The Official Newsletter of the Indy Miata Club Volume 23 Issue 9 September 2013 What s Inside Page 2 Taking the Long Way (cont.) Page 3 Club Forum Newsletter Editor Needed Upcoming Events Page 4 Great Western Adventure Page 5 Great Western Adventure Cont. Advertisement Page 6 August Contests Club Classifieds Page 7 Advertisers Page 8 Miata Trivia Advertisers 2013 Indy Miata Club Christmas Party Saturday, December 7th George's Neighborhood Grill 6935 Lake Plaza Dr. Indianapolis, IN There will be a $10 per person fee again this year. Don't miss the fun! Reserve the date now and sign up on the IMC website events page. You will need to fill out a reservation form that will be available in the next Open Road. Deadline will be November 15th Taking the Long Way By Ken Rabbers, President Where did summer go? Hard to believe we re already near the end of summer and almost to autumn. The good thing is that there is still plenty of nice, warm, top down weather ahead of us. To me, one of the best things about getting to September is not having to worry about it being too hot. Whether you like it hot or not so hot, be sure to get out and enjoy whatever weather we have before it s too late and you regret it. There s no time like the present. As much as I like getting out in my Miata, there are so many other things I like about the summer months; Wednesday evening concerts at the Gazebo in Carmel, morning bike rides in the country, Symphony on the Prairie, the long daylight hours, the invention of air conditioning, and just simply enjoying being outdoors whether it be walking around or sitting on the porch with a book and glass of wine. Granted, a lot of the activities mentioned can and are done throughout others time of the year, but there is something about summer that makes everything you do a little bit different and special. I ve got to confess, one thing I haven t done this summer is a road trip in the Miata. In fact, I m pretty sure I haven t even gotten out of Indiana with it since our trip to Eureka Springs in May. In past years, Joan and I have done quite a bit of travel in the Miata to destinations such as New England, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, and West Virginia. I guess the only reason we didn t go anywhere this summer is that we ve been busy doing other things and just haven t had the time or inclination. We ve talked about heading to southern Illinois and checking out the wine trail but that box still waits to be checked. There are plenty of other potential destinations that I d like to get to whether it s this year
Page 2 Open Road September 2013 Indy Miata Club Officers 2013 President Ken Rabbers president@indymiata.org Vice-President Gary Weidman vicepresident@indymiata.org Treasurer Steve Crouse treasurer@indymiata.org Membership Director Tom Lewis membership@indymiata.org Secretary Joan Rabbers secretary@indymiata.org Website Editor Sara J McBride webmaster@indymiata.org Newsletter Editor Sabrena Smith editor@indymiata.org Taking the Long Way Home cont. or some future time. Ones that come to mind in no particular order are: Frank Lloyd Wright s Fallingwater in Mill Run, PA; Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland, OH; Mammoth Cave National Park in Cave City, KY; no specific destination in Memphis, TN. Of those places listed above, my first choice of places to visit would have to be Fallingwater. I ve always been a fan and admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright and remember, even as a child visiting some of his other creations such as the Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio in Oak Park, IL, Taliesin in Spring Green, WI, and The Acres in Galesburg, MI, a residential subdivision designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Acres in particular was a favorite because one of the homes there was built for and owned by friends of my parents who met in college. It is still known as the Pratt House. (To view homes at The Acres, use this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/karlasfotos/4323863981/in/ photostream/) Fallingwater was commissioned by Edgar Kaufmann, owner of Kaufmann s Department Store in Pittsburgh. The site of the home was originally that of a summer camp for the department store employees. The Kaufmanns eventually asked Wright to design them a new vacation house along the banks of Bear Run where they could enjoy the views of the and sounds of the water. Frank Lloyd Wright had a unique way of using nature as an element in his designs Pratt House TheLandOfKarlalot and the Kaufmann s were confident that he would be able to give them something special and incorporate their desires into his deign. The big surprise came when they first saw the plans for the house; instead of placing it next to Bear Run where it could be viewed, it was designed such that it was over the water and a set of falls. Wright had explained that he wanted them to be able to live with the waterfalls and not just look at them now and then. There is quite a bit to see and do at Fallingwater and definitely a place worth visiting. More information can be found on the Fallingwater website at www.fallingwater.org/. If a destination such as Fallingwater has interest to anyone, please let me know, perhaps a group trip can be planned. In addition to the visit of the house, there are plenty of other places to visit in the area and an abundance of Miata friendly roads to explore. The Open Road is published monthly for the members of the Indy Miata Club. The Indy 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 the editors express no approval, authentication, or endorsement. Thank you. Until I get back to doing some road trips, I m still enjoying my weekly trek to Zionsville to volunteer with Special Olympics Indiana; not a very long trip but the route to get there is really ideal for a Miata, it has something to do with roundabouts, hills and curves. Cont. on page 6 Fallingwater Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Page 3 Open Road September 2013 GIVE IT A TRY As you probably know, our club website has a forum that is accessible only by members. We have a few members of the club that use it on a frequent basis, but it would be great to see more participation. If you ve never participated in an on-line forum, why not give this a try? It s more or less self-explanatory, doesn t require a high level of computer skills, and it s a fun way to keep in touch with other club members between events. It s also a great place to discuss your Miata, road trips, mods, events, and anything else Miata-related or IMC-related. Saturday, October 12th. An afternoon event to include a drive, weiner roast, hayride and s mores. The event will start someplace on the south side and end at McCormick s Creek State Park. $10/car. Sign up on the events page of the website. UPCOMING EVENTS September 6th Danville Cruise-in September 28th Indy Miata Club Invades St. Louis, Attack #2 IMC members enjoy a weekend in St. Louis with Gateway club members. DANVILLE CRUISE-IN On September 6, we ll be attending the Danville (IN) Cruise-in. Because this event isn t sponsored by our club, we have no control over the schedule, but for those who can get away at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon, it promises to be an enjoyable gathering. We ll meet on the far west side, take a short drive on back roads to the Danville town square, and park our Miatas on the square (space permitting). This is a casual event that will be a great time for socializing and catching up on what we ve been doing this summer, and it might even be an opportunity to promote our club. We expect a wide variety of vehicles to be on display. Food will be available, and there will be a DJ. If you can t make it at 4:30, consider getting to Danville as soon as you can and joining us. You may not be able to park on the square, but you ll still have a fun evening. As usual, full event details are on the events page of our club website. http://www.visitdowntowndanville.com/first-friday-cruise-ins/ The newsletter editor position will become available starting with the January 2014 issue of the Open Road. The position takes approximately 2-3 days each month to compile articles and announcements and then get it sent out to the members. There is no cost to you, just a little of your free time is required. Training is available, if needed. You don t have to be the one who drives the Miata, spouses are welcome too! This would be a good position for anyone who enjoys playing around on the computer. If you would be interested in helping the club out on this level, please contact Sabrena Smith at editor@indymiata.org
September 2013 Page 4 Open Road GREAT WESTERN ADVENTURE (PART TWO) Twenty one days, twenty one motel rooms! By Gary and Kathy Collings Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana June 12th July 2nd Hopefully you ve all read part one of our story in the August Open Road. If not, you need to go back and read it before reading any further. June 18th: Destination Cut Bank, Montana to Sandpoint, Idaho (57 degrees) -- Cut Bank residents pride themselves in living in the coldest place in the U.S. We spent a long day of driving under an expansive sky. We stopped at a place that had Trick Falls, which was worth the day s trip. Water flows from the top and then appears to be hidden and tricks us as it appears into two waterfalls. We crossed back into Idaho for awhile and changed into the Pacific Time Zone. (361 miles) Welcome to the Coldest Spot in the Nation Parking Lot Greeter Continued on page 5 Trick Falls Ford Motor Co. helped with the refurbishing of these buses.
Page 5 Open Road September 2013 GREAT WESTERN ADVENTURE Cont. June 19 th : Destination Sandpoint, Idaho to Leavenworth, Washington and That Dam Place Grand Coulee and Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway (rainy of course) We traveled to the middle of nowhere to Coeur d Alene Lake and Grand Coulee Dam. We learned that dams cannot be named after the rivers that flow into the dam. Hence, the name Coulee was selected rather than the Columbia River Dam. The Grand Coulee Dam is the largest hydropower producer in the U.S. providing power to eleven western states (WA, OR, ID, MT, WY, CO, CA, NV, NM, UT, and AZ) and Canada. The dam is one of the largest concrete structures in the world as its 12 million cubic yards of concrete would build a highway from Seattle to Miami. There were many rivers and lakes which stretched for miles along the day s route. Grand Coulee Dam Lush flowers everywhere in Leavenworth We arrived later at the beautiful town of Leavenworth, WA, which is a true Bavarian town with authentic chalet buildings with displays of flowers everywhere. If we didn t know better, we would have thought we were in Austria. We all enjoyed dinner at Andreas Keller Bavaria Haus Restaurant located at Leavenworth, WA. There was a strolling accordion player true to German heritage and, lo and behold, one of our group leaders was a piano/accordion player, who played a tune while the entire restaurant sang. This was just a good, let your hair down, make a fool of yourself, sing-a-long participation evening which included great food and beer. (287 miles) During this first part of our tour we were reminded of words and places that we had not thought about in a long time as we traveled through the Old West such as: canyon, rodeo, bighorn sheep, wrangler, tribal center, aspen, park ranger, war bonnet, summit, avalanche, alpine, Oregon trail, wagon train, outlaw, high country sagebrush, reservation, cowboy, butte, sand creek, massacre, stagecoach, hitching post, barbed wire, deer, antelope, dry gulch, headwaters, Navajo, scenic byway, trailhead, glacier. Join us in the next newsletter edition as we finish our journey. Stay tuned..
Page 6 Open Road September 2013 Taking the Long Way Home cont. from page 2 Speaking of trips and travel, there is still plenty of time and open dates on the club calendar if anyone is inclined to organize an event. As it is right now, the calendar has only 3 driving events for the rest of the year. You can check those out on the Events page on the club website. Venture over there, see what s available and sign up if anything catches your fancy. Miscellaneous Ramblings The next scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors will be in October, time and location still to be determined and will be listed on the Events page of the website. A link to the reservation form for the 2013 Holiday Party will be added to the event listing beginning September 18. Remember your reservation form and payment must be received by the club treasurer, Steve Crouse, no later than November 15. The Last Word "Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you." Frank Lloyd Wright AUGUST NEWSLETTER CONTEST For the photo below, newsletter readers were asked to give the make, model, years of production, and country of origin. There were three entries received for the contest with two being correct. The winner, drawn at random, was Gary Weidman who correctly identified the car as a Tatra T-87, built in the Czech Republic from 1936 to 1950. Gary won a $10 Panera Bread gift card. BE FEARLESS CONTEST Dear Members, We did not receive any feedback on the "Be Reckless" painting shown in last month's newsletter. No one was able to identify it's location. You guys have got to get out more! But rather than furnish you with information on it's location, I'm going to file it away, and save it for sometime in the future when you will again be put to the test. Keep your eyes open when you are out dining. You just might stumble onto it in the most unlikely place. Steve Crouse RALLYMASTERS NEEDED It s not too late to schedule an event for this year. Some of the best top-down weather is in the fall, so why not go ahead and set up a drive? We have a couple of potential events in the works, but could really use one or two more between now and the time the snow flies. Please contact Gary Weidman at vicepresident@indymiata.org for more information or assistance in planning an event. CLASSIFIEDS Roadtrip Fitted Luggage Bags 2 pc.: Luggage made to fit the trunk of a 2001 Miata. Constructed of a triple-layer fabric withleather piping, black. Used only twice. $50.00 Contact Wally Kienzynski 2006 Mazda Miata Mx-5 Touring, 5spd manual, 49,000 miles, True Red, It has Mom Wheels, Sportster11 Muffler, IIL Motorsports red strut bar. Excellent condition. Asking $12,500. Call Mark @ 317-60-6686 Odds & Ends A former member (and President) sold his Miata (boo!) and found some items while doing spring cleaning in his garage. 1st gen front license plate bracket, original console ashtray, brand new. And a used but still good original engine oil cap. All free...just come and get it. Contact Rick Booe at 765-720-5624
Page 7 Open Road September 2013 Tom Lewis INSURANCE GROUP Hughes Insurance Group is an Independent Agency representing over 35 insurance companies. Our ultra-competitive rates assure that you receive the most value at the best price for all of your home, auto or business insurance needs. For a limited time, I m giving away a $20 gas card with an insurance review and quote for your home, auto or business with no obligation! If I m competitive, consider allowing Hughes Insurance Group to write your business. If I can t provide you with a better value, you ll have the peace of mind knowing you re properly insured at a fair price. Call or e-mail Indy Miata Club member Tom Lewis today! 317-984-9228 tom@hughesinsurancegroup.com Have a few dollars invested in upgrades? Ask about Agreed Value Coverage for your Miata! Answers to trivia questions on page 8: 1. a or b, 2. b, 3. d, 4. a, 5. b, 6. a, 7. c, 8. a, 9. c, 10. d
Page 8 Open Road September 2013 MIATA TRIVIA 1) As of 1997, how many colors were available for Miatas imported to the US? A. 13 B. 14 C. 15 D. 16 2) What was project name for the Miata during its' development? A. R75 B. P729 C. 1 D. M88 3) What are the Miatas dimensions: (Overall length, Wheelbase, Overall width) A. 141.4 inches; 81.2 inches; 60.4, inches B. 145.7 inches; 83.6 inches; 62.9, inches C. 151.9 inches; 85.8 inches; 64.6, inches D. 155.4 inches; 89.2 inches; 65.9, inches 4) The Miata ground clearance, (laden) is: A. 4.5 inches B. 5.2 inches C. 6.0 inches D. 6.6 inches 5) Miata fuel tank capacity, US gallons, 1990: A. 11.2 gallons B. 11.9 gallons C. 12.5 gallons D. 13.8 gallons 6) In Miata lingo, PPF stands for: A. Power Plant Frame B. Peak Power Formula C. Performance Proven Figure D. Primary Point Function 7) Which Miata part(s) is (are) made of aluminum? A. Trunk B. Doors C. Hood D. All of the above 8) What was the MSRP (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price) for the base 1990 Miata, excluding port processing and inland freight charges? A. $13,800 B. $13,975 C. $14,250 D. $14,900 9) What was the EPA Fuel consumption rating for the 1990 Miata? A. 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway B. 25 mpg city, 28 mpg highway C. 25 mpg city, 30 mpg highway D. 27 mpg city, 31 mpg highway 10) Mazda recommends changing the timing belt every: A. 30,000 miles B. 45,000 miles C. 50,000 miles D. 60,000 miles Answers can be found at the bottom of page 7. Now celebrating 40 years! Exclusive Discounts for Indy Miata Club Members Tom Roush Mazda, Indiana s first Mazda dealer established in 1972 has not only the most experienced sales and service staff in town, but also is the highest volume dealer in Indiana. We hope to serve you in our next 40 years as Indy s premier Mazda dealer. In support of the Miata Club member s we would like to offer the following benefits: 15% off regular door labor rate 15% off any accessory purchase S-Plan pricing to eligible customer s Extended Saturday service hours 7:30 3:30 US 31 North @ 169th Street Westfield, IN 46074 800-891-3056