History of the San Diego Miata Club

Updated May 2006

In February of 1996, following an "impromptu" run in the San Diego back-country, a group of eleven local Miata enthusiasts who first met on their computers sat at a small restaurant table (from the very start, we were destined to be a "drive and eat" club) and plotted the emergence of a new car club. Less than two months later, on March 31, the first official meeting of the San Diego Miata Club was held, again at a restaurant, and we were underway with 34 cars and Mark Booth as our first President. Cindy Paloma (Vice-President), Ruth Stark (Secretary), and Mary Beecher (Treasurer) rounded out the inaugural board. We had leadership, we had a respectable number of cars, and we had a missions "to promote the enjoyment of, and enthusiasm for, one of the world's most exciting sports cars- the Mazda Miata!"

It didn't take long for us to become the fastest-growing Miata club in the world. At the end of our first lap around the calendar, we had grown to 142 cars and over 200 members! We had already been a spotlight chapter in Miata Magazine and our newsletter and Web pages were beginning to be recognized as standard setters for car clubs around the world. We had begun to show our community spirit by contributing our time, energy, and funds to local charities, as we continue to do today. We were on the Miata scene to stay! Year two began with Mark's landslide re-election as President, Rainer Mueller taking on the Vice-Presidency, Natalia Rissolo keeping the minutes, and Tony, "the slave to Madame Treasurer," taking over the role of primary club banker. We had by now invented new types of Miata events, from Wheels 'n' Meals to race nights at Malibu Grand Prix, and our runs were growing in both frequency and size. Our second year saw almost two dozen runs and a half-dozen or more tech days and clinics, a dramatic expansion our charitable activities, and our participation in two international auto shows with Mazda. As if that weren't enough, we also saw a record-setting springtime run of 67 SDMC cars to Borrego Springs! We were on the road to becoming one of the big-time clubs.

As lap two drew to a close, we witnessed our first changing of the guard at the top as President Mark retired and VP Rainer took over as "El Presidente." Joining Rainer on our third board were Voodoo Bob Krueger as VP, Secretary Barb Shev, and Treasurer Laurie Waid. Mark had achieved one of his personal goals and seen us cross the threshold of 200 cars under his leadership, Rainer inherited a club that was healthier than the founders could have ever imagined, and with him at the helm we continued to grow steadily and diversify. Our Wheels 'n' Meals had grown from 15 cars being a good showing to 35-45 being the norm, and we had to move from the patio to the main floor of the restaurant to accommodate the ever-growing crowd at these popular events. More growth was accompanied by more community service, as we added our labor to local automotive events and expanded our charitable efforts even more. Tech days, BIG runs, and a holiday party so large that we had to rent a facility to accommodate the more than 100 attendees; such has been lap three.

We began lap four with our first fearless leader who was not one of the original founders, as Steve Waid took the reins from the retiring Rainer Mueller. Voodoo Bob stayed on as VP. Laurie turned over the books to Elliot Shev as she moved up to "First Babe," and Barb Shev, who now had a husband on the board, retired from keeping minutes in favor of Sal Causarano. Another board for another year of new challenges, the first of which would be reaching the magic number of 300 memberships. With 290 cars and 437 members as lap three drew to a close, this goal was now well within sight. But perhaps the biggest challenge would be the planning and execution of Surf'N'Safari, the San Diego Miata Club's first regional event. Conceived and initiated by Lou Stark, Surf'N'Safari would prove to be a massive undertaking that would eventually require the additional leadership of Sue Hinkle, Barbara Templeton, and a Surf Committee of nearly 20 enthusiasts. In October of 1999, after months of hard and dedicated volunteer effort, our club put on one of the finest multi-club events in the history of Miatadom- 20 vendors, 140 cars from eight states, 15 clubs, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, six runs, a luau, and a banquet that turned into the biggest party ever seen at a Miata event; the list of superlatives goes on and on. Wow! What can we do to top that?

Elliot Shev took the lead as club President for the next two years, and membership hovered at the 5---member mark. Mazda entered into an agreement with Affinity Development Group to manage the newly formed Miata Owners Club after folding of Miata Club of America. During this time, Mazda recruited club members from across the country to serve on Mazda's Car Club Council, and Elliot was elected as the Western Regional Representative. His involvement with Mazda has assisted the club in obtaining sponsorship and donated items from Mazda.

At the 2001 annual meeting and membership elected Sal Casarano as the new President, Steve Kennison as Vice President, Jim Brokaw as Treasurer, and Roz Scott as Secretary. Sal and is wife "First Babe" Geri frequently held club socials at the humble abode in Ramona, and Geri kept the events calendar full as the Events Coordinator. A change in address for the Causaranos found them loading up the Miata and heading for South Carolina, where they now are active members of the Low Country Miata Club in Charleston. The duties of President fell in the very capable hands of the Vice President - Steve Kennison.

In the 2002 annual meeting, Steve Kennison was elected for another term as President, along with Bruce Lewis as Vice President; Roz Scott as Treasurer: and Sue Hinkle as Secretary. Plans for a sequel to Surf "n" Safari 99 were presented to the membership, and by 2004 another stellar SDMC regional event became a reality. Surf 'N' Safari 04 hosted over 240 Miata enthusiasts from around the country and one couple even from Europe. The event featured a vendor mall with 31 of the top after market Miata vendors.

In 2005, with the previous board having held positions for two years, it was time to elect a new slate of officers. Sue Hinkle was elected serve as President, Jerry Boster as V.P., Jason Brent as Treasurer, and Brenda Kay as Secretary. During 2005, the club actively participated with Mazda in launching the third generation MX-5. Several members are now sporting the new 2006 MX-5s. Monthly meeting attendance is at an all-time high, and we typically have 4- - 50 cars participating in planned runs or events.

As we round the bend into lap eleven, club membership stands at nearly 500 members. We routinely publish and 18-20 page newsletter, recently named "Twist and Turns". Our web site has been redesigned and features information sections unparalleled in the Miata Club world. We remain the second largest Miata Club in California and on of the five largest in the country.

We are structuring the formation of an autocross team that will be one of only five clubs officially sanctioned to plan and execute Solo II events by the San Diego region of the Sports Car Club of America.

The San Diego Miata Club is obviously successful, but new challenges will surely emerge, among them to keep the enthusiasm of our ever-growing membership at the level it was for those first eleven when they sat around the table conjuring up visions of the best Miata club in the world. Can we meet that and the other challenges that will face us in the months and years ahead? Our history to this point would seem to tell us Of course we can.