time. Any donations are voluntary and greatly appreciated.

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1 MiataTudes The Lupus Foundation of America... ROBIN S NEST - ROBIN GEORGE It is that time of year again. The leaves are changing, the air is cooler, and let the club celebration begin. At the beginning of the month, I was worried that we were going to have a sparse attendance at t h i s y e a r s b i r t h d a y p a r t y. SAMOA s Birthday Party has always been a celebration of our clubs vibrancy and resiliency. A chance for the members to go on a short run, gather, eat good food, taste superb wine, and kibitz. Even enjoy a completive round of Bocce Ball. Each year we have a charity we support if the members care to. This year it is the Lupus Foundation. We will design several ways in which to raise funds and have fun at the same time. Any donations are voluntary and greatly appreciated. With one week to go for RSVP s we now have, 80 plus members signed up to attend. If you have not ed Jeanne@winfirst.com please do so now so we can get the proper amount of food and brace the winery for our attendance. Games will be played and announcements of upcoming club events. I look forward to seeing all your smiling faces and your enjoyment of your club. From Mark Brooks: It means a lot to me on a personal level that SAMOA is supporting the Lupus Foundation of America as our charity this year at the birthday picnic. My wife was diagnosed with Lupus when she was 18 years old. I (like most people) was not really aware of the disease, and how it affected people. Having now been with my wife for close to 10 years and seeing how she manages the pain, frustration and challenges that come along with it is truly inspiring. It s an illness that doesn t get quite the same amount of attention or publicity as other illnesses.. so it is understandable that most people aren t familiar with it. It s a horrible disease that is not easy to manage. I know that I ve begged and pleaded with SAMOA members to submit articles to the Newsletter in the past.. but if there s one plea that I have this month.. it s to please read about Lupus, and gain some awareness. Hopefully there will be a cure (or at least a better way to manage the pain) some day.. but until then, we can just work to increase awareness and help support those we love who are afflicted with this disease. I know times are tough for all of us, but if you can find a way to donate a couple bucks to the Lupus foundation at the picnic, it would mean the world to me, my wife and the hundreds of thousands of people who suffer from this illness. If you are unable to donate at the picnic, you can bring your donations to the October SAMOA meeting. -Mark PAGE 1

2 MIATAS AT THE STATE FAIR - JEANNE GEORGE On August 28, a group of Miata people traveled to Sacramento to join Robin and display their Miatas at the State Fair. The participants came from all over the state for this opportunity and were from the Bay Area Miata Association (BAMA), Delta Club, and Sacramento Area Miata Owners Association (SAMOA). After arriving at Mimi s Café the meeting location, the group of 13 Miatas and 1 Corba drove to the State Fair set- up area located near the horse racing grandstand. Robin directed the drivers to their positions under tents provided by the Fair people. Afterwards the group began polishing and cleaning up the cars for display. They set up their chairs and brought out their newspapers and books. Robin supplied Champagne and Orange Juice and Bear Claws and the group settled in for the day. The BAMA group included Terry Chasteen (now a SAMOA member-he joined that day), Nic Qualls, Sally Johnson, and Peter Watters (also a SAMOA member). Their display of 4 red Miatas were set up on one side of the walk way. From the Delta Club were members Randy Ross, and Rob and Jennifer Sissung. SAMOA members included Diana Loo, Michele and Wayne Thomas, Julie O Shea (from Tehachape in Southern CA), Fred Reithel, Kimberly Lusenhop, Paul Pouliot, Jack Parker, Mario Lavoie, Cece Myers, Judy and Stewart Lehman, and Robin. This group displayed 7 Miatas, 1 Cobra, and a ½ Miata trailer which Paul Pouliot has been building. The group enjoyed visiting the Fair attractions, horse racing, eating, and visiting with the public and each other. In the evening, several of the group drove their Miatas in the daily Fair parade around the fair grounds. Snow White and Cinderella rode on the boot area of two Miatas much to their delight and the spectators. See additional pictures on the SAMOA web site. SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS - RON PETRICH The following members all turn 21 this month. Drink up! Erik Ackroyd - 10/13 Glen Boire 10/24 Kathleen Castillo 10/02 Peggie Cathie 10/21 Ross Donner 10/07 Suzanne Finney 10/26 Larry Hamilton 10/31 Carolyn Layfield 10/25 Judy Lehman 10/16 Ron Moe 10/21 Mary Pat Pauly 10/01 Allyn Walter 10/31 Mac Wright 10/05 If I missed you, please let me know. It may be that you are one of the 9 members who has not furnished us with the date. As for Larry and Allyn, I bet you thought all those folks at your door were there for your birthday costume party lol. Since no one is celebrating on 10/04 or 10/08, the days of our birthday picnic and monthly meeting, respectively, there will be no true stories told in your honor. PAGE 2

3 SACRAMENTO AREA MIATA OWNERS ASSOCIATION FAREWELL - MIKE DELAURENTIS Last month we sadly said Goodbye to nine year club member, and good friend, George Toby Counter who died of heart failure on September 1st. Toby was born in Denver, CO in 1930 and he and Margaret just celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary. Toby was a painting contractor, creative cook and was always helping friends and neighbors with projects around their homes. He drove motorcycles, Chryslers, Cadillac s, and everything in between but really loved his 2,000 Miata SE. In addition to Margaret he is survived by his niece Vicki Fearn, nephew David Counter, and brother Charles Bud Counter of Dallas, Texas. He was preceded in death by his brother Jack Counter. At his request donations may be made to the Shriner s Hospital or a charity of your choice. OCTOBER, 2009 TREASURE TROVE - JEANNE GEORGE Welcome to our Newest Members Gary and Donna Nelson Steve and Gale Hughart Stephen Wales Ron Guzman Richard and Suzanne Finney Terry Chasteen Memberships Expiring October 1 Angulo, Al Folsom, John Kelly, Richard and Carolyn Layfield Parker, Jack and Sally Penfield, Larry and Barbara Soltesz, John Tyer, Tom and Cameron Memberships renewed during September Mario Lavoie Vince Weis and Kathi Bell James Stewart Peter Watters Margie Jurach John Emelio Doug and Betty Hoffman Ellen Frosch Mark and Ellen Cutler Margaret Counter JR and Susie Hahn Dan Mila Spengler Jon and Alice Somplack SAMOA stats 132 Memberships, 215 members, 141 Miatas PAGE 3

4 A FIAT IN YOUR FUTURE? - ADI DAMANIA No, I do not mean a flat in your future. FIAT is Italy's largest automobile manufacturer. The acronym stands for "Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino" which means in English simply "Italian Car Manufacturer of Torino", Torino or Turin being the Italian city where FIAT has its headquarters. Like Modena for FERRARI and LAMBORGHINI, kapisch? FIAT earned a poor quality reputation in the 1970s due mostly to build quality problems resulting from bitter Italian labor union disputes as well as cheap Russian steel used at the time which rusted very easily (especially where it mattered the most: engine mounts!!!). Modern FIATs are actually a bit more respectable thanks to modernization of materials and manufacturing processes that include aggressive rust-proofing on cars meant for export. Unfortunately most Americans still think of the old phrase "Fix It Again Tony" because FIAT has not sold cars in North America since 1982 (the last being the still sought after Pininfarina 2000 turbo roadster) and therefore that is the last FIAT anyone has usually seen. Even the older than the 1970s FIATs are not as bad as their reputation in many cases, they have often earned undue criticism thanks to owners and mechanics who in the 70s had little experience working on "strange little foreen cars" as all they had ever touched were big American V8 engines. As a result of poor maintenance and acute rust problems FIAT's reputation was worsened even further. FIAT makes an array of fun to drive, interesting and innovative cars under the brands FIAT, LANCIA, ALFA ROMEO and MASERATI. FIAT also owns controlling interest in FERRARI. For example, one of the secretaries who used to work in my department at the FAO in Rome had a small Seicento FIAT 600 with a rear engine. She bought it new (for the equivalent of $1000) when she came to Italy from the Isle of Man and was still using it (after car thieves took it away 2 times at least and the police recovered it!) more than 20 years till she returned to Brighton-by-the-Sea to retire. Though the car s engine was only 600 cc in displacement, it generated tremendous excitement while careening through little Rome main and side-streets of cobble stones! So when I moved briefly to England my old friend and room-mate told me Once you have driven an Italian car British cars will seem dull to you. You can say that again for Japanese cars too? I can visualize many Miatistas throwing brickbats at me even now. But for the sake of the truth, I can say that a 1800 or 2000 cc Italian car in the 1980s would and could generate a lot of excitement with the appropriate exhaust note which, I am afraid that our Hiroshima friends have yet to duplicate (perhaps due to all those CA smog restrictions I am sure)! But then if you were a Pedestrian in Rome there was always the smell of benzina on the streets! The entry of FIAT once again in the American (North American really) market is ominous. FIAT, like Volkswagen in Germany, and Renault in France, and Austin in England, who pulled the respective countries out of the glum and doom of the post WWII years, did build cars for the masses at a very reasonable price. The FIAT 500 (Cinquecento) and 1100 (Millecento) were rugged workhorses engineered with simplicity in mind. Any car mechanic, yes even the roadside ones with only a spanner, screwdriver and a pair of pliers, can set your FIAT 1100 right in less time than you can say Sophia Loren. Ask me, I know, I have personal experience. So often in the past I would arrive in Bombay at around 3 AM on an airplane and would be running around in my FIAT 1100 by 11 AM ( see photo) even though the car was sitting in the garage for more than 12 months! But enough talk about the past. What can we expect from FIAT in the U.S.? Small fuel efficient and reliable cars (did we not refer to Japanese cars in those terms in the 60s?). Once stung, twice shy. They will no longer be rust susceptible. They will no longer require the services of Tony (the mechanicco di fiducia) except to change the AGIP oil and other consumable fluids. New FIAT 500 (see photo) was here at Laguna Seca (concentrate on the car in the photo fellas)! Expect also diesel versions. Diesel cars are big in Europe and they are no longer sooty, dusty and chatter like grandpa s false teeth on a real frigid day. I would not mind buying one pronto just to make Parvin feel she is in Italy! If they bring the fast EVO LANCIA it would be better still, not to mention the new ALFA ROMEO roadster! And they will even be built here, in the U.S. of A. in previous Chrysler factories! This new FIAT is about to give the HONDA Fit owners a fit! PAGE 4

5 UPCOMING EVENTS - JACK PARKER Fort Bragg Run October 9-12 This annual event is a big favorite. We will make a run to Fort Bragg on Friday, October 9, 2009 for a weekend stay. Those of you who cannot leave on Friday may also get together to organize a run starting on Saturday, October 10, 2009 (or just come on your own). We have a bloc of rooms reserved at the Best Western. This is the Columbus Day holiday weekend so our special rate (the same as last year!) will be available the nights of October 9 to October 11 (checking out the 12th). This event allows you to either find your own fun in this beautiful coastal area, or participate in various events we will organize such as a picnic at Pacific Star Winery, which has spectacular ocean views from the bluffs. The Friday run will leave from the McDonalds off of the Mace Blvd exit in Davis. We will meet at 8:00 a.m. and leave promptly at 8:30 a.m. This will be a leisurely drive with several rests stops. We will stop at the Napa Valley Olive Oil Manufacturing Company to buy picnic lunch supplies and stop again for a picnic along the way. Telephone the motel directly at (707) to make your reservations. Because this is a holiday weekend, it is a good idea to reserve well in advance. Be sure to mention you are with our group. The proprietors of the Best Western know us as "THE Miata Club". For questions, comments or suggestions for activities call: UPDATE: We recently have made arrangements for a different picnic location for the run to Fort Bragg. This will allow us all to be seated more closely together and in a more sheltered area. However, because of this change, we need a count of folks who will be making the run on Friday. Please either call us or us at vlweis@cwo.com to let us know if you will be going to FortBragg on the Friday (October 9) run. For more information contact Vince or Kathi at (916) Tech Day October 17 The club has sponsored very successful tech days in the past, which were very well received. We want to do it again, and give each club member the opportunity to bond mechanically with his/ her Miata. This is a good thing. A good mechanical understanding of the car you drive can save you money on repairs and maintenance, can give you the knowledge that you need to prevent breakdowns or being left stranded, and can result in a safer, better-performing Miata. Finally, please let Jack know if you will be attending the tech day, what year Miata you will be bringing, and what maintenance or upgrades you hope to complete at the clinic. If you are interested in a learning seminar, what topics are of interest to you? For more information contact Jack Parker at Charles Schulz Museum Run October 24 Please join us for a run through the coastal ranges and on to the Charles Schulz (Peanuts) Museum in Santa Rosa, CA. We will meet at 8:15 AM at the Davis McDonald's (4444 Chiles Road, , exit I80 at Mace Boulevard) and depart at 8:30 AM. At the museum, former SAMOAN Barbara Miano will give us a private tour of the museum, ice rink, exhibits, garden, kite-eating tree and gift shop. Following the tour we will have lunch in the Warm Puppy Cafe and then be free to return to the museum or depart. Please RSVP to Mike DeLaurentis no later than October 19, 2009 at (916) or mdelaurentis@hotmail.com. Virginia City Overnight October 31 - November 1 Do you want to have a frightfully good time? Come join us on a run through the Sierras ending in Virginia City and join all the other crazies in having a fun Halloween. We will be staying at the Edith Palmer Inn on B St in Virginia City. A dinner of lots of appetizers and drinks will be had before strolling downtown and joining in the festivities. We will leave Saturday morning on a leisurely drive through the Sierras (route to be decided soon), stop for lunch along the way and arrive in time to don our costumes and enjoy the fun. Please contact the Edith Palmer Inn for reservations quickly as rooms are limited. They can be reached at We have booked the entire Inn for the evening but only a few rooms are left! If we have more interest than rooms, the Inn owner, Leisa Findley, will help us find more space! If you have any questions please contact Pam or Randy Hunt at We have secured an indoor facility large enough to accommodate a large turnout, complete with lifts, proper lighting, and safety equipment. Crazy Red will be on hand to sell maintenance items, or you can contact him ahead of time. Just as with the detail clinic in May, volunteers are needed to provide assistance with logistics, wrenching/mechanical tasks, or teaching (ie conducting a hand's on clinic). You DO NOT need to be a professional to help in these areas. Anyone with a basic knowledge of the Miata who has worked on his/her car is welcome. Please contact Jack Parker if you are willing and able to help. PAGE 5

6 SCRABBLE SCRAMBLE bar. When our Tile Stop closed EVENT - JEANNE GEORGE we headed to Poor Red s. We September 18-20, 50 individuals e n j o y e d t a l k i n g w i t h t h e participated in this fun event participants as they arrived from sponsored by SAMOA. Denise their drive. Many took the Correia was the organizer of the opportunity to enjoy a cool drink event. Skip Noyes and Denise and work on finding words from selected roads through the golden their tile selections. hills of Northern California. Participants were treated to an Italian dinner buffet partially s p o n s o r e d b y t h e M a z d a Corporation of Northern America. Prizes supplied by Mazda which included mugs, T-shirts, pens, and hats were given to the attendees In addition to SAMOA members, the attendees traveled from Carson City, Nevada, Fresno, San Jose, Hercules, San Pablo, Clovis, Madera, North Fork, Santa Clara, Rancho Cucamonga and Mission Viejo. Upon their arrival at the hotel Friday night, they were invited to the hospitality suite for that evening. Awards were presented for the 3 words with the most point value and the car show winners. snacks and beverages. It was an opportunity to relax from their long drives and meet other Miata Many people took the opportunity people. Many Miata related to thank Denise for all her hard stories were shared by the group. work. They also mentioned to Robin how much they enjoyed the SAMOA sponsored event. Last minute entry by Mike D... Here are a few pics from Graeme Kinsey and Sharon Howe's September Stewart's Point run. There were great roads going to and from. Nice lunch at the Gustafson Family Winery in Sonoma. Hotel accomodations were great. Fun meeting folks from Delta, BAMA, and a few of us SAMOANs. Saturday started with a Car Show in the parking lot. They had a chance to vote for their favorite Miata based on various criteria. Next they lined up their cars, were given their lunches, water, and selected their first tiles. Mike and Jenn Sipe and Pam and Randy Hunt manned the morning Tile Stops. Robin and I headed to set up our Tile Stop at the lunch location by the Garden Valley Park. After lunch, participants drove to a winery manned by Pam and Randy. Then it was off to the end of the route at Poor Red s in El Dorado where Jenn and Mike could be found at the end of the PAGE 6

7 SACRAMENTO AREA MIATA OWNERS ASSOCIATION FROM NICOLE OLIVE... OCTOBER, 2009 FROM JACOB MORAN.. Mike, Helen and the members of the club, Thank you all so much for the time and effort that went into making the care package. I received it and LOVED all the items! Trail mix is my fav, so that went the fastest! I shared with some co-workers and they were very appreciative also. I'm stationed at Bagram which is about an hour from Kabul, which is the capitol. It's not as dangerous up here as it is in the south, but it's still pretty dangerous. I work in the ICU so most injured soldiers come through our hospital. The really injured will come to our unit along with all the local nationals who get injured. I've seen some really terrible things, but I've also seen amazing recoveries which help make it all worth while. I'm happy that you send these package to troops, sometimes we feel forgotten. Its organizations like your club that make us feel appreciated and thought of by people back home. I hope all is well in beautiful, sunny and amazing California (can you tell I miss it?) and I'm so excited to come home in just 3 months. Again, thanks so much for thinking of me even though we've never met. Everything in the package was perfect and it really cheered me up. Thank you Nicole PAGE 7