Upcoming Events. Chautauqua Wine Trail, Frank Lloyd Wright & Lucy & Desi Cruise Report by John & Shar Whitmire

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1 Volume 24 #10 November, 2014 C Christmas Time is Zoomin' Upon Us by Michael Butler hristmas comes but once a year. It's a time of reflection, a time of good cheer, and a time for our Miata friends to get together during a special time of the year. It's also the perfect opportunity for our new members to get to know the other members. The Christmas party will be held on Saturday, December 6th. If you haven't already done so, please send your reservation and meal selection today. Time is running out - we need to have your check before November 26th. A nice overnight stay with a hot breakfast is also available. It's sure to be a zoomin' good time for everyone. See the full page announcement at the end of this newsletter and reserve your spot now. We'll also be collecting 2015 WPMC dues at the Christmas party. You may pay the $30 with either cash or check. Looking forward to seeing you all at the party. Ho Ho Ho! Annual Dues and Replacement Buttons By Bob Coon D Upcoming Events Sat Dec 6 WPMC Christmas Party on't forget to pay your annual dues if you are attending the Christmas party on December 6th. If you have been good all year, Santa will bring you a new button at the Christmas party if you request one. or call Bob Coon with your request at bcoon@westpennmiataclub.com or Chautauqua Wine Trail, Frank Lloyd Wright & Lucy & Desi Cruise Report by John & Shar Whitmire I t was a dark and stormy morning, well, at least somewhat overcast, when hearty WPMC members, including new club members Steve and Ann who were going on their first cruise, met at the Murrysville Walnut Creek Shopping Center to embark on a weekend of fun roads, fascinating architecture, beckoning wineries, and a trip down TV memory lane. Led by our stalwart cruise leaders Joe & Linda Zimliki, we headed north over some very exciting twisty-turny roads, driving along gorgeous stretches of Fall foliage, to our morning pit stop at Sheetz along Route 80, where five more cars joined us to continue the run to NY. Tops down, we again followed wonderful back country roads before arriving at Webb's Resort in Chautauqua, NY, where several members of the Trillium Miata Club from the Toronto Area joined us. Dinner that evening at Webb's was wonderful, and we're pretty sure that everyone fell into bed that evening tired but with happy tummies. Saturday was a full day beginning with a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Greycliff. Greycliff was the vacation home of a Buffalo area executive and sits on a bluff over looking Lake Erie. We were treated to an excellent informative tour of the house and grounds, which commands spectacular views over Lake Erie. The house is in the process of being renovated back to its original design which allowed us to get a first hand look at some of the construction techniques, many quite unusual for the time when it was built. From Greycliff, we headed for lunch and then on to the wineries where we enjoyed samplings of our favorite wines. Each winery was unique in its own way and club members came home with quite a few tasty treats! After the wineries, we returned to Webb's and after a short rest, had another fine meal together at the resort just down the street. We (continued on page 2)

2 2 (continued from page 1) had a private room that was cozy and beautifully decorated, just perfect for partying with our Canadian friends. It turned out to be one of the best meals we have enjoyed on any of the cruises! Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny, if a little chilly! Most of us braved the chill with our tops down as we took a driving tour through the village of Chautauqua, stopping for photos and views of the beautiful lake. Back on the road, we headed for Jamestown, NY and a reminiscent trip down TV memory lane. Jamestown is the home of the Lucy & Desi Arnaz's Museum & Studio. Lucy was born nearby, and Jamestown has turned remembering this amazing couple into a cottage industry. The museum is housed in two separate buildings, and contains memorabilia, sets and film clips from the show, costumes, and even their car. The docent who led our tour was excellent and enthusiastically imparted her knowledge of these TV legends to our group. The tour was lots of fun, and we highly recommend it. Has a cool gift shop as well! Leaving Jamestown, we headed for lunch at a great local sports bar that served the best French fries we've had in many years. The drive home over more wonderful Miata roads was the perfect culmination of a perfect Fall trip. The weekend was loads of fun and our thanks go to Linda and Joe for arranging a weekend with such a wide variety of events, not to mention some really fun roads to get us there and back. Linda Z. did her best to "herd cats" and we do appreciate all her efforts!! Following our meal and time to enjoy catching up with members, we proceeded on to the Bellefonte Train Station. It is a fine old Pennsylvania Railroad Station of yesteryear. On Saturday it was as if we had returned to the 1950s, when it was abuzz with folks of all ages waiting to board the North Shore 2017 for their train trip. Precisely at 1 pm, the Conductor welcomed us and the cars began rolling slowly down the track. The WPMC members were seated together in one car and the scenery and the conversation made the two hours pass quickly. The traditional ice cream stop was at the Way Fruit Market, about a fifteen minute drive from the train station. We were lucky to be there on a day when they also had crafters, kettle corn, and a huge selection of this season's apples. We loaded up with half a peck of Fujis, our favorites. The weather was questionable, but the WPMC was not deterred! We had another great day zoomin'. Thanks to the fearless Zimlikis for planning and leading this sporty cruise. Bellefonte Cruise and Train Ride Report by Rich and Leeanna Ryba A group of 14 cars braved the somewhat gray skies and darkness. Meeting at the Walnut Hollow Shopping Center, after filling up at the nearby Sheetz, we set off on some winding roads toward our destination at 7:45 am, sharp. The cruise was probably scheduled exactly on the most perfect day this month for autumn color. When there were a few steaks of sunshine, the golds and reds set against the green pines were fabulous. Our lunch stop was at Maria's in Bellefonte. Pre-ordering the meals proved to be helpful, but not totally a success.

3 CRUISIN & ZOOMIN SEASON BY LINDA ZIMLIKI S o sad...we have come to the end of WPMC's cruisin & zoomin season. Some of you may have already put your babies to bed till the spring. Others are holding off hoping for more zoomin weather. I want to thank all the members who led a cruise this year. We appreciate your time & effort planning and leading our Miatas on those twisty roads to our destinations. Already working on the 2015 season. I have a number of people with ideas for next year's cruises. Some great destinations will be on the calendar for Along with WPMC's cruises, there are Regional Events which may interest some members. The Tri Cities Miata Club is having its annual "Zoomin the Mountains of East Tennessee". It will be held June 4-7. You will be able to drive outstanding mountain roads, compete in autocross and zoom around the World's fastest Half - Mile - the Bristol Motor Speedway. You can make hotel reservations now. Hotel - Holiday Inn Johnson City, TN, 101 W Springbrook Drive Phone Number Request Reservation for the Tri-Cities Miata Event - June 2015 As more details become available, they will be posted at The link will also be on WPMC's Calendar of Events website page. There is one last event this season, the Christmas Party. We hope to see all of you there. The evening will be cash bar, appetizers, dinner, and after dinner cookies with coffee & tea. We will have entertainment, door prizes, grand prizes, 50/50, and each couple gets a goodie bag with car products. Prizes made by members will also given away. If you are coming to the party and would like to donate items made and crafted by you please contact me at lzimliki@westpennmiataclub.com. See you there! Zoom Zoomm Zoommm E Boomin' Zoomers by President Larry Pietropaoli very vehicle is "function specific". It has a purpose. Go on a safari and you'll need a multi purpose truck with extra tires & extra fuel. Go to a construction site and you'll need a full size pickup truck. Take a boat to the lake and you'll need a sport utility vehicle. Go to a winery and everything will taste better in a Miata. Go on a destination cruise to a cool place and it will look better in a Miata. Go on a curvy / sporty / leisurely run in any direction and you will Zoom better in a Miata. Go with like minded friends and they will likely have their own Miatas and be members of WPMC. Go spend quality time with your friend, driving down a lonely country road with the top down on a cool summer morning, and you'll definitely appreciate the closeness a Miata As the 2014 season comes to a close, tuck your favorite ride in a warm, dry place. Cover it, and dig out your cruise photos of a great season. Or, come to the Christmas party and look at Linda & Joe s collection. Cool ride, cool places, cool friends. And then there is the Zoom Zoom. I am looking forward to seeing all of you at the 2014 West Penn Miata Club Christmas Party on December 6. Let's share the memories.

4 Officers web site: Founder: Paul Fronko President: Larry Pietropaoli Vice President: Mike Butler (724) (412) West Penn Club Legalese The FUN N THE SUN TIMES is published as a service by the West Penn Miata Club, Inc. a non-profit corporation. Treasurer: Vera DeMatteis Secretary: Bob Coon Events Chair: Linda Zimliki Past President: Bill Willis (724) (412) (724) (724) Editor - In - Chief: Steve Lapp Send all editorial contributions to: WEST PENN MIATA CLUB c/o Steve Lapp 105 Gadshill Place Pittsburgh, PA slapp@westpennmiataclub.com The WEST PENN MIATA CLUB assumes no liability for any information contained herein; or injury or damage resulting from the use of this information. The ideas, maintenance, opinions, or modification tips expressed are to be used at the readers discretion. Individual contributors and/or editors express no approval, authentication, or endorsement. WEST PENN MIATA CLUB c/o Bob Coon 111 Kinross Lane Pittsburgh, PA West Penn Address goes here Club leave room for mail bar code to go here

5 WEST PENN MIATA CLUB ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY Date: Saturday December 6, 2014 Time: Social Hour 6:00 7:00PM Cash Bar w/hors d oeuvres Dinner: 7:00 PM Place: Comfort Inn - Formerly Harley House Seasons Ballroom 699 Rodi Road - Parkway East at Penn Hills Exit 11 Spending the night - Special room rate $69.00 includes Continental Breakfast Reservations ( ) Mention WPMC Christmas Party Main entrée selections: 1. Grilled Salmon 2. Roast Prime Rib of Beef Rare, Med, Med-Well or Well Done 3. Chicken Cordon Blu Entertainment: Pittsburgh Pals Send your check made out to WPMC for $18.50 per person and meal selection to Mike Butler by November 26th. RSVP: mbutler@westpennmiataclub.com Mike Butler 5184 Janie Drive Pittsburgh, PA