In this issue.....

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Don Brattesani  11/7
John Diamond  11/15
Harry (Skip) Scott  11/22
Ron Somtherman  11/18
Irene Stolberg  11/24
Ed Troxell  11/22

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2003 COLUMBIA RUN

October 18^th brought us together out by Larry & Barbara’s place in Discovery Bay for a refreshing run up to Columbia.   No stranger to Delta runs, Larry & Barbara have enjoyed several outings and they applied what they had learned to this outstanding event.

Six cars started from Discovery Bay, picking up a seventh in Tracy.  Leni Metro was able to show us his new Yellow! Miata and we look forward to seeing how it evolves over time with all of his goodies he loves to add.   Larry demonstrated his olde school administrator skills as he presented the route to us and the safety notes.   All of our fine classic roadster cars were beautiful in the morning sun and we piled into them and headed out into the Great Central Valley on our quest for adventure, beauty and camaraderie.

Stopping at a traditional Miata roadside dining establishment, a Burger King, we looked in our mirrors to see John & Mary pulling in behind us – perfect timing!  We refreshed ourselves and gathered together for the olde Delta Club ceremonial “Awarding of the Plaques” ritual where we recognize the time and effort it takes for a club member to put together an organized Miata event.  The plaques looked great on their silver car!.

The Mensches, in their newly adorned silver 2003, led us down through orchard-lined roads and through the backroads of towns with plenty of scenery to enjoy along the way.  Little did Larry know it, but Rippon had even organized a street fair right in the middle of our route, just to entertain us, so we switched to that Frenchman’s route, M. DeTour, and worked our way along an alternate route.  And, to their credit, the detour was achieved without a single U-turn!  (Obviously, the Mensches need some training to get into the spirit here, folk!)  Though I must say that we Miataphiles demonstrated high spirits when we encountered a truck who wanted to play “chicken” but we stared it down, face-to-face (see picture).  We may be smaller, but there were more of us!  (Well, maybe it WAS parked, but it makes for a nice picture, eh?)

Then we were off into the foothills with easy curves to cruise along and a warm sun beaming down on us.  Oakdale brought another refreshment break and we of course checked out our cars and continued some of the discussion we’d had on the FRS radios about the upcoming Delta election candidates.  But, mainly, we just talked about the great weather and considered John’s analysis of the amount of dust that had appeared on his immaculate “MX54TU”. . .  then back onto the highway and up into the hills.

Barbara and Larry had found a curvy (but not twisty) was passenger-friendly side road to Hwy 108 and we all cruised along in perfect harmony with the road, the scenery, the sun and each other. Suddenly we were in Columbia, where we found seventeen Corvettes parked in the parking lot.  So, we took a line facing them, with our fierce seven Miatae, and headed off to lunch.

We arrived at the restaurant and moved into the fine reserved dining area waiting for us (the Corvette club was in the main dining area, as they had not called as quickly as Larry and Barbara had, which is yet another example of how Miatae are faster than Corvettes -- I forget what the other example is).

Good food, good friends, and then we met at the cash register to settle the bill.  It was a bit expensive – first it rang out at $7251.11 – which we thought was a bit high even for a tourist town.  The server worked on it for a while, and finally got the mistakes out.  But we all had some good laughs over THAT one.

The run was officially over after lunch, and we were free to do as we wished.  Some meandered through the stores; some headed back while others stayed.  John & Mary led a mini-group back home, showing us Orange Blossom Road with its unusual and beautiful houses, and we all commented via our FRS radios about them.

Thanks, Barbara and Larry, for a fun trip!

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Zoom-Zoom Over to the Miata Performance Driving School

Get ready to Zoom-Zoom-Zoom to the Eighth Annual Miata Performance Driving School at Thunderhill Sports Park in Northern California this coming March. Registrations are now being taken for the 2004 Miata Performance Driving School where Miata owners from all over the country will converge on Thunderhill to learn how to get the most from their Miata.

The 2004 Thunderhill school will be held March 26, 27 and 28 at the Sport Car Club of America’s Thunderhill track in Willows just off Highway 5, about an hour north of Sacramento, Calif. With wide-open space all around the track, it is a perfect place for beginners to safely learn how to handle their Miata at both high and low speeds. The course teaches Miata owners the basics of high speed driving, equipment, human limitations, proper steering techniques and lots of other skills necessary for safe performance driving.

The weekend is packed with activities beginning on Friday with a dinner, followed by classroom style lectures and training from SCCA instructors. Saturday morning the action turns to the track with some more instruction, both in and out of the Miata.  Most of Saturday and Sunday will be spent on the track with some time in between sessions to talk to fellow Miata owners and see some on the latest Miata accessories. Plans for Saturday night this year call for a BBQ at the track using the newly completed building.  The dinner gives students and instructors the opportunity to talk over the day’s activities in a friendly casual atmosphere. “The entire goal of the weekend is to enable Miata owners to become better, more skillful drivers both on and off the track,” said Ken Freeze, the event organizer.

The class is limited to 80 students with 40 instructors, making for a 2-to-1-instructor ratio, a ratio higher than driving schools costing thousands of dollars.

And - if you are really eager to get on the track before next March, don’t forget the school is also being conducted at the SCCA track at Buttonwillow near Bakersfield in November. Check out the web site to see if there are still any openings or last minute cancellations.

You can register via the Internet by going to the Miata Performance Driving School Web Site at www.teammiata.com/thunderhill/school.htm. Fill out the online form, or download the PDF file and print it out and send it in with your check. If you don’t have Internet access, send a self addressed, stamped envelope to: Ken Freeze, Miata School, 1521 Ridgewood Dr., Martinez, CA., 94553 and a complete packet will be sent to you. But hurry – the past two years the class was full by the first of December.

Come join us for a weekend of learning, while having a lot of fun, as you drive on the Thunderhill track with SCCA instructors and fellow Miata enthusiasts. At $350 ‑ it's the best accessory you can add to your Miata and have fun while doing it!   See you on the Track!

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Editors Corner

Well folks the year is winding down and it is time for someone else to take over the newsletter.  It has certainly been an interesting few months and actually not a lot of work.  You do need to “bug” the folks for the articles once in a while but its all in good fun.  Please consider stepping forward to take this on as I will not be able to continue with this function for next year.  You are a great group of folks and I know there is someone out there that can do this.  (If I learned how to do it then anyone can).  I have enjoyed doing this but its time to try my hand at something else.  This is also a great way to become more involved in the club and make it what you want it to be.  This is your club so lets hear from you!!

                                                             Connie

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