Events for 2003:
January 18th tech-tips and garage day at Mazda of Midland. 18 Miatas participated with light kit installations, sagging glove box cures, LOF's, transmission & shifter boot replacement, horn installation, grill replacement, and pizza. Bill Haase assisted and we were able to put several Miatas up on the lifts for some quality inspection and advice.
February 8th, "Coffee & Miata Gossip" at Starbuck's Coffee Shop in Midland. 17 Miatas participated.
February 22nd, Jackalopes Ice Hockey Game at the Ector County Colliseum in Odessa. 10 Miatas and 20 folks enjoyed a 4-1 victory over the Amarillo team, and then gathered at IHOP in Midland for some late night conversation and grub.
March 10th, "Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup" 4 Miatas enjoyed the one day trek that included lunch at Sportsmens Den on Lake Colorado City and a "service road" return to avoid I-20 wherever we could.
March 14-16, "Big Bend - Tumbleweed Style" 7 Miatas led by Larry Gillette enjoyed a full two days of top-down driving...Presidio, Marfa, Ft. Davis (including a Star Party at McDonald Observatory,) Terlingua, Big Bend National Park, all based at the Ramada Limited in Alpine.
April 5, "Burgers and Bumps" We counted 14 Miatas and a visitor from San Antonio and one "MWB" (Miata wanna be.) Dinner was at Texas Burger - we just about filled up the place! Our host, Eli Lerma, gave every guest a supermug for free refills anytime at Texas Burger locations. Jim Breese provided complimentary tire guages, and then we cruised a fast fun-run around the new sports complex.
April 26, Sky-Vue Drive In Theatre - eight Miatas saw Anger Management and some stayed for a 'part' of The Core.
May 3, Mazda Rev It Up™ Performance Driving School and National Competition at Texas Motor Speedway in Ft. Worth. Steve Spain, Ken Jolley, Ben Upton, and Mark & Vickie McLean attended along with about 1350 other registered racers. http://www.mazdarevitup.com has more detail including race results.
May 3-6 "Miatas in Moab" Bob & Ruth Price, Katherine Jones and her mother, Sandy & Lynn Thompson joined a crew from the Lone Star Miata Club to attend a big Utah regional rally. Pictures and details http://www.teamzoom.net/miatasinmoab/index.htm
May 23 "Steakfingers at Buddy's" - a fun drive of 11 Miatas to Andrews. After dinner, we were invited to Jude Miller's home to see his two MG's and their 1950 Bentley.
Jun 14 Sky-Vue Drive-In - Lamesa, 9 Miatas enjoyed Bruce Almighty under cool skies....the weather threatened but it didn't rain.
July 19-20 TEXAS LEGACIES Pageant - trip to Canyon/Amarillo with the Armadillo Miata Club as our hosts. 12 Miatas participated and we had a fun breakfast on Sunday at the Calico County Restaurant with a side-trip to Krispy Kreme Doughnut Shop before heading home. Hub City Brewery in Lubbock was a fun meeting spot for lunch on Saturday enroute to Canyon.
August 9 - Swim & Bar-MIATA-Q - John, Lou Ann, and Amanda Gray hosted about 20 of us for a great afternoon of swimming and hamburgers. A highlight was Debbie Grossie's sinful peach cobbler and chocolate praeline cake....all the way from Lubbock.
August 16 - Sky-Vue Drive-In - Lamesa, 12 Miatas enjoyed Seabiscuit. We had one new couple from Big Spring requesting membership info and a couple of folks from the new Double T Miata Club in Lubbock joined us. As usual, great conversation and visiting. It was Jude Miller's 18th birthday and Sam Kirkland (owner of the Sky-Vue) appropriately roasted Jude over the intercom by thinking he was a "she." Embarrassing, but fun!
September 14 - Picnic at Scenic Mountain - Eleven of us enjoyed a beautiful cool and sunny afternoon for food and fellowship. After the picnic, Mark & Vickie McLean led us to the Vietnam Memorial and then a spirited drive to Forsan and Coahoma.
September 25 - Mystery Dinner Run - eight Miatas voted on Cotton Patch Cafe for an evening meal.
September 27-28 - annual statewide Miata RoundUp in Kerrville - McLean's, Thompson's, and Robertson's represented Tumbleweed for some spirited Hill Country driving.
October 2-5 - Viva Mazda-Viva Vegas national Mazda rally in Las Vegas NV. Wes & Candy Nance and Steve Spain attended. 278 registrants enjoyed a full weekend of events at the Tuscany Hotel & Casino with track events and autocross at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (utilizing the new 2.3 mile autocross course.)
October 19 - John Foster West Texas Open Road Race - 78 cars raced in a unique two-part race covering 97 miles from Sprayberry to Rankin, then Rankin to Midland. Members of Tumbleweed and Double T Miata Clubs assisted as gate guards and participated in the parade/procession on Saturday. We hosted 9 Miatas at Fuddrucker's for an early Saturday dinner before the race event started.
October 24 - steakfinger run to Buddy's Drive In - Andrews - 7 Miatas enjoyed the "West Texas Cuisine" with steakfingers, followed by an ice cream run to Texas Burger.
November 7-9 - Ozona "Devil's River/Seminole Canyon" weekend run - a total of 12 Miatas from all over the State joined in for our 5th annual driving weekend based at the Circle Bar. Although rainy and cold, the run from Comstock to Pandale was a fun event. Marion Daily did a little "off-road" romp that caused some damage and a lost tire, but he took it in stride - found a replacement tire in Ozona, and the rally continued. We drove 378 miles on Saturday.
November 21 - dinner run to J.C's Barbeque - nine Miatas invaded the restaurant for dinner and then Swensen's Ice Cream Parlor for dessert and conversation.
December 6 - annual Midland Christmas PARADE - nine Miatas participated (with a couple of elves and a princess.)
December 19 - 7th annual Christmas Lights Dine-n-Drive was graciously hosted by Larry & Kim Gillette in Midland. Sixteen Miatas and their owners ate shrimp and other goodies before touring the lights of Midland and closing up Starbuck's late into the evening. Yvonne Beaver and Jude Miller won our "best/worst" hat contest, and the 2004 officers were elected.
December 27-28 - Christmas on the Pecos in Carlsbad NM - (review from Bob Price) Five Miatas and a pickup (aka support vehicle), the Robertsons, Grossies, Prices, Ken Herbert and Ann Garza, McLeans and Hoovers (Mark's sister and family) made the trip to Carlsbad, NM to view a most gorgeous display of Christmas decorations along the Pecos River waterfront. Our rooms were ready upon arrival at the Stevens/Best Western, thanks to prior arrangements made by Wes & Candace Nance. Dinner at the No Whiner Diner was convenient to the motel and the food and service was great. We proceeded to the boat dock for the scheduled river ride and decoration viewing. The boat ride was cool (pronounced COLD ) but everyone was warm with the cold weather gear brought in preparation for whatever the weather man could muster for us. The ride took us along some of the most beautiful, elaborate and imaginary decorations one could imagine. There were helicopters, merry-go-rounds, animals, trees. cactus, elves, santas all in colored lights and on and on. In all there were 40-50 homes with their back yards, boat docks, landings, and patios all decked out. Only one "Grinch" elected not to participate. The group stopped for hot chocolate shortly after we were deposited back on shore. Breakfast Sunday morning was a huge buffet at the motel. The group split up after a leisurely breakfast, but the three hardy yellow Miatas elected to make a dash to Sitting Bull Falls, led by Mark McLean (aka prez), hike to the falls and then head for Dog Canyon. The road becomes gravel at the gate to the park, so the group made a "Uey" back to Queen for lunch. Ken Herbert knew the restaurant/general store owners and had taken care of reservations for us. It is a unique and interesting operation. The population of Queen is 45 (and that's on a good day) but they are great folks and very accommodating. The return home was a less spirited drive but we made it anyway.
