Miata Mailing List: January 1994, Message #18
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   From: a.mccombs3@genie.geis.com
Subject: MTBE, top down craziness, etc.
   Date: Tue, 4 Jan 1994 00:02:16 -0500

RE:  Oxygenated winter fuels:  Anne McCombs checked with Mobil (whose HQ is
in the DC area, where we live) about a year ago, to see what they put in
their gas (ethanol or MTBE) for winter fuel oxygenation (is that a word?).
The reply was that EVERY oil co. uses MTBE in their fuels in AT LEAST the DC
and Northeastern U.S. from Nov. 1st to March 1st, or whenever the legally
mandated changeover date is.  Seems that the only places which use ethanol
are those closest to the grain belt.  Do any states or oil co's. use
methanol?  If so, not in the N.E. U.S.
 
RE:  Funwiththetopdown:  The biggest problem is getting the right window
up???  --Sounds like it's time to trade for a "B" Pkg. with the electric
windows!  A continuing theme(s) on the net is/are (1) How Cold Can It Get
Before I Have To Put The Top Up, and (2) How Fast Can I Go And Still Put The
Top Up/Down?  As with most aspects of American life, from Little League on
up, I sense that overt competition is rearing its ugly head (not to be
confused with the writer's ugly head).  The only solution is an organized,
formal competition to test the above.  Now, back in WI, we had the ideal
format for this:  About this time each year, we'd hold ice races
(autocrosses, actually) on the local lake.  It would appear that both the
temperatures and speeds involved (likely around 75 mph max. for a Miata)
would be sufficient to determine a Nat'l Champion in BOTH categories.  To
stretch this one a bit further, I propose that we hold a National Miata
Convention somewhere in MI, WI, or MN in Jan. or Feb.  Sorry, the present
poster can't make it this year.  Maybe some other time.
 
P.S:  It really WAS a lot of fun driving around on Jan. 2nd with the top
down.  There were several wierdos out there who gave us the strangest looks.
I even forgot to take a cap.  I'm happy to say that neither Anne nor I
turned quite as blue as our Miata.  Other than chilling my brain (made me
what I am today), neither Anne, our Miata, nor I are any the worse for wear.
 
                                                        --Jack M.