President’s Message

“April Comes She Will” is a special Simon & Garfunkel song to me and reminds me of a time I was back in Virginia attending Coast Guard A School at Base Yorktown. April was the month we graduated and I couldn’t wait to get home and hook up with my girlfriend during leave. My ritual morning walk today brought some budding color in the soil as well as leafing in the trees. The promise of spring and better weather all bode for the coming dawn of our 2026 driving season! Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to start your engines!

Ross and Nancy Scott gave us a taste of things to come with their popular Ides of March Interurban Fun Run which was a great little ride to remind us that we still do own sports cars! Our monthly socials which include the North-End First Tuesday Cruise-in Social and our Third Thursday Coastal continued to provide get togethers that help keep us involved and connected, especially in the off months.

On April 4th your PSMC Board met to conduct our quarterly Board Meeting. Our time was a bit “abbreviated” as our CFO, Sean, was on sick leave recovering from a severe illness. I am pleased to report that Sean is on the mend, although the journey continues to be a long one. As is usual, we refined our upcoming activities calendar throughout the spring, summer and fall. The result is that our calendar is beginning to look populated as the planning process continues. We have a bit of a challenge as Bill Bell, our most prolific ride planner in our club, is taking a bit of a hiatus to figure out what he wants to do in retirement, including where he wants to land geographically. During this year other board members will be stepping up to run Bill’s rides, which have been beautifully documented. We discussed our new promotional item, T-Shirts, which we anticipate launching in June.

April will bring us the MG Club Tulip Rallye that Duncan and Dee will be leading on their way to this annual event to see which of these British beauties finish! Our New Members Drive is scheduled for the end of April and will have a different twist as Bill Snowden is assuming the ride which will feature a different route and lunch venue. I want to thank Ross and Nancy for their years of service in facilitating this event. Elicia Tamburine will be leading her Aloha Shirt Drive on the South end which will provide a wonderful “during the week" adventure.

During May we get into full momentum with Alex hosting his Magical Forest Drive that is held in the South end. Yours truly will be leading Bill Bell’s Miata Island Hopping Drive. The rides will conclude this month with Ross and Nancy Scott’s Drive to lunch which one of my favorites.

June is packed with rides and parades. The month begins Three Rivers Drive with a start in Arlington and I will be leading this one as well. Miata Mingle is a new addition to the calendar and will be held on the Edmonds College campus. Bill Snowden will be leading his Fun Run to Snoqualmie which has some new revisions. Bill Bell will be reprising his beautiful SkyRail Run to conclude the month.

As you can see, we’re not missing a beat with our ride selection and number. Keep checking our calendar as new rides will begin to populate the calendar in the coming months. I want to make a plea for more member involvement by serving on the PSMC Board and/or by hosting rides. Our club exists by participants and the volunteers with the skills they bring with them. Please contact any of the PSMC Board members about a role you can play in the leadership of this dynamic little Miata Club!

That about wraps it up for me. I look forward to seeing everyone on the road soon with tops down and the wind rushing though our hair!

Keep on Zoom Zooming!

One of the Founders of The Puget Sound Miata Club Has Passed Away

William Gerald Allen (Bill) Obituary

Walla Walla, WA - Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to deaf parents, Bill and his brother Eddie grew up learning to communicate with their parents through American Sign Language. Despite a childhood of relatively modest means, and through the prodding and assistance of others, Bill developed the spark to seek higher education and pursued the opportunity to attend college. A serious student, he distinguished himself at Texas A&M and Southern Methodist University, graduating with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.

Shortly after graduating from college, Bill met the love of his life and future wife, Glenda Furgeson, on a double date in Dallas. They married on January 3, 1959, in Dallas, Texas. Bill worked for an industrial products company and several petroleum companies, taking the couple from Corning, New York, back to Dallas and then to Midland, Texas; Franklin, Louisiana; and Odessa, Texas, before finally landing back in Dallas, where Bill began working as an engineer for Atlantic Richfield. They began a family that would ultimately consist of three daughters, Camilla, Andrea, and Christy, and one granddaughter, Abigail.

Professionally, Bill specialized in petroleum engineering and spent much of his professional life as a project manager for Atlantic Richfield Company. After returning to Dallas, they moved several times over the years, residing in California and Alaska. Bill retired from ARCO but soon discovered he was not ready to hang up his boots. Toward the end of his career, Bill and Glenda settled in Seattle, Washington, where Bill worked as an engineer and project manager for King County Metro.

Those who knew Bill would always be impressed by his candid warmth, humor, ready smile, and lack of pretension. Bill's sharp and inquisitive mind led him toward numerous passions and interests. With a keen appreciation for automotive engineering, he was an avid sports car enthusiast, founding the first Mazda Miata Club in Seattle. A lifelong reader and student of world affairs, Bill and Glenda traveled extensively, enthusiastically absorbing the life and cultures they passed through. Bill's final retirement years were spent in Walla Walla, where he was an active supporter of the local wine and food culture, a student at the local community college, and a member of the local Rotary chapter. He was also an avid supporter of Doctors Without Borders among many other non-profits.

Ultimately, more than anything, Bill loved a lively evening of good food and company. He was fortunate in this respect that his daughters and sons-in-law enthusiastically shared his interest in the culinary and wine arts, leading to many a well-set table and well-serviced kitchen.

Bill Allen passed away at age 90 after a brief illness and was preceded in death by his wife. His was a rich and well-lived life. He is dearly missed and never forgotten. He decided to donate his body to science - specifically the University of Washington. A memorial will be held to honor Bill, and those that chose to do the same, in the future in Seattle.