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Sponsored by
In The BreezeIn The Breeze
March 2019 Official Newsletter of the Bluebonnet MX-5 Miata Club Still Free!
The 1989 Chicago Auto Show was the stage for the global unveiling of the original Mazda MX-5 (Mazda Roadster in Japan). Now it gives us great pleasure to introduce the 30th-anniversary model to the world here in Chicago, where this epoch-making story began.
For us, the MX-5’s three-decade history means more than just a record-setting period of time. Rather, it is the culmination of the inspiration — and perspiration — of so many people: the passionate Mazda engineers who created the first-generation MX-5 as a homage to the earlier light-weight European sports cars that excited motor sports fans worldwide; succeeding development engineers who took up the challenge to build on the high ambitions of their predecessors; and the unshakeable support of owners and fans all over the world. At Mazda, the true value of MX-5’s history lies in the accumulation of the thoughts, hopes and dreams of the people involved over these thirty years. I firmly believe the 30th anniversary we are celebrating this year draws its meaning from being a collective history shared by all these people. Reaching cumula-tive production of over one million units in 2016 is just one of the outstanding results we have achieved together.
To show our gratitude and appreciation of all the people involved in MX-5’s history we have produced commemorative models at each 10-year anniversary. These special editions not only feature exclusive mechanical parts and tuning, they also offer distinctive body colors aimed at strengthening our bond with MX-5 fans. The 10th anniversary was marked with Innocent Blue Mica. At the 20th anniversary we introduced Aurora Blue Mica, True Red and Crystal White Pearl Mica. And at the 25th anniversary, to mark a quarter-century of production and the last of the third-generation MX-5, Soul Red Premium Metallic.
For the 30th-anniversary model, we developed Racing Orange, a strikingly vivid body color. The starting point for this entirely new color was the yellow of the MX-5 Miata Club Racer, exhibited as a show car at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show along with three production models in red, white and blue. In general, yellow is a good match for a sports car thanks to its high brightness and chroma, both strongly suggesting a feeling of pas-sion. However, we wanted to go beyond simply reusing the color of the 1989 model and instead, to celebrate the future of MX-5, created a spe-cial new orange evocative of sunrise and anticipation. In addition to this commemorative model, our booth at this year’s Chicago Auto Show ech-oes our 1989 booth with three other MX-5s in red, white and blue, symbolizing the start of the story and showing our respect for every genera-tion of the MX-5.
The commemorative model also offers many other exclusive features: forged aluminum wheels by RAYS Co., Ltd. in dark gunmetal paint, with a design based on the wheels fitted to Global MX-5 Cup race cars; orange calipers (Brembo at the front, NISSIN at the rear); Bilstein dampers (manual transmission models only); and RECARO seats with orange contrast stitching and piping. These exclusive specifications bring the dream of the 1989 Club Racer show car to exciting new life and further enhance the unique driving pleasure of the MX-5.
Production of this 30th-anniversary commemorative model will be limited to a total of just 3,000 units in soft-top and RF versions available world-wide. Nothing could give me greater pleasure than to see this special-edition MX-5 deliver the ‘Lots of Fun’ we have fostered over three decades together with owners and fans, as well as anticipation of the excitement that future MX-5s will bring.
Masashi Nakayama Mazda MX-5 Program Manager and Chief Designer
2019 Chicago Auto Show Press Information – Mazda MX-5 Miata 30th Anniversary Edition
Is It Spring Yet???
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Inside this Issue…
MX-5 30th Anniversary Edition at the Chicago Auto Show………….……...............................................................................................................Cover
Officers...………. ………………………..…………………….....……………………………………………………………………………………………………….2
President’s Message..……….………………………....…………..………..…………………………………………………………………………………………..3
Velocity Read from the Editor..……….………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………………………...3
The Princess Diaries...………………………….……………...………………………………………………………………………………………………………..4
Bluebonnet Ladies Club News……………………. .……..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..4
Coming Soon to a parking lot near you!..........................…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..5
Honorary Hamilton Holiday Hamburger Happening…………………..……………………………………………………………………………………….6,7
Big Bend National Park Preview of Spring……………………………....…………………………………………………………………………………………8
Adopt A Highway News…………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..9
2018 Texas Miata Round Up update..……….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...10
Sponsor Page..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..11
Remember When?...............................................................................................................................................................................................Back Page
Upcoming Runs and Events..……………………………………...…..…………………….……………………...…………………………………..…Back Page
2018 Club Officers
President Cheryl Knight
Vice President Ed Smith
Secretary Stephanie Turner
Treasurer Joe Knight
Membership* Harry Maxwell
Newsletter Editor* George Lucas
Webmasters* Don and Judi Privett
*appointed positions
New Members
Club Graphic Designer Judi Privett [email protected]
(Total Members 219)
Brad & Cory Johnson
San Antonio
2019 Snowflake White Pearl Tricoat
Cara Clark
New Braunfels
2016 Meteor Gray Mica
Rejoining Members:
Jose & Irma Mante
Laredo
2015 Crystal White Pearl
Eric & Blanca Williams
Del Rio
1999 Sapphire Blue Mica
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Presidents Message
Velocity Read I've looked at lots of cameras, including some pretty sophisticated front and rear setups, 360 degree cameras and I decided to buy a very rea-sonably priced GARMIN Drive Assist 51LMMT dash cam. I like that I don't have to add another piece of hardware on my windshield or dash as the camera is within the GPS unit. I'm not totally sold on adding a rear view camera (there is one that is compatible with my GARMIN) because, well, I've never really come close to backing into something I can't see with the great visibility inherent in a small car like our Miatas. I'm impressed with the amazingly good quality video on my new GPS and it also has lane departure warnings, traffic up-dates, forward and rear collision warnings and lots of other features like school zone warnings, over the speed limit warn-ings (Yes, it even goes off when I drive), oh, and it even warns you to get going when traffic ahead of you has taken off and your gazing at your phone or perhaps your favorite passenger. :-)
I'm still learning how to operate the camera so that it will continuously video record without overwriting the previous re-cording. Yes, I'm reading the manual, but it's really long! You can go to www.garmin.com to see their entire line of GPS units, including dash cam models. Anyway, I think lots of you might look into getting a front view camera, they're pretty cool!
George Lucas, Editor
Connect: to join together so as to provide access and communication; bring together or into contact so that a link is established. A primary purpose of the Bluebonnet Miata Club is to help Miata enthusiasts connect to others with the same interests: owning the best sports cars, driving on great roads, sharing and learning, and enhancing, repairing or buying another one!
This initial connection brings us together and enables other connections: gearheads, bunco players, motorcy-clists, quilters, road trippers and travel junkies, parts pickers, oenophiles, foodies, and the list goes on.
Opportunity for connection happens at monthly meetings, regular runs, Lunar Zoomer dinners, road trips, and regional events such as the Texas Miata Round-up in September. The website, newsletter, social media, and the Yahoo Group emails further support these connections.
A 2011 study published by AAAS.org found that strong social connection leads to a 50% increased chance of longevity, strengthens our immune system, helps us recover from disease faster.
Want more connection? Come to the meetings, join the group for dinner, participate in runs and extended road trips with others. The coming month presents several opportunities to connect; check out the website calendar for more information. Join in and connect!
Cheryl Knight, president
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The Princess Diaries by Cheryl Knight (The Princess)
It truly is taking a village to pull off this Round-Up, and what a village we have! As you can see from the Round-Up update, great progress has been made in the first three months since Registration has opened. The Social Media and Communication team has been doing a great job of getting the word out and the registrations and store purchases continue to trickle in. Our Prize and Sponsorship committees are doing a fantastic job of reaching out and securing financial and prize sponsorship.
Part of our village is our sponsors, they have been wonderful to work with and are pleased at how our club is engaging with them in an amazing way by not only thanking them, but by doing some reciprocal social media marketing. In case you missed it, the Texas Miata Roundup made page 4 of the Spring Moss Miata Catalogue.
We are truly blessed as a club to have so many willing participants in bringing our Round-Up to fruition this year. Thank you to all of you whether you are spending hours with your committee responsibilities or have donated money or other items of value and especially to those of you that have registered and plan to attend the event. To-gether we are making things happen!
Cheryl
On Friday, February 8, the Miata ladies hosted two events as follows:
Our first event of the day took place at the Embassy Theater to watch the 11:00 am showing of “A Dog’s Way Home.” Even though there were tearful moments when most reached for their purses to grab tissues, everyone left the theater with smiles on their faces. After the movie, most of the group drove to Julian’s Italian Pizzeria and Kitchen on West Avenue despite the light sleet falling from the heavens. Fresh, warm, and delicious Italian fare hit the spot for our hungry bunch on a cold February day.
On Friday evening, Barbara Thompson hosted a surprise gathering at the New Braunfels Art League Gallery’s awards reception. With less than a two-day notice, Barbara’s efforts resulted in fourteen Miata Club members turning out in support of our very own artist extraordinaire, Marilyn Hamilton. Of those in attendance, the men outnumbered the women eight to six. Good show! With two watercolor paintings entered, Marilyn and her fans anxiously awaited the announcement of winners in her category. Cheers and applause broke out upon hearing her name called as the first-place winner for one of her paintings. Way to go, Marilyn. We are so proud of you!
Betty Hicks
A NOTE FROM MARILYN:
A great big thank you to all my friends who came to my art recep-tion. I was so surprised and honored to see you all. You made the evening even more special for me by your presence. Another big thank you to Barbara Thompson and Betty Hicks for inviting our Miata friends to the award reception. You sure surprised me!
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Coming Soon, to a parking lot near you!Coming Soon, to a parking lot near you!Coming Soon, to a parking lot near you! Of course, the 30th Anniversary benefits from Of course, the 30th Anniversary benefits from Of course, the 30th Anniversary benefits from all the upgrades that come to the Miata all the upgrades that come to the Miata all the upgrades that come to the Miata for 2019for 2019for 2019, including a 181, including a 181, including a 181---hp, 7500hp, 7500hp, 7500---rpm gem of a 2.0rpm gem of a 2.0rpm gem of a 2.0---liter fourliter fourliter four---cylinder. In Japan, you cylinder. In Japan, you cylinder. In Japan, you can order your 30th Anniversary with the base 1.5can order your 30th Anniversary with the base 1.5can order your 30th Anniversary with the base 1.5---liter, but the rest of the world gets liter, but the rest of the world gets liter, but the rest of the world gets the 2.0.the 2.0.the 2.0.
Only 3000 Anniversary Editions will be built for the entire world, with just 500 of those Only 3000 Anniversary Editions will be built for the entire world, with just 500 of those Only 3000 Anniversary Editions will be built for the entire world, with just 500 of those slated for the US. And as slated for the US. And as slated for the US. And as Roadshow's Roadshow's Roadshow's Steven Ewing pointed out on TwitterSteven Ewing pointed out on TwitterSteven Ewing pointed out on Twitter, the pre, the pre, the pre---order for the US allocation is already sold out.order for the US allocation is already sold out.order for the US allocation is already sold out.
Why are these guys smiling???Why are these guys smiling???Why are these guys smiling???
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Honorary Hamilton Holiday Hamburger Happening
It was a cold and somewhat rainy day, but that didn’t stop 15 Miatas from showing up for an afternoon run on the 9th of February. It was a typical Miata Run: there were fun roads, missed turns, more than one close call on radar, a closed rest stop, an altered route, deer, goat, cow and zebra sightings. Well, maybe the zebra sighting isn’t typical, but we all know the rest of that can happen anytime we are on the road!
Since this was our first Holiday Hamburger Run, we learned a few things that will help us fine tune the burger rating categories. Old West fared pretty good. On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the highest rating, here are the results. We did identify a need to add a MEAT OVERALL (cooked right, juicy, thickness, etc.) category as many people commented, the taste was good, but it wasn’t juicy enough or it was cooked too much. Also, needed is a category for FRIES. The fries were so good they garnered many write in comments, “The fries are great!”
CATEGORIES AVG. BUN FLAVOR 4.00
BUN TEXTURE 4.00
MEAT FLAVOR 4.24
BURGER AROMA 3.92
VISUAL PRESENTATION 4.27
EXTRAS (lettuce, tomato, onions, condiments, etc.) 4.22
VARIETY OF TYPES OF BURGERS 4.52
SERVICE 4.40
SPEED 4.31
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO OTHERS? 4.58
Overall Average Rating 4.24
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Honorary Hamilton Holiday Hamburger Happening Photos
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If you enjoy checking out Big Bend, Tim McKenna has a FaceBook page with wonderful photos of many of the fabulous views and sights to see. With spring about to be upon us in earnest, I’m including some of the recent photos of the wildflowers now coming out in the park. Enjoy!
As you can see, it’s definitely spring in the Big Bend National Park! Take a trip to Big Bend now, you won’t be sorry!
George Lucas
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Miata Adopt-A-Highway Service Project
After 18 years I have decided to step down from running the Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup community service project for the Miata Club. The club renews its con-tract with TXDOT every two years and our current contract is up at the end of calendar year 2019. I’m writing this article to outline the basic responsibilities of this project in the hope that another club member will be eager to take over.
Our club is assigned to the TXDOT office in New Braunfels. After the contract is signed, all of our interaction is through this office. We request and pickup our trash bags there and they will also provide safety vest and other needed items.
We are required to pick up our section of FM1863 four times per year. I usually schedule these during our annual planning meeting for January, April, July, and October. When requested we share our schedule with TXDOT.
Responsibilities fall into two areas: administrative and conducting pickups.
First, administratively, we receive a few emails from the Adopt-A-Highway coordinator during the year. These are very straight forward requests for information and are easily handled. We also report the outcome of our completed pickups via email. Additionally, as already mentioned, we review and sign our contract every two years.
Secondly, below I have listed a basic outline for conducting a typical pickup.
Send reminder email to the Yahoo Group and post on BBMC website forum. Confirm Pickup is listed on the event calendar
Organize pickup equipment: bags, vests, gloves, etc. Meet at the designated time Have participants sign run waiver Distribute bags, vests, etc. , select groups, and conduct safety meeting Depart for our area at FM1863 Make a quick stop at Grumpy’s to give them a heads up for our breakfast after pickup Lower “people working” warning signs at both ends of our section Pickup our 2 mile section of FM1863 and place all bags and other items under our sign at the FM3009 end of
our section Take our commemorative picture of all participants Collect vests, un-used bags, close warning signs Head to Grumpy’s for breakfast (The real reason for this project) Wash vests, inventory bags, and otherwise organize for the next pickup Report to TXDOT via email with number of volunteers, number of bags collected, etc.
The club has been a participant in the Adopt-A-Highway program for at least 20 years and execution is pretty straight forward. Most of the effort is expended on the day of the pickup so it isn’t a huge burden throughout the year.
A little trivia: I say at least 20 years because our Adopt-A-Highway signs say “Bluebonnet Miata Club of America”. The Miata Club of America, of which we were a chapter, went out of business in 2000 so our sign is a remnant of a time in Miata history when the National Club still existed.
If anyone would like additional information or would like to discuss things further, please reach out to me via email and I will get in touch with you.
Jeff Holbrook [email protected]
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Please support our Sponsors!
Our own Paul Wilson has his cool RF recognized by none other than Goodwin Racing. Goodwin Racing came to Austin to check out COTA and their Air BnB happened to be next door to Paul.
How Cool is THIS ?
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Check your mailing label for your renewal date.
Please renew your membership promptly!
In The BreezeIn The Breeze
Bluebonnet Miata Club
San Antonio, Texas http://www.bluebonnetmiata.org
To join club or renew dues, open the above web site
and click on the membership tab.
Upcoming Runs and Events
Saturday, March 2nd. Tejas Miata Club, Independence Day Parade. Parade, lunch and afternoon run. Meet at 7 a.m. Parade down Congress Ave. Check out more details on the Tejas website.
Friday, March 8th, the Miata Ladies Group will have a tour of the Hindes Academy of Fine Art and lunch at La Fonda on Main at 12:00 noon. Hosted by Marilyn Hamilton.
Saturday, March 9th, Gimmick Run, organized by Paul and Judy Faulkner. Meet at 11:00 a.m. at the Inn on Baron’s Creek, (Home of the 2019 Miata Round Up) 308 S. Washing-ton St., Fredericksburg, Texas. After the run, we’ll meet at Porky’s Hamburgers, 1719 N. Hwy. 87.
Wednesday, March 20th, Lunar Zoomer Dinner, hosted by George Lucas. Site TBA, watch your Yahoo Groups email or check the website for details.
Thursday, March 21st, the Ladies Group will have their BUNCO party. Details TBA soon!
Saturday, March 23rd, Back to Bricks, led by Larry and Pam Stivers. Details TBA soon!
Tuesday, March 26th, Monthly Meeting. At Bigz Burger Joint. Located between Hueb-ner Rd. and Rogers Ranch. Meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. Come early to socialize!
Remember When? Craig and Lisa Martin 2009