The Official Newsletter of the Indy Miata Club Volume 23 Issue 8 August 2013 What s Inside Page 2 Taking the Long Way (cont.) Win a 1-yr club membership Page 3 Summer Solstice Sun Tour Events Needed Newsletter Editor Needed Upcoming Events Page 4 Great Western Adventure Advertisement Page 5 Great Western Adventure Cont. Page 6 Win a Panera Bread Gift Card Better Late Than Never Club Classifieds Page 7 Vice President Nominations Needed Advertisers Page 8 IMC Christmas Party Advertisers Taking the Long Way By Ken Rabbers, President Have I mentioned before that I am a car guy and have a long running love of all things automotive? Yeah, I thought you might remember that. Well, this past weekend was one of those times spent with two of my loves, my wife and a great assortment of classic cars. We left Saturday morning for Michigan where we were ultimately headed to the Concours d Elegance of America at St. John s in Plymouth, just west of Detroit. This is one event that I ve been reading and hearing about for quite a while but the timing just never seemed right. The actual Concours was on Sunday but there was a small showing of classic cars on Saturday night in nearby downtown Northfield. After we got checked into our hotel room, we headed to Northfield to check out some of the cars that were not picks of the selection committee for an invitation to the Concours. The collection of cars was small but there were some terrific examples of classics, some were very familiar, some were ones that I d never seen before. We were able to wander and enjoy most of the cars being exhibited before the rains quickly arrived. We were lucky to be able to find an overhang to stand under and kept relatively dry. After not too long, the rains subsided enough for us to venture out to the cars again and check them out in their now, rather drenched state. With the sun poking out of the clouds, and the drops of rain on the cars, they looked great. I know the owners weren t all thrilled with the situation but they didn t get too worked up about it. Out came the rags and towels and most were soon dried out and ready to be seen in all their glory once again. That lasted about 15 minutes and this time the rain Downtown Northfield came and stayed for quite a while. Since we had already had a good chance to see what we came for, we took the opportunity to head back to the car and find a place for dinner. I would have liked to have a little more time to check out some of the cars a bit closer but am still happy to have been able to see what we did. The weather for Sunday was not supposed to be much better than we had experienced on Saturday evening but we were still optimistic about being able to see an incredible collection of cars. Other than a very brief sprinkling, the day was very nice although a little bit cool, especially considering it was the end of July. When we first entered the grounds it was hard to decide what to see first. Luckily, the way things are laid out on the grounds there is a somewhat natural flow once you get started and we somehow managed to get around to see all of the cars. Thinking back and looking over the list of the entries, I can t get over the assortment of cars from all eras; both American and European; street cars and race cars; even a few motorcylcles. The oldest vehicle was a 1893 Shamrock and the newest were several 2014 models. We started with the motorcycles and then wandered over to the Supercars primarily because both those exhibits were just inside the gates and you pretty much had to go by them. We walked
Page 2 Open Road August 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. around to the American Post-War exhibits, Detroit Iron (Cadillac, Chrysler, Lincoln & Packard), Indianapolis Iron (Duesenberg, Marmon & Stutz), and finally made our way to Racing Through the Ages. Right along side were special feature exhibits for the Porsche 911 and the 1963 Corvette, both which were celebrating their 50 th Anniversaries. Amongst the Porches was a beautiful example of a Brumos Porsche 959 driven by Peter Gregg. After lunch it was off to the Pre-War European, Auburn/Cord: The One Offs, Post-War Sports Cars and Post-War European. I ve left off some of the other displays but there is really no way I can give each exhibit their own write up and still get my article to our Newsletter Editor. As is the case with so many things in life, this is something that you just need to see first hand in order to appreciate the sheer magnitude and scale of such an exhibition. It s hard to say there was a favorite because all of the cars were special and drew different reactions but one of the favorites was a 1929 Willys Knight 66B. With its plaid paint job, it was easy to imagine someone in golf knickers reaching into the trunk and pulling out a set of classic wood golf clubs. Monday, brought us to our final day in the area but before heading home, we made a stop at the Henry Ford Museum in nearby Dearborn. Without going into a lot of detail, this museum has a lot of displays of not only cars, but just about any other form of transportation as well; trains, airplanes, motorhomes, trucks and farm equipment. Miscellaneous Ramblings 1929 Willys Knight 66B The Indy Miata Club would like to welcome new members: Alan and Brenda Leduc, owners of a black 2013 MX-5 Grand Touring. 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. The Last Word -The difference between genius and stupidity is that a genius always has his limits. Albert Einstein Guess where this painting is hanging within the greater Indianapolis area and win a one-year membership to the Indy Miata Club. 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. Email your answer to Steve Crouse (m1atagr1ng0@yahoo.com) by Friday, August 9 th. The answer and winner will be announced in the next Open Road.
Page 3 Open Road August 2013 SUMMER SOLSTICE SUN TOUR About the only thing that didn t show for the Summer Solstice Sun Tour was the sun! We had a great turnout with 14 cars and their owners in attendance. With the hot humid days of the week before, the coolness was a welcome change even if the sun chose to stay home; apparently it didn t get it s chores done on time. Even with the questionable weather, there were a few diehards that chose to drive topless, at least for part of the drive. The roads were all in pretty good shape and standing water was not a problem that was encountered. After a couple of hours in the saddle, we eventually made our way to Mooresville and stopped at Squealers BBQ for some refueling and socialization. MORE EVENTS NEEDED It doesn t seem possible, but we are already in late summer. Unfortunately, we have very few activities on our club calendar. These events aren t difficult to plan, but they don t plan themselves. If you ve thought about hosting a mingle, rally, or other event, this is your opportunity. Any of the officers or board members will gladly offer advice and assistance. No matter where you live in Indiana, you can plan an event close to your home, where you know the roads and many of the club members aren t familiar with them. Even though we are the Indy Miata Club, our members come from many areas of the state. Many club members are more than willing to drive our Miatas some distance to attend club events. If you are short on time, you can use an existing route from the club archives (on the website) and simply make a test run and check for any necessary revisions. Of course, an all-original route is also fine, or perhaps you can develop a hybrid of the two. For 2013 we are offering a $50 gas card for first-time rally masters, payable upon successful completion of the event. To volunteer, or if you have questions, please contact Gary Weidman at vicepresident@indymiata.org Upcoming Events August 17th Night Before the Red Bull GP: Get together with other members for socializing and possible a short drive. September 28th Indy Miata Club Invades St. Louis, Attack #2 IMC members enjoy a weekend in St. Louis with Gateway club o you have a creative side? Do you like to surf the internet for items of interest? Do you like to write short D stories or articles? Do you like to design, utilizing the computer? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you would be an excellent candidate for the Indy Miata Club Publisher. The club is in search for someone like you to fill the position of publisher for the club. Your creativeness is needed! It takes about 2-3 days each month to compile articles and announcements and then send it off to the members. A computer and internet access is required, but then who doesn t have that available these days? No cost is involved; you ll get reimbursed for your expenses. It just requires some of your spare time! Training is available, if needed. If you would be interested in helping the club out on this level, please contact Sabrena Smith at editor@indymiata.org
Page 4 Open Road August 2013 GREAT WESTERN ADVENTURE (PART ONE) 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 12 th July 2 nd The Utah Miata Club put together a fantastic route and arranged all the motels along the 15 day journey; all we did was join the Utah club and make motel reservations for a Great Western Adventure (GWA) that we had been talking about for a few years as a major trip on our bucket list. Follow the green line north from Salt Lake City along the route of our GWA journey June 12 th and 13 th : We left Zionsville for a trip of 24 hours and three overnights just to get to Salt Lake City. We spent the first night in Lincoln, NB and the second night in Cheyenne, WY. During the drive to Salt Lake City we listened to the 18 hour unabridged audio version of the novel, Threat Vector, by Tom Clancy. On the return trip from Salt Lake City we listened to the 16 hour unabridged audio version of the novel, Inferno, by Dan Brown. Oh, by the way, we purchased a new battery in North Platte, Nebraska on the journey west it was our good fortune really to have been stranded at what may have been the last Starbucks until we got to the West Coast! June 14 th : We arrived in Salt Lake City and wanted to take advantage of some free time to drive around the city and take in some of the sights. We specifically wanted to see the downtown and the Mormon Temple. Our motel desk clerk recommended Dino s for dinner, a great Italian restaurant in a location we would have never found a nice way to end the three-day drive from Indiana. (1,550 miles) Cont. on next page.... Morman Temple
Page 5 Open Road August 2013 Great Western Adventure Cont. June 15 th : Destination Salt Lake City, Utah to West Yellowstone, Montana Mesa Falls Scenic Byway (sunny, temperatures 55 to 85) On this Saturday morning we met people with whom we would be spending the next 15 days on what became our incredible adventure of a life-time (to-date). We drove the first day mostly on an interstate; we now know where most of the orange cones are located -- Idaho! We drove for miles along-side the orange cones. We could see The Grand Tetons off in the distance and we stopped in Mesa Falls to view the upper and lower falls. We spent the evening in West Yellowstone, Montana, which was ½ mile from the entrance to Yellowstone Park in Wyoming. The park was established in 1872 as America s first national park. We all decided we wanted to eat and view Old Faithful that evening rather than the next morning. Great choice, as the park was not busy and we had front row seats to watch the Geyser shoot its magic misty spray. We also stopped to watch other geysers in the bubbling mud pots area of the park and viewed a spectacular sunset finale! This was the first of several times we used our National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for Seniors (a lifetime pass is $10). (326 miles) Old Faithful Sunset Finale June 16 th : Destination West Yellowstone, Montana to Livingston, Montana (sunny, 27 degrees in Yellowstone)-- Our route was the Beartooth Highway which was indeed an exciting drive that took us through the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. We drove past several herds of hundreds of buffalo and elk as we traveled alongside the Yellowstone River; there was ice on Bear Lake at 9705 feet, tundra at 10,350 feet (still cold). Beautiful views all day long scenic overload. When traveling to Livingston, Montana, we could see why they call Montana-- Big Sky Country! (288 miles) June 17th: Destination Livingston, Montana to Cut Bank, Montana via the Kings Hill Scenic Byway (sunny 62 degrees - elevation 3,516) -- We drove into Glacier National Park, which is described as the Crown of the Continent (overcast - elevation started at 4550 feet); as the clouds lifted, it was a beautiful drive. Unfortunately, the last stretch of the Going to the Sun Road was closed due to snow! Elevation at Logan Pass = 6,605 (Continental Divide). We didn t know what to expect in Glacier Park but were not disappointed as it was majestic with its mountains and beautiful glacier lakes. We ate at the Red Lodge where we were introduced to Huckleberry Margaritas! (444 miles) Glacier National Park Winter Transportation Stay tuned next month for part two!
Page 6 Open Road August 2013 AUGUST NEWSLETTER CONTEST For the photo below: give the make, model, years of production, and country of origin (all information must be correct in order to win). In the case of a tie, the winning entries will be given a number and the winner will be randomly drawn. All entries must be received no later than 11:59 pm on August 4, 2013. For a chance to win a $10 Panera Bread gift card, email your entry to president@indymiata.org, please put August Contest in the subject line of your email. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER by Gary Weidman The annual Post-Tax Blues Rally with our friends from the Lake Effect Miata Club finally took place on June 29. This event had been reluctantly postponed in April due to flooded and closed roads along the Wabash River. Even now, we had to revise the route due to a closed road and a closed bridge. There were 7 cars from the Lake Effect club and 11 cars from the Indy club in attendance. The drive began with a staggered start at 11 a.m. and the cars alternately received instructions for route #1 or route #2. We reached the end point about an hour and a half later at Nick s Kitchen in downtown Huntington. We had an excellent lunch in this landmark restaurant. The owner even agreed to stay open past the regular 2 p.m. closing time to accommodate us. This drive, which followed the Wabash River and included drives through several small towns, included a unique feature that was made even more interesting by having two different routes. The drive was designed in a manner that had the participants going different directions on several of the same roads in a certain area, and the fact that there were two routes made it even more interesting. We had Miatas going in every direction, and assuming that the driver in front of you was going the same way you were supposed to go was not recommended. This was also a poker run, and the winner of a $50 gas card was Tim Miller, who held the high hand with two aces and two kings. Manny Ruiz won a $25 gas card for drawing the only joker from a deck of cards. Small prizes were also given to each driver, and a special award of a can of Campbell s Has Beans was also presented to Manny for the distinction of being the last to arrive at the restaurant. Remaining entry fee money was split between the two clubs. Since weather was the issue that delayed the original event, it was on everyone s minds. We made it through the event with nothing more than a few sprinkles. The temperature was in the low 70s and the morning was partly to mostly cloudy, so it was quite comfortable to have the tops down. Shortly after lunch, as we left Huntington, we had a heavy downpour that forced us to pull off the road and quickly put the tops up. A special thanks goes to Jim and Leann Johnson and Linda Weidman for organizing this 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 August 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! Vice-President/Events Coordinator Needed for 2014 The club s current Vice-President/Events Coordinator will become the President in December, so we are looking for someone who is interested in taking on the responsibilities of Vice-President for 2014. The primary duties consist of coordinating club events, which simply means this individual will maintain the events calendar, recruit volunteers to host various events, and answer questions from members who are setting up an event. In addition, the Vice-President is the contact person for the local Mazda dealers who offer discounts to Indy Miata Club members. The Vice-President also assists the President and presides over club business in the absence of the President. Also, after one year as Vice-President, this individual serves a one-year term as President. If you are interested in this position for yourself or wish to nominate another member for the position, please contact any of the club officers.
Page 8 Open Road August 2013 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 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 look for more details on the IMC web site events page in the coming months. Deadline will be mid November