Okanagan Valley Miata Club Newsletter
March 2006


Lumi Island, Washington, USA - October 1, 2005

Membership
 
The OVMC would like to welcome four new members this year; David Clark, Jenny Wiebe, Fred Turetski and Zachary Zawisza. We look forward to meeting you at our events and outings and meetings.
Club meetings are a social event, not just executive stuff. We don't actually have an official executive anyway!

For those who have not yet renewed for this year, here is a message from Pete Hahn our membership coordinator:
 
The membership fee for the year April 01/06 to March 31/07 is due now.  If you are a current member
and nothing has changed (except that you are a year older and wiser) an application is not required;
just send a cheque for $25 to: ----------------------------

New members please send an application, which can be found on our website http://okmiataclub.com and may be filled in online or printed off and mailed.  Either way, you will need to mail your cheque.
Thank you for supporting your club.
Cheers!

Pete

 

2006 Topless Sun Run


 
I just wanted to let you know, the 2006 Okanagan Valley Topless Sun Run now has 211 attendees and 116 cars registered. If you have friends that are planning on attending, please let them know we only room for 39 more people. I expect we will meet our maximum of 250 people well before the event in May. If they don't send their registration quickly they could miss the largest annual Miata event in Canada.

Matt Scaife

 

Tours - Sunday breakfast - Weekend drives - social events
 
We are now looking for member input for this years events calendar. If you have any ideas, suggestions or favourite trips that you would like to see this year please let us know.  If you need help planning a trip for the club there is always members willing to lend a hand.

 

First Club run of 2006
 
Our sixth Annual Tickleberry run is planned for Saturday April  22, 2006. 
We will leave from the Hotel Eldorado at 9:30 am. We will drive south and have a lunch break in Osoyoos. Restaurant or pack a lunch, your choice.

Our drive will include: a few excursions off the main road & Anarchist Mountain. We'll stop at Tickleberries on our way home.

This is an all day event. I expect we will return to Kelowna by around 4 or 5 pm.

On our way to Penticton we will stop in Penticton at the first restaurant in Penticton once we cross the bridge. I expect we should be there by around 10:30. If you plan to meet us in Penticton, please email me to advise me you will be waiting for us. We will stop there for 10 minutes, but only if I know people will be waiting.

I can be emailed at -----------------------.
 
Matt

 

Alaska trip after the Sun Run
 
Hello Sun Run Attendees. I just received this from Barb Beach of Mazdasport Magazine. She has a group of Miata friends that are going on a cruise out of Vancouver. They'll be leaving Vancouver the Monday after the Sun Run. Some of the cruise passengers may also attend the Sun Run. She has also invited all of you Sun Run attendees to join them on the cruise.

Here is her information. I believe the prices listed are in US dollars, not CDN:

Cruise with Us to ALASKA!!!
SEVEN DAYS on the Carnival Spirit  May 31st departure
PLEASE BOOK FAST AS THEY WILL RETURN OUR GROUP CABINS TO INVENTORY

Email ----------------------- or book by calling ---------------------------.
Hit the number 2 and dial extension70204  our group number is 7J59D7

Our group rates are great!!!!!!  (all rates are for the Cruise per person, 2 people to a cabin)
4A Inside        $620 (regular rate $849)
6A Oceanview $900 (regular rate $1129)
8A Balcony     $1070 (regular rate$1299)
8C Balcony     $1120 (regular rate $1349)
8D Balcony     $1150 (regular rate $1379)
11 Suite          $1550 (regular rate $1779) 

There are also the usual port and fed  taxes per person about $225 per

 

Looking for a older M1 in good shape?
 
I have been the proud owner of a 1991 Special Edition  Miata (British Racing Green/Tan Leather/CD/Speakers in headrest/etc...) since 1991.  Believe it or not - this car is pristine with only 14,000 KM on it.  It literally looks brand new - inside/out/underneath and under the hood - it has been properly stored undercover in my garage for the most part - it has been driven only on select sunny days in the summer (I am also a motorcycle enthusiast and cyclist and don't have time to drive this car as much as I would like).

I am considering selling this Miata as much as it pains me to do so.  Is there anyone that you may be aware of who may be interested in this vehicle?

Please let me know if there are other links where I might post this potential sale.
Joel A. Johnston
Provincial Use of Force Coordinator
Province of British Columbia
Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General
Police Services Division
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------

Autocross News
 
Hello autocrossers or potential autocrossers. This Sunday April 2nd, both the Okanagan British Car Club and the Kelowna Corvette Club are holding a mandatory pre-registration day. Both clubs would like everyone interested in autocrossing to attend this registration day. It will be held at Freddy's Brew Pub April 2nd at 12:00 noon, on the patio. Each club will be selling memberships and each participant must complete the event registration forms. Neither club will be allowing any registrations during events. We will be under the TireTrends.com tent in front of Freddy's brew Pub.

Bring your drivers license and vehicle registration with you.

We will also be selling punch cards or season's passes for the die hards. All competitors will be requested to have car numbers this year. Numbers will be assigned and the OBCC will have magnetic car numbers on hand. A selection of numbers will be assigned to the top drivers from last year. A $10 deposit will be required on all numbers.

The following are the posted autocross dates and are subject to change without notice:

OBCC Sunday Novice Series:
April 9, 16, 23
June 4, 11, 18
Registration opens at 8:15, Drivers meeting at 8:45 am, Racing starts at 9:00 am

OBCC Thursday Night Series:
21 events on Thursdays from April 20 to September 20th.
Registration opens at 5:15 pm, Drivers meeting at 5:45 pm, Racing starts at 6:00 pm

Special Events:
Okanagan Valley Miata Club Topless Sun Run Autocross
May 28
Registration opens at 9:15, Drivers meeting at 9:45 am, Racing starts at 10:00 am

Rally In The Valley Autocross:
July 2
Registration opens at 9:15, Drivers meeting at 9:45 am, Racing starts at 10:00 am

KCC:
Apr 30
May 7, 21
June 25
July 9, 23
Aug 13, 19 & 20 (two day)
Sept 24
Oct 15

For up to date autocross information go to www.autocrossracer.com and ----------------------- and search the forum. You can also find racing information on many forms of racing at ---------------------------.

All of the above information is subject to change without notice. If you have any questions you can post them on either forum.
 
Matt Scaife

Car care tips courtesy of Miata.net
Adjust your top latches:
There is an 'L' shaped arm that grabs the bracket on the top of the windshield and secures the top to the windshield. Between the sides of the 'L' shaped arm is an adjustable hex nut about ¾ inch long with a plastic shield or guard on it. Gently push the guard towards the front of the car until it pops off the hex nut. The plastic guard is attached to and will pivot around the elbow of the 'L' shaped arm. Turn the hex nut one way or the other to tighten or loosen the tension on the latch. Snap the plastic guard back into place and it's done.

When was the last time you cleaned your headlights?
It sounds so simple, but how often do you really remember to hit that black button right smack in the middle of the console to raise the headlights before you wash the car? They can get pretty groty. While you're at it, go around your car and check to be sure all your bulbs work. Especially the brake lights!

When was the last time you checked the air in your spare tire?
The Miata spare tire is much smaller than a regular tire. As a result, it requires a much higher pressure to hold the weight of the car. Higher pressure tires tend to lose pressure fairly rapidly. The spare should be pumped to 65psi or it will be too flat to drive on!
Check the air in your spare once a month!