Nice, France - September 30, 2006 (6:27pm)
I was quite excited when I saw this awesome Lotus Elise sports car! It brought back some fond memories of when I was a little kid growing up in France. I saw the movie Grand Prix when I was 11 years old and I liked it so much that I became fascinated with Formula One car racing. Although I was too young to drive at the time, I hoped that someday I would own and drive a Lotus. This car manufacturer also built sports cars. Back then, the Lotus Elite, Lotus Elan and the Lotus Europa were popular in Europe. Every time I saw one on the road, I would get all excited and shout the French words: une Lotus!!! Jim Clark who raced for Lotus, became my favorite Formula One race car driver. He won the world championship in 1963 and 1965. He won more Grand Prix races than any other driver and became my hero! He also won the 1965 Indy 500. Sadly, he was killed in a Formula Two race in Hockenheim, Germany, and I was completely devastated when I heard the bad news. To this day, Jim Clark is still considered to be the greatest Formula One race car driver ever.At the age of 12, I moved to the United States and my cousin and I built a hut in the woods near my uncle’s house in Long Island and even though it had absolutely nothing to do with cars, I named it Lotus. The sporty Lotus Elise pictured here with me is quite a sharp-looking car and I would just love to drive one!
(Nikon D50)
