ABOUT US
WHO WE ARE
NELOC – North East Lotus Owners Club – is a not-for-profit club, established in 1977 by the late Jim Wilkie.
We are a friendly club who welcomes owners, fans and enthusiasts of all models of Lotus and its derivatives such as Caterham 7, Lotus Cortina, Vauxhall VX220 and Lotus Carlton amongst others.
As one of the longest running Lotus owners clubs in the world, with vast experience spanning decades, we are able to share an enviable knowledgebase with all our members.
We are proud to promote and celebrate NELOC and the Lotus marque.
OUR HISTORY
From humble beginnings in the 1970s right through to the present day, we have been a mainstay in the North East with a passionate cohort of members.
Over the years, we have exhibited, attended and supported a vast number of car shows all around the UK and abroad, winning many accolades along the way.
We have also attended Grand Prix, track days, and organised social events and family trips – some of our earlier members may recall our outings to France and Italy and our visit to Alton Towers in the early ’90s, which was a huge success.
For around 10-15 years, up to 2022, we were relatively quiet. We don’t blame COVID-19 or other external factors – we simply lost our way a little as a club and subsequently went from an incredibly busy outfit with well-organised events, trips and meetings to only a handful of us gathering in a pub every other month.
OUR PRESENT
With a reinvigorated approach and a few positive changes to our structure since the aftermath of COVID-19, we are once again organising our own events, as well as attending and supporting multiple others, and holding dedicated club meetings each month.
We have expanded our networking, and collaborate with other clubs, too. A reorganised committee, with member-specific roles, along with the forward-thinking of our club and its members has allowed us to facilitate such much-needed improvements.
Significantly, after losing it many years ago, we regained control of the NELOC.co.uk domain name, which was the catalyst for the creation of the club’s new website.
OUR FUTURE
No matter where the Lotus brand finds itself, we aim to educate and illustrate the influence of Lotus within pop culture and its place in the automotive industry.
Through the building of relationships, accompanying the enthusiastic following in the North East of England, we aspire to expand our reach not simply locally and nationally, but globally as well.
Additionally, we wish to improve our member demographics and increase our younger membership, which is vital for our survival as a club, and with your help we can achieve this.
Further features will be added to our website over the coming months, including a dedicated news section and a shop to purchase NELOC merchandise and Lotus parts.
Whilst we undergo these improvements and modernisation, we thank you for your patience during what is an important transition period for us as a club.
NELOC COMMITTEE
Please take a moment to read the following brief introductions to your committee members.
Jim Wilkie
Founder
Whilst Jim is no longer with us, his legacy lives on in NELOC. His desire to bring together likeminded Lotus fans in the North East formed the foundations of the club we see today. His love of the marque and enthusiasm for any model of Lotus, regardless of colour or condition, gave us the ethos NELOC still holds dear all these years later.
Duncan Carter
Chairman
Duncan joined NELOC in early 1986 with a white 1982 Lotus Esprit S3 and has had a number of Lotus since. He presently owns a yellow Lotus Emira and a red Lotus Excel SE. He was Secretary and Chairman for a number of years but stepped back due to business commitments. After a 15-year hiatus, he returned to the club and along with fellow, active committee members, has been responsible for the resurgence we are currently experiencing.
Bill Routledge
Vice Chairman
Bill joined NELOC in 1985 when he purchased his first Lotus Europa. A dedicated member, he has undertaken several roles over the years, and is known for his passion of Lotus, particularly the Europa line, restoring every part himself. After selling his 1982 Lotus Esprit Turbo in 2023, his enviable collection includes a 1956 Lotus 7 S1, 1969 and 1970 Europa, 1971 Europa Banks Special, 2005 Europa S, and a 1990 Lotus Elan SE Turbo.
Brian Hunter
Treasurer
Brian joined NELOC in May 1980, attending his first meeting at Lumley Castle. He has been the club’s Treasurer for over 30 years, since Spring 1990, when a new committee became necessary following the untimely passing of NELOC’s founder. With what must represent some sort of single Elan ownership record, Brian has owned the same Lotus Elan S4 SE DHC since May 1975.
Grahame Lawson
Events Coordinator
Grahame joined NELOC in September 2022 and quickly became our events figurehead. His interest in the history of Lotus and its drivers began at a young age, with the famed JPS Lotus in Formula 1 and Esprit in the James Bond films. Having purchased his first Lotus, a black Esprit S2, in 1992, today he owns three Lotus cars with his wife, Tracy, and attends as many shows and historic racing as possible.
Adam Carter-Jones
Webmaster
BIO COMING SOON.
Ian Daglish
Committee Member
Ian joined NELOC in 2021 and in the same year, largely assisted by the COVID-19 lockdowns, finished the total rebuild and restoration of a 1974 Lotus Elan +2 130/5 that he purchased in 2017, which had laid in storage in a partly-stripped down state until 2019. Since then, Ian has acquired a 1967 Elan +2; another restoration project comprising complete chassis, engine, gearbox and bodywork.
Tracy Lawson
Committee Member
Tracy joined NELOC in September 2022 with husband, Grahame. Together, they attend shows and events around the UK with ventures to mainland Europe, too. Instrumental in the creation of the club’s “Lotus on the Green” event in Seaham, as a retired nurse, Tracy is also one of our three dedicated Emergency First Aid volunteers for events and shows.
Paul Clapham
Committee Member
Having joined at the first meeting in 1977, Paul is a founding member of NELOC. Originally owning a Europa S2 for four years, he acquired his 1976 Lotus Esprit S1 in 1978, and is subsequently nearing the record for single Esprit ownership that is currently held by an American-based Lotus owner. As an active committee member, Paul is always willing to help when and where needed.
Jim Richardson
Committee Member
Jim joined NELOC shortly after its formation in late 1977, and attended his first meeting at the Imperial Hotel in Jesmond. When Jim joined the club, he owned a Europa JPS Special No.094, and then in 1983 bought an Esprit JPS Commemorative Edition No.092 that he still owns today.
Motor Sport Magazine
September 1977
