*** MX-5 Miata Of the Month ***
September 2007Zaffy and JR Tanpinco
Congratulations to Zaffy and JR Tanpinco on the selection of his Miata as the MCP's Miata of the Month for September. |
|
September 2007Zaffy and JR Tanpinco
Congratulations to Zaffy and JR Tanpinco on the selection of his Miata as the MCP's Miata of the Month for September. |
|
|
Wow, it’s been ten years already! How time flies. Now, September 2007, the Miata Club Philippines turns 10. Way back when the Club was put up, I only had my student driver’s license and could only drive the Miata when my dad was in the co-captain’s seat. I was only in high school when we joined the Miata Club and now I am almost finished with graduate school.
At the time we got the Miata, what I was really convincing my dad to get was a Z or a 986 but to no avail - I was only sort of happy. We soon joined the Club and, instantly, new ways in which to enjoy the car started to come from every direction. Now, with 10 years of invaluable memories spent with both the car and the Club to look back at, I really do think that the Miata was a blessing in disguise. In the 10 years that I have been with the Club, I have experienced many firsts. In fact, this is where I experienced my first out-of-town drive and funrun. I had my first track day here under the guidance of none other than racing legends, Pocholo and Kookie Ramirez. Here, I first learned about the racing line and heel-and-toe and experienced my first race. It was also here wherein I first had the chance to drive a right-hand drive car in a right-hand drive country – a 3rd Generation Miata in Singapore. Thanks John! Today, the club has evolved into more than just a car club. The members have grown closer to each other and it is now like one big barkada. Looking all the way back at where we started and journeying in my mind year-by-year up to the present painted pictures of memorable times in Miata Club history. I remember when the monthly meetings were held at Racks El Pueblo. The group was still relatively small and every member knew every member. Later, the monthly meetings were moved to the Polo Club and The Fort being the ever-accessible, traffic-free playground-in-the-city became the MCP’s home in that one could drive there during Friday nights or even at any time, on any day for that matter and find at least one member also doing the same. I remember those days wherein people would just hang out and talk about the Miata and admire its timeless beauty. I recall the impromptu Tagaytay drives on Friday nights and STAR Tollway runs on non-meeting Sunday mornings. Overnight trips to different places always gave the members a chance to bond. I remember the adventures of the food group and the quest for the perfect crispy pata. The races at Subic and BRC were loads of fun even in street class and so was the yearly Camus Family Hill Climb - only in the Miata Club will you find people who happily share their cars with fellow competitors during a race. The yearly Holy Thursday City Run is a tradition unique to us. Looking back has vividly brought back to mind some of my own unforgettable MCP experiences: riding shotgun with Alfie while he was doing donuts at one time, and hitting the rev limit on 5th doing 220 kph. on the STAR Tollway on another. Playing around on stormy weather at BRC was a rare experience and placing in Street Class on a few race weekends is something that I cherish. The Baguio Runs are always fun, especially the drive, the rounds of golf, the food, the get-togethers in the Cottage, Keith and Alfie’s stories about their 20-minute blast up Marcos Highway, and of course, the royalty-like pampering courtesy of Mr. Baguio. More of these are Almeda’s Concorso Filipino and doing donuts inside the zero of the Miata Figure 10 formation, the MSCC’s Gathering of the Faithful, and thanks to ChitoF for setting it up - meeting up with the Singapore MX-5 Club and joining them on a funrun to Malaysia (I have a separate write-up on this). The Club has even gone religious as ChitoF, Alfie, Almeda, my dad, and I, on some Sundays, hear mass together. Needless to say, I am proud to be a member of a club whose members genuinely and selflessly devote their time, effort, and knowledge to support the club and each other whether it be about the car, the Club, or just about anything under the sun without expecting anything in return - that is the beauty of the Miata Club. Without the Yahoogroups and the support of each and every member, for instance, the Club would not be as closely knit as it is today. As such, I wear my Club Shirt with pride even on non-MCP days. Thank you to Eddie for having the vision to set up the MCP. Alfie for the fun runs and trackdays. Rolly for the Friday Nights. Rey for the Miata Plate Stickers. Hernan for the Miata Media Coverage. JoeyB for the Sunrise Runs. RomyM for the Monthly Breakfast Meeting Sponsors, ChitoF for being the Club’s Ambassador-to-All. Jojo for the Annual Baguio Runs and for the teamwork and learnings while he was President and I was Club Secretary, and to Louie for his all-out support in the Club’s activities - he even gave the Club a special gift during the 10th Anniversary celebration. Officer or not, kudos to us all! The Miata Club is truly about friendship and camaraderie. In the Club, I have found friends who I know will be friends for life. I remember when my dad had a stroke last March – he probably enjoyed himself too much in the Club’s Bb. Pilipinas Event the month before. :-) The entire membership’s invaluable moral support and prayers were truly touching. Messages of encouragement through texts, calls, pictures, and even videos came in from even as far as the States. These have really sped up his recovery and he thanks the Club sincerely and is very excited to be with the Club again. It’s amazing how a piece of machinery, in the form of the Miata, was able to become a means to forge an even stronger bond between me and my dad - in some ways, especially when with the Club, I see him as my older brother. But when you really think about it, the car was simply an avenue. It is really the people in the Club that make such a wonderful thing possible. I guess this is what makes us want to keep our Miatas forever… JR Tanpinco |
|
