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Tell Me Why??? [top up driving]

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Well, if my allergies are acting up, I'll have the top up on either the Miata or the B. Sure as heck beats showing up with red, swollen eyes, a screaming headache, and snot running down my face.

Same thing if I've been in the car for a long time on a very sunny, hot day. If I know I'm taking a long drive I'll lotion up before leaving (it's not as dirty as it sounds) but after a certain point I can't stand the sun beating down on me and need the shade. I've had a few too many instances of sun related cancers in my family for me to not take this seriously. Plus I don't want to end my days looking like my old baseball mitt.

-William
 
Went on a group drive to a British car gathering at a "historical" site Sunday, of the 35 +/- cars in the drive I think 3 of the ragtops were up. Was a perfect day for a drive in the country!!!
I agree with the long drive in the summer sun posts, at some point the top goes up and window is unzipped.
I do find though, keeping the top in the erected position but not fastened down when in the garage during the week helps to keep it in proper shape and should help the window plastic last...that's the hope at least.
 
One bout with skin cancer will give you a whole new perspective on all of this.

When my Spridget was a street car, I made up a "Bikini Top" that went from the roll bar to the windshield.
You see them on Jeeps all the time.
One of these days, I'd like to make one up for the Miata. It would need "bows" since the Miata roll bar is not that high.

William: Good Jethro Tull reference (I think).
 
aeronca65t said:
One bout with skin cancer will give you a whole new perspective on all of this.

When my Spridget was a street car, I made up a "Bikini Top" that went from the roll bar to the windshield.
You see them on Jeeps all the time.
One of these days, I'd like to make one up for the Miata. It would need "bows" since the Miata roll bar is not that high.

William: Good Jethro Tull reference (I think).
Click to expand...

That "Bikini Top" (or is that Bimini Top?) is an idea I have toyed with for the BE also!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
aeronca65t said:
William: Good Jethro Tull reference (I think).
Click to expand...

No idea what you're talking about. Did Ian Anderson have bad allergies too?

-Wm.

(oh wait, Googled it. No that wasn't intentional)
 
Lyrics to Aqualung:

"Snot running down his nose, greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes"
 
aeronca65t said:
When my Spridget was a street car, I made up a "Bikini Top" that went from the roll bar to the windshield.
You see them on Jeeps all the time.
Click to expand...

The zip-out rear-window is almost as good as that. I honestly thought the Miatas had 'em - until I tried to unzip the window /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif
 
aeronca65t said:
One bout with skin cancer will give you a whole new perspective on all of this.
Click to expand...
I DO have a different perspective.
I have been sensitive to sun burn all of my life. Always wore a hat, when in the sun, since I was fifteen.

In spite of this, I've been going through metastatic melanoma on my scalp for some years.

It may "get me" some day, but in the mean time I now drive the Healey with a permanent hardtop. Surprising how much cooler it is with the white umbrella sun shield, to say nothing of the reduced sunburn. As Nial says, you macho guys be careful.
D
 
Cause when, the few days that the weather is good, they want to enjoy it to the fullest.
 
My "cover" consists of an old "jungle war bonnet". Issued, camo, SPF 400!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif
 
aerog said:
aeronca65t said:
When my Spridget was a street car, I made up a "Bikini Top" that went from the roll bar to the windshield.
You see them on Jeeps all the time.
Click to expand...

The zip-out rear-window is almost as good as that. I honestly thought the Miatas had 'em - until I tried to unzip the window /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif
Click to expand...

Only NA (90-97) Miatas had the zip out window. NBs (99-05) have a permanent glass window. However, since the top from an NB can be retrofitted to an NA, I dont see why the opposite isn't true.

I havent used the zip out window on my NA in ages, since the zip handle busted off. I miss it-came in real handy. The whole top needs replacing now but I'm too skint to do it.

-William
 
There are new non-Mazda brand tops with zip-out glass windows (that don't have to be unzipped to fold, so I'm told) too. Mine is 4 years old and like new...unfortunately! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif
 
No real options here....

Car didn't come w/ a top, nobody makes one for it & no patterns exist.

I was told that the Lotus 7 tops were "much more practical"

(That about says it all)
 
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