Sun Riders Miata Club of Tampa Bay
2022 Board of Directors
President
Gerald Blum
Originally from New York, I moved to Palm Beach when I was two in 1954. My lovely wife Michelle of 35 years, daughter Carrera and son Keiran all moved to South Pasadena in 2002. I have been involved with cars all my life. I have owned an auto restoration/paint & body shop, racing safety equipment & auto accessory business and later an automotive art gallery. I have raced in amateur racing with SCCA, HSR and SVRA and professionally with IMSA in the Firehawk series. I have been President of car clubs in South Florida and heavily involved in many others.
My first Mazda was a 1978 RX-7, #249 off the assembly line. I have owned a 323, 626, 929 and a B-2000 pickup. I always wanted a Miata but didn’t get around to until 2017 with a Soul Red Club Edition.
Currently I drive a 30th Anniversary Edition number #47, which is a dream.
Contact me: 727-385-0713 Email: sunriderpresident@gmail.com
Vice President
Jim
I am originally from Allentown, PA. After enlisting in the Air Force in 1977, I spent several years in Utah, California and Colorado where I met and married my wife, Kim, in 1985. A few months later we moved to Tampa, Florida. We just celebrated our 35th anniversary in December, 2020. Between the two of us, we have 5 children and 8 grandchildren.
I am an avid sports enthusiast. My favorite sports teams are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Lightning, Rays and the University of Florida Gators.
My first Miata was a 2016, soul red Grand Touring Roadster, however it was an automatic. The following year, when the RFs rolled out, we traded in our 2016 for a 2017 Soul Red RF GT, with standard transmission, which we continue to customize. We joined Sun Riders in 2016 and it was the best decision we ever made. We have met so many wonderful people, seen so many sights in Florida and enjoyed so many miles in our little car.
Secretary
Fred
After living in eight states, starting with Kansas and ending in Florida, I met my lovely wife, Gail, who was born and raised in St. Petersburg, FL. She was a travel agent with AAA for 31 years and has designed many wonderful trips for us over the years. We have been twice around the world visiting 33 countries. I was a corporate career type and later owned a consulting business helping people start small businesses. My outlet and hobby was as an entertainer in theater and dinner theaters. Once retired I entertained for about 13 years singing and playing keys, specializing in 50’s, 60’s and Motown music. I was also a motivational speaker for four years for the Pinellas County School Board. I enjoy writing. Have finished one book, currently unpublished but looking, and working on two more. I love a good story.
I rode motorcycles for most of my adult life and have now moved from bikes to a Poly Metal Gray 2020 Miata RF GT. Gail and I love the car and have greatly enjoyed the Sun Riders club. This Club is filled with so many terrific people. It has been a thrill to be a member and I’m proud to be on the Board. If I can help anyone in any way please don’t hesitate to ask.
Treasurer
Bill
Originally both my wife Deb of 31 years and I are from South Jersey. Over the years we moved around. Our daughter Amanda and son Andrew were born in Columbus Oh. We moved from Columbus to Ellicott City MD which is between Baltimore and DC. Our daughter went to Eckerd College here in St Pete which attracted us to Tampa Bay. Once our son graduated from high school and decided he also was going to attend college in Fl we made the move here. We bought our 1st Miata in Md. a Copper-Red 2010 Grand Touring PRHT due to winters in Md. We also owned a 2014 Mazda3 Grand Touring. We are now the proud owners of the 2019 30th Anniversary Edition #269 soft top.
Member at Large
Marc
Originally from Pittsburgh, we moved to Florida in 1986. We settled in Oldsmar and have been here ever since. Both of us retired in 2012 and haven’t looked back!
We have a daughter, Megan, who had a pandemic wedding last year. It was originally scheduled for the same weekend as Tail of the Dragon but neither happened. Megan and Matt did get married on August 1, 2020 in a small ceremony (19 people) outside. Not the wedding we had planned, but we weren’t the only ones who were impacted by the pandemic. We joined Sun Riders in 2013 after purchasing our 2012 Brilliant Black PRHT Grand Touring.
Mike and Machell - Merchandise
I was born in Pensacola, Fla. at the Naval Air Station and moved to the St. Pete/Tampa area at a young age. Machell was born in Anaheim California and moved here by way of Indiana. We met through a local Radio station show called Desperate & Dateless .
I have one daughter by a previous marriage and two grandchildren. Both grown, one is a teacher in Orlando and the other is an inhalation therapist in Lakeland.
I retired in 2018 after 49 years in the dental lab. Machell still works part time in home healthcare.
I've had two Miata's. The first was a red 2006. I put 164,000 miles on it and decided to trade for a 2015 Retractable Hard top, also Red.
We joined Sun Riders in 2009 and started doing the merchandise about 6 years ago. Catch us at an event or give us a call we're happy to help !
The Staff
Eileen and Marc - Membership
Originally from Pittsburgh, we moved to Florida in 1986. We settled in Oldsmar and have been here ever since. Both of us retired in 2012 and haven’t looked back!
We have a daughter, Megan, who had a pandemic wedding last year. It was originally scheduled for the same weekend as Tail of the Dragon but neither happened. Megan and Matt did get married on August 1, 2020 in a small ceremony (19 people) outside. Not the wedding we had planned, but we weren’t the only ones who were impacted by the pandemic. We joined Sun Riders in 2013 after purchasing our 2012 Brilliant Black PRHT Grand Touring.
Marc was on the BOD for approximately 3 years before deciding to let somebody else have some fun.
I am still doing the membership and e-mail correspondence for the Club.
Kim and Jim -
Jim and I have been members of Sun Riders since 2017 when we purchased our first Miata, a 2017 Soul Red Grand Touring Roadster.
In 2018, we traded it in for a Soul Red RF, which I use as my daily driver.
I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and moved to Florida in 1986, 5 months after Jim and I married. I am currently working as the Office Manager for a land surveying company and have been in their employ for 31 years.
I have been running the Sun Riders Face Book page for a couple of years. I decided to create it so we could share pictures, comments, websites, events, and general love for our little cars.
Dean and Judy -
Web site
Judy and I bought our first Miata in 2004. It was a beautiful 1990 first year model.
We also joined the Sun Riders that year and have enjoyed this club ever since.
In 2017, I bought a Gray 2015 retractable HT GT edition.
We did merchandise for the club many years ago and took over the web site after that.
I retired in 2019 after 37 years with the same company. I enjoy boating, fishing, gardening and playing bass guitar in our local blues band. Having the Sun Riders come to our gigs has always been a fun time.
