It all started back in 2017 at our 59th annual car show. Dave Sander had brought the 1990 Mazda Miata to the Stowe car show. I had been wanting to drive it, but I didn’t know how to drive a manual car. He got into the passenger seat and said, “Hop in!” We stayed on the show field for the test drive. I was very excited and nervous. Dave is good about letting fellow members drive his vehicles. He told me the procedure on how to physically shift before taking off. I began to take my foot off the clutch and ease into the throttle and without hesitation I was creeping in first gear. Surprisingly, I didn’t stall when I took off! I was smiling from ear to ear as Dave watched me shift into second gear. After a few laps around the field I felt more comfortable shifting and driving a manual vehicle. From that day forward I couldn’t wait to get my own Miata.
About one year later, I got home from work and my father had seen a black 1996 Mazda Miata, which happened to be a 5-speed manual for sale on Route 15 in Westford. He took some pictures and showed them to me. I grabbed my money that I had saved up by mowing lawns all year long and we headed to the car! When we arrived I was overly excited and I couldn’t believe I might have a chance at buying it. The owner came out and gave us some information about the car. I don’t remember half of what he said because I was so excited!
I took it for a test drive and when my father and I got back I made an offer and he accepted it. This was not a show piece and I wasn’t going to win any awards with it, but it functioned as it should and was a lot of fun for $1,500. I registered it shortly after purchasing it and did minor maintenance work to get it roadworthy and reliable from my father’s perspective. I changed all four brake pads and rotors, tie rods, bushings and other front end parts that were worn out. The convertible top is roughly ten years old and it is holding up very well for its age. I bought a set of aftermarket wheels from one of my friends while I was a senior in high school. I painted them black to match the car and it looked sharp with them.
The engine is stock which can be a rare sighting considering I was 16 years old. But, who doesn’t want to bolt a turbo on a four-cylinder engine and make some noise? I enjoyed the car as much as I could in the late spring, throughout the early fall, admiring the world around me with the top down. There’s just something about having a convertible and taking in the sights as you hug the inside corner in a turn.
I registered my car in the Waterbury car show for the first time this year and drove it in the parade with Riley. She has been asking me to take her out on more rides since then! If you ever get a chance to drive a Miata, take it. I guarantee you will have a blast!
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