Dealership lot becomes meeting place for enthusiasts
On Sunday, Sept. 13, Mazda St-Jérôme’s parking lot filled with classic roadsters and their owners as more than 200 Mazda MX-5 Miatas from across Quebec gathered for the third annual meet. The event, organised by long-time enthusiasts Benoit Lavigne and Germain Goyer, was held at the dealership for the first time and drew several hundred visitors during the day.
Despite dark clouds and morning mist that made the prospect of driving a convertible uncertain, the rain held off until late in the event, allowing owners and spectators to inspect cars representing all four MX-5 generations — NA, NB, NC and ND — and to enjoy the display and camaraderie on site.
Tribute to British Racing Green and a private collection on display
This year’s meet paid tribute to the 35th anniversary of British Racing Green, the deep forest green shade that first appeared on the Miata in 1991. That theme followed last year’s commemoration of the three original launch colours for the model.
Visitors also had the opportunity to see four vehicles from the private collection of Antoine Joubert:
- 1991 Mazda Miata
- 1988 Mazda 323 GTX
- 1992 Mazda Precidia
- 2006 Mazda MX-5
| Year | Attendance (vehicles) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | over 300 |
| 2025 | more than 250 |
| 2026 | 200+ |
Community impact and local partnership
The third edition of the meet was run in collaboration with Mazda St-Jérôme and organisers said the partnership helped bring the event to the city for the first time. Mathieu Leclair, newly appointed president and owner of Mazda St-Jérôme, spoke about the significance of hosting the gathering locally, saying it was the dealership’s first time as host and expressing gratitude to the organisers.
“More than 200 cars in the lot, nothing but enthusiasts. It’s great to see the brand shine like this, and we’re proud to be part of it. Thank you to Germain and Benoit for organizing,” said Mathieu Leclair.
Admission to the meet was free. Organisers collected donations on site for the Fondation Soutien à l’enfance de la Rivière-du-Nord, linking the hobbyist event to a local charitable cause and ensuring the gathering extended benefits beyond enthusiasts and spectators.
Why Saint-Jérôme matters to regional car culture
For Saint-Jérôme, hosting a regional meet of this size underscores the city’s continuing role as a gathering point for automotive communities in Quebec. The move from Mazda Canada’s regional office in Pointe-Claire to a local dealership lot shifted the event’s footprint northward while keeping its appeal across the province: attendees travelled from across Quebec to take part.
For residents, the event offered a chance to see a broad cross-section of Mazda history in one place, from early models to later generations of the MX-5, and to participate in a community fundraiser. For the dealership, it was an opportunity to showcase its facilities and build local ties with owners and potential customers.
Organisers and the dealership did not release a confirmed total for funds raised at the time of the event report, but the continuation of the free-admission, charity-linked format signals organisers’ intent to keep the meet accessible while supporting local causes in the Rivière-du-Nord region.
The meet joins a growing list of community events that bring visitors to Saint-Jérôme and highlight the city’s role as a regional hub for cultural and recreational gatherings.
