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About BAMD
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Who's behind BAMD?
BAMD was formed by the former president and webmaster of BAMA (Bay Area Miata Association), and their friends in the club. The group was officially dedicated on November 15, 2009, after an epic drive. The website went up a week later, and within days we had more than 50 Miata drivers registered. We're now approaching 300 drivers, making BAMD the largest group of Miata enthusiasts in Northern California. We think that when it comes to having fun with your Miata, this is the place to be, and obviously a lot of Miata owners agree.
Why not form a club?
Beyond the liability issues, clubs have dues, bylaws, elected officials, and cliques. Elected officials often represent selected individuals, sponsors, or special interests, not the membership. BAMD has no such ties, and we don't associate with sponsors. Elected officials often impose rules on the membership, and tell them how to drive their Miatas. BAMD does not tell Miata owners how to drive. We ask that drivers take responsibility for their own actions.
What does BAMD do?
Mostly drive. We have tech and social events, too, and we're up
for almost anything Miata-related, but we mostly like to drive. You can see and read about the
events we've held so far here. We maintain a calendar
of events on this website, and you can find more information about events in the forum,
however specific event times and locations are only available to those on the BAMD event email list.
Get on the list by registering for the forum, supplying your name, address, email, and Miata info. An automated email
will be sent to confirm your registration. Follow the instructions in the email and we'll add you to
the list.
Why are we doing it?
Driving our Miatas is a passion for most of us. Driving in the company of other Miata enthusiasts is even more fun. No other Miata group in Northern California provides both a full schedule of fun activities and an active forum to share ideas and information with other Miata owners. This—as well as making new friends—is more than enough motivation for hosting the website and organizing events. None of this is costing us anything, so we don't see the point in having sponsors or charging dues.
About Driving Events
BAMD runs are well-organized and fun. A typical run takes three to four hours on a Saturday or Sunday morning. We have a number of routes that feature some of the best Miata back roads in the extended Bay Area, but anyone who's participated in a few BAMD events can organize a run of their own. We know from experience, and hope everyone else does, that events take a lot of work and planning to be successful. We're often asked how fast we drive, and the answer is, it varies. Runs are broken into groups that drive at different speeds. But all groups drive at a pace that makes us better drivers. BAMD driving events follow a few guidelines that you can read about here.
About Tech Events
We have a lot of technical knowledge, Miata experience, and mechanical
skills in BAMD. We get together to work on our Miatas at least once a month, usually in someone's garage. Most
jobs go easier with the help and guidance of a few extra hands. Tech sessions are social
events too, where Miata owners can get to know each other, and maybe learn a thing or two about their cars.
At tech days, BAMD drivers have accomplished many different tasks including fixing brakes, installing roll bars, replacing clutches,
and upgrading suspensions. We've also done many smaller jobs.
About the Website
The BAMD website was developed entirely by and for BAMD. We have a zero-tolerance policy for commercial content, and we don't accept any advertising. The website contains no third-party or open source software and uses no outside services, which allows us to keep it completely commercial-free. Because we developed it, we can change anything we want to meet the needs of BAMD drivers, at any time. Although the forum is the heart of the website, we also have blogs, photos, and articles written by BAMD drivers. And we love to add new features, so ideas for the website are always welcome.
Still want to know more?
Register for the forum. You don’t have to supply much information, and BAMD is fanatical about maintaining the privacy of anyone who registers. Unlike some clubs in the area, BAMD doesn't need to "approve" your registration—sign up and you're in. The forum follows a few guidelines that you can read about here. If the forum can’t answer your questions, email or PM the BAMD webmaster or anyone on the Contact Us page.
