Controlled Over-Steer

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1 The Official Newsletter of the Indy Miata Club Volume 26 Issue 6 June 2015 What s Inside Page 2 Controlled Over-steer continued Membership update Classifieds Page 3 What is RED? Page 4 NC top / ND internals Page 5 Event Reports Page Regional Events Page 7 Our Not So Technical Pages Page 8 Funny Stuff Page 9 Advertisers Page Club Events Advertisers Controlled Over-Steer By Tom Lewis, President Last Saturday, I received an from Dean Case, Communications Officer with Mazda North America, saying that he and David Wallens, a writer with Grassroots Motorsports Magazine, would be traveling through Indianapolis on Tuesday, May 26 th, and asked if we d like to see the new 2016 MX-5 Miata in person. It took me about 1 minute to fire back an affirmative response heck yes, we d like to see the new Miata! A little over a dozen folks showed up at Moe s Southwest Grill on US 31 North in Carmel on Tuesday evening to greet Dean, David and the beautiful Soul Red MX-5 Miata GT model. We all had the opportunity to thoroughly examine the Miata, including the engine (a 2.0 liter SkyActive design), trunk (yikes! Small opening) and interior (beautiful!). We all lined up for our chance to take a seat behind the steering wheel and experience the excellent ergonomics and comfort. I think what struck many of us was how well the car was put together, considering it was a pre-production model built in February of this year. The fit and finish of the car were exceptional. If only we had the chance to take it for a little spin, but alas, it was not allowed. Furthermore, Dean and David were both very tight lipped about the car. When Dean was pressed for details about future options (i.e. a hardtop, either removable or power retractable), he simply said he didn t know, but later admitted that he must toe the company line and not reveal any unreleased data or plans for the car. Plausible Deniability was the phrase Dean used, I believe. Regardless, just being able to see the new Miata in person months prior to it showing up in showrooms was definitely worthwhile. And I did overhear at least one member already making plans to turn in his leased NC Miata early and move into the 2016 Miata as soon as it s available for purchase. If the new Miata were available for purchase today, you d have the chance to take your new 4 th Generation roadster to one of the premier areas of the country for Miata drivers this month, the Southeastern portion of Ohio bordered by Interstate 70 to the north, I-77 to the west, and the Ohio River to the south and east. The annual Marietta Madness weekend takes place the last weekend of June and, again, will draw Miatas from all over the region. This low-key weekend of driving bliss will take you on un-crowded roads through the foothills of the Appalachians that will simply leave you breathless. These roads are fabulous and provide all you could ask for curve after curve after curve, and beautiful landscapes rolling up into the hills from the banks of the Ohio River. Don t miss your chance to drive these roads that inspired your Miata! We ll meet just off I-70 Friday morning, June 26 th on the east side of Indy. We ll then caravan across I-70 to Columbus to top off our gas tanks and grab a quick bite to eat before heading towards Zanesville and the famous Triple Nickel, Continued on page 2

2 Page 2 Open Road June 2015 Indy Miata Club Officers 2015 President Tom Lewis president@indymiata.org Vice-President Ken Koehler vicepresident@indymiata.org Treasurer Ken Rabbers treasurer@indymiata.org Membership Director Darlene Evans membership@indymiata.org Secretary Joan Rabbers secretary@indymiata.org Website Editor Sara J McBride webmaster@indymiata.org Newsletter Editor Steve Crouse editor@indymiata.org Controlled Over-steer, cont. Membership Update: 82 members. Welcome to New Member: Richard Graves Geoffrey Orr/Isida Malko Craig Reasoner We invite new (or old) members to plan a club event! Reserve a date with Event Coordinator, Ken Koehler ASAP. Contact him at events@indymiataorg. Ohio State Road 555. This incredible road runs 60 miles from Zanesville to Little Hocking, Ohio on the river. It twists, rolls and undulates through the hills and will leave you with quite the adrenalin rush! After the fun of 555, we ll head directly to the home of Debbie and Jeff Householder who host an annual Meet and Greet for Miata enthusiasts arriving from near and far. Debbie and Jeff always put on a great gathering, including some tasty pulled pork, potato salad, coleslaw, chips, dessert, soft drinks and water, all to be enjoyed with new and old friends while relaxing around the pool or mingling amongst the myriad of Miatas parked in the yard. After filling up on the food and friendship, we ll hop on State Road 7 for the leisurely 30 minute drive along the Ohio River to Marietta and our respective hotels. We ll gather again on Saturday morning in the parking lot of the Fairfield Inn to ready ourselves for the Big Drive. We ll be exploring some of the most challenging roads, rivaled only by the infamous Tail of the Dragon, but without the crowds, the traffic and extreme law enforcement presence ready to write you a ticket for having a tire touch the center line. After a morning of driving one of Car and Driver s 10 Best Roads, State Road 26, we ll grab a picnic lunch to be enjoyed along the banks of the Ohio at the Hannibal Locks picnic grounds. After lunch, we ll continue to explore the incredible roads in the area, or feel free to find your own way back towards Marietta for an enjoyable evening on your own, or make plans with new and old friends to dine in one of the many great restaurants Marietta has to offer. Go to the Events Page on the Club s website for all the details and to register for this much anticipated annual Driver s Event! CLASSIFIEDS The Open Road is published monthly for the members of the Indy Miata Club. The Indy Miata Club assumes no liability for any information contained herein, or injury or damage resulting from the use of this information. The ideas, opinions, maintenance or modification tips expressed are to be used at the reader s discretion. Individual contributors and/or the editors express no approval, authentication, or endorsement. Thank you Miata: Approx 30,000 miles. Silver body; black canvas top; black leather interior. 6-speed transmission, cruise control, Asking $10,000; Negotiable Contact editor@indymiata.org Make your car quieter! Approx. 40 feet of EZ Cool Insulation and two cans of 3M General Purpose Spray Adhesive for sale. The material is 4' wide. 4' X 10' $35.00 The 3M Adhesive is $16.95/can. Contact Steve at: pairofkings@sbcglobal.net Gen. 2, Miata Body Parts for sale Brand New spoilers, rocker panels. "Asking Prices" are listed on club website but negotiable. If you are interested, please call or with an offer. Contact Saundra at berthie01@comcast.net or call

3 June 2015 Page 3 Open Road A Comparison of Miata REDS! Classic Red Velocity Red Soul Red Classic Red Velocity Red Soul Red

4 Page 4 Open Road June 2015 From Miata.Net: New Miata Merchandise on the Market Garage Vary NC Hardtop (Fastback) This is Garage Vary's original hardtop design for the NC chassis Roadster. It's a fastback that will allow the use of the trunk, but will also improve the look of the vehicle. Looking under the skin of the 4th Gen. Miata. NC ND

5 Page 5 Open Road June 2015 The Rattle Can Rally Report It wasn t a super sunny day for a rally, but it was a top-down day as twelve cars ran the Rattle Can Rally on May 9 th. The group met at Hummel Park and then headed south on an almost rerun of the Post Tax Blues Rally. The second half of the route was changed to avoid bent rims and broken shocks that were experienced on the PTBR! This time there was also a planned stop on Rattle Can Road where members admired the art work and added some their own! The group then ventured south, driving the city streets of Centerton, crossing the world famous (?) Brooklyn Bridge, heading to Martinsville on one of our favorite stretches (Blue Bluff Road) before turning north and a couple new roads. We ended up at The Brooklyn Bridge! the Black Swan Brew Pub off of Hadley and 267 for lunch. Sara had declared the event to be a no-questions-asked event, but Steve posed one for us all to answer. How many miles were on his first Miata when he sold it? Ken Rabbers provided the closest answer and won an assortment of Miata Hot Wheels! Thanks to all who attended! The Night before the Indy 500 Mingle Report Eleven Miatas went for a thirteen-roundabout drive before settling in to a friendly dinner at Max & Erma s in Carmel. We were glad to have not-recently-seen members, Brent & Cheryl L., and Jerry P. in attendance. Plus, we persuaded visiting non-members Geoffrey & Isida to change their status to new over dinner. Another highlight of the evening was Sara s announcement of a visit by a pre-production 4th Gen. Miata on Tuesday evening, May 26. We anticipated that lots of members would show up for this opportunity. A 4th Generation Miata MX-5 stopped in Indy May 26th; Indy Miata Club offered a Welcome. An editor from Grassroots Motorsports magazine, and a Mazda Motorsports PR person, were traveling from Northern Indiana to Cincinnati on May 26th. They were driving a pre-production Soul Red 2016 Mazda MX-5. They had spent the morning at the Tire Rack facility in northern Indiana, doing a head-to-head comparison of the ND with an NC model. A report on this test will be available on-line at the first of June. Several IMC members met them in Carmel for a first-hand opportunity to see the new Miata. From the comments overheard, it was a smash hit! Who ll show up at a club outing in one first?

6 Page 6 Open Road June 2015 Regional Miata Events in 2015 Here are some of the regional Miata events scheduled for the coming year. If you haven t attended a BIG Miata rally, you are missing a grand gathering of Miata-philes. Need help finding information? Contact one of our club officers, or search Miata.Net. June 4-7, Zoomin' the Mountains of East Tennessee, Tri-Cities Miata Club June 5-7, 25th Anniversary Celebration, Windy City Miata Club June 5-6, Moss Motorfest 2015, Petersburg VA July 24-26, Miatas at the Gap (MATG XIX) August 1, 3rd Annual Great Mazda Climb, New England Mazda Auto Club August 7-9, Canada's Capital Miata Meet, Underground Miata Network September 11-13, Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival, Featured marque: Mazda September 17, Hot Lava 2015, Mt. Hood Miata Club October 3-4, Miatas at Mazda Raceway 2015 October 8-11, Surf 'N' Safari 2015, San Diego Miata Club 25th Anniversary Celebration A party that has been 25 years in the making! A week-end long celebration of the Miata and the People who love them! Zoomin' the Mountains of East Tennessee IX June 4-7, 2015 HOTEL Reservations are being taken for Zoomin' The Mountains Of East Tennessee, at the Double Tree by Hilton Mockingbird LN Johnson City More information at We attended last year. It was a blast! June 5-7, 2015, Pheasant Run Resort, St. Charles IL Windy City Miata Club is pleased to present a 25th anniversary event to celebrate our favorite sports car and our club dedicated to it. Windy City Miata Club has over 300 members and over 200 Miatas, making it one of the largest Miata clubs in the country, and we are passionate about the Miata. MATG XIX - July 24-26, 2015 Miatas at the Gap If you are thinking of going, make reservations now!

7 Page 7 Open Road June 2015 Our Not So Technical Page This is another reprint from the Garage section of Miata.Net. Regular maintenance will keep your Miata running well, and avoid small problems that can occur. If you have a higher mileage Miata, maintenance continues on these cycles. Maintenance Schedule and Tips Regular Maintenance A quick revue on maintenance items and frequency. Oil and filter every 3,000-4,000 miles. Rotate tires every 6,000-8,000 miles (every other oil change). 4 wheel alignment every 15,000 miles. Stock air filter every 15,000 miles. Wiper inserts/blades every 15,000 miles. (Even sooner if they become dry) I change my spark plugs every 15,000 miles. (Stock plugs are good for about 20,000 miles.) 30,000 Mile Maintenance Let's look at the 30,000 mile maintenance. Include tune up, fuel filter, brake/clutch fluid flush and coolant flush. If the car has stock 80w-90 weight lube, I also change the transmission and differential fluids. Change to red line and replace every 60,000. I have not seen the need, or had any reason to use gas, or oil additives, but I hear they are a real money maker! Note: It's been found in racing applications, the Torsion differential had problems with metal fragments. The cure was to change the fluid after the first 100 miles or so. Not bad advice for any new car, I would change the transmission fluid at this time also. Ignition wires, before 45,000 miles. 60,000 Mile Maintenance This brings us to the 60,000 mile maintenance. The "Big One". Assuming all maintenance has been done on the car to date, this is what to expect. A full tune-up and fluid change, including the brake and clutch fluid. Suspension and brakes should be checked. (A good time to think of replacing those old shocks!) Four wheel alignment. All the belts. If money is tight, the timing belt could wait, but don't wait too long (no more than 75,000). You do stand the risk of being stranded if the belt breaks. If the belt breaks, there should do no further damage to the engine, (this engine is a non interference type) but it will not run. When the timing belt is replaced, be sure to have the camshafts and crankshaft seals replaced. This is a job for someone that will stand by their work. It is very easy to scratch the surface of the shafts when pulling the old seals out. If this happens, the new seals will leak and could be expensive to repair. Be sure the crankshaft bolt is cleaned, and Loctite is used along with the correct torque. When the timing belt is being replaced, be sure to have the water pump checked for leakage. The water pump is mounted inside the timing belt area. If the water pump has to be replaced, the timing belt has to be taken off to gain access to the pump. Best to check it when the belt is off the car, if it is leaking, it can be replaced for a lot less labor at this time. When a timing belt is replaced, the valve cover gasket should also be renewed. (The valve cover has to be removed to replace the belt.) The timing has to be adjusted after doing a timing belt, so if you have a preferred spec (14 deg, 18 deg) this can be done at this time. Also, if you are running a setting other than stock, be sure the technician working on the car is aware of it, or he may put it back to a stock setting.

8 Page 8 Open Road June 2015 FUNNY STUFF? Indy Miata Club! Seen on last week s Carmel round-about tour/mingle! MX-04, the forerunner to the MX-5

9 Page 9 Open Road June 2015 Tom Lewis INSURANCE GROUP Hughes Insurance Group is an Independent Agency representing over 35 insurance companies. Our ultra-competitive rates assure that you receive the most value at the best price for all of your home, auto or business insurance needs. For a limited time, I m giving away a $20 gas card with an insurance review and quote for your home, auto or business with no obligation! If I m competitive, consider allowing Hughes Insurance Group to write your business. If I can t provide you with a better value, you ll have the peace of mind knowing you re properly insured at a fair price. Call or Indy Miata Club member Tom Lewis today! tom@hughesinsurancegroup.com Have a few dollars invested in upgrades? Ask about Agreed Value Coverage for your Miata! Benefits for Indy Miata Club Members -First year dues to the Indy Miata Club after purchase of any Mazda -S-Plan Pricing to Current Members -15% off All Parts & Accessories -15% off Labor Rates -Maintenance for Life with the purchase of Any Mazda -Saturday Service Hours 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM -Free Cookies!! Contact Lauren Auld for more information.

10 Page 10 Open Road June 2015 Indy Miata Club Events in 2015 June 26-28, Marietta Madness weekend July 12, Gilmore Car Museum Mad Dogs & Englishmen British Car Faire July 18, Dream Cars at the Indianapolis Museum of Art (with Cinti club) July 25, Night before the Brickyard 400 Mingle (A volunteer is needed to plan this mingle!) August 1, Scouting Out Columbus IN August 8, Night before the Indianapolis MotoGP Mingle September 5, PKD Rally for a Cause! September 18-20, St Louis Fireworks weekend October 2-4, French Lick Concours and rally November 7, Hidden Drives Rally December 5, IMC Christmas Dinner-Party COMING SOON! June Marietta Madness weekend The Biggest Local Event of the season. Drive the best roads in Ohio. Details on the event page of our website. Now celebrating 40 years! Exclusive Discounts for Indy Miata Club Members Tom Roush Mazda, Indiana s first Mazda dealer established in 1972 has not only the most experienced sales and service staff in town, but also is the highest volume dealer in Indiana. We hope to serve you in our next 40 years as Indy s premier Mazda dealer. In support of the Miata Club member s we would like to offer the following benefits: 15% off regular door labor rate 15% off any accessory purchase S-Plan pricing to eligible customer s Extended Saturday service hours 7:30 3:30 US th Street Westfield, IN