2022 has been an exciting year with two steps forward and then one step backwards thanks to the recession! My 2022 projections, written one year ago, have been partially realized. I think this is how life works – you achieve some goals while others can be elusive. In the end, the dogged pursuit keeps us all hungry and active.
My proudest moment in 2022 is the completion of two 111RS cars. We have not taken our eyes off the lightweight sportscar ball. These two cars featured the best that we had to offer and transformed tired old cars into stellar performers. Giving these cars a new lease on life is our goal so that we continue to see them being enjoyed on the road and track.
Parts
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| KATANA3 testing at the HillClimb |
Our parts development included progress on the KATANA3. Our tuning partner, Brent, has made strides into these ECUs that are now market-leading. Our control over them has given us the fine-tuning ability to chase CARB approval. We have started the paperwork process to get this underway. Brent’s efforts into tuning Evora GTs have also been enjoyed by clients all around North America.
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| Hot testing 2ZZGEs |
Another major advancement this year was the implementation of Hot Engine testing at Mountune. We took some lumps without this capability, and I am glad that it is now in place. All engines we build will be run on this rig to ensure they ship without issue. I’m not aware of anyone else in the world that can offer this quality check on a built 2ZZGE engine.
We spent a fair amount of time working on new products including LED headlights, upright development, wheel improvements, Emira merch and more. Funny thing; we probably spent as much time on our Lotus Boneyard which helped save more than one crashed Lotus. Since certain parts are no longer available, we are glad to have a small stash of used parts.
Service + Collision
We repaired and revitalized dozens of cars this year. Many of them local but a few from out of state. Some of these cars needed basic maintenance while others required a complete overhaul. Carlos Lewis rejoined our team in 2022 after a two-year sojourn working on exotics. We’re glad to have him back working on our niche vehicles. Carlos had a hand in building one of the race Lotus we completed this year (pictured below).
Niche Cars
This market is a turbulent one with spotty timing on car deliveries. Supply chain challenges have vexed nearly all the brands we work with including Lotus, Ariel and more. I am hoping to see an Atom4 in the next couple of months that we had ordered for a good client two years ago. This car is expected to be a major step forward from the previous generation. Lotus Emiras are delayed, but I think they should be coming to North America by mid-2023. I think they will provide a much-needed boost in interest in the brand until their EVs become available.
We’ve finally begun building a new Drakan. We helped sell a couple of used Drakans this year. We continue to field interest from potential buyers keen for a V8-powered, pure and simple sportscar. Heck, even Matt Farah was inquiring when I would have the next one ready!
Events & More
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| WCLM with Robin Shute |
We hosted several fun events in 2022 including a Wine Run, Engine Build Tech Seminar, a couple of Track Events, and the pinnacle – WCLM Palomar Mountain Hillclimb! We were the title sponsor of this epic race that proved to be one of the best Lotus events of the year.
We lost a very cool guy, Robert Konick, in late 2022. Robert was especially active during the early Elise community and helped champion getting Laser Blue as a color option. He was a truly nice man and Lotus enthusiast. I will miss his enthusiasm, friendship, and the conversations we shared about this market.
2023 Projections
Inflation and recessionary fears have negatively impacted us all so we will enter 2023 in a cautious manner. We are working on some new ideas to reduce costs on some of our beloved parts. ETHOS wheels are expected any day. These wheels are an excellent value and welcome in today’s financially-strained market. We introduced these wheels during the last recession so the timing on this batch is fitting.
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| tech notes from '03 |
I first started investigating parts for my pending Elise in 2003. It has been 20 years since I officially began this odyssey chasing improvements for Lotus and other light cars. We plan to celebrate this milestone with some special products including the ultraMONOlite wheels. We know many of you love the Sector111 brand, so we will relaunch it as a Lotus-specific parts brand to celebrate the class-leading products that we have introduced over the course of these many years.
I believe that niche sportscars will benefit from the ICE ban that is expected in 2035. Those of us who love driving will still be interested in cars that are powered conventionally. We plan to build another couple of 111RS - in 2023. Drakan supply chain will get jump started to see if building these loved cars is also viable.
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| Race Exige Build |
We plan to host more events, including some near to you. I plan to jump on a plane and fly out to various dealers and co-host some Meet & Greets. I’ve always loved hanging out with our community, and I think that 2023 is the year for me to fly out and see you.
Have a great New Years, and I hope to see you in 2023!
Cheers,
Shinoo
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| ETHOS back on for some canyon carving... |
