4/2016 mx5vic.org.au The monThly magazine of The mazda mX-5 Club of Victoria & Tasmania If it’s March ... it must be Albert Park In this edition: A new crown: World Car of the Year The Grand Prix experience Find us at: MX-5 Club mx5vic.org.au of Victoria Print Post Publication: 100018450 13 4/2016 contents Your Committee: 2015-2016 President > Peter Dannock | 0408 522 093 (ah) Reports and thoughts e: [email protected] VP / secretary / Communications 4 President Pete’s Perspective 5 scene about > Murray Finlay | 0416 247 677 e: [email protected] 7 membership 8 Track Torque Treasurer 7 Delicious double: World Car and Car design of the year > Dave Collins | (03) 9755 2167 (ah) e: [email protected] 9 grill: meet Kim Cole ... a champion on and off the track Club Captain – motor sport > Tim Emery | 0424 091 167 (ah) 10 siddique’s “mX-5 unicorns” ... #1: the NB MPS e: [email protected] 28 favourite road ... The Kimberley Weekend, Canada Club Captain – social > Cary Warren | 0418 368 246 (ah) 30 Tech Talk ... NC gear shifts – difficult when cold e: [email protected] assistant Club Captain – motor sport Chapter chatter > Randy Stagno Navarra | 0409 210 872 e: [email protected] 11 eastern Victoria: Lunch & Lies at Noojee assistant Club Captain – social > Alex Hailstone | 0414 155 383 12 Central: Into the Twilight Zone e: [email protected] social media 14 eastern Victoria: Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motor Sport > Ben Sale | 0434 906 673 (ah) 16 Central: The GP experience e: [email protected] membership 18 north-eastern Victoria: Snowy Mountains run > Will Campbell | (03) 5261 4816 (ah) e: [email protected] 20 northern Tasmania: NatMeet Heroes – the hidden team merchandise 21 northern Tasmania: Davenport Motor Show > Bruce Gray | 0478 219 856 (ah) e: [email protected] 22 Western Victoria: Brian & Mary’s run (and lunch) Points > Coral Campbell | (03) 5261 4816 (ah) 24 Central: Saleyards Dash – a taste for more e: [email protected] Committee member 26 southern Tasmania: Post-NatMeet run – the Tasman Loop > Richard Acfield | 0488 747 755 (ah) e: [email protected] Motor sport ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Chapter Captain - Central 27 City mazda sprint Championship – rd 2 … Broadford results > Geoff Roche | 0409 039 867 (ah) Watch that clearance! Club members make their Find us at: e: [email protected] Cover way to Automotive Avenue for our Club display at mX-5 Club of Chapter Captain - eastern Victoria the F1 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. image: Victoria > Peter Ferguson | 0419 108 128 (Photo: Alan Bennett) e: [email protected] Chapter Captain - north-eastern Victoria mxtra is the monthly newsletter of the Mazda MX-5 Club of Victoria & Tasmania Inc (#A0021659A). > Loz Thomas | 0409 639 718 PO Box 7438, Beaumaris VIC 3193. Registered for Print Post: 100018450 e: [email protected] All contributions are welcome: Chapter Captain - Western Victoria > please email articles to the editor, don nicoll: [email protected] > please email photos to murray finlay, [email protected] > Ian Bradshaw | 0407 556 135 • or post: mxtra, Mazda MX-5 Club of Victoria & Tasmania, PO Box 7438, Beaumaris VIC 3193 e: [email protected] Photos supplied for mxtra will also be uploaded to the Club’s online gallery. Copyright will remain with the photographer, and the Club undertakes not to use them for any other purpose without express permission. Chapter Captain - northern Tasmania > Bruce Harvey | 0427 656 074 (ah) DISCLAIMER The Mazda MX-5 Club of Victoria & Tasmania Inc., its Officers and Committee cannot be held liable for e: [email protected] any errors and/or omissions in articles, reports, notices, advertisements, comment and advice of events Chapter Captain - southern Tasmania that are published in mxtra in good faith. It should be noted that the publication of an advertisement, > John Waldock | 0409 658 716 (ah) or expression of views in articles and reports, does not necessarily imply endorsement by the Club of the advertised product or service or the views expressed in any articles or reports published in mxtra. e: [email protected] 3 Pete’s Perspective... ■ Peter dannock – President [email protected] i think we were all surprised of the MX-5 approaches when mazda lifted the lid on one million cars, the RF will a new targa style for the ND be a new version of a great mX-5. lightweight sports car that revealed at the New York Auto will bring the joy of driving Show and known as the RF a convertible sports car to a (Retractable Fastback), the wider audience. new car (right) is the first time The RF was not the only news Mazda has offered a fastback from the New York Auto Show; version of the MX-5. The it was also announced that the development of the MX-5 RF is All-New Mazda MX-5 has won young lions around here refusing to yield, slowing an ambitious undertaking for the 2016 World Car of the year are calling for more horse, my progress. Driving at an Mazda, aimed at broadening award. Awarded by a panel of but i say whoa boys. Would easier pace allowed me to the appeal of the fourth 73 international automotive you ask for a splash more soak in the scenery and what generation MX-5. As Mazda journalists, it beat the new color on a rembrandt, or was clear to see was the says, the basic premise of the Mercedes GLC SUV and Audi demand a rewrite of the devastation caused by the soft-top model is top-down A4 into runner-up positions. last scene in Gone with the fires at Christmas. Though a driving and, in comparison, it also took the award for best Wind? When it’s right, it’s number of houses were lost, it Mazda expect MX-5 RF owners Car design, beating the Jaguar right. Period.” was fortunate that there were to spend more time with the XE and Mazda’s own CX-3. We could apply the same no fatalities. top closed. Well done Mazda – winners thinking today; it seems that are grinners. It is one of the great roads Every member will have the more things change, the their view on the new style. i am always amazed, using more they stay the same. to drive your MX-5, as Though many members will the internet, of the plethora experienced by members on See the link below if you would admire the new look, some of photos and information the recent Great Ocean Road like to read the full article for will be adamant that an MX-5 available on-line about the run. See page 12 to read the yourself. will always need a soft top. MX-5. As I work through my report on their run. Others will be attracted by the www.caranddriver.com/ daily dose of social feeds and As I write this article, daylight fastback coupe styling and emails, there is often many old reviews/1990-mazda-mx-5- saving is about to end ... a sign the convenience of a folding articles re-published on-line, miata-archived-test-review that it is getting colder, but it hardtop. Either way, Mazda providing a nostalgic look into during easter, I had an shouldn’t stop you enjoying have come up with a fantastic the past. opportunity to drive the Great convertible sports car with your car. One article I recently enjoyed Ocean Road between Lorne fastback lines when the roof reading was one re-published and Apollo Bay, enjoying an And remember ... leave sooner, is closed and an exhilarating by Car and Driver magazine annual camping holiday at drive slower, live longer. open air feel when open. from September 1989. It was Cumberland River with family Expect to see the MX-5 RF a review of the 1990 MX-5 and friends. As much as I Pete arrive in Australia late in 2016 Miata, tilted ‘The Return of the wanted to stretch the legs on or early 2017. It will cost at Honest Sports Car’. my roadster, it wasn’t possible. Below: Ikuo Maeda, Mazda’s least $4000 more than the soft The Easter holidays bring a Executive Officer and General In reading the review the top Mazda MX-5 and it will lot of tourists to the area and Manager of the Design Division, author comments: only be sold with the bigger, frustration can quickly build, accepts the 2016 World Car of more powerful 2.0-litre engine. “Perfect, that’s what the with the numerous bicycle the Year award at the New York As the worldwide production new miata is. some of the pelotons and slower drivers International Auto Show. 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