What could end up being the social function of the year for Mazda enthusiasts who are convenient to the Maryland, Virginia and DC area. The event will be called the "Gathering At The Glen", but has nothing to do with either Watkins Glen International Raceway or any other race track, for that matter.

The Glen I speak of is Glen Echo Amusement Park, the proposed location for this Mazda social function, which is located in Glen Echo, Maryland, a few miles inside I-495 at the American Legion Bridge exit that connects Carderock, Maryland with Great Falls, Virginia.

This picnic at the park will provide us with an excellent opportunity to recognize any and all of the Women With Rotaries, particularly those who are in a position to drop in on our function. Those who cannot make it can still be recognized and appreciated in spirit, with all of them receiving dash plaques to honor their mutual support of the cars that so many of us guys love so much.

I would also love to get a significant number of RX8s to the late-afternoon shindig, as we had planned on hosting our second annual RX8 gathering at our proposed track event, as well. It would be great to have a significant number of Mazda enthusiasts present with their cars to socialize with us, as well as to honor the WWR designees. I have stumbled upon an element that should make it easy for Mazda enthusiasts decide to attend.

I have secured the support from OG Racing to make available to us some of the most expensive awards I have ever seen given at such an event. For what it's worth, the items have already been committed to us, and are being held in escrow by that sponsor until we need them for the event.

I will solicit the assistance of officials from Mazda North American Operations to help us identify and attempt to contact as many women as possible who own and operate rotary-powered vehicles. Though it would be a wonderful surprise (especially for the guys who attend the event), I sincerely doubt that we'd see Playboy's 2004 Playmate of The Year there in her brand new 8. We'll gladly settle for the likes of Holly W, Vanessa F. and the Tasmanian Temptress, to name a few!

Now, here's an interesting twist. There will be TWO ridiculously valuable prizes awarded during a segment of the picnic that we will refer to as "The Prize Is Right". All of the WWR designees present will be entered into a drawing for their CHOICE of either a complimentary high-speed driving seminar courtesy of either Mazda Drivers, LLC (MDA) or of the Performance Sportscar Driving Group, LLC (PSD) valued at over 300.00, OR unidentified item #1 compliments of our primary sponsor. They will have to make a decision on the spot.........it's that simple. WWR designees need not be members of MSCW, but (of course) need be present to win

The second ridiculously valuable prize will be awarded to the winner of a drawing from the group of car owners that brings the largest number of Mazdas to the picnic. Trust me when I state that Mazda enthusiasts will want to take the time to be present for this opportunity, and should encourage as many other Mazda enthusiasts as possible to attend who own the same type of vehicles that they drive. The winner of this drawing will also have to make a choice between a complimentary track event in 2005 or the mystery item in box number two on the spot (aren't we diabolical??!!)

Unlike with the WWR designees, eligibility for ridiculously valuable prize number two IS dependant upon MSCW membership.

The only individuals who will know the value of the optional awards that are available to the winners will be myself and OG Racing for the event. This promises to be a highly entertaining event, and should prove to be well worth it for those who take the time to attend. OG Racing will also provide a limited amount of food and drink, while we encourage those who attend to bring items they could share with other members, much like we do with our Mazda Club picnics.

Thanks to all who braved what was supposed to be bad weather for the Mazda Picnic at Glen Echo that also recognized Women With Wankels. The 16 RX7
owners present had a chance (through a drawing) to choose between a free $325.00 Mazda Drivers high-speed track seminar and an unknown sealed item, which turned out to be a $600.00 Sparco Torino seat. Only four women were present for their opportunity to make the same choice, which made for excellent odds from that group of Mazda enthusiasts. All of the WWW Honorees got yellow roses, as well. For you ladies that were unable to make the event, contact me through OG Racing (www.ogracing.com), and I will see that you get a few tokens of our appreciation as "booby prizes", if you will (pun intended).

Mark W. had the winning ticket from the group of RX7 owners, and took three to four minutes before deciding to go with the unknown item. Karen E, our Women With Wankels winner, deliberated for a longer period of time before finally deciding to choose the free track event. Congratulations to both of them for winning their respective awards. Both seemed satisfied with their prize decisions, and provided us with entertainment while trying to make their respective choices.

A huge amount of thanks goes to primary sponsors OG Racing (main giveaway item), Malloy Mazda, Mazda Drivers (main giveaway item) and the Rotary Revolution for providing us with the food and drink, and enough door prizes to satisfy every one of the 45 Mazda enthusiasts who attended the event.

There will be two other opportunities to win Sparco Torino seats within the next several months, courtesy of the same group of sponsors who made this event possible. One chance will involve the fall/winter Mazda Club membership drive which includes the DC Auto Show in December. The second chance will include a friendly challenge between RX7 and RX8 owners that will surround the first Mazda Drivers track event of 2005. Stay tuned for more information.
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May The (Rotary) Force Be With You

Anne & I had a really nice afternoon out there. For those of you who missed it, you missed a really nice, laid-back afternoon. The restoration of Glen Echo Park is coming along, although of course it will never be what it once was - but it's still a neat place to visit. OG Racing is to be complemented on their generous door prizes, and John Duff did his usual masterful job of handling the door prize giveaways. Forgive me if I missed some people on this (and I'm sure there were many, many more involved), but these were the folks I noticed. The weather wasn't nearly as threatening as it appeared, and I think I can safely say that a good time was had by all. See you at Fuddrucker's on Wed., Oct. 6.


--Jack & Anne