Join the L7C

[Trackdayguy]

We have a forum/club here on this side of the pond and are frequently being asked by owners of Feja's - Robin Hood's & Stalker's if they can join our club. The club was originally set up for L7 & Caterham owners exclusively.

Can you join the L7C with a Westfield or Robin Hood ??

[BigCol]

Pretty sure anyone, no matter what they drive (or don’t), can join...

Would question the value of doing so if you don’t have a Lotus/Caterham 7 though.

Edited by BigCol on Tuesday 26th March 17:42

[Eric Mc]

Yep - you can join the L7 Club even if you don't own a car or even know how to drive.

In reality, 99.999 % of of L7 Club members either own or have owned a Lotus or Caterham 7.

[bazjude2998]

I’ve owned several 7,s going back to the sixties all Lotus and Caterhams but embarrassed with the attitude of a lot of club members / owners who wont to distant themselves from enthusiasts who chose to build other good quality cars
Why
A Caterham is not a Lotus even more so that they are no longer manufactured by Arch the original manufacturer of the 7 for both Lotus and Caterham in the early days
So all you guys with your heads stuck up your proverbial what’s so wrong with Robin Hood Westfield and other good replicas
I am no longer a member of the Lotus 7 owners club ,but still a car owner
Regards Baz

[Trackdayguy]

I agree with a lot of what you say. In the past 45 years that I have been involved with the Caterham I have witnessed first hand what some of these other cars are like. I'm sorry but most our horrid, build quality crap, fit and finish horrid.

May be were just a bunch of snobs.

[rene7]

I got kicked out whilst driving a REAL lotus 7 series 4 !!
Good luck joining with anything other than a fake Lotus 7 - ie. a Caterham

[anonymous-user]

Not what I’ve found. At all.

We have Lotuses, Caterhams, the odd Westie and a Europa plus others who just aspire.

Never seen any animosity to anyone.

[Eric Mc]

Neither have I. I used to attend my local meet with a mate who had a Westfield. He was always welcome - as were other cars such as Robin Hoods and Sylva Strikers.

Obviously, if a REAL Lotus 7 turned up (which happened now and then), there would be a rush to have a look at it.

[Trackdayguy]

Um, Im not sure. Would the Ferrari Owners club embrace a F40 replica based on a Pontiac Fiero donner. I think not.

It's a bit like a trans gender man, looks similar to a women, but isn't one

[Eric Mc]

Trackdayguy said:

Um, Im not sure. Would the Ferrari Owners club embrace a F40 replica based on a Pontiac Fiero donner. I think not.

It's a bit like a trans gender man, looks similar to a women, but isn't one

Not sure of what. I was stating a fact based on my experiences. I wasn't expressing an opinion. The Lotus 7 chaps, in North Hampshire at least, were very welcoming of everybody and whatever cars they brought to the meets.

[short-shift]

As it says in the Lotus Seven Club's strapline: for Caterham and Lotus Seven enthusiasts...

It's a club for enthusiasts; it is most definitely not just for owners!

That said, for various reasons that others are better placed than me to explain, some Club events have to be restricted to participation by Caterhams (of all types) and Lotus Sevens, but in my experience the Club offers a welcome to all like-minded enthusiasts.

James

Edited by short-shift on Sunday 31st March 19:21

[HustleRussell]

bazjude2998 said:

I’ve owned several 7,s going back to the sixties all Lotus and Caterhams but embarrassed with the attitude of a lot of club members / owners who wont to distant themselves from enthusiasts who chose to build other good quality cars
Why
A Caterham is not a Lotus even more so that they are no longer manufactured by Arch the original manufacturer of the 7 for both Lotus and Caterham in the early days
So all you guys with your heads stuck up your proverbial what’s so wrong with Robin Hood Westfield and other good replicas
I am no longer a member of the Lotus 7 owners club ,but still a car owner
Regards Baz

You would describe a Robin Hood as a ‘good’ replica?

[bazjude2998]

HustleRussell said:

You would describe a Robin Hood as a ‘good’ replica?

Your not reading the post !
And other good replicas
Not stating Robin Hood or Westfield as good replicas

[Eric Mc]

The Robin Hood was not a good replica.

Westfields are pretty good cars in their own right.

[HAL2016]

I totally agree with how snobby some 7 members are but I love my seven so much I want everyone to share a look so I take it to general car meets of all types quirky and otherwise.. mine is sometimes the only 7 in a field of like minded people with their pride and joy but I don’t care! as I can guarantee it gets more looks because it’s different than looking at what is essentially a load of the same at 7 meetings from a visual perspective that is.. an anuver fing seven owners don’t seem to like taking the bonnet off at their meetings I have noticed! probably as the man in the repair shop does it(in some cases) plus some of them just can’t seem to shake the wife off and then it all gets clicky.
Saying all that I am a 7 club member but take from it what I want! for information purposes mainly..if you wheedle the odd internet wannabe mechanic who might get you killed you’ll probably find people that really knows their stuff and can save you a lot of time or money.. same as PH really without the cost.
Probably get barred from the club now (sod it) ☹️

[HustleRussell]

bazjude2998 said:

HustleRussell said:

bazjude2998 said:

I’ve owned several 7,s going back to the sixties all Lotus and Caterhams but embarrassed with the attitude of a lot of club members / owners who wont to distant themselves from enthusiasts who chose to build other good quality cars
Why
A Caterham is not a Lotus even more so that they are no longer manufactured by Arch the original manufacturer of the 7 for both Lotus and Caterham in the early days
So all you guys with your heads stuck up your proverbial what’s so wrong with Robin Hood Westfield and other good replicas
I am no longer a member of the Lotus 7 owners club ,but still a car owner
Regards Baz

You would describe a Robin Hood as a ‘good’ replica?

Your not reading the post !
And other good replicas
Not stating Robin Hood or Westfield as good replicas

Westfields are good replicas though, especially the pre-litigation ones which are pretty much direct copies.

[rene7]

Some valid points made above:-
If you're unsure whether you 'll be welcome then go along to your local 7 club meet WITH your Robin Hood/Westfield/Locost etc. and see what reaction/response you get to you & it?
Did anyone talk to you? If so what percentage of the people there bothered speaking? From our experience you'll always get 1 or 2 TRUE petrolheads at any Car club gathering who will always talk to any newcomers, this is also true for [Classic Car clubs] - but our experience suggests there'll be a large 'Clique' who won't bother with newcomers, especially when you turn up in a Robin Hood/Westfield etc. - We've visited 6 different UK 7 Club area meets in our [REAL Lotus7] - this was the case EVERYTIME, the fact I had 'Baggage' with me [the Wife] was another factor they probably avoided us like the plague. IOO 7 club meets are for 25-45 year old 'Alpha' males only. Being older than this we simply didn't fit in Having said all that we have several great friends who we met through the 7 club and it's gatherings - [the aforementioned TRUE Petrolheads]
Try what I suggest above and let us all know how it turns out, and what car you arrived in
If you have a good Welcome tell us all where it was - also if you have a cold reception then tell us the gory details of that experience too - we all wanta know
Sadly the Lotus 7 club is not a true car club [with elected committee members and a club constitution etc] - it's a LTD company - Its only purpose is to make money

[Robert Green]

Not sure it’s fair to say the club is about making a profit. Who for?!!! Re taking the bonnet off, you may find people are just worried where to put it. Could easily get blown away! I like the L7club, but never attend the meets, so can’t comment on that aspect. Not my thing. There are plenty of other aspects however.