Just recently I sent out an email

for the members to view and

comment on. The email was a

communication in response of

inquiring about the use of

facilities at one of the local

mountain resorts. I wanted to

see what kind of issues we are

going to have as we plan and

figure out what we are going to

do for “our” 25th anniversary. I

also would like your input. This

is just a start and all items are

negotiable. Now that school is

out and summer is here we will

be traversing the countryside

to find that perfect spot. Please

if you have any ideas or areas

you would like us to see and

also contact let the Board know.

We may not get the deal we

received at Bear Valley for our

20th, but we are going to try

hard to equal it. We plan on

approaching them also.

Meanwhile check out the web

page for the upcoming events.

We have a plethora of fun

things to do and place’s to see.

And don’t forget, drive to. Let’s

have some fun.

Just a note: we plan on having

another swap meet later in the

year so break out those parts.

This should give you plenty of

notice. I’m cleaning my garage

and I have parts all over.

Another man’s junk is another

man’s treasure.

If you haven’t signed up for the

Fountains on July11th please

get your reservation in. We

have a few spots left and it’s a

great chance to get our club

recognized and display your

(Continued on page 2)

NEXT MEETING

Thursday, June 12th

BLACK BEAR DINER

2700 El Centro Rd, Sacramento

(near I-80 and W El Camino Avenue)

916-641-2327

Come early for dinner, 6pm

Meeting at 7pm

Inside this issue:

Who’s New 2

From Our Members 3-7

When is Father’s Day 8

The Road Ahead 9-11

The Road Ahead Extended 12-13

In the Rear View Mirror 14-15

Tech Talk 16-18

Treasure Trove 19

SAMOANS Will Travel 20

June 2014

M I

A T

A T

U D

E S

By Robin George S

AC

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ME

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M I A T A T U D E S Page 2

Who’s New by Mike DeLaurentis

Each month Miatatudes will include a welcome to the new members that have joined our club.

The following people have joined SAMOA

SAMOANS, be sure to say “hi” and make our new members feel welcome.

New Member Miata

Wallace and Julia Armstrong 2000 Blue

Darin Schrum 1999 Black

Philip and Mayu Lindblad 2000 Mahogany Mica and 1995 Black

Dan Stump 1999 Emerald Green Mica

Miata to lots of people. Our own personal car show in a fantastic setting with

thousands attending.

We also have the opportunity to scout out a rest home for the future while they check

us out. We have an event where we can eat among animal heads and ride a train

through the Delta. And for a club first we are going to be treated at a great foothill

winery. So as you can see we are kicking in the fun. I can’t emphasize it enough for you

to read this newsletter and check out our web page. We do things and we want you to

do them with us. There are more events planned, and will show up as soon as we

finalize them. Neat things.

(Robin’s Nest continued from page 1)

Fatherly Advice

by Jenn Sipe

One of the things I remember most about my father was the sage advice he often gave. He always spoke to us in a scholarly way and was very concerned about the value of a dollar. One thing in particular I will never forget is the time he sat my sisters and me down and taught us “The Proper Economical Use of Toilet Paper”.

Step 1 Make sure that the roll is on properly, that is the paper rolls from the top as seen in this picture

Step 2 Carefully count out four sections tearing after the fourth section at the perforation.

Step 3 Fold the strip in half at the second perforation and then again so that you see only one section in four layers.

Step 4 Apply to the appropriate area (s).

Step 5 Repeat steps 1-4 only as necessary.

I have continued to use this method with some conditions and exceptions.

1. The above method only works when to paper actually comes on a roll not the

individual sheets. If using the individual sheets, 4 sheets, no folding required.

2. I never use the pretty folded paper in hotels . Regardless of where you are using

it, who knows where their hands have been.

3. It is important to use 2 ply toilet paper. As in life sometimes quality is better than

quantity.

An Avid Gardener by Mike Sipe

People always ask me how my father is doing and what has kept him going all these years, he will be 95 on June the 8th. As I look back as a child and through the years I would have to say it was his love of gardening. I can't remember ever living some place where he did not have some type of garden. He worked for the Federal Government and we moved several times. It did not matter because he always figured a way to plant a garden, some pretty small and others quite large. He was also organic gardening way before it was the in thing to do. Any way, I guess all that hard work planting and harvesting over the years have paid off. As you can see from the pictures taken in May 2014 that he still is at it, just at a much slower pace.

Continued on page 4

M I A T A T U D E S Page 3

From Our Members

My Dad

By Jeanne George

Father’s Day reminds me of the sacrifices my Dad made in order for me to have life. My Mom had complication in her 5th month of pregnancy and was bed ridden for four months. During that time my Dad slept on a mattress on the floor and took care of her and my sister. Even though he wanted a son, the day I was born and handed to him I grabbed his thumb, and as Mom says “You never let go.” I was always Daddy’s girl. A year later he did get a son and four years later another girl.

At age 3, standing on his feet, holding his hands we danced the box step, the only dance he knew. He got great pleasure in teasing me. He would make me look away and then steal my dessert and convince me I already ate it. Years later I loved to mow the lawn with him and watched him when he worked on the car. I learned to cook and he was always full of compliments, even the year I was 8 and made hot dogs for Thanksgiving Dinner when Mom was sick. When I was 15 he suffered a massive stroke that left him paralyzed on one side and confined to a wheelchair. He still continued to teach me many things. He couldn’t take me driving, but always wanted me protected. He sat in his wheelchair and had me change all four tires on the family station wagon because he didn’t want me left stranded. I was grateful for that lesson when I had a flat tire on four occasions: all pre AAA Auto Club and cell phones.

My Dad died when I was 17, but his memory and the values he taught me still influence my life today.

GEORGE WASHINGTON,

Born in 1732 into a Virginia planter family, he learned the morals, manners, and body of knowledge requisite for an 18th century Virginia gentleman. His personality, character and leadership were decisive in three crucial events of early America - the Revolutionary War, the Constitutional Convention, and the first national administration.

Washington’s accomplishments include: He transcribed Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior In Company and Conversation before age

sixteen. George received no documented formal education. By seventeen-years-old, he was the official

surveyor of Culpeper County Virginia. He spent much of his life in some form of military endeavor.

The 23 year-old Colonel Washington was the only officer not shot down during a battle with the French and Indians in 1755. However he had four bullets through his coat, and two horses shot under him.

From August to November of 1776 remained steadfast with only 9,000 men as the British drove the meager American forces all over New York.

In June of 1775 at the Second Continental Congress, Washington was unanimously elected by his peers to command whatever forces could be mustered to stand against the British.

He became a prime mover in the steps leading to the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia

(Continued from page 3)

Continued on page 5

M I A T A T U D E S Page 4

M I A T A T U D E S Page 5

in 1787. When the new Constitution was ratified, the Electoral College unanimously elected Washington President.

On April 30, 1789, George Washington, standing on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York, took his oath of office as the first President of the United States.

His Fifth Annual Address to Congress, given in Philadelphia on December 3, 1793, Washington said:

“There is a rank due to the United States among nations, which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure the peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity it must be known that we are at all times ready for war.” Celebrated as the ‘Father of our Country,’’

It has been said that he set the bar high for future presidents.

Virus Alert

A highly dangerous virus called Weekly Overload Recreational Killer (WORK) is currently going around.

If you come in contact with this virus, you should immediately go to the nearest Biological Anxiety

Relief (BAR) center to take one of the following antidotes:

Work Insolating Neutralizer Extract (WINE) Radioactive UnWork Medicine (RUM) Bothersome Employer Elimination Rebooter (BEER) or Vaccine Official Depression Killing Antigen (VODKA)

Some Folks Are Just Power Gluttons…

Ron Petrich

Way back when I had hair (well maybe not that far back) I decided that my 1999 Miata handled well enough, but did not go nearly fast enough. So I installed a Flyin Miata FMII turbocharger kit and piggyback ECU. I was actually the first to install FM’s smog-legal kit in California, and needless to say there were some teething pains. But nothing that ultimately got in the way of making my car fairly reliable on both street and for trackdays. In addition to the kit itself, my car required an uprated clutch and a less restrictive exhaust system. My total investment approached about $7,500. Horsepower dynoed at about 220 RWHP (121 or so stock). The downside was what we refer to as the “fuss factor”. Since the kit was not the product of a large factory R&D process, it required more ongoing maintenance (tightening hoses, checking vacuum leaks, etc) than a factory turbo. And of course at 10 psi of boost pressure, no one knew the long-term effect on the motor. But I drove that car in turbocharged form for nearly 100,000 miles. At the end of this service interval I know the motor was tired and used (not leaked) more oil than normal.

I considered a new or replacement motor, planning to transfer all of the turbo equipment to the new long block. But then the other car junkie disease started showing symptoms, and the Miata was

(Continued from page 4)

(Continued on page 6)

M I A T A T U D E S Page 6

replaced with a 2007 S2000. Now the Honda was faster right out of the blocks, but in a different way. Although it boasted 240 HP (about 204 RWHP) it made most of it at nearly 8,000 rpm. It had very little torque, unlike the boosted Miata. But I was loathe to change things up too much (no CARB-approved kit plus lots of $$$ involved), until I drove another S2000 that had been supercharged. This was on the back roads around Thunderhill. The kit increased horsepower to nearly 300 RWHP, up about 50% from stock. I was this close! But thankfully rational thought soon returned (I later found out that many of the S2Ks so equipped suffered catastrophic engine meltdowns) and I passed. This was in December 2011. Guess what? Two months later my Honda was sold and I was (am) back in the Miata fold.

But for a serial modder, I feel I have come full circle once again. I have carefully upgraded the wheels, tires and suspension of the MX-5, as I did with both the 1999 and the 2007 cars before I considered more power. Why? Because in stock form, these cars (even the Honda) leave a lot of their potential on the table. Also, I love to drive fast on twisty 2-lane roads, and I can do so more safely if the car’s limits are raised. But then one thing ALWAYS leads to another, and soon I was looking for more power as well.

And California is NOT a very friendly place for making engine modifications. This includes not just major components like turbochargers or superchargers, but also cold air intakes, headers, midpipes and aftermarket electronic tweaking (ECE tunes). They are all technically illegal (not CARB-compliant) for the NC platform, and in fact very scarce now for NAs and NBs as well. The process to get a part or a system approved in California requires significant $$$ to be invested by a manufacturer, and stil there is no guarantee that approval will be given, or the investment can be amortized fully by subsequent sales. So what do folks do? They buy non-CARB compliant parts anyway, and hope that they can either find a friendly smog shop that looks the other way, or they remove the offending hardware every 2 years. I certainly do NOT want the uncertainty or stress associated with this process. This, coupled with the fact that the State of California is starting to come down very, very hard on cheating smog shops (read possible fines and jail time), and finding loopholes is increasingly difficult.

So… What is a backwoods, belly scratching power glutton to do? Well, it seems 2 avenues have presented themselves in the past month or so. On the extreme end, Flyin Miata currently has their very successful (and very reliable) Cosworth supercharger in final testing to obtain a CARB EO and thus be available for sale (legally) in California. And t is something I was following very closely. Total investment once again would approach $7,500 plus installation (as an upgraded clutch would be a necessity), and the car would produce a very reliable 225 RWHP and a fat torque curve to boot. Most pundits expect this kit to be ready for California prime time in the next 2-3 months.

But then I started reading feedback on the Miata Forum about a unique new product from Vishnu Tuning in Hayward, California. Shiv Pathak, the owner, has borrowed a design from Phantom Superchargers. From the Phantom website…

The Phantom is a 'Full throttle Supercharger' (FTS) that provides non parasitic boost, on demand and produces a pressure ratio of up to 1.3 PR. A micro switch located on the throttle body or on the accelerator pedal activates the compressors brushless electric motor sending boost pressure to the engine above ~80% throttle. When not in use the system quickly recharges the compact 24 volt auxiliary battery, and once charged creates no parasitic drain on the engine. The PHANTOM FTS provides performance that

(Continued from page 5)

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M I A T A T U D E S Page 7

is near conventional low pressure forced induction or a 40 shot of NOS with reduced complexity. The system is capable of over 60 seconds of continuous boost and with an 8:1 recharge rate means it is ready for action for all street driving situations. The PHANTOM system comes complete with a compressor, integrated electronic controller/charger, wiring, and a dash mounted state of charge voltmeter. Batteries are inexpensive compact 18AHR SLA’s and can be easily sourced, links provided.

Shiv has taken this system, which has an installed base of over 3,000 cars in the Subaru BRZ/Honda FRS realm, married it to his Open Flash Tablet for optimizing the engine’s tune, and designed it for the NC Miata. Shiv demonstrated the system at SAMOA’s May meeting, accompanied also by SAMOA member Ari Azad, who also has a prototype kit in his 2006. Dyno plots of the performance on a stock NC Miata show about 190 RWHP and about 172 FT/LB of torque. This is about 85% of the HP levels achieved in the Cosworth kit, but at 1/3 the cost. Installation times are claimed to be under 2 hours, and no additional hardware (exhaust, clutch, etc) are required.

This glutton ordered the kit that same night. Hopefully I will be able to demonstrate my system at the June meeting. Stay tuned…

Missing Wife

A husband went to the police station to file a "missing person" report for his missing wife:

Husband: "I lost my wife, she went shopping & hasn't come back yet".

Inspector: "What is her height?"

Husband: "I never checked."

Inspector: "Slim or healthy?"

Husband: "Not slim can be healthy."

Inspector: "Color of eyes?"

Husband: "Never noticed."

Inspector: "Color of hair?"

Husband: "Changes according to season."

Inspector: "What was she wearing?"

Husband: "Not sure whether it was a dress or a suit."

Inspector: "Was she driving?"

Husband: "Yes."

Inspector: "Tell me the number, name & color of the car..." Husband: "Black Audi A8 with supercharged 3.0 litre V6 engine generating 333 horse power, teamed with an eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission with manual mode. And it has full LED headlights, which use light emitting diodes for all light functions and has a very thin scratch on the front left door... and then the husband started crying… Inspector: "Don't worry sir,... we will find your car."

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Page 8

When is Father’s Day?

M I A T A T U D E S

Occurrence Dates Country

February 23 Russia (Defender of the Fatherland Day])

March 19

Andorra (Dia del Pare) Belgium (Antwerp) Mozambique (Dia do Pai) Bolivia

Honduras Croatia[

Italy (Festa del Papà)Liechtenstein

Portugal (Dia do Pai) Spain (Día del Padre) Switzerland (Canton Ticino)

May 8 South Korea (Parents' Day)

Second Sunday of May May 11, 2014 Romania (Ziua Tatălui)

Third Sunday of May May 18, 2014 Tonga

Ascension Day May 29, 2014 Germany

First Sunday of June Jun 1, 2014 Lithuania (Tėvo diena), Switzerland

June 5 Denmark (also Constitution Day)

Second Sunday of June Jun 8, 2014 Austria and Belgium

June 17 El Salvador and Guatemala

June 21 (first day of summer) Lebanon Egypt

Jordan Palestine

Syria Uganda

June 23 Nicaragua and Poland

Last Sunday of June Jun 29, 2014 Haiti

Second Sunday of July Jul 13, 2014 Uruguay

Last Sunday of July Jul 27, 2014 Dominican Republic

August 8 Taiwan

Second Sunday of August Aug 10, 2014 Brazil and Samoa

First Sunday of September Sep 7, 2014 Australia Fiji

New Zealand Papua New Guinea

Second Sunday of September Sep 14, 2014 Latvia

Third Sunday of September Sep 21, 2014 Ukraine

First Sunday of October Oct 5, 2014 Luxembourg

Second Sunday of November Nov 9, 2014 Estonia (Isadepäev) Finland (Isänpäivä) Iceland

Norway Sweden

November 12 Indonesia

December 5 Thailand (The birthday of King Bhumibol)

December 26 Bulgaria

The third Sunday in June? Not so fast. As it turns out it depends on what country you live in, or are visit-ing. In many countries Including the United States it will be on June 15, 2014. If visiting in one of the countries listed below you may have missed it for this year or get to celebrate twice.

M I A T A T U D E S Page 9

The Road Ahead

June 8, 2014 Rio Vista Lunch/Western Railway Museum

Meet at the Sacramento Black Bear Restaurant at 8:30 AM (our general meeting place), and leave about 9:00 AM for a nice relaxing drive down River Road through Clarksburg, and on some of the back roads heading south. After crossing Steamboat Slough on the J-Mack Ferry, and a short drive, we'll be having lunch at one of the most fascinating restaurants in Rio Vista. After lunch we'll drive to the Western Railway Museum at Rio Vista Junction. Admission is $10 for Adults, and $9 for Seniors. This includes everything from riding an authentic historic train, viewing the exhibits, or taking part of a 45 minute guided tour. There's also a Museum Store, and a Depot Cafe if your still hungry after lunch! Rounding out the day, those of you who want to stop in any of the Delta towns of Isleton, Walnut Grove, or Locke, back track to Hwy 160, and head North to Sacramento.

Contact: Bob Castelli 916-962-1882 bob.castelli@gmail.com

June 14, 2014

Bear to Bear Fun Run

Meet at the Black Bear Restaurant where we have our monthly meetings and drive various routes through the countryside. The entire round trip is about 200 miles. We will have a group lunch at the far end of the routes. More details as we get closer to summer. Contact Joe Conley (858) 395-0139

June 18, 2014

4th Annual Greenhaven Estates Run

This is the fourth annual Greenhaven Estates run and car show. The plan is to meet at a nearby supermarket parking lot no later than 5:45 PM. We will leave the parking lot at 6:00 PM sharp and arrive together at the facility about two minutes later. We will spend 30 to 45 minutes showing off our cars to the residents, several of whom have worked in racing and other auto related professions. After the show, those who want to have dinner with the group will drive to nearby Freeport for dinner at the Freeport Bar and Grill. Please let us know you are coming (and whether you are planning to go to dinner after the show) by email at vlweis@gmail.com or by calling (916) 747-4627. More Info on page 12

June 29th, 2014

Wine Tasting & Picnic

Come along for a nice drive, visit a unique winery, taste excellent wines and have lunch in a serene setting at the Pilot Peak Winery in Penn Valley (www.pilotpeak.com ). We will meet at 9:00 AM then depart at 9:30 AM from the Rocklin McDonalds on Sierra College Blvd just North of I-80. Bring you own lunch for a picnic at the winery following wine tasting. Pilot Peak has graciously offered a 20% discount on their very drinkable and reasonably priced wines so plan on purchasing some to enjoy with lunch or in when you get home. Questions and RSVP to Lee Galati at leegalati@gmail.com or 916-945-7407.

The following is a list of upcoming events. If you have any ideas for a run, or you need help organizing a run, please contact anyone on the BOO and we will be more than happy to help you.

Please use the RSVP form for each event you are planning to attend.

http://sacramentoareamiata.org/rsvpform.html

Events Coordinator-Mike Sipe email: jenn524.js@gmail.com

M I A T A T U D E S Page 10

The Road Ahead Continued

July, 11, 2014 Fountains at Roseville II

SAMOA members have again been invited by the management of Fountains at Roseville to display their Miatas. This exclusive car show is for our members only. The event will take place on Friday, July 11th between 4:30 pm and 10:00 pm. In addition to the car show, there will be art and craft vendors, food booths, music and plenty of shopping and restaurants. There is no charge to attend this event.

Exhibitors will need to bring their cars between 4:30-5:30 pm. and will be positioned in the reserved parking section based on first come first parked. Once all the vehicles are parked, the area will be closed off to pedestrian traffic only. The event will run for the public between 6 pm-10 pm. Vehicles will not be allowed to leave early for safety reasons.

We need a minimum of 30 Miatas and have a maximum of 36 spaces available. Contact Robin George for information or questions at robin@winfirst.com or (916) 359-2627.

July 12, 2014 Kirkwood Pancake Run

We will be meeting at the McDonalds in Cameron Park for a little coffee and socializing. We should arrive around 10:15 and there will a pitstop at either Ham's Station or Cook's Station about an hour into the ride. We will take a new circuitous route through the Sierras. After breakfast we will proceed down Mormon Immigrant Trail and through Pleasant Valley. The Inn features a complete breakfast menu but the pancakes are the feature. They do not take reservations but we have never had to wait in all the years that I have done this run with various clubs. For more information go here. Meeting Location: McDonald's, 3356 Coach Lane, Cameron Park (in the Safeway parking lot), Meeting Time: 8:00 AM Departure Time: 8:30 AM Contact: Jack Parker jsp@svics.com (916) 718-1545

July 19, 2014 USS Hornet Tour

This is a docent-guided tour of the USS Hornet, CVS-12, located at the USS Hornet Museum site in Alameda, CA. The tour will last approximately 2 hours. The cost of the tour is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 65 and older, and $6 for children under 18. The $60 cost of the docent will be divided among the participants. When you RSVP provide your ages in the comment field of the RSVP form. Payment will be made to Ron on arrival. We will depart from the McDonald's Restaurant in Davis (4444 Chiles Road, Davis, CA 95618 530-753-5001) at 8:00AM sharp, in order to arrive in Alameda in plenty of time for our scheduled tour, which will begin at 10:30AM. Following our tour, we will drive to the Pier 29 Restaurant, also located in Alameda, for a casual lunch. Contact: Ron Petrich (916) 454-1008 freescopesdad@comcast.net

August 15th, 16th and 17th, 2014

Monterey Historic

Monterey Week will once again be held this year during the third weekend of August. As in past years, MazdaUSA will be hosting all Miata owners at the free Mazda Corral, located on the inside of turn 5 at Laguna Seca. The Miata corral on Saturday will include a tent, exclusive parking for Miatas only, free breakfast and lunch, and Mazda giveaways.

If you plan to attend the Miata corral, please send us a courtesy RSVP. Check the website for detailed information. Contact Ron Petrich (916) 454-1008 freescopesdad@comcast.net

M I A T A T U D E S Page 11

The Road Ahead Continued

September 5-7, 2014

Miatas At Mazda Raceway 25th Anniversary Event

Please save the date for this historic event. We want to see if we can have the largest contingent of attendees from any Miata club in the world. And we certainly want to give our best effort in helping to set a new Guinness world record for the largest gathering of Miatas ever. As information becomes available I will pass it along on this page, or you can also visit the Miatas at MRLS website for information. With the support of Mazda, plus the anticipated upcoming introduction of the fourth-generation Miata, this event, so close to home, promises to be one you will not want to miss.

Samoa members and other Sacramento Miata enthusiasts... Once you officially register for this event, please let us also know by completing the RSVP form found on the following page that provides all the details of the event: http://sacramentoareamiata.org/event_MRLS2014.html

September 14, 2014

Fall in the Vines

SAMOA's 24th birthday will be celebrated once again at Windwalker Winery, 7360 Perry Creek Road, Fair Play, California 95684. Join us for a spirited drive in the foothills, catered BBQ lunch, lawn games, dunking, prizes, and of course splendid wine tasting. Save the date of Sunday, September 14, 2014. More details will be provided as we get closer to the picnic. Contact Jeanne George (916) 359-2627

October 10 13, 2014

24th Annual Fort Bragg Weekend

This annual event is a big favorite. We will make a run to Fort Bragg on Friday, for a weekend stay. We have a block of rooms reserved at the Best Western. This is the Columbus Day holiday weekend so our special rate will be available the nights of October 10th to October 12th (checking out the 13th ). This event allows you to either find your own fun in this beautiful coastal area, or participate in various events we will organize such the 2014 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ABALONE COOK-OFF & FESTIVAL 2014 on Saturday Oct. 11th,

The Friday run will leave from the McDonalds off of the Mace Blvd exit in Davis. We will meet at 8:00 a.m. and leave promptly at 8:30 a.m. This will be a leisurely drive with several rests stops. Telephone the motel directly at (707) 964-4776 to make your reservations. Be sure to mention you are with our group. The proprietors of the Best Western know us as THE Miata Club.

Detailed information is on the website.

Please either call or E mail us as you make your reservations for the trip so we will know how many cars/people are coming. Contact Vince Weis & Kathi Bell (916) 422-5094 (H) (916) 747-4627 (C) vlweis@sbcglobal.net

December 6, 2014

SAMOA Christmas Party

Jenn and Mike Sipe will coordinate the event. It will be held at Vince's Ristorante in Elk Grove. We will once again be entertained by Jason Carmel. Please contact Jenn or Mike Sipe at (916) 685-1966 or by email jenn524.js@gmail.com for more information.

M I A T A T U D E S Page 12

The Road Ahead Extended

The following are extended descriptions of some upcoming events. Please contact the coordinator of the specific events for more information. Thank you. Events Coordinator-Mike Sipe

4th Annual Greenhaven Estates Run

This is the fourth annual Greenhaven Estates run

and car show. There is single digit mileage for this

run, even if you attend the optional no host dinner

at Freeport Bar and Grill following the run/show!

Greenhaven Estates is an assisted living facility

located in the Pocket Area of Sacramento. The plan

is to meet at a nearby supermarket parking lot no

later than 5:45 PM. We will leave the parking lot at

6:00 PM sharp and arrive together at the facility about two minutes later. We will spend 30 to 45

minutes showing off our cars to the residents, several of whom have worked in racing and other auto

related professions. After the show, those who want to have dinner with the group will drive to

nearby Freeport for dinner. We really need to know who is coming, both so we can set aside

sufficient parking at Greenhaven Estates and so we can make the after show dinner reservation at

Freeport Bar and Grill. Please let us know you are coming (and whether you are planning to go to

dinner after the show) by email at vlweis@gmail.com or by calling (916) 747-4627.

Fountains at Roseville II

WE STILL NEED SAMOA MIATAS

By Jeanne George

July 11th, Friday

4:30 pm to 10:00 pm

SAMOA members have again been invited by the

management of Fountains at Roseville to display

their Miatas. This exclusive car show is for our

members only. The event will take place on Friday,

July 11th between 4:30 pm and 10:00 pm. In addition

to the car show, there will be art and craft vendors,

food booths, music and plenty of shopping and

restaurants. There is no charge to attend this event.

Exhibitors will need to bring their cars between 4:30-5:30 pm. and will be positioned in the reserved

parking section based on first come first parked. Once all the vehicles are parked, the area will be

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M I A T A T U D E S Page 13

closed off for pedestrian traffic only. The event will

run for the public between 6 pm-10 pm. Vehicles will

not be allowed to leave early for safety reasons.

We need a minimum of 30 Miatas and have a

maximum of 35 spaces available. Contact Robin

George for information or questions at

robin@winfirst.com or 916 359-2627. Please use

RSVP form for this event.

Wine Tasting and Picnic – Pilot Peak

In addition to a nice drive through the foothills of Placer County,

you will get to experience a unique wine tasting, hosted by

wonderful folks in a very pleasant and serene Penn Valley setting.

What makes this tasting unique is how the winery presents their

wines. Anyone who has been wine tasting has experienced the

typical “belly up to the bar” atmosphere that presents the wines

in various ways ranging from a laminated menu to a explanation

from the person pouring.

At Pilot Peak, we will be

seated outside at patio

tables were hosts will

present the wines paired in a food friendly way with

appetizers.

We will meet at 9:00 AM at the Rocklin McDonald's on

Sierra College Boulevard just north of I80, and depart at

9:30 AM. Bring your own lunch for a picnic at the winery

following wine tasting. Pilot Peak has graciously offered a

20% discount on their very drinkable and reasonably

priced wines, so plan on purchasing some to enjoy with

lunch or later when you return home.

(Continued from page 12)

Remember to RSVP: http://sacramentoareamiata.org/rsvpform.html

In the Rear View Mirror

See what fun we had last month! Pictures of events are posted at the following link: http://www.sacramentoareamiata.org/photos.html

Page 14 M I A T A T U D E S

HAIR IN THE WIND II

Saturday, May 17th

By Jeanne George

This event was organized by SAMOA member, Ralph

Gingrich and sponsored by the Society for the Blind,

River City Chapter of National Federation of the Blind,

and the Lions Club District 4C5, and Sacramento Area

Miata Owners Association.

Weeks earlier Robin and I had scouted out a route that would be more enjoyable for the passengers.

Last year the route was more scenic for the drivers but the passengers enjoyed the speed and wind

in their hair of the freeway ride. We were attempting to avoid the Fix50 project which began a

month early and fell on the days of our test run and event. Our route started at the Society of the

Blind location at 13TH and S Street. It went past the Old Sacramento Cemetery off Riverside Blvd.,

down to Sutterville Rd, onto I-5 south, Pocket Rd. exit, and then Freeport Blvd to the town of

Freeport.

On the day of the event, Robin and I arrived at 8:45 to

begin setting up cones, blocking roadside parking at

our exit point, setting up signs, and our pop-up tent.

Shortly afterwards, Vince Weis arrived and immediately

asked how he could help us. Ron Petrich was next to

help get things arranged. Kathi Bell and Margaret

Counter arrived to help me with paperwork and to sign

up the passengers. Diane Galati volunteered to be our

photographer and her pictures can be found at

http://www.sacramentoareamiata.org/

photos_hair2014.html

Because Ralph had 75 passengers signed up for rides,

we were holding the round trip to a 30 minute drive.

However, only 39 passengers showed up on the day of

the event. We had 25 SAMOA members arrive to give

passengers their rides. As a result, many passengers

(Rear View continued on page 15)

Page 15 M I A T A T U D E S

took advantage and rode in several different vehicles. Those that had limited vision were requesting

Sharon Howe’s Bubble Bee yellow, Hugo Schmidt’s racing striped Miata, the bright reds, Astrid

Senger-Gibbons racing Miata, and Ron Petrich’s “loud

pipes” Miata. In addition, member Jyl Rubin brought

her 1957 T-bird and gave 4 rides and her partner Ron

Zander followed along for support.

Joe Conley managed to solve a problem that occurred

when a mother wanted to go for a ride and her young

daughter suffered a bout of anxiety. Joe loaded the

family into his Jeep and off they went. As the

passengers began to dwindle, we began releasing

drivers around 11 if they had other things to do. The last of our volunteer drivers left around 1:30.

The passengers were offered other options arranged by the Society of the Blind: to ride on the back

of

a

motorcycle or on a tandem bicycle.

Lunch was provided to the hungry drivers and passengers and included Tri-tip and chicken

sandwiches, chips and beverages.

The enthusiasm of the passengers for their rides, and the many positive comments we received lead

us to believe this was a very appreciated by many.

In addition to the members I have already mentioned in this article, Robin and I would like to thank

the following drivers for their time and participation: Julie Anthony, Jack Barret, Clay Cowan, Richard

Derr, Dennis Dunn, Ellen Frosch, Lee Galati, Toby Gallawa, Don Jarrell, Margie Jurach, Graeme Kinsey,

Steve McCutcheon, John Perkinson, Sally Schimmel, Tom Tyer, Carlos Vazquez, and John Williams.

“These drivers provided 65 rides that day.”

(Continued from page 14)

Page 16 M I A T A T U D E S

Tech Talk by Lee Galati

Open Flash Tablet and Electric Super Charger

Last month for the May Club Meeting, Shiv, Pathak, owner of Vishnu Performance Systems in

Danville, CA. and his lovely wife of two days, were kind enough to drive up from Danville to

discuss and demonstrate his Open Flash Tablet and Electric Super Charger. The real highlight came

in the parking lot where Shiv and member Ari Azad, were kind enough to make their cars available

to attending member who wished to test drive a Miata equipped with the ESC and tuned with the

Open Flash Tablet: Shiv’s was an ‘06 5 speed manual and Ari Azad’s is an 06 6 speed manual

(Application also suitable for autmatics). Since the members who got to drive either of the cars

were so impressed, I believe a summary of the products and their performance will be of interest

to many members who drive third generation Miata’s but were unable to attend.

The typical response I heard from those who drove

one of the cars was that they were impressed at

how much faster the car was yet the original

characteristics of the car remained unchanged. I

personally had the same impression after driving

Ari’s. As I left the Black Bear parking lot and pulled

up to the stop sign at W. El Camino Avenue, the car

did not feel any different than my O7. I pulled away

from the stop sign as I normally would (shifting at

4500 rpm 1st and 2nd) and still the car felt like my O7. When I hit 3500 in 3rd gear, I floored it and it

no longer felt like mine. Lee, (same name) who was riding with me, yelled, “WOW!” about the

same time I did. The tachometer went from 3500 to 7000 so fast it I thought I was in 2nd gear.

I floored the car several times in the short mile I drove and at no time did I notice any slack in

performance due to battery drain. The voltmeter Ari had attached to measure the voltage drain

related to the compressor returned to maximum voltage almost instantaneously after backing off

the accelerator. However, even though battery drain is not a problem in normal driving, Shiv does

not recommend it for extended all out track use were the batteries would have little or no time to

replenish.

Several of the members who drove one of the cars said they thought the cars could do 0 – 60 in

5.5 seconds or less. While that type of acceleration would be fun to surprise some Corvettes,

S2000’s, and Porches at red lights, those who want to make the Miata a drag racer would be

better served by other options. The beauty of this product is that in normal driving it maintains

the true characteristic of the car, but when you push the pedal more than 80% to the floor it

delivers that added acceleration that we often wish for when passing on the freeway or powering

(Continued on page 17)

Page 17 M I A T A T U D E S

out of a curve.

While it is not CARB approved, the installation and uninstallation is simple enough that one can take

it off at smog time. The lack of belts, pulleys and oil cooler make it virtually maintenance free and

since it does not have to over come the backpressure of a turbo or belt drag of a conventional

supercharger, it achieves gains of 47 HP and 50 ft. lbs. of torque with only 5-PSI boost. A boost

pressure this low and only applied on demand should not compromise the longevity of the engine.

The cost of the ESC kit, which includes the compressor, all the hardware and CAI, is $1995. The cost

of the Open Flash Tablet tune is $499. The battery pack (sold separately) is $140 and is a combination

of 3 batteries (2 for the SC and 1 for the car) and neatly fits in the OEM battery compartment.

Those members who wish more detail and pictures can

visit the Miata forum at http://forum.miata.net/vb/

showthread.php?t=537959. Those who wish to gain first

hand experience can probably entice Ari into a show and

tell. Ron Petrich will be installing his shortly and will likely

chronicle his installation for the web site. I suspect Ron

will also be amenable to suitable enticements.

Miatas Through Their Generations

25 Years of Greatness – A Look Back—SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

Launched in May 1989 with a starting price of $13,800

MSRP, the first-generation MX-5 Miata featured a 1.6-

liter four-cylinder engine with 116 horsepower and 100

lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual transmission was

standard, but a four-speed automatic was available as

an option. Suspension was by independent double

wishbone on all four wheels, and braking consisted of

four wheel-disc brakes with the front ventilated. The

engineering team created a three-fold, easy-to-

operate soft top with one-hand operation that was lightweight and offered superior weather

protection, and is still the model of simplicity in today's roadsters. All together, the MX-5 Miata

weighed a low 2,116 pounds curb weight and could reach 60 mph in less than nine seconds.

The second-generation MX-5 Miata debuted in 1998 as a 1999 model year, offering a more powerful

(Continued from page 16)

(Continued on page 18)

Page 18 M I A T A T U D E S

1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 140 horsepower

and 119 lb-ft of torque, and new styling that was

most obvious in the front as the first generation

car's distinctive pop-up headlights were replaced

with a faired-in design. In addition, the plastic rear

window in the MX-5's soft top was replaced with a

heated glass window. Features such as a straight

intake port, a variable-inertia exhaust system and a

dual exhaust manifold were incorporated to aid the

sporty feel. The base model could reach 60 mph in

7.9 seconds, with a top speed of 122 mph.

A special limited edition model was introduced in 1999 to celebrate MX-5's 10-year anniversary. This

model ramped up performance by use of a new six-speed manual transmission, Torsen® limited-slip

differential and sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein® shock absorbers. A special Sapphire Blue Mica

paint with blue soft top also was offered on the special edition model.

In 2005, the third generation MX-5 was introduced

with a new 16-valve, 2.0-liter MZR I-4 engine,

producing 170 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque,

coupled to either a five-speed or a six-speed manual

transmission or 166 horsepower with the optional

six-speed automatic transmission. Every component

on the car was either all-new or extensively revised,

with the only part shared with the earlier

generations being the side-repeater turn signal lamp

on non-U.S. models. A front wishbone/rear multilink

suspension was used beginning with the 2006 MX-5 to increase ride quality and handling.

Technologies like traction control and stability control also were added.

(Continued from page 17)

See the 2015 ND at the Miatas At Mazda Raceway 25th

Anniversary Event - September 5-7, 2014

Page 19

Treasure Trove News

By Jeanne George

M I A T A T U D E S

We Welcome Our Newest Members Dan and Kathy Stump Darin Schrum Philip and Mayu Lindblad Wallace and Julia Armstrong

Memberships Expiring June 1 Alvarado, Alex and Michelle Bacon, Bob and Terri Carrier, Travis Castleberry, Steve and Nita Mizushima McGuire, Mike and Cindy Stiger, Don and Sharon Sutton, Lee Swanberg, Norm and Virginia Wiedman, Bob and Lynn Williams, John and Barbara Zander, Ron and Jyl Rubin

SAMOA stats:

128 Memberships

215 Members

140 Miatas

Memberships renewed in May Pike, Gary and Lynda Peeler, Bob and Tessie Conley, Joe and Grant Hargrave, Zoë Bechthold, Gary and Gundi Loo, Diana and Chris Christainson Heinze, Paul and Lynda Coulam, Tom and Nichole Mickelson, Barbara and Gary Guthmiller Cowan, Clay and Barbara

June Birthdays…

By Ron Petrich

Bob Bacon – June 19th Tom Corio – June 23rd Karen DeFoe – June 14th Michael Dodge – June 12th Craig Hensley – June 6th Randy Hunt – June 15th Jim McClure – June 12th Jim McCullough – June 19th Doug McCay – June 2nd Lisa O’Hara – June 6th Ron Petrich – June 27th Gary Pike – June 15th Don Stiger – June 9th Lynn Wiedman – June 12th Paul Y’barra – June 2nd

Sociability, humorousness and talkativeness are the common characteristics of people born in the month of June. They are not at all discreet about their personality and they hardly hesitate to show what their real character is. Most of them are born under the zodiac, Gemini, and are ruled by the planet Mercury, which is associated with youth. Individuals born in the month of June often exhibit childlike traits and are cheerful, restless and full of life. They are very intelligent and are extremely inquisitive in nature. Though they are intellectually sound, their lack of concentration power can hinder their career growth. Their analytical bent of mind gives them the capability to see both the sides of a coin. But then, an extremely critical nature makes it hard for them to take decisions. Also, they lack will power and at times rely on others to solve their problems.

M I A T A T U D E S Page 20

1864 Bridge Creek Drive Sacramento CA 95833

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sports car in the world!

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MEMBERSHIP BADGES

Any member may purchase a personalized SAMOA

membership badge. An order form and complete

order instructions can be found on our website

PERSONAL WEBSPACE

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on our web site. You can include up to a full page of

biographical or other personal information, and up to

three (3) color photos. Contact the webmaster to set

Samoans Will Travel

Here is a newsletter opportunity to show us where you have been, contribute to the newsletter and let your picture do the talking (writing). Just take one of the magnets or a copy of the newsletter or something with the SAMOA logo with you when you travel and take a picture of the logo that includes where you are. Send the picture to the newsletter editor at jenn524.js@gmail.com. Easy as that!

The Grand Island Mansion on the Delta.

On Our Way to Georgetown for an Awesome

Bloody Mary at the Georgetown Hotel and Saloon