In The Breeze - Bluebonnet Miata Club

In The Breeze
Happy Birthday, U.S.A.!
July 2015
Official Newsletter of the Bluebonnet MX-5 Miata Club
Still Free!
NC Bids Farewell On A High Note
J.D. Power surveyed more than 86,000 people during the first 90 days from which they purchased or leased a new vehicle made
during the 2015 model year, with the 2015 Mazda MX-5 taking the overall top spot in the "Compact Sporty Car" segment. The
third-generation MX-5 roadster was named the IQS segment award recipient for all but one year of its model run, which began
in 2006.
"This marks a great bookend for our third-generation MX-5 ahead of welcoming in the all-new 2016 model," said Robert Davis,
senior vice president of operations, Mazda North American Operations. "Enthusiasts the world over have fallen in love with
MX-5 for more than 25 years because of its performance, reliability, ease of use and, most of all, the smile it puts on the face of
everyone who drives one. We expect that to continue into the next generation of our flagship roadster."
The 2016 MX-5 goes on sale in July with an MSRP starting at $24,915*, not including $820 for destination and handling ($865
in Alaska), taxes or any additional fees.
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer
service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. For more information on Mazda
vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.
*Independent dealers set actual prices on new vehicle inventory.
2006
2015
2007
...and Arriving Soon...
2014
2008
2009
2013
The All-New 2016 ND Launch Edition!
2010
2012
2011
JULY 2015
PAGE 2
2014 Club Officers
Welcome New Members!
Frank Emerson
President
2008 True Red
Mark Hungerman
Spring Branch
[email protected]
Brian & Christine Collie
Vice President
2011 Brilliant Black
Jim “Jimbo” Treat
New Braunfels
[email protected]
Jeff Anderson
Secretary
2007 True Red
Stephanie Turner
San Antonio
[email protected]
Treasurer
Jared Martin
Joe Knight
2002 Classic Red
[email protected]
Universal City
Membership
Lisa Martin
[email protected]
Newsletter Editor
George Lucas
[email protected]
If you have moved, changed phone numbers,
your car, please email these changes
[email protected] so our records will
And don't forget to check your label on your
your renewal date!
your email or
to memberbe up to date.
newsletter for
Thanks,
Lisa Martin
Bluebonnet Miata Club Membership Chair
Inside this Issue…
Cover Story, NC Makes Way for the ND……………………………………………………………………………………Cover
Officers…………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….2
New Members……………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………….2
Velocity Read ……………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………….3
President’s Message……………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………..3
Tumbleweed Trot II……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4, 5
Peach Pickin’ Time…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..6
Summer Picnic………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..7
Bill and Kari’s Wedding and Reception…………………………………………………………………………………………..8
ND Spy Report from Japan………………………………………………………………………………………………………...9
Head for the Mountains Update………………………………………………………………………………………………….10
Picture This…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..11
Upcoming Events………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Back Page
JULY 2015
PAGE 3
Velocity Read
One must understand that some (okay, mostly me) of us think our Miata is the bomb, the truly special one in
the vast collection of MX-5’s that have our shores. So, when a new model, like the soon to arrive ND Launch
Edition, is almost upon us, it sort of puts things in perspective. I mean, I have the NC Launch Edition, as it
were, and even with my delicate ego, I realize I must put aside my holier than thou attitude and respect the
new version. Wow, that was difficult to say.
But, since that hasn’t happened just yet, let me tell you what surprised those of us that made it out to our last Sundaes on
Monday event at the historic Pig Stand. A young man in a (gasp) 2006 LTD! And number 69 no less! (Mine is 1125 and Craig
Martin’s is 32.) Imagine our surprise when we look out and a new prospective member parks alongside our row of Miatas! His
name slips my mind at the moment, but he was very excited and intends to join our club!
***
Elsewhere in this issue is a preliminary schedule of the upcoming Head for the Mountains trip, New Mexico style, including our intended route. While the first day will be pretty much a repeat of past HFTM
trips, please remember many new members are joining us and haven’t experienced the fun that first
part holds. Spending the first night in Alpine, we’ll have an evening run to the Fort Davis area for dinner on your own and the second day will be new to all of us! Many thanks to those of you helping me plot out a fun route,
you know who you are.
If you can, I hope you join us on this new adventure to New Mexico! It’s always fun to go somewhere new and this year’s
HFTM promises lots of new places to go, fun roads and I can’t wait to smell the sweet scent of the Pinon trees in the mountains of southern New Mexico.
Don’t forget to order your t-shirts for this event. The price is the same as last year, $16.50 each or two for $30. More later…
Zoom Zoom!
George Lucas, Editor
President’s Message
More. That seems to be the one word that sums up the club to me. If I ask someone to do something
for a club event, they generally do that and more. I sent around a signup sheet for the picnic with
Stephanie at the last meeting. People filled it up, and brought more things that I didn’t think of, making
for a better picnic than it would have otherwise been. I set a start time of noon for the picnic, and said
that George and I would be out there at eleven o’clock to start the charcoal, so of course, there were
already 8-10 people there at eleven that wanted more picnic time to connect with their club friends, and
to help prepare the pavilion for the masses about to descend upon it. I figured we’d be out there at the
pavilion until maybe three o’clock , but the cleanup crew (thank you!) didn’t finish until close to five
o’clock and there were still a few people in the parking lot chewing the fat, with at least one hood raised,
each of them wanting more picnic. Lots of examples of ‘more’.
The picnic was a lot of fun. People seemed to enjoy themselves, pitch in and help, and have a good time. There are a few
things that will be better next year. The signup sheet will be more comprehensive, and I promise that ‘crispy’ hot dogs will be
available, if I have anything to say about it. I had just enough coals to cook all of the hot dogs, and then they faded, and
even leaving a few dogs on the grill for 10-15 minutes accomplished nothing. I’ve also learned how to share out a Google Map
and make a short URL, so there will be much less confusion over whatever location we choose to use. The address was what
Google Maps spit out, but people’s GPSs took them FAR to the other side of I35 on Evans road, and I apologize for the confusion. I consider those lessons learned, and was overall pleased with my ‘rookie’ picnic effort, thanks to a lot of help.
Mark
JU LY 2015
PAGE 4
Tumbleweed Trot II
Led by Mark Hungerman
On a day of broken clouds and sun, we left Haby’s parking lot on time, after consuming many morning treats. I personally
bought a box of my favorite doughnuts so I could have some the next day. If you ask me some time, I may tell you what kind
that is.
We headed west out of Castroville, and took 1343 on a diagonal down towards Devine. After turning south on 173, we saw our
first minor pavement damage from the recent floods. Asphalt had peeled up from the road, and I recognized a couple of businesses in Devine that had been on the news during the floods.
Turning west out of Devine on 2200, we encountered the worst road damage. About 5 miles out, over the top of a rise, there was
an asphalt patch about half the size of a Miata in the road. We carefully traversed it at about 25 mph, and continued on our
way. Turning south on 462, we continued through Moore, ducking under I-35 to take a parallel route, 2779, into Pearsall (home
of the world’s largest peanut!) and the longest pit stop in the history of the BBMC. They had closed BOTH restrooms in the
convenience store, and we were reduced to one unisex bathroom in the adjoining Subway.
We took 140 north out of Pearsall, but instead of continuing to Uvalde, I broke off the run this year by taking 187 to Sabinal for
our second stop. From Sabinal, we continued north on 187 for a few miles, and then went west on 1796, a fun, scenic little road
that bends south and takes you right into D’Hanis, where we met up with RIch and Gayle Sandenaw. They had been unable to
make the run due to an attack of entropy. One Miata had a dead battery, and when they pulled the other one out of the garage
it had a flat. Rich also had a motorcycle battery die earlier in the week. Bill and Rosa’s provided their usual comfort food and
excellent service, and I even got to see the unique urn in which Rosa still oversees the place. It’s fun, personal, and suited to
one of her hobbies.
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, so I think I have at least one more Tumbleweed Trot to do next year. I’ll mix it up, add
some new stuff, and hopefully, we can re-visit Bigfoot.
PAGE 5
JU LY 2015
More Tumbleweed Trot II Photos
PAGE 6
JU LY 2015
Vogel Peach Orchard
Led by Dan and Betty Hicks
JU LY 2015
PAGE 7
JU LY 2015
PAGE 8
The Run to and Bill & Kari’s
Wedding and Reception
JU LY 2015
PAGE 9
Special Launch Edition ND’s Spotted by In The Breeze Reporter!
My sources (yours truly) in Japan have spotted the noted Launch Edition ND’s that belong to those club members that placed
orders. I walked the entire lot to search out ownership of each one! Many thanks to the club for expensing my trip to Japan as
Bluebonnet Miata Club spares no expense to get the news!
-Ed
Pat F’s
ND
Bill H’s
Dave H’s
ND
ND
Dorothy W’s
ND
Paul B’s
ND
Don and
Judi P’s
ND
Paul W’s
ND
JU LY 2015
PAGE 10
Many of you are wondering how we’re going to New Mexico, what we plan on doing on the way out, and more importantly what
will we be doing when we get there! I ask for your patience and indulgence as myself and several other wonderful folks who are
helping me are working hard to ensure you won’t be disappointed. I say this hoping you understand we’re doing all this planning
from here in San Antonio. I will tell you, we have help from some great people there in the Cloudcroft-Alamogordo area giving us
valuable input on these things. Below you see the route we’ll be taking and in the coming weeks a detailed itinerary with pit
stops, interesting points of interest along the way will be forthcoming. Lots of you folks have been there and are making some
really good suggestions and all these will be taken into consideration.
A couple of things to think of now is whether or not you want a HFTM 5 t-shirt. They’ll be white in color with the above logo on
the back and for the first time, a ladies V-neck version is being offered. Prices for all is $16.50 each or two for $30. Secondly, I
need a head count for the Sunday evening dinner. The venue is still being organized, but it’ll be a really nice dinner with door
prizes. I hope you will RSVP me on this dinner as I need to let the restaurant know for purposes of menu planning, etc.
Also, while I will have an itinerary soon for the entire weekend, feel free to plan or do things on your own while we’re out in New
Mexico. All I ask is please let me know so we can be somewhat organized in our runs and events. I like to do things together, but
then I understand and want everyone to have a good time.
And lastly, if you are going out with us on Thursday, September 3rd, we have rooms available at our favorite digs, the Hampton
Inn in Alpine for Thursday night. You will need to call them for reservations under Bluebonnet Miata Head for the Mountains.
Call them directly at (432) 837-7344 and ask for Jennifer. If you have further questions or concerns, feel free to call me, George
Lucas, at 210-846-1944. New Mexico here we come!
Save the date! September 3rd*-4th through the 7th, Labor Day Weekend!
New Mexico, here we come! Don’t miss it!
*Most are leaving on Thursday, the 3rd, however, if you want to make the trip in one day you can leave on the 4th.
JU LY 2015
PAGE 11
As many of you know, our club is fortunate to have several accomplished photographers, both amateur and professional. This month begins a new addition to our newsletter, Picture This.
If you have a photo that is Miata related that you are particularly proud
of, we want to see it! This first offering
is from Chicky LeClair.
From Chicky; Couldn't let the new
moon phase pass by without shooting
the Milky Way especially with the pending hurricane making our way to cover
the skies. Made my way back out to
Concan, TX for the dark skies and took
the Miata for an enjoyable night-sky
ride. Difficult to keep your eyes on the
road when the skies are so gorgeous.
Compilation of 2 shots - one for the sky and the other for everything else, blended in Photoshop. Orange glow is Sabinal, TX
and white glow to the right is Uvalde, TX. Both around 15 miles away.
Info: Nikon D7100, Tokina 11-16 @ 11.5mm, f2.8; 6/16/15, 1:15am
Foreground: ISO 1000, 243 sec (4 minutes)
Sky: ISO 3200, 25 sec.
So, send me your photos, this is the place to show off and share your photographic talents! Thanks, Chicky!
-Ed
Please, Don’t forget our Sponsors!
In The Breeze
Bluebonnet Miata Club
San Antonio, Texas
http://www.bluebonnetmiata.org
To join club or renew dues, open the above web site and click on the
membership tab
Check your mailing label for your renewal date.
Please renew your membership promptly!
Remember When?
Upcoming Runs and Events

Saturday, June 27th, Fredericksburg Winery Run, Led by Ed and Barbara Smith. Details coming soon, check our website or watch for it on Yahoo Groups!

Thursday, July 2nd, Lunar Zoomer Dinner, hosted by George Lucas. A wonderful venue will be
divulged soon! Watch the calendar or your Yahoo Groups email!

Saturday, July 4th, Frozen Forth, AKA Sundaes on Monday...on Saturday, hosted by Mark Hungerman, run before to Kerrville, then Culver’s. Depart the Miata Valero. Show: 9:00 a.m., Depart:
9:30 a.m.

Saturday, July 11th, Trash Pick Up, organized by Jeff Holbrook. Meet at the Miata Valero at 8:00
a.m. After pick up we’ll go on over to Grumpy’s for breakfast.

Saturday, July 18th, C.A.F. Centex Hanger Run, led by Mike and Andra Chalk. Meet at the
Miata Valero at 9:00 a.m., depart at 9:30 a.m.

Saturday, July 25th, Dash and Splash, run led by Jim Treat, Splash hosted by Paul and Wanda
Begnoche. Details regarding run will be emailed soon!

Tuesday, July 28th, Bigz Burger Joint, Monthly Meeting. Eat, 6:30 p.m., Meeting starts at 7:30
p.m.

Labor Day Weekend, September 4th-7th, Head for the Mountains 5! We’re going to New
Mexico!!!