Southwest Star Magazine 2014 2nd quarter

.

The Southwest Star COVERING THE SOUTHWEST REGION OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ CLUB OF AMERICA VOLUME 2, NUMBER 2

A new sportscar from AMG The ML63 A 1.2 million mile member’s car Mercedes-Benz at a Porsche Rally The A-Class

F1 Coverage Orange County in Death Valley  Tubac Collector Car Show Chaparral at Tanque Valley Guest Ranch  San Diego’s marathon La Jolla Concours

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The Regional Director’s Corner Communiqués from the section presidents The new AMG Sportscar

11 14 - 22

26 34

San Diego Section’s Meet a Member

38

ML63 AMG

39

A 1.2 million mile member car

The F1 Report

40

When Mercedes-Benz quit F1

44

Orange County Section in Death Valley

49

Chaparral at the Tubac Collector Car Show

52

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55 San Diego puts on an event marathon 58 Mercedes-Benz brings it’s A-Game 65 Desert Star’s new president 73 Chaparral at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch

Desert Star’s Poker Run

77

82 San Diego at the La Jolla Concours 86 Mercedes-Benz at a Porsche Rally again 87 Orange County at The Petersen 93 Upcoming Events 98 Desert Stars Car Show

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The Southwest Star Covering the Southwest Region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America June 2014 Editor-In-Chief

Marcus Blair Fitzhugh



Managing Editor

VeeAnn Hegreberg



Creative Director

Karcy Bowles

Contributors Mercedes-Benz USA, Steve Ross, Peter Samaha, Mike Zonnefeld, Bud Cloninger, Debbie Ichiyama, Tommy Alvarado, John McCully, Paul Bergstrom, Lynn Hern, Joslyn Salisbury, Michael Cooper, Roz Bergstrom, Chris Bingham, Geoff Bolt, Harman and Susan Cadis, Dee Cloninger, Matthew Crawford, Mike “Coop” Cooper, Lynn Davison, Laura Dykstra, Kevin Ehrlich, Fred Finney, Ann Geskes, Allen Goodloe, Bob Gunthorp, Debbie Ichiyama, Mark Ichiyama, Carlos E. Muñoz, Chris Murray, Carole Osselaer-Seiver, John & Roberta Phin, Fran Schoenfeld, Rich Schulte, Dick Sharp, Brigitte Sutherly, Lana Tbilisi, Jerry Tucker, Michael Turner, Tina Wright, Kevin Wright, Bob Yoder, and probably 14 other people we’ve forgotten. We apologize to anyone we’ve left off the list. Please send us a note and we’ll correct it.

Southwest Region President - Steve Ross Channel Islands Section President – Peter Samaha mbcachannelislands.org ◊ Ventura-Santa Barbara Counties, California Chaparral Section , President - Mike Zonnefeld www.tucsonsmercedesclub.org ◊ Tucson, Arizona Desert Stars Section President – Debbie Ichiyama desertstars.mbca.org ◊ Phoenix, Arizona Las Vegas Section President - Tommy Alvarado www.mbca-lasvegas.org Las Vegas, Nevada Long Beach - South Bay President John McCully www.mbcalb-sb.com ◊ Long Beach and the South Bay area of Los Angeles County, California Los Angeles Section President - Paul Bergstrom www.la-mbca.com ◊ Los Angeles, California Orange County Section President – Joslyn Salisbury www.mboc.info ◊ Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Orange, CA. San Diego Section President - Michael Cooper sandiego.mbca.org ◊ San Diego, California The Southwest Star Magazine is published quarterly by Fitzhugh Media and we welcome all contributions. Any and all items submitted to The Southwest Star Magazine will become the sole property of The Southwest Star Magazine and are subject, but not limited to editing, comments, and titles.

The Southwest Star Magazine is a trademark of Fitzhugh Media. All rights reserved. This magazine may not be reproduced in part or in full - in print, by digital media, broadcast, or in any other manner without the express written permission of Fitzhugh Media. That said, permission is regularly given, so please, just ask first.

The publishers of The Southwest Star Magazine believe the content of the magazine to be reliable and correct at the time of publication. We do our best but no representation is made as to the accuracy hereof as this magazine is subject to errors and omissions. With that in mind, neither the publishers nor contributors can be held responsible for any effects arising from the content of The Southwest Star Magazine. This may include but is not limited to excessive time spent tinkering with, admiring, discussing, or dolling out money on Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The views expressed in The Southwest Star Magazine are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of the publisher. Advertising is accepted with the understanding that it is accurate and does not contravene the Trade Practices Act. Inclusion of an advertisement should not be construed as an endorsement by The Southwest Star Magazine, the publishers or contributors.

The Southwest Star Magazine is independent of Mercedes-Benz, Daimler AG, its subsidiaries, the Mercedes-Benz Club of America, all individual MBCA regions and the associated sections. Neither Fitzhugh Media nor The Southwest Star Magazine is responsible for any claims made by its advertisers or partners. In addition, neither Fitzhugh Media nor The Southwest Star Magazine is responsible for injuries, losses, or damages, to property or self.

All that said, feel free to contact Fitzhugh Media at Info@FitzhughMedia.com

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From the editor’s desk

S

ixteen.

Remember back then?

For some, it wasn’t that long ago, for others it’s been a

while. At that age, most of us wanted a car. A car meant freedom and it was a major step

toward adulthood. Those of us with clear memories will remember there were limitations as to what kind of car we could get.

It’s probably safe to say that sixteen year old, Ariel Winter, who plays Alex Dunphy on ABC's Modern Family, has fewer restrictions.

Modern Family is

one of the highest ranking shows on television, and its child actors earn between $80K and $100K per episode. There are 24 episodes per season and this is season six.

According to my calculator, Ariel

could pretty much buy anything her heart desires.

Ariel said she wanted something nice, but also something responsible and safe.

Using those

guidelines, she bummed a ride to Keys European in Van Nuys California and bought herself a new C350.

Think about it. Of all the cars in the world, someone who’s young, hip, and earns a couple of mil per year chose a C350. “Why a C?” Well, let’s look at what she wanted.

Ariel said she wanted something “nice”. Looks are subjective, but most find the C attractive.

Aesthetically,

it

has

the

right

combination

of

athleticism,

sophistication,

and

luxury.

Nevertheless, “nice” is much more than looks. Fortunately, the folks at Mercedes-Benz know

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this.

The C has amenities that would make it the flagship for many other marques.

The

Mercedes-Benz new car design process is one where every element is closely examined in a search for perfection.

This perfection may be elusive, but Mercedes-Benz has a firm grip on

nice.

Ariel also said she wanted something responsible. Responsible is another relative term, but let’s consider the opposite.

Envision a neighbor whose teenaged son buys a car.

It’s got a loud

exhaust, a paint job that belongs in a circus, and a stereo so loud that it causes the water in your swimming pool to ripple. In addition, for some reason he occasionally parks it on the street in front of your house. That makes what Ariel wanted a bit clearer; something that she could park in her neighborhood without getting “the look”.

Lastly she wanted a safe car. The C has eleven air bags, attention assist, NECK-PRO front head restraints, emergency tensioning devices coupled with seat belt force limiters, adaptive braking, ESP, blind spot assist, lane keeping assist, adaptive high beams, a sport tuned suspension, world class brakes and several other features that allow everyone on the planet to agree that it’s safe.

I think that makes it clear “why” she bought a C. It is the best car for the job. The C is nice, responsible, and safe.

Congratulations Ariel. Many of us feel you made a fantastic choice in choosing your first car. I hope my neighbor’s kids are just as wise. And if not, I hope the little geniuses graduate high school early and move away to college. Very far away.

Marcus Blair Fitzhugh

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The Regional Director’s Corner

Floyd and Evie Burgess

T

he San Diego Section lost a valued member of our Club and a good friend with the passing of Floyd Burgess. Floyd and Evie joined the MBCA and our Section in 1975 and have been

active for all of those nearly forty years. Floyd was a positive, happy guy who was always there to help out in any capacity. He was a fierce competitor and drove his Mercedes-Benz in the manner for which it was designed. He could flog a diesel around the track with the best of the gas Mercedes-Benz and when he graduated to the gas powered cars, watch out. Floyd and Evie were masters at road rallyes and at gymkhanas, and it was a rare occasion when they were not awarded a trophy. Floyd served on the board of our Section in various positions and was our president for three years.

It didn't matter to Floyd

whether or not he was on the board; he was always there to lend a hand. Floyd was a very outgoing and personable and one did not remain a stranger to Floyd for very long. Probably the high point of Floyd's Mercedes-Benz Club experience was when he won a brand new 2003 CLK Convertible in the Club raffle. Yes, the car was red!

Floyd served for thirty years in the United States Marine Corps and was a veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Floyd's three loves in life, in my opinion, were his family, the Marine Corps and Mercedes-Benz. The MBCA lost a dear friend and supporter and Floyd will be deeply missed by all of those who knew him.

Evie is still a club member and we expect to see her in our

upcoming events.

Steve Ross

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Best of the Best Dealer

Complete Custom Detail Regular $175.00 For MBCA Club Members $129.00 **Plus FREE loan car for the day.

(Must present this coupon)

10% Discount On Parts and Labor To MBCA Members (Must present Club membership card while making service appointment)

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The Desert Stars Section’s President’s Desk

By Debbie Ichiyama

T

his is my first message as President of the Desert Stars Section of MBCA. It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve as Vice President this past year and I could not have asked fora better mentor than our out-going President, Bud Cloninger. I am humbled by

the confidence he has in me and I hope I can live up to his expectations.

Our section membership is now over 430 members, but we still have many challenges in continuing to attract new members and finding volunteers to be involved with the activities and to keep the club growing. In the coming summer months, we will be having a number of weekend events and Star Night restaurant outings, so check the events schedule in this newsletter and also visit us online at www.desertstars.mbca.org and on our Facebook page DesertStarsMBCA. If you are interested in helping with any events please feel free to contact me directly. We have a great team and a great club. The next year promises to have a lot of fun activities. I appreciate the opportunity to serve as your President and I hope to see you on the road sometime!

New Star Dust Section Members, “Welcome!”

Bill Burgess, Bob De Kruyff, Connie Seeker, Daniel Wood, David Schaeffer, Dieter Schmidt, Elliott Gartner, Elliott Schmerler, Grant Crane, Iris Dershowitz, James P Lesniak, Joe Szeles, John Cary, Judy Chang, Kai Sun, Kevin Walsh, Kim Kunasek, Martin Nairn, Mary Peterson, Michael Jew, Miles McCormack, Paul Nyholm, Ramesh Subramanian, and Wade Wakefield

More Than a Car | We’re a Community

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T

The Los Angeles Section President’s desk his year is moving at such a good pace. I hope you all have enough free time to enjoy this fine weather we’re having in the Los Angeles area

If you joined us for the April 6th event, both you and I had a wonderful time. That event, called High Rent District Car Rally, was a big success thanks to Howard and Betty Green who designed this wonderful Rally. Afterwards the group finished up at a restaurant where the winners were announced. There was a great showing of club members and everyone enjoyed the day. Thank you for your support.

It’s time to look at your calendar schedule for the month of June and mark the date for the next event.

This will be our mid-summer club BBQ hosted by Amir and Mindy Rydan at their

residence. Please RSVP as soon as you know your schedule. This event will be a fun day with you club friends.

Following that, our next calendar event will be in August on the 22nd. This will be our Hollywood Bowl Summer evening concert, celebrating with music from the Beatles - 50 years after their first appearance at the Bowl. We have tickets for 30 guests. This will be a popular event so please reserve your tickets ASAP. For October, we’re planning a trip to the Mullen Museum.

That activity will take place on

October 25th. We have reserved 30 tickets for this up close and personal look at the museum.

We will round out the club year with our holiday party.

For all the latest updates and club information, please check our website.

If you have any questions or ideas for future events, you can always contact me.

There is always room for those of you who want to get more involved with your LA Section.

Please, just give me a call.

I look forward to seeing at the events Have a fun summer and safe driving

Paul Bergstrom President Mercedes Benz Club Los Angeles Section

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The Orange County Sections’s President’s Desk

M

y first and foremost new responsibility is to extend a most sincere thank you to our past president Lynn Hern for his consistent leadership and guidance of our club section.

He and his wife, Shirley, have certainly been a "back bone" of the club, having held

many different positions (and some-times two at the same time!) over the years. Lynn has forged and held a friendly relationship with many of our local MB dealers, and he has al-ways represented our section with pride at any MB function he and Shirley attended. It's a tough act to follow!!

However, I am fortunate to have a wonderful and experienced Executive Board to work with.

With their assistance, we will continue to offer open board meetings, casual

dinners, (easy?) rallies and interesting car events that are local and more that are a joining occasion with other sections.

We are always open to and welcome any new ideas and suggestions that will enhance our appreciation and pleasure in driving our cars...but I truly believe it is the members who are the most important factor for our club!

Safe driving,

Jocelyn Salisbury We welcome our newest Orange County Section members – Chris Contes  Andrew Do  Lisa Gordon  Sanford Hillsberg Tom Oliver  Ron Probert  Josh Williams

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From the Desk of The San Diego Section President

By Michael Cooper

H

ello San Diego Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts!

I’d like to start off again by thanking all

those that attended the April events. It was a month packed with activities to be sure!

Going forward, it looks like the next few months will be filled with even more fun

activities. If you are an inactive member of the Club, I would urge to participate in some of the upcoming events during the next few months. Meet the board, meet other members, and meet folks with similar Mercedes-Benz interests.

I guarantee you’ll have fun and gain a few new

friends along the way.

And now for the serious stuff… I thought I would share with you folks some of the agenda items that the board has been discussing.

Topics have been: Generating membership, activity and

event participation, member retention, what do members want (and or) expect from the Club, what does the future hold for the Club, new event ideas, member outreach, events with other clubs, and events with other sections. As you can see we have a lot on our plate. Ultimately it all comes down to trying to make everybody happy. In the future we will be reaching out to our members for your thoughts and input.

So, until next time… Enjoy all that San Diego has to offer. Take the time to reach out and shake the hand of another Mercedes-Benz owner. Go on line and visit our website for the extended version of this newsletter. And by all means get out and drive that Mercedes-Benz!

Michael Cooper President

New San Diego Section MBCA Members Bruce Babcock



Gordon Davies



Adam Scholes



Chuck Spielman



Francisco Ulloa

A hearty welcome to all our new members.

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The President’s Desk

T

op down, wind in the car, spring driving is here! Our club is thriving and we have some wonderful events for this year, thanks to the efforts of your board.

Driving events! Driving and eating events!

Fun judging events! Overnight events, there is

something for everyone to fit their schedule and budget.

Check the web site for the details.

Come join your Mercedes-Benz loving friends at one of the exciting events.

Our section continues to thrive with 108 members. Thanks to a wonderful newsletter, one of the best in the country, and a continuing effort to put together exciting events, Chaparral Section is in good shape.

Our web site is improved and streamlined giving more information for our

members.

Big news this quarter is a discount at Mercedes-Benz of Tucson for MBCA and Chaparral Section members.

It has been a long time in coming, but carefully thought out and prepared by

Mercedes-Benz of Tucson. I believe you will find it a great benefit for your MBCA membership.

Details will be published on the website later this month and in the next quarterly newsletter.

Remember too that you are also welcome to attend of the board meetings held at MercedesBenz of Tucson the second Thursday of each month at 5:00 PM. We look forward to your input as to how we can further improve our section.

Keep your driving safe and enjoy your own Mercedes-Benz safely this summer!

For the Chaparral Section, MBCA

Mike Zonnefeld President

New Chaparral Section Members

Charles Rogers, Hal Biestek, Denny Eggiman, and Janine Leatherman

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Why do you care about the new 9G-TRONIC?

by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh

I

t’s a fair question. Most of us aren’t engineers. We simply put the gearshift in drive and step on the pedal to the right. Dual oil pumps, planetary gear sets, twin-turbine torsional dampers, centrifugal pendulum technology - I’m sure it’s all wonderful, but I’m not the

proper audience. I think would it be safe to say “most of us don’t care about whatever any of that is.”

Here’s why we, the average owners, care about the new 9G: This transmission will make our new Mercedes-Benz more efficient.

It will get better fuel

economy. It won’t save enough money to buy a private jet, but we’ll take it nonetheless.

It will make our new Mercedes accelerate faster. And I do like fast. If you’re not enamored with fast, you may not have been properly introduced. After you’ve gone on a few dates with fast, you will probably change your mind.

Less NVH. NVH is noise, vibration and harshness. I believe I speak for all of us when I say “We don’t want to hear any ‘noise’ from our transmission. We don’t want to feel any vibration from the transmission. And whatever harshness translates to, we don’t want any of that either.” So yeah, less NVH is good.

It is reliable. “Refrigerator-like” reliable. When I put something in the fridge, I don’t wonder if it’s going to be cold later on. I know it is going to be cold. Period. End of story. THAT is how I want my transmission to perform.

Mercedes-Benz is one of the few auto manufacturers that

design and build their own transmissions. They’ve been building them since 1961 and they say this is the best.

I’ve never had a Mercedes-Benz transmission self-destruct.

If the new

transmission does a better job than what I’ve already experienced, I’ll probably be satisfied..

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Something wicked

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this way comes

by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh

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Y

ou know that all-new Mercedes-Benz sports car we keep saying we’re not going to talk about? The one code named C190? Well, we’re still not going to print anything to get our press credentials yanked, but we will say a little more than we have previously.

Yes, there are photos making the rounds that may, or may not be, the all new Mercedes AMG GT – a couple are in this article. One thing is fairly certain; the new Mercedes-Benz won’t make its world premiere until we go to press again in the fall. In addition, although it’s being referred to as the Mercedes-AMG GT, The new C190 is a “sports car”, and there is a difference.

What’s the difference?

GT stands for grand touring, or as the Italians say, a gran turismo.

Although some manufacturers have a GT option for every model, a GT is really

a

coupe. distance

high

performance-luxury

A car that’s capable of long high

speed

road

trips.

Assuming no one gets arrested in transit, it’s the kind of car where four people could comfortably travel from Beverly Hills to Palm Springs in less than 90 minutes. An S Class Coupe is a good example - fast, powerful, and ultra-luxurious. Sports cars are typically more nimble and light weight.

In addition to being much more agile, the only thing

“sitting” in back of a sports car is luggage. And it’s best if the luggage is firmly secured.

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"The new Mercedes-AMG GT shows that we will be positioning AMG more vehemently and aggressively than to date as a dynamic sports car brand. The technological substance of the Mercedes-AMG GT underscores our high aspirations with regard to driving dynamics, agility and sportiness. Following the global success of the SLS AMG, the new GT is the second sports car developed fully independently by Mercedes-AMG. An initial exclusive look at the design of the interior shows what is in store for our customers: a GT sports car in its purest form."

- Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH Over the past few issues, we’ve talked about the C190 and shown blurry European spy shots. At this point you may be weary of the wait. Well, as much as we’d like to show you a full set of photos, we can’t. Mercedes-Benz hasn’t given anyone the go ahead and we need permission to for that. However, they have told us we can share some details on the interior.

The interior is stunning. As soon as the driver’s door opens, the dash seizes center stage. The dash is divided into distinctive upper and lower sections. The dash in the photos has its upper section primarily covered in black leather with contrasting red stitching and a lower section in red. The contrast stitching theme also flows through the lower doors and the seats.

Once in the driver’s seat, we’re presented with a leather and alcantara three spoke sport steering wheel. The steering wheel spokes and rim are similar in shape to the SLS wheel, but this new wheel has a unique horn/airbag center section and the multifunction features have been upgraded. The wheel also has paddle shifters, but in sporting fashion the gear selector is in the center console.

The gauge cluster has a speedometer on the left, a tach on the right, and a TFT display inbetween. To the right of the gauge cluster is a recessed area in the dash which houses a display monitor.

Below the monitor is a quartet of circular aviation themed vents with polished

aluminum outer trim rings.

The vents are mounted in a carbon fiber housing with individual

control knobs for the left and right pairs of vents.

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The leather covered center console flows from beneath the vents to the rear of the interior. In that console are the various controls that used to be mounted vertically in the dash of the SLS. In similar fashion to the new S-Class, the entertainment system, heating, and AC controls have all been completely revamped.

Being mounted low and to the side, the new controls are all

mounted in such a way that they are used in a more natural position. In the old configuration, there were times when the driver had to reach forward and adjust vertically mounted switches.

Now the controls are more similar to the way we use a PC. When we type on a PC, the palms of our hands are horizontal and our face is looking forward. The same is true in the new C190, our palms are flat and our face is looking forward.

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The console section that houses the various controls is made of composite material on the outer areas with a carbon fiber center.

The outer area contains six buttons and two rotary knobs.

These control transmission shift settings, exhaust tone, suspension, the Keyless-Go engine stop/start button, and a few things we’ll discuss at a later date. The center section is recessed and has the automatic transmission gear selector, the new touchpad with haptic feedback, a rotary audio controller and a storage tray.

At the far end of the center section are the dual

HAVC controls.

The new switchgear makes use of high quality aluminum, carbon fiber, composites and voice activated technology in a completely reconfigured environment. We expected high end materials with assorted improvements, but this is a serious upgrade.

Even still, this is just the tip of the iceberg. When given the OK, we’re going to show you the entire package; drivetrain, suspension, and a body that will make your checkbook tingle.

In addition, this new sports car is supposed to be “more affordable”. The new Mercedes-Benz sports car is coming in as the SLS production is coming to a halt. released as SLR production was stopping.

Similarly, the SLS was

At $200K, the SLS was more affordable than the

$450K SLR. Looking at the downward trajectory, this new sports car may be very affordable.

Stay tuned. The best is yet to come.

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The San Diego Section’s Meet a Member

S

omething new for our newsletter! “Meet a Member” will help everyone learn a little about fellow San Diego Section Mercedes-Benz Club of America members.

This month: Meet

Brian and Diana Kruse.

Brian joined the Club back in 1986 after purchasing his 1961 190SL. Brian met me, Diana, in 1997 while we were at the Balboa Park dog park and in 1998 we got married.

Brian’s

best

man

was

his

dog,

George

and

the

bridesmaids were my greyhounds, Nikki and Madison. So we became one big happy family.

We love our dogs and try to take them with us on vacations whenever we can. Right now we have 2 greyhounds, Lance who is 6 and Roxy who is 2 ½ and a pit mix, Lucy who just turned 11. We adopt all of our greyhounds from Operation Greyhound in El Cajon.

Brian was born in Chicago and came to San Diego when he was 3 and I am a native San Diegan. We live in Talmadge in the house Brian’s parents purchased when they moved out here. Talmadge is just east of Kensington and west of San Diego State University and is very central to everything in San Diego. It’s a great, friendly neighborhood.

Brian retired after working for the County of San Diego for 32 years where he worked as a Traffic Engineer. I have worked for Jack in the Box for a total of 13 years and am currently in the Corporate Accounting Department.

We still have the 1961 190SL and also have a red 2000 500SL, a white 2001 E320station wagon (the dog’s car!) and a 2011 Camaro that is custom painted purple, my favorite color! We are also members of the Camaro Club of San Diego and enjoy participating in both club’s events.

We like to travel and really enjoying taking cruises. We have cruised to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, Alaska and the Hawaiian islands.

Page 34 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

The ML63 AMG

B

by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh Photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz USA

ecause a 400+ horsepower SUV with the off-road agility of a squirrel and S-Class comfort

wasn’t enough, Mercedes-Benz shuffled the deck and gave us the ML63 AMG.

The

ML63 AMG is the third generation of high-performance MLs from AMG. Compared to its

predecessor, the ML63 AMG offers more power and better fuel efficiency.

The ML63 has a direct-injected 5.5-liter twin turbo V8 that generates 518 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. For those that demand more, the AMG Performance package increases horsepower to 550 and torque to 560 pound-feet. In either configuration, the ML63 gets 30% better fuel economy than the prior generation ML55.

The ML63’s power is routed from the engine, through

an

transmission, system. matched

AMG to

seven

a

speed

4MATIC

automatic

all-wheel

drive

This AMG seven-speed performs revdownshifts,

has

aluminum

paddle

shifters and three drive modes are standard (Normal, Sport & Manual). This drivetrain allows

Page 35 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

the ML63 AMG to accelerate from zero to sixty in 4.7 seconds. That is serious acceleration for any sized vehicle, let alone an SUV. Although the ML63 is a fully capable off road vehicle, most of us will use these on paved city streets. In this environment, the ride quality is more luxury sedan than off road vehicle. This is due to the standard air suspension with automatic leveling, adaptive damping and active roll stabilization.

Twenty-inch wheels are standard and twenty-one inch wheels are optional.

On

some SUVs, turning twenty-one inch wheels is a workout. The ML63 makes this much easier with its AMG speed sensitive sports steering. This system adds steering assist based on vehicle speed, and saves fuel by only consuming energy when the driver actually turns the steering wheel.

Outwardly, the front features bi-xenon adaptive headlights and an aggressive fascia with a large Mercedes star. The nose flows into fenders that are 10mm wider to accommodate the larger AMG wheels. Side skirts run lengthwise to the rear, where a black diffuser and quad exhausts round out the exterior design.

The interior centerpiece is a COMAND hard-drive navigation system with a high resolution 7-inch LCD display. The COMAND doubles as the entertainment system with an abundance of interfaces including a 20 CD capacity DVD player, 80 GB hard drive, Bluetooth for hands free phone and music streaming, and a port for USB/iPod/MP3 connectivity. The premium digital sound system has an 830 watt, 13 speaker harman/kardon LOGIC7ÂŽ surround-sound system. With that much clear power available, you

Page 36 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

can ignore any advice about “aftermarket hi fi upgrades”. The entertainment is enjoyed from electronically adjustable AMG sports seats that offer heating, cooling, and lumbar support. The standard hand fitted leather upholstery has contrasting double topstitching and AMG badges in the backrests of the front seats and the outer rear seats. The driver is presented with a four spoke AMG steering wheel with the aforementioned aluminum shift paddles and a flat bottom rim. In addition, the driver has a full suite of electronics assistants, including attention assist, pre-collision avoidance, blind-spot detection, lane departure warning, brake assist and parking assist.

These assistants do everything except hand you an espresso.

The remainder of the

interior is rounded out with automatic multi-zone climate control and high end materials featuring aluminum and piano-lacquer wood trim.

The only thing the ML doesn’t come equipped with is a road trip. That’s easily corrected though. Just toss in a couple of overnight bags and make a run to the bay area. If the speeds are kept below “arrest me now” levels and the hi-fi if adjusted to where the occupants aren’t deafened, it should be a pleasant trip. While you’re there, it might be worthwhile to drop in on a Northern California MBCA section event.

Page 37 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Eurotopia was launched in November of 2012 in Santa Monica, California.

It all began when a

couple of driving enthusiasts came together looking to share a drive through some of California's most scenic roads. Since these humble beginnings, we've held monthly events and continue to do so to this day. Today, Eurotopia is one of the fastest growing driving enthusiast groups in Southern California with 700 registered users. We have branched out to include more events like car rallies, shows, track days, go karting and more.

Why should you consider attending Eurotopia events? If you live in Southern California, enjoy driving events, and the company of like-minded enthusiasts, then the real question is “Why haven’t you attended a Eurotopia event?” The upcoming events are listed below.

Register now on www.eurotopian.com and receive future event notifications

The May through August Event Schedule May 17 Malibu – SD Rally June 14 Cook's Corner Drive June 22 Angeles Crest Drive July 20 Supercar Sunday August 9 Autoclub Speedway August 31 Big SoCal Euro Gathering

Page 38 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

MBCA Member Cars

T

his is a Los Angeles section member’s 1966 Mercedes 250se. Aside from being almost 50 years old, the car has over two million kilometers on it. That’s 1,283,111 miles. Yes, one point two million miles. The owner, Ben Clopot, has all the books and records since

new, including the window sticker and awards from Mercedes-Benz.

Congratulations Ben.

If you have a special car, we’d like to hear from you – info@fitzhughmedia.com

Page 39 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Mercedes AMG Petronas

F1 Race Report

I

n olden times, people went to the arena to watch gladiators fight. For me, that seems too cruel, too barbaric, and much too bloody. I do understand the concept of following a sport though. Picking someone, or in the case of Formula 1, a team, and watching them in eager

anticipation is beyond words. It’s as they used to say on ABC’s Wide World of Sports “the thrill of victory . . . and the agony of defeat . . . the human drama of athletic competition”. This year, there isn’t much agony for Mercedes-Benz fans. The Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 team is completely dominating the sport.

Mercedes-Benz made its Formula One debut in 1954 and ran a team for two years. Mercedes-Benz won the driver’s championship both years and then withdrew from motor racing as a response to the 1955 Le Mans disaster (which is covered later in this issue). Mercedes-Benz returned to Formula One in 2010 and looks spectacular this year.

The Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team has two cars and two drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. The short story is, the Mercedes AMG Petronas team has won every race this year. Due to engine trouble, Lewis Hamilton was

Page 40 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

unable to complete the opening race, but other than that, Lewis and Nico have finished first and second in every race entered. It’s like the other teams are in a battle for third.

March 16th - Australian Grand Prix The Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team started 2014 with a victory for Nico Rosberg.

Nico began in the third position and leapt to first place right off the line. From there, he led every lap of the race to win by 24 seconds. Teammate Lewis Hamilton was forced to retire his car after two laps due to engine trouble. Nico’s win is the 100th F1 victory for a Mercedes-Benz engine, with the first achieved by Juan Manuel Fangio in 1954.

March 30th - Malaysian Grand Prix In Malaysia, Lewis Hamilton took a lights-to-flag victory and Nico Rosberg finished second, completing the first one-two finish for the Mercedes Silver Arrows since Juan Manuel Fangio and Piero Taruffi at the 1955 Italian Grand Prix.

This was Lewis’ 23rd Formula One career victory and his second for MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS. He took the checkered flag 17 seconds in front of Rosberg and set the fastest lap of the race on

Page 41 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

lap 52.

Lewis’ victory was the 15th for the Silver Arrows in Formula One and the 101st for

Mercedes-Benz power

April 6th - Bahrain Grand Prix The Mercedes Silver Arrows proved they were on a roll by Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg finishing one-two AGAIN. Lewis Hamilton took his 24th Formula One career victory by the narrowest of margins in the Bahrain Grand Prix – eighty eight hundredths of a second. It was a riveting race-long battle with teammate

Nico

Rosberg,

and

the

second consecutive one-two finish for the Silver Arrows.

April 20th - Chinese Grand Prix In a word “ditto”.

Yes, Mercedes AMG Petronas took its third consecutive one-two finish and

fourth consecutive win at the 2014 UBS Chinese Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton took his third victory of the season, with Nico Rosberg finishing in second position.

Lewis drove another lights-to-flag victory to claim his 4th win for the team and the 17th for the Silver Arrows in Formula One. This was Lewis’ 25th career win, equaling Niki Lauda and Jim Clark, and putting him 8th on the all-time list Lewis used a two-stop strategy, stopping on laps 17 and 38. Amazingly, Nico finished second despite the fact that his car suffered a complete telemetry system failure. This left him in a position where his engineers were without data throughout the race.

May 11th - Spanish Grand Prix It’s like the movie Groundhog Day. The plot changed a little, there were background differences but the results were the same. This race marked Lewis Hamilton’s fourth victory of the season with Nico Rosberg finishing just 0.636 seconds behind in second place. Mercedes AMG Petronas took the first one-two finish for a team at the Spanish Grand Prix since 2009. It marked the fourth consecutive one-two finish for the team; a feat last achieved by Mercedes-Benz in 1955.

Page 42 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

May 25th - Monaco Grand Prix At Monaco, Nico and Lewis took a dramatic one-two finish. Nico took his second consecutive Monaco Grand Prix victory and is the first person to lead every lap of consecutive Monaco GP races since Ayrton Senna. Lewis finished second, making this the fifth consecutive one-two finish of the season for Mercedes AMG Petronas. In the 65 year history of Formula One, this feat has only been accomplished two other times.

Both drivers executed one-stop strategies, pitting behind the Safety Car on lap 26, and retaining the two leading positions.

Six of the nineteen races have been completed.

Mercedes AMG Petronas leads the 2014

Formula One Constructors Championship with 240 points. Infiniti Red Bull Racing is second with 99 points and Ferrari is third with 78. Nico leads the Driver’s Championship with 122 points and Lewis Hamilton is right behind him with 118. Fernando Alonso of Ferrari is a distant third at 61 points. There is still a lot of racing ahead, but Mercedes AMG Petronas is looking very good at this point.

Page 43 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh

When Mercedes-Benz Stopped Racing The Worst Accident in the History of Motorsports

M

ercedes-Benz has a long history in Motorsports. For Mercedes-Benz Motorsports, the 1955 season was both the best of times and the worst of times. 1955 was the year Mercedes-Benz introduced the 300 SLR and they hired Pierre Levegh as a factory

driver for that season.

Many people confuse the 300 SLR with the 300 SL Gullwing.

The 300 SL Gullwing was

introduced in 1954, had gullwing style doors, and was the fastest production car available.

Aside from the doors, it was scientifically superior to its contemporary rivals. For example, it was the first gasoline powered car with direct injection. By "direct injection", I mean the same thing that some people tout as "new technology" today – when gasoline is injected directly into the combustion chamber. The 300 SLR was a different beast. The two cars shared the first two letters of their names; SL, which stood for Sport Leicht (Sport Light). However, the "R" in SLR stood for Rennen, which is "Race" in English. The 300 SLR was not a production car. It was built to compete in the 1955 World Sportscar Championship, which it eventually won that year.

Like the 300 SL Gullwing, the SLR had a number of technological innovations. The 300 SLR had a magnesium alloy body. The lightweight body material helped lowered the car's weight to less than 2000 pounds. The car had a front, mid-engine design. In that design, the engine is placed in front of the driver, but behind the front axles. The engine was a straight-eight that was

Page 44 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

based on the Mercedes-Benz Formula One engine. In Formula One, the engine produced 290 HP. In the 300 SLR, it produced 310 HP. One downside to the vehicle was its braking system. It had inboard drum brakes.

To supplement the drum brakes, it was also equipped with "air

brakes". The air brakes used on the 300 SLR worked similarly to that of a parachute. The 300 SLR had a large hood that opened behind the driver. It was used to slow the car down at the end of the fast straights.

In the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, Pierre Levegh began as the driver for the #20 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR factory car. American John Fitch was assigned as Levegh's co-driver. Shortly after the two-hour mark, at 6:26 pm local time, Levegh was following a Jaguar D-type. The D-type was the race leader at the time, and had passed a slower Austin-Healey 100 along the straight that led to the pits. The driver of the Jaguar D-type jumped on the brakes to slow the car so he

Page 45 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Silver Arrows in Silver Jaguar in Green Austin Healy in Bule

PITS

could enter the pits. The Jaguar D-type was equipped with disc brakes and slowed down much quicker than the Austin-Healey 100 could, so the Austin-Healey driver swerved to the center of the track, as he attempted to get by the Jaguar.

The Austin-Healey driver hadn't noticed the two much faster moving 300 SLRs that were rapidly approaching. The driver of the first of the two SLRs didn't have time to react and he ran into the rear of the Austin-Healey. The Austin-Healey had an aerodynamic tail section that featured

long, ramp-like rear bodywork. When the 300 SLR hit the Austin-Healey from behind, the SLR became airborne. It flew towards the left side of the track, where it hit a mound of dirt that was there to protect spectators.

The 300 SLR struck the mound, ricocheted, and began to

somersault. While cart wheeling it shot damaged parts such as the hood, front axle, and engine

Page 46 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

block into the crowd. The driver, Pierre Levegh was thrown free of the wreckage, but suffered a fatal head injury when he landed.

What was left of the main chassis continued to somersault.

The fuel tank ruptured, and the

magnesium bodywork burst into flames. The white hot burning magnesium shot cinders onto both the track and into the crowd. Rescue workers attempted to put out the burning wreckage with water. Water should never be used on a magnesium fire, and this increased the intensity of the blaze. The car literally burned for hours. Surprisingly, the race was not halted.

Later in the night, the death toll was confirmed, and the story was relayed back to MercedesBenz headquarters in Stuttgart. All told, the driver and 84 spectators were killed. On top of that, 100 people were injured. Mercedes-Benz gave an official order for the two remaining 300 SLRs to immediately withdraw from the race. At the time that they withdrew, Mercedes-Benz was leading the race by a lap over Jaguar.

Jaguar pressed on and eventually won the race. There was no celebration on the podium, and funeral services were held the next day.

Page 47 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

An official inquiry was held, and it was ruled that neither the racing teams nor their drivers were responsible for the crash. The most horrific disaster in the history of motorsports was found to be a "racing accident". The spectator deaths were blamed on inadequate safety standards in the track design.

This led to a ban on motorsports in France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and

several other nations until the tracks could be upgraded to higher safety standards.

Although delayed, the rest of the 1955 World Sportscar Championship season was completed.

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLRs won both of the remaining events, and Mercedes-Benz won the constructors championship for the 1955 season.

After winning the last major race of the 1955 season, Mercedes-Benz announced that they would no longer participate in factory sponsored motorsports.

This self-imposed ban lasted four

decades.

In 1955, their final year of factory participation, Mercedes-Benz won the 

Formula One World Championship



The constructors' crown in the sports car category.



The European Touring Car Championship



The Sports Car Championships of both Italy and the United States.

Page 48 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

The Orange County Section At Death Valley National Park

By Laura Dykstra

M

arch 28th through the 30th, a group of members visited Death Valley National Park and stayed Friday and Saturday nights at Furnace Creek Ranch. There are many activities in the Park. These include Scotty’s Castle, jeep rentals and tours, the Visitor’s Center

with exhibits of Death Valley’s history, the Borax outdoor exhibits of its history and the Artists Drive through beautiful rock formations.

Page 49 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Page 50 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Death Valley is a vast expanse of desert with many different landscapes. At 5,219 square miles it is the largest National Park in the lower 48 States. It is also the lowest point in North America with an elevation of 282 feet below sea level.

We all participated in different activities during Saturday. Below is a photo of some of the group at Scotty’s Castle. The weather was perfect so at the end of the day we got together on the cabin porches enjoying a plethora of appetizers.

We all agreed that we had a enjoyable and

engaging time discovering the beauty of Death Valley and sharing good conversation while visiting with one another.

Whether you have an Extreme Economy Model or an Extreme Luxury Model or something in between, sports or sedan, classic or custom, lease or own, come join the fun at future events while meeting and making new friends - All are welcome!!

Extreme Economy Model - 1DP (Donkey Power)

Extreme Luxury Model - 2014 Mercedes Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive - 738 HP

Page 51 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

The Chaparral Section Visits The Tubac Collector Car Show

O

By Michael Turner

n a crisp and slightly overcast January 25th morning, 17 Chaparral Section members and friends met for a hearty breakfast at the Cow Palace Restaurant in Amado, Arizona.

We were en route to the 20th Annual Collector Car Show presented by the Santa Cruz

Valley Car Nuts.

Preregistrations showed 18 Mercedes-Benz automobiles registered for this

year’s show.

We departed the restaurant at 9:00 AM sharp for the 10 mile caravan to the show site on the driving range of the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa.

As we entered the gateway to the resort, we

paused to allow the caravan to close up. By the time we set out for the last mile to the show, the caravan had grown to 27 vehicles. It was quite an impressive site to see 27 immaculately prepared Mercedes-Benz automobiles arriving in style and winding our way to the show grounds.

The Chaparral Section was well represented in Class 20 – Mercedes-All with 17 members and their Mercedes-Benz automobiles. The Section welcomed another 10 Mercedes-Benz owners and their immaculately prepared vehicles. The total of 27 vehicles was the best turnout of Mercedes Benz automobiles at a Southern Arizona car show in a very long time.

Page 52 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Event Meister Lynn Davison SL500 Silver Arrow

2nd Place – Lynda Bosworth, 1961 190SL RD

st

1 Place – Jim Dretler 2011 SLS AMG

3rd Place - Siegfried Rosenthal 1958 190SL RD

Page 53 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

At The Southwest Star Magazine, we’re always on the lookout for your cars and your events.

For your cars, were covering every model Mercedes-Benz we can find – both new and old. The southwest region is swimming in events - MBCA, joint events with PCA, and now our newest friend of the Benz: Eurotopian. What else can we do to get and keep your attention? Race coverage?

We’ve got it. Mercedes is running away with F1. We’ve also got a friend from SoCal who will cover this year’s 24 hour Nürburgring. Fashion? Lifestyle? Technical articles?

Yes, yes, and yes.

Did I mention the magazine is free?

Page 54 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

The Chaparral Section’s Sweetheart Lunch at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch

by Lynn Davison

A

beautiful spring day in the desert, the backdrop of a guest ranch in the foothills, and an appreciative group finished off the setting for the Chaparral Section’s Sweetheart lunch at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch on Saturday, the 8th of February.

We hadn’t had 43 attendees for an event for a very long time, but this one attracted a crowd.

Many of our friends from other sections in colder, snowy climates were delighted to be there.

With a whole row of dedicated parking for our Mercedes-Benz cars, the photo opportunities were great. Yes, there were a couple of very interesting other makes present as well.

Of course, the excellent food on the buffet line helped with the atmosphere of fun and friendship.

Page 55 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Page 56 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Page 57 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

by Steve Ross

Our eager and happy group of Mercedes-Benz owners met at the Hampton Inn in Santa Clarita California bright and early Saturday morning to begin our tour of the Nethercutt Automobile Museum led by our President and

Tour

Director

Michael

Cooper.

Arriving at the Nethercutt more or less as a group we were met by a docent who gave us an informative tour of the museum. This museum is nothing short of spectacular in every respect.

If you

have not had this experience, I suggest you place it on your list of things to do. The tour began in the four story building which houses the Grand Salon. WOW is all I can say.

Parked in a prominent spot was a 1955 Mercedes-Benz Gullwing; one of the most iconic automobiles ever produced.

The Gullwing is silver (what other color could it be?) and it is

equipped with fitted luggage.

Moving on up the four floors we saw a vast collection of automobile/hood ornaments, some of which cost more than an automobile. The female figure was by far one of the most popular of the pre-war era.

Page 58 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

The fourth floor is referred to as the music room where a collection of vintage Musical machines reside. On the left is the Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ, and on the right is the keyboard. This was one of many such devices to make just about any sort of music one might want.

From the Grand Salon we moved to the second building which houses the "less prominent vehicles", if one could call them that.

The

automobiles here are what most museums strive for.

Here we were greeted by a 1913

Mercedes 37/95 Double-Phaeton--Torpedo.

It

has a 9.6 liter engine that produces 95 HP. It has three overhead valves per cylinder and

could attain 100MPH.

At that time, it was

considered the most powerful production car in the world and cost only $8,000.00 plus.

This Mercedes won first place in the following Concours: Pebble Beach 2001, Concours on Rodeo 2001 and 2007, Palos Verdes 2010 and Dana Point 2011. It has also been awarded the Silver Star Award by Mercedes-Benz.

Page 59 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

On the pedestal sat this 1938 Mercedes-Benz Model 540K Cabriolet A. One of 95 built in 1938.

It has a 5.4L engine rated at 180HP.

The

cost when new was $5,000.00. This beauty was a first place winner at Pebble Beach in 2012.

From the Nethercutt, we moved on to the President Reagan Library in Simi Valley for lunch and the grand tour. We were given a guided tour of the library which included the early life and career of the President and of course his presidency. The highlight for most of us was the tour of Air Force One. It was very interesting to see the accommodations for the President, his staff and media who were invited to accompany the President. It is an engineering marvel to learn how the aircraft was moved up to the site and the building was then built around the air plane.

Page 60 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

The Reagan Library was a wrap for Saturday so we proceeded back to the Hampton for some rest and champagne and plan the evening. After some deliberation it was decided to go next door to the Outback. Next door was actually up a hill and we all made it up and back without incident. During the evening it was decided that vodka was not just for breakfast anymore and Tom Hanks was not really Captain of the U.S. Ship MAERSK.

I guess it was one of those

teachable moments we hear so much about.

Sunday was car museum day, Oh boy! We started off at the Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo. Alas there were no Mercedes-Benz here! Since the owner is a Packard collector this was not surprising.

There was one car of note however. A 1955 Packard Convertible once owned by Howard Hughes was there. He gave the car to the movie star Jean Peters who hated the car and only drove it twice. Maybe this is why it only has 17,000 miles since new.

We adjourned for lunch at the Salt Creek Grill before moving on to the Crevier Classic Cars. They specialize in storing your classic or exotic car as well as selling collectible automobiles. Here we saw a variety of other makes, models and a few very nice Mercedes-Benz.

Page 61 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

We adjourned for lunch at the Salt Creek Grill before moving on to the Crevier Classic Cars. They specialize in storing your classic or exotic car as well as selling collectible automobiles. Here we saw a variety of other makes, models and a few very nice Mercedes-Benz.

I was told that this 190SL has just

completed

a

factory

restoration in Germany. It was definitely

a

top

quality

restoration and looked like an original show room model.

Is

has reportedly been sold to a buyer in Europe for $360,000.

If true this is the most ever paid

for

a

190SL

to

my

knowledge.

This completed our tour and we headed for the barn or garage. It was a fantastic weekend of automobiles, history, fine dining and best of all spending time with great people!

Page 62 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Hats off to Michael Cooper for

putting

this

tour

together and keeping us on schedule with his Contrôle Officiel

Suisse

des

Chronomètres.

Page 63 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Go, California Chrome, Go! Best wishes for the Triple Crown!

Anyone can frame a photo, but commissioning a piece of fine art elevates even an iPhone photo to a heightened level of intensity.

Artist Jane Roberts captures the essence and energy of everything she paints, adding color and dimensionality that bring her subjects to life.

These one of-a-kind pieces become heirlooms that can be enjoyed for generations or simply cherished every day.

Jane helps you celebrate what you love, be it a boat, a pet, or a Triple Crown contender.

Contact the artist at Jane@JaneRobertsArt.com .

View samples at www.JaneRobertsArt.com

Page 64 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Mercedes-Benz brought its A-Game and sales have knocked us off our feet. Over 370,000 customers bought Mercedes-Benz compact cars in 2013

By Marcus Blair Fitzhugh Photos courtesy Mercedes-Benz USA

L

The European Spec A-Class ast year, the Mercedes-Benz introduced the new A-Class at the Geneva Motor Show.

Mercedes-Benz brought a car to the compact segment that was instantly recognizable and raised the bar in both engine efficiency and safety.

"A new Mercedes must take the lead, in technical terms, in every class of vehicle.

Whether we're talking about efficiency, driving dynamics or safety: the new A-Class raises the benchmark significantly. Pure driving enjoyment, plus exemplary efficiency from a technical perspective that is the quintessence of the A-Class."

- Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG "A is for Attack: the A-Class is a clear statement of the new dynamism of the Mercedes-Benz brand. It is completely new, down to the last detail. In automotive development, it's not often you get the chance to start with a clean sheet of paper. Our engineers and designers have made the very most of that opportunity."

Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board, Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars

Page 65 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

The small car segment is utilitarian in nature. It’s a market that’s loaded with "cheap, get the job done at the lowest possible cost" type vehicles. Mercedes’ goal was to redefine the segment and give buyers the option to go upscale with a small vehicle. The A-Class is definitely below the CLA, but nothing about it says “cheap”.

The A features standard Attention Assist, and

available guardians such as Pre-Safe, radar cruise with collision warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot assist, lane-keeping assist, and a rearview camera.

That type of equipment isn’t

ordinarily available in the compact class.

The design changes from the prior A are obvious.

This is a fresh new interpretation of the

classic two-box design.

"Applying the new dynamic style of Mercedes-Benz to the compact class was a challenge that we thoroughly enjoyed. The almost sculptural lines of the A-Class are very typical for Mercedes. The feature lines, particularly along the sides of the car, then give the A-Class structure and tautness."

- Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Mercedes-Benz.

The Interior The interior design complements its sporty exterior.

The A has a high-quality feel about it,

which is unique in this segment. The A-Class’ ambience was achieved both through design and the availability of high-quality materials. One example was a feature in the Concept A-CLASS; there is an option allowing a smartphone to be fully integrated into the operating and display system. A special app makes it possible to use the full functionality of the iPhone.

In due course, Android powered smartphones will have the same capabilities.

The trim surfaces feature an electroplated finish in silver chrome. This gives them a genuine metallic surface with a cool to the touch effect.

Page 66 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

This is just one example of the way in which the quality of the A-Class's interior is not defined by classic trim elements but by consistent design and by the specific materials used. The motto we used when designing the interior was 'pure sportiness, newly interpreted'.

Hartmut Sinkwitz, Head of Interior Design Other visual highlights include the air vents, which look like standard fare in the rest of the Mercedes-Benz lineup, but stand out in the compact car segment. The A's sporty character is also emphasized by the optional sport seat package. There are other vehicles in the compact car segment with sport seat packages, but they tend to be designed for appearance rather than function. The A-Class sport seats feature redesigned bolsters for greater support, dual density foam padding configurations for improved comfort, AND modern styling.

Sport . . . . . . . . . well, sporty for this segment As with most Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the new A-Class can be individualized with a wide range of options. The equipment lines fall into three basic areas: Urban, Style and AMG Sport.

The highlights of the AMG Sport Package are the diamond grille, front and rear valences, and the 18-inch AMG 5-spoke light-alloy wheels with 235/40 R18 rubber at all four corners. Those visual clues allow the A 250 Sport and the A 220 CDI Sport to stand out just enough, without being garish. There are also AMG-developed suspension improvements. In the compact car segment, we’re not going to get SLS-like acceleration. What we can hope for are a well-tuned suspension, good steering feel and impressive braking.

Those are what make the Sport option worth

ordering.

Page 67 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Mercedes-Benz sold 371,399 compact vehicles last year.

Obviously they know what they’re

doing, but there are a few parts of the Sport package that I’d prefer were not included. I’m not a fan of red-painted brake calipers on a compact car and I wouldn’t opt for the interior’s contrasting black trim and red accents.

The steering wheel, seat belts and seats all have

contrasting decorative topstitching in a bright shade of red. Even the air vent highlight rings have red trim. However, I’m not the A-Class target audience, so there is a good chance that I’m out of touch with what sells in that segment.

Gasoline and Diesel-powerplants The A-Class has a broad range of gas and diesel engines. The gasoline engines range from 1.6 to 2.0 liters. The A 180, 200, and 250 respectively have 115 HP, 156 HP, and 211 HP. The use of direct injection and turbocharging has made these all very efficient.. Direct injection allows for a more efficient combustion process and lean-burn operation. This is made possible by fastacting injectors with multiple injection pulses as well as on-demand multi-spark ignition.

CAMTRONIC is also a feature that made its debut in the 1.6-litre engine. CAMTRONIC adjusts valve lift on the intake side, increasing fuel economy.

The diesel engines also offer sophisticated injection technology and turbocharging. The A 180 CDI produces 109 HP and 184 foot pounds of torque, while the A 200 CDI has a maximum output of 136 HP and 221 foot pounds of torque. The top of the line A 220 CDI is 2.2 liters with 170 HP and 258 foot pounds of torque.

The engines can be combined either with the new six-speed manual transmission or, as an option, with the 7G-DCT dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Suspension, aerodynamics, safety The AQ-Class suspension was completely reworked. It has a noticeably lower center of gravity and a new 4-fink rear axle. A number of suspension options are available, among them being the sports suspension with a Direct-Steer system. The electromechanical steering in the A-Class has also redesigned.

Now the electric motor for the power assistance sits directly on the

steering gear, forming a compact and extremely precise Dual Pinion electronic power steering unit.

Page 68 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

The A-Class has class leading aerodynamics, with a new Cd value of 0.26.

The Bad news? I have no doubt that any Mercedes-Benz deal in the U.S. could service an AClass. However, it’s going to take more than a quick run across the border to get one. The AClass isn’t available in the states, or Canada, or Mexico. That’s because the A-Class is a car for a market segment that Mercedes-Benz isn’t interested in competing for in North America. Here in the United States, Mercedes-Benz is in the premium luxury car market. Not rebadged luxury, but real luxury cars. Those who are old enough to remember the Cadillac Cimarron know the market Mercedes-Benz is avoiding. That said, the A-Class is a great car for the compact market segment. When you’re planning your European vacation, consider renting an A 220 CDI.

Page 69 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

The Chaparral Section’s

DM50 Picnic and 6th Annual Casual Car Show

by Michael Turner

O

n Saturday morning March 15, 2014, eight immaculately prepared Mercedes-Benz automobiles, assisted by another German vehicle and a very nicely restored British vehicle, set off from the Bull Basin Archery parking lot for the entrance to the Davis-

Monthan Air Force Base, in Tucson Arizona.

The 13 Chaparral Section members entered the air base to support the DM50 Picnic and 6th Annual Casual Car Show. 2014 marks the 5th year that the Chaparral Section has participated in this very worthwhile car show. This year we were parked in 2 rows of 4 vehicles, with the other German and British vehicles being parked with their brethren, in the middle of the large soccer field.

Page 70 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

The event organizers managed to squeeze 126 vehicles on to a field that normally only holds about 100 vehicles. We setup the tent and Chaparral Section banner, only to have the tent blown down by high winds. We made the best of the day with our “car show” chairs and a lot of sunscreen.

Again this year, the DM50 put on a great picnic for the airmen and their families of DMAFB. Every penny of our entrance fee goes to the non-profit Kachina Fund to help with family expenses and programs that the Air Force does not fund. The car show and picnic is a chance for airmen to display their own “show vehicles”, and unwind for a short respite.

I want to thank each of you for supporting this very worthwhile event.

Page 71 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

What’s Happening Around the MBCA...

For Enthusiasts at www.mbca.org/enthusiasts Your MBCA National Enthusiast Committee has created a worthy campaign of interesting programs that will provide benefits and assistance for all Mercedes-Benz aficionados.

The

programs titled “For Enthusiasts,” will be launched in 2013 throughout the year on the MBCA website (mbca.org), in the Star Magazine, in section newsletters and social media.

The team will work together to maintain, publish and support a variety of resources concerning the automobiles and activities related to them.

Authors of Enthusiasm The following is a list of known books published by MBCA members. This is only meant as a brief overview of the book, and the list is not guaranteed to be comprehensive. Generally, additional information is available about the book at Amazon.com. Most of the books are available at Amazon, or by third-party sellers listed on Amazon as well.

45: The Story; The Cars | Clauspeter Becker, Markus Bolsinger, Michael Clauss, Frank Mühling, Hans Schilder, and Achim Peitzmeier Celebrating the 45 years of AMG cars (1967-2012), the book begins with an 80 page plus history of AMG and its relationship to Mercedes, becoming whollyowned by (then) Daimler-Chrysler in 2005. The main section is devoted to chronologically covering individual AMG models, from the 1967 AMG 230 This memoir recounts the author’s adventures while competing in the Around the World in 80 Days Motor Challenge from May to July 2000. Beginning with his search for a sponsor and his deliberations in choosing a 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220S, it follows him from his arrival in London through various countries including Italy, Greece, Former Russian Republics, China, Canada, the United States, Morocco, Spain and France.

Collecting the Mercedes Benz SL 1954-1990 | John Olson (Twin Cities) A compilation of Mercedes-Benz SL subjects by the SL Market Letter. Includes a 3 page dedication to Rudolf Uhlenhaut, art and memorabilia, extensive index.

to be continued...

Page 72 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

About The Desert Star Section’s New President

By Matthew Crawford

Born and raised as a “Jersey girl”, Debbie’s left the east coast in 1997 when she married her husband, Mark. Together the two lived in Honolulu, Hawaii until 2010 when they relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona.

Her

first

Mercedes-Benz

was

a

1985

190E,

purchased new in the Garden State. Despite being one of the smallest Mercedes sedans to be sold, the car proved its worth in a traffic accident a few years later without serious injury to its driver.

Following full accident repair, the little Mercedes went on to earn its 250,000 KM badge in 2005.

When they moved to Arizona, they brought along their two Mercedes, a 1999 C280 and a 1985 190E 2.3-16, which had replaced the 190E in Hawaii. Having an empty spot in their garage for the first time ever, they filled it with a 2011 GLK350.

(Which remains Debbie “precious”, and parking

spaces must apply for worthiness!)

Debbie has been active in Desert Stars events ever since she returned

to

‘the

mainland’.

She

has

organized

events,

participated in events and of course she has provided countless hours of assistance to various club activities. You may remember Debbie as that first greeting at the last StarFest. In 2012, she was in charge of the registrations, check-in and guest services for StarFest 2012 at the Biltmore Hotel & Resort.

When she is not busy working or juggling the many aspects of the MBCA she is involved with, Debbie unwinds by baking tasty treats or enjoying a night out with Mark as they explore many of the culinary delights The Valley has to offer.

She was elected as Vice-President of the club in 2013 and is now starting her new term as club President.

Please welcome Debbie as our new section President!

Page 73 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Page 74 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Get Well

by Bob Gunthorp

O

n my way to tour with the Antique Automobile Club of America on April 5, I hit a piece of furniture on I-805. My car, a 1976 280SL, survived the crash with minor damage that included the radiator. However the piece of furniture did not. I flattened it out.

As you all know I tend to make light of things that happen so when people ask me why I hit the piece of furniture I simply say, “It was because I was going 70MPH and the furniture was stopped.”

After all was said and done, I received a questionnaire from Hagerty insurance

company as the how they handled my claim. Below is my reply to questionnaire:

Dear Hagerty Insurance: Your company has been insuring my Mercedes-Benz collection for several years now and I have been recommending your company because of the professional service I have received.

One of the

questions that I get when I recommend Hagerty insurance is “What happens when you have a claim?” I have said, “I don’t know because I have never had a claim.”

Unfortunately, for me I have now had to file a claim because I hit a piece of Furniture in the #3 lane on the freeway one Saturday. Your claims adjuster, Diane Hannah, took my claim on Monday and had an adjuster inspect the damage that same afternoon. She called me on Wednesday to tell me that the claim had been approved and check had been issued. She could not have handled my claim anymore professionally or anymore promptly. THANK YOU. The final touch was when I received a card addressed to “Gunthorp Mercedes.” The card was a get-well card for my Mercedes. I am highly recommending Hagerty Insurance to all of my friends and I am sharing the story of how well my claim was handled and especially the “Get Well” card.

So thank you again for the great service.

Yours truly, Robert Gunthorp

Page 75 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Page 76 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

The StarDust Section’s In The Mirror: Poker Run

By Harman and Susan Cadis

T

his year's annual Poker Run had 35 club member participants in 18 cars. The Poker Run / Tour started at the new Mercedes-Benz of Scottsdale dealership where we enjoyed their hospitality and a quick tour. Next we were off to Su Vino Winery in downtown Scottsdale.

Some great wine tasting and snacks were relished in their bottling room. Then all were off to an easy 37 mile drive to Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek. We just made it for their Peach Blossom Celebration and all had a piece of the best peach pie ever! Many purchased fresh vegetables grown right there on the farm.

After the farm everyone took a quick ride to The Queen Creek Olive Mill across the tracks where we had a private tour. We all learned a lot about how olive oil is produced and its many uses.

Once again this was a good shopping opportunity. They produce and sell cold pressed olive oils, vinegars, tapenades, and stuffed olives and lots of other goodies. Finally the group drove north to a beautiful restaurant, The Patio at Las Sendas, to watch the sunset. Oh yes, we also got a card at each stop and played poker while having drinks and good food - while overlooking the valley while listening to live music! First place honors go to Robert St. John & Melanie Searle, while Bud and Dee Cloninger took second place (2nd year in row!) and John & Marianne Hutchison came in third. The worst hand was held by Don & Brynn Burton and yes, they got a prize of fuzzy dice to hang in their Benz.

Center: First Place: Bob St John and Melanie Searle, with Hardan Cardis, Pokermaster. Left: Second Place: Bud and Dee (not pictured) Cloninger with Hardan Cardis, Pokermaster. Right: Third Place: Marianne and John Hutchison with Hardan and Susan Cardis, Pokermasters. To the right, a beautiful sunset from The Patio at Las Sendas

Page 77 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

B

right and early on a lovely day, the Packards gathered once again to hit the road on a trip to visit other Packards, vintage auto-mobiles and fun

loving car people. Look at that blue sky! Karl set a brisk pace for us on the way to Menifee indicating that his Packard is performing like a Packard should.

The Motte family came to America in the late 1880ies from Gap, France. The family has been very active in agriculture and land use for many years in the Menifee area. Karl Ramsing’s mother was Leon’s school teacher.

Tour Directors Karl & Peggy Ramsing leading the way in their 1929 Packard Coupe Convertible

This photo was probably taken in the 1920’s based on the farm machinery being used. As you can see, farming was a labor intensive operation then. This is not a farm club, but what

used

to

take

5

men

a

week

to

accomplish in farming can now be done by one man and his machinery in a day.

Note

the horses in the photo. They were probably used to bring hay to the machines for bailing.

See the small boy on the right next to the man by the hay? Boys went to work about the age of ten back then and the work was not easy.

The Motte family 1937 Packard Twelve. I think it is a ’37. What do you think? This Packard is a very nice color brown that I have not seen before on a Packard.

Some modern cars have this

similar color that is called Dolomite Brown.

Page 78 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

To the right Bob Gunthorp is hitching a ride in Karl’s rumble seat.

He said it was a fantastic ride.

There

are not many chances to ride in a rumble seat these days. I bet it is against the law.

Below to the left is a view of the caravan from the rumble seat. The Mercedes-Benz Club joined us for this outing. The lineup is buttercup, Carole Osselear and Steve Seiver in their 1973 350SL, and Brian Wagner in his 1940 touring sedan.

Above and to the right, nestled among the Packards, is Steve and Carole’s 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350SL. There would have been more Mercedes-Benz’s on the tour but the Benz drivers wanted to ride in a Packard, which is totally understandable. Some of them are even thinking of buying a Packard.

A very nice looking 1928 4-43 Packard. Invoice stated that this may be the only Packard of this model in existence.

Others may have been re-bodied into convertibles. None of this model are listed in any car clubs worldwide according to Harry Clark, the previous owner.

The photo on the following page is not a Packard, but a 1936 Plymouth Deluxe business Coupe. This is the type of automobile that the Packard 110 Six was designed to compete, against which, it did very successfully. Automobile historians say that the 110 six probably saved Packard from going the way of Pierce-Arrow and Auburn and other fine automobiles of that era.

Page 79 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Above and to the right is the Ole Rock-Olla Juke Box. Where did the name Juke box come from anyway? Anyone know? If so, please share.

To the right, from left to right, is Michael Cooper, president of the MBCA San Diego Section, his lovely wife and first lady Denise, and Carole Osselear our vice-president

To the left, Michael Cooper, president of MBCA San Diego Section and Steve Ross, president of the Packard Club San Diego

To the right is Denise Cooper’s brandspanking new SLK350.

It’s rumored to

be even faster than a Packard!

To the left is Leon Motte, the owner of the Motte Museum and Peggy Ramsing, our Tour Director Arriving for lunch at BJ's and seated from left going around the table are: Steve Seiver, Michael and Denise Cooper, Rose Mary, Rudy Wokoek, Catherine and Jim Woolsey, Leigh and Mary Lou Johnson,

Page 80 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Peggy Ramsing (Karl Ramsing is there hiding) Brian Wagner, standing are Robert and Cheryle Waner, Brian Kruse, Richard Schauer, S. Ross and Carole Osselear. Bob Gunthorp took the photo so he is behind the cam-era. More revelations were made on this tour one part Club Soda, one part St. Germaine and three parts The Macallan twenty five year old single malt scotch (no substitution permitted, a lesser quality beverage would negate the "life style"!). Add ice and enjoy, after you have completed driving your Mercedes-Benz of course. More useful hints will be provided as they are discovered.

Page 81 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

The StarDust Section’s In The Mirror: “Show Off Your Car” Show and Luncheon

By John and Roberta Phin

W

ow – a beautiful spring day in lovely Fountain Hills and 17 of the sweetest cars in the valley were lined up for our viewing pleasure. Our hosts at the Fort McDowell Radisson Resort & Casino gave us lots of prime parking and a lovely banquet luncheon. The oldest cars, Dick Sharp’s 1965 250SE and Jamie Preiser’s 1965 220S,

showed us that like fine wine, these cars age beautifully. We also had several 2009 models (CLK, SL-63, and ML350) and many years and models in between. The pencils and erasers were flying as we voted and tallied for six categories of award.

“People’s Choice” went to Bruce and Mary Leimbeck’s 1988 560SL. A Tucson member, Dick Borg, his wife Linda Borg and sister Shirley Thomas drove up in their 1986 560SL and won the “Farthest Distance Traveled to Participate in the Event” award. “Highest Number of Miles per Year” went to Ron and Debbie Reitman’s 2009 ML350, and the “Lowest Number of Miles per Year” went to Bruce and Mary Leimbeck’s 1988 560SL (giving us a clue as to the great condition of this car!)

“Most Unusual Color”, as voted upon by attendees, went to Jamie Prieser’s 1965 220S, and a special category, “Rarest Model/Year” was won by Joe and Christina Mattingly’s 2005 S55. It was a fun event; great people and super cars!!

Top Left: Dick Borg - Farthest Distance Traveled to Participate. Right: Ron and Debbie Reitman - Highest Number of Miles per Year Right. Below: Jamie Preiser – Most Unusual Color. Bottom Right: Mary and Bruce Leimbeck, People's Choice and Lowest Number of Miles per Year. Left: Joe and Christina Mattingly - Rarest Model/Year

Page 82 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Page 83 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

The Star Dust Section’s In The Mirror: Annual Family Picnic

By Dee Cloninger

The infamous donut eating competition

I

Face Painting for Jonathan and Piper

must say this year’s family picnic was one of the best action packed ones we have ever had.

Featuring carnival games, contests and great food, the weather was just perfect and we had a very good turn out with over 45 members. We also invited our advertisers as our guests to

come out for our picnic and BBQ to thank them for their support.

Our chef, Margarita Clifton, prepped, grilled and cooked all of our delicious food and with help from her husband Brian and Bud Cloninger, kept us coming back for seconds and more. Many thanks to them for all the hard and hot work over those red hot BBQ coals.

Such concentration for the bean bag toss Looks like a raffle was won by Bob St. John and Melanie Searle!

Page 84 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Brynn Burton demonstrated her fantastic face painting skills to the delight of all the kids. Debbie and Mark Ichiyama, Ken Borowitz and Bud made sure there were plenty of action in the games tent, featuring ring tossing, oil bottle knockdown (Mobil 1, of course!) and several rounds of that popular Midwestern sport, cornhole (aka Tailgate Toss, bean bag toss, corn toss, or baggo) to challenge the kids and the kids at heart. This year’s donut eating contest was close between Mark and Bud, with Bud getting to that last winning bite first!

Finally, congratulations to our raffle winners, Bob St. John and Melanie Searle, for taking home the picnic basket stuffed with gourmet spices, tools and goodies in our raffle.

Thanks to all who helped make this year’s picnic a fantastic Sunday at the park and hope to see you all again next year

Why read The Southwest Star Magazine?

The answer is as clear as the hood on a freshly detailed Mercedes: We cover your cars and your events And we’re free.

Page 85 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

The San Diego Section’s trip to the 10th Anniversary La Jolla Concours D’Elegance

By Steve Ross

The San Diego Section of the MBCA was well represented at the La Jolla Concurs d'Elegance. Bob Gunthorp and John Bernardi were judges this year.

Gary Jarvis prepping his 1967 250SL for the judging and his efforts paid off with a first place win in his class. Gary

and his 250SL have won first place at Legends of the Autobahn

at

Pebble

Beach

and

the

National

City

Automobile Heritage Day show.

Brian and Diana Kruses' 1961 190SL ready for inspection. This car has been undergoing various stages of restoration and is coming together quite well. Look for it at Legends of the Autobahn.

On the bottom left is Russell Hook's 1958 300SL Roadster. Failure to have a fire extinguisher spoiled the day for Russell and this beautiful Mercedes-Benz. center, Gary Jarvis and Russell Hook take a break from final rub down.

In the

Gary was once the

owner of Russell's 300 SL and Russell's late father, Weston, was a long time member of the MBCA and a close friend of Gary’s. To the right is Mark Nys’ W113.

Page 86 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh

The San Gabriel Valley Region of the Porsche Club of America Hosted the 2014 A3 Rally

In a word, it was Epic.

Kevin and Mary Ehrlich put on a rally . . . . . . no scratch that. Kevin and Mary Ehrlich put on THE RALLY and for 2014, the bar has officially been set. Putting together a successful event such as this took a herculean effort and on behalf of my fellow participants, I thank you. Events like these are why Kevin and Mary are referred to a Rally Royalty.

Most rallies are timed events with exacting instructions whose sole intent is to get the participants lost.

Their instructions are like Rubik’s Cubes with steering wheels.

Typically

contestants give up and head for the agreed upon finish line where everyone says the same thing, “Yeah, we got lost too.”

This rally was nothing like that.

Kevin and Mary emailed everyone a list of seventy-six rally

stops well in advance of the event and you could go to as many, or as few points as you wanted.

The participants could use the list to plan their route and perform practice runs – before the rally.

The initial list even told us the number of points each location was worth.

THIS IS

BRILLIANT. No more fights between pilot and co-pilot. Never again will I have to be tossed from of a moving car in mid-rally for saying, “you know you missed that last turn again”. No more circling the block because you did miss that last turn again. As with any rally, the goal is

Page 87 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

to gain as many points as you can, but this allowed the participants to form a strategy. Not that it helped me, but those with an actual strategy found it helpful.

In

addition,

this

was a joint rally.

Despite that

the the

Porsches

fact nonwere

mere fodder, this was

The sheep amongst wolves

open to everyone and it was an excellent opportunity to foster camaraderie amongst fellow enthusiasts. Who cares if Porsche puts their engines in the wrong end of the car, this rally is what great events are allabout – good times and new experiences with both new and old friends.

We arrived at 7:00 AM and were greeted by Kevin and his wife Mary - the Rally Duchess, as they were busy laying out breakfast for the participants. More participants rolled in as the morning progressed. We mingled, met new friends and said “hello” to familiar faces. This was really a good group. A little after 8 Kevin gave us our final instructions and we were off. Since we could pick from any of 76 great locales, there really was no losing (which I found is a common expression amongst the losers). The Nethercutt, Mount Wilson, Rocketdyne, Barris Kustom’s, they’re all on the list. On top of that, our rally sheet included a write up as to each location’s historical significance. Want to know about Grand Central Terminal - L.A.’s official airport before LAX and Bob Hope were built? The Pasadena-Altadena Hillclimb? The original Shelby American shop? Dean Moon’s original MOON Speed Equipment shop? A minimum of one paragraph was written about what must be every specialty shop in So Cal. Their rally sheet could be used as an automotive tourist book.

After running all over L.A., we headed to everyone’s final destination - the Spitfire Grill in Santa Monica.

If you’ve never been to the Spitfire Grill, make it a point to pay them a visit. It‘s a great eatery filled with WWII military and

Guy Newmark's famous million-mile 1964 356C

Page 88 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Douglas Aircraft memorabilia. At the Grill, tallies were recorded, prizes were handed out, and lunch was served! The gifts were wonderful and made possible in part by the generosity of the sponsors - Collision Consultants, Taza, Twin Palms, Beckhams, Bentley Publishers, Biotest LA, and Central Care Pharmacy.

Before anyone asks, I’ll get it out there - “No, my co-pilot and I didn’t place anywhere near the winner’s circle.” Basically, we came, we saw, and we lost. Although we thought we placed well, eventually someone announced the winner’s point total.

We were so far behind, I requested

clarification that the winner’s points were for that single day, rather than for a multi-rally total.

Despite the fact that we placed in the bottom third of the entrants, my co-pilot and I had a great time and we wouldn’t have changed a thing. Although, bragging rights would have been nice.

Winners of the coveted first place prize – The Giffin Rally Rotor

Page 89 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

A pair of air-cooled sixes prepare for flight

An early air-cooler between its water cooled brethren

The highest rally point total for a Mercedes-Benz went to this 600SL

Everyone who attended is hopeful that Kevin and Mary Ehrlich can be persuaded to put another rally together. If they do, we will gladly give ample advance notification. Events like these are why we join car clubs; to meet new people and have a good time

Page 90 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

One of the Ladies of Mercedes… …Carole Osselaer-Seiver of the San Diego Section

I

t was around this time five years ago when the weather was spectacular, mild 80 degrees weather, warm and sunny. I needed a break from work, the great outdoors was calling my name, and I couldn't wait any longer.

I took my lunch hour, and my plan was to saddle up my horse and go for a quick ride in the hills.

I was living my childhood dream of finally owning my own horse, never mind that my

family called it my midlife crisis – riding that horse was the joy of my life!

My 15-minute ride that day turned into a nine-month ride of recovery. For you see. On the ride home she bolted for out – no controlling – going for broke, full on run. I saw the trees coming up fast and she was heading straight towards them. I knew that one of us was not going to fit between those trees and I knew without a doubt it was going to be me.

Nine months later a return to work from my lunchtime "cruise". A dislocated and broken kneecap, three ligaments torn away from the bone, one new ligament grafted in, a broken tibia and a concussion, is what my little sojourn cost me that day.

A year later I traded in my one horse nightmare for more horsepower, my 1972 350 SL Mercedes-Benz, a car I had coveted since my college years. My kids felt that that was more acceptable for midlife crisis.

That brings us to this year. Once again the weather is beautiful and inviting.

I can't control

whether or not we have rain or if there is a drought sounders going to enjoy our warm So-Cal golden days and get out there and drive that Beauty.

I hope you'll join us.

In the coming

months we have Sunday cruises and activities planned for all club members to have fun, socialize, celebrate and learn.

Our second Sunday of the month drive began in May.

WhooHoo!

Watch the newsletter for

information on future drives. Our upcoming spring and summer events include, "Hot Summer Nights” in Encinitas; featuring our Mercedes-Benz on a Thursday night. Brunch, cruising, car

Page 91 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

museums, a day at the races, a poker run, etc. are just a few of our upcoming events. Make plans to come to 1 or all. Watch for more information in the coming newsletters.

What are your plans in the coming months? Take the time to enjoy your Mercedes-Benz and spend time with others who are happy to share their joy, resources and knowledge about these wonderful cars.

Car shows season is coming up. In mid-April is the La Jolla Concours. It is a fun event and a great way to meet new people who have a passion for their cars. It is a good opportunity to learn more about the classics.

Mid-August brings Monterey week and Legends of the Autobahn. It is an event worthy to be on any car enthusiast's " Bucket List. Look for more info on Monterey week, here.

Contact me at: Ima72classic@icloud.com

Page 92 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

By Laura Dykstra

The Orange County Section’s Breakfast Club Cruise at the Petersen Automotive Museum

T

he Orange County Section recently went on a Breakfast Club Cruise at the Petersen Automotive Museum. It was a great opportunity to see some spectacular automobiles.

From 8:00 am to 10:10 am, on top of the parking structure, we enjoyed walking leisurely through rows of gorgeous automobiles that individual car enthusiasts had brought to show both old and new and both classic and custom. A free pancake breakfast was provided during the showing. We were then free to enjoy the museum itself which has many exhibits regarding the history of the automobile, collections of automobiles and related artifacts. After lunch we went on a tour of their Vault which was the highlight of this event. It was a chance to see over a hundred automobiles that are not displayed in the museum. There are classic and historically important automobiles from 100 years ago to the present.

We had an extremely personable

guide who told us about the significance of each car and provided historical background about the design and ownership of the vehicles. It was 2-1/2 hours of time well spent!!

Page 93 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Page 94 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Star Dust Section’s In The Mirror: The B.E.A.T.

A

By Bob Yoder

lthough this year’s British European Auto Tour’s 85 cars was less than the usual 100 plus list of entrants, the Tour was one of the nicest drives on the best of Arizona’s back roads in perfect weather. The Mercedes-Benz eleven followed Triumphs thirteen

cars on the ride... well, not exactly, as we were well in front of the Triumphs. Next year, let’s outnumber the Triumph Club. I’ll even promise to drive a Mercedes, instead of last year’s “Most Desirable Car”. Speaking of the Most Desirable Car award this year, the selection committee (which included me) picked a beautiful Morris Mini, only to learn later that the Morris was not registered for the BEAT...ooops!!

The drive, which included stops in Wickenburg, cow avoidance on Rt.97, a pit stop at Kirkland Junction Bar, three hours on Whiskey Row in Prescott for a car show, lunch and shopping, a slow speed chase through Jerome, ice cream in Cottonwood, through Sedona and onto Flagstaffs Little America for pictures, Happy Hour. dinner, great conversation and a good night’s rest. Our Desert Stars club donated the main item in the Men’s Basket for Sunday mornings award and raffle meeting. The Micro-Start PPS battery jump starter that also charges cell phones, laptops and more is only about the size of a pack of cigarettes. Google it and see for yourself, it really works. .. OK.. See you all next year for the 18th year of the BEAT.... Bob Yoder

Page 95 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Participants included Bob Yoder and Chuck Stanford, both driving BMW’s (Why? – Ed.) and the Mercedes drivers: Bill Bergner in his Black series CLK63AMG, then Stuart Thorn, Dick Sharp, Tray Schreiber, Nick Saputo, Bill Reichenberg in his E63AMG S, Nat Kemberling, Stephen Golde, Jean-Pierre Brietta and Bawb Branton.

PS: One more item... this year’s Tee shirts display the #19 on the back, in remembrance of the fallen firefighters.

Page 96 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Page 97 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Upcoming Events If you would like to attend an event listed here, please be sure to contact the event coordinator of the hosting section.

This is important as many events

require an RSVP so we can know how many people to expect. Also, additional details may be available at the hosting section’s website.

The Chaparral Section Annual Run to Mt Lemmon Saturday, June 14th

It’s time again for our annual Mount Lemon Drive and Dine. Our trip to the Sawmill Restaurant will climb up the beautiful winding road of the Mount Lemmon Highway, with a stop at Windy Point for a photo shoot and break. Our Dine part of the outing will be at the Sawmill Restaurant on Mount Lemmon. For more information and to let Ken know you want to attend, contact Ken George at kagandegg@q.com

Eurotopian’s Show and Drive Saturday, June 14th

Eurotopia’s newest sponsor, Hillbank Motor Corporation, is hosting a Show & Drive in Irvine.

Hillbank

Motor

Corporation

is

inviting everyone from Eurotopia to attend their event. If you’re not a member of Eurotopia, just sign up at the website. The event will begin at

the

Shell

gas

station

(51

Technology Dr, Irvine, CA 92618) around the corner from Cars & Coffee. This event starts at 5:45AM and we are leaving the Shell station at 6:00AM.

That morning Hillbank

will give us further details, but the

Page 98 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

drive finishes back in Irvine at Hillbank's showroom (6 Autry, Irvine, CA 92618) where breakfast (donuts and coffee) will be provided as well as an intimate tour of their amazing showroom.

Details are in the events section of the Eurotopian website – www.eurotopian.com

The Los Angeles Section Club BBQ Saturday, June 21st

The club BBQ will be held on Saturday, June 21st at the home of Amir and Mindy Rudyan in Agoura. A map is at the club website. We must have a head count so please, RSVP with Paul.

You can give Paul a call, send him an email, or send him a note via postal mail.

Eurotopian’s Angeles Crest Lunch and Drive Saturday, June 22nd Hero Motorsports has graciously step forward to host our June 22nd Angeles Crest Highway Drive & Lunch. They will

be

providing

lunch/prize

giveaways at their 13,000 square foot facility at the end of our drive. As usual we will meet in the morning at the Home Depot parking lot where we will form groups head out for the Angeles Crest canyons.

The Home

Depot

5040

is

located

at

San

Fernando Rd. in Glendale California 91204. Details are in the events section of the Eurotopian website – www.eurotopian.com

Join the Desert Stars Section for Star Night 2.0 Sunday, June 22nd

Join Desert Stars for a Star Night 2.0 dinner at China Chili, an award winning restaurant highly regarded for its extensive variety of Chinese cuisine that compares favorably with San Francisco venues. Our Desert Stars member, Robert St John is a San Francisco resident who recommends China Chili with enthusiasm. The restaurant address is 302 E. Flower St., Phoenix. Flower is between Osborn on the North and Thomas on the South just East of Third St. We will meet at 6:00 PM. RSVP to John or Roberta at 480-272-8851 or jgphin@cox.net by June 15 and John will

Page 99 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

handle arrangements with the restaurant; no need to make a reservation. As is our custom, we will order off the menu with separate checks.

Join the San Diego Section as they attend the MCRD 2014 Car Show on the Bay Sunday, June 22nd

The Marine Corps Community Service (MCRD) Car Show on the Bay and Bike Spectacular is back for 2014.

The show features Your Car or Motorcycle elegantly displayed at the Bay View

Marina Lawn.

There will be the following categories: Antique, Classic, Custom, Muscle, Modern American, Truck, Import and Motorcycle. In addition, there will be awards for these classes: The People's Choice, Commanding General Pick, as well as 1st and 2nd Place per Class

Join The Desert Stars Section for the Werkstatt-Tour and Cave Creek Lunch Saturday, July 12th

On Saturday July 12th Robert Webster of Werkstatt, LLC will open his restoration shop for our Desert Stars to visit.

This shop can

go beyond restorations and can fabricate things as well. will

see

aerospace

In his shop (Werkstatt) you

complex

machines

industries

that

from have

the been

converted to fabricate and test MercedesBenz parts. If the part is no longer available, they will reproduce it. If the test equipment

Page 100 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

is no longer available, they will make it.

Although he has produced many winning Concours

d’Elegance cars for the likes of Pebble Beach and StarFest, he also accommodates a large amount of Classic cars in his shop for performance enhancements and general repairs. Please join us Saturday July 12th 9:30 am at 37505 N. 24th Street Phoenix AZ 85086. After the tour we will caravan into Cave Creak to have lunch around noon. Please RSVP for this event so we can get an accurate count for the restaurant. everyone will pay for their own lunches.

There is no registration cost for this event, as

RSVP with Bud Cloninger at scottsdale3@mac.com.

Further cobntact information is available at the events section of the website and in the newsletter.

The Orange County Section New Member Brunch Sunday, July 10th

Join us for the New Member Brunch, which will be held at the Alta Vista Country Club.

Reservations are required. Please contact Marlyn Ortiz by July 9th or Jocelyn Salisbury by July 14th to reserve your seat. Contact details are at the website and in the newsletter.

The Alta Vista Country Club is located at 777 Alta Vista Street in Placentia, Their phone number is 714-534-1591. The cost is $15 per member, $23 for non-members, and free for all members who have joined in the last year.

Page 101 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Eurotopian’s Trip to Supercar Sunday Sunday, July 20th

Eurotopian is organizing a trip to Supercar Sunday in Woodland Hills.

Supercar Sunday is a weekly event whereby auto enthusiasts gather to share

their

camaraderie.

amazing

vehicles

and

It’s a lot like Cars and

Coffee, and lasts from 7am-10am.

Supercar

Sunday

community

event

is

a

wonderful

where

celebrities

and fabricators walk around and bench race with us “normal guys”, kick tires and

take

enthusiasts.

pictures

with

fellow

It is often the case that

tourists from all over the world visit Supercar Sunday and are blown away with variety and vast numbers of vehicles and people attending. Eurotopia will meet at 6:30AM in the Starbucks parking lot at 5960 Canoga Ave in Woodland Hills, CA 91367. we’ll park together.

From there, we’re leaving at 6:45AM for Supercar Sunday where

Details

are

in the

events section of the

Eurotopian

website

–

www.eurotopian.com

Join the San Diego Section as they attend National City’s Automobile Heritage Day Saturday, August 9th

Although this is National City’s 23rd Automotive Heritage Day, this is an all new show for the San Diego Section and they are expecting it to be a spectacular event. The event will be held at Kimball Park, Corner of 12th Street & “D” Avenue in National City, California 91950

Details can be

seen at www.AutomobileHeritageDay.com

Page 102 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Eurotopian’s Track Day at Autoclub Speedway Saturday, August 9th

Full details are in the events section of the Eurotopian website – www.eurotopian.com and you must register.

When:

August 9, 2014. Caravan leaves at 6:00AM from Home Depot and reach Autoclub Speedway at 6:45AM.

Cost:

$190/driver (regular $230), Autoclub Speedway collects $10 gate entry fee too.

Bonus:

Speed Ventures will provide us free timing and covered garage paddock area.

Caravan:

5600 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028 (Home Depot parking lot)

Lunch:

Outside food truck vendors

T-Shirts:

If you have a Eurotopia t-shirts please wear it to this event, if not we'll have some for sale.

Registration: You must register a Speed Ventures account, which you can do at the Eurotopian website – www.eurotopian.com/thread/495/track-august-2014-chime-interested Beginners: Speed Ventures is requiring all beginners (people with zero formal training on a real racetrack in a car) to have instruction. Either group for $15, private for $60, or they can bring their own instructor/friend who has sufficient experience. aaron@speedventures.com can be contacted to discuss this if they like NOTE1: NOTE2: NOTE3:

This is not a private event. We'll be sharing the track with other Speed Ventures customers Currently we'll be racing in separate groups depending which you signed up for (beginner, intermediate, advanced, etc). However if we get 30 cars signed up we'll have our very own session to race all together.

If you aren't interested in driving but would like to come hangout and watch you're more than welcomed to join us.

Page 103 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

The Orange County and San Diego Sections are having a day at the horse races Saturday, August 2nd

The details are still being still ironed out, so check the events section of the Orange County or San Diego section websites for details.

Join the Desert Stars Section as they Escape the Heat Celebrate the 5th Annual Legends of the Autobahn® Friday-Sunday, August 8th through 10th

Before we know it the dog days of summer will be upon us, so you don’t want to miss out on this year’s Escape the Heat event up in the cool mountains of northern Arizona. The date is August 8-10th.

More details as we get closer can be found on our website and in the next section

newsletter.

Join the San Diego Section and help them Celebrate the 5th Annual Legends of the Autobahn® Friday, August 15th This is the event MercedesHeritage.com characterized as “… ‘the best kept secret’ of the Monterey Classic Car week.” This year’s Legends will feature the finest examples of MercedesBenz vehicles. Co-hosted by MBCA, the BMW Car Club of America and the Audi Club North America, this one-day MBCA national special event will put the spot-light on distinctive German marques. To keep things fresh, you’ll notice a few new changes to the event. Legends will be held at a new location in Monterey, California (to be announced soon) and for the first time, aunified theme will be jointly celebrated by all three car clubs. In addition to mingling among precision German cars, there will be food and beverage tents, displays, Club and vendor booths, and more. Registration opens March 1 on www.motorsportreg.com. Scroll down to “August 15” then to “MBCA — Legends of the Autobahn” (not BMWCCA or ACNA). You can also

get

a

link

to

register

on

www.legendsoftheautobahn.org (click MBCA

Page 104 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

or the Mercedes logo). All event details and information can be found on both websites. A $75 registration fee will apply for entries in the judged Concours for 1994 and older vehicles. A $40 registration fee will apply for entries in the “for display-only” Corral (Mercedes-Benz vehicles of any age). Gourmet buffet lunch, VIP lunch, and event polo shirts are optional. The discounted “early bird” registration deadline is August 1, and all registration closes on August 8. For more information,

contact

MBCA

Event

Chairman

Laura

Simonds

@

650.592.7613

or

simondsl@pacbell.net

The Los Angeles Section’s Annual Hollywood Bowl Outing.

This Year -The Beatles 50th anniversary at the Hollywood Bowl Friday, August 22nd

The club has purchased 30 tickets in Section M1 and they've been discounted to $25 ticket. This event is popular . . . . . very popular . . . . . and it’s first come first served. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll RSVP with Tina now! Details are at the club website.

It's been 50 years since The Beatles played their first iconic show at the Hollywood Bowl, and Beatle-Mania is still going strong. Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics will be our ringmaster and musical director, joined by special guests. As well as performing many Beatles classics, we will re-create the historic set, including "Twist and Shout," "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "A Hard Day's Night" plus vintage clips and much more in celebration of the Fab Four's L.A. Invasion.

Page 105 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Eurotopian’s Big SoCal Euro Gathering Sunday, August 31st

Some may be unfamiliar with this event. Big Euro SoCal started back in 2002 as a European car meet where 150 cars were expected and 300 showed up. Since then, every event as grown in size and last year, over two thousand cars were there. This is guaranteed to be one of Southern California’s largest automotive enthusiast gatherings for 2014.

This is a free event. Free as in no admission, gate, or parking fees. Eurotopian is meeting at the Home Depot parking lot at 1830 West Slauson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90047. The meeting time is 11:15 AM. We will leave at 12:15 PM and caravan down together to the Big SoCal Euro Gathering in the Qualcomm Stadium. The gates will open at 2 PM, and the event runs from 3 PM until 8 PM. Big SoCal Euro will feature LEGAL 1/8 mile drag racing  Raffle drawing & prizes  Gourmet food trucks  Stuff-a-Dub competition  Swap meet/parts trade area  and more!

The Los Angeles Section visits The Beaver Creek German Auto Festival September 12-14

Friday, September 12:  Scenic driving tours on iconic western Colorado roads with exclusive, gourmet destination lunches Saturday, September 13:  Wettbewerb der Eleganz (Concours d' Elegance) Car Show  Uber Auto Expo: Expo includes test-drives, German fashion, beer, wine and culinary offerings  German American Chamber of Commerce's Gala and Awards Reception Sunday, September 14:  VIP party at the Vail Oktoberfest For

more

festival

information,

tickets

and

registration

options

please

visit

www.beavercreekautofest.com

Page 106 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Join the Desert Stars Section for Havasupai Weekend Saturday and Sunday, September 13th and 14th Havasupai is the premier Desert Stars event of the year often gaining recognition across the Southwest Region of MBCA. This year we are planning an in-town weekend with a new approach to the events. On Saturday, September 13, we will have a “competitive driving” event at the Octane indoor go-cart track.

The event will be set up to enable less highly skilled drivers to

compete with the skilled drivers in the group! We will then adjourn to the nearby Orange Sky dining room at the Talking Stick Resort for an outstanding dinner. On Sunday, September 14, mid-morning, we will re-convene for a great day of fun driving through the streets of our beautiful city and ending in an afternoon Hawaiian-style “luau” for participants. Desert Stars can participate in the Saturday or Sunday component or hopefully, both will pique your interest. So mark your calendars”!

More information as to cost and registration will follow in upcoming

StarDust newsletters but please feel free to contact John or Roberta at jgphin@cox.net for more information in the interim.

Join the Desert Stars Section for a trip to Chaco Canyon Friday - Sunday, October 17th through the 19th This is a reminder to contact me, Dick Sharp, at richardsharp31@gmail if you have not already done so. For anyone who would like to see the wonders of Chaco Canyon, there is still room for them to be included in the good times for this October 17th-19th adventure.

See the remote Ancient Chaco World and Chaco Canyon, New Mexico! This trip will be pay on your own with two nights at the historic route hotel, The El Rancho, which has old large rooms

Page 107 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

where movie stars stayed when making westerns. Chaco Culture National Park in NW New Mexico Is remotely located and a two and a half hour drive from the hotel. We will encourage attendees to drive SUVs and non-SUV members can hitch rides from the hotel to the park with other members.

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Late Breaking News

Cal Club Time Trials Thursday and Friday, June 7th & 8th AutoClub Speedway in Fontana Have you ever wanted to see what it’s like to drive your car on a race track?

Well here is your chance! The California Sports Car Club (Cal Club) region of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) is proud to offer our newest program entitled Time Trials.

Time Trials is for people who want to drive their street car on a race track at their own pace. This is NOT wheel to wheel competition.

$125 for one day, $200 for both days

For more information please contact John McCully at jwmccully@wyliegalt.com

Copyright © 2014 Mercedes Benz Club of America South Bay-Long Beach Section, All rights reserved.

Page 110 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Wannagoshopping?????

Hats embroidered with section logo only $12 each Available at all events or by mailing check to MBCA Long BeachSouth Bay Section PO Box 30132 Long Beach, CA 90853-0132

T-Shirts in blue or black with silver screen printed logo $12 each

New!!!

Polo shirts with embroidered Long Beach-South Bay Section logo. Only $25 each Add $5 for packaging and postage per shipment

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If you would like to see your ad here, send us an email at info@FitzhughMedia.com

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