Anniversary Drive & Dinner
Date: Saturday, February 12, 2000
Time: 5:00 PM
Drive Place: Georgia Welcome Center
Drive Attending: Bill Baugh, Bonnie Baugh, Brian Bogardus, Donna Bogardus, Karen Breitinger, Kurt Breitinger, Theron Brown, Jean Schwalbert, Russ Schwalbert, Gail Smith, Tom Smith, Cindy Timmerman, Stacey Timmerman, and Rudy Wilmoth.
We had a really good turnout for the drive in spite of the ambiguity on where to meet. When I did the December newsletter, the date of the Dinner/Drive was in January with the meeting place listed as TBA. Due to a conflict, the event was moved to February.
I sent out a postcard notifying of the change and on it, had the meeting place listed as the SC Welcome Center. When I changed the web page it said meet at the Welcome Center, not specifying which one. When I did the February newsletter it said the meeting place for the drive was the GA Welcome Center.
Roughly half the cars were at each Welcome Center. We stopped at the South Carolina one first, stood around and chatted for a while and then headed over to the Georgia Center to meet the rest of the group and do some more chatting.
We had a really good turnout for the drive in spite of the weather. It was cloudy with a threat of rain and the temperature was only in the lower 50’s to boot. But that was leaps and bounds above what it was the Saturday before, when Donna and I pre-ran the route. Then, it was so cold, that there was still snow left on the ground from our little brush with winter the week before that.
Less than half the cars had lowered tops for this drive. Of course Rudy’s was one of the top-down drivers, he came to the Welcome Center with it down. If it is not raining hard, Rudy’s top is down. We drove out Furry’s Ferry Road over into South Carolina, then crossed the dam on Clarks Hill Lake back into Georgia, then returning into Martinez via Washington Road to Mot’s BBQ for the eats.
Dinner Place: Mot’s Barbecue
Dinner Attending: Bill Baugh, Bonnie Baugh, Brian Bogardus, Donna Bogardus, Karen Breitinger, Kurt Breitinger, Theron Brown, Jim Creer, Judy Creer, Jill Dobson, Carol Haff, John Haff, Jean Schwalbert, Russ Schwalbert, Gail Smith, Tom Smith, Cindy Timmerman, Stacey Timmerman, Cheryl van Horn, Ernest van Horn, Rudy Wilmoth, and Brian Wynne.
We had a really great turnout for the dinner, because there was no ambiguity on where to meet.
Most of us formed a snaky line up to the counter to do the ordering. When you order a chopped BBQ sandwich at Mot’s, they put a hunk of meat on a cutting board and chop it with a cleaver as you wait. The rest of the Club made themselves right at home, arranging the tables in the back section into two long rows for us to eat together.
The food was good and plentiful. You bought your own meal, but the Club bought dessert for everyone. The folks at Mot’s made up a big tray of Banana Pudding for us to devour. They were going to write Miata in Nilla Wafers on the top, but quickly ran out of room. You would be amazed at the space required to make a good 24” high M, try it at home and see!
After everyone had eaten it was time for some Door Prizes. First up was a small 64 piece jigsaw puzzle of a Miata that was won by Brian W. and Jill, that had been donated by Jim Creer. Next an Aiken Steeplechase Poster was won by Ernest & Cheryl that was donated by Russ Schwalbert. Russ also donated a Miata Enthusiasts Manual which was won by Jim. Bill & Bonnie won a free years membership to the Miata Club of America that the MCA had donated. Rudy won a years membership in the Master’s Miata Club which we donated. Theron won a desk clock that Brian B. made out of one of his old Miata power mirrors. And Gail and Tom won a $250 gift certificate towards parts or service at Andy Jones.
