Monthly Meeting

Title: Monthly eeting
Location: Ramirez Restaurant
Link out: Click here
Description: We have reserved a meeting location for the next three months. Ramirez Restaurant in Orange Park.

From their website:

At Ramirez Restaurant our goal is to give you a new world taste.
We are a family owned and operated business dedicated to treating you like “family.”
Our home-made seasonings originated with our ancestors who lived in a little town in Santo Domingo, called “Janico.”
Every meal was prepared with the freshest ingredients and special seasonings that we have brought here to Northeast Florida.
In that same spirit, Ramirez Restaurant offers a variety of authentic Spanish/American dishes with a distinct Latin influence. The unique blend of flavors from Caribbean countries like Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Dominican Republic has created an array of dishes prepared with the finest ingredients for a homemade taste” that you will never forget!
Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2010-01-12

XMas Party Update

As of Dec. 4, this is the list of confirmed party people and what side dish they are bringing.
If you plan to attend -- and your name is not on the following list -- please contact Clark Pierce ASAP by return email.

* Shirley Kaye & Rob - baked beans
* Kim & Jose Cordero - green beans & carrots
* Mike & Linda French -
* Clark & Kathleen Pierce - salad
* Greta Moore & Paul Windsor - deviled eggs
* Gary & Cathy Donovan
* Cindy Anderson & guest
* Jim Cripps & his keyboard - dessert
* Colin & Cindy Busch -
* Kurt & Kate Ernst - dessert
* Jeff & Darlene Eakle - cookies
* Anja & Eduardo Vallado - shrimp salad
* Michael & Lyndee Snow -

FCMC Christmas Party
Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Rudder Club of Jacksonville
8533 Malaga Ave., Orange Park 32073

Please note that there will be no business meeting on Dec. 8.

Instead, join your club mates for delicious holiday cuisine and mucho merriment on Friday, Dec. 11.
The club provides carved meat and drinks, while members contribute a favorite side dish or dessert.
Each club member is also urged to bring a wrapped Miata- or driving-related gift worth $20 or less for the annual Chinese Gift Exchange.

Miata Meet Minis at Lake City

Title: Miata Meet Minis at Lake City
Location: Cannon Creek Airpark Fly-in Community
Description: Sunday, Nov. 15

Miatas meet Minis at Cannon Creek Airpark in Lake City

RSVP by Nov. 1 to Clark Pierce: clarkwrites@gmail.com or 477-8401.

• 9:15 a.m. - Drivers meeting at McDonald's, 428 Park Ave. (US 17), in Orange Park (south of I-295 and across from the dog track).
• 9:30 a.m. - Depart for Penney Farms/Starke/Lake Butler/Lake City
(GPS: 443 SW Airpark Glen, Lake City, FL 32025)
• 11:30 a.m. - Arrive Cannon Creek Airpark Residential Fly-In Community
• Noon – Barbecue with Ocala/Gainesville Mini Club

Start Time: 09:15
Date: 11/15/09

Deer Safety: Tips for Avoiding a Collision

Deer Safety: Tips for Avoiding a Collision

By Dawn McCaslin
GEICO Connection

Like a scene straight out of a sports car commercial, you're driving along a winding road in the dead of night, the eerie glow from your headlights meeting the narrow asphalt, when suddenly, two green eyes flash in the darkness ahead – and a deer steps onto the roadway.
Unlike the television ad when the driver swerves wildly around the animal and then speeds off carelessly into the blackness, encountering a deer while you're on the road can be dangerous and scary. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), large animal-vehicle collisions resulted in an average of 187 fatalities in recent years.
So, what can you do to stay safe during deer season?
Read on to learn the latest statistics and a few tips for making your drive through deer country as safe as possible.

Deer Statistics
Dawn and dusk are the times you are most likely to encounter deer along the roadside.
Deer breeding season runs from October through early January, and during this time they are highly active and on the move. This is when deer-vehicle collisions are at their peak.
Though deer may wander into suburban neighborhoods, they are most frequently found on the outskirts of town and in heavily wooded areas.
As pack animals, deer almost never travel alone. If you see one deer, you can bet that there are others nearby.
Preventive Techniques
The two most important ways to avoid a deer-vehicle collision are: slow down and SLOW DOWN. If you are driving through an area known for high deer populations, slow down and observe the speed limit. The more conservative you are with your speed, the more time you will have to brake if an animal darts into your path.
Always wear a seatbelt. The most severe injuries in deer-vehicle collisions usually result from failure to use a seatbelt.
Watch for the shine of eyes along the roadside and immediately begin to slow.
Use your high beams whenever the road is free of oncoming traffic. This will increase your visibility and give you more time to react.
Deer can become mesmerized by steady, bright lights so if you see one frozen on the road, slow down and flash your lights. Some experts recommend one long blast of the horn to scare them out of the road, as well.
Pay close attention to caution signs indicating deer or other large animals. These signs are specifically placed in high-traffic areas where road crossings are frequent.
If you're on a multi-lane road, drive in the center lane to give as much space to grazing deer as possible.

Encountering a Deer
Never swerve to avoid a deer in the road. Swerving can confuse the deer on where to run. Swerving can also cause a head-on collision with oncoming vehicles, take you off the roadway into a tree or a ditch, and greatly increase the chances of serious injuries.
Deer are unpredictable creatures, and one that is calmly standing by the side of the road may suddenly leap into the roadway without warning. Slowing down when you spot a deer is the best way to avoid a collision. However, if one does move into your path, maintain control and do your best to brake and give the deer time to get out of your way.
Don't rely on hood whistles or other devices designed to scare off deer. These have not been proven to work.
If you do collide with a deer (or large animal), call emergency services if injuries are involved, or the local police if no one is injured, but damage has been caused to your property or someone else's. Never touch an animal that is in the roadway. Report the incident to your insurance company as soon as possible.
Unlike that fictional driver from the car commercial, knowing what to do when you encounter a large animal on or near the roadway can be a life-saver. Keeping calm and driving smart improve your chances of avoiding a collision and staying safe on the road. Safe travels!

ZOOM-ZOOMING TO THE ZOO!

Title: ZOOM-ZOOMING TO THE ZOO!
Location: Mimi's Cafe
Description: On Saturday, October 24th, we will meet at 8:30 am for breakfast at Mimi's Cafe in the St Johns Town Center (10209 River Coast Dr). During breakfast, there will be a drawing for free passes to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. After breakfast, we will caravan up 9A, across the beautiful Dames Point Bridge, and on to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. There we will spend some quality time exploring the Zoo, either in a group or on your own, as you prefer. If you haven't been to the Zoo for awhile, you will be pleasantly surprised by all the new additions. Plus, the Zoo will be decorated for their evening Spooktacular event. Zoo admission prices for those non-Zoo members who weren't lucky enough to win a free pass are: Adults $13.00, Seniors 65 and up $11.00, Children 3-12 $8.00... quite a bargain!
Please RSVP to Jay Beeler at wingerjay@comcast.net or 904-534-2556.
Start Time: 08:30
Date: 2009-10-24

Monthly Meet and Eat

Title: Monthly Meet and Eat
Location: IHOP
Description: Did your Miata dress up for Halloween? Is the weather cool enough to drop the top and cruise in comfort? Are you ready to practice your Thanksgiving eating plan? As long as two of those three answers are yes (or even one of them), join up with other roadster lovers, kick some tires, pop some hoods and compare those lovely engines, and then chow down on some nice, hot and fresh food! The pumpkin pancakes last year were really good, they are a don\'t mss item if there are any left! (Check out their website to see the seasonal menu items at: http://www.ihop.com/ . As this is our third meeting at this location, it is time to decide if we have found a new home for our Meet and Eats each month. It is also the final meeting before the Holiday Party so be sure to attend and sign up to bring the covered dish that has won you praise before. Make your voice (and your engine) heard and be there! Questions? Call Shirley at 904-292-1072 (H) or 904-607-8928 (Cell.)

Directions:
From north of Baymeadows Road: Take I-95 south. Take Exit 341 Baymeadows Road. Stay in the right lane and bear right at the end of the ramp. Merge into traffic and work your way over to the left lane. You will pass Freedom Commerce Parkway and Baymeadows Way. You will soon see the IHOP on your left. Turn left onto Bayberry Road and then immediately left into the parking lot.

From south of Baymeadows Road: Take I-95 north. Take Exit 341 Baymeadows Road. Stay in the left lane all the way down the ramp. At the end of the ramp, turn left onto Baymeadows Road. Stay in the center lane on Baymeadows Road. Go through the light at Freedom Commerce Parkway. The road will narrow to two lanes in each direction. Stay in the left lane. You will pass Baymeadows Way. Soon you will see the IHOP on your left. Turn left onto Bayberry Road and then immediately left into the parking lot.

Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2009-11-10

Monthly Meet and Eat

Title: Monthly Meet and Eat
Location: IHOP
Description: So you had trouble choosing what to eat last month at the IHOP? And now your Miata knows the way there and wants to go back? Well, good news, we are all going back! Maybe this time the pancakes will sound better than the omelet, or you just loved what you chose last month and have been craving it ever since. The website is still: http://www.ihop.com/ if you want to take a peek and preview the October specials. It is also time to start planning our annual Holiday Party, so be at the meeting and make your voice heard. Questions? Call Shirley at 904-292-1072 (H) or 904-607-8928 (Cell.)

Directions:
From north of Baymeadows Road: Take I-95 south. Take Exit 341 Baymeadows Road. Stay in the right lane and bear right at the end of the ramp. Merge into traffic and work your way over to the left lane. You will pass Freedom Commerce Parkway and Baymeadows Way. You will soon see the IHOP on your left. Turn left onto Bayberry Road and then immediately left into the parking lot.

From south of Baymeadows Road: Take I-95 north. Take Exit 341 Baymeadows Road. Stay in the left lane all the way down the ramp. At the end of the ramp, turn left onto Baymeadows Road. Stay in the center lane on Baymeadows Road. Go through the light at Freedom Commerce Parkway. The road will narrow to two lanes in each direction. Stay in the left lane. You will pass Baymeadows Way. Soon you will see the IHOP on your left. Turn left onto Bayberry Road and then immediately left into the parking lot.

Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2009-10-13

Heading Upriver (South, that is!)

Title: Heading Upriver (South, that is!)
Location: Parking lot of the First Bank of Jacksonville, 11100 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, 32223
Description: Saturday, August 15th, 2009 Heading Upriver (South, that is!) to
Palatka, 3:00 pm
The caravan will form up at the parking lot of the First Bank of
Jacksonville, 11100 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, 32223 (Mandarin
area) at the southwest corner of San Jose Boulevard and Claire Lane.
(The same shopping center as the Barnes & Noble at 11112 San Jose
Boulevard)
Did you know that the St Johns River flows from South to North, just
like the Nile? We will head upriver and see the sights, take some
photos at points of interest and then chow down in Palatka. Remember
to bring your cameras to get photos for the September Road Runner.
Also, those Family Radios will come in handy to keep track of the
caravan as well as to make your usual comments about how the ride
leader (Shirley) is going so slowly! I will try to do better this
time! Questions? Call Shirley at 904-292-1072 (Home) or 904-607-8928
(Cell).
Directions:
From east of San Jose Boulevard: Take I-295 to Exit 5B San Jose
Boulevard Southbound. The ramp will do a sweeping right hand curve.
At the split in the ramp, stay in the right lane, which will pour you
onto San Jose Boulevard southbound. Merge left one lane--cars will be
coming at you from the left and the right so watch out! Go straight
on San Jose. Pass Plummer Cove Road on your right. Get into the far
right lane. Turn right at the next light at Claire Lane and then left
into the bank parking lot.
From west of San Jose Boulevard: Take I-295 to Exit 5, San Jose
Boulevard. Stay in the right lane on the ramp. At the split in the
ramp, bear right onto San Jose Boulevard southbound. Go straight on
San Jose, staying in the right lane. Pass Plummer Cove Road on your
right. Turn right at the next light at Claire Lane and then left into
the bank parking lot.
Start Time: 3:00pm
Date: 2009-08-15

Monthly Club Meeting

Title: Monthly Club Meeting
Location: The Rudder Club, 8533 Malaga Avenue, Orange Park, FL
Description: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 Monthly Club Meeting--River Ramblings 6:30 pm
The Rudder Club, 8533 Malaga Avenue, Orange Park, FL 32073
904-264-4094

It is time again to gather with your fellow drop-top lovers to eat and
meet. Bring your own dinner and be ready to hear the news and share
your ideas! Bring your swimsuit if you wish--the pool is all ours!

Directions to The Rudder Club:
From East of the River: Go west on I-295 across the Buckman Bridge
and get off at the first exit, US 17/Roosevelt Blvd/Park Avenue. Stay
in the far right lane on the ramp. At the end of the ramp, merge into
traffic, staying in the far right lane. Almost immediately, there
will be a traffic light. At the light, make a right onto Collins
Road, Follow Collins Road one sharp right turn and then one sharp
left turn, and then follow it to the end. Make a right onto Malaga
Avenue. The Club is on the left. Go through the gate and park
anywhere except the Commodore\'s reserved spot.
From West of the River: Go east on I-295 to the exit for US 17/
Roosevelt Blvd/Park Avenue. This is the last exit before the Buckman
Bridge. Bear right onto the exit ramp. A short distance down the
ramp, the ramp will split into Northbound (left side) and Southbound
(right side.) Keep left to go north. Once on the northbound section,
get into the right lane. At the end of the ramp, turn left onto
Roosevelt Boulevard/US 17 heading north. Move into the far right lane
as soon as it is safe. At the first light, turn right onto Collins
Road. Follow Collins Road one sharp right turn and then one sharp
left turn, and then follow it to the end. Make a right onto Malaga
Avenue. The Club is on the left. Go through the gate and park
anywhere except the Commodore\'s reserved spot.
Questions? Call Shirley Kaye at 904-292-1072 (Home) or 904-607-8928
(Cell.)

Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2009-08-11

Japanese Moonlight Cruise RSVP

Japanese Moonlight Cruise RSVP

First Coast Miata Club

Thanks to everybody who has responded so far.
I need your RSVP by Thursday, in order to reserve enough seating.
Email me or call 731-5247.
Thanks and we'll see you there.

Japanese Moonlight Cruise

Saturday, July 25

Arrive 6:15 p.m. at Daruma Japanese Steak House

12640 Bartram Park Blvd., Jacksonville 32258.

Join your club members at a sizzling teppanyaki grill for steak or seafood.

As the sun sinks slowly in the west, our Miata convoy will drive east through Nocatee to cruise the beaches— until we pull over to acquire cool delights at Funari’s Italian Creamery on Beach Blvd.

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