Join us each month to socialize and talk Lotus...
Bring your Lotus on one if our group drives through some of the best roads in the country...
Improve your driving skills on the track...
Join the LOCO group on one of our special outings...
Bring your car or just come and enjoy the beauty of classic and exotic cars...
Site Sponsors
Follow us on
facebook and twitter
Copyright © Lotus Colorado 2010-2012 | Privacy Statement | Terms & Conditions | Site Revision History |
Lotus Colorado is an independent car club not affiliated with Group Lotus, Lotus Cars USA, Classic Team Lotus, or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates.
Miners Tour & Wyoming Good
Lotus Colorado is famous for its drives over Colorado's best roads. Ranging from a short morning drive to a lunch stop then home, to overnight journeys of 500 miles, we're never quite sure where we are headed next. Our longer drives are usually planned well in advance allowing car and schedule preparation. In the past we did a "Manly Drive" around the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, overnight at Snowmass
and then home over Independence Pass. Along with that big one we had six or eight day trips organized by one member or another and posted for all to come on a week or less notice. From Pikes Peak and Florissant to Westcliffe, Guffey and Texas Creek on one drive; Golden Gate Canyon Black Hawk and Central City on another and Echo Lake and Mt. Evans, the highest paved road in the USA on yet another, we have travelled most of the great roads. We certainly will have more this coming year so check back often for the latest plans.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
RSPV to Harv Arnold : baron80466@gmail.com.
This is a 126 mile lunch tour that includes 4 canyons and 1 pass. It starts at 8:00 AM in Boulder for a breakfast and Driver’s meeting at Denny’s and ends in Empire at a quaint diner called Jenny’s. The drive will take us through some interesting mining areas of Colorado and has the added challenge of a rally quiz so sharpen your pencil and bring your navigator. The winner of this event will receive a prize.
The drive will depart at 9:00 AM after the driver’s meeting.
Attendance at the driver’s meeting is mandatory as you will be given the directions for the tour. We need to get an accurate headcount for lunch at Jenny’s so please RSVP.
RSVP to Harv Arnold at: baron80466@gmail.com
Starting point at Denny’s
Upcoming Drives
The Third Edition of LOCO three day trips through the mountains 9/29-10/1, 2012
Please contact Ross if you are interested in this drive. You will need to make reservations.
The Wyoming Good, 3-day drive is officially a go! We have enough participants to make this worthwhile.
Click on the following links to see the route in Google Maps:
Day One: http://goo.gl/maps/5FNRz
Day Two: http://goo.gl/maps/BoFB6
Day Three: http://goo.gl/maps/cg7yg
Here is the information regarding our rooms at the Torian Plum condominiums in Steamboat Springs for the nights of September 29 and 30, 2012. We have rates for two 1BR/1 Ba units, a 2BR/2Ba unit and a 3 BR/2Ba unit. Ann did a lot of work to get these rates for us but you know Steamboat is expensive! You must call our designated number (877) 734-5895 and identify yourself as part of the Lotus Colorado group to get these rates which are 30% off rack rates based on 2 night stays. Single night stays are not normally discounted though Ann was able to get a 15% discount for single night stays.
1 Queen Bedroom, 1 bathroom, 700 square feet, max occupancy 4 persons, $170.64 including taxes and fees. One night $208.09 inclusive.
1 King Bedroom, 1 bathroom, 800 square feet, max occupancy 4 persons, $178.13 including taxes and fees. One night $216.41 inclusive.
2 Bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1250 square feet, max occupancy 6 persons, $217.25 including taxes and fees. One night $290.15 inclusive.
3 Bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1500 square feet, max occupancy 8 persons, $240.55 including taxes and fees. One night $292.51 inclusive.
So, in a nutshell, if you share a 2 BR condo with another couple, your lodging cost is somewhere around $110 per night, inclusive, in a luxury condo on the mountain in Steamboat Springs. Find someone you want to share with and call the Torian Plum reservation number. Don’t delay…dial today. Then please send me an email with your plans so I know who is coming. Thanks.
Ross Robbins
(303) 923-8138
Start Seven Eleven 399 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80403. Saturday September 29, 2012
Using our typical western end of the city meeting place will make it simple for planning how long it will take to get from your home to the start point. We plan to depart the 7-11 at 10:00 Saturday with a mid-morning start to allow everyone from the far reaches of the Front Range to congregate without strain. With fuel, snacks, coffee and a bathroom all on premises, we should all have everything we need and be able to leave in confidence! If we depart a few minutes early because everyone is there, that’s OK too.
We will proceed west on US 6 up Clear Creek Canyon to join I-70 for about a dozen miles to the turnoff for US 40 over Berthoud Pass and on into Winter Park a distance of 55.7 mi – about 1 hour 15 minutes
Lunch Stop Deno' s Mountain Bistro 78911 Us Hwy 40 Winter Park, CO 80482
Though this is an early lunch stop, it will be just about perfect for the first bathroom stop and give us a chance to get connected for the next part of the trip which has fewer service locations and places to stop. After Lunch we drive west on US 40 through Granby and along the Colorado River 55 miles to our next stop to fill our cars and empty our lunch liquids.
Rest Stop Kum & Go 605 Park Avenue Kremmling, CO 80459
Only about an hour past lunch, Kremmling has the last gas station we will see for about 100 miles so fill up and empty out here. Next gas and facilities in/near Steamboat Springs at the end of the day another 98.3 mi – and 2 hours 15 minutes away. After our stop, we head west again on US 40 for about 6 ½ miles to the turnoff for CO 134 a wonderful Lotus road over Gore Pass. At the west end of Gore Pass we turn north on CO 131 for just under 20 mile to turn west again on CO 27, another great Lotus road that I’ll bet none of you has travelled. Once we reach US 40 we turn back east to Steamboat Springs and our luxury lodging for the weekend.
Overnight Lodging The Torian Plum Condominium Resort 1855 Ski Time Square Drive
Steamboat
Springs, CO 80487
Our accommodations for the next two nights will be at the four-star Torian Plum Resort condos. This facility right in the heart of Ski Time Square has access to everything, covered parking and great suites whether one, two, three or four bedroom units. We will have a direct number to call and make your lodging arrangements with one or more other couples and friends. The rates will be remarkable for the quality of the facility. And only unpack and pack once! For those who may not want to spend another day on the road, shopping and lots of other activities are right outside the door in Ski Time Square. Dinner to be determined.
Day Two Start The Torian Plum Condos Depart 9:00 from the garage of the Torian Plum
We will proceed southeast on US 40 over Rabbit Ears Pass turning North on CO 125 to Walden CO after a delightful drive through North Park. Not as big as our more familiar South Park, but more lush and filled with Moose and Elk, it is a vibrant ecosystem not as commonly visited by Denver Metro residents. Walden is about 57.4 mi – and a little over an hour away.
Rest And Fuel Stop Highway 125 and 6th Street Walden CO
You have a choice of two gas stations here so we should all be able to fill and refresh quickly. After our rest stop we head north on CO 125 and into Wyoming where we pick up WY 230 all the way to the junction with WY 130 and north to Saratoga, WY. 67.0 mi – about 1 hour 20 minutes
Lunch Stop Bella Bistro 218 North 1st St. Saratoga, WY 82331
The restaurant in the Wolf Hotel was so highly recommended by Carl Pacileo that we had to include it in our trip itinerary until we found they close on Sunday so we found the only restaurant in Saratoga whose reviews top the Wolf, Bella Bistro. The owners, Tommy and Cassie, are opening just for us as they too, are usually closed on Sunday. After lunch we head south on WY 130 for 13 miles continuing over the Snowy Range Road 63 miles about 1 hour 15 minutes of the best Lotus road in Wyoming. After the first 45 miles of twists, turns and spectacular views, we get another 15 miles of dead level road to see what she’ll do, if you get my drift.
Rest And Fuel Stop 1561 Snowy Range Road Laramie, WY 82070 You will have a choice of two gas stations here so we should all be able to fill and refresh quickly. After our stop we head southwest 40 miles on WY 230 into Colorado and another 23 down CO 125 into Walden.
Rest And Fuel Stop Highway 125 and 6th Street Walden CO (Only if needed) From here we backtrack the way we came this morning another 57 mile – about 1 hour or so back to the waiting comfort of the Torian Plum, where we can soak in the hot tub or head over to the Tugboat for happy hour and some live music.
Overnight Lodging The Torian Plum Condominium Resort
We can have dinner at the Slopeside Restaurant just a short walk from the condos where they feature everything from pizza to steak and lots of different beers.
Day Three Start The Torian Plum Condos Depart 9:00 from the garage of the Torian Plum
We head east on US 40 again, back over Rabbit Ears Pass, but this time we keep going east 77 miles – about an hour and a half, to Granby where we turn North on US 34 to drive over Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the USA.
Rest and Fuel Stop Highway US 40 and US 34 Granby, CO
Trail Ridge Road will complete our High Altitude Trifecta of Mount Evans, Pike’s Peak and now this. No other Lotus club can come close to the heights we have achieved. Even though Trail Ridge isn’t that far from the urban Front Range, many have not been over it. While it is only about 60 miles from our rest stop to Estes Park, we may well take longer than the guide says – about 1 hour 34 minutes - because of the breathtaking views and places to stop. Hopefully, on a Monday we will not have motor homes and campers to worry about. Perhaps we can find a photo opportunity with some Bighorn Sheep!
Lunch Stop Claire's On the Park 225 Park Lane Estes Park, CO 80517
We revisit Claire's On the Park, an old friend from our Peak to Peak trip earlier this spring. It was recommended by Peter and Rebecca Monson and was so nice we’ll visit twice! After Lunch we return to the metro area via the Peak to Peak highway, which is about 70 miles and 2 hours, or the faster US 36 route (55 miles – about 1 hour 15 minutes) via Boulder for those wanting to get back to town earlier on a Monday afternoon.
Trip End 399 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80403 or your final destination! Thanks for playing with us this weekend.
