Barbara Patterson - 2001 British Racing Green

It was back in 1953 that I was introduced to what would be a passion for the rest of my life, the sports car, or to be more exact the roadster. When I was 21 years old I had my first ride in a 1951 MGTD. It seems like only yesterday when that black beauty with chrome wheels and green interior swept me off my feet.
Barbara with her first sports car, a '51 MGTD
So many fond memories remain even after all these years of the joy driving this little gem. There was nothing more enjoyable than riding, with the top down of course, through the beautiful, colorful, autumn foliage of the New England countryside, on a clear, crisp day. Or even knowing that in the morning my drive to work along the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Harvard Square made the day start off more pleasurable while cruising in this neat car. And yes, in those days, I really did "paak my cah in Haavaad Yaad."
Then in 1979, the time of mid-life crisis, my thoughts and heart started yearning for the old feelings of a sports car. That's when I bought my 1974, TR6. It was white with a thin black pin stripe, tan top, and complete with overdrive. It was at this time in my life, at age 50, that I was introduced to the sport of auto crossing. Now mind you, the group in the Gator Sports Car Club was mainly made up of male graduate students, middle-aged gentlemen, a handful of young female students, and a little old substitute teacher from Pasadena driving her BAP Mobile. Oddly enough, I receive the Championship Trophy in the 1988-87 Autocross Series. This wasn't because I was the best driver, but because I drove in more races and accumulated more overall points. Oh well.	Barbara winning the season autocross point total

Barbara with her first Miata ('91) at the UF Homecoming Parade	In 1990, the Mazda Miata came into being. It wasn't until 1991 that my head started turning in that direction. In January of 1992, I sold my TR6 to someone who shipped it to Austria, and purchased my first Miata, a Gator blue one with an automatic transmission. This was to be my golden age car. I gave up autocrossing, and for almost ten years, I more than enjoyed driving to school, going to the beach, and participating in the Homecoming Parades in this sharp little car.
Alas, just a little over a year ago, my life would take yet another turn. And, WHAP! I could believe the sight. I asked the salesman to let me take a test drive. Now mind you, I had never driven any other Miata other than mine. As I sat down in it, and felt the smooth warmth of the wooden steering wheel caress my hands, I could hardly contain myself. It was if the leather interior of the doors and seats were embracing me. It was awesome. It only took a few seconds to regain the feeling of shifting, but a totally new way. I was in love again and just knew that I had to have this roadster. The following day, with out telling anyone, I bought this sweet thing, drove it home, parked it in my garage, and proceeded to fly to Dublin the next day.
Upon our arrival home two weeks later, I confessed my "crime" to husband. In shock, he inquired as to whereabouts of the blue one, since that was supposed to have been my golden age car. I replied, "Well, I've been born again". Oddly enough, the Irish tag I had made, especially for the front of my car, reads 01- MO- BAP. In reality, "01" stands for the year of the car, "MO" is County Mayo, and "BAP" are my initials, though some have interpreted this to be "One Mo Baptist."	Barbara and her 2001 BRG at the Atrium Car Show