Originally Posted by Loki

Hmmm. Very funny story. I'm the Lotus driver/instructor. Instructors are chosen on ability to teach, driving skill and, hopefully, maturity. Any instructor at an HPDE/Track Day that went up to a participant and suggested that they "trade paint" and that his car would "smoke" that persons car would be summarily (and rightly) fired on the spot. We are there to keep things in hand, not provoke drivers into unwise actions. Trading paint is grounds for being thrown off the track and may get you banned from HPDE throughout California. Suffice to say I'm not that stupid nor immature.
The conversation, as I recall, was about running the Crossfire and the Lotus around the track for some video footage, swapping the lead and keeping the cars running together for the camera. So it was done. As one astute observer noted, how did the Lotus get in front after you were smoking him? The answer is, we let each other pass, as you can see me backing off the gas on the straight. Though it is harder to see I also slowed on some of the twisty parts to keep both cars in the camera frame. Strange how two cars never get more than two lengths apart in any of the shots.
As for the Lotus, it is still a naturally aspirated 1.8 litre on my street tires (I drove from Northern California) and my daily driver. Sorry, no Ohlins.
Thanks for the comments on the line, it was my first time at The Streets of Willows and I found it a very entertaining track. If you were to seek times (in a controlled environment) vs an Elise, I would chose another track...that one favors smaller more agile cars and doesn't give the Crossfire HP enough room to get going.