Driving Cars and Eating Lobster at the 2025 Ragtop Ramble
Professional Car Nerd
As someone with their PhD in Car Nerdery, I can confidently say the Ragtop Ramble, put on by the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) is at the pinnacle of car nerd activities. It is two days (I could only attend one) of new car awesomeness.
Day one involves a preview drive, vehicle awards, and a reception. Day two (the one I did attend) is the actual ramble. From the epic Larz Anderson Museum outside Boston to a glorious lobster-laden lunch in Kennebunkport, Maine. This was my first time participating and it was superb.
It took me a minute to find my way into the world of automotive press associations, but I’ve discovered clues about it over the years. Reading Dan Neil’s column in the Wall Street Journal, I’d be left mystified at his casual mention of a new Ferrari being delivered to his driveway. I’m sorry, what??
Car and Driver, my most favorite of rags, was another purveyor of such details. Never was there any mention of exactly how these folks managed to get their hands on the coveted “press loaner”. But after much investigation, I discovered NEMPA and without doubt, this is the way.
Departing In Darkness
Membership in hand, I headed to Brookline, Mass. for my first event with the NEMPA folk. I should note, attendance entailed a 4 AM departure from the wilds of Maine to make it in time, which was met with concerned looks from my family.
As in, surely you jest? I do not, and as any of my fellow gearheads can attest, there is no hour too early when the opportunity to drive cool cars and eat lobster is at hand. Special thank you to my dad for his willingness to join me on this a**crack-of-the-morning foray. Because logistics.
The Larz Anderson Museum Is So Choice
First stop, the Larz Anderson Museum, which is a place I’d heard of, but didn’t really know much about. If you’ve ever been to one of the Ford estates out in the Detroit area, that’ll give you a sense of Mr. Anderson’s joint.
A massive campus of rolling hills, outbuildings galore, and an outrageous car collection, this is a destination any car nut must visit at least once. During my visit, the main exhibit hall was focused on JDM vehicles, each one of them a stunner. But gathered outside were the stars of the show.
A Tongue-Lolling Affair
In total, there were 30 cars, almost all new, from 20 manufacturers. The Tacoma TRD Pro, a WRX tS, a big Navigator, the Ioniq 5 N, Civic Si, many Genesises, and a swanky LC500 droptop. Pour moi, it was the M5 Touring, CT5-V Blackwing, and GR Corolla that had my tongue lolling like that old-timey cartoon wolf.
Because the opportunity to drive one of these rides was as simple as pulling a key out of a hat. Or a bucket, as it were. The point is, a totally random key draw was the, um, key to getting behind the wheel of something potentially outrageous.
Love That Miata
So I had to laugh when I drew the Miata. Not because there’s something wrong with Mazda’s little roadster. Quite the contrary in fact. Just a few months ago, I drove a Miata for the first time and nearly soiled myself over how much fun I had ripping it through the deserts outside Las Vegas.
You can read my poetic waxing about said trip here. The laughter was due to the fact that until that adventure in Vegas, I found it crazy that I’d never driven this most iconic of affordable sports cars and here I was, less than 6 months later, driving another one.
As we pulled out of Mr. Anderson’s estate, the sky was looking…iffy, and it had recently showered. So I elected to keep the top up. This worked out as it later let loose and though I was in the right type of car for an event called the Ragtop Ramble, there would be no al fresco enjoyment.
From here, we all headed to the I-95 rest area on the border of Massachusetts and New Hampshire after some mildly incorrect wrong turns, on my end that is. I will say that as kickass a car as the modern Miata is, driving it on the highway with the top closed during heavy rains is, perhaps, not the best way to enjoy its wonders. Next time Miata, next time.
California Special
Arriving at the pit stop, the next step involved horse-trading of car keys. Though I did not secure access to one of my top 3, I did get a hold of a new Mustang GT California Special, which made me happy as a longtime Ford guy. Comically, it too was a convertible and though the rain held off in the parking lot, it absolutely unleashed on the drive to Maine.
So although I secured two actual ragtops for this ramble, I was foiled from fully enjoying their wiles. Which may sound like whining. It is not. I am fully aware of how fortunate I was to take part in this NEMPA event and was so overloaded with glee that the rain caused me exactly zero stress.
Good Times At The Ragtop Ramble
The day ended at the Colony Hotel in Kennebunkport, a swanky spot overlooking the Atlantic. Lunch was top shelf with lobsters galore and a bonanza of blueberry pies to cap the Maine-tastic vibe. But for me, the highlight was all the interesting people I had the chance to meet.
PR folks from the OEMs, the NEMPA crew orchestrating this amazing affair, and a long list of fellow NEMPA members. A big thank you to everyone involved in putting the 2025 Ragtop Ramble together. It was memorable and I’m already looking forward to next year!
Photo and Video Credits: NEMPA