The history of LEC - Revision history

Lotos: Added LotusElan.com info, (more to come later)

2009-04-02T01:37:57Z

Added LotusElan.com info, (more to come later)

Geoff: /* Brake upgrades */

2007-09-04T18:41:33Z

‎Brake upgrades

Av8ndoc at 08:10, 28 August 2007

2007-08-28T08:10:30Z

Geoff: /* The LEC seed */

2007-08-28T03:14:16Z

‎The LEC seed

Geoff: /* The LEC seed */

2007-08-28T02:59:06Z

‎The LEC seed

Geoff: /* The LEC seed */

2007-08-28T02:51:19Z

‎The LEC seed

Geoff: /* Doug's legacy */

2007-08-24T21:08:44Z

‎Doug's legacy

Geoff at 14:56, 24 August 2007

2007-08-24T14:56:24Z

Geoff: /* Brake upgrades */

2007-08-24T14:12:22Z

‎Brake upgrades

Geoff: /* Brake upgrades */

2007-08-24T14:11:51Z

‎Brake upgrades

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
-== The LEC seed ==
+== LotusElan.com ==
-In the early days of the internet, there was an early (now defunct) M100 Elan site www.lotuselan.com
+In the early days of the internet, there were no M100-centric websites and information about the model was difficult to come by.  Randy (lotos on LEC) created a website on AOL's server (members.aol.com/ElanTurbo) in the late 1990's, providing a simple forum page to post, and culled information, pictures, technical information, magazine articles, and anything else he could find regarding the M100 for the website.  The site later migrated to LotusElan.com, and went through various overhauls and design changes.  "Unfortunately, not having an Elan of my own, I lost interest in the day-to-day upkeep of the website," Randy sighed, nodded, and continued.  "It was a car I lusted after for many years, but life got in the way."
 [[Image:LotusElanCom.jpg]]
-This site was run by Randy from Colorado. Early on the scene were [http://www.racetep.com Top End Performance (TEP)] who did some pioneering work on Seamus Blackley's 1991 Elan, developing the intake pipes, [[MBC]] and [[BOV]].
+Early on the scene were [http://www.racetep.com Top End Performance (TEP)] who did some pioneering work on Seamus Blackley's 1991 Elan, developing the intake pipes, [[MBC]] and [[BOV]].  (These parts are still available on their website.)  Some of the early names in the SoCal scene were Charliex (British software guru and still tweaking Elises), Ryan Moos (Disney Director) Ed Miller (Airline Pilot).
-Some of the early names in the SoCal scene were Charliex (British software guru and still tweaking Elises), Ryan Moos (Disney Director) Ed Miller (Airline Pilot). Randy’s site was rather static, and that was why Doug went to the trouble of teaching himself HTML so he could get his fledgling LEC going. There are still references on the internet to his message board {http: //members.aol.com/av8ndoc/message.html} going back to  [http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/ElanM100/message/12 September 1999].
+Doug, a frequent visitor to the LotusElan.com forum, taught himself HTML and created LEC using the same AOL format Randy had used years earlier (and in fact, there are still references on the internet to his message board {http: //members.aol.com/av8ndoc/message.html} going back to  [http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/ElanM100/message/12 September 1999]).
-−
 Also around in these formative days was the now infamous Bills’ [http://www.isuzuperformance.com/ Isuzu Performance Site] which offered a bunch of goodies for the Elan, such as Exhaust Systems and quickshift gearchange upgrades. Unfortunately Bill seemed to resent doing business with anyone, although his products seemed to work quite well!

@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 APs have always been available but expensive but Dave Meyers uses them for track use in the US.
-In the US, Brian (F1Lotus), having suffered similar intermittent failures with both his UK Elan and his current US car, had made Wilwoods to fit his car in August 2000. Doug, seeing Brian's setup, pestered him to do something for his car, and so the 16" Wilwood upgrade was born in May 1992. In July 04, Brian ran a similar project with ESM for the 15" wheels - Kuching reverse-engineered the wheel and provided a CAD file to help with the packaging.
+In the US, Brian (F1Lotus), having suffered similar intermittent failures with both his UK Elan and his current US car, had made Wilwoods to fit his car in August 2000. Doug, seeing Brian's setup, pestered him to do something for his car, and so the 16" Wilwood upgrade was born in May 2002. In July 04, Brian ran a similar project with ESM for the 15" wheels - Kuching reverse-engineered the wheel and provided a CAD file to help with the packaging.
 LotusGirlMarie (LGM) went her own way with Brembos.
 ==Hard top==

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
-Some of the early names in the SoCal scene were Charliex (British software guru and still tweaking Elises), Ryan Moos (Disney Director) Ed Miller (Airline Pilot). Randy’s site was rather static, and that was maybe why Doug went to the trouble of teaching himself HTML so he could get the fledgling LEC going. There are still references on the internet to his message board {http: //members.aol.com/av8ndoc/message.html} going back to  [http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/ElanM100/message/12 September 1999].
+Some of the early names in the SoCal scene were Charliex (British software guru and still tweaking Elises), Ryan Moos (Disney Director) Ed Miller (Airline Pilot). Randy’s site was rather static, and that was why Doug went to the trouble of teaching himself HTML so he could get his fledgling LEC going. There are still references on the internet to his message board {http: //members.aol.com/av8ndoc/message.html} going back to  [http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/ElanM100/message/12 September 1999].
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
-Doug used to coordinate meetings where the local Elanoraks would gather in Santa Monica for a blast around the hills and canyons behind Malibu. Another popular meet was the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donut_Derelicts Donut Derelicts]] gathering in Huntingdon Beach, where any imaginable car could be seen, and some interesting characters, including [[Peter Stevens]] who hung out and chatted to the LEC group and [http://ret0027h.eresmas.net/lotuselancentral/archives/january03mb.htm recorded] and [http://rides.webshots.com/album/57390434PZdetR photographed]for posterity.
+Doug used to coordinate meetings where the local Elanoraks would gather in Santa Monica for a blast around the hills and canyons behind Malibu, followed by lunch at Duke's in Malibu, and show and tell Elan time. Another popular meet was the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donut_Derelicts Donut Derelicts]] gathering in Huntingdon Beach, where any imaginable car could be seen, and some interesting characters, including [[Peter Stevens]] himself, who came by a meeting one day, was surprised and joyed to see a handfuls of his Elans gleaming together, and hung out and chatted to the LEC group and [http://ret0027h.eresmas.net/lotuselancentral/archives/january03mb.htm recorded] and [http://rides.webshots.com/album/57390434PZdetR photographed]for posterity.
-In early 2003 Doug persuaded some kind computer-literate Elan owner to set up a new bulletin board (still linked from the old front page as above) which was divided into subject headings. This was the YaBb bulletin board format which was a vast improvement for about two years , but was frequently down and a bit flaky. It finally self-destructed in June/July 2005.
+In early 2003 Doug had enough with the old Message Board and studied up to load in a new bulletin board program (still linked from the old front page as above) which was divided into subject headings. This was the YaBB bulletin board format which was a vast improvement for about two years, but was frequently down and a bit flaky. It finally self-destructed in June/July 2005 as the newer, current Forum came online.
-After the Big Crash, the revamped site we now have started in July 2005. Although a lot of useful data from the threads on the YaBb site was saved, unfortunately many threads were lost in the ether. Lost information included Dave Meyers track Elan, ElanScanMan's Elanscan development / ECU hack and Mountain chip development, Philbo's racing Elan development, and (thank goodness) the Vauxhall front brake alternatives megathread.
+The revamped site we now have started in July 2005. At this point, Doug handed the torch over to the homeland where Sy now keeps it hidden in the barn.  Tony and Liz donated their programming knowhow to get the new site going in proper colour theme: green and yellow.  Although a lot of useful data from the threads on the YaBB site was saved, unfortunately many threads were lost in the ether. Lost information included Dave Meyers track Elan, ElanScanMan's Elanscan development / ECU hack and Mountain chip development, Philbo's racing Elan development, and (thank goodness) the Vauxhall front brake alternatives megathread.
@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 ==Long time members==
-From the US, Doug, Matt (Nitroman), Dave Meyers have always been about, and many others have come and gone. In the UK, Sy, Darren, Nige, Dave, and many more have been around for ages.
+From the US: Doug, Matt (Nitroman), and Dave Meyers have always been about, and many others have come and gone. In the UK: Sy, Darren, Nige, Dave, and many more have been around for ages.
 ==Get togethers==
-Rod ("Mardibloke") organised Donington pre-gatherings starting in 1999 when about a dozen cars would show up. Directly because of LEC, this grew to about sixty in 2004 and almost a hundred in 2007. Doug attended in March 2005. Rod sold his car to Enright13 in 2005. The convoy from the services into Donington is a tremendous sight and the curry evening and whisky tasting is becoming the M100 event of the year.
+Rod ("Mardibloke") organised Donington pre-gatherings starting in 1999 when about a dozen cars would show up. Directly because of LEC, this grew to about sixty in 2004 and almost a hundred in 2007. Doug even snuck over and attended the weekend in March 2005. Rod sold his car to Enright13 in 2005. The convoy from the services into Donington is a tremendous sight and the curry evening and whisky tasting is becoming the M100 event of the year.
@@ Line 85: / Line 85: @@
 ==Hard top==
-People had been promising to develop a hard-top for the Elan for years, with one English company (I forget the name) keeping people on the hook for years. Kuching appeared in 2004 and in very short order "just did it". He did a super- professional job using state-of-the-art equipment (thread covering the development and design disappeared in 2005 crash). At Donington 2005, Stef's Blipi was on the LEC stand modelling the only carbon fibre hardtop sold, Grahame C's Medina green had a hard-top and Kuching spent the weekend in the carpark fitting several hardtops for people. He then passed the hardtop sales to Paul Matty, but that didn't last because it took so long to fit each one individually, and Kuching is back supplying them himself.
+People had been promising to develop a hard-top for the Elan for years, with one English company (I forget the name) keeping people on the hook for years. Kuching appeared in 2004 and in very short order "just did it". He did a super- professional job using state-of-the-art equipment (thread covering the development and design disappeared in 2005 crash). At Donington 2005, Stef's Blipi was on the LEC stand modelling the only carbon fibre hardtop sold, Grahame C's Medina green had a hard-top and Kuching spent the weekend in the carpark fitting several hardtops for people. He then passed the hardtop sales to Paul Matty, but that didn't last because it took so long to fit each one individually, and Kuching is back supplying them himself if you're lucky enough to catch him and get one.

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:14, 28 August 2007
Line 21:		Line 21:


−	In the early days of the internet, there was an early (now defunct) M100 Elan site www.lotuselan.com run by Randy from Colorado. Early on the scene were [http://www.racetep.com Top End Performance (TEP)] who did some pioneering work on Seamus Blackley's 1991 Elan, developing the intake pipes, [[MBC]] and [[BOV]].	+	In the early days of the internet, there was an early (now defunct) M100 Elan site www.lotuselan.com
		+
		+	[[Image:LotusElanCom.jpg]]
		+
		+	This site was run by Randy from Colorado. Early on the scene were [http://www.racetep.com Top End Performance (TEP)] who did some pioneering work on Seamus Blackley's 1991 Elan, developing the intake pipes, [[MBC]] and [[BOV]].

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:59, 28 August 2007
Line 24:		Line 24:


−	Some of the early names in the SoCal scene were Charliex (British software guru and still tweaking Elises), Ryan Moos (Disney Director) Ed Miller (Airline Pilot). Randy’s site was rather static, and that was maybe why Doug went to the trouble of teaching himself HTML so he could get the fledgling LEC going. There are still references on the internet to his message board {http://members.aol.com/av8ndoc/message.html} going back to [http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/ElanM100/message/12 September 1999].	+	Some of the early names in the SoCal scene were Charliex (British software guru and still tweaking Elises), Ryan Moos (Disney Director) Ed Miller (Airline Pilot). Randy’s site was rather static, and that was maybe why Doug went to the trouble of teaching himself HTML so he could get the fledgling LEC going. There are still references on the internet to his message board {http: //members.aol.com/av8ndoc/message.html} going back to [http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/ElanM100/message/12 September 1999].

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
-In the early days of the internet, there was an early (now defunct) M100 Elan site www.lotuselan.com run by Randy Maurer from Southern California. Early on the scene were [http://www.racetep.com Top End Performance (TEP)] who did some pioneering work on Seamus Blackley's 1991 Elan, developing the intake pipes, [[MBC]] and [[BOV]].
+In the early days of the internet, there was an early (now defunct) M100 Elan site www.lotuselan.com run by Randy from Colorado. Early on the scene were [http://www.racetep.com Top End Performance (TEP)] who did some pioneering work on Seamus Blackley's 1991 Elan, developing the intake pipes, [[MBC]] and [[BOV]].
-Some of the early names in the SoCal scene were Charliex (British software guru and still tweaking Elises), Ryan Moos (Disney Director) Ed Miller (Airline Pilot). Randy’s site was rather static, and that was maybe why Doug went to the trouble of teaching himself HTML so he could get the fledgling LEC going.
+Some of the early names in the SoCal scene were Charliex (British software guru and still tweaking Elises), Ryan Moos (Disney Director) Ed Miller (Airline Pilot). Randy’s site was rather static, and that was maybe why Doug went to the trouble of teaching himself HTML so he could get the fledgling LEC going. There are still references on the internet to his message board {http://members.aol.com/av8ndoc/message.html} going back to  [http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/ElanM100/message/12 September 1999].
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 That puts us about where the site is now. The site has always been international, but the growth in members since about 2003 has been huge. Many Characters have come and gone over the years; some are still here.
 ==Long time members==

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:08, 24 August 2007
Line 101:		Line 101:
	== Doug's legacy ==		== Doug's legacy ==

−	Although Lotus had the financial backing of GM at the time of the M100 development, which allowed unheard of sums of money to be available for paying attention to detail, the M100 is still a ~~hard~~ built sports car that requires regular work and fixing. The knowledge that many have on this forum is invaluable to all those who have been lured by the M100's charm. It was with some disbelief that Doug announced he was selling Stripey on 1st April 2006 due to increasing family numbers. Happily, since selling Stripey, Doug has continued to offer his expertise and advice (together with his quick wit) and LEC is fortunate to retain his experience.	+	Although Lotus had the financial backing of GM at the time of the M100 development, which allowed unheard of sums of money to be available for paying attention to detail, the M100 is still a hand built sports car that requires regular work and fixing. The knowledge that many have on this forum is invaluable to all those who have been lured by the M100's charm. It was with some disbelief that Doug announced he was selling Stripey on 1st April 2006 due to increasing family numbers. Happily, since selling Stripey, Doug has continued to offer his expertise and advice (together with his quick wit) and LEC is fortunate to retain his experience.

@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 ElanScanMan {ESM} developed the first ElanScan in 2003, as Doug & other members had been bemoaning the lack of diagnostic tools. It was the car-park sensation of Donington 2004 with Alan attaching his laptop to many cars for demos. MBC valves were in common use (Doug, Sy Rob-C etc) but Doug had a theory that as the Elan already had its own electronically-controlled boost controller (ie the BSV) all it would take would be somebody to hack into the ECU to learn how to control it. Enter ESM and his lost "ECU hack" thread where Doug challenged the inventor of ElanScan to go one better and decode the ECU workings to find out how a chip could be developed to give controllable extra boost. Alan developed the first chips in summer 2004, tested them using Sy, Stevo, etc, then refined them using me (SE) and Nige (S2) as dyno testers, and Doug for the Federal version. The Mountain chips were the sensation of Donington 2005, with Alan spending most of his time in the car park fitting them to ECUs as well as diagnosing problems on ElanScan (Alan found that one reason Enright wasn't getting any noticeable power increase from the Everest chip was that his car had had its BSV removed). Brian (F1Lotus) lays claim to christening the Mountain chips.  ESM had mentioned he would be offline for a while as he was going to climb a hill called Kilimanjaro and at that time he'd sent Brian some boost graphs which looked like mountains!
 ==The ESM version of events==
@@ Line 64: / Line 65: @@
 The chip hack - now that's where my memory veers away from the account above... I don't remember Doug pushing this. When I researched ALDL the whole GM ECU re-programming thing quickly became apparent because ALDL is often used as a tuning tool for such activity. I also found how to copy the contents of the standard chip via ES - no need to remove the chip and cludge it into a reader. Since I had the file I thought why not take a punt at reverse engineering it? It was a punt, I knew bugger all about engine management when I started. I got all the tools to do it and some tips and examples from the internet. The first time I tested a modified chip I was scared half to death. Thought flames would jump up from the engine bay the second I turned the key. I was really pleased when it seemed to work as intended. I was basking in smugness on my home on that test drive when an Arriva bus drove into the back of me and wrote off the car! That delayed further development a little bit. I should mention the group of testers who put development version into their cars, particularly S2 and federal owners, as they put an utterly untested prototypes into their cars (I had an SE). Brave, brave men... The mountain chip is now a very common item in Elans - I've sold more than 200 which is close to 5% of the total production. Brian probably did come up with the mountains tag. It definitely wasn't wasn't me but I liked the idea.
 ==Brake upgrades==
@@ Line 76: / Line 78: @@
 LotusGirlMarie (LGM) went her own way with Brembos.
 ==Hard top==
 People had been promising to develop a hard-top for the Elan for years, with one English company (I forget the name) keeping people on the hook for years. Kuching appeared in 2004 and in very short order "just did it". He did a super- professional job using state-of-the-art equipment (thread covering the development and design disappeared in 2005 crash). At Donington 2005, Stef's Blipi was on the LEC stand modelling the only carbon fibre hardtop sold, Grahame C's Medina green had a hard-top and Kuching spent the weekend in the carpark fitting several hardtops for people. He then passed the hardtop sales to Paul Matty, but that didn't last because it took so long to fit each one individually, and Kuching is back supplying them himself.

@@ Line 67: / Line 67: @@
 ==Brake upgrades==
-In the UK many people (especially Alan McNicol) have tried to find Vauxhall-type calipers to fit; some do pretty well, but are not exact. The mega-brake thread which was lost in the 2005 crash contained all that info.
+In the UK many people (especially ESM) have tried to find Vauxhall-type calipers to fit; some do pretty well, but are not exact. The mega-brake thread which was lost in the 2005 crash contained all that info.
 Philbo was the first Elan person to go to HiSpec (in about 2002) after he fried his standard brakes on a trackday. Poor service from HiSpec led others to find alternatives