Hi ,

What an amazing journey we’re on!

These past 2+years of Covid, was hard and saw very few positive things. There was however one MX5 bright spark; a group of like-minded MX5 owners happen to find one-another and started with informal breakfast runs. The community grew, forming new friendships fostered in the love and enjoyment of driving their MX5’s. This group of MX5 WhatsApp Friends managed to get a record total at the time of 42 cars together for Japan Day on the 29 November 2020.

It soon became a monthly institution to meet (dependant on the lock down regulations) and go on breakfast runs in the time that followed. The MX5 Owners Club members started to join the ‘MX5 run with Friends’ and in February 2022 the Club extended an invite to all to join their 20th Annual General Meeting on 13 March 2022 at the Piston Ring Club in Gauteng.

During that AGM it was decided to hold a Special AGM in May, to vote for the Committee Members and all the 2022 paid members and their partners, would be able to vote. This saw the MX5 Owners Club explode in its membership count and the Club grew from 7 to 41+ members during the run-up to that event.

A whole new Committee was elected, consisting of Herman van Wyk - Chairperson, Abrie Peens - Vice-Chairperson, Rentia Chapman - Secretary, Anesca Crous - Treasurer, 3 Technical Experts: Rijkent Mulder, Anton Linhout, Johan de Lange and 2 Members: Marius Lotz and Gibbon Shickerling.

Behind the scenes the newly elected Committee has been hard at work familiarising themselves with all the admin, procedures and legal & indemnity requirements of running the club.

Strategic Projects and events:

Herman and Anesca attended the SAMCA -AGM on the 21st of July. Information about Classic Car Insurance will be shared soon; Mazda MX5 is regarded as ‘Modern Classic’.

Tinus Labuschagne is in communications with Mazda South Africa’s Marketing and PR department.

Kelvin Reynolds has created a new website: www.mx5club.co.za and launched it on the 28th of July 2022; access and functions are currently unrestricted for a limited time.

The June run was unfortunately cancelled in the wake of the big preparation for ‘Cars in the Park’ on the 31st of July 2022 at Zwartkops Raceway. The turn-out was mind blowing and the MX5 Owners and Friends group was not just noticed by the spectators but also by SAMCA and a TV crew.

Noticed also by All Things Motoring (DStv Channel 189), but and by a host of MX5 owners and prospective owners. 55 MX5’s were on display, the biggest gathering in the history of the club. A huge shout-out to everyone that attended. Without you, we would not have been able to do this!

During this get together the Committee started to hand out membership numbers and “license discs” indicating that they are paid members of the MX5 Owners Club.

One of the key benefits of being a paid member, is the SAMCA Public Liability cover. This cover protects the club members and/or committee against any incident that may happen during a club run or event that could result in a liability claim. The club will support the member and/or committee with the R15,000-00 surcharge and cover is up to R15,000,000-00.

Cars in the Park’ is only the start!

A Spring Run is being planned at the turn of this month; please vote for the date that suits best: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mx5ownersclubgauteng/permalink/5723894594309789/ and then there is our weekend away at Kwanyoni, in Mpumalanga, on the 7-9 of October 2022. Information will be shared on all communication platforms, and we hope to see you there.

Greetings from the MX-5 Committee

The half-year financial statements will be shared with club members towards the end of August.