Miata Mailing List: November 1995, Message #28
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   From: "Michael Simmons" 
Subject: Re: It's a Miata world out there!
   Date: Wed, 1 Nov 1995 13:13:24 -0500

Re: Miatas not waving back when you wave to them:

> I suspect that it is related to the exclusivity (or lack thereof) of the car.
>  When people in MGs were doing it, they probably didn't see more than one a
> day (or maybe week).  Since there are now about 150,000 Miatas in the US it
> is not a real exclusive group. I'm sure the people in California could take
> five years off the life of their headlight motors waving to everybody!  I
> have to admit to being sort of a "Well, I'll see if they wave first" type in
> the past. I am trying to convert :-)  Since it seems like everyone in NJ and
> PA are now in DelVal, it makes it easier.

I agree with Bill.  When I rode a motorcycle in the '60s (Triumph
Bonneville) bikes waved to each other.  Even hog riders (mostly "outlaw"
MC types then) would wave to a Brit bike rider.  When bikes became
trendy there was no more comaraderie and the waving stopped.  Same
thing on the pedal-type bike -- in the '70s there were very few of us
and everyone waved.  Now they're all over and the waving usually
occurs when there is some sort of exclusivity, like seeing someone
else on a mountain pass where most of the new riders don't ever go
(because they're afraid of being honked at by Miatas -- Just Kidding!).
There was more Miata waving around here in '89, but now, as Bill says,
they're everywhere (I'm in SoCal).  I feel more camaraderie with
someone in an old MG most of the time since I know he's driving it for
the pleasure of the car and not because it's cute or trendy (please
don't start the "My Miata's better than a Brit car" BS again).  I know
they must be enjoying that MG because otherwise they'd get out of it
as soon as possible and get something more reliable.  Not to say that
I don't feel a kinship with other Miata drivers, but many aren't the
enthusiasts that we are.

Mike Simmons
'90 White A