CAR CLUBS The magic of Miata
GIUSEPPE CASTRUCCI
Photos By MICHELLE TARDIFF
When the Miata was introduced in
1990, Mazda’s chief designer, Kenichi Yamamoto, probably didn’t know how important and popular this little two- seater would become. They say it’s the most popular
roadster of all time, and probably raced more than any other car in the world. Car clubs love it. Anyone who likes cars seems to love it. It might not be very practical, but it’s a beauty, and it comes with a reasonable price tag. Welcome to the Underground
Miata Network (UMN), also known as the Ottawa Miata Club. I sat down with UMN’s President,
Rolly Beaulne. The first thing I asked him was the origin of the club’s name. UMN was founded in 1995 as
part of the Toronto-based Trillium Miata Club. Eventually UMN decided to branch off, and it sort of went underground. The name stuck. Community involvement is
54 BOUNDER MAGAZINE
common for Ottawa car clubs. UMN is unique because it visits retirement homes and gives rides to residents.
Many of the residents love to have their picture taken in a convertible. UMN is a social club. It offers
many benefits and events to its 186 members. This amazing group of roadster fans are down-to-earth, and they sure love to drive their Miatas. All summer long they have
weekly ice cream runs to various destinations within an hour of Ottawa. They organize monthly tech nights at Precision Auto Tech, where they rent the five hoists for the evening. For $5 per 30 minutes, members can tinker with their Miatas under the supervision of expert mechanics. UMN also conducts many day-
and multi-day tours. It has a good relationship with local Mazda dealers, who provide a discount on parts. So do many other suppliers. The club’s membership comes
from Kingston to Montreal, but most live in the National Capital area. Annual membership is $60 per family. Members get to participate in all club activities, including monthly meetings
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