Tumbleweed Miata Club

Events from 2001:

Miatas "bend the Bend" - Ft Davis, February - 2001. We hosted 33 Miatas and 64 folks from across the State at the historic Prude Ranch with LOTS of fellowship with members from Lone Star, Bluebonnet, Tejas, and MiataMania clubs. Pictures are located in the Photo Album. Our Fort Davis members Ed & Mary Dutchover gave our group a "personal" tour of 2 telescopes on Sunday.

Sunday - May 6th - "Sunburn Grand Prix" in Abilene - seven of our Miatas dared the regional SCCA event in Abilene at the airport.

Saturday, May 19th - Sky-Vue DriveIn Theatre - "The Mummy Returns"

PHOTO SAFARI - Sunday, June 24th - photos and dinner at La Bodega Restaurant in Midland.

GARAGE Tech/install day - Sunday, July 15th - eleven Miatas added insulation kits to trunks, removed baby teeth, and visited over pizza and softdrinks.

Balmorhea "RETURN TO OUR ROOTS" rally - Sunday, July 29th - 12 Miatas enjoyed a 450-mile roundtrip trek to Balmorhea for a picnic, swim, and then a Scenic Loop drive around Ft. Davis. The hot 107 degree temperature dipped to 70 as we drove 'topless' through a couple of rain showers.

Miata "Bar-Miata-Q" at the Ganem's - Sunday, August 12th - About 26 folks enjoyed an afternoon of visiting, ping-pong, badminton, swimming, and of course: FOOD, lots of food!

Saturday, August 18th - Classic Car Night at the Sky-Vue Theatre in Lamesa - Jurassic Park 3

Sunday, September 16th - "Dogs and Fingers" run to Andrews - steakfingers at Buddy's Drive-In and a visit to Prairie Dog Village.

Sunday, October 7th - "Go-carts and Putt-Putt" in Midland

Friday, October 12th - "Chaparral Gallery" party at the Petroleum Museum in Midland - 13 Miatas were represented and we had several guests attend an informative preview of the new Chaparral Gallery Wing that will be built at the Petroleum Museum in Midland. Details at: http://www.petroleummuseum.org.

October 19-20-21 - "Texas MiataRoundUp 2001" - Kerrville TX - all five Texas Miata clubs in the Hill Country of Texas. A super-fun weekend headquartered at the "YO RANCH" and hosted by our friends from Tejas in Austin. 6 Miatas from Tumbleweed joined approximately 48 others.

Nov 4th - fun run to McKittrick Canyon led by Syd Lawler....we had visiting Miatas from El Paso AND Amarillo plus members from Carlsbad joining us for a great day....total count was 12 Miatas.

Dec 1 - Christmas parade in Midland - 13 Miatas participated as the largest car club involved in the parade.

Dec 15 - 5th annual Dine-n-Drive - 16 Miatas enjoyed the lights of Midland, and then had dessert at Syd Lawler's home.

Events for 2002:

January 20 - Tech-day, install rally - at Jack Sherman Mazda. We installed sound deadening kits, removed baby teeth, added a grill, installed a tonneau cover and ate LOTS of pizza. 11 Miatas were represented and 18 hungry mechanics.

February 10 - Sunday fun run to Colorado City (lunch at Al's Sportsmen's Den on the lake) and return via Snyder. 10 Miatas drove 250 miles today and enjoyed a great lunch at the lake. Rick planned a fun route that avoided I-20. It was COLD and windy, so we all drove top up.

March 9-10 - Miata Madness 2002 at Texas Motor Speedway (sponsored by Lone Star Miata Club and Miata Owners Club.) Mark & Vickie McLean and Marion Daily represented Tumbleweed.

March 17 - "PICNIC on the HILL" - picnic to Scenic Mountain in Big Spring. Eleven Miatas enjoyed the best weather we've had all year (70 degrees and overcast) with NO wind. After eating, Mark and Vickie McLean led us on a twisty drive through Forsan and back to Coahoma (dodging loose cattle in the process.)

April 20 - Sky-Vue Drive In in Lamesa - "Clockstoppers" and "Ice Age"

April 27 - MAZDA CAR-CARE CLINIC and SWAP MEET rally at Jack Sherman (using the shop with lifts.) This was our best tech-day ever! 16 Miatas participated and Jack Sherman Mazda gave away several door prizes AND a complimentary oil change with an inspection. Thank you Jack Sherman for a wonderful day!!

MAY 4 - lunch with Lone Star Miata Club - we hosted the "Miatas to Sedona" crew (about 15 Miatas) for lunch at La Bodega Restaurant in Midland.

MAY 11 - Classic Car Night at the Sky-Vue Drive In in Lamesa - "The Rookie"

June 8-10 - Seminole Canyon/Devil's River weekend - 5 Miatas drove south to Ozona for a twistee fun-run through Comstock, Langtry, and Pandale. Headquartered at the Circle Bar Truck Stop/RV park was a fabulous treat for two nights - lush atrium with enclosed swimming pool, good food, great fellowship, and a relaxed end to the day. The driving included 320 miles on Saturday of the best roads we've discovered.

July 20 - MIATAS do the MUMMERS - 23 of us enjoyed the Yucca Theatre and Summer Mummers, also donating 4 tickets to visiting firefighters from the NYC Fire Department. This year's production was "Dastardly Doings at the Diamond" or "The Latter Batter's Chatter Rarely Flatters." Most of us gathered at Whataburger on N. Big Spring Street afterwards for a late-night visit.

August 2-4, weekend Run to Ruidoso - 22 Miatas representing Tumbleweed, Armadillo, and MOOV Miata Clubs from Texas, NM, and Nevada enjoyed a fabulous weekend in the mountain air of Ruidoso NM. We stayed at A-Frame Cabins - great place with accommodating hosts! Highlights included a 19-Miata run up to the ski-lift area at Sierra Blanca, winery tour at Tularosa, picnic at Three Rivers, loop drive through Lincoln (creating our own parade) to dinner in Tinnie, gourmet breakfast at the Inn of the Mountain Gods on Sunday, and a fun-run to the Sunspot Solar Observatory south of Cloudcroft. Several return Miatae were treated like royalty at the Wellhead Restaurant and Micro-brewery in Artesia before getting home. BIG thanks to Rick Ganem and Syd Lawler that planned the best weekend trip we've had as a club! Some great pictures are loaded in the photo album.

August 17th - Sky-Vue Drive In Theatre - "Like Mike" and "Goldmember."

August 25th - Swim & Bar-Miata-Q - 24 folks enjoyed fine hospitality and food in John & Lou Ann Gray's backyard and pool for our annual "Summer is Over" party. With temperatures approaching 106, the pool was a wonderful relief from the heat. Thank you John, Lou Ann, and Amanda!

September 13th - Stars & Miatas - 6 Miatas experienced Planetarium and visited over coffee at the new Starbucks afterward.

September 21st - Steakfingers in Andrews - 10 Miatas caravaned to Buddy's Restaurant in Andrews for a meal together, followed by a loop run around the city.

October 25-27 - Ozona weekend - 10 Miatas and an extra on Sunday enjoyed a weekend based at the Circle Bar Super 8 Motel. We drove a 430 mile loop on Saturday that included Ft Lancaster, Dryden, Langtry, Comstock, Pandale, Del Rio, and Sonora. The weather had been quite rainy, so some roads were closed - but that didn't damper the fun and the driving.

NOV 8-10 -"SITTING BULL FALLS and McKITTRICK CANYON" - headquartered at the Comfort Inn in Carlsbad NM for two nights, Wes & Candace Nance hosted the McLean's, the Jones' and Gary Thomas for a windy weekend of curves and fun.

DEC 8 - annual Midland Christmas parade - 14 Miatas participated and pictures are located in the pictures file. For the second year in a row, we were the BIGGEST car club present...the decorations are getting better and better.

DEC 15 - "Drive-n-Dine" was a total success with 14 Miatas driving through the Live Nativity at the Church of the Nazarene in Big Spring, a drive through the 500,000 lights of Comanche Trail State Park, and a fun 'after' party hosted by Mark & Vickie McLean at their home in Coahoma.