I'm still new around these parts, but this thread is gold.. and green, and blue. Loving the posts.
I'm still new around these parts, but this thread is gold.. and green, and blue. Loving the posts.
oldgrayleather (01-21-2021)
Follow the Builds
1993 Eunos Roadster B-spec by Mazdaspeed
http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....819#post222819
1993 Mazda Miata LE
https://mazdaroadster.net/showthread...233#post244233
Socially distanced KINOD has begun again and Sunday a number of locals drove up to Santa Barbara as part of a Roadster cruise Kevin organized. Genuinely appreciate how spoiled we are here. In anticipation of the event and courtesy of Randy's last shipment I'm now finally proudly sporting the MR.net sticker!
Lending to the fact I'm very untalented with a camera I didn't take any pictures but a few of the attendees sent me their dumps of shots they took of my car. I've asked for more group shots but wanted to share these in the interim...
As with every cruise we typically meet in a single location, welcome old friends and newcomers alike, talk cars, ask and answer questions and generally just enjoy the company. Lots of chat about different approaches to our builds, the journey of tracking down (of manufacturing) our parts and the endless debates about forced induction vs stoked ITB projects, etc,..
We aligned on the route (with the usually friendly debate about the trade-offs between scenery and timeliness) and then we set off to inevitably enjoy the scenery of the 25 or so Miati on the drive...
Mike's stunning NA - the only thing better than the craftsmanship he's personally put in to the car is what a fantastic guy he is,..
I didn't manage to capture my rear view mirror being completely filled with roadsters but pretty much wherever you looked there would be at least one...
A great way to get out and stretch our legs as always (preverbally and literally) before turning around and heading home. And with that I'll close with a random assortment of some of the great shots others took of Benny...
Cermivelli (02-25-2021),CLZinn2 (12-11-2021),dnaha (02-28-2021),Greasemonkey2000 (02-27-2021),HarryB (02-25-2021),JamieH (02-24-2021),kung fu jesus (02-24-2021),MaRcOp01o (03-01-2021),MiataQuest (02-25-2021),Roadster7 (03-01-2021),ueru (03-01-2021)
Good to see Mike still in that car.
oldgrayleather (02-24-2021)
One of the things I miss most through the lockdowns is meeting with car friends and having car talks. You are very lucky that you have such a nice community locally.
atlex (02-25-2021),oldgrayleather (02-25-2021)
Aye, I want to build something similar where I am :-) there's some KDDs (quedadas) but they're all more inland and urban + I think there's plenty scope for C&C and (ahem) a drive somewhere nice, closer to the water. Big inspiration :-)
HarryB (02-25-2021),oldgrayleather (02-25-2021)
Stunning pictures!
Follow My Build Thread!
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1997 Mazda Miata M-Edition
http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....1997-M-Edition
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On Instagram: @97NA8M
I just got a prod from a friend I met here about the lack of updates. He noted my build thread didn’t seem to be keeping up with the progress seen on IG. Thanks J, I am so glad you did! I’ve always enjoyed taking the time to reflect on how lucky I am with the Roadster related antics, the amazing community and to catalog that journey here. And I’ve been remiss…
And what can I say but wow. Eight months? EIGHT MONTHS since I’ve posted anything?!?! Eight months of suffering through the Tapatalk interface to add thanks to a couple posts (hope you don’t mind that I’m not ‘gifting” more of you a one-month VIP pass and the exclusive VIP badge ;). At least I didn’t need to be reminded of my password!
Before I could even get to posting anything I had to address the fact my annual supporting membership had lapsed. Like two months ago!!! Wow. OK, done. Now let’s just get in to the excuses for what’s been keeping me sufficiently busy since that drive to Santa Barbara back in February…
• We sold our house in California (along with the countless hours it took to pare back 11 years’ worth of accumulation – Mrs. R is still unhappy about how many of the boxes say either “Garage” or “Miata parts”. haha)
• Then we had a moving van pack up our entire lives along with a pair of Roadsters for the drive North
• We also drove the 1500 miles to Canada with Jen, three boys, a dog, a lizard and a UHaul trailer.
• Next got to spend a couple months working remote while starting to sort out my parents’ estate stuff which involved:
o Clearing out 37 years of living at that house (I think a generous person would call my parents “collectors” ;)
o Lawyers, notaries, accountants, probate, more lawyers, etc – you get the gist
o And finally getting house #2 ready for sale
• Then I did my best to get Mrs. R and the boys settled in Canada in a rental house, registered for school and registered a few cars along the way (did not anticipate that being as much of a hassle as it proved to be)
• Bouncing back and forth between Canada and California for family/ work since September
• Oh, and did I mention we’re also in the middle of building a house?
Alrighty, so I think that’s almost enough excuses to alleviate feeling guilty for becoming one of “those” fans. I owe a lot to MR.Net for all I’ve learned here and the amazing friendships that began on these very pages. I’ve neglected the site but also lamented the fact the glory days of the forums seem to be behind us. I really would prefer they didn’t but at least I shouldn’t be a hypocrite and contribute contributing to the problem. I know these updates are for my own edification as much as anything but catching up with you all and connecting on your stories is what will always make me thankful for MR.Net. OK, enough blah, blah…
Cresting 45k miles of fun in the last six+ years. To me the higher the number the likelihood has always been that there’s just that many more awesome memories…
Since he has been my copilot all these years it was bittersweet when I realized this would be pupper’s last KINOD since he was on a one way trip up North with the fam. And the KINOD vest Mrs. R crocheted for him to keep him warm on those late Friday nights...
And yes, KINOD. A place where on a random Friday it wouldn’t be unusual to spot JonB and my mariner NA’s next to a pair of 30AE’s!
Cermivelli (10-18-2021),druz (10-17-2021),Greasemonkey2000 (10-18-2021),HarryB (10-18-2021),JamieH (10-22-2021),kung fu jesus (10-17-2021),MaRcOp01o (10-18-2021),Roadster7 (10-18-2021),speedypenguin (10-19-2021),vote4pedro (10-17-2021)
The funny thing about impending transitions is you tend to think a bit more deliberately about everything. Like taking the Sunburst out for a farewell to the beach…
And how easy it is to just get a group together for a fantastic mountain drive…
Cermivelli (10-18-2021),CLZinn2 (12-11-2021),dnaha (10-17-2021),druz (10-17-2021),Greasemonkey2000 (10-18-2021),HarryB (10-18-2021),JamieH (10-22-2021),Roadster7 (10-18-2021),speedypenguin (10-19-2021)
Moving inherently means going through stuff so I stopped adding to my various collections since unboxing would just mean turning around to box everything up again. Also, since EMS had been on hold for a while, YJA was offering unlimited storage so the consolidated packages were still going to take a while to be shipped. It did give me chance to take stock of some of the things…
Except, the problem is that even with EMS delays, wonderful stateside MR.Net connections are still accessible. When Peter Brusa was ready to pass on some of his collection of USDM publications I couldn’t help put my hand up. Leave it to Peter to throw in some awesome decals too!
From about 1986 to 2001 I used to pick up every monthly issue of Road & Track, Car & Driver, Automobile and MotorTrend. When I was traveling or could stretch the budget I also loved reading CAR magazine from the UK. When we first moved to the UK I had to leave that collection behind which was probably for the best but from time to time I wished I could finger through the pages of some of those articles. Consider that itch scratched!
Cermivelli (10-18-2021),CLZinn2 (12-11-2021),druz (10-17-2021),HarryB (10-18-2021),JamieH (10-22-2021),Roadster7 (10-18-2021),speedypenguin (10-19-2021),vote4pedro (10-17-2021)
On March 23rd Hot Wheels designer Ryu Asada finally lost his battle against colon cancer. He was only 42. I’d met Ryu at local car events and many on these pages would know him as the designer credited with the recent NA HotWheels line starting with the Mariner blue with roundels. Between Ben at JNC and others a memorial drive and fundraiser was set up in April…
I also made up some of my own RYU tribute stickers as a small way to help us remember the passion he brought to the car community.
For any of you 45 and older, for yourselves and your loved ones (including us), please get checked out.
We met up at Mattel’s El Segundo office which had a fantastic range of cars on show better captured by JNC themselves… https://japanesenostalgiccar.com/ryu...nd-fundraiser/
And for those that don’t like to click links, some of my bad pictures…
The 805’s
The Miata crew with Brad’s heavily worked NA
…and Ashley’s super cool AZ-1
The cruise had us make our way down to Dockweiller beach where we hung out and reflected on life sharing some stories about RYU…
Alongside Garret’s BRG and Chris’ new NB
The Miata crew wrapped up the day by heading out together and going over top of PalosVerdes for a nice group cruise before carrying on with our Sunday afternoons…
dnaha (10-18-2021),druz (10-17-2021),HarryB (10-18-2021),JamieH (10-22-2021),kung fu jesus (10-17-2021),MaRcOp01o (10-19-2021),Roadster7 (10-18-2021),speedypenguin (10-19-2021),vote4pedro (10-17-2021)
Has surely been a busy 8 months. Thanks for taking the time to sum them up! I know this is a car forum, but would also love to see some of the house stuff/build here too.
This post reminded me that it has been nearly 10 years since I moved from California. I wish we had met before I left.
Though we do enjoy Atlanta, we are always open to relocation. That would preferably be Oregon or Washington. Moving abroad is a short list, but I monitor that possibility as well. I have no intentions of ever returning to my native state.