MX5 Owners Club

South West Area

 

Useful information

The MX-5 Owners Club, the MX-5 Owners Club South West Area, its officers, servants and agents accept no responsibility for the content or the advice or instructions given or for any injury howsoever caused to any person or persons following such advice or instructions or damage caused to vehicles or other equipment as a result of following such advice or instructions given in any of the articles contained herein.

If in any doubt consult your local Mazda dealership or local garage, and always ensure that you follow correct safety procedures when working on your car.

On this page you can scroll down to find information on :-

Guidelines and Etiquette on Runs and Drive-outs
Planning a run
Dealers we like (and possibly some we don't!)
WARNING re Space-saver wheels
How to read your VIN plate
Identifying marks and models of MX-5
How to wire a heated rear window on earlier marks
How one member installed air horns
Changing your coolant
Guidelines and Etiquette for Club Runs and Drive-outs
A Good Driving Guide
Everything you wanted to know about MX-5 runs but were afraid to ask:
Planning a route some hard won lessons.

• First of all well done for volunteering to organise a drive. . Organising takes time but preparation is everything.

• Prepare the route, research it on a map, drive it yourself, time it, change it if needed, and then drive it again to check your notes. Do not be tempted to miss the rerun there are always errors to correct! Try to do the rerun the day before. Last minute roadblocks do not make a happy convoy.

• It is best to avoid the main A roads where possible, as, due to traffic volume, this is where groups tend to get split up. Aim for a variety of roads to keep things interesting.

• Route directions should be clear (tulip diagrams are good), cover EVERY direction change and provide as much detail as possible e.g. signage, landmarks etc. What is obvious to you may not be to everyone else. Using a large typeface on directions is also helpful!

• Include mileage between each direction i.e. zero the trip counter between each stage.

• For the driver to zero the trip whist driving is dangerous so it is also helpful to provide a total mileage covered so far along side the stage mileage

• Route plans should be provided to all cars BUT drivers without navigators should be warned not to read directions whist driving.

• Bring lots of copies of the notes on the day to distribute. If you can give map references too, all the better! Put your mobile phone number on the directions in case of emergencies. If you are not pre distributing the directions make sure people have your mobile number in advance at the very least in case of hitches on the day.

• If your run involves stopping somewhere e.g. for lunch confirm your booking at least the day before. Youd be amazed how often venues lose your booking and a car park full of hungry MX-5ers is not a pretty sight!

• Provide frequent re-group points along the route youll need them!

• Dont forget to allow for comfort breaks if you are organising a long drive.

• Arrange to set off from somewhere thats easy to find, has a large car park and is near to a petrol station for last minute filling up. Supermarkets are ideal.

• Organisers should aim to be at the rendezvous well before the set time. Bring more copies of the directions than you think you need. Make sure everyone has a copy before you set off!

Enjoying the day

• No matter how good the directions, life is a lot easier if you have a navigator rope in a friend or relative if possible and give them a good day out into the bargain!

• Bring a map of the route area if you have one youll be very popular with everyone else!

• Obvious but important give your car the once over the day before to catch any last minute niggles that could ruin your day. Fill up with petrol!

On the day setting out

• Preparation is important. Please ensure that you have the following in your armoury to be as safe as possible.

• Enough communications gear mobile phones and Walkie-talkies.

• First aid kit.

• Warning triangle.

• Enough water to drink

• If you have a first aider in the group make sure that people know who they are.

• Common sense applies get to the meeting place on time. If theres a problem just call the organiser (you have their mobile number!). If you are not joining at the beginning make sure the organiser knows when and where you are joining. The same applies if you are leaving part way through you dont want half the run following you home!

• Convoys need a lead and a tail. Ideally these cars should also have navigators and be in touch via telephone or walkie-talkie. The tail should stay at the tail, so dont volunteer if you cant resist overtaking!

And theyre off!

• The normal rules of the road apply. This is obvious but can be forgotten when trying to keep up with the pack. Dont be tempted to overtake when you wouldnt normally and watch your speed. Another danger is keeping too close bashed bumpers are not a good look! Be extra nice to horses and cyclists. Whenever the group stops try to pull completely off the road.

• Indicators are your friends! Use them early to guide cars in the group, as well as to provide information for other road users.

• If you are the leader remember to stop for regroups especially if you have just been through a congested area. Use your rear view mirror you need to keep an eye on what the others are doing. Are they still there?

• If you are in the middle of the pack, slow down for the car behind you after a turning or junction.

• Courtesy is the key to a successful run. The basic rule is do as you would be done by. Try to remember that everyone has different styles of driving. The car in front may not be going as fast as youd like. DO NOT overtake while in convoy. You can move ahead of them at the next regroup. Similarly if you feel the pace is too quick, mention it at the next re-grouping stop. The lead MX-5 must establish a sensible pace for the group, but it is very helpful if each driver can keep the MX-5 behind him or her in sight, thus ensuring the group stays together.

Group runs are social gatherings for people who love MX-5s; they are meant to be a day of fun not competition or challenge. If you really want to test the performance of your MX-5 you should attend a Track Day type event (we have lots of those too!). You are at a group event so please show respect and care for your fellow runners. People are expected to drive courteously, legally and safely persistent irresponsible behaviour will not be tolerated and offenders should be asked to leave the run.

Planning a run

Planning an MX-5 Run Some dos and donts

Planning a run may seem daunting, and certainly does take some time and thought, but it is also fun (yes, really!) and nothing beats it for getting fully involved and part of the group.

If you can, enlist the help of another member of the club to assist in ideas and planning it can be good fun working together on the project.

Traditionally a day out will include a start point where members can meet for a coffee and use the loo) before setting off, a coffee stop after about an hour, a stop for lunch in a village or at an attraction where food is available. Aim for around 80 miles maximum. Remember that members may have travelled a long way to the start and may have a good distance to travel home from the end.

Try to avoid city centres. It is impossible to keep a group of cars together when negotiating busy areas, particularly with traffic lights.

Those who have Sat Nav can find some unusual routes by using the Shortest Route option which we have found finds some lovely twisty country roads we never knew existed. For those of you that use Google maps these can be a very useful tool as you can drag the route to suit your drive.

Try to build a variety of roads into the day. Some fast bits for the petrolheads and some twisty roads and scenic areas. Try to avoid long stretches of single track roads without passing places it is unfair to other road users to meet long lines of sports cars nose to tail.

Finding a good start point is the first essential. A pub (if it opens early enough) MacDonalds or similar, or sometimes a supermarket car park or Motorway service station.

Our area is very successful and we often get 20+ cars turning up so finding a coffee stop that can cope with these numbers can be a problem, particularly out in the countryside. Remember it isnt just bums on seats its parking space as well. If you have a coffee stop check with the proprietors that they will be open at the time required and that they are not too busy at that time on a Sunday. You can advise them on the day how many cars there will be and estimated time of arrival.

Lunch stops can be simply a village or small town as long as there is sufficient parking and if you are booking a pub as above - please check with the landlord regarding timings and seating arrangements and confirm your booking and numbers on the morning of the drive.

Most organisers provide a cover sheet with the overall details of the day outlined, contact details for the leader(s), registration numbers and names of leaders, details of destinations etc. (Refer also to Guidelines and Etiquette for Club Runs and Drive-outs)