Miata Magic March 2018 Volume 29 Number 3 http://www.spacecoastmiataclub.org Vero Beach Antique Auto Show Saturday, March 17, Meet at 8:45 am Hosted by: Grady and Nancy Vickers We will meet at 8:45 at the Eau Gallie Civic Center, 1551 Highland Ave., 1 block south of Eau Gallie Blvd, just off the Indian River. Our departure time from the Civic Center is 9 am. The Dows will guide you to Vero Beach to meet up with the Vickers. If we have any stragglers, they can catch up to the group by traveling south on A1A to Vero Beach. After viewing the cars for a bit, the Vickers will escort us to the Riverside Cafe in Vero Beach for lunch. Fort Christmas Bluegrass Festival and BBQ Saturday, March 24, 9 6 If you like a nice country drive, FREE admission for some good music and BBQ for purchase, including addictive fresh kettle corn, this is for you. DON'T FORGET TO BRING LAWN CHAIRS! Music is from 9am to 3pm and from 4 to 6pm. This year features a BBQ contest and a hog calling contest that fills in from 3 to 4pm. At present this is a no-host event, so watch Facebook or email to see if that changes in the next few weeks. The address for GPS is: 1300 Fort Christmas Rd. Christmas, FL March Birthdays The club wishes a happy day (and many more) for the following members: Nada Strunk, Mary Ruth Sizer, Janet Charbonneau, Jim Linhares, Barbara Fox, and Sandra Friend 1
PRESIDENT The Official Newsletter of the Space Coast Miata Club Nada Strunk (513) 683-6839 Merritt Island New Feature: Guess who these kids grew up to be. Hint: They are married to each other now. Answers on page 4. If you d like to play, send me a photo of you as a child from age 3 to 16. A VICE-PRESIDENT TREASURER SECRETARY MEMBERSHIP Michael Edwards (321) 704-3720 West Glenda Walton (321) 636-4084 Cocoa Peggy Bretz (321) 254-8101 Bob Walton (321) 636-4084 Cocoa Thanks to our benefactor Boniface-Hiers Mazda in 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. B ACTIVITIES WEBMASTER NEWSLETTER Bunnie Dow (321) 508-0559 Palm Bay Art Caira (603) 799-5969 Mike McClain (321) 652-1253 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Brian Turner (321) 474-5150 Rockledge CLUB FOUNDER Chet Young (321) 446-0472 N. 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. 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. Make check payable to: Space Coast Miata Club and mail to: Glenda Walton 2080 Otterbein Ave. Cocoa, FL 32926 Next SCMC Monthly Meeting March 20, 2018 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 March 22, 2018 Send to: Mike McClain mlmcclain@hotmail.com 2
Jim Linhares Not-a-Big Surprise 70th Birthday Party Hosted by Norm LaCroix Drop by their house in Palm Bay anytime between 1 5 pm. Bring a snack to share, chat away, and play some games. Bring a smiling face and good wishes as no other gifts will be accepted! Directions to address: 1637 DeLa Vega Street Palm Bay Find your way to Malabar Road (I-95 exit 173) and go east to Babcock St. Turn South onto Babcock. Go about 3 miles to Balanos and turn Right. Turn a quick left onto West Side Ave. Sunday, March 25, 1 5 In 2 blocks turn Right onto DeLa Vega. Parking allowed on the grass across the street. Annual Linda Young Picnic Sunday, April 15, 11 am Bunnie Dow is organizing the annual club picnic to be held again at the Pavillion at Fort Christmas Park, 1300 Ft. Christmas Rd. Christmas, FL. She is looking for a few volunteers to stuff the gift bags with the goodies this year. Hot dogs and hamburger, paper products, and soft drinks will be provided by the club. Bring a side dish or dessert to share. Drive to Deal s Gap (aka Tail of the Dragon) and Other Scenic Roads May 13 Sunday thru May 19 Saturday If you love to drive and enjoy other Miata lovers, the 18th Annual Drive in the Deal s Gap area is the trip for you. This event is always 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 or join in the pack and go on planned drives around the area. Hotel check in is the afternoon of Sunday, May 13 and check out is the morning of Saturday, May 19 for a total of 6 nights. You can stay as many or as few days as you want. We will be staying at the Highland Manor Inn in Townsend, Tennessee, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge. Call them at 865-448-2211 for reservations. The rate is $74.50 per night for the entire 6 nights, $84.50 for 3-4 nights, and $99.50 for 1-2 nights. Tell them you are with the Ohio Miata group and confirm the rate. They will send a confirmation email. A free continental breakfast (toast/bagel, Danish, cereal, coffee, tea, juice) is offered. To check out their amenities go to www.highlandmanor.com. The following members have attended previous events, and are going this year, and can provide more information if needed: Ed and Vicki Hill at: 321.298.1964 or Mike McClain at: 321.652.1253. 3
LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD Hey members, let s rise up from that slumber and host an event. The only thing on the books not mentioned in this newsletter is: July 14 Saturday, Linhares/LaCroix Pool & Games Party So, April, May, and June are wide open before the heat of summer arrives. Contact Bunnie Dow at: bunster82@hotmail.com for any assistance or ideas. Answers to the child photos: A is Steve Saretsky, B is Chris Super Bowl LII Party Recap Matt and Peggy hosted the Super Bowl Party on Sunday February 4. The attendance was light, but those that came had a good time and the food was yummy. Matt made his famous chili from a secret family recipe. The commercials were fun to watch and the game was so exciting. The players from both teams gave it their all and it went down to the wire. What a nail biter again. Unfortunately, Superman found his Kryptonite in the form of his own defense! Party for the Bellotte s Recap On Sunday, 18 February, a group of friends got together for a meet and greet to honor former SCMC members Susi & John Bellotte at Norm & Jim's home in Palm Bay. A pleasant time of camaraderie, food, & games was had by all. 4
Old Spanish Sugar Mill Brunch Recap On Wednesday, 21 February, the greatest event in club, no, human history, was conducted by your most humble hosts..ouch! Jane just punched me. Actually, the rookie and late arriving hosts (Mike and Jane McClain) met a worrying group of 12 club members and 4 guests at the Titusville Cracker Barrel minutes before departure time. It was a beautiful day to take the scenic drive up I-95 to SR 44 in 3 Miatas and 4 OTMs. Traffic broke our group up in Deland, but thankfully, all arrived to meet Mike and Lyn Doyle at the restaurant. We were seated at 2 long tables and the cooking was on. All had plenty to eat and new friends were made. They must have put some additives in the batter as I only had 3 pancakes this year instead of five. PS: Matt Bretz discovered retired military pay $2.95 instead of $6 for park admission if you ask the guard and present your blue ID card. PSS: Mike M. learned to gas up the night before to make a 1.5 hour trip and to not put his brand new cell phone on top of the car behind the seat and drive off! Thankfully, it lodged under the retractable hardtop rear deck. What a dunce. 5