I first heard about Miatas in Moab last year while riding in a shuttle van from the kite festival in Newport. Donn Cichocki was in the front seat, telling someone that he planned to drive his Miata to Utah the following May. I decided at that moment that he must be crazy. Who, in their right mind, (at our age) would drive across country in a Miata? I certainly would not do it! My car is seven years old, and I am…. well, never mind, suffice it to say that driving a tiny car 500 miles a day for five days is not a rational thought for me to have. Fast forward a few months and I find myself part of that group of daring Mass Miataites, led by Donn, that have signed to complete The Amazing Ride - Miatas from Mass to Moab and Back, and I am anxiously counting the days until we leave!

Why the change of mind? Because I realized that in this life, there are precious few opportunities to participate in a real American adventure. In the spirit of Lewis and Clark, Ward Bond and his Wagon Train, Smokey and the Bandit, and the Blues Brothers, we are going to experience the spacious skies and amber waves of grain the way they were meant to be seen - in a little convertible!

On May 7th, seven Miatas from Massachusetts will set out on a 5,000 mile adventure, joining Miatas from around the country in Moab, Utah. The Amazing Ride to and from will be a fascinating blur of rest stops and real American scenery. It was once said that life is as much about the journey as it is the destination. The Amazing Ride - Miatas from Mass to Moab and Back builds upon that premise.

While in Utah, we will travel winding roads that will immerse us in spacious vistas, deep mysterious canyons, and towering spires silhouetted against a never ending sky. Entire days will be spent exploring both the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. This is southeastern Utah, "where God put the West"; the site of classic western movies and the greatest car ads. Miatas in Moab was a great success last year, and more than one hundred Miatas from around the country have already signed up for this year's sequel. Visit www.teamzoom.net/miatasinmoab/ for more details on this event.

As for The Amazing Ride, we have everything to make this adventure a success. We have a Trip Master; Donn Cichocki, we have a Morale Coach; Bob Lannin (talked us out of renting Miatas), and most importantly, we have a logo! After all, how could it be an American adventure without our own symbol on t-shirts and coffee mugs! See: www.cafepress.com/masstomoab

So, we are ready to go discover America, and the good news is, there is still time for you to join us! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to travel in a great car, with great people, across a great country. Still not convinced? How about this? We are planning to visit the Coors Brewery in Colorado! How can you pass up the trip of a lifetime?

Brian Rust