Further Update on Landmark Mazda

I dropped in today and spoke with Paul Pandur (longtime manager at Jarman Mazda). Jim Berg's gone. Landmark Mazda is not offering (at this time) discounts to WRMC members for parts or labour.

Welcome to new members:

Darren & Melissa P. of Edmonton - 2001 Sunlight Silver Metallic, and
Yvonne A. of Edmonton - 2007 Sunlight Silver Metallic

Congrats to Brandi & Martin...

on the birth of their daughter Grace Sylvia on January 18.

Our Events Director Martin will now have more to do than usual...so event updates and such may be a little sporadic for the next month or two.

Meeting Reminder - January 21

The first club meeting for 2010 is Thursday, January 21 at 7pm in the second floor boardroom at Park Mazda in Sherwood Park.

The February issue of the Miata Musings newsletter and your 2010 membership cards will be available for pickup (mailed thereafter if you're not in attendance).

Membership renewals for those of you who have yet to do so can be done in person.

Jarman Mazda no more...now Landmark Mazda

From the Hicks on Six column in the January 20 Edmonton Sun.

VROOM, VROOM

Heading into the annual Edmonton Motor Show next week, Edmonton auto dealers have emerged from their 2009 industry turmoil remarkably unscathed. Sales overall in the Edmonton area were flat last year. But these days, "flat" is excellent. The General Motors re-structuring meant some 240 dealerships across Canada were closed, but we lost just five in this area -- Stedelbauer Chev-Olds, Saturn West, Grove Pontiac in Spruce Grove, and Murray Chevrolet in Leduc.

Stedelbauer principal Ron Gibson bought and moved Jarman Mazda into the Stedelbauer building on 97 Street, re-naming it Landmark Mazda. Grove Pontiac is now Grove Motor Products. Welcome Ford in Fort Saskatchewan just declared bankruptcy, but not because of the economy. Otherwise, the local auto biz has been all about consolidation and improved presentation.

The Ericksen Auto Group (Ericksen Nissan, Ericksen Infiniti, and recent acquisitions Weber Motors Mazda and Weber Motors Mercedes-Benz / Smart) was itself fully acquired by Mike Priestner's Go Auto group. Crosstown Motors, the flagship of brother Pat Priestner's AutoCanada group, left the downtown to be the Crosstown Auto Centre at the Yellowhead and 156 Street.

AutoCanada's Capital Chrysler Jeep Dodge moved to the Gateway Auto Mall on Ellerslie Road, just off Calgary Trail. It's now the Capital Auto Centre. Yellowhead Honda moved and reopened as Pointe West Honda, selling other Honda products as well as cars. Once its new premises is ready in Sherwood Park, Healy Ford will move out of the downtown. So things weren't that bad. It'll be upbeat at The Motor Show. It always is.

Hopefully the staff at Jarman / Landmark are still there...as most at Weber Motors have changed over the past year. More details in the March issue of the Miata Musings once I know.

Membership Renewals

A reminder that it's now 2010, and all club members who received a membership renewal notice with your Volume 16, Issue 1 newsletters back in November, your memberships have now expired.

There are still about 50 some-odd members who have not sent in their renewals (an e-mail will go out this week).

Don't let the benefits of being a WRMC member pass you by.

Happy New Year!

It's 2010...seems like only yesterday that it was clicking over to 2000...yet here we are, in the last year of the decade (it's amazing how much the media has this wrong).

The Miata's turned 21....and it's -21C outside, with a bitter wind, yet I hope to see a lot of you at today's Polar Bear Run at 2pm.

Cheers!

Event Reminder - Polar Bear Run - January 1

The club's annual Polar Bear Run to kick off the New Year is on January 1. We meet at 2pm at Stephen & Fran M.'s house (address is listed in the Volume 16, Issue 1 Miata Musings newsletter).

From there, once those with removable hard-tops are stored in the yard or garage, we'll take a 60-90min drive through the city, before returning for apres-event nimblies and coffee/tea.

The weather's (currently) forecast for about -5C and sun...a nice change from the frigid temps from the last few years...so c'mon out. Even if you don't have a Miata on the street, there's likely a few empty passenger seats...so don't be shy. (Perhaps the wrangling of empty seats is best done via a thread on the club's forum...just so you don't show up only to find all seats taken.)

Welcome to new members:

Eric & Nora S. of Dawson Creek, BC - 1994 British Racing Green

Event Reminder - Candy Cane Lane Cruise - Dec 18

Don't forget that our Edmonton Food Bank donation is December 18 during the Candy Cane Lane Cruise.

We meet at the Second Cup located at 149 Street & 89 Avenue at 7pm and head out to CCL from there (a few blocks away), and likely do the Alberta Legislature grounds and perhaps a turn around Hawrelak Park for old-time's sake (no Bright Nights anymore).

Miatas will lead the group...but come out in whatever you like...it's for the Food Bank more than anything.

Wish your fellow club memebers some Christmas cheer too.