Emerald Coast Smart Enthusiasts Club

[alpha1243]

Emerald Coast Smart Car Club members,

We had a great turn out for our 3rd meeting! 17 people and 8 Smart cars joined us at Cheeseburger in Paradise on Saturday at 6pm to include our newest members, Louis and Ola Faye Bolieu from Crawfordville, FL, and their Yellow/Silver Passion. They’re member #16. Here’s the complete list of who attended:

Vic & Cynthia (3rd meeting)
Brenda & Charles (3rd meeting)
Alan & Mary (3rd meeting)
Monika & Mel (1st meeting)
Bob & Geri (1st meeting)
Nick & Linda (1st meeting)
Sandi (1st meeting)
Louis & Ola Faye (1st meeting)

Also rounding out the group were 2 of Sandi’s friends who brought along their yellow hotrod.

The weather was perfect and it was great getting to meet a lot of the members from the eastern side of town for the first time.

I had phoned the manager that afternoon to remind him to save the 8 parking spots for the Club. He tells me he can’t (even though they said yes earlier in the week) and that he’d been too busy to call me back and tell me. Not to worry as Alan arrived 45 minutes early and start locking up slots right up front. Thanks Alan! As Smarts trickled in we eventually got all 8 parked right up front in 6 slots. After checking out all the Smarts, talking shop, and getting to know everyone we were seated at 7:15pm and everyone seemed to enjoy the burgers and other tasty items (including fried pickles) the restaurant had to offer. After dinner Alan & Mary led the line of Smarts on a short trip through the parking lots and out onto highway 98 as we parted ways.

(Jim – We were waving frantically as we saw your Yellow Smart dart out of the Silver Sands parking lot and head west on highway 98. How’d you miss us? Nice blue Hawaiian shirt, by the way. Hope to see more of you next time.)

Picture from the meeting are loaded into a photo album on the Club website at Private Wiki - Emerald Coast Smart Car Club. If you haven’t registered yet please take a moment to do so. It’s free and we’ve got several discussion boards you can participate in. If you need me to e-mail you another invitation please let me know.

We’ve got several suggestions for our next meeting place ranging from Navarre Park, to Ft. Walton Liza Jackson Park, to Red Lobster in Ft. Walton Beach, to Bob & Geri’s condo in Panama City. Add your input to the discussion board on the Club website.

I hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as Cynthia & I did. If you couldn’t make this meeting we hope to see you at the next. Don’t forget to flag down those new Smarts on the roadways and inform them about our Club. The more the merrier!

Have a great week and drive safely!

Vic
alpha1243@hotmail.com

[alpha1243]

Emerald Coast Smart Car Club Get Together

This month’s meeting will be held on Saturday, August 23rd, at 6pm at Liza Jackson Park. Their address is: 318 Miracle Strip Pkwy. (Hwy 98) SW, Fort Walton Beach, FL, 32548. There is plenty of parking and should be some shade too.

Some of the members have asked about how to adjust the read hatch to level the roofline. I'm hoping that some of the more 'automotively inclined' members can bring along the proper tools and show us how to do it. The Club usually spends 60-90 minutes checking out the Smarts and talking shop, so we'll head over to the nearby Red Lobster for dinner at 7:30pm. Since I expect that they'll be busy I'll call ahead and make reservations. To do that I'll need a head count. Please send your responses to me at alpha1243@hotmail.com.

If you're not familiar with Liza Jackson Park check out the following links:
Map: http://events.nwfdailynews.com/fort-walton-beach-fl/venues/show/566766-liza-jackson-park
Photos: http://www.destin-ation.com/fortwaltonbeachflorida/photogallery3/index.htm

If you’re not yet a member of the Emerald Coast Smart Car Club and would like to join please let me know. Smart owners and reservation holders are welcome.

Vic
Emerald Coast Smart Car Club organizer
alpha1243@hotmail.com

[Bob Gardner]

Looking forward to the August 23 meeting. Jeri and I are leaving the 4th of September to go to Port Hueneme, Ca. to my daughters wedding. Its been a busy summer. Hope to see everyone in Ft. Walton.

Bob and Geri

[Bum-bling-B]

HEY Bob - hope to have my parents run down with their Passion along with me. Doubt they'd stay for the dinner portion as I don't think their old bones could take dinner starting at 7:30 so if they come they'll do the meet and greet part then head on.

Nothing new about my car this month except maybe the armrest. I don't think anyone in our area has that so you guys can check that out. Chances are I'll have one installed in my parent's car too by then. They just took it on a trip and mentioned it was bearable for them but could of been slightly more comfortable.

[alpha1243]

After getting rained out last weekend we’re going to reschedule for Saturday, September 6th, at 11am. Several members have suggested an earlier time, so we'll give it a try. We'll meet at Liza Jackson Park in Ft Walton Beach – same place as planned for August. Come in through the West Entrance and park under the large pavilion. Hopefully this 2nd time will be the charm.

If you’re not a member of the Emerald Coast Smart Car Club and would like to join us, please send me an e-mail at the address below. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Vic
alpha1243@hotmail.com

[Bum-bling-B]

I'll be missing out on that one unless it's raining. Not sure yet but most likely I won't be there as the big Ft.Walton Beach show where all the clubs get together and put on a show will be going on that day. Been in the planning for months and I promised a long time ago I'd be there to help out for whatever they need me for.

Darn, this may be the first get together I miss.

[alpha1243]

Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 15th, at 1pm. Bob & Geri will host our monthly Club get together at their condo complex in Panama City. The address is 1600 Marina Bay Drive. We'll meet in their huge parking lot at 1pm. You can go to Google Maps to get driving directions.

The plan is to gather in the parking lot at 1pm. Bring folding chairs if you'd like. Bob will also make one of the meetings rooms available to the Club just incase the weather is uncooperative, but we're hoping for a nice sunny fall day like we had for October's get together.

There are a number of restaurants in the area. Given that it'll get darker sooner (did you remember to set your clocks back 1 hour today?) we should have plenty of daylight before heading out to dinner.

Several people have expressed interest in working on their Smarts, whether that be installed arm rests or cruise controls, having a ScanGauge "check-up", aligning their rear hatches, or performing minor maintenance. Depending on the skill sets of the Club members attending the November meeting we should be able to assist. Don't forget to bring your cameras as well as your tools.

I would like to get a head count so Bob & Geri have some idea of how many Smarties to expect. Please reply back to me letting me know if you're going to attend or not. If you're bring more than 1 person, or more than 1 Smart, let me know that too. If we have a big turn out this month we'll want to make reservations at the restaurant ahead of time.

Hope to see everyone on the 15th! Let me know if you have any questions or need assistance with directions.

Vic
alpha1243@hotmail.com

[NCC1701]

Vic,
I can't say with certainty that I'll be able to attend. But, I'm planning on it. It is up to my work load and that can't always be foreseen more than 18 hours in advance.
BTW, the address you've given appears to be in Southport, at the north end of the Baily Bridge ... correct?

[Bum-bling-B]

Just popped on to double check the address and input it into the Garmin. Now I'm heading out to clean up the car even though it rained like crazy here last night and now I'll have to drive through mud to get to the paved roads a few miles away.

Hope we have a great turnout.

[Bum-bling-B]

Posted a few pics including the one picture taken from the Emerald Coast Smart Car Club airplane we all piled into a took a ride in.......

The pics are located in the Emerald Coast Smart Club Gallery.

OH! Everyone else that was there that most likely have MUCH better pictures than me - POST THEM!