http://web.mac.com/wayneshelley/Waynes_ ... n_Oct.html
Well...
I didnt BUY a new car...no... I got one for 3 days from Mazda Gold Coast to loan and 'test'. It was pretty funny rocking up to Bunnings in a 'BLECK' NC and looking at AJ's face... pity the bastard knew what I was up to anyways !
I will write a report in the OT section on my thoughts on the car - 700+KM later.
Back to the run.
IT WAS LONG ! Made longer by the fact I got lost leading group 3 TWICE ! We also ended up on 8-9KM of dirt road (Tezza is ready to commit suicide). Runs that start at 8.30 (for line up) and get me home around 4ish.. are way too long if most of that time is spent at the wheel. I pitied poor Marador (and Jane) who had another hour on top of us to get home. Thank God he has an SP !
I love these runs.. but I'd have stayed away if I'd have to have done it in the NA. The NC made it wayyyy more enjoyable.. and thats the scary part !
ANYWAYS.. stop ya whinging Wayne..I hear you say.
The run itself took us through some of the Border ranges most twisty and MX5 friendly roads. We even had a moments silence and a 40KM'HR funeral run past 'Darbys Folly' on the Advancetown Racetrack. Sorry Andrew, but I had to throw that in... (you are a top sport for putting up with our sh*t)
Morning tea was at Humble Pie.. and fair dinkum, if SPY is not on a rebate system with them, then something is wrong. I swear, next run to Brisbane, will have a stop at Humble Pie thrown in if El Presidente is running it !
The foods always good there, and the carparks fits 24 cars quite easily.
The run from Humble Pie to the dam took in some new roads for me. And bloody hell they were fun. The NC handled them like a dream, and the DSC hardly blinked for more than 4-5 seconds on any bend !

We ran into group 2 doing a U-turn at one point, then completely lost them, as we went via Hillbilly Heaven down a dirt road used to Ferry moonshine and canabis between the States of QLD and NSW.
I never saw the Dam.. We parked at a nice shady spot, drank our champers, ate our chicken, then as I was about to suggest a civilised game of BOCCE, we noticed we were still an hour and a half from home and it was close to 2.30 !
Grrrrrrrrr.... so litsa dragged me off, in the middle of watching some haggling over Maradors SP and a swap for a clapped out Red Clubman with Billstein stickers on it.... (let me know how that fairs please ladies!!!)
I, having the only working GPS in our bunch, led a merry bunch of 'spirited' drivers back via Bangalow and the Highway to the Gold Coast. At one point, I dared Andrew to 'catch up' in the SP, and next thing you know, its all silver an shiny in my rear view mirror ! The SP is STILL the best MX5 ever made (there I said it !)...more on that in my NC report !
I left him looking for 100RON fuel near the airport, and caught up with AJ on the freeway near Palm Beach. I told him how much I loved the NC just to make him feel good about himself, then Litsa and I headed home to normaldom....
Quite a day... and one thats gonna stick in my memory for ages and ages... I loved the NC on that run, but.... I wouldnt buy one........ YET!
Thanks to everyone involved in the day. Litsa even enjoyed it... until we had to head home and she got a seat belt suntan across her boobs..
THATS GONNA LEAVE A MARK !
Bloody NC cabins are so nice and cool, you don't realise you are getting fried !

Wayne