Miata Mailing List: August 1999, Message #416

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This issue has come up in our club, specifically one member complained of
another members unsafe pass across a double yellow.  The club is silent on
such matters.  As an officers we discussed it at length and decided to say
nothing.  Both of the members are still in the club.

What we do on long drives (15 to 20 cars is typical) is print up a map or
directions for EVERYONE in the group (easy to do with computers and
printers).  This way everyone knows where we are going and nobody needs to
feel pressured to keep up.  Potty, gas, and meal stops as well as the final
destination are marked on the map.  There is a driver's meeting before we
start to pass out the maps and review any route information (sand on road at
the switch backs, snow over the pass, bike race on first 5 miles of hwy 50,
speed trap just past Framisville, whatever we know).  We always chat and
compare notes during stops, so a simple trip into the 7/11 for a ho ho by
one member often becomes a 25 minute stop for the whole group.  Other times,
someone stops top put their top up or something and we drive by and wave.

We try to start all events within sight of a gas station/potty and mini
mart/grocery store so everybody can start the day with their poop in a
group.

We usually designate a lead car and always designate a sweep car.  The lead
car is one of the faster drivers, but he often gets passed anyway, no big
deal.  The sweep car has the greater responsibility.  Sweep always drives at
the back of the group and his rules of engagement are simple.  Do not ever
pass a Miata.  When the sweep car arrives at a potty break, we know the
whole group is together again.

We stop every hour or two depending on the length of the drive (2 hours is a
short drive and 10 hours is a long one).  Breaks are 20 or 30 minutes and
the slow cars are never further behind than 10 or 15 minutes, if that.  At a
lunch stop, we won't go in to the restaurant until everybody is parked.
That way nobody feels like they'll miss something if they don't drive fast.

It is normal for fast drivers to hit over 100 mph somewhere on a typical
drive.  We take the interstate out of town to get to the fun roads.  Slow
drivers are near the speed limit.  In 5 years of events, only one speeding
ticket has been collected by a member, on an event.  And it was by a club
officer for 64 in a 45.  Good thing I was breaking for a corner!