THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF THE MAZDA MX-5 CLUB OF NSW INC. NATMEET XI WE WON! BUMPER MOTORSPORT EDITION! CLUB TRACK DAYS, INTERSTATE CHALLENGE, WAKEFIELD 300, MX-5 CUP AND MORE!!! AUTUMN 2014 Print Post Publication:100006993 THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF THE MAZDA MX-5 CLUB OF NSW INC. AUTUMN 2014 AUTOMOTIVE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE BREAKFAST 12 CLUB CANBERRA WE PROVIDE THE 15 NATMEET XI HUNTER PROFESSIONAL 16 18 ILLAWARRA SERVICE YOU WANT MID NORTH 24 COAST 6 2wd or 4wd dyno-tuning & power runs RPM Computer diagnosis, upgrades & re-mapping 27 Auto electrical services, overhauls & re-wiring SYDNEY Fuel injection diagnosis, servicing & upgrades 28 MOTORSPORT 10 ECU diagnosis, repairs & upgrades 30 Weight-corrected steering alignments & repairs Suspension testing, repair, overhaul & upgrade Exhaust modification, bending & upgrades Brake testing, overhaul, upgrade & machining www.acdc.net.au 23 Kemble Court Mitchell ACT 2911 Ph: 02 6262 2680 Mob: 0417 269 325 [email protected] Cover photo: Peter Hilkmann This page: Jay Flak NSW MEMBERSHIP REPORT CURRENT MEMBERSHIP PRESIDENT’S TOTAL All members that are un-financial at the BRIEF 31st December 2013 will be made inactive. Please check your membership card. If you are in this category and want to remain a BY BRYAN SHEDDEN member please contact me. Best regards, NEW NATMEET XI NEW TREASURER RETIRING COMMITTEE MEMBERS 685 -Keith Monaghan Congratulations to the MX-5 Club of Marie Smart has recently resigned Mark Garven will not be renominating [FINANCIAL] MEMBERS Queensland for successfully hosting the as Treasurer as she has begun a new for the role of Secretary at the AGM in national meeting of the MX-5 Clubs interstate adventure. Chris and Marie October. Mark has been a committee of Australia at the Sunshine Coast on have purchased the Wildongoleechie member for the last four years and done 12-15 April. It was the 11th NatMeet Hotel at Hallett, South Australia and a wonderful job as Club Captain and and marked the 25th Anniversary of become fulltime publicans. then Secretary. It has been a pleasure to the Mazda MX-5. And we came home work with Mark over that time, who 55 with the National Championship for our fulfilled his roles with quiet efficiency and Club! We achieved this via ... dedication. Thank you Mark. NEW MEMBERS • Strength of our attendance. A total of Timothy Heppell has also decided to Welcome! COMMITTEE 50 club members made the long trip to move on from his role of Publications Caloundra, which was a record for us at Officer at the end of the year. Timothy Ann Alexander Dorothy Hodgson President: Bryan Shedden Canberra Convenor: an “away” NatMeet. joined the Torque Team for the Spring Peter Alexander Rodney Hughes [email protected] 0422 340 010 Bricet Klören & Bob Judd • Outstanding presentation in 2012 edition, and has been responsible [email protected] 0422 386 660 Carole Attrill Lyn Lambert Vice President: Pam Estreich Concours. Our club members claimed for producing the magazine since the Tony Badger Jeffrey Lee [email protected] 0459 253 272 Hunter Convenor: Mark Gray six of the 14 trophies on offer, and also They pass on their best wishes to all Winter 2013 edition. Despite never [email protected] 0477 090 538 Nic Beard Ray Legge Treasurer: Brad Robinson finished with several second and third club members and thank you for your having used the InDesign publishing Jordan Boesel Vicki Legge [email protected] 0419 223 003 Illawarra Convenor: Phil & Sandra Reid places. friendship and companionship over the software before, Timothy has taken to [email protected] 0417 260 766 Andrew Bottomley Ian Mash Secretary: Mark Garven • Amazing skill on the track. Seven of past couple of years that they’ve been the task like a duck to water, and ensured Vicki Bottomley Pierce Miller [email protected] 0406 321 554 RPM Convenor: Lesa Bunn the 12 trophies were awarded to our club members. Marie and Chris are already that Club Torque has maintained a high [email protected] 0423 276 152 Bruce Campbell Susan Miller Club Captain: Michael Soulos members. looking forward to getting involved with standard of publication. Thank you Diane Carey Brenton Mooney [email protected] 0413 113 399 Mid North Coast Convenor: Peter • Willingness to volunteer. Many of the MX-5 Club of South Australia, and Timothy. Rodgers [email protected] Antony Carpentieri Dean Morgan Membership Database: Keith Monaghan 0422 237 588 our members assisted with running of the hosting visits from us in the future. Please [email protected] 0418 976 279 Concours, track and funkhana events. join me in thanking Marie and Chris Fellow Torque Team member Andrew John Casey Rowan Morgan Sydney Convenor: Guy Coles Peter Clunne Marty Mulholland Membership: Ken & Maggie Liston [email protected] 0419 914 443 for their help with running our club and Lord has also decided to step down as 02 9872 1639 Kimberley Clunne Andrew Mulyk But all the point scoring, trophies and wishing them good luck for their exciting the magazine Editor, having fulfilled Scott Collinge Brian Noffke Competition: David Lawler interclub rivalry was a mere side show. future. Good luck to Jay too, who I hear this role since the Spring 2012 edition. [email protected] 0403 070 644 Jamie Collins Stephen O’donoghue Most of all, NatMeet was a fabulous has a new job as Barman. Andrew spun some great yarns in the - Wayne Cooper Danny Ryke Publications: Timothy Heppell EX OFFICIO REPRESENTATIVES time to talk, laugh, drink, eat, play, editor’s column and compiled several [email protected] 0403 079 018 Harrison Cooper Duncan Savage Competition/Event Secretary: dance, shop, explore and relax with Finding a new Treasurer is a daunting wonderful Driver Torque interviews and Ben Curtis David Sharp Website Coordinator: Greg Perry Zan Menzel [email protected] friends old and new, near and far. Not proposition, but I’m very pleased to say photographic features. We won’t lose [email protected] 0414 431 055 Ph/Fax 02 6558 4190 Kathleen Demant John Sharrock just at Caloundra, but also on the that we have the situation covered. Julie Andrew’s input though, as he continues Regalia: Lesa Bunn [email protected] Breakfast Club Assistant: Andrew Lord trip there and back again. It was an Sando has volunteered to be our new assisting Reggie with organising Peter Demant Suzanne Stone 0423 276 152 0414 323 726 Ryan Eldridge James Taylor absolutely wonderful experience and I’m Treasurer and will start in September BreakFast Club events. Thank you Breakfast Club Coordinator: Club Historian: Elaine Caldwell 02 9451 already looking forward to NatMeet XII once her current commitments are Andrew. Simon Farquhar Alexander Trethewy Adam Walker 1432 Daniel Gardner Michael Willoughby [email protected] 0403 161 544 in two years. wrapped up. In the meantime, former Graham Grover Treasurer Brad Robinson has stepped in With these retirements, we need your Michelle Wong Bachar Haj younes James Woods Mazda MX-5 Club of NSW Inc. to fill the gap. Thank you Julie and Brad! help to fill the vacant committee Keith Harvey Joyce Woods PO Box 402, Beecroft NSW 2119 positions. Please see the advertisements Sandra Harvey nsw.mx5.com.au on page 27! 4 Club Torque Club Torque 5 Head honcho, John Tait welcomed us all NATMEET and talked through a few formalities. The NATMEET XI buffet eventually found its way back inside and everyone tucked in after their hard day’s work. Once the music started, Team CALOUNDRA, QLD Hunter launched into what would become a familiar theme by hitting the dance floor 12-5 APRIL 2014 // REPORT BY BRYAN SHEDDEN and being the last to leave the party. PHOTOS BY GREG BUNN, GUY COLES, PETER HILKMANN & BRYAN SHEDDEN For those who came in late, NatMeet is the Tamworth and then Fiona, Alex and I in a replacement window from Automotive Plus biannual national meeting of the MX-5 our two MX-5s at Warwick, making a total and detoured to Brisbane to pick it up. Many DAY TWO - SUNDAY Clubs of Australia. The 2014 event was of ten cars for the final leg. We avoided the hands (and supervisors) made light work of Concours d’Elegance at NatMeet is a hosted by the MX-5 Club of Queensland final commute through Brisbane suburbs by fitting the new window in the resort carpark. massive event, and one that is very resource at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast. It was seeking out the twisty roads to Gatton, Esk, intensive. A selection of attendees were the 11th NatMeet and marked the 25th Lake Somerset and Peachester before finally roped into judging the cars, working in Anniversary of the Mazda MX-5. arriving at Oaks Oasis Resort, our home pairs to assess each aspect of presentation. for the next four nights. Then there were the DAY ONE - SATURDAY The cars were displayed in generations With over 1000km of travel for most of our “Ladies of MX-5” who opted for the jet set NatMeet commenced with the traditional club members, there were a variety of options and were chauffeured by their husbands from frenzy of car preparation for the Concours time NatMeeter, lifted the covers off his for the long journey north. Some arrived Maroochydore Airport. d’Elegance. Hoses, buckets and vacuum supercharged NC with customised leather several days ahead of time and enjoyed a were available in the resort carpark and seats, carpets and flocked glovebox and boot. The organisers also put on an optional pre-NatMeet holiday on the Sunshine Coast With such a distance to travel, it was the queue was endless.