Miata Magic February 2017 Volume 28 Number 2 http://www.spacecoastmiataclub.org Mark your calendars for Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5th. You are invited to join Peggy & Matt Bretz for their annual Super Bowl gettogether. Bring a tailgate snack to share. Kickoff is at 6:30 pm. But you can arrive anytime after 5:30 pm. Directions to this event: Take I-95 Toward Melbourne to SR-518 / Eau Gallie Blvd. (EXIT 183). Turn EAST (away from Flea Market) onto Eau Gallie Blvd W. Turn RIGHT onto Sarno Rd. (2nd light east of I-95) Turn RIGHT onto Wickham Rd / CR-509. (Traffic light at intersection Wal-Mart is on the left). Turn LEFT onto Wright Ave. (Fountain Head South subdivision/dustin s restaurant on the corner). Turn LEFT onto Corbusier Dr. (1st street on the left) Stop at 2888 Corbusier Dr. (6 th house on the left) If you find yourself at the beach or the Dog Track itching to play poker you missed a turn! Call 321-254-8101 for further assistance. Feb. 15th Brunch at the Old Sugar Mill Restaurant (Due to space limitations this Event is closed to those signed up) Hosted by Chris and Steve Saretsky. Make your own pancakes, or have eggs, French toast or all, etc. at the Old Sugar Mill Restaurant located in the beautiful De Leon Springs State Park, De Leon Springs, FL. Meet at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant, 4745 Helen Hauser Blvd, Titusville, FL 32780 at 8:30am. Depart at 8:45am. Note; there is a $4 dollar charge for each car to enter the park. NOTE from Steve; AS OF LATE SUNDAY, 1/15/17, WE HAVE REACHED OUR LIMIT OF 22 PARTICIPANTS. IF YOU ARE STILL INTERESTED WE WILL GLADLY PUT YOUR NAME ON A WAITING LIST IF ANY OF THE 22 DECIDES TO CANCEL. IN ADDITION, WE WILL TRY TO SCHEDULE A 2ND TRIP LATER THIS YEAR FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT GOING ON 2/15 Feb. 24th Mystery Brunch at the??? Hosted by Bunnie and Ray Dow. Meet at 9:45am in Melbourne at the Cumberland Farms, on the NW corner of John Rhodes Blvd and SR-192 (Exit 180 on I-95). The address is 4400 West New Haven Ave. Melbourne for the GPS. Depart for our brunch destination at 10:00am. Mystery Clue - You should have a cup of coffee before the drive. 1
PRESIDENT The Official Newsletter of the Space Coast Miata Club VICE-PRESIDENT TREASURER SECRETARY MEMBERSHIP Brian Turner (321) 704-1299 Rockledge Bill Linhares (401) 835-5638 Palm Bay Bill Grieco (321) 269-0972 Titusville Carol Goyette (321) 724-5701 Palm Bay Norm Goyette (321) 724-5701 Palm Bay ACTIVITIES Steve Saretsky CHAIRMAN (321) 626-9545 Merritt Island INTERNET Art Caira WEBMASTER (603) 799-5969 Melbourne NEWSLETTER Mike McClain EDITOR (321) 652-1253 Melbourne IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Steve Weintraub (321) 223-5364 Lakemont, GA CLUB FOUNDER Chet Young (321) 446-0472 Ft. Myers, FL WEBSITE ADDRESS: www.spacecoastmiataclub.org. The Space Coast Miata Club assumes no liability for any information contained herein; or injury or damage resulting from the use of this information. The ideas, opinions, maintenance or modification tips expressed are to be used at the reader s discretion. Individual contributors and/or editors express no approval, authentication, or endorsement. All events are uninsured, informal gatherings for which the Space Coast Miata Club assumes no liability. PLEASE NOTE CHANGES OF SCMC OFFICERS AND THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION. HAPPY VALENTINE S DAY TO SCMC MEMBERS AND A BIG SMOOCH AND HUG TO PAST OFFICERS AS CANDY AND FLOWERS ARE NOT IN THE BUDGET!! MAY WE HAVE MANY HEARTY DRIVING DAYS THIS MONTH. Thanks to our benefactor Boniface-Hiers Mazda in Melbourne has generously supported the Space Coast Miata Club since it was founded in 1989 with discounts to members and door prizes that are awarded at every monthly meeting. They also help to promote our club by displaying and distributing our brochures to those interested. How to enjoy your Miata more! Join the Space Coast Miata Club. Just reading this newsletter tells you how much fun all of us are having. Why not be part of the action? Once each month we have a meeting in Cocoa plus a planned event to somewhere that gets us out on the road in our Miatas. Your membership entitles you to a 20% discount on parts and 10% on service labor at Boniface-Hiers Mazda. You also get an official membership card, which can be picked up at the monthly meetings, a club logo window sticker, this great newsletter, and lots of Miata-loving friends to help you enjoy your Miata more. Annual dues are $20.00 per person, not per family. All past members, no matter when you renew dues are $20.00. New members initial costs: Feb-Apr $20. May-July $15 Aug-Oct $10, Nov-Jan $5. Send a check payable to Space Coast Miata and mail to: Bill Grieco 3440 Muirfield Dr. Titusville, FL 32780 Next SCMC Monthly Meeting February 21, 2017 Regular meetings (Feb. through November) are held every third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Location: Central Brevard Library, 308 Forrest Ave, Cocoa, FL. Next Issue Submission Deadline February 22, 2017 Send to: Mike McClain mlmcclain@hotmail.com 2
Annual SCMC Dinner Hosted by Bob and Glenda Walton January 14, 2017 Bob and Glenda Walton hosted this year s event at the Café Unique Restaurant in Cocoa, FL. Fifty-one (51) members attended in some fine Sunday go-to-meetin attire. Members enjoyed a social hour prior to the sit-down dinner by paying their 2017 club dues, voting for their favorite event in 2016, and taking advantage of the beverages and appetizers made available by the attentive staff. Steve Weintraub opened the club meeting acknowledging the contributions of departing club leadership and introduced incoming president, Brian Turner, who took over the agenda. The new leadership in attendance was introduced (see newsletter masthead on page 2) and Steve Saretsky discussed upcoming events (see pages 4 6 and the club Facebook page). Ray and Bunnie Dow hosted the most events in 2016 and their Petrillo s Italian dinner/moonlight cruise was voted as the Best Event. For their efforts, club Treasurer Bill Grieco presented them with a check for $200. Cherye Weintraub won the 50-50 raffle and several Mazda gift bags were awarded to randomly selected members. Thank you Bob and Glenda. 3
The 28th running of the Annual Space Coast Miata Club Drive Out, hosted again by Bill and Linda Grieco, was held on Sunday, January 22. Members gathered at Searstown in Titusville prior to the drive. Bill even broke out the hardtop for the event. Tracy Tannen, recently relocated from the LA area to Oveido, joined the club during the meet up. Bill and Linda wanted to change the drive out location this year so they selected the Aunt Catfish on the River Restaurant in Port Orange as the destination. Fifteen (15) Miatas and two OTMs carrying 30 souls departed at 0940 to drive down US-1 to Riverbreeze Park just north of Oak Hill for a nice break. The drive was blustery with intermediate winds and light Sunday traffic. The northbound caravan was met at the restaurant by five more members who lived in the area or further north. The restaurant had ample seating for just the club members in the upstairs section. Most enjoyed the large buffet while others selected from the extensive menu. Good food and company wins again! SCMC Events are what it s all about, and we need participation from ALL members to keep the Events Calendar full with scheduled events that take us to places near and far that are fun, exciting & different. If you have questions or want to schedule an event, please notify Steve Saretsky, flsaretskyduo@hotmail.com. Include all details, dates, time, meeting place, costs, RSVP dates, etc. Let s keep these wonderful, fun-filled events coming. $200 Prize money for Favorite Event & Most Hosted Events for 2017. Details, contact Steve Saretsky at flsaretskyduo@hotmail.com. ******************************************************************* LOOKING AHEAD February 5 Sunday, Super Bowl Party, 5:30 arrival, 6:30 kick-off, pot luck February 15 Wednesday, Breakfast/brunch drive to Old Spanish Sugar Mill, De Leon, FL February 24 Friday, Mystery Brunch March 2 Thursday, Game Night / potluck at Jim and Norm s place, Palm Bay @ 6 pm March 10 Friday, Day at the Brevard Zoo April 8 Saturday, Miatapalooza 2017 in Tampa (see their Facebook page for details) April 30 Sunday, Annual Linda Young picnic at Fort Christmas May 7 13 Sunday thru Saturday, Deal s Gap / Tail of the Dragon area Drives 4
The Spotlight falls on New Members: Turners and McClains Newly elected club President, Brian Turner and his wife, Gina bought their first Miata in April of 2015. It was a white 1999 model. SCMC was recommended to them by a friend from church who had belonged to the club some years ago. They attended the annual picnic at Fort Christmas in 2016 and joined on the spot. They ve found their Miata to be perfectly comfortable and have taken three road trips to NC/TN (Tail of the Dragon, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the fairly technical gravel road that leads to family). Comfort is relative, as prior to the Miata, they used to ride 25+ year old motorcycles! The white car has since been in an accident and was replaced by an identical black 1999 model. One of the reasons they chose the Miata is the great community tech support. Brian does his own wrenching with the major projects so far being: Timing Belt/Water Pump, soft top replacement (twice) and a clutch kit. He is slowly putting the white car back in order. His favorite projects are the ones that either require a new tool be purchased or that a new tool be made. Hmmm. That doesn t sound familiar does it? Brian has worked as a Network/SatCom Engineer and wrote software for quite a few years. After going back to school recently, he s now serving as the Training Manager for his company. While he has lived all over the country, he met Gina while at college in Nebraska, got married, and moved to Florida. Gina is a native Floridian whose family has lived here since the late 1800 s. Not that Gina was born in the 1800s, mind you. She is a partially retired Massage Therapist who ran a successful clinic for 8 years and enjoyed riding her own motorcycle along with Brian. Brian and Gina may reside in Rockledge, but live in as many places as possible traveling in their Miata! Mike and Jane McClain joined SCMC in January 2016 right after purchasing their first Miata, a 2008 Real Red PRHT, from a former club member. They attended several club events last year and Mike recently became the Newsletter Editor. Additionally in 2016, Mike enjoyed several spirited driving events at the Tail of the Dragon, Miatas in Boone, and Zoomin in the Fall in the TN/NC mountains. Sadly, the dreaded modification bug has struck the family budget as he prepares for this year s events. So far, an exhaust header, ECU tune, and coilovers have been accomplished. New tires will be installed once he decides what to do with the wheels. Jane is researching for something like the flu shot to stop the madness! Mike, raised near Detroit, is retired from the Air Force and the Space Shuttle Program, but he remains active by playing street hockey in Palm Bay. Jane, raised in Dayton, OH, was a graphite portrait artist and enjoyed doing all manner of arts and crafts. A heart attack just prior to Christmas 2014 resulted in some short-term memory loss and retiring from most of those endeavors. Past hobbies include: raising 3 children (an expensive hobby), sailboat racing off Ponce Inlet, Port Canaveral and up and down the Indian River. They also conducted therapy sessions and riding lessons with their horses when they lived in Canaveral Groves. They now reside in Melbourne and cheer for Tom Brady. Go Pats!! 5
Spring Ride to Deal s Gap (aka Tail of the Dragon) and Other Scenic Roads If you love to drive and enjoy other Miata lovers, the 17th Annual Ride to Deal s Gap in Tennessee, is the trip for you. It s been said that in Florida we have 11 curves over 318 miles of road. But at Deal s Gap you have 318 curves over 11 miles! The dates for the event are Sunday, May 7 through Saturday, May 13. You can stay as many or as few days as you want. There are opportunities for photo ops and best of all, meeting new people, and reuniting with old friends from the two Ohio Miata Clubs. The focus is on driving the scenic roads. The tourist areas of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are close by for those wanting to take a side trip. This event is led by Bill and Rancie Titley, members of Space Coast and North Coast (Cleveland area) Miata Clubs. Drivers can do their own thing each, or any, day but those wanting to be part of the planned activities can expect the following: Starting Monday, breakfast is at 8 am, followed by a driver s meeting to discuss the drive and logistics, with launch around 9 am. Group pit stops and lunch are planned along the way. We will drive to different areas each day, but we usually drive the Blue Ridge Parkway (pictured above near Clingman s Dome) to do lunch at the Mount Pisgah Inn with its incredible dining room vistas. We do find time most days to drive the Tail of the Dragon well just because. It's one of the most technical and challenging roads in the country and we ll stop for decals, shirts, and other souvenirs at the two stores near the top. Group dinners near the motel are planned as well. Afterwards, all are invited to grab a chair and sit-a-spell betwixt the cars at the hotel and tell lies (er, stories) about whatever comes to mind. On a serious note, you need to drive to your abilities safely. Some will drive spirited, some will enjoy the scenery, and some enjoy the in-between. You will find your spot in line pretty quick. Most roads are rural two-lane with no passing, so staying between the lines is critical. Rules are in place and discussed at the driver s meeting to ensure no one is separated or left behind without their acknowledgment. We use walkie-talkies - not CBs - on this trip. You are encouraged to bring one to keep in touch with the group during the drive. We will be staying at the Highland Manor Inn, 7766 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, Tennessee, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. Call them at 865-448-2211 for reservations. The rate is $69.50 per night for the entire 6 nights. Rates do go up a bit if staying fewer nights. Ask in advance to confirm the rate. They will send a confirmation email. A free continental breakfast (toast, Danish, cereal) is offered. To check out their amenities go to www.highlandmanor.com. Please be sure to tell them that you are with the Miata group in order to get a discounted rate. Contact Ed or Vicki Hill at 321-298-1964 or 321-639-1868 if you have any questions. 6