Miata Mailing List: August 1994, Message #6
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   From: daumda@smtplink.en.wpafb.af.mil
Subject: NAKED MIATA DRIVER
   Date: Mon, 1 Aug 1994 11:36:29 -0400

     TO CAROLYN, W.SHEPHARD, et.al. -- 
     
     First let me ask who among us has NEVER done something stupid or 
     impulsive, something they regretted or would never do again ?  
     Especially in your YOUTH !!
     
     How many times have you cut someone off in traffic or passed someone 
     on a double yellow line while driving YOUR MAITA, regardless of color? 
     Remember, IMAGE, folks !!
     
     If a Chevy Cavalier turns left in front of you without using turn 
     signals, does that mean ALL Chevy drivers are out-to-lunch?  Perhaps, 
     but not likely.  Do all MIATA drivers use their turn signals properly?
     
     I think you see the point here.  Making judgments of someone just 
     because of their mode of transportation is very immature.  (Those of 
     you who ride motorcycles know exactly what I mean.)
     
     Further, this forum is NOT the place to make VALUE judgments on other 
     people's BEHAVIOR !!  This mailing list is to discuss MIATAS, not 
     lifestyles !!  
     
     I can't believe we MIATA owners are now starting to segregate and 
     chastise OTHER MIATA owners based on the COLOR of our cars??  HOLY 
     S__T !!  Haven't we got enough common bias problems in society to 
     fight together as a unified front than to throw stones at EACH OTHER??
     Most of society doesn't want you to drive a Japanese car, looks down 
     on you for being able to afford something rather unique, frowns on 
     aftermarket exhausts, and assumes something about your character just 
     because you drive a small, 2-seater (HMMMM, sound familiar?). Let's 
     stay together as a group of MIATA OWNERS, not red owners, not BRG 
     owners, not blonde owners, not tall owners -- MIATA OWNERS, People!
     
     (This is starting to remind me of same type of class discrimination 
     between motorcyclists:  Harley riders, Gold Wing touring riders, dirt 
     riders, crotch-rocket road racers, vintage bike enthusiasts.  Just 
     because someone doesn't ride your favorite type of bike doesn't make 
     him/her an outcast !!  C'mon, we ALL are at least on MOTORCYCLES!! 
     Isn't that enough of a common ground?  Miatas, in our case.)
     
     Now for a few FACTS to straighten out those of you who THINK you know 
     what happened.  
     
     WGTZ-FM ran a contest in Dayton, Ohio in October of 1993.  The jocks 
     on the air were discussing what people would do to win concert tickets 
     (Duran Duran, in this case).  They wanted to see just how far someone 
     would go to get front row tickets and backstage passes, so THEY 
     invited people to call in who would be willing to drive to work naked. 
     They were flooded with calls.  Even a married couple who wanted to 
     drive together.   The STATION selected the contestant, she DID NOT 
     call to enter the contest unsolicited.  The contest was not her idea.  
     The woman in question was a 19 year old student (theatre major) who, 
     in fact, did drive her Miata (top DOWN) to work while totally naked. 
     (It was a warm, sunny day.) Yes, there was a large teddy bear on her 
     lap (no one could see any part of her body), and, yes, there was a 
     female station employee riding with her with a coat to cover the 
     driver if she had to get out of the car.
     
     There was NO police barricade.  (Get real, folks.  This is the stuff 
     for movies).  Not ALL participants were cited.  The police were very 
     friendly and didn't really want to intervene, but felt "they had to do 
     their job".  The case finally came down to disorderly conduct, 
     primarily because of the potential problems with surrounding traffic.  
     All court costs/fines/attorney fees were paid by the station.
     
     This woman is a member of our Club and is no different from most 19-20 
     year old students.  Think back to your college days and tell me you 
     didn't do something just as outrageous.  At least she was smart enough 
     to buy and drive a Miata and not a Capri. Give her some credit, folks.
     
     The DAYTON DAILY NEWS and other local papers ran a host of stories on 
     this topic over a period of several months.  The Club has a scrapbook 
     of these. (We even submitted some pictures and text to the Miata 
     5-Year Anniversary Yearbook for publication.) Forget it, I will NOT 
     send out photos.
     
     No one in DAYTON got all hot and bothered over this.  Everyone took it 
     in the spirit intended.  It was a light-hearted prank that hurt no 
     one.  I'm sure the participant would not go through all the hassle 
     again, has learned a valuable life lesson, and is none the worse for 
     the experience.
     
     I doubt seriously if those of you on the Net witnessed this event, 
     know the woman involve, or even live in Dayton.
     
     So, fer Crissakes, people, LIGHTEN UP !!!!!!
     
     Keep the Net focused on Miata stuff, not character assassinations.
     
     Cheers,
     DRAKE A. DAUM, President
     Miami Valley Miata Club
     PO Box33503
     Dayton, Ohio 45433-0503