racecar design for years and the examples we will have at the show are amongst the best in the world. In addition to the cars we will have a number of Lotus pit crew at the show that were present at many of the land mark occasions throughout Lotus' racing years, as well as Clive Chapman, son of Lotus founder Colin Chapman."
The Classic Team Lotus personnel will be holding seminars throughout the show allowing the audiences a rare insight into the day-to-day running of a Grand Prix team. Each has his own tale to tell and will be available for questions following their presentations in the seminar theatre. Making a welcome return is motoring legend Stirling Moss who will also be sharing his driving experiences in the seminar theatre along with other motoring celebrities including Joy Rainey who has recently completed the London to Sydney Marathon in her 1970 Morris Minor.
In addition to the Classic Team Lotus display there will be over 1,000 other cars to view at the show as well as classic car dealers and trade stands. For those visitors who are inspired by the Lotus display there is also the opportunity to be taken for a ten-mile trip in some of the super cars most closely related to their grand prix counterparts. Courtesy of the Sporting Bears club, visitors will have access to a number of vehicles including Ford GT40's, Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porches.
The car chosen will determine the price paid for a ten-mile ride in the dream car with all the money raised going to charity. For a ride in a popular British sports car, you can expect to pay around £30. For a ride in one of the Italian supercars, expect to pay in the region of £70-£90. A full tariff will be displayed at the show.
With so much to see you'll need to maximise your time at the show and with that in mind the organisers have declared the first day, Friday 22nd October, a preview day for those who want to get a first glimpse of what is on offer along with invited journalists and other VIP's.
Tickets are available at the event priced at £20 for Preview Day and £14 for the Saturday and Sunday. Buying in advance from the NEC box office offers visitors a saving on ticket prices, with Preview Day tickets costing £17 and £12 for the other show days. Children under five get in free and tickets for the over five's cost £6 in advance or £8 on the door
Because the Classic Motor Show is such a great family day out, organisers have devised a special family ticket that offers two adults and three children entrance for £30 when purchased in advance, saving over £15 (available Sat 23rd and Sun 24th Oct only). For the NEC box office, call 0870 730 0196 or visit the website at necgroup.co.uk/visitor/boxoffice.
