This December 14th (Sunday) the Mazda Car Club of Australia is running a huge day of festivities, starting with the 4th annual charity toy run.

The day starts with the pre meet for the toy run. For the last three years, the MCCA in conjunction with Ausrotary runs a charity toy run to the Smith Family warehouse, where we each donate a toy to the help make Christmas a happy time for disadvantaged children. Many of you have been a part of the previous toy runs, and will remember how grateful the Smith Family was for your donation. Zoran has again put a great deal of effort into organizing this event as he has year after year since the first toy run.

Please bring one toy per person OR MORE, toys for boys or girls aged 0-12, but they always run short for ages 9-12, so please try and focus on that age group.



As last year, we will meet at 9:30am at the Bourke St Pier at Dock lands (right at the end of Bourke St) and depart at 10:15am as we are booked in at the warehouse for 10.45. The Smith Family has this year moved to the Nicholas Pavilion at the Showgrounds, which needs to be accessed from Gate 5, on Langs Road, Ascot Vale.



The route that we will follow to the showgrounds can be viewed by clicking on the following link:

http://www.whereis.com/vic/kensington/12-elizabeth-st?id=408468ED0E1BD4



Once we have delivered the toys, we will then head for a cruise up to Hanging Rock for lunch, where there will also be a show and shine competition & prizes on the day, as well as a BBQ lunch and plenty of room to show your cars and socialise. Non members will be charged for BBQ, however all club members eat free. Those of you that have walkie talkies, bring them along with you on the day as it will come in handy.



Here is a link to the route to Hanging Rock: http://www.whereis.com/?id=4085F185EFA66C


Also remember you don't need to have a Mazda to be a part of the action, we have many members who take part in the club activities in various makes of car. There are a few committee members that have never even shown up in a Mazda, so don't be shy to bring out the daily driver.



Photos of previous toy runs can be found at the following links:

http://www.mazdacarclub.org.au/modules/xoopsgallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album06

http://www.ausrotary.com/viewtopic.php?p=1805737#1805737

http://www.ausrotary.com/viewtopic.php?t=117182



Please let me know via return email if you're planning on attending, just to make the day easier to organize.



If you are interested in becoming a MCCA member, we have recently made changes to membership fees. The new membership rate from 2008 on is $48 for single membership, which works out to being $4 a month (previously used to be $40 plus $20 joining fee). We will also reduce that fee by a further $10 for people who join or renew on the day. Follow the link to the club website where you can download membership forms: http://www.mazdacarclub.org.au/modules/content/index.php?id=2



Why not make it a great family outing by bringing your family along for the day. We would also advice that you bring with you your hats & sunscreen as if previous years are anything to go by, this year will be another hot day! Also for the first time we are having a boot sale so please bring in anything you want to sell & stick it in the boot. Smelly boots need not apply : )





We hope to see you all there for a Mazda Car Club Christmas.

The Mazda Car Club of Australia has recently reviewed the way memberships are handled, and after extensive discussion have concluded that it would be best for everyone to have all memberships due once a year. This will help make the club more uniform & makes it much more manageable for the club members taking care of processing memberships.

The club has recently purchased a 1982 626 coupe as a base for a club car, which will be open to use by members at future club events.
You can keep up to date with the new developments to the 626 club car by clicking here to visit our club forum

The Mazda museum's online website has an enormous amount of information on Mazda, anywhere from the history of Mazda through to the latest concept vehicles. Visit Mazda Museum for more



Want to find out more about the Mazda spirit? visit Mazda Spirit

The Mazda Car Club of Australia is invited to join members of Ausrotary.com in displaying their Mazda and Rotary Powered vehicles at Sandown International Raceway, Sunday 27th July, 2008.

Racing on the day is organised by the Victorian Sports Sedan Association, and the card includes IPRA, Group N touring and Sports Cars.

Due to the generosity of Mazda Australia a limited number of tickets to the 2008 Melbourne International Motor Show are available at only $5.00 each (normally $18.00 each). A limit of 2 tickets per member applies and allocated on a ‘first in, best dressed’ basis; the tickets are valid for the full duration of the show, which runs from Fri 29th Feb to Mon 10th March.

Some highlights for this years’ show are the local debut of the new Nissan GTR (Godzilla), the new Landrover LRX concept car, and a new E Vada sports car made in Melbourne, and heaps more new, interesting and exciting cars on display.

If you wish to take advantage of this terrific opportunity then act urgently by sending your order via e-mail to Ron Young at youngent@bigpond.com stating how many tickets are required, and your name and mailing address if applicable, plus your choice of payment method (see below). Your tickets will then be reserved; then mailed out to you ASAP after receipt of your payment (the price includes postage), or held for collection after receiving your instructions.

Supply/Payment options:

(a)Supply via Mail - Payment via cheque to Mazda Car Club of Australia, mailed to MCCA, c/o 40 The Common, Macleod 3085 (include details of your name and order).

(b)Supply via direct pick up - COD payment
from Ron Young, 40 The Common, Macleod (phone Ron at 9455 1274 to arrange convenient date and time).

(c)Supply via direct pick up - COD payment
at the March General Meeting on Tuesday 4th March,
held at The Garage Cafe, 121 Berkeley St, Carlton, starting about 7.00 to 7.30 pm.

Keep an eye on the club forums at www.mazdacarclub.org.au for details of any group visits that may be organised.

Hey Guys,
This months cruise will be on Sunday the 18th.
I have a loose plan at this stage, but will confirm exact details closer to the date.
The plan is to cruise out to Mt Macedon, across to either Woodend or Trentham for lunch, then through the Wombat State Forest (Great Dividing Range) and back to Melbourne via the Western Fwy.
Meeting point will be at Watergardens shopping centre carpark [Edit: See http://www.watergardens.com.au/how_to_get_here/how_to_get_here.cfm?dynID=4 for details] at 9:30am for a 10:00am start. Don’t be late, and please fill up with petrol and anything else you need before making it to the meet point.

The usual five dollar fee will apply, to cover insurance.
And as usual, all are welcome.
Please provide any comments/suggestions.
Cheers,
Brad

Please note that Matt has updated the Calendar with a some new events to occur over the next three or four months. You can view them by browsing through the calendar located on the RHS of the main page or the link in the main menu. If you have any questions, please drop a note in the forums (members only) or via the contact page.

Please note that the club has now decided on a new regular monthly meeting venue. You can now find us at the Garage Cafe in Carlton on the first Tuesday of the month. Please see here for more details

Please note that the August monthly meeting is our 2007 AGM, so please attend and have a say in how your club evolves over the next year.


Note that this meeting will not be on the first Wednesday of the month like normal. The meeting will be at the state CAMS offices at 851 Dandenong Road, East Malvern on Thursday August the 9th at 7:30pm