Canberra Chapter News

Winter Christmas at St Clements

10 September 2019 / Giulia Schiemer

The beautiful St Clements Retreat and Conference Centre, once a Redemptorist Monastery, provided the perfect place for our Winter Christmas this year (known by some as Christmas in July in August).

Lunch at The Muddy Duck

26 August 2019 / Words by Patrick McBride. Photos by Patrick McBride and Giulia Schiemer

The Muddy Duck is a cafe extraordinaire! Cafe, deli, giftware, florist and home wares businesses now located in Murrumburrah's Lighthouse Hotel, the Duck offers freshly roasted coffee, homemade cakes, sandwiches and excellent meals. We tried them all.

A Laggan Lark

26 August 2019 / Words by Ian Bottcher. Photos by Ron Tollenar

Roadworks didn't get in the way or dampen our enthusiasm. Our Laggan Lark had all the ingredients for a great day, and we made the most of it.

Historic and Classic Vehicle Registration Scheme

07 August 2019 / Words by Keith Monaghan

The registration process for the club to offer Historic Vehicle Registration should be finished within the next 4 weeks. This has been an extensive process requiring modifications to the club’s constitution and the development of procedures for the system.

Recall - Mazda MX-5 (ND) MY2015 metal bracket

Safety recall on Mazda MX-5 (ND) MY2015

15 July 2019 / ACCC Product Safety Australia

Mazda Australia have issued a safety recall on the first batch of Mazda MX-5 NDs delivered to Australia in August 2015. If you own an ND, check the VIN list to see if your car is subject to the recall.

Kiama Coast Run

10 July 2019 / Words and photos by Norm Barker. A few extra photos by Rod Nicholas

A cold, but bright and sunny, morning greeted the 4 cars at Spotlight car park in Queanbeyan for an overnight run to Kiama.

Lunch at the Wombat Pub

07 July 2019 / Words and pictures by John Chapuis and Rod Nicholas

For most people, the drive to Yass is about 60 km strait down the Barton Highway. But most people don’t drive sexy little MX-5s, and the people who do quite frequently take the long way to anywhere just for the fun of it ...

Mollymook/Bannister’s Rooftop Bar and Grill Run

23 June 2019 / Words and pictures Peter & Jennifer Le. A few extra words Rod Nicholas

Sunday morning was overcast and grey as nine cars pulled in to the Spotlight car park at Queanbeyan, set for a great run down the Clyde to Mollymook Beach.

Historic and Classic Vehicle Registration System

18 June 2019 / Words by Keith Monaghan

The Mazda MX-5 Club of New South Wales is in the process of setting up the systems and regulations required to meet the needs of the various bodies to be able to offer both Historic and Classic Vehicle Registration.

Central West Nostalgia Run

30 May 2019 / Tony & Iris McDonald, with a few additional words and photos by Rod Nicholas.

The King, the Dish, Bill the B@stard, the museums, the quiz, the karaoke; this run had it all!

Robertson Pie Run

29 May 2019 / Steve Wakeling, with additional words and photos by Rod Nicholas

It was a bright Wednesday Canberra morning in May. The gentle breeze cunningly cut like a knife. But none of this deterred our 12-car convoy as we set out for a three-hour run to buy a pie.

Club Torque Autumn Cover Competition

01 May 2019 / Mel Keller

Take part in the Club Torque Autumn cover competition and make your car a star.

Iandra Castle

01 May 2019 / Story by Ian Bottcher, (additional words by Rod Nicholas). Photos by Rod Nicholas

Sunday 28 April saw 22 MX5s loaded up with 39 people leave Hall layby for Iandra Castle (aka Mt Oriel Homestead). The road to Iandra Castle took us through some very, very small villages (including the thriving metropolis of Murringo and Bendick Murrell), and some lonely sealed back roads that had not been travelled before by many of the group.

As good as it gets. Our Great Ocean Road Adventure

20 April 2019 / Report by Julie Austin and Rhonda Evans, photos by Rod Nicholas

It couldn’t get any better – perfect weather, waves crashing on the beaches and tops down for the 47 kilometre leg between Lorne and Apollo Bay. This is one of the best drives along a coastline in the world and we were enjoying every minute. And it was only Day 4 of our two-week run along the Great Ocean Road (GOR).

Albury-Rutherglen Ramble

19 April 2019 / Report by Steve Wakeling

Steve organised great weather, quiet country roads and wineries galore for our Albury-Rutherglen Ramble. Ramblers found there is always room in a jam-packed MX-5 boot for a few souvenir bottles of wine.

The Escarpment Run

10 April 2019 / Report by Steve and Cecelia Wakeling. Photos by Rod Nicholas and Steve Wakeling.

A bit of weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of the group as we joined Steve on his inaugural run as leader - the Escarpment Run. It was a hoot!

Shannons Wheels 2019

04 March 2019 / Report by Bob Judd. Photos by Bob Judd, Giulia Schiemer and Rob Wilko

It was a hot and sunny day for this year’s annual Shannons Wheels display, but we were all pleasantly surprised with the large number of visitors who wandered over to ask about and admire the good range of vehicles our members were able to display.

MX-5 30th Anniversary at Bathurst

The Cars That Ate Bathurst

04 March 2019 / Words Mel Keller Photos Mel keller Rob Wilkins Andrew Edgar David Bourne

How best to celebrate the MX-5 30th Anniversary? Mount Panorama, Bathurst is a uniquely Australian confluence of blood-pumping motor sport and scenic Sunday drive. It was a natural choice for a gathering of MX-5 friends.

Canberra Convenors' Lunch at Bowral

01 March 2019 / Report by Giulia Schiemer. Photos by Jill Wicklander and Rod Nicholas

Thirteen cars and 25 people made their way to the Southern Highlands last Sunday (24 February 2019) on our Convenors’ Run.

Canberra Chapter Bathurst Blast

23 February 2019 / Report by Giulia Schiemer, Photos courtesy of Rob Wilkins and Rod Nicholas

The Canberra Chapter's run to Bathurst was a treat, with 26 members driving 14 cars heading off from The Baker at Sutton and another six members in three cars and two visitors in two cars joining us later.