The Lotus Grand Tourers

Good morning all!

The Lotus Grand Tourers stand at the NEC Restoration Show will need some willing volunteers to help man/woman the stand across the three days of the show 24-26 March.

We should have 6 tickets per day (although we can redistribute across the days), we might get some bonus tickets if people have been using the club link to buy tickets. Priority to Matt Oxley, myself, and (maybe) Pistol Pete who are bringing cars/exhibits, but still opportunity for others to lend a hand.

This will get you free entry to the show - we ask that you spend at least half your time on the club stand, but there will still be plenty of time to wander around and enjoy the rest of the show. There is also a limited number of free parking passes if needed.

If you've not helped out at the show before, I can reassure you that it requires no special skills, and it would be great to have someone beyond those who turn up most regularly. Just hang around the stand, chat to members of the public who are visiting the stand and are curious about our cars and the projects we are working on (we will explain all!), and eat biscuits. No doubt I, and maybe Matt and Pete too, will ask for a hand with our projects from time to time, so plenty of opportunity to get involved with the hands-on projects that make this show so different to others.

Post here if you are interested, and which days you can attend, and I'll put together some sort of schedule.

Hi Richard,

I probably need to be there Sunday anyway to take the show equipment home ready to use at the NEC in Autumn, so would appreciate a car park pass if possible. Can be there other days if needed or there are spare tickets, but would travel on the train.

Cheers, Richard

Hi Richard. More than happy to help over all three show days. Also happy to give a hand with your dash if you need it and any other work going on on the stand.

My treatment plan has just changed and it looks like the first part won't be until the end of May/early June, so I'm happy to man the stand for a couple of days. Is anyone else staying locally overnight?

Pete

Richard, Alan, Pete, many thanks. Yes, Richard, good point about collecting all the stand equipment! I'll see who else sticks their hand up before putting together a provisional timetable - still not clear if Pistol Pete will be able to bring his engine to work on.

I've just booked into the Genting for the Friday night, so plan to be there Friday (as early as trains from Nottingham allow) and Saturday

Pete

I am available for all 3 days. Can do all 3 or just put me in for 1 - whatever suits you. Happy to stand down if some 'new' folks what to do it. Do you need help on build up day?

Richard : I'd be happy to help out if needed.
Could do any day including Thursday if it helps you movements. Maybe not Friday unless you're short.
Tony

If you need to source an engine etc to display you could ask Lotusbits, as long as they don’t bring their sign! They will need a couple of exhibitor tickets if you decide to do this.

Cheers, Richard

Thanks all. I'll be chatting to Matt Oxley this weekend, so I'll see what passes he needs, then I'll work out the distribution of the remaining passes to the other volunteers.

I'm sorry to say that since my treatment plan has changed again I won't be able to attend

Pete

If that's good news for your treatment, then I'm totally happy to struggle through without your help. The offer is much appreciated, but you get yourself well!

Yep - good news for my treatment. Thanks!

Pete

OK, finally getting a few things organised.

I invited LotusBits to come along and put some stuff on the stands, but on this occasion they have declined, both Mike and Dave have obligations elsewhere so they can't manage to send anyone to the show and keep the shop going.

We have 5 on the stand for Friday, and 6 for Saturday and Sunday, which is excellent. We should aim to have three or more on the stand at any moment while the show is open, so that means you're welcome to spend up to half your time exploring the rest of the show if you fancy.

The rota for the stand looks as follows:
Phil, Tony - for set-up day your presence and help would be very welcome, but if it's not convenient or you just have something you'd rather do I'm sure Matt, Jake and I can do what needs doing, it's up to you.

Phil - could you PM me your 'phone number in case we need to get hold of each other? I have everyone else's.

Opening times are as follows. There's no need to be there the second it opens if that doesn't work for you, the first hour tends to be quieter anyway - particularly on Sunday as that's when Summer Time starts, so people are less likely to be up and about at 9:00 as they would normally! If you do arrive before it opens, I think we can get in from an hour or so before the official opening time.

• Friday 10:00 - 5:30
• Saturday 9:00 - 6:00
• Sunday 9:00 - 5:00

Parking - Off the top of my head I can't recall how many car park passes we get, I'd better check when I get home. Richard W needs one on Sunday. I don't need one at all as the show car is also my transport home, and in-between I'll be taking the train. If anyone else needs/wants a pass let me know, and I'll allocate what we have appropriately. I have an idea that we can get away without paying to park on Thursday for set-up, but I'll have to double-check this.

I'll find out how we actually get hold of wristbands, parking passes, and work out how to distribute them.

Any other questions, anything you think I've missed, ask here or PM me.

Richard - phone number sent by PM
If its the same as the November show the new arrangement is for you to go to the organisers office on Thursday and collect the passes. Have you got access to the exhibitors guide? All the info you need is in there.
I usually give out the passes to the people who help on Thursday then Friday-Sunday, any helpers phone when they arrive at the hall and I come out and give them their passes.