BAMA is the largest club of Miata enthusiasts in Northern California,  founded in 1990.  We love Miatas, driving the twisties, and any other reason to get out there and drive, show, and see the MX-5 Miata, and our passion shows in our events!  Come join us and enjoy great people, fabulous cars, and roads you never knew existed!  Zoom-Zoom! ZoomZoom!

Upcoming Events!

May 2008: Over the Hill Mt. Hamilton Run

An updated, even better (and likely cooler) version of last year's popular Mt. Hamilton run. We've added a lot more to this run, and it's well worth it. Come out and join us for an adventure!
Date: Sunday, May 18th, 2008
Start: Livermore
Time: 9:30 AM meet, 10:00 AM departure
RSVP and More Info: email Kaitlyn at 2008President@bayareamiataassociation.com
RSVP soon, almost full!

June 2008: Stewart's Point Twister

Okay, folks, it’s time for some serious FUN!! If you're willing to drive a ways, you are invited to a run with spectacular views, intense twisties, and gorgeous scenery! We start in Healdsburg (yes, it’s way up north!), take the famous Stewart’s Point/Skaggs Springs Road west to Highway 1, stop for lunch near Jenner, follow that with more remote roads, and wind our way down into Petaluma. RSVP soon!
Date: Saturday, June 7th, 2008
Start: Healdsburg
Time: 10:00 AM meet, 10:30 AM departure
RSVP and More Info: email Kaitlyn at 2008President@bayareamiataassociation.com
RSVPs are necessary!

Next General Membership Dinner and Meeting

BAMA General Membership Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month. Open to all BAMA members and guests! Dinner is optional, but come out and join us for some great Miata talk! Next meeting is:
Date: May 21, 2008
Time: 7 PM
Board and Events Committee: 6 PM
Place: Redwood City, CA
Contact: Kaitlyn at 2008President@bayareamiataassociation.com
Check your newsletter for details
(Board and Events Committee meets at 6PM each month)

BAMA's Bear Valley Weekend is Approaching!

Registration deadline is May 20th!
If you haven't done so already, make your reservations NOW for June 20-22 at the Bear Valley Lodge (209 753-2327), and send in your registration! This event is open to all Miata clubs! Request a registration form at 2008President@bayareamiataassociation.com

For a full list of up-to-date BAMA events, check the calendar page

PR Motorsports -
The place that knows Miatas

Click here to visit PR Motorsports

BAMA Members, be sure to ask about PRM's 10% discount on maintenance and repair work with proof of membership. Sorry, no discount for performance modifications.

Not Hayward's Fault

When you can see the Farallon Islands from the East Bay hills, it's a clear day. On Saturday, April 19th, 32 BAMA members took in the sights from the ridges overlooking the Bay Area on BAMA's annual Hayward's Fault tour. The run wasn't lengthy, but what it lacked in distance it more than made up for in pure driving fun.

A last-minute surge in attendance requests pushed this little East Bay run over the 25-car limit, and so as with last month's Spring Fling, Kaitlyn quickly organized two run groups, arranging leads and sweeps for each. The size of the crowd also forced a change in starting location, as the original Shell/BK parking lot couldn't gaurantee more than 20-25 free spots on a Saturday morning.

A last-minute reprieve in the weather allowed tops down on all 26 Miatas as they cruised through the historic town of Niles, then into the canyon and across Palomares Road to Castro Valley, where the fun really began in earnest. Redwood Road led the group up into the hills where the view of the Bay Area was truly spectacular, especially in the early morning sun. Slowing only briefly to enjoy the sights, the caravan dropped down into the canyons, then climbed the hills again for another look at the Bay along Grizzly Peak road.

The route took the Miata caravan along several major faultlines, but no earthquakes were felt or reported. That's not to say the ground didn't shake. A long string of Miatas creates minor temblors wherever they go, and the group certainly didn't go unnoticed by the many other hikers, bikers, locals, and sightseers out for the weekend. Traffic in the hills was moderate, but thinned considerably as the cars rolled past San Pablo Dam road into the Diablo valley. A final run through Briones led to the El Charro restaurant in Lafayette for a terrific Mexican lunch.

Message from the BAMA Prez

Thanks to the welcome involvement of several active club members this year, BAMA's Spring Fling Peninsula Run was one of my favorite so far. Six months ago we couldn't have done this, but for the first time we were able to split the run into two groups, with leaders and sweeps for each. The result was a very fun event that allowed everyone to drive at a pace that suited their car and skill level--no one got left behind and no one got lost. We were able to repeat this arrangement at last month's Hayward's Fault Run, as member support and involvement continues to grow.

A few weeks ago at the Miata Performance Driving School at Thunderhill Raceway, I spoke with a Miata owner who wasn't a BAMA member. The reason given for not joining the club was his perception that BAMA is a wine-and-cheese club, featuring mostly cruises, without a healthy appreciation for the twisties.

While we absolutely promote safe driving at all events, and insist that drivers maintain a speed within their comfort and skill level, the club is enjoying unprecedented attendance on runs due at least in part to my and our focus on driving the twisties in true Miata style. We're having a blast driving as many back roads as possible in the greater Bay Area, with an emphasis on "drivers" runs. We hope you'll join us soon and see for yourself!