stevekmo's Blog

Re: 2009 Bartlett Christmas Parade

I just got the confirmation letter. We are line-up #55. Please see the attached letter.

Attachment: Parade09.pdf (1411.0KB)

Re: 90 Miata Gutting

Yes Don, I was wondering about your new 91 also! Can't wait to see it a little bigger than you avatar.

Re: 2009 Bartlett Christmas Parade

Andy, 
A set of magnets will be yours! I may call the number and ask more details about the location for the parade lineup. I like some of your eating recommendations. We could make the final decision the day of the event. We'll all be together anyway. 

Robertoda,
You are welcome to join us. You might want to get off early if it is possible. We can try to slip you in if we can, I just don't know exactly how things will work since this is my first time at this parade. I haven't been in a parade since my high school marching band days. I had fun then, so I think we will have fun with this one!

Re: n00b in the Jackson area...

Welcome Josh! Your message was caught in the spam filter for some reason. I released it and it found itself here. It's good to hear you are as excited about Miatas as the rest of us here. For that matter I am twice your age and you have already owned more Miatas than I have! Welcome!

Re: Official cars for Pat thread

This does look like a nice one. The seats look almost unbelievable. Most have wear in the bolster, these look almost too fresh. Maybe they were recovered, but they look original. The dents can be taken out. I would definitely bid on this one if I were in the market for an automatic.

Re: 2009 Bartlett Christmas Parade

The parade will line up on Stage Road between Alutruria and Elmore Park. Lineup begins at 3:30. I think we should try to all be there about 3:00 ready to start the lineup. The parade starts at 5pm. Make sure to bring some holiday decorations to decorate your car. Let's be as festive as possible. I have some ideas going for mine, I just need time to work out the details. I'll get some extra club magnets made for those that need some. They will be $20 for the pair and you will have them for future events also. We'll try to meet afterwards somewhere for dinner. Anybody have any suggestions just post them here. 

Official parade website...
http://tn-bartlett.civicplus.com/index.aspx?nid=629

Re: WTB 2000 and up Taurus / Sable

Sounds like you made a good choice. Glad you found a good car. I don't think the new car smell is worth an extra 12k. I have decided that unless something changes with new cars, I will never buy another new one. If technology drastically changes, I'll think about it, but cars have been built the same for the last 100 years, and I had just as soon have a 1966 Mustang as a 2010 Mustang. That's why I like my '93 Miata just as well as my wifes '03 Miata. There may be small differences, but they aren't usually worth the extra cost to me. I hope you enjoy the Sable!

Re: See Y'all in the Spring

I thought you were going to lead us on a winter drive up there in the country!!!

Re: Memphis Miata Club Gallery

Photos have been added for the Louisiana Track Day in Baton Rouge. Look at them in the Gallery Section, or this link...

http://web.me.com/stevekmo/Site_4/The_KINGS_Albums/Pages/Louisiana_Track_Day,_Fall_09.html

Re: Here's an Automatic for Pat

Patricia,
Here is another automatic car. It is a newer model and is more expensive, but looks like a nice one at Dobbs.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=268546012

Here's an Automatic for Pat

Found this one on the Mardi Gras Miata Club site. It is an automatic, but says it needs some transmission work. I don't know what that means, but maybe it's something simple.

http://www.mardigrasmiata.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=328

Re: SOME AUTOCROSS VIDEOS!

Very nice video! I watched the whole thing last night. It makes me want to get one of those cameras. It's really neat that you can put it on multiple locations on the car. Very nice music and editing too. 

Re: Back from the Track Day in Baton Rouge

 My suggestion is to get a good alignment, wheels and grippy tires, upgraded shocks/springs/swaybars. In that order. Then it's all seat time with an instructor from there. Time behind the wheel is the key. A properly set up Miata can keep up with anything. When I'm driving the Laguna, I'm running almost the same speed as the Turbo. The difference is that the turbo has the power to hit the high numbers in the straights. The secret is to keep the momentum in the turns.

-lloydb

I agree with Lloyd here. I am living proof of this. The last track day we had, I was all over the road, with at least 2 180˚spins off the track. Since the last event I have upgraded the wheels and tires, and added new shocks, and gotten a more aggressive alignment. Also, I went to Hallett and several autocrosses. All this said I have gotten more experienced and the new equipment combined made me faster this time with no spins. I drove a turbo car and they drove mine. When they got out of my car they complemented me on the "fun" factor. The turbo was fun, but I am still not going out to get one, because I still have a lot to learn with the stock car. If anything I'll work on more suspension upgrades. It's fun to think about adding a turbo, but cost versus benefit doesn't pay off. Sometime with more experience, maybe.

Oh, one more upgrade that made me faster this time-the stripes. Maybe, that's what got me a ticket too.

Re: Back from the Track Day in Baton Rouge

Yes, lots of warnings after the fact. None before hand. Not that my hard-head would listen anyway. It's all okay, it will be payed and we will move on. The trace runs from Natchez, MS up to Jackson, MS. I think it keeps going north from there. It was a good idea, but maybe not after a track day when we are in a hurry to get home.

Re: WTB 2000 and up Taurus / Sable

I know of a 2000 model Mercury Marque with about 60k for sale in Dyersburg. It was my uncles car and he recently passed. We went up to look at it a couple of weekends ago. It is the top of the line model with leather, power everything, etc. Let me know if you want to look at it. I think they want around $5k for it.

Re: Back from the Track Day in Baton Rouge

No, we decided to take Hwy 61 up toward Memphis and hit the Natchez Trace for a while. The posted speed is 50. That was hard for me, so a police car clocked us doing 64. So, I have a little ticket to pay. I'll stay off the Natchez Trace from now on.

Re: Back from the Track Day in Baton Rouge

There is a difference in autocross and track events. 90+ will do more damage to a car than 40.

Re: Back from the Track Day in Baton Rouge

His belly pan was the original plastic and it was ripped off. He went through a series of cones dead center of the car. The lower radiator pipes were ruptured. Also, a fan bracket was broken. A metal belly pan would have probably helped save things. All in all it wasn't too bad, or it could have been worse. He came back with a trailer on Sunday and we loaded the car up for him to take back to his garage and fix it back up for next time!

Re: Back from the Track Day in Baton Rouge

Don't be sorry. It was me that was leading, therefore I got the speeding ticket. I think I'll frame it and put it on the wall next to some photos of our track day!

Back from the Track Day in Baton Rouge

Why do I have to work today? I really don't want to after the great weekend we had in Baton Rouge! Thanks Lloyd, Mike and the MGMC for allowing us to enjoy the great weekend with you. Thanks Leon & Patty for the fun party and oysters. It was an exciting weekend we had. No real mishaps, just Leon busting his radiator after some cones jumped up under his car! I did faster laps this time, thanks to new tires and a little more experience. I got to drive a turboed car (we won't say whose) a few laps, that was exciting. Sunday a few of us went back out to the track to watch the Ferrari Club run some really fast cars. I'll try to get some photos up on the gallery site soon. What a weekend!!!

Re: SE in New Orleans area

Oops, it's not an automatic. I forgot about that part. Otherwise this should be a nice car.

SE in New Orleans area

This one is for Patricia...

If I was in the market I would snap this one up. It's not too often I see a car that I would trade my black and tan for but I think this would be one. This was posted on the Mardi Gras Miata Club site a few days ago. She is a regular MGMC member and I have met her. She has several Miatas and baby's her cars, so I feel confident this is a nice car. Special Edition cars are made in limited numbers @ about 1,500 and come with some extra goodies that looks like come with this car. It has a hardtop too, and is low mileage. 

http://www.mardigrasmiata.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=325

Steve.

Re: Thursday Night Hot Rod Night at the Blue Plate

I dove by there a couple of weeks ago on a Thursday night and didn't see anybody. It had been raining that day but wasn't at the time I drove by. It made me think maybe they were done for the season. I am not sure. I have to clean the car, and pack tonight for the NO trip. So, I probably won't have the time to stop tonight. Let me know if it's still going on though, I would like to do it again sometime.

Re: need to sell a 96 M edition

I went to Kelly Bluebook and plugged in your car info. I picked "fair" condition category because of the work you say the car needs. They give a price of $3,355. That is a little more than I was thinking it was worth. Looks like the M editions are worth a little more than others. If I were selling it I would try somewhere around this price. I have had good luck selling vehicles on Craigslist. The only downfall is they only allow 4 photos and they resample those to the point you really can't tell much from them. You can use a link in your ad to another hosted sight with better photos and more detailed information. That's how I do it. That's how I sold my truck. For that matter, that's how I sold anther car. As a matter of fact I bought my Miata off of Craigslist too.

Re: need to sell a 96 M edition

You'll get more selling it outright than you would have trading it. I recently sold a nice Ranger pickup for $4,500 to an individual. The dealer wanted to give me $1500 for a trade. They would probably give you $500 for your car on a trade.