August 2018 Volume 30, Issue 8

The President’s Corner by Chuck Valley

In July the MVMC participated in two 4th of July Parades, one in the morning (Fairborn)

that we have participated in several years, and this year we also participated in the

Beavercreek parade held in the early evening. Kids of all ages were lining both sides of

the street and we enjoyed tossing candy

curbside and up high to watch adults return

to their youth trying to beat other adults to the

sweets. We had outstanding participation in

both parades with our MVMC providing

fourteen cars in each community! We thank

all who joined in to make it a fun success and

another first for the Miami Valley Miata Club.

These types of community involvements

allow our club great exposure to the public

that can’t be beat!

July also brought the first of a couple of planned meetings for the 25th Anniversary Planning Committee

consisting of MVMC members Byron and Skeeter Petit, Dave and Peggy Berry, Tony and Jeanne Zlocki,

Tim Howard, Roger Gordon, Fred Hoppel, and Chuck and Pat Valley. All shared good ideas of what we

needed to be thinking about. By end of the meeting, ideas had been recorded and Chuck documented

responsibilities with the committee members.

On a warm Saturday morning, July 14th many gathered at Xenia Station for the start of the trek to Plain Folk

Café in Pleasant Plain, Ohio. Where is Pleasant Plain, Ohio you ask? Well, locals may tell ya it’s between

somewhere and nowhere. I know Dave and Peggy have done this quaint lunch drive at least three times,

and we have enjoyed it the two times we’ve participated. For our third Tuesday of the month Meet & Greet,

our club had a great turnout at Archer’s Kettering. To close out the month, Tim Howard hosted another

Austin Landing Cars & Coffee which I have never been to, but am planning to go to the next one. I’ve heard

it’s an extravaganza of cars from various decades, muscle cars and vintage foreign and domestic vehicles

too.

Oh man, August is here already! The MVMC is kicking off the month with the British Vintage Car Show at

Eastwood Park this Saturday, August 4th. The first Tour de Gem 100-mile bicycle race in Dayton, Ohio

happens later this month, and the MVMC was called on to drive the event planners. Good news is we now

have seven Miatas to help dry-run the bike route, but we are inviting other MVMC members who want to

bring a family member to join us in the caravan. Please either reply to Dan Kirkpatrick or myself if you plan

to participate either as a driver or if you just want to tag along. We’ll be heading to a nice lunch spot after

we accomplish the route. Reread the V/R announcement for details.

14 Miatas from MVMC lining up behind the Jeff Schmitt Dealership in Fairborn prior to the big 4th of July Parade

Cruising through August, on the 16th the club has been

invited to the Milton Club for an enjoyable casual evening

with dinner, live music from the ‘40s to the current day,

and dancing to the great music of the Generation Big

Band, of which MVMC member Larry Roberts performs.

On August 18, we will return to the Auburn Cord

Duesenberg (ACD) Museum in Auburn, Indiana. We

visited this fantastic collection of fine automobiles in

2014. Many of our members who couldn’t make that first

trip can now make plans to go. These are ‘very high end’

automobiles from a bygone era when unique artistic

beauty in the automobile’s body was mated with the

state-of-the-art powerful engines, heavy duty

suspensions that could handle any rough, pothole laden

road (and

there were many back then) and with all the bells and whistles

engineers could come up with. These are true luxury cars.

Nothing was spared and nothing compares with these

beauties! We’ll be sending out an announcement soon for this

day trip that Tony and Jeanne Zlocki will be hosting.

A beautiful curvy and hilly return trip to Hocking Hills with Fred and Jayna Hoppel is in store for August 25th.

Look for the announcement soon.

Skipping ahead a bit, pay attention to the

Fall Foliage Drive and if you want to join

the club 18-21 October, get your

reservations in at the Luxbury Inn in

Maryville TN as soon as possible while

they still have rooms. We have 11 cars,

20 MVMC members signed up so far. We

welcome more MVMC members to join us

in this great color-filled fall road trip to the

Smokies!

So that you can maximize your fun factor,

be sure to check our website often, read

our newsletters monthly, and keep up

with the event calendar, and the event

announcements for upcoming events.

Again, participate with us while your good health allows. You’ll get more out of your club, keep your seals

from drying out (which causes engine and tranny leaks), and build some good memories along the way! It

beats cleaning the house or falling asleep in front of the boob tube. Save naps for the cold, rainy, and snowy

days of Ohio winters when your little beast is snug as a bug in a rug (er… car cover)!

On a personal note, Mike Wheeler is scheduled for a new knee on 28 August. He is open to visitors prior to that date and prefers visits after 5pm. Give Mike a call before planning your visit. His cell is: 937-776-9918. Mike is at Cypress Pointe Health Campus, 600 W. National Rd, Englewood. It's about a quarter-mile down the road from Marion's Piazza.

MVMC member Larry Roberts seen with his bandmates in Generation Big Band

Miami Valley Miata Club Officers for 2018

Membership Update

By Pat Valley

Membership Director

With a renewal we now have a 2018 total of 76 active members. Welcome back! If you have missed the emails or forgot where to send your renewal, here is the form. Please mail it with your $20 renewal fee to: Pat Valley, 2000 Deer Hollow Trail, Xenia, OH 45385.

President

Chuck Valley

Secretary-Treasurer

Fred Hoppel

Rally Master

Roger Gordon

Vice President

Tony Zlocki

Membership Director

Pat Valley

Technical Director

Tim Howard

Newsletter Editor, Webmaster

Dave Berry

August Birthdays

8/03 Brian Leenheer 8/04 Marybeth Smith 8/11 Marilyn Kramer 8/12 Pat Gould 8/13 Cott Wenger 8/13 Mary Herman 8/15 Carole Stofer 8/23 Linda Wenger 8/25 Linda Howard 8/27 Tony Zlocki

New Members for 2018

Mark Fritz

Thomas Birkbeck

Carlos Quintana & Sherry Crossman

Patrick & Lori Powell

Richard & Barb Robinson

MVMC 2018 Calendar of Events

NOTE: This is displayed as a running three-month calendar of upcoming events for which at least two of the three factors of date, host(s) and venue are CONFIRMED.

Date Event Host(s) Venue Aug 4 British Car Show Tim Howard Eastwood MetroPark

Aug 11 “Tour de Gem” Pre-drive Dan Kirkpatrick Fifth Third Field and Dayton environs

Aug 12 Autocross Troy Corvette Club Kil-Kare Raceway, Xenia, OH

Aug 16 Generation Big Band Larry Roberts The Milton Club, Dayton, OH

Aug 18 Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum Tour

Tony & Jeanne Zlocki Auburn, IN

Aug 21 Meet & Greet Chuck Valley China Cottage, Centerville, OH

Aug 25 Hocking Hills Drive & Dine Fred and Jayna Hoppel Hocking Hills, SE Ohio

Sep 8 William Henry Harrison Memorial and Museum Tour (tentative)

Dave and Peggy Berry North Bend, OH

Sep 15 Poker Run Drive & Dine Chuck & Pat Valley TBA

Sep 18 Meet & Greet Chuck Valley TJ Chumps, Fairborn, OH

Sep 22 Chautauqua Festival Tony & Jeanne Zlocki TBA

Sep 23 Autocross Troy Corvette Club Kil-Kare Raceway, Xenia, OH

Oct 6 25th Anniversary Celebration MVMC Officers & Anniversary Committee

Fairborn Senior Center, Fairborn, OH

Oct 13 SCCA Autumn Classic at Mid-Ohio

Tim Howard Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH

Oct 16 Meet & Greet Chuck Valley Jeff Schmitt Mazda, Beavercreek, OH

Oct 18-21 Fall Foliage Tour Chuck & Pat Valley Maryville, TN

Links of interest:

MVMC GROUP FACEBOOK PAGE:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/300608016771949/

MVMC ORG FACEBOOK PUBLIC PAGE

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Miami-Valley-Miata-

Club/229407270577928

LINKS TO MIATA CLUBS IN THE MIDWEST

http://www.miata.net/clubs/ohkywv.html

BUCKEYE MIATA CLUB / COLUMBUS-

http://www.buckeyemiataclub.com/

GREATER CINCINNATI http://www.cincimiata.com/news.asp

INDY MIATA CLUB http://www.indymiata.org/

OHIO MIATA OWNERS FACEBOOK PRIVATE GROUP (request to join)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/478759678813248/

Pleasant Folk Café Drive & Dine

By Dave & Peggy Berry

We as a club go on local drives for a couple of reasons. First, we enjoy

piloting our little sports cars on fun roads (you know, curvy and hilly).

Second, we look for a destination that is worth visiting. It may be a park, a

scenic vista, or a good place to eat. For these reasons, we have visited the

Plain Folk Café in Pleasant Plain, Ohio for three years running, and will

likely return.

I’ve been asked a couple of times, “Dave, how do you lay out a route for a

drive?” Of course, you need a destination. I had read about the Plain Folk

Café several years ago in an article by Paul Daugherty, a sports columnist

for the Cincinnati Enquirer. It seemed an interesting and welcoming eatery.

What comes next is deciding how to get there. I look for small rivers and

creeks. The roads that bound these commonly follow the course of the

waterway, and often climb in and out of the valleys that the stream has cut.

We are fortunate to have the Little Miami River winding its way from northeast of Dayton, in Clark County,

to the Ohio River, east of Cincinnati. It’s a small river, so its bends are more pronounced than say, the Ohio

or even the Great Miami Rivers, and the course it has cut is narrow, so there are, at places, steep inclines

into and out of its valley. That’s why our route to Pleasant Plain begins in Xenia and passes through Corwin,

Oregonia, and Morrow.

We’ve taken this general route each of three years now, and this year added a couple of fun diversions.

The first took us onto Houston Road past Ed and Marilyn Kramer’s farm outside of Spring Valley, and the

second took us along the grounds of the Caesar Creek Soaring

Club between Corwin and Oregonia. We got close to the weekend

action there – so close that a sailplane that came in for a landing

would have taken off Peggy’s hat if we had been forty yards

farther along!

Leaving Morrow, our convoy of 19 cars and 35 people weaved its

way through the tiny town of Butlerville before arriving at the café

in Pleasant Plain. As before, we were warmly greeted by the

owners of the establishment. Our food orders were taken, we

found seats, socialized, dined, and socialized some more.

The weather on the way down had been on the warm side, and it was a bit uncomfortably warm at our departure. So, in most cases, tops-down became tops-up with a/c on for the return trip home.

"The newsletter is an official MVMC publication. By agreement with Jeff Schmitt Mazda we are to provide them with advertising space with their logo in every issue of the newsletter. As the Jeff Schmitt logo is a part of the newsletter, we don't want to appear to be in competition with our sponsor. Therefore, no advertising of used vehicles will appear in the newsletter.

We will advertise Miata related parts in the newsletter at no charge for MVMC members. The MVMC will help with preparing and releasing advertisements for used vehicles for MVMC members by e-mail distribution directly to members and on MVMC Facebook page(s)."

MVMC 4th of July Photos

Pat Gould adjusts the "lips" on Lee Korb's NA before the Beavercreek parade

Pat Valley poses with Gabrielle Enright, WHIO-TV news personality, while marshalling for the Beavercreek parade

Peggy Berry shoots a mean game of billiards at Dan and Norma Kirkpatrick's

Sarah Mays, Xenia Mayor, rode with Dave Berry in Beavercreek

British Car Show

The 2018 British Car Show is sponsored by the local MG and Triumph Clubs. This show attracts all brands

of British cars, MG's to Jaguars, in all stages of restoration from concours to unrestored condition. In

addition, there is a swap meet and British car vendors are on the grounds. There are also food vendors

should you want lunch or a snack before you leave. Best of all, admission is free.

When: Saturday August 4, 2018

Why: Because you enjoy British cars and the

company of other MVMC members.

Where: The show is held at beautiful Eastwood Park.

If you want to go to breakfast with the group we will

meet at the Bob Evans located at the intersection of

Woodman Drive and Route 35 at 8:30 am. If you

prefer to simply attend the show arrive at 9:30 am.

We will have a short drivers meeting in the parking lot

before we make the 10-minute drive to Eastwood.

Call Tim Howard at 937-439-3942, or email tghcc@woh.rr.com to confirm your attendance and whether

you plan to eat breakfast or just go to the show.

Tour de Gem

Miami Valley Miata Club has been asked to escort leadership to route the Tour de Gem bicycle event

Host: Dan Kirkpatrick

Five Miatas with no passenger are needed to carry leadership on the 100-miler around the City of Dayton;

additional Miatas with passenger are welcome!

WHEN: Saturday, August 11th 9:00 am

WHERE: Meet at 409 E. Monument Avenue,

Dayton

(across the street from Dayton Dragon Fifth

Third Field)

ITINERARY:

09:00 Arrive at 409 E. Monument Ave. 09:15 Driver's meeting 09:30 Depart 13:00 - 16:00 Lunch at Brixx Ice Company, 500

E. First St., Dayton

RSVP to Dan Kirkpatrick by August 8, 2018, Daniel.R.Kirkpatrick@gmail.com or 937-673-4178

Hocking Hills Drive and Dine

When: Saturday, August 25, 2018

Times: Meet Time at 8:30 AM Drivers Meeting at 8:45 AM Departure Time at 9:00 AM

Meeting Place: Xenia Station (West Parking Area),

150 N Miami Avenue, Xenia, OH 45385

Lunch: Dining at the Lake Hope Dining Lodge. The

area that is reserved for our Club will accommodate 26

persons. If we exceed 26 persons, the overflow can be

seated in the main restaurant on a first-come, first-

served basis.

Bring FRS (if you have one)

RSVP: Call or email Fred or Jayna Hoppel ASAP at 937-321-1381 or FPHoppel@Aol.com for a

headcount for the restaurant by Friday, August 17th

Questions? Call or email Fred or Jayna Hoppel at 937-321-1381 or FPHoppel@Aol.com

Fall Foliage Trip to the Smokies

Thursday, October 18th - Sunday, October 21st

Hosted by Chuck & Pat Valley

Join us for this colorful trip to the Smokies, Tail of The Dragon, Foothills Parkway, and Cherohala

Skyway!

The Club has reserved a block of rooms at the Luxbury Inn & Suites; 805 Foothills Mall Drive; Maryville,

TN 37801

To reserve your room, call 865-983-9839 no later than September 17, 2018 (Prices include taxes):

• $297.48 for a 1-bedroom suite for the three nights [7 available]

• $341.46 for a deluxe 1-bedroom suite for the three nights [2 available]

• $368.09 for a double queen suite for the three nights [3 available]

All rooms include: Continental Breakfast, Full Kitchen, High-speed internet, and more!

RSVP to Chuck Valley: charles.valley@yahoo.com or 937-608-5251 by August 15th

Shop Talk (It’s not just about the cars) By Tim Howard

July was another

productive month at

Ed’s Shop. Not only

did we have our

normal quota of

donuts, coffee and

conversation, but we

also completed a full schedule of work.

The list of mundane accomplishments

included fluid changes, routine

maintenance and new owner vehicle

evaluations. Then the schedule

progressed to more complex tasks like

complete brake jobs, performance exhaust

installations, the building and installation of

custom exhaust brackets, and finally finished

with the fitting of a high-velocity air induction

system. It was a full month and, true to our

mission statement, an ever-increasing

number of our 25 or so regular attendees

found a way to physically participate in the

accomplishment of these projects. The icing

on the cake is that we all had a good time and

enjoyed the process while accomplishing

some worthwhile tasks. Accompanying are

two photos of this month’s activities.

In addition to our shop activities, acting

on a last-minute whim, two of us, Ed

Walker and I, decided to attend the 2018

Classic Auto Show and Cruise-in

supporting the Arthritis Foundation. This

event is held in Dublin Ohio at the Metro

Center, a large complex of office

buildings in Northern Columbus. This is a

three-day event that attracts about 1200

auto exhibitors of all makes and models.

The cars are arranged by manufacturer

or model and are parked in dedicated

parking lots all over the complex

(Jaguars, Camaros, Mustangs, AMC,

Miata, etc.). The result is an almost

overwhelming display of automotive art. I

think that in the five hours that we were

there, we spent dedicated time looking at

less than half of the cars that were exhibited, and we walked about five miles to do so. Contrary to most

events this year, the weather was picture perfect and the quality of the cars and venue was outstanding. If

you like this sort of thing don’t miss this event next year. I know that Ed and I plan to be there, and maybe

even exhibit our Miata’s. Included are a couple of pictures of the event for your review.

Finally, on the 21st, we led a group of about 9 MVMC members to Austin Landing to attend the Dayton

Cars and Coffee. As has happened so many times this year, the threat of wet weather held down

attendance of both observers and participants. The threat of rain moved the event from its normal parking

lot venue to the first floor of the parking garage (translate...covered). Although the event was about 10 to

20% of its normal size, it had a charm of its own. As you can imagine some of the more exotic cars did

not attend, but the crowd seemed to be extra friendly. I spent about two-and-a-half hours there looking at

cars and talking to people. Despite the weather, I had a good time.

Boomerang Embroidery is ready for your apparel order

View their MVMC catalog at:

https://companycasuals.com/miata/s.jsp?action=view&parentId=1&httpsecure=Y

coordinate with pat valley for order pick-up