Regardless of background, profession, or preference in exterior colour, few vehicles in the world bring people together as strongly as Mazda’s MX-5…

Stowe, Vermont.

Despite the relatively early call time, a group of almost 100 Mazda Miata/MX-5 drivers/passengers gathers for the morning’s meeting.

The weather is looking favourable even though the a.m. envelops the crowd with its chilliness. It’s not raining though. That’s a good sign.

Tour organizer and former Trillium Miata Club president, Gary Svoboda, talks about the day’s journey, addresses some basic housekeeping rules, makes some jokes and engages in witty banter with a group of excited Miata enthusiasts.

Everyone is ready to hit the roads of Vermont in their tiny, drop top, two-doors. Everything from first generations Miatas, to the latest and greatest rear-wheel drive roadsters line the gravel parking lot of our home base, also known as the Stowehof Inn.

Stowe, VT’s claim to fame is as a ski destination. Currently, its claim to fame is the 46 Mazdas that drove in from Ontario and are congregating for their annual tour.

Each May long weekend, a group of club members look forward to the event. It’s been going for over 20 years and hasn’t disappointed. The crowd gets rowdier by the minute so go-time is just around the corner.

The meeting wraps up; we branch into our respective groups and fire up the engines.

As honorary members for the event, my co-pilot – aka my mother Zsuzsanna Straub
– and I get behind the wheel of our MX-5.

Within moments, we’re topless… the car, not us!

Seven vehicles comprise a group, including a leader and a sweeper. We’re comfortably nestled in the bosom of the pack.

Our job is to enjoy ourselves, as well as give the MX-5 a little bit of room to romp free.

It’s hard not to smile on the undulating roads of Vermont, which are lined with trees, houses, fields and topped off with a bovine scent!

Then there’s what’s called “The Notch.”

A mountain road where emaciated limbs of indigenous trees look like they’re reaching out and trying to touch the cars. Boulders are scattered and the path is paved around it. The intermittent obstacles would likely be the outcome of two Greek gods having a rock fight. You would have to have superhuman strength to move them.

The sinuous and slender road is a hoot to drive through especially with no one in front of you. The occasional crackling on the CB radios frequently is overpowered by instructions from the leader.

Like a mother duck summoning her young, we followed in order. We stuck together and took in some breathtaking scenery of New England. Scenery aside, what was the most interesting to breathe in was the enthusiasm and energy of the Miata owners.

Liz Burns has “Miatatude” stickered across her windshield. Miata earrings dangle from her ears as she professes her love of her emerald beauty.

Another owner decided to turn his conventional doors into ones that open up not out.

At breakfast, lunch and dinner, they regale each other with stories of other events they’ve been on. Outbursts of laughter perk up the ears of bystanders; making them wish they were at that table reliving the memories. The camaraderie of those young and young at heart is undisputable.

Regardless of background, profession, or preference in exterior colour, few vehicles in the world bring people together as strongly as Mazda’s MX-5.

Liz was one of the first members of the Trillium Miata Club. She expected to join a group of Miata owners and drive with them on weekends. Liz says she “didn’t expect to make friends for 25 years” but she did.

And as the Miata/MX-5 turns 25 this year, here’s to another quarter century of promote the best that life has to offer: the bond of mankind and machine, 167 horsepower at a time.

Website: www.mazda.ca

Email: alexandra [dot] straub [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca