Canberra Chapter News

RPM Cheer Squad

Jinba Ittai Go Kart Challenge 2014

21 November 2014 / Story by Graham Fletcher Photos by Mel Keller & Guy Coles

Founded by the Illawarra Chapter’s Peter Feutrill in 2013, the Jinba Ittai Go Kart Challenge is now a hotly contested annual event.

The new tenure badges for 5 year, 10 year, 15 year and 20 year members were unveiled at our 2013 AGM. Sponsored by ACDC.

Annual General Meeting & Awards Presentation

31 October 2014 / Words by Bryan Shedden, Photos by Rod Carter

The AGM of the MX-5 Club of NSW was held on Wednesday 22 October 2014 at Garage Cafe, Sydney Motorsport Park. Read on for all the reports, new Committee members, and awards recipients.

President's Picnic 2014

President's Picnic results

19 September 2014 / Michael Soulos

The Club held its annual President’s Picnic at Lane Cove National Park on Sunday 14 September with 147 people registering and more turning up on the day. Results for the Concours d'Elegance and Bits & Bling are posted here.

"Fourbears" Run to Parkes and Forbes

15 September 2014 / Iris & Tony McDonald

On a beautiful sunny morning a group of 17 enthusiastic starters in 9 cars headed off in convoy up the Barton Highway past Yass, before branching onto Lachlan Valley Way north to Boorowa. The destination: a weekend trip to Parkes and Forbes.

ND MX-5 by Ben Sale

Impressions from the ground

05 September 2014 / Words & Photos by Ben Sale

The new ND MX-5 is a car that you really have to see in person to fully appreciate. Ben Sale shares his first impressions from Monterey.

The next generation Mazda MX-5 will be unveiled on 4th September

Meet our man at the ND MX-5 unveiling

02 September 2014 / Words: Ben Sale

The global reveal of the new generation MX-5 is happening this Thursday from 11am with simultaneous events in Japan, USA and Spain. Ben Sale has been sent by Mazda to cover the event in California on behalf of the MX-5 Clubs of Australia. Read on for his first message from the Melbourne departure lounge.

MX-5 25th Anniversary brunch at Tatlers Wines - photo by Peter Hilkmann

Celebrating the MX-5 25th Anniversary

28 August 2014 / Words: Bryan Shedden, Photos: Peter Hilkmann, Video: Adam Walker

Our Club's celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Mazda MX-5 was an elaborate affair with a wide variety of options to get involved one way or another. The climax was at Tatlers Wines in Lovedale where 120 people in 70 MX-5s gathered for brunch.

The next generation Mazda MX-5 will be unveiled on 4th September

Stop the Presses

25 August 2014 / Melissa Keller & Rod Carter

Here at Club Torque, we have our ears to the ground as Mazda release the latest details on the new generation MX-5 ND on 4th September. Look out for the Winter Edition of Club Torque, in print from 8th September.

Marulan Driver Training Day #2 entry form available

21 August 2014

Entries have opened for Driver Training Day #2 at the Marulan Driver Training Centre on Sunday 26th October 2014.

Christmas in July at Fountaindale

05 August 2014 / Kerry Evans

On a very crisp Canberra Sunday morning on the 27th of July, an intrepid band of 8 MX5ers met at 8am at McDonalds at Epic on Northbourne Avenue for our usual get together before setting off with tops down at 8:30 for Fountaindale at Robertson.

Club Lunch at the Bowning Hotel

23 June 2014 / Malcolm Bernhardt

So it was 29 hardy souls who rocked up at Hall layby on Sunday morning. This was the start of a 150k round run to Bowning via Yass and Binalong but the weather was cold and the roads were wet and slippery.

Pump Assembly

How to: Change an NC's Fuel Pump

20 June 2014 / Guy Coles

Quick How to change a Fuel Pump or Fuel Filter in an NC

The Sun Run to Noosa Mk II

01 June 2014 / Words and photos: Ken Keeling

Following an apparently successful Sun Run to Noosa last year, we planned a similar holiday run of four days via the roads less travelled for this autumn and timed to be a “positioning run” for Natmeet at Caloundra.

The Gundaroo Gourmet Gallop

28 May 2014 / Words and photo: Ken Keeling

The Canberra Chapter’s Gourmet Gallop Mk II to Gundaroo was held on Sunday 27 April, with 10 cars and 20 gourmands lined up at our Blamey Square rendezvous at Russell.

Shannons Wheels

28 May 2014 / Words by: Bob Judd. Photos: Bob Judd and Roger Amos

Each year, the ACT Council of ACT Motor Clubs arranges a show and shine day for its member clubs to raise money for a local charity.

Convenor’s Run and BBQ

28 May 2014 / Words by Bob Judd; Photos by Tony McDonald

Once a year, you, our honoured Chapter members, surrender to us, your honoured Convenors, an entire hard earned day of leisure.

Jean Knows Cars video interviews of Bob Hall, Tom Matano and Derek Jenkins in April 2014 for the 25th anniversary of the Mazda MX-5

Meet the Mazda MX-5's Proud Parents

20 May 2014 / Jean Knows Cars

Video interviews with the fathers of the Mazda MX-5, Bob Hall, Tom Matano and Derek Jenkins. Filmed at the New York Auto Show, April 2014.

Most of our NatMeet XI attendees assembled for a group photo

We are the Champions ... of NatMeet!

06 May 2014 / Words & Photos: Bryan Shedden, Photos: Phil Mayo, Trackphotos

For those who came in late, NatMeet is the biannual national meeting of the MX-5 Clubs of Australia. The 2014 event was hosted by the MX-5 Club of Queensland at the Sunshine Coast. It was the 11th NatMeet and marked the 25th Anniversary of the Mazda MX-5. And we came home with the National Championship for our Club!

NatMeet XI Lakeside group photo

NatMeet Track Day at Lakeside Park

06 May 2014 / Words: Phil Ashton, Greg Bunn Photos: Trackphotos

The drivers for the NatMeet Track Day awoke early on Monday morning to be greeted with heavy skies, drizzly rain and a BOM radar image that didn't look good. Not the best conditions for racing around Lakeside Park that's developed a name as one of the most dangerous tracks in Australia.

Trackin Right

06 May 2014 / Story by Peter Barnwell, photos by Tom Barnwell

New club member Peter Barnwell relates his journey from buying an MX-5 through to his first club track day.