The Miata/MX5 of
the Month from
The Miata/MX5 of
the Month from 
Dave Thomas
Congratulations to Dave on
the selection of his Laguna Blue Miata as our May Miata of the
Month!
I bought my first Miata in January, 1990 shortly after seeing one at the Philadelphia Auto Show in late 1989. They were still hard to get back then and I was thrilled to find one in Mariner Blue, especially since blue seemed rarer than the only other original stock colors of red and white. Always wanted to be "different". Shortly thereafter, I customized it by putting on body side moulding strips (to prevent door dings) and matching "fading" pinstripes, which people seemed to love or hate. But I didn't care, my Miata was different and no dings!
In the summer
of 1990, I attended my first Delaware Valley Miata Club meeting
and soon became hooked, eventually becoming vice president and
then president in 1994. There was nothing like caravaning with
dozens of Miatas through country roads, mountains, covered
bridges, and the like. Some exciting memories include going to a
few performance driving schools with the club at Pocono Raceway -
one in a torrential downpour! Nothing like a little hydroplaning
at 75mph! Actually got a new respect for my car and how it
handled in adverse conditions (fabulously).
Another fun thing I did with the club was drive beauty contestants in the Miss Delaware Pageant parade (mine won the first year!). I must admit, I was surprised when the second year's contestant climbed into my car and up onto the back deck in a minidress! I swear - I didn't adjust my mirror! ; )
I got my
second Miata in November, 1994 - used ! Seems the original
owner was afraid of the upcoming winter. What the owner didn't
realize is that he had a rare Laguna Blue with tan leather
interior (only 341 of 2,359 Laguna Blues had tan interiors). I
had heard about their short supply from Vince Tidwell, President
of MCA, who flew all the way to Texas to get one and drove it
back to his home of Atlanta. I snapped it up (gotta be different)
and actually had two Miatas in the driveway until I sold my first
baby a few months later.
In addition to a few more track events, numerous
autocrosses, and dozens of caravans, my second Miata has now made
it to two National Events - Cleveland's Rock'n'Roll Miata Rally
and Miata 96 in Toronto. Both were a blast and I highly recommend
you all go to one (I hear there's one in the Pocono Mountains, PA
in the summer of '98). One of the true highlights of owning this
car was being "in" the New York Auto show at the Jacob
Javitz Convention Center for the unveiling of the M Coupe concept
car. My car, along with 11 others represented all the colors and
limited editions of Miatas put out since inception and were lined
up for Mazda dignitaries and the press. Everyone from Road and
Track to the Today Show to USA Today to the Montgomery County
(PA) Newspaper (who interviewed me!) were there. A very exciting
and memorable moment!
Its my car, but "our" Miata is a family affair. My wife enjoys going on scenic drives, but now has a hard time getting seat space since our 4 1/2 year old son, Evan, is a Miata fanatic! Some of his first words were "keys" and "go"! He and I frequently go on long drives with or without the club, and he also has quite a Miata toy collection. Here he is in a Christmas card my wife Marianne and I sent out in 1995.
Some particulars about my my '94 Laguna Blue Package C:
Thats about it. Like most of you, owning my Miata(s) has profoundly changed my life - for the better! Thanks to Miata.net for allowing me to share it with you. And, please remember, when you're out there with your Miata - keep the shiny side up!
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