About Trillium Miata Club - Information

Trillium Club Retrospective

Trillium Miata Club, a chapter of the Miata Club of America, was founded by Brent Armstrong of Toronto Canada. Brent was a young sports car enthusiast with a pristine Blue 1990 Miata. Assisting Brent in the initial organization of the Club was Tony Targa, also of Toronto and an owner of a 1990 Red Miata.

Our first meeting was held in June 1991 at Ontario Mazda on Dixie road. Twelve people attended. Subsequent meetings where held at the Armer Heights community Center at Avenue Road and Wilson. The clubs first executive was:

A young navy lieutenant, Craig Kingsley, joined the club and arranged to let us use the Officers Mess at H.M.C.S. York for our monthly meetings.

The club's first brunch was held at Terra Cotta via the Forks of the Credit. Three of the cars had CB's, three had cell phones. The CBs won out as the club's official touring communication medium. The club's first tour was to the Warsaw Caves on July 28, 1991; fifteen cars participated in this tour.

The club By Laws where drafted in November 1991 by Michael Creery, and Bob Varey became the Trillium Miata Club President. Michael became the club Director and Anne Varey assumed the roll of Secretary/Treasurer.

The Club charter was presented to the membership (twenty-two cars) in January 1992. Off Season Sunday Brunches became an official club event in 1992 and the Trillium Chapter embarked on their first joint venture with another chapter, the North Coast Miata Club in May 1992 for a winery tour in St. Catharine's.

In July 1992, nine cars from the Trillium Chapter ventured off to Indianapolis to take part in the Indy Rally hosted by the Indy chapter of the Miata Club of America. They toured the historic brick yard with the 178 other cars and Anne Varey won the women's hot lap competition at Puttham Park.

Official black jackets were introduced to the membership in December 1992 and January 1993. The Trillium Club's first Blahs Bash which was attended by thirty members at H.M.C.S York.

By March 1993, the club had grown to fifty members. Our first annual spring excursion to Lake Placid hosted by Tony & Gail Newell occurred in May 1993.

October 1995 introduced our first annual Fall trip to upstate New York, Pennsylvania and the Virginias hosted by Rick & Chris Annis.

Over the years the Trillium Miata Club have participated in many interesting events such as the annual Celebrate Motor Sport at Mosport, Two plus four Scavenger Hunts, the Toronto Automotive Show, Funkhanna Driving events, the Christi Sprints, Meadowbrook Classic Car Show, Casinos, Driving Schools, Corn Roasts, Poker Runs, Covered Bridge and Old School House Tours.

In July 1996 the Trillium Miata Club hosted the Miata '96 Convention with 427 people from across North America registered. This three-day gala event, chaired by Dave Lean, was held at the Sheraton Parkway Hotel and featured a Dinner Dance, a Trade Fair, Tours, Slalom Races, Concours and Pit Stop events, a Dinner Cruise in the Toronto harbour with front row seats to the million dollar Benson and Hedges Fireworks display and a final day breakfast. The Trillium Club virtually set new standards for future Miata Conventions as evidenced by the positive feedback from the attendees.

In September 1996, we included club slalom events in our summer program hosted by John & Dianne Brigstocke.

In December 1996 we received the Canadian Automotive Sports Club Award for the Best Car Club Newsletter.