Fresh Powder

Looks like the 1-2″ of yesterday was joined by at least 3″ more overnight and this morning. So other than dusting the snow off the cars and shoveling snow, I have been hibernating. I’ve been watching episodes of The West Wing and then following it by listening to The West Wing Weekly podcast’s recap of that very show. I’ve watched up to the 19th episode of season 3, or 63 episodes, I still have a little more to go, eighty-nine…

What’s next? A hundred and twenty-one episodes of LOST. Or maybe the 217 episodes of The X-Files? Really, that many? I’ll probably just watch the 40 of them that I saved when I pared it down to one’s I’d rewatch more than once.

Flapping Flag Poles

It snowed this morning and then a little more in the afternoon. What was worse than the snow was the winds. They gusted to over 50 MPH and it actually dislodged the decorative seasonal flag pole on the front porch post. Ripped the 2 wood screws right out and dumped the flag and pole on the ground.

The small American flag on another post was still attached, but it stripped the gear area that held it up at a 45° angle so it drooped to less than horizontal. I think I’ll get another mount for the American flag and maybe just leave the seasonal flag one off and just donate those flags to Goodwill.

They are calling for some more snow tomorrow morning and then looking out in the future, it seems this may be our last snow of the season. Fingers Crossed.

Yesterday I got my first of two free oil changes on the New Miata. It had a whopping 2500 miles on the odometer. Here is a photo of the car sitting outside the dealer’s service area.

Can’t Leave Well Enough Alone

Because I have bought new lightweight 15″ wheels and some summer rubber for #6, AKA Bucky, I wasn’t sure what I’d use the the 2001’s stock wheels for after I get rid the 1/4 century old rubber that is mounted on them. My first thought was to put some snow tires on them and have them handy for winter time use. But then I ran into a picture someone had added to a thread on the Miata Forum, this fellow has a dark colored 3rd gen Miata that he had put the 16″ OEM Miata wheels on. I did a rough draft by adding a bright blue to that image:

Hmmm, I think I like that better than the stock 17″ wheels of the New Miata. I think that they looked better when the car was that Aero Gray color, but now that it is blue…

Jaunty Angle

I’ve tried a couple of times to get that front license place to be parallel to the road surface, but something keeps shifting it. Not sure if it is the post into the tow hook threads or the screw that holds the plate support to the post. I’ve tightened both separately and together, but invariably it ends up non-parallel.

My need of order is screaming at me, “Get that thing right!” while the newly created laidback vibe is saying, “Chill dude, it’s fine.” Or perhaps it’ll be some enterprising young rookie on the traffic beat telling me, “According to Motor Vehicle Code 237.4, sub section ii, the license plate must be set at exactly 0° or 90° to the angle of front wheel camber.”

Sport, Off-Road, Touring

Sunny Day Edition of SORT
As of Monday, February 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM pacific time:

Sport Off-Road Touring
1961 Morris Mini-Minor 1962 Dodge Town Wagon 2003 BMW M5
Even though it was only in the upper 30s the sunshine was worthy of a New Mexico sky. My hands and feet were pretty cold after getting soaked while washing both cars in the driveway. The third car is probably still very dirty down there in Eugene at FTW Tuning.

Here is what last week’s cars sold for, or bid to (if the reserve was not met):
Sport: 1972 Datsun 510 Sold for USD $28,510 on 2/5/25
Off-Road: 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser Bid to USD $15,500 on 2/5/25
Touring: 2004 Volvo V70 Sold for USD $9,000 on 2/5/25

Man, They Are Really Old

Back when I first won the auction for Miata #6 I wondered if it was on the original tires. In the auction notes the tires it is said to have are the same name and size as original equipment tires, but they could be replacements. I asked the folks who have the car to tell me what the date codes are on the tires. Well, it dawned on me that they usually have tire photos in the gallery that show the date code.

I knew about date codes and even looked up what it was a long time ago, but because I never used that knowledge, I forgot it. I had to look it up again:

For tires made since the year 2000, the tire date code is always the last four numbers in the series. The first two digits represent the week of the year the tires were made, and the last two digits indicate the year.

Those tires all have the date code of 3200, or the 32nd week of the year 2000. That’s about 1,280 weeks ago. A long long time ago.

25 Years Ago – Volume 11, Issue 1

Yesterday when I realized I hadn’t posted the Miata Magazine Blast from the Past, I looked through the first magazine of 2000 I found just the article I would use because I actually attended that event with other members of the Masters Miata Club. But I hadn’t written about it on the blog previously, so I dug up my old Club newsletter from that time and published it yesterday,

Jacks or Better

MCA Poker Run a Resounding Success

On a sunny fall Saturday, the national office of the Miata Club of America held its largest and most successful event thus far. Beginning at their offices north of Atlanta, Georgia, over 100 Miatas and their owners invaded the parking lot and offices this past October 23, 1999. The hardy souls braved the blustery and chilly weather for a great day of top-down Miata fun.

Groups from the Peachtree, CAMS, Florida Panhandle, Masters, and Foothills chapters joined local enthusiasts for a fun-filled day. Old friends from as far away as Ohio and Michigan made the long trip. An adventurous couple from New York used the event as an excuse for a road trip in their new 10AE. The couple drove down to enjoy a weekend in Atlanta.

The afternoon began with a leisurely 80-mile drive through the colorful north Georgia countryside. MCA President, Vince Tidwell, did the honors of manning the starting line. Miata owners were seen motoring by horse farms, browsing at country stores, shopping for mountain property and admiring the sailboats on a nearby lake. The hungry travelers were welcomed back to headquarters with plenty of food including barbecue sandwiches, coleslaw, baked beans, and the now famous “Miata Club” cookies. Those who chose not to drive had ample time to shop and converse with the aftermarket vendors in attendance – including R-Speed, Autocentric, Top Notch Accessories, and Liberty Mutual Insurance.

After all had driven, eaten and shopped until they were satisfied, it was time for the awards and prizes. Awards were given for the highest poker hand – a straight flush from Sonny and Vickie Seamon of CAMS, and the second highest poker hand – three of a kind from Eric and April Holtzclaw of Acworth, GA. In addition, plaques were awarded to honor the following: Furthest distance traveled, presented to Joe and Joyce Lamphere, from Vestal, New York. Charles Taylor of Conyers, GA easily won for the highest mileage with his Candy Apple Red ’90 Miata that showed over 364,000 miles on the odometer. The Lowest VIN number award was presented to Carolyn Sharpless of Austell, GA for her Miata built in April 1989. After the awards, a bounty of raffle prizes were given away. Everyone went home a winner as all participants were given a commemorative deck of Miata Club of America playing cards as a keepsake of the event.

The Miata Club of America wishes to thank the Peachtree Miata club and all the hard-working volunteers who helped make this a successful event. They are a great bunch of people and were of invaluable service. The Poker Run would not have happened without this group of dedicated Miata owners.

Keep watching Miata Magazine for future events, as at least two more are in the works for next year. Without a doubt, one of these events will be the Second Annual Poker Run and Barbecue.

Copyright 2000, Miata Magazine. Reprinted without permission.