Miata

Thanks Mazda

A couple of weeks ago, Mazda decided to honor their 100th anniversary and to give us something to keep us indoors and busy during these interesting times, they let loose into the world some paper craft models of their current (and some past) models.

Because I already have, from back in 2006, the instructions to make the first 3 generations of Miatas and this new release included the 4th generation car, I felt compelled to download it. To color it a pleasing blue. And to make one.

This led to my rediscovering a folder full of papercraft stuff I collected back a decade or so ago. Well, I do still have a few sheets of card stock and time on my hands, so I decided to print out a couple of favorites and remake them.


First up is a Java Sparrow last seen here a little over 9 years ago in the post Here Birdie, Birdie. If you would like to make your own Java Sparrow out of paper got to this Livedoor blog page and scroll down a bit to the Marubun Java Sparrow Paper Models where you have several color choices to pick from.

40,000 Raindrops

Friday after lunch we went on a walk around our end of town, mostly on road, but with some double-track dirt road thrown in. It was chilly (upper 40s), but the sun was shining, so when we got home I suggested taking the Miata out for a spin. It had been since last Friday we last drove it. Then it was sluggish to start, but this time it wouldn’t turn over at all. Had to pull the Mini around to give it a jump. We then took a nice little 20 mile spin (stopping once to take the new blog header image) and parked it in the garage. This time I remembered to put the battery tender on it, so next Friday it should fire right up. A new battery is planned for later when we can actually go on a trip or something.

Yesterday the Ladybug ticked over the 40,000 mile mark while dodging raindrops on the way home from a Jimmy Johns pickup lunch.

I’ve Got A Screw Loose

Because yesterday afternoon was sunny and lower 60’s, when we headed out to run some errands, we opted to do them in the Miata. About 2 blocks down the road a fairly loud rumbling started and the front end of the car was doing a small wobble. Donna went, “What’s that?” I answered, “Might have a flat.” A couple of seconds later I said, “I know what it is,” and did a quick u-turn to head back home.

This post should really have been titled “I’ve Got A Few Lug Nuts Loose.” For what has to be at least the sixth or seventh time in my career I have not fully tightened down the lug nuts on a wheel or two (or four) after rotating the tires or doing some brake maintenance. Including one time in the early 80’s that happened with Donna driving and having to stop at a place to have them diagnose the rumbling sound the car was making.

This is why I was getting the stink-eye from her as we returned to the Pacific Terrace driveway. Because just before turning around I had said, “I forgot to tighten the lug nuts.” On Wednesday afternoon I installed the new front license plate mount, which had caused me to remove the front wheels and I missed the final step.

About the second time this happened in Aiken, I devised a way to make sure not to forget this step by taking the torque wrench and placing it right at the entrance to the garage. There was no way for me to miss it and I sure as heck couldn’t drive the low clearance Miata over the wrench. To my credit, I did something similar here too, but because I was working close to the garage opening, the torque wrench was mixed in with all the other tools I was using, so it got put away with everything else. I think a new safeguard is required. Possibly I should buy a baseball cap from the Lansing Michigan minor league baseball team to wear when working on the car. Or, perhaps putting the torque wrench on the driver’s seat might work.

82 Days Later

Eighty-two days after dropping it off at the Adcock Auto Emporium, just after sunset today, the CTBNL joined us in Klamath Falls.

Bring A Trailer

The fodder for my Track, Daily, Crush posts come from a website called Bring A Trailer, well this past Monday the CTBNL got loaded onto a trailer to be brung to Oregon. It should be here either just before or right after Christmas.

30th Miataversary

Thirty years ago today on a cool November evening Donna & I drove over to Augusta after work in our 1981 Honda Prelude (which looked remarkably like this.) Donna drove the Prelude home alone. I drove home in our brand spanking new 1990 Mazda Miata (which looked remarkably like this.)

Ever since that day we have always had a Miata in the garage. Except for this year. Tonight the Miata is in someone else’s garage. Back in Aiken awaiting our summons. Thank’s for babysitting David.