Ready for the first sign of spring!

Monthly Meeting

This months meeting will be this Wednesday, February 23rd, at Penny McLean's home, 447 Avery Road at 7:00 pm. We welcome ALL OVMC members to attend out monthly meetings. Come and find out more about your club activities and members. We will have details at the meeting on the Sun Run clothing and logos as well as the Moss Motors group buy. Matt will have a catalogue there for people to go through.
Directions are:  Come out Lakeshore Rd. You will pass the Lakeshore Market, then Minstrels Cafe, and up the hill a flashing signal light. The NEXT signal light is the "light" you will be making a right hand turn at, it is the  Barnaby /Chute Lake /Lakeshore Rd. "light". As you turn down Lakeshore you will see a row of Mail Boxes on your right hand side. Watch for the second set of Mail Boxes further down. Avery Road is after them to the Left.

Tickleberry Run

The date is set for this years 5th annual Tickleberry Run.  It will be April 10th.   
We will me meet at the Hotel Eldorado on Lakeshore Road at the end of Cook Road.
We will leave the Hotel Eldorado at 10:30am, so I suggest you show up at 10:20am at the latest. We will stop in Penticton at a location to be determined. Tim Horton's is getting too busy to stop at easily. Please e-mail your meeting suggestions to Matt Scaife.

Retiring Members

Dear Jim,
Joyce and I are moving on and have dropped our membership from the OBCC and the Miata Club...we will still enjoy the Miata in our retirement. However our agenda is changing regarding more recreational travel in BC and abroad. All the best for the Topless Sun Run in 2005 and we very much enjoyed the time we spent with the Club.
Best regards,
Doug & Joyce

I have, on behalf of the club, thanked Doug and Joyce for their participation and contribution over the years. They will be sadly missed.
Jim

Membership Drive

Avoid the rush; join/renew your membership now!  The membership year runs from April 01/05 to March 31/06 and we'd like to get memberships in before April Fools Day (who wants to be April's fool?).  If you do not have a membership application go to our website and fill one out online or print one off and in either case mail a $25 cheque to the address specified on the form.  E-mail me if you have any questions.  Thanks.
Pete Hahn, wphahn@shaw.ca

Tuner Transformation

Speed TV will be running the Tuner Transformation episode of a 2002 Miata on February 25 at 8:00 AM if anyone is interested. As I recall the following modifications were done...
BRP Stage II Supercharger
CG-Locks
OZ 15x7 Wheels with Toyo RA-1 Tires
Jackson Racing Headers
Tein Suspension (with Electronic Damping Force Controller)
High Performance Clutch
Magna-Flow Exhaust
Adrenaline Racing Belly Pan and Upper Radiator Cover

Group Buy for Miata Parts

From Matt Scaife
I’m planning a group buy of Moss Motors stuff through Len Drake.  The information is posted on the forum. They now sell Racing Beat sway bars & all the rest of their stuff as well. Several members have already put some items together.
Contact Matt if you need more information.

Sun Run

We now have a perpetual logo for the Sun Run.  This logo will be available on a variety of clothing, hats etc.  Check out our website for updated information on what will be available and when.  We will still use a "event specific" logo each year for the t-shirts. 
The 2005 Sun Run registration form is now available on our club website. Don't delay - register early - spaces will be filling up fast!

2005 Events

1. Tickleberry run: April 10th
2. Sun Run: May 27th to 29th
3. Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival:   August 13th
4. South Cariboo overnighter: Kamloops - Little Fort - Lone Butt - Lilloett - Lyton - Spences Bridge - Ashcroft - Logan Lake. This could be a two or three day event. Dates to be announced (June or July). If you would like to participate in this event, please let me know which dates you would prefer.

Never see a club event posted with a destination or time that appeals to you? Why not organize one yourself! Let us know and it will be posted in the newsletter and on the website.  Show the club your favourite backroads, local events and attractions. There is always members eager to follow along and give a hand if necessary.

Getting Bored With You Stock Miata?

Take a look at how far some are willing to go to improve(?) on a good thing!
A Lesson in Excess - article from Mazda Sport Magazine: by Alan Paradise

For a select few, there is an inner calling. A need to push everything to the limit. To go over and above where the common man is willing to travel. Larry Kyosai of Diamond Bar, California is one of those individuals.
It just doesn't get any better than this. A full array of chrome plating, polished aluminum and performance products neatly crammed under the hood.
Nine years ago, Larry decided it was time to retire his Lotus Europa. The Limited Edition "John Player Special" was a true sports car. This made replacing it a near impossibility until the spring of 1989. That's when Larry first caught wind of a new two-seater roadster coming out of Japan. The MX5 was just the motoring answer he was looking for. In late 1990, he put a deal together on a Classic Red base model Miata.
Although this Miata started out as a stripped down, base model, it ended up anything but basic. Over the past few years, Larry has researched and executed just about every type of modification. The result is a Mazda product that reigns supreme during competitive import performance events from California to Georgia.
Larry replaced the pop-up lights with bays featuring Catz light throwers in buckets fabricated.
Larry has upgraded nearly every part of his '91 Miata. Handling is improved with the addition of Eibach Pro-Kit springs, Tokico shocks, Racing Beat anti-sway bars, urethane bushings, and Racing Beat adjustable end links. With the lower stance, MHT V-10 18x8 three-piece wheels and Toyo 215/35-18 FZ4 tires fill the fender wells. To further flatten the cornering, a Greddy upper strut tie bar and Racing Beat lower control arm rear brace were added.
Lifting the hood, with its special VIS scoop, is like entering performance Valhalla. It starts with a Greddy turbo kit. The intercooler was borrowed from a Mitsubishi Starion. To accommodate the intercooler pipes, Larry lowered the radiator one-inch by fabricating new supports. The system feeds a polished intake manifold and air meter. To match all the gleaming polished aluminum, Larry added a MazdaSpeed oil cap, R-Speed wire cover, and polished the cam cover. Moss Motors was the source for the remote oil filter and cooler units. An MSD ignition retard unit and Racing Beat Ultra 8mm wires bring fire to the holes. Burned gasses are exited via a pair of Banzai stainless steel pre-mufflers.
Handling the extra horsepower is a Clutch Master Stage One clutch and Racing Beat flywheel. Shifts are shorter with the KG Works shifter, equipped with special stainless steel plate.
For the show circuit, Larry rolls on massive 18-inch Toyo tires and MHT three-piece wheels. Suspension components are from Eibach, Racing Beat and Tokico. Brakes are Power Stop cross-drilled rotors fed by Goodridge stainless steel lines.
Turning to the exterior, Larry went to the extreme. To accommodate the monsterous 18-inch tire and wheel combination, KG Works was commissioned to add fender flares. To match the pumped-up body profile, Garage Vary side skirts and rear valance were installed, along with a RE Amemiya front fascia. A Racing Beat Streamline deck cover was notched to fit around the Autopower roll bar.
Larry modified a VIS GTR-style rear deck wing originally designed to fit a Honda Civic. BrainStorm kicked in with a Classic Fuel Lid and front turn signal air intakes. Mirrors are Honda CBR1100XX motorcycle mirrors with integrated turn indicators.
Entering the interior finds the racing influences are accelerated with Jamex Monaco seats, BrainStorm chrome vent covers, STR billet aluminum brake lever, KG Works shift knob, and a Jamex steering wheel. The Razo shift light flashes commands as Auto Meter Phantom gauges tell the engine's operating story. Adding the finishing touch, Larry painted the surrounding dash pieces as well as fabricated an aluminum center console plate for the vent control and turbo timer. Car Craft added the last items - custom door panels and rocker plates.
More innovative touches include these Honda motorcycle mirrors with integrated turn indicators.
When cruising to motorsports events and import shows, Larry fires up the Kenwood CD player, routing his favorite classical music through a Cross Fire four-channel amplifier to Orion and Polk speakers. All this effort may seem excessive to most Miata owners, however, Larry carries the Miata torch in a world dominated by Hondas. To date, this tricked out MX5 has hauled away six "Hottest Mazda" awards, five best engine trophies, "Best Mazda" at every Import Nationals event, and a "Best of Show" at the most recent Goodtimes Import Autorama.

New Miata For 2006?

Is this the new Miata?  On March 1st, Mazda will reveal the highly anticipated MX-5 roadster at the Geneva Auto Show.  While no one knows for sure, rumors persist that the MX5 will be available with two engines, a 2.3 liter four used in the Mazda3 and a high performance V6. Whether this is what the new MX-5 will look like or not remains to be seen, but whatever the new Miata has to offer, it should be impressive.

How do you redesign a sports-car icon?
By Todd Lassa
Photography by Mark Stehrenberger
Motor Trend, February 2003
Mazda's sports-car revival, beginning with this year's RX-8 and the possible return of the RX-7, culminates with a new Miata expected in 2006. While the two-seat sportster will be only slightly larger than the current model, there's speculation the Miata will share its platform with the RX-8. More likely, the connection will be limited to some component sharing.
One unusual feature of the '06 Miata is the convertible roof, which, we're told, is a manually raised and lowered metal top. Whereas the old BMW Z3 often was criticized for being an overpriced Miata, the new Z4 distances itself from the affordable Japanese alternative. However, Mazda also is rumoured to be considering a new lightweight V-6 as an option for the Miata (also known as the MX-5 and Eunos in other markets). A V-6 could keep it within striking distance of the Bimmer's performance.
The front end of the new Miata retains the current car's flavour, while it's growing in size slightly to accommodate taller drivers. The car's tail will sport a connection to the new RX-8.