Okanagan Valley Miata Club Newsletter
July 2006

Topless Sun Run 2006
 
This year’s event was the biggest and best (by many people’s account) event we’ve hosted. Thank you to all who participated in the pre-planning, execution and to those that attended. We appreciate your support.
We had 143 Miata’s in attendance with 258 people from as far away as Winnipeg and Montana. The largest club increase came from the Vancouver Island Miata Club with 20 cars in attendance. Our club had fantastic representation with 41 Miata’s from all over the valley.
As many of you are aware the Sun Run has unfortunately out-grown our existing space at the Best Western Hotel. The room we eat in seats 200 legally and we crammed 258 in there. We can’t keep doing this, so we have decided to move the event for next year, for a variety of additional reasons, to the Coast Capri Hotel. We are in negotiations with Mazda Canada and Kelowna Motors for more funding for this event. There is also the possibility of a Japanese guest speaker attending. More on this as it evolves. The intent is to not increase the costs to the attendees. Both the club and Mazda Canada are opposed to having that happen. We will see as time progresses how well that works.
Next year we will need more volunteers to help us during the Friday registration times. So please consider taking the afternoon off on Friday to help us get the work done more efficiently.
Read the thank you letters from attandees on the News page of this website.
Thanks again and have a great topless summer.
Matt Scaife

 

OVMC makes annual contribution to the BC Transplant Society

With the number crunching complete following the 2006 Topless Sun Run, the Okanagan Valley Miata Club membership has decided to donate $4,000 to the B.C. Transplant Society. The donated funds are raised through the sale of official Topless Sun Run clothing, the 50/50 draw during the Sun Run banquet, and through general club revenue collected throughout the year.
From the club's beginnings in 2001 through to 2005 the membership raised $10,000, so to be able to contribute $4,000 in a single year is a remarkable achievement.
The Okanagan Valley Miata Club thanks all the participants and other Miata clubs for helping us help others. Sun Run attendees went above and beyond for the cause this year, and for their generosity the OVMC and the BC Transplant Society are truly thankful.

 

Membership

If you have not yet paid your $25.00 club membership fee (which is good until March 31/07) it is overdue.  This fee helps support the incidental expenses of the club. You will receive a club decal for your car and a membership card which entitles you to a 15% discount on parts at Kelowna Motors. If you were a member last year you need not send an application form, unless you have changed your address or car. See the membership page of this website. Please send your cheque to:
P. Hahn
6249 Thompson Drive
Peachland BC V0H 1X8

 

July 8th - Miata Club breakfast and drive

This coming Saturday, July 8th,  your club has planned a Breakfast at "The Jammery" on Highway 97
(4 minutes north of the Kelowna Airport). Breakfast will be at 9:00 am. If you can't make breakfast join us for the drive afterwards. We will be leaving the Jammery at approx. 10:00 am. Route and destination will be decided by those members attending the breakfast. Let's fill the parking lot with Miata's!

Kicking Horse Resort Trip

Saturday July 15 three Miata's from the club are heading to Golden and the Kicking Horse Reort for an overnight stay.  We will be meeting approx. 35-40 members from the Rocky Mountain and Wild Rose clubs. Saturday evening we will all meet for dinner and then on Sunday there is a Gondola ride/Sunday Briunch package at the top of the mountain - 7700 feet elevation with a 360 degree view. There is still room if anyone wants to join us. E-mail Jim Dennison for more information or check the events page.

 

OVMC Meeting/Pool Party/BBQ and Pot-Luck

This event will be held July 22 at Pete Hahn's, 6249 Thompson Drive, Peachland (767 2576).
All OVMC members are encouraged to come! Please e-mail Pete Hahn if you are coming so that the proper quantities of BBQ supplies can be acquired.
Meeting: 3:00 sharp (you don't have to be sharp, but don't be flat; be cool).
Party: 4:00. You don't have to come to the meeting to attend the party.
Directions: At Peachland's only traffic signal on Hwy 97 if coming from the north turn right, if coming from the south (as from Penticton) turn left (up the hill in either case). As you are so doing, deftly zero your trip meter and go 3.5 Km up Princeton Ave. Turn right on Forest Hill and go 100 feet (30 metres) and turn right again onto Thompson. Look for the balloons attached to the Courier box, but check to see that you are at 6249, or you could end up at another party. If you find yourself driving on a gravel trail you have gone too far. Park in the driveway or on the street; anything goes in Peachland. Go through the carport and down to the pool area. Now print off these directions!
Rules: There is only one. PLEASE, NO GLASS CONTAINERS AROUND THE POOL! Plastic glasses will be provided. Glass, concrete, vinyl liners and bare feet don't mix.
Getting Wet (Outside): Bring your bathing suit (local ordinance allows skinny dipping only after dark) and a towel.
BBQ/Pot Luck: Hamburgers, Bison Burgers, Veggie Burgers, Turkey Wieners (they are good) buns and condiments will be provided. Please bring a salad or dessert.
Getting Wet (Inside): Soft drinks will be provided. Bring any other libations that you may wish to consume (BYOB). Coffee will be provided around dessert time if the host remembers to turn on the machine.
Y-all come!

Sea to Sky Silver Star run

The following correspondence is from Mark Sondergaard of the Sea to Sky Chapter Miata Club:

Greetings Matt !
Matt, I saw the message below on your web site so I thought it was fitting to add to my e-mail. I came up with Brian Salisbury on your run to Osoyoos this spring. We had a terrific afternoon and enjoyed meeting your group so I thought it would be fun for everyone to meet if we can arrange something. It may be short notice but Patricia Cashin in our club has made a suggestion on our web site for everyone to reply to. I noticed you had a run planned for the 15th of July  on your web site so that day is out for you but the dates Patricia planned for were July 15/16 and July 22/23 as potential arrangements. Members from this end aimed for the 22/23 weekend and that looks more likely for your group as well. Would you run this date by your members and pass along the idea and invitation to join us at Silver Star in Vernon at The Pinnacles Lodge? 
Patricia Cashin's email address is patricia_cashin@telus.net
The web site for accommodation; The Pinnacles Suite Hotel -  www.pinnacles.com
Patricia is organizing the booking, being a travel and accommodation expert she will be able to answer questions about this weekend outing better than I so if you or any of your group are interested in joining us please contact Patricia and add your names, she'd be delighted to hear from you and arrange accommodation.
Have a look on the Sea to Sky website and join us on any of the other runs that you can manage as well !
Talk with you soon Matt !
Mark Sondergaard
906-33065 Mill Lake Road
Abbotsford B.C.
V2S 8E6
604-850-8553

Sea to Sky triangle tour

The Sea to Sky Club has also planned their annual Triangle Tour. Last year our club met them in Princeton for lunch and them toured some great backroads driving to Colemont and Tullemeen ending up at Otter lake Park. Followed by a run up to Aspen grove were the two clubs split for home. It was a great day.
The date is July 29th. I am unable to participate that weekend, so If anyone is interested in leading this group please e-mail me and I will then let members know the times and meeting spots. You can check the OVMC events page or the Sea to Sky club events page for updates.

Planned Club runs for 2006
 
Nakusp Hot Springs Run - September 9
Pete Hahn will be organizing the Nakusp run again this year. Once again it will be your choice if you want to do either a day trip or an overnighter. Both options are available depending on your preferance.
Mark the date on your calendar and watch the events page for further details.
 
Cariboo fall colours Run - September ?
Our club member from 150 Mile House, Rod Knopp, would like to host the second annual Cariboo Run. This was one of last years best weekends. Rod has a whole new set of country roads to explore as well as a possible mine tour. Watch the events page for more information and dates.

Okanagan Valley Miata Club website and forum

I understand that there are still some members who are unaware of our club website. The address is:  okmiataclub.com/
This is a great place to get up to the date information on all past and upcoming club events, links to other clubs, member information, past newsletters,buy and sell etc. The club forum link on the website is also a good source of information on any Miata related topic. Members Gord Bazzana and Andrew Hutton have put a lot of work into this site. Please check it out!

Member rides

Another feature of the website is "Members Rides". Send in your favourite picture of you car and a write up about it. Let others know why your Miata is the best one in the Okanagan. I guess I better get mine in too!

Backroads to Bavaria

This is an annual event hosted by Club Miata Northwest in Leavenworth, Washington. This year's event will be held October 6 – 8, 2006, and several OVMC members are already registered. This will be the third time for our club. It has always been a fun event with some great driving and socializing. If you register please e-mail Jim Dennison so he can start a list and organize our run to Leavenworth. We usually like to leave Kelowna around noon on Friday. More information and registration forms can be found here. Don't delay, the hotel is nearly full!!
The host hotel is The Enzian Inn, located one half block from the Bavarian Village’s downtown shops and activities. Guests of the Enzian Inn are delighted with our complementary full European breakfast buffet and daily alphorn concert. In addition, guests enjoy indoor or outdoor pools and hot tubs, and free round of golf on our championship putting course. Suites with fireplaces and spas also available. A car washing area and supplies will be provided!

Enzian Inn
590 Highway 2
Leavenworth, WA 98826
1-800-223-8511

Rates vary according to room type. Mention “Miata Club” when booking. There are a limited number of rooms blocked for the event, and they will be released to general public after September 1, 2004.

Friday • Registration & Welcome Reception • Dinner in the Bavarian Village • Octoberfest Dessert Saturday • European Breakfast Buffet • Australian Poker Run • Show & Shine • Oktoberfest in Leavenworth • Enzian Falls Putting Course • Fall Colours Tour • Backroads to Bavaria IX Banquet • Late-Night Fun Sunday • European Breakfast Buffet • Enjoy the Fall Colours on the Backroad

 

Autocross series - 2006

Okanagan British Car Club Thursday Night Series:
Every Thursday from April 20 to September 20th.
Registration opens at 5:15 pm, Drivers meeting at 5:45 pm, Racing starts at 6:00 pm.

Kelowna Corvette Club Series:
July 9, 23
Aug 13, 19 & 20 (two day)
Sept 24
Oct 15

All of the above information is subject to change without notice. For up to date autocross information go to www.autocrossracer.com or the Okanagan Valley Miata Club forum. You can also find racing information on many forms of racing at www.OkanaganRacing.com.

New Folding Hardtop For 2007

Mazda Motor Corporation made the global debut of the Mazda MX-5 Miata Power Retractable Hard Top at the 2006 British International Motor Show in London, England. Since its launch in 1990, and with subsequent generations launched in 1999 and 2006, MX-5 Miata has always been available with an optional removable hardtop, but this is the first time the car will be available with a power-operated retractable hard top.
The new model will be called "Roadster Coupe" in Europe, but will be referred to as the "Mazda MX-5 Miata Power Retractable Hard Top" (now that's a mouthful) in North America.
The car is rumored to cost about 10% more than the canvas-top variant.
The option weighs only 75 pounds more than the ragtop, and will fold behind the car's front seats to avoid sacrificing trunk space.

How many miles/kilometers has your MX-5 traveled?

Article courtesy of

Visit Miata.net for other interesting articles

Frank Saidis from The Villages, FL, sent us this photo of his 1993 Miata with more than 400,000 miles on the odometer! We're not all that surprised - MX-5 Miatas are incredibly reliable. For those of you who don't feel like pulling out the calculator:
416,678 miles = 670,578 kilometers!
Frank is a member of Central Florida Miata Club. He bought his Classic Red 1993 A package with 16,000 miles back in 1995.

"I am known as the book guy in the little red car, as I travel the southeast calling on college book stores. Many happy trips/memories in this car, but one that puts a smile in my heart was visiting my elderly mother when she was in a rehab center. They surprised me when they said I could take her to dinner, but I strapped her walker on the luggage rack and slowly and gently got her in and out of the car, her comment 'once you get in it's fine.' I also have a 2002 Neiman Marcus Thunderbird, but prefer to drive the Miata, the best car I have ever had!!"
Frank

Honorable Mention? Why is a Million Mile Miata an Honorable Mention and not the lead story? Frankly, its because we're having such a hard time believing its real.
Dan Masterson's red 1992 Miata has been through the hands of 9 different owners, as well as being used by teenagers and for a courier delivery job. It is literally almost never in the driveway. One of the previous owners also made regular trips from coast to coast in the United States.
This car has had 12 timing belt changes over two engines. It is also on the third transmission.

When asked about the authenticity, Dan responded:
"It is for real, no Photoshop. I think it is absolutely amazing, but most of the service records have gone with the owners, there is not a consistent log.
I have done all of the service myself except for the transmission replacement in the nearly 2 years since I bought it with 750,000+ miles. That has also included 3 timing belt replacements and quite a bit of replacing parts. Twelve timing belt replacements total may be a high estimate, but it has probably had it done at least 8 or 9 times."
We were still wondering if it wasn't a photo of a speedo that was removed from the car, with someone having used a drill to fast-forward the digits. Not wanting to be victims of a clever ruse, we asked Dan if he could supply some proof in the form of service records. Dan hasn't replied yet.