Southwest Star Magazine 2015 2nd Quarter

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COVERING THE SOUTHWEST REGION OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ CLUB OF AMERICA VOLUME 3, NUMBER 2

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

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

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

The Southwest Star Covering the Southwest Region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America May 2015 The Southwest Star Magazine is published four times per year by Fitzhugh Media Santa Clarita, California, USA www.fitzhughmedia.com info@fitzhughmedia.com

Editorial Editor in Chief Marcus Blair Fitzhugh Managing Editor Veeann Hegreberg Creative Director Karcy Bowles Creative Consultant Sean Fitzhugh Contributors To This Issue Steve Ross, Peter Samaha, Mike Zonnefeld, Debbie Ichiyama, Paul Kruger, John McCully, Paul Bergstrom, Lynn Hern, Michael Cooper, Alan Nelson, Ann Geskes, Barbara Cameron, Beatrice Werner, Bob Gunthorp, Bob Scudder, Bob Wilber, Bob Yoder, Brigitte Sutherly, Bud Cloninger, Carol Kruse-Ross, Chris Bingham, Chris Murray, Dee Cloninger, Diana Kruse, Dick Sharp, Don Burton, Don Loyd, Dottie Lindeman, Ed Gladish, Edward Dykstra, Fran Schoenfeld, Fred Finney, George Brown, Gerhard Fehrmann, Harman & Susan Cadis, Jerry Tucker, Jim Salisbury, Jim Wiens, Jocelyn Salisbury,

John & Roberta Phin, Judy Caruso, Kathy Wilber, Ken Borowitz, Kenneth George, Kevin Wright, Lana Tbilisi, Laura Dykstra, Lonnie Estrella, Lynn Davison, Mark Ichiyama, Marlyn Ortiz, Matthew Crawford, Michael "Coop" Cooper, Michael Cooper, Michael Turner, Mike Bailey, Oskar Kirsten, Polly Dix, Rich Schulte, Robert Schmelzer, Ron Borino, Rosi Bauer, Roz Bergstrom, Sara Aguinaga, Sherre Frost, Shirley Hern, Stephen Marshall, Tamara Samaha, Ted Wuerthner, Tina Wright, Ty Hilbrecht, Verna Eason and Victoria Mazelli Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz Fashion Mercedes-Benz USA Daimler AG Scottsdale Mercedes-Benz The Gladly pinkponyscottsdale.com prescottrealty.com experiencescottsdale.com Canyon Lake Marina US Coast Guard Auxiliary Wikimedia

Distribution The Southwest Star is available worldwide via the 8 MBCA Southwest Section websites, Issuu and Fitzhugh Media

Queries info@fitzhughmedia.com

Subscribe Subscriptions are free of charge, We ask that you support our advertisers as they keep this publication afloat To receive an email notification when new issues are released drop us a note at me2@fitzhughmedia.com We will not share your email address or send you spam. We will send you one email notification each time a new issue is released.

Legalese 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 Š 2005 Fitzhugh Media

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The Southwest Region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America is made up of eight sections. As members, we like to do what we love and do it as often as we can. If life was a meal, we’d be the ones enjoying every last bite. Please consider joining a section near you. If you’re like me, join TWO sections. Why? Because any good meal is worth going back for seconds.

Southwest Region

President - Steve Ross

Channel Islands Section President – Peter Samaha www.mbcachannelislands.org Ventura-Santa Barbara Counties, California Chaparral Section, President - Mike Zonnefeld www.tucsonsmercedesclub.org Tucson, Arizona Desert Stars Section President – Debbie Ichiyama www.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 – Lynn Hern www.mboc.info Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Orange, CA. San Diego Section President - Michael Cooper www.sandiego.mbca.org San Diego, California

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

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From the editor’s desk

S

ome cars are keepers - ones that we literally want to hold on to forever. The problem is, many times the love of our automotive lives slowly become “that car”. Although dearly loved by someone, “that car” is viewed by most as scrap metal with a license plate. In

some cases the paint is bad, the interior is rotted out, and it’s never parked in a driveway because it leaks fluids everywhere. Worst of all, like a bad date “that car” is known to be undependable.

How does a vehicle go from a pristine beauty to a heap of junk? Usually, the owner has a lot to do with it. A car can’t be ignored. When ignored, perfectly good cars end up in the refuse pile.

What exactly is “ignoring a car”? Cars have three main areas that require attention; the exterior, the interior, and the mechanics.

Exterior If you treat the exterior of your vehicle the same way you treat your teeth, you probably won’t have problems. If that sounds crazy, think about the analogy. We keep our teeth clean with a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss.

That’s a specialized applicator and specialized cleaning

materials. For a car, that means specific washing / drying towels and car wash soap. People don’t use a dirty toothbrush, and one should only use clean towels on a car. Also, don’t use dishwashing liquid, laundry soap, or any other household cleaners on a car. Use a product whose sole purpose is to clean the paint on an automobile. Like your biannual cleaning appointments with your dentist, having the car waxed a couple of times a year will also help keep it looking fresh.

If your vehicle suffers some form of body damaged, get it fixed. Like dental work, it’s best to see a professional. If it’s a ding, see a paintless dent removal expert. If the job is too big for them, visit a body shop. Don’t let dings, dents, and scratches accumulate. Take care of them as soon as you notice the problem. Paintless dent removal is pretty inexpensive, but it should be done by The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

a trained specialist.

I’ve seen it done and it looks simple enough, but anything done by a

professional “looks” easy. For those larger repairs, you may want to simply report it to your insurance company and let them take care of it.

In either case, the key is to let a skilled

professional do the job.

Interior The interior of my car is not a garbage can. You won’t find six month old French Fries between the seats, melted chocolate in the door bins, or other pieces of trash spewed about. I treat the car interior like my living room. I don’t climb in when I’m filthy, I don’t track in mud, and it’s cleaned on a regular basis. To keep your car’s interior looking good, clean the glass, vacuum the interior, and condition the leather a couple of times a year.

The interior doesn’t have to be

“operating room clean”, but you shouldn’t have to wonder if you need a tetanus shot if you get a scratch while driving.

If you’re not into cleaning, vacuuming, washing and waxing, you may want to have a detailing shop do it. They can do both the exterior and the interior. Many shops will come to your home or office and do the work there. If you don’t know of any detailing shops, your local MercedesBenz dealer will do the job for about $200. Alternatively, MBCA can help. At the next club meet, find a good looking older Mercedes and ask who owns it. Find out who details that car and get the contact information.

Mechanically This part is easy – the car came with a service booklet. In the booklet is a service schedule.

Follow it. Abiding by the factory’s recommended service schedule is all most cars need. Yes, some services are expensive. The up side is, we know when they are due so it’s not a surprise.

Using a qualified, trained mechanic is a must. If you’re not sure who to use, ask around at your next MBCA meet. We all have our preferences and even more importantly – some of us know who not to see. I believe bad shops should be penalized with reduced income, while good ones are rewarded with increased revenue. Word of mouth is a very good way to pay it forward on both fronts.

That’s all it usually takes. A keeper isn’t “free”, but the money spent will go toward a vehicle you want to keep. A keeper also doesn’t have to mean it’s your only car. In many cases it isn’t, but it is the one we look forward to driving.

Marcus Blair Fitzhugh Page | 10

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

The Desert Stars Section’s President’s Desk

By Debbie Ichiyama

T

he Desert Stars recently had the opportunity to host the Southwest Region Presidents meeting here in Scottsdale. A special thank you for Schumacher European for offering us to use their conference room. There was an interesting exchange of

ideas amongst all the attendees from the other sections in our region. It was nice to hear from other folks and again made me realize how awesome the Desert Stars is.

A main focus of the meeting was reinforcement of the resources available on the National Website. If you have not had the chance to look there, please take time and check it out. There is a lot of useful information on the National Website.

Steve Ross, our Regional Director, talked about $6 membership dues increase that will take effect on July 1, 2105. The new fee will be $55 a year. Multi-year membership discounts will continue to be offered. The increase reflects rising costs and expansion of member services and event support for National and Regional events. You may want to lock in the current rate by renewing your membership prior to July 1, 2015.

Steve also recapped the MBCA Annual National Board Meeting that took place on November 2014.

The minutes are on page 75 of the Star Magazine.

For those of you who escape the Arizona heat for the summer, we look forward to seeing you when you return, for those of you who stay in Arizona, hope to see you at an upcoming event this summer.

New Star Dust Section Members, “Welcome!”

Arnie Brown, Richard Batchelor, Karl Buschmann, William Edson, Kevin Highstreet Terry Horne, Ronald Krohmer, Lewis Leibbrandt, Griff Malleck, Jesus Melian, Thomas Musselman, Myron Oliner, Antoinette Quagliata, Alfredo Richard, Bob Roberts, Ted Schuman, David Troy, Stephen Yacovone, Warren Wagoner, Roy Wilkins, and Mike Zerbib More Than a Car | We’re a Community Page | 12

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

The Orange County Sections’s President’s Desk

I

would like to remind all of our members about the advantages and

opportunities available to every section member.

1. All members are invited to take part in any local, regional or national,

activities. Frequently the OC section is invited to participate in another section's event. When this happens we try to make all our section members aware of the event through our newsletter or an E-mail. We also encourage our members to check the web sites of other sections for activities that may interest you. A list of web site addresses for our region is provided in the newsletter.

2. All members can advertise MBZ cars and accessories for sale in the section newsletter, on their website and in Star Magazine at no cost to the member. Members are allowed two free ads per month both online and in The Star magazine. Ads online will appear as soon as they are approved.

3. As a Mercedes-Benz Club of America member the presentation of your membership card may entitle you to 5%, 10% or (up to) 20% off parts, service and accessories from U.S. MercedesBenz dealers Club members receive 15% off hard-to-find parts from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine, California. Call your local Mercedes-Benz dealer in advance to confirm their participation in the Mercedes-Benz Club of America dealer discount program.

4. If you are a current U.S. Member of the MBCA and have been a Member for at least 12 consecutive months prior to purchasing or leasing a NEW Mercedes-Benz vehicle, you are considered a "Member in Good Standing" and automatically qualify for a $500 price discount.

Check the club's web site (http://www.mbca.org/member-benefits) for instructions.

5. Discounts are being offered to members from the following: a. EmpireCovers offers 45% off on car, boat etc. covers b. Passport Transport offers 10% off on car shipping c. Brooks Brothers offers 15% off on clothes and accessories d. Garage Style Magazine offers 50% off on 12 month subscription e. Art|XP offers 50% on art f. Sears Commercial Club rewards g. MedJetAssist discounts h. Avis rental car discounts i. As an MBCA Member, you can protect your good name with an Identity Patrol plan. Benefits include personal ID theft risk scores, ID monitoring, comprehensive restoration and a $1 million ID theft insurance policy.

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6. Online forums where you will find members en masse who can talk, guide, answer or listen to your Mercedes-Benz related questions and comments (http://www.mbca.org/forum).

7. The Mercedes-Benz Club of America's technical director is available to assist members with their technical questions. He is furnished with hard-to-find technical manuals and bulletins from Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA).

- Lynn Hern We welcome our newest Orange County Section members – Alan Abraham  Steve Asaro  Mike Bilek  Carol Boe  Robert Bray  Stephen Brockman Kay Brott  Willie Darby James Dye Lee Elster  Tom Garrison  Randy Graybill Gina Irban  Anthony McCuller  Douglas McLeod  Larry Michaels  Ivan Molina Gerald Moser  George Murillo  Gina Orban  Thomas Phelan  Chad Roberson Paul Roper  Jack Schafer  Jerry Schoenfeld  John Sellers  James Stansberry V. L. Stewart  Hansjorg Strube  David Suder  Mr. Marian Vasile  Randalyn Vasquez Carl Weiss

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

From the Desk of The San Diego Section President

By Michael Cooper

H

appy May everybody! I only have a few things to touch on this month. First and most important, I would like to thank and congratulate Victoria Mazelli. Victoria has accepted the position of San Diego Section Vice President. Over the past few years she has been

an important member of the club helping with event decision making, event support and as a respected sounding board. Please join me in welcoming Victoria to her new position.

We have a couple of upcoming events planned. On May 17th we will have a membership booth at the Scripps Ranch Community Fair. If you are nearby, please come by and say hello. We are also having a club dinner at Morada Restaurant located at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe on May 23rd.

And lastly, we are planning a “Coastal Drive & Brunch” on June 20th.

So mark your

calendars for one or all of these events.

Don’t forget, if you have a good story about you and your car that you would like to share with others, please let us know so that we may incorporate it into the newsletter. If you know of a fun community event that you think might be fun for the club to be part of, we would like to hear about these as well.

Thank you to all for your continuing support, we look forward to seeing you soon.

Michael Cooper President

New San Diego Section MBCA Members Shon Boney  Carlos Cortez  Toby Dunn  Misty Flannery  John Folsom Timothy Hughes  Travis Markstein  Jack Mooers  Yvonne Paris Adam Schmidt  Thomas Ziegler

A hearty welcome to all our new members.

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

NOT

O

From The Los Angeles Section President’s desk

ur prez, Paul Bergstrom, is tied up. The board enlisted an anonymous stand in, me, to write the “NOT

The President’s Perspective”.

Why me? I was here, and they needed

someone. Besides, that’s what the club’s about - doing what you can.

A quick recap on 2015 – the club events have been outstanding! The Route 66 exhibit at the Gene Autry Museum, Newcomb’s Ranch, the tech session, the rallye, and Preakness Day at Santa Anita.

That’s five events before Memorial Day. Upcoming events are in the rest of the newsletter.

I’ve heard it before and I’m going to pass it on – do you have an idea for an event? If your answer is yes, you should attend a board meeting. I’ve heard they’re really fun, but I’ve never actually attended. But I plan to. Eventually. Maybe. If attending a board meeting is out of your comfort zone, email your idea to info@la-mbca.com. Someone will take your note to a board meeting and they’ll discuss it. If you have a basic idea and it needs some work – they’ll help. If you have a great idea and it doesn’t need any help, they’ll let you run with it. Here’s two examples: I heard someone mention Cars and Coffee Malibu and another person mentioned Supercar Sunday.

Someone needs to step up and run with both of those ideas. Running with it is easy, just say “Cars and Coffee Malibu on ‘this date’. Afterwards we’re heading over to Marmalade Café - one mile away. No RSVP required, but I’d like an email head count.” It doesn’t have to be Marmalade, any restaurant will do. Now somebody, anybody, the hard part is done, use this idea -run with it.

They told me I had 1 page, but I have to cover some stuff and I’m almost out of paper so here’s the stuff - this year the newsletter will change to a digital / e-mail subscription. They’ve received notes from a couple of people, and those people will still get the newsletter by postal carrier. To continue receiving the newsletter by U.S. Mail, please send a request to MBCA Los Angeles, at 22421 Bea Court, Santa Clarita, CA 91350. Alternatively, you can e-mail the request to info@lambca.com. Club elections are coming, if you are interested in getting more involved contact Paul.

Paul always says, “Stay safe and enjoy the Mercedes-Benz experience”, I say GET INVOLVED and enjoy the experience. Then again, I’m anonymous, so nobody gives me flak.

Anonymously yours Not the

President, Mercedes Benz Club - Los Angeles Section

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

The President’s Desk

O

ur section keeps up its membership growth and we have had some great events already this year.

Your president just returned from the MBCA Southwest Region meeting held in Scottsdale, AZ. Attending Sections were the Las Vegas Section, San Diego Section, Los Angeles Section and the Chaparral Section; the meeting was most informative.

One of the presentations concerned the many benefits of our MBCA web site, www.mbca.org, and we were reminded how valuable an asset this is to Mercedes-Benz owners. It is often overlooked and taken for granted. Take the time to check it out and by all means check out the pull-down menus as there is a wealth of information available for you.

We had a long discussion about the $6 dues increase per year. It was noted this is the second increase in 4 years. A quick review of the many benefits for members makes the new $55 per year a real bargain.

The exceptional STAR magazine, advertising for members, the web site

resources, dealer discounts and our section events make this an outstanding value. We discussed better ways to take more advantage of current technology, namely Facebook and Twitter.

MBCA and our local Chaparral Section are unique and valuable assets for our members. Remember too that if you get a new member to join, your own MBCA membership is extended.

We hope to see you at one of our next exciting events. See our website and this newsletter for all the details.

For the Chaparral Section, MBCA

Mike Zonnefeld

We welcome the following new members to the Chaparral Section: Lloyd Billings, Gary Caps, Paul Jaffe, Mark Lunario, Robert Montgomery, Patricia Ostrop, and Robbie Porter Page | 20

President

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

G

reetings from Mississippi to all our Las Vegas Mercedes Benz Club Members!

Currently I am on the Southern Gulf Coast helping close friends build a new home for

their family. Although their existing home was not damaged or flooded in any way from Hurricane Katrina, the area has recently been reclassified by the U.S. Government to be located within a newly designated flood zone. As a result, their insurance rates went sky-high, so they sold their property and have purchased a vacant lot in my neighborhood while living in my home which is also near the Coast, but thankfully on considerably higher ground! Well, it rained all last night and was 31 degrees earlier this morning and today's forecast indicates it will only become colder this week. So I am really looking forward to returning to Las Vegas next month to attend our Brunch on March 15th at Spanish Trail Country Club!

Paul Kruger President, MBCA Las Vegas Section

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

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

B

rabus. They’re the other German tuning house that specializes in Mercedes-Benz. I’m not talking about those bootleg Brabus stickers and wheel caps that people buy on eBay.

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By Marcus Blair Fitzhugh Photos courtesy of Brabus

I mean the company that says, “For 200,000 Euros we’ll send you home in a vehicle that will put your insurer in full cardiac arrest.” Brabus is who you visit when you’re ready to go thermonuclear.

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

This year, Brabus brought something to the Geneva motor show. It costs over 400,000 Euros and is their crème de la crème. Brabus has taken the S63 coupe and cranked up the horsepower and torque to F1 levels.

The stock S63 coupe makes 585 HP and 664 lb-ft of torque. Apparently, that wasn’t enough. The Brabus 850 makes 850 HP and 848 lb-ft of torque. Let 850 HP sink in for a minute. OK, now you’re ready to hear it; the Brabus 850 was detuned. The engine was dialed back from well over one-thousand pound-feet of torque because no drivetrain on earth can take that kind of abuse.

The increase in power isn’t evident at low speeds. The zero to sixty time only dropped from 3.7 to 3.5 seconds. It’s most apparent when the transmission shifts into fifth and the driver is still pinned in the seat like it’s a wrestling match. By the time the g-forces let up, the car is in sixth gear and well on its way to the electronically limited top speed of 217 MPH. The 217 MPH top speed was chosen because of tire limitations. Brabus says the 850 coupe can go faster.

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

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Increasing the power in the Mercedes-AMG 5.5 liter bi-turbo took a fair amount of work. The engine size was increased to 5912cc, Brabus spec turbos replaced the stock units, a new exhaust was added, and the ECU was reprogrammed. The stock 7-speed AMG Speedshift MCT transmission and the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system were both retained. Yes, stock.

As you can see, the 850 has Brabus specific bodywork. It has different front and rear fascias, side skirts, and a trunk mounted spoiler. According to Brabus, the aerodynamic improvements are safety features which are required for the increased top speed. The standard 20-inch wheels were upgraded to 21’s and are finished in a color called Shadow Gold Chrome. The interior was modified as well.

The seats, dash, and door panels have been recovered in Mastik leather, while the

headliner has been redone in Alcantara. The switches were refinished in the same color as the wheels and the seats have copper colored seams and contrast trimming.

To some, the visual cues are exactly what the car needed. Others may prefer something a bit more reserved. Most will have to reserve judgment until they see it in person.

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

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

by Oskar Kirsten

This past December, I entered my Bob-Gunthorp-restored 190 SL in the 2014 La Jolla Christmas/Holiday parade. I have owned this car since 1971 and started to restore it (mostly dismantle) back in 1974. It's been a long project. Progress was slow during the 80s, mostly bodywork and paint followed by engine and chrome work. I had promised both son and daughter that they could drive it to their senior proms. Now maybe the granddaughters will drive it instead.

Nah, Hagerty Insurance just gave me an idea of what this puppy is worth.

On my 50th party in 1993, the car came back from Ocean Beach Upholstery with a new interior, but sat again while college tuitions took precedence. I became aghast at a $2500 cost for a wire harness and chickened out for almost two decades.

I got into a woodturning hobby instead.

Finally, my wife Judy said enough excuses; either sell it or let's have it running for the 70th birthday. We met Guru Bob Gunthorp who, on seeing the mess, said, "We can have it for his birthday, but it will be the 71st." Bob says he has never brought a 190SL from so far back. But he is the master. The car came alive in April of 2014, one month before my 71th.

Well done, Bob. In the parade, I have my wife Judy, daughter Mandy, and granddaughters Abby and Mia on board. We had a great time even though we were entered behind a gaggle of vintage Ford Thunderbirds and when marshals came to announce what kind of Thunderbird it was, I had to shout, "This is not a Thunderbird!!!" Then, the marshals would look at their crib sheet and mumble that it was a 1960 Mercedes Benz 190 SL. Incidentally, the Kruse's' almost got to enter, too, but their red 190 was not available. Too bad, because my English Racing Green (yes, English colors on a German car. It's my car, so it's my colors) would have gone great with Diane and Brian's shining red, definitely Xmas colors, Next year maybe. The deep blue green body color and tan leather was never an MB combo, but it looks great together.

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

by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh Photos courtesy Mercedes-Benz USA

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T

he CLS was originally designed by Michael Fink, the same

American automobile designer who styled the first generation CLK as well as the Maybach 57 and 62. The CLS raised his success level to four for four. In the CLS, he penned a stunning four door with a captivating visual impact. When introduced in late 2005, the CLS was one of the most charismatic new cars of the decade. The first generation CLS filled a gap many of us didn’t know existed. It has the spaciousness, luggage capacity, and day-to-day practicality of a sedan, while possessing the design lines and emotionally charged character of a coupe. In addition to its beautiful exterior, the interior is a well thought out design that wraps cutting edge technology in lavish materials. For those who want a coupe, but need to seat four full sized adults this is the car.

The U.S. spec first generation CLS was available with one of two V8s. Both engines were the ultra-dependable M113 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

designs with three valves per cylinder, low mass valve trains, and dual plug heads. The standard engine was the 302 HP five liter. This engine was coupled with the first generation 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic. The upgraded engine was AMG’s 5.5 liter supercharged V8. As is always the case with AMG, the entire drivetrain was upgraded. The 469 HP engine was mated to an AMG specific five speed transmission. Why a five speed? The supercharged V8 would have literally broken those early seven-speeds, so a five speed unit with a higher torque rating was used. The AIRMATIC DC semi-active suspension, adaptive dampers, and brakes were also improved to match the engine’s power level.

The next model year, 2007, Mercedes-Benz discontinued both engines. The 5 liter was replaced with the 5.5 liter M273-based V8. This new V8 featured dual-overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, a two-stage magnesium intake manifold, variable valve timing and a dramatic increase in power. With 382 HP, the new engine knocked a full second off the prior year’s zero sixty time.

The new engine made an amazing difference and the seven speed automatic was icing on the cake. The 7G-Tronic is a transmission that isn't averse to dropping three gears and landing right in the meat of the power band, so yes, 380+ HP was available at almost any speed. Just when we thought the CLS had gotten really fast, AMG dropped the performance hammer; the all-new CLS63. The 63 was a 500+ HP 6.2 liter monster. AMG put all the standard engine’s technological improvements on steroids.

The first Generation CLS

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In 2010, Mercedes-Benz brought the Paris Auto Show to its knees by introducing the current generation CLS. The look was as spectacular as ever with a long hood, narrow-look frameless side windows, and a

dynamic

roof

that sweeps back at

an

angle

towards the rear, yet it is completely different.

The new grille is now separate from the hood.

The grille is dominated by the

The current generation CLS

large central star, which underlines the CLS’ relationship to other Mercedes-Benz coupes. The large, elongated, dark air inlets with black grilles in the lower nose also add to its sporty look.

The full LED headlamps are another distinguishing feature. When introduced, the CLS was the world's first car to offer all of the regular light functions using LED technology.

Aside from their functionality, the headlamps are an impressive design.

The lamps are vertically divided into three arrow-shaped layers. The upper layer contains an LED indicator, beneath which is an LED side light that performs the low beam functions.

The side light can also be seen when the dipped beam function is switched on. This looks quite novel when illuminated. The lowest level of the headlamp houses the main beam and night view functions. A total of 71 LEDs not only provide an unmistakable appearance, but also offers a significantly enhanced view of the road when compared with the previous system.

The car’s side view has a dropping line that runs from the edge of the headlamp, to the rear door where it intercepts the flared rear wheel arches.

The rear view is rounded off with wide

wraparound style tail lights that also featuring LED technology.

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

The new interior features handcrafted perfection in details such as the stitched seat covers and hand sewn covering for the dashboard. This dash is a great example of the saying, "The best or nothing". Bringing together the individual parts of the dash’s leather cover by hand is a process that takes several hours. After which, the cover is fitted and upholstered with high-quality foam.

As part of the process, the leather is heated to preshrink it. This allows the leather to retain its shape, even when exposed to the extreme direct sunlight that we experience here in the southwest.

Particularly fine, 1.6 millimeter thick, semi-aniline PASSION leather is used. This leather's natural pore structure remains intact and it has a particularly warm, soft feel to it. Since the natural characteristics remain visible for the most part, semi-aniline leather requires a manual selection process.

Elsewhere in the interior, the generous use of high-quality trim stands out.

The

instrument panel support, front and rear center console, and door linings all have that “spare no expense� look. Several types of wood that have been perfectly fitted around difficult contours are available. The result is a masterful handcrafted finish that has been matched according to grain.

One example is the piano lacquer trim. With that option, up to seven layers are applied and polished, until the desired high-gloss finish is achieved.

Page | 40

This new CLS didn’t arrive stateside until the 2012

model

year.

When

introduced,

Mercedes-Benz also launched their new line of turbocharged engines.

The powertrain

engineers managed to increase power and improve fuel economy across the board.

The new CLS400 makes 9% more power and is 42% more fuel efficient than the original CLS500.

Today the CLS is available with three different engines and either rear or all-wheel drive. All three engines have direct injection and dual turbochargers. The CLS400 is a 3 liter V6, the CLS550 is a 4.7 liter V8, and the CLS63 is a 5.5 liter V8. All three come with 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmissions. In the CLS63, AMG SPEEDSHIFT multi-clutch technology has been added. 4MATIC all-wheel drive is optional for the 400 and 550, and is standard on the 63.

Horsepower CLS400 CLS550 CLS63

329 402 577

Torque

Mileage

354 443 590

20/30 17/26 16/22

The suspensions in all three models are different. The CLS400 has a standard 4-wheel multilink suspension. The CLS550 has semi-active AIRMATIC. The CLS63 has an AMG Adaptive Sport Suspension, which couples rear air springs with standard springs up front.

The CLS has been with us for the past ten model years. Since the beginning it has offered ample space, sporty elegance, and premium materials. To that foundation, Mercedes-Benz has added a steady diet of improvements, bringing us the current model; an astoundingly beautiful performance car with the space we need for day to day use.

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

Details and Dates     

Grand Prize: 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S MSRP $129,900 plus $20,000 in cash Tickets are $50 (US) each Last Day to purchase tickets is Wednesday, June 3, 2015

 

Grand prize drawing is June 16, 2015 For more information and to purchase tickets, visit raffle.mbca.org, call the NBO at 800-637-2360 or check your mailbox for an official mail-in order form.



Open to MBCA Members ONLY. Must be 18 years of age or older. No limit on the number of tickets one Member may purchase. The Grand Prize winner will choose an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership where a check in the amount of $129,900.00 (US) will be sent. The winner will shop for his/her vehicle at the dealership of their choice. An amount of $20,000 will be awarded as partial Federal withholdings. If fewer than 5,350 tickets are sold, the Grand Prize will be one-half (50%) of the gross raffle ticket sales—less Federal withholding of 25%, or at least $25,000 (less withholding), whichever is greater. Vehicle featured in this ad is representative ONLY. Odds of winning depend on total number of tickets sold. MUST be a current Member of MBCA at the time of purchase and day of prize drawing. Members may attend drawing (not required to enter or win). 100% of net raffle proceeds shall be devoted exclusively to the lawful purposes of MBCA International Stars Section.

(Raffle void in Washington State & where prohibited by law)

Page | 42

I

n their hometown, PAPER London is all the rage in fashion. As the fresh face style, in PAPER London recently made a splash in Berlin.

Earlier this year, guests of the Mercedes-Benz

Fashion Week tent celebrated PAPER’s first show

in Germany and praised its founders, Kelly Townsend and Philippa Thackery.

For their Autumn/Winter 2015 collection, PAPER London presented a colorfully accentuated array, with

Kelly

Townsend’s

characteristically

clean

silhouettes executed in high-end, richly structured fabrics. The elegantly minimalist cuts allowed the graphic patterns to come forward in a highly expressive manner. The extravagant yet wearable collection was very well received by the guests.

Philippa Thackery and Kelly Townsend

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

PAPER London was invited by Mercedes-Benz and Elle, as part of a program supporting up-andcoming talent. It was the eighth time that Mercedes-Benz and Elle joined forces to offer promising new fashion designers a platform at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin.

Innovative design and exceptional style-consciousness

have

always

been features of our brand. Hardly any

other

marque

has

been

as

successful in consistently creating pioneering and iconic automobiles with such an influence on style as Mercedes-Benz,

whose

continue

the

to

be

designs

epitome

of

sensual clarity and modern luxury. ‘In the world of fashion, innovative, bold and distinctive design is also a major factor if a brand and its products

are

to

enjoy

lasting

success. That is why we promote young

and

designers

who

talented are

fashion

overturning

tradition to create new ideas, and offer them a superb platform for their designs in the context of our global dedication to fashion.

Dr Jens Thiemer, Head of Marketing Communication Mercedes-Benz Passenger Vehicles Mercedes-Benz has been making its mark on the world's major catwalks for 18 years, and currently participates in over 50 fashion events in more than 30 countries.

Page | 44

A sample of the PAPER London collection

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

By Marcus Blair Fitzhugh Photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz USA

B

ack in March, Mercedes-AMG rang in the 2015 motorsport season with the new MercedesAMG GT3. With its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz has served notice that they are expanding their motorsports presence.

Last year Mercedes-Benz eviscerated the Formula 1 competition, winning the Driver’s Championship, the runner up, and the World Constructor’s Title. In addition to FIA Formula1, they’ve also got their eye on FIA’s GT3. GT3 permits cars with minimalist limits on engine sizes and configurations, or chassis design and construction. One rule that is strictly adhered to is GT3 cars must be based on production road cars, and they must be in mass production. A second rule is the drivers must be closer to amateurs than professionals. The FIA ensures drivers adhere to this policy. That second rule presented a challenge for Mercedes-AMG in designing the new GT3; to build a championship quality race car that can be piloted by mere mortals.

Page | 46

Fortunately, the GT3 is based on a great platform. With its low center of gravity, wide track, perfect weight distribution, and racetrack like performance, the road going Mercedes-AMG GT provided a wonderful foundation for the new GT3. The vehicle structure of the GT3 is also similar to the road going model in that they both have lightweight rigid aluminum space frames. This design offers outstanding driver protection. The driver is further protected by a lightweight carbon fiber seat pan with an integral roll cage made from high-tensile steel. To reduce vehicle weight, the hood, front spoiler, doors, front and rear fenders, side skirts, diffuser, trunk lid and rear spoiler are also carbon fiber.

The GT3 is powered by the AMG 6.3 V8 engine from last year’s SLS AMG GT3. This is a proven power plant with low running costs, user-friendly technology, excellent reliability, and long maintenance intervals. Power from the 6.3 passes to a six-speed sequential transaxle, whose rear placement helps facilitate The GT3’s optimum weight distribution.

Even at a standstill, the new Mercedes-AMG GT3 is the embodiment of undiluted power. Its matt paintwork in designo selenite grey magno covers the muscular contours like a second skin. The widened bodywork, large air intakes, diffuser and the huge rear spoiler all have the markings of a vehicle in attack mode. Almost every modification to the GT bodywork has been made for the

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

purpose of maximizing power output and aerodynamic performance. The one obvious deviation is the vertical slat grille, which is a nod to the original W194 chassis 300 SL racecar

"We are entering a hard-fought and hotly contested competitive environment with the new Mercedes-AMG GT3. The high technological standard and fair race rules are spurring us on to push to take pole position with our new customer racing car. You can only give credible proof of your ambition to lead if you're beating the very best in the game�

- Tobias Moers Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH To some, the world of international sports car racing is a confusing amalgamation of a half dozen classes, many of which look the same. Since 1994, GT1, GT2, GT, and GTS have come and gone and been renamed a number of times. GT3 is a little different. GT3 has been around since 2006, and with cars only costing somewhere in the $500K range, this is a class designed to be populated by those who are only moderately filthy rich.

Apparently it’s worked, because GT3 is one of the world’s most hotly contested customer race series.

Precise cornering, nosebleed inducing lateral acceleration, and superior traction are all requirements for this class.

15 races take place on various circuits to determine the champion. We hope to report on the success of this model for many years to come.

Page | 48

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

Nine Reasons to consider guaranteed income annuities 1. They last a lifetime.

3. You can keep up with inflation.

Receive income for your entire life.

Use optional features to help maintain your purchasing power.

Did you know that most people underestimate how long they are going to live? Over half of preretirees estimate life expectancy to be below the national

Over the past few decades, rising prices for gas, groceries, and education serve as clear examples of inflation’s impact on our lives.

Conveniently, guaranteed income annuities offer optional features to help protect your income from the effects of inflation, allowing you to keep up with current economic environments throughout your retirement.

2

average. Chances are, a long retirement is in your future.

So let’s plan accordingly. The income from a guaranteed income annuity ensures that no matter how long your retirement is, you will be covered. And since you cannot predict how long your retirement will be, let New York Life eliminate the guesswork.

4. They’re perfect for rollovers.

Turn existing retirement plan assets into guaranteed income for life.

2. They are dependable.

Enjoy guaranteed income that’s not tied to market fluctuations.

A lot of folks withdraw money from their investments to help pay for retirement. But stock market losses can have a significant impact on this strategy. Think about it: withdrawing money from a declining investment can quickly shorten the timeline for how long it will last.

Do you have money sitting in a 401(k) from a previous employer? Are you trying to figure out what to do with your IRA, 403(b), or employer-sponsored retirement plan? Rolling some, or all, of those assets into a guaranteed income annuity is an easy way to turn that money into exactly what it was intended for—a steady stream of income you can count on for the rest of your life.

By adding a guaranteed income annuity to your overall portfolio, you can remove some of this risk and unpredictability. That’s because the income you receive isn’t tied to the stock market, and you can count on it for the rest of your life.

2

“How Long Do We Expect to Live? A Review of the Evidence.” Journal of Population Aging, September 2011.

Page | 50

5. They are designed just for you.

When do you need your income?

Income Now Start receiving your income immediately or within the next year.

Income Later Defer your income until a later date. By doing so, you can benefit from higher payout rates and make smaller premium contributions over time, as opposed to one larger lump sum.

How often would you like to receive your income?

Choose the frequency of your income payments: • Monthly • Quarterly • Semi-annually • Annually

Do you foresee your income needs changing?

A New York Life guaranteed income annuity is not onesize-fits-all. There is a wide range of options available that can help you meet future needs. Ask your representative for a fact sheet for full information on all the products and options available to you.

6. They can cover your loved ones, too.

Share your income through joint ownership.

If you want your income to also cover a loved one in retirement—like a spouse or a grandchild—you can purchase a joint-life guaranteed income annuity.

By doing so, you’ll ensure that income will be paid to both of you throughout your lifetimes.

7. You may get more income than you would from alternatives.

purchase) should automatically satisfy your RMD requirements. Other qualified assets outside the annuity will still have an RMD requirement to satisfy annually, but these assets won’t.

Create higher income amounts than other types of strategies.

9. Your money can be passed to your heirs.

Each income payment you receive from a guaranteed income annuity is comprised of three things: 1. A return of your premium(the money you put into it) 2. Interest (the money we earn by investing your premium) 3. A component from risk pooling (something only an insurance company can provide).

The third component is why other strategies will likely yield lower income amounts. Only insurance companies—like New York Life—can leverage risk pooling to help provide more income.

8. They help simplify planning.

Meet Required Minimum Distribution rules automatically.

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are amounts of money the IRS requires you to withdraw from your tax-qualified retirement plans after you reach age 70½. These distributions can be confusing and bothersome to calculate, and the IRS can charge you significant penalties if you fail to take them.

If you’re taking RMDs on qualified retirement plans now—or will need to eventually—you may want to consider rolling those assets into a guaranteed income annuity. By doing so, the income you receive from these assets (after the first year of

Leave a legacy to those who mean the most.

A common misconception about annuities is that the insurance company keeps your money when you die. In truth, a guaranteed income annuity allows your income to pass directly to your beneficiaries upon your death.

Payout options vary, and can be used to maximize your income or create a legacy. If an option with a death benefit is chosen, the benefit can be delivered in a lump sum or in installments, and typically allows your loved ones to bypass the lengthy and costly probate process. Of course, death benefits are contingent on the payout option you choose and the amount of income you receive over the life of the policy.

Arica Ohanisian Agent CA Ins. Lic # 0I40094 New York Life Insurance Company 801 N. Brand Blvd., Penthouse Suite Glendale, CA 91203 Tel: 818 662 7736 Cell: 818 434 2474 aohanisian@ft.newyorklife.co m

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

M

arch was Women’s History Month and in celebrating great women in Mercedes-Benz history, Ewy Rosqvist comes to mind. In 1962, Ewy Rosqvist drove a 220 SE over the Argentine Pampas to a momentous victory in that year’s Argentinian Touring Car Grand

Prix. This was the first all-female crew to win a major rally (her co-driver was Ursula Wirth), and it was the first time a single car had won every stage of a major rally.

Page | 52

At The Southwest Star we don’t have a classified section, but that doesn’t mean we’re opposed to ads. Event ads are free. Ads for goods and services are very reasonably priced.

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

Sir Sterling Moss and Lewis Hamilton

By Marcus Fitzhugh Photos courtesy Daimler

60

years ago, the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows were practically unbeatable That’s not an exaggeration. In 1995, throughout the race season, in all the major classes of international motor sport, Mercedes-Benz subjugated the world of racing. The 1955

Stuttgart racing team, with Juan Manuel Fangio at the wheel of the W196R, won the Formula 1 world championship for the second consecutive year. In addition, Mercedes-Benz won sports car world championship with the 300 SLR (W196S), while Werner Engel became European touring car champion in the 300SL (W198) production sports car. Major national titles were also won, such as Class D of the US sports car championship.

Both the public and the motor racing community recognized Mercedes-Benz as having an exceptionally successful season, as no manufacturer had previously dominated international racing in one year so thoroughly. The supremacy was due to a combination of innovative technology, a highly motivated team, meticulous planning and world class organization.

This was also

demonstrated by the legendary “Blue Wonder”, a race car transporter that was capable of 160 KPH.

The transporter was developed by Mercedes-Benz in 1955 as a one-off for the urgent

deliveries of race cars between the factory, the racetracks, and for practice sessions.

Page | 54

In 1955, the Mercedes-Benz Motorsports cars were Model

W 196 R

In use from

Cylinders

Displacement

Power

Top Speed

1954-1955

In-line 8

2497 cc

256 to 290 HP

300+ km/h

1955

In-line 8

2982 cc

302 to 310 HP

300+ km/h

1954-1957

In-line 6

2996 cc

215 HP

250 km/h

1954-1956

In-line 6

2195 cc

85 HP

150 km/h

2.5-liter W196S 300 SLR W198 300 SL Gullwing W180 220A That same year, Mercedes-Benz won the 

Formula One World Championship



The constructors' crown in the sports car category.



The European Touring Car Championship



The Italian Sports Car Championship.



The United States Sports Car Championship.

As motorsports fans, we’re looking forward to continued success, at least through the 2018 season.

Why are we so forward looking?

On May 20th, Mercedes AMG PETRONAS announced they had finalized a new contract with Lewis Hamilton for the 2016 through 2018 Formula One seasons.

Since making his Formula One debut with McLaren in 2007, Lewis has started every one of his 153 Gran Prix in a Mercedes-Benz powered car. This record includes 36 victories, 15 of which have been at the wheel of a Silver Arrow.

Lewis joined Mercedes AMG PETRONAS in 2013, winning his first race for the Silver Arrows in Hungary that year. In 2014, he won 11 races on his way to securing his second Formula One World Championship. With this title, he became the first driver since Juan Manuel Fangio to win the World Championship in a Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes has won 5 of the first 6 races this season. Lewis currently leads the 2015 Formula One World Championship by 10 points over second place teammate Nico Rosberg. Nico leads the third place Ferrari driver by 18. The points fall off dramatically from there as fourth place is currently 56 points behind Nico and 66 points behind Lewis.

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

Mercedes is my home and I couldn’t be happier to be staying here for another three years. This is a company filled with real passionate racers, from the board room to the factory floor, and an incredible hunger to win. Even after the success of last year, that hunger is greater than ever – and it’s the same for me, too. The Mercedes car I am driving right now is the best I have ever had in my career; it’s just so much fun to be out there every weekend, on the limit and fighting to win at every track. Mercedes-Benz began supporting me in 1998 so I am very proud that this contract means I will mark 20 years with Mercedes in 2018.

- Lewis Hamilton The Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, Toto Wolff, added “Continuity is one of the key factors for delivering success in Formula One and we now have that in place. Lewis enjoyed an historic World Championship season with Mercedes-Benz last year and it was a priority for this season to renew his contract for the next term. We have taken the right amount of time with the process and not rushed ourselves. The result is a strong agreement that will enhance Lewis’ association with the Mercedes-Benz brand, and that recognizes and respects the market value of Lewis and of Mercedes in Formula One. Lewis’ sporting track record speaks for itself and he is a great personality for the company. Personally, I am looking forward to continuing to race with the strongest driver pairing in Formula One and to more historic achievements together.”

Page | 56

Your membership with the Mercedes-Benz Club of America (MBCA) comes with special privileges, like saving $500 off the purchase or lease price of a NEW Mercedes-Benz. To qualify, you must be a current Member of MBCA and have at least one year of uninterrupted membership with the Club, prior to your new car lease or purchase.

The offer excludes Sprinter Vans, smart, SLS AMG Coupes and SLS AMG Roadsters.

Discount CAN be combined with other MBUSA incentive programs; including Guest Appreciation Certificates, European Delivery, seasonal event discounts and other (select) Dealer offers. Please check with your Dealer in advance to confirm which offers may be combined with your $500 Loyalty Reward discount.

Don’t need a new car? That’s OK, here’s something for your current Mercedes-Benz.

Discounts on parts, service & accessories at participating Mercedes-Benz Dealers As a Mercedes-Benz Club of America member, the presentation of your membership card may entitle you to 5%, 10% or (up to) 20% off parts, service and accessories from U.S. and Canadian Mercedes-Benz dealers. Call your local Mercedes-Benz dealer in advance to confirm their participation in the Mercedes-Benz Club of America dealer discount program.

Have and older model? A classic with parts that aren’t typically carried at a dealer?

15% discount on parts from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center Club members receive 15% off hard-to-find parts from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine, California.

The Center caters to the needs of classic car enthusiasts like you with a vast array of services.

From car sales to meticulous restorations, its manufacturer-trained technicians offer a wealth of expertise you won't find anywhere else. Because in the end, the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center isn't only restoring cars ... it's restoring dreams.

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

S

ince 2010, the SLS has been the Formula 1 Safety Car. When introduced at the Bahrain Gran Prix, the SLS was the fastest F1 Safety Car to date. The SLS has been discontinued and the new AMG GT S has been named its replacement.

The Safety Car is an F1 traffic cop. If a race is underway and an accident or heavy rains make the course unsafe, the Safety Car is dispatched. To alert the F1 drivers, the timing monitors will display “SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED”, the marshals wave yellow flags, and they hold up Safety Car boards. In addition, F1 cars have LEDs on their steering wheel. These LEDs are used to inform the driver which flag is being waved. Naturally, yellow means the Safety Car has been deployed.

The Safety Car has a light bar made up of orange and green lights mounted to its roof. When the Safety Car is on the track with its orange lights blazing, the F1 competitors reduce speed and form a line behind the Safety Car. No passing is allowed during this time. This allows the race to continue while the problem is dealt with. In certain circumstances, the Safety Car will illuminate a green light. This is a signal that the car directly behind the Safety Car can pass. When it’s time for the Safety Car to leave the circuit, the orange lights are turned off.

Even though the Safety Car slows traffic, the cars move at a very good pace. The AMG GT S has an electronically limited top speed of 193 MPH. Its track speed is typically slower than this, but speeds must be fast enough for the competitors’ tires to remain in the operating temperature range and to prevent their engines from overheating.

Page | 58

Although the Safety Car looks like a normal AMG GT S with FIA - F1 logos and a light bar, there are other differences. It has the GT Aerodynamics package, which is part of the Mercedes-AMG GT "Edition 1" package. To increase downforce, the front end has a more distinct air splitter, the side skirts are larger, and the rear has a fixed place wing. The roof’s light bar sits atop of a carbonfiber air scoop, which is used to optimize air flow to the rear wing. This package was developed in a wind tunnel and is very efficient. There are two cameras, one mounted on the light bar and the other on a tray between the seats. These provide live coverage of what is happening around the GT S safety car at all times.

Inside the Safety Car are a pair of dash mounted iPads which are used to track vehicle positions and current lap times.

The Safety Car is also equipped with an in-car hotspot with WLAN, a

transponder system for timing purposes, high-resolution GPS, and the same telemetry system used in every Formula 1 race car.

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

Like the production AMG GT S, the new F1 Safety Car has a front-mid engine twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter, V-8. The V8’s 510 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque is transmitted to a rear mounted seven-speed, dual-clutch transaxle.

The Safety Car also has unique engine and

transmission mounts, firmer springs, specially tuned dampers, more front negative camber, a speed-sensitive sports steering system and carbon-ceramic brakes system. These particular parts are all optionally available for the production GT S. Those who have heard the Mercedes-AMG GT S Safety Car have probably guessed that it’s equipped with a modified exhaust system.

Bernd Mayländer is a former DTM driver who also works as an instructor for the AMG Driving Academy and as a Mercedes-Benz brand ambassador at selected events.

Along with the Safety Car, the C63 S Estate is being introduced as the new F1 Medical Car. F1 Medical Car is on hand to provide fast emergency medical care and has a crew of three medics.

At the wheel is race driver Alan van der Merwe. His co-driver is the official FIA head physician, Dr Ian Roberts. Seated in the rear is one or two assistant medics from a selected specialist hospital near the race track.

The Medical Car follows the Formula 1 field on the first lap. This because it’s not uncommon for there to be an accident on lap 1 with the cars grouped together so tightly. This allows the medics to reach the scene of the accident as quickly as possible and immediately render first aid. During the race, the Medical Car sits alongside the Safety Car in the pit lane.

Page | 60

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

Page | 62

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

T

he SLS may no longer be available in most new Mercedes-Benz

showrooms, but it hasn’t been forgotten. Prior Design, a German tuning company, just released the SLS PD900GT kit.

The package includes a front bumper with a deep front diffuser, aero bits for the lower front fenders and a grille. The sides feature more aggressive skirts and fender flares. Out back, the rear bumper has a new diffuser with redesigned exits for the exhaust tips. The kit also includes a rear wing, a redesigned hood and wheel spacers for both front and back.

In addition to the bodywork, the full kit includes a set of forged Rotiform SNA wheels, KW coilovers, and a custom exhaust. The total price is €24,900 ($27,900 in the States) and the 80 horsepower inducing ECU tune is optional.

A customized SLS isn’t going to appeal to everyone. Some will appreciate looking at it as a one off, but many will prefer a more subtle look. Not that the SLS typically makes a “subtle” entrance, but the stock look is considerably more understated. The stock car looks appropriate for a black tie affair, while this is a bit more hooligan.

Page | 64

In stock form, the SLS is a land-based cruise missile that’s capable of hitting 196 MPH before the electronic speed limiter draws its line in the sand. It’s a very fast street car. The kit’s advertising of that fact may come across as over the top; more JDM than AMG. On the other hand, it may be a lot more impressive in the flesh.

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

Prior Design is based in the town of Kamp-Lintfort, in Germany’s North RhineWestphalia region. They have specialized in Mercedes-Benz tuning for a number of years, offering aerodynamic body parts, alloy wheels and exhaust systems.

Page | 66

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

M

ercedes-Benz is one of the world's premier automobile manufacturers. In addition to being gorgeous, these vehicles have class leading levels of luxury and performance. In an effort to ensure our treasures remain as beautiful as they were on the showroom

floor, the Los Angeles Section put together a joint tech session with Section 8 of the Porsche Club of America on that subject.

The session was hosted at Haas Entertainment Systems in Culver City. Haas Entertainment has been a So Cal staple for audio and video for over 30 years.

They cover the entire audio and video spectrum; vehicles, homes, and

businesses. Haas Entertainment is a first rate establishment and we consider ourselves quite fortunate to have been given access to their facility for this event.

The tech sessions began with Mike Hansen of International Aero Products going over the particulars of their car care product line. International Aero is one of the largest and most well-respected private jet detailers in the world. International Aero started three decades ago.

Its founder, Jonathan Saltman, began the business detailing

airplanes at an airfield near his home in Long Beach, California. Over the years the company grew to become one of the largest private airplane detailers in the world. For Page | 68

those wondering “What does a private jet detailing business have to do with cars?”, keep reading.

Aero’s products were developed to protect the paint and handcrafted leather interiors of $100M private jets. It’s easy to see what the interiors have in common, high quality materials that include fine leather and wood, but consider the exterior. Think about the environment the paint on one of these jets has to go through. A jet can sit for hours on a 120°F tarmac in the middle of the desert while waiting for a passenger. During takeoff, its 100+ degree paint is hitting bugs the same as our cars, except at a much faster speed. Once airborne, they increase their altitude to 40,000 feet where they regularly cruise between 300 and 500 MPH. Have you ever noticed those long trails behinds planes? Those are called “contrails”. That’s short for condensation trails. Those trails aren’t smoke from the engines. They’re formed when the moisture in the jet exhaust mixes with cold air and freezes into ice crystals. At that altitude, it’s commonly between minus 40° and minus 70° F. Jets are regularly pelted with ice crystals at 400 MPH. Despite the environment, the paint on these jets holds up.

Now you see why the products used to detail the paint on a private jet can do wonders for our cars.

Unfortunately, the products that are used to keep the paint pristine on a private jet are

usually sold in 55 gallon drums. The key word there is “usually”. Aero provides products originally formulated to protect custom jet aircraft in reasonably sized, 16 ounce spray bottles. If you want larger amounts, they also sell it by the gallon.

After hearing about Aero’s products, Sean McMullan of Crayford Coachworks provided a paintless dent repair demonstration. For those that don’t know, paintless dent repair is the process of removing door dings, and dents without requiring the car be repainted. Sean took an MBCA Los Angeles Section member’s car and removed dents while we watched. Aside from the fact that the member had dings and other imperfections removed for FREE, watching Sean work was incredible.

No, you probably can’t do this at home. That guy who approached you in the Home Depot parking lot probably can’t do it either. After watching Sean, it’s clear that an EXPERT is needed.

Sean has been at this for over 30 years, so if you’re in So Cal, and you’re in need of these services, I recommend you contact someone like him. Sean said he starts the job by taking a look and then informing the customer if he can do the repair. If he can, that customer has just hit the The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

jackpot. Why? Your car was painted by Mercedes-Benz.

Unless you spend a fortune and replicate their process, the next time it’s painted, it going to be worth less. If it’s spot painted, it’s REALLY going to be worth less.

Sean McMullan of Crayford Coachworks, using high intensity light while perfectly straightening a fender

Another benefit is a paintless dent removal service can do your car in a couple of hours. Some, like Sean, will do it at your home or workplace. No rental car, no wondering if the painter took your car out for a joyride, no fillers under the paint, no overspray, no color match issues, no concerns about fade, and the car will be worth more. Here are a few other “no’s”. “No”, the dent won’t pop back in due to temperature changes. “No”, removing the dent won’t unexpectedly crack the paint. “No”, there are no gotchas or surprises. If you use a professional like Sean, the only thing you can expect is a straight car.

Watching Sean work and answer questions about the process was time very well spent.

MBCA Los Angeles member Todd Liberman also gave a demonstration. Todd’s specialty is fine automotive detailing. Todd captivated the crowd, demonstrating what he does, how he does it, and why. Going through an entire car could have taken days, so he focused on specific areas.

For example, the dirtiest part of most cars is under the hood. In addition to being dirty, it requires special care. Most of us know you can’t just open the hood and spray everything in sight with a high pressure washer. Todd showed us how he goes about properly cleaning this delicate area.

Under the hood, Todd covered what things to clean, what to stay away from, what products he uses and how they should be applied.

The area of “what products to use” is always tricky. Many detailers show up with generic bottles filled with unknown liquids. They typically will not reveal specifically what’s in the bottles. Todd Page | 70

had some generic bottles and products whose labels were taped over, but he told us what supplies he used.

Todd’s demonstration also covered exterior and interior car care.

In addition to the technical presenters, two dealerships also participated; Beverly Hills Porsche and Mercedes-Benz of Calabasas. Beverly Hills Porsche brought a new 911 GTS cabriolet. Daniel Montell from Mercedes-Benz of Calabasas brought a new S550. Earlier in the day, representatives from both dealerships gave vehicle technical demonstrations, answered questions, and provided test drives.

After the tech session, Jeff Haas invited us into his corporate viewing room where he explained his specialty; professional audio and video for vehicles, homes, and businesses. The viewing room was fabulous. Like a theatre, it sloped downward from the entryway to the front. The center seating area sat seven people across and was four rows deep. In addition, there were individual seats along the side walls. In the rear of the viewing room was a bar, and the screen resided up front. The screen was 5 or 6 feet tall, and between 10 and 12 feet wide. Both the audio and visual exhibition were truly outstanding. The video was brilliantly detailed with rich colors. It was a quantitatively better image than standard high definition technology.

The audio featured

massive bass and clear treble without a hint of coarseness or grain in the presentation. Anyone considering a residential, commercial, or automotive entertainment upgrade should consider interviewing Haas Entertainment for the job.

After Jeff’s presentation, we wrapped up the event and raffle gifts were given from the presenters, car clubs, and dealerships. The gifts were fabulous. Guests were given products, services, hats, shirts, calendars, gift certificates, and a fortunate Porsche owner was given a watch from Mercedes-Benz of Calabasas.

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

To the right, a 2015 911 GTS Cabriolet which was supplied by Beverly Hills Porsche

Below, Daniel Montel of Mercedes-Benz of Calabasas with a 2015 S550

Over fifty participants enjoyed professional car care demonstrations hosted by a chic audio visual solution provider.

We met new friends, learned about Mercedes-Benz and Porsche product

offerings, were given gifts and provided refreshments. We owe a special thanks to our sponsors: Jeff Haas of Haas Entertainment – www.haasentertainment.com Todd Liberman - ToddLiberman@mac.com Sean McMullan of Crayford Coachworks - crayfordcoachworks@gmail.com Mike Hansen of International Aero - www.InternationalAero.com Beverly Hills Porsche - www.beverlyhillsporsche.com Mercedes-Benz of Calabasas - www.calabasasmbz.net Thank you, one and all.

Page | 72

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

A a

by John and Roberta Phin large contingent of Desert Stars met

at

Mercedes-Benz

of

Scottsdale on Sunday, April 12 for

highly

informative

and

entertaining

demonstration of the technical features of new Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Gus Gonzales, Technical Guru for M-B Scottsdale, walked us

through

DISTRONIC,

PRE-SAFE,

COMMAND, mbrace, AIR-MATIC suspension and

ECO-Stop/Start,

enhance preserve

safety,

all

driver

durability

and

designed

enjoyment economy

to and

Mercedes-Benz of Scottsdale’s new dealership

of

operation. ALL-LED lighting means never having to replace a light bulb! The cars can recognize pedestrians and other vehicles at risk of an incident and make necessary warnings and directional adjustments to avoid an accident. How about lowering the car at speed to improve gas mileage!

Manage your pace and gaps in traffic? Let you

take

your

hands

off

the

wheel

periodically without risk? Warn you of blind

Page | 74

spot incursion or side- traffic impingement? Wow! And best of all, while these features were introduced on the S Class, they rapidly diffuse throughout the brand classes so many features are now standard or optional and the software (with improvement) is already in the new C Class.

Tino Ferulli, M-B Scottsdale Sales and Leasing Consultant and long term Desert Stars supporter then joined the group to give personal experiences using the technology. How about self-parking in a space with only six inches to spare at the front and back of the car! We then proceeded to Bink’s Scottsdale for an outstanding dinner. Thirty-two people ordered off the extensive menu and received separate checks! How’s that for service! All in attendance expressed appreciation to M-B Scottsdale for its commitment to enthusiasts.

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

T

By Lynn Hern he OC section would like to thank the San Diego section for hosting another great regional event. This year’s event was a reincarnation of Tequila Rose which had been dormant for the last few years. It also was a good opportunity to honor Geoff Bolt who recently passed

away. Geoff was past president of Long Beach section and was instrumental in planning the annual regional events for the past few years.

The OC section was represented by five couples: Hern, Dykstra, Ortiz, Bauer and Wood-ward.

After checking into the Borrego Springs Resort and SPA late Friday afternoon, every-one met at our hospitality suite for a great welcome cocktail reception. Our hosts supplied a large variety of beverages and snacks and the rest of us supplied the greetings and camaraderie.

Saturday morning we all had a great breakfast at The Arches (the local restaurant) and pre-pared for the day’s events. First there was the Gymkhana followed by a rallye. Since there was a large number of people to do the gymkhana, and I didn’t want to spend all morning getting through it, my wife and I managed to get lined up near the head of the line. We zipped through the gymkhana but, unfortunately, didn’t score very well and started the rallye. The rallye was interesting and educational. There was a stop at the Borrego Springs nature preserve and a drive through a section with life size sculpture and prehistoric animals. We even managed to finish the rallye without getting lost.

For us, the rallye finished about noon so we went into town for lunch and a beer at Carlees. Carlees is a colorful pub that is the local hangout for the touring bikers. The rest of the day was free to relax and enjoy the terrific weather and surroundings.

Saturday evening we had an awards banquet at The Arches. I’m sorry to say we didn’t win any of the awards but the Woodwards (one of the OC group) won first place for the rallye. It was a clear night and after the banquet a group of us took a walk through the golf course. This gave us a rare opportunity to see something that doesn’t appear around OC any more, the night sky with all the stars and planets. With the dark desert background the heavens really stand out.

Sunday morning we had a leisurely breakfast and headed for home. We all had had a great time!

Page | 76

Upper Left: The last of the cars lined up on the road for the Gymkhana Upper Right: Shirley Hern sitting in front of a spectacular view of the desert

Above: Individuals waiting their turn at the start of the Gymkhana

Dinner and Awards Banquet at The Arches

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

Upper left Enola Gay Hangar. Above: Glacier National Park Tour Bus & MB300SL.

Above: Flathead Lake MT. Below: Ski Lodge where the Lost Trail Pass, ID/MT border and Glacier National Continental Divide all intersect.

Above Hotel Nevada in Ely, Nevada

Page | 78

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

by Diana Kruse

T

he group poised to board the wagon for a 50 acre tour of the museum grounds Saturday, April 19, 2015 was another beautiful San Diego day. We met at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum in Vista, CA. The day began with a tractor ride driven by our own farmer

and Mercedes Benz owner, Steve Ross. With 20 passengers, Steve drove us on a wild ride around the 55 acre grounds giving us a view of the various museum collections. This included steam engines and gas and diesel tractors, which go back as far as 1849. After our ride we wandered around the grounds and got a closer look at the blacksmith & wheelwright shop, as well as the weaving barn and the model railroad exhibit. As members finished touring and wandering around the grounds, it was time for a casual picnic lunch and talks of the museum and of course our Mercedes Benz’s. The trees shaded the picnic area and the breeze kept everyone cool. It was a fun day and we had some new members join us who we hope to see again at future events. A big “thank you” to Steve for arranging the event for us.

Steam and gas engine row

Page | 80

To the left, San Diego resident Michael and, First Lady, Denise Cooper relaxing during the ride in the wagon.

To the right, a very rare aircraft diesel engine. Aircraft diesel engines were pioneered by Packard Motor Company in the 1920’s.

To the left, Micheal & Denise Cooper, Frank Bellisle, Munira and David Coomber.

To the right, members in the wagon headed out for the tour

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

Below, Gary Jarvis--paying attention

Above, Brian Lincon, Marleen DuBona and David & Munira Coomber

Brian Lincon and Marleen Dubon, Bela & Janice Feher and Tom & Marilyn Carnes enjoying picnic Lunch

Page | 82

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

By Lana Tbilisi

B

ased on member testimonies, this was one of the best rallyes hosted by the Los Angeles Section. There were 8 cars with 19 participants and everyone had a wonderful time. A special thanks to Fran Schoenfeld for coordinating this event and enlisting Rallye-Meisters

Howard & Betty Green. As always Howard and Betty put together a well prepared route with well thought out details, making this a very memorable event.

The rallye required about two and a half hours of time long to drive and answer the 80 questions.

Awards

and

prizes

were

distributed at the close of the rallye

ceremonies

where

everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch Ruby's

dining Diner

al in

fresco

at

Redondo

Beach. With the Pacific Ocean backdrop and the delightful Southern California breezes, it really was a beautiful way to spend the day.

First Place: Fran Schoenfeld and Lana Tbilisi

Page | 84

Second Place Glenn Gordon & Chris & Rob

Third Place Kevin & Brandon Wright

Our Rallye Meisters, without whom, none of this would be possible: Betty and Howard Green

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

by Michael “Coop” Cooper

B

ack on January 31st, Saturday morning arrived with the continuation of an overnight rain storm. That resulted in the car show being relocated from the grassy driving range to an asphalt parking lot. Because of

the weather, the majority of Chaparral Section members who were registered for the show decided to stay home. A hearty group of 8 members braved the elements and gathered at our normal

staging point for the car show; the Cow Palace Restaurant in Amado Arizona.

We were there from around 6:45 a.m. to around 9:00.

After breakfast, some of our group, including 2 Mercedes-Benz vehicles, drove to the Tubac Country Club’s parking lot to either enter the show or pick-up their “goodie bags”. The winners for Class 20 were: 1st Place – Jack Watters – 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe 2nd Place – J. Fiscus - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK 280 Roadster Page | 86

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

by Charles Rosak of the Las Vegas Section

I

n 1986, Ellen and I joined the German 300SL Club and have since attended almost all of their annual meetings. During my tenure as an officer of the GWG, we tried to stimulate interaction between members of both clubs.

Toward this end, I invited Europeans to attend our

conventions and Ellen translated registration forms to make the process easier. Success was limited, but in the process we established close friendships with several couples. In one case it developed into a situation where we exchange 300SLs for drives to each other’s events. This year, newly retired Doctors. Frederich-August Schroeder and Ilse Stachan were able to vacation for a big two weeks and together we drove the 3000 mile round trip between Las Vegas and Banff.

I have utilized all types of roads, and prefer to avoid interstates, except when time is of the essence. I enjoy the US route system which, despite small towns and traffic lights, allows one to get up close and personal with our beautiful country. The ability to pull off for a myriad of reasons is just reward for the slower progress. From the interstate, homes, farms and businesses are just a speck in the distance, but on two lane macadam, one can not only enjoy front yards, buildings and architectural detail, but often a glimpse into the past via abandoned structures and attractions.

My plan began by laying a straight edge on a map connecting Las Vegas and Banff. The proximity of US 93 to this line made for an easy decision. I allowed six nights for the 1436 mile northbound leg, however due to flight schedules and known road closures, only 4 for the faster return on Interstate 15. Despite southbound constraints, we took well rewarded time to tour the Capital building in Helena, Montana and Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

The first day was the longest, and hottest, so we took full advantage of the excellent road with virtually no traffic to move at a brisk pace. Most of the time the scenery was barren desert, but we were treated to a stretch of rolling green hills prior to the fertile valley surrounding Caliente, NV. The transformation was amazing and all it needed was an abundant supply of fresh water.

West Wendover on the NV-UT border with its many casino hotels made for an excellent stopping point. Wendover Air Field was home base for heavy bombers during WWII thanks to the secluded location and ample open space for bombing practice. The hangar that housed the famed B-29, Enola Gay, still stands in mute remembrance of its role in the war. Our guests wanted to see the flats, so we drove as far as the entry road was paved and while others gazed at the expanse of Bonneville, I tried to repair my inoperative left turn signal. Like flies to honey, two 300SLs attract attention, and within minutes several mechanics were on the ground removing lenses, examining fuses and testing circuits.

Page | 88

At Wells, NV, Rt.93 turned north and slowly the desert hues became greener as ranching took over the landscape and elevations rose to 6000 ft. Water was in short supply until Idaho and the Salmon Falls reservoir came into view. North of Twin Falls there is a massive region of ancient lava flows including Craters of the Moon National Monument. A few miles away, the small town of Arco boasts the world’s first town powered by nuclear energy. Our next overnight lay 236 miles north with a plethora of beautiful scenery on both sides of the velvet smooth highway. We followed small rivers that parallel a range of mountains reaching above 12,000 ft. Ranching and sport fishing were evident everywhere along the Salmon and Bitterroot Rivers. Hamilton, MT was a wonderful stopping point with dozens of motels and eateries. The next day Flathead Lake provided a beautiful lunch stop and photo op overlooking the pristine water.

After Kalispell we bid adieu to Route 93 so as to drive thru Glacier National Park where we encountered traffic for the first time which made for a slower pace but time to enjoy the scenery.

The eastern part of the park became noticeably colder, and eventually the clouds reached the ground and fine granules of snow began falling.

The border crossing was fast and with the

deteriorating weather we decided to make a run for Calgary before snow became a limiting factor.

I allowed two unscheduled nights for possible contingency, hoping to use them in Calgary. This caution left us in a snowstorm, looking for a place to stay! Luckily, the first turn off the freeway was rewarded with a Holiday Inn and adjacent restaurants. What a relief that was. Two days later, the final 100 miles to Banff were slippery and slow, but the jewel that is Banff Springs and its magnificent hotel were ample reward for the effort.

In retrospect, I cannot say enough about the pleasure of using “Roads Less Traveled”, which lets one get a feel for the land, not just an overview. America is resource abundant, and vast areas that are seemingly worthless on first glance, become valuable if and when there is water for agriculture, recreation and industry. Many years ago after Roberta Yakel delivered a presentation on alternate energy; I asked if she worried about the world’s supply of oil. “No”, she replied, “but I do have serious concerns about the world’s supply of water.” The wisdom of that statement was painfully evident on this drive.

As I have said before, “Nothing beats driving a Mercedes Benz with blue sky above and a smooth road below.” Try it; you’ll enjoy it – that’s a promise.

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

The Orange County Section had a very pleasant Sunday afternoon March 1st at the Rancho Capistrano Winery in San Juan Capistrano, CA. The Winery is family owned and the owner gave us a really interesting program on wine and how they produce theirs. The appetizers were yummy.

Several of our members joined the wine club. At some point we hope to go back and hope you can join us.

Page | 90

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

Bud and Dee Cloninger of the Desert Stars Section said they had a great time at the Tequila Rose event in Southern California. As always the San Diego Section hosts threw a great event. Bud and Dee sent this wild photo from their weekend getaway.

Page | 92

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

By John and Roberta Phin

T

he evening was brilliant!! The setting, Maggiano’s Little Italy in Scottsdale, provided a banquet room that opened up to a patio

showcasing

three

new

Mercedes-Benz

vehicles

provided by Schumacher European. There were several member owned Mercedes parked right out front to illustrate the evolution of the Mercedes-Benz SL. There were three extremely knowledgeable “car guy” speakers, answering questions about collectability in general and specific “how to’s” for member cars. The fifty-eight participants included members, auction attendees, and guests. The food was plentiful and delicious, and the weather was Scottsdale perfect, with a blazing red sunset and balmy temperatures. It was

amazingly fun and things came together so well!!!

The Desert Stars MB Enthusiast Dinner celebrates the several auction events that take place in and around the Phoenix area every January. This year’s total collector car Arizona auction sales hit a new record of $293 Million!!! So there was a lot to celebrate and discuss at Page | 94

the dinner. The dinner event organizers, Roberta and John Phin, introduced Desert Stars board members, and the featured MB SL owners; Matt Crawford (107 560SL), Chuck Stanford (129 SL600 “Silver Arrow”), Ken Borowitz (230 SL500) and Jerry Bevins (197 SLS AMG). Then Lou Gordon of Schumacher European MB was introduced. Lou brought with him a new 2015 C- class, CLA and GLA for display. From there we moved to our evening’s speakers: Andrew Reid, a Producer/Client Service Technician of Hayden Wood Insurance Agency; Tim Suddard, the Publisher of Grassroots Motorsports and Classic Motorsports, and Dave Tobin, Editor of “The SL Market Letter”

Tim Suddard, Andrew Reid, and Dave Tobin discussed the many aspects of car collecting.

The self-professed [In fact, renowned! – Matt Crawford] “car nuts” spoke to us as a panel, fielding questions collected from club members. Their hands-on, in-the-business and collector experience was apparent from the depth of response and joy reflected when they talked about a favorite car (there were many), or the “car I should have bought”, or just about the cars they have had, loved and shared.

Our

aim

evening

for

the

was

to

learn about the art of collecting cars, how to identify cars with the potential to

be

valued

“collectible”

as

(i.e.,

increase in value).

Our speakers discussed the many aspects of collectability. What was valuable and sought after in its’ time, limited editions, colors and options that were popular and correct for the period, these The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

are some of the things to look for

in

a

collectable

car.

But…they were adamant that your special car is the one that you want to own, drive, and enjoy. Their advice: Get out and try a lot of cars.

Enjoy them for what they are...and IF you make some money along the way, even better.

Our

speakers

were

very

positive about the Mercedes marque. They cited the long history of solid engineering, cars of many vintages still reliable as daily drivers, great factory support, a wide range of pricing, from the very affordable to the special collectables owned by a few. Quality, drivable cars priced (purchase and cost of ownership) for a wide range of budgets.

Lastly, they remarked on the Mercedes-Benz Club of America, praising its strong membership and support.

Our event was the “MB Enthusiast” Dinner. While the discussion was focused on "collectibles", we were enthusiastically encouraged to simply enjoy our cars and have fun! This was great advice for the MB Enthusiasts present! We left even more enthusiastic for the cars, the club, and the friends we are so grateful to know in the group.

Page | 96

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

by Lynn Davison and Michael ‘Coop’ Cooper

A

gorgeous spring day, lots of Mercedes-Benz sheet metal to admire and an excellent lunch buffet were all part of the Chaparral Section’s

Sweetheart Mixer at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch back on February 21, 2015.

The members and guests were treated to a monster Photo Op, ranging from watching the Board of Directors pose for mug shots, to having pictures taken with each member vehicle and the finale group photo.

There must be something about that place, because it’s always our best attended event of the year. This year we had 42 members and guests.

After the lunch at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch, there were approximately 25 section members who made the short jaunt west and stopped by the Tucson Wildlife Center for a tour of the facility.

Page | 98

Our group divided into three groups and we were given a tour of the newly dedicated animal hospital.

We were shown the special isolated holding pens for bobcats, javelina, coyotes, and many types of birds.

The tour also included their large eagle and hawk flight enclosure.

This is used once the birds have

been healed enough to be able to fly. Once they’ve regained their strength, the next step is for them to be released back into the wild.

A few animals that have been brought in have been so badly injured that they are unable to survive in the wild. These animals are retained at the center and our tour groups found them quite interesting.

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

from the Orange County Section

M

any of the Orange County section members take part in Concours de Elegance car judging as well as entering their cars in the competition. The Muckenthaler Motor Car Festival, held every May, is one of the concours most attended by Orange County section

members. This year was no exception, with Lynn Hern acting as Chief Judge for the Concours on Sunday. Blake Smith (past section president), Jerry Wilburn, Gerhard Schnuerer (a concours class winner), Dale Becker, Bob Reinfried and Dian and Jerry Klayman (past LA section president) were also present. The Muckenthaler car festival is always a great way to spend the weekend as a family event with some spectacular cars to enjoy and great musical entertainment.

Muckenthaler Chief Judge and Orange County President, Lynn Hern

Page | 100

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

A recap by

F

Steve Ross

or those of you who were unable to attend this fantastic and exciting outing with fellow Star Car folks, we are truly sorry you missed out. Section members from San Diego, Desert Stars, Orange County, Long Beach-South Bay, Central California and Chicagoland, began

arriving as early as Thursday evening in preparation for the festivities. The hospitality suite swung open the door at four p.m. Friday and shut down at 11:00 p.m. for replenishment and opened back up Saturday afternoon. Renewing old friendships and making new friendships was in full swing with many Mercedes-Benz tales of intrigue and heroics of past driving events. Some of the stories were a bit embellished, on my opinion, but who cares? .

Bright and early Saturday morning cars were lining up for the Gymkhana. Walt Anderson led the pack with his trusty trailer carrying his "rallye tires".

You are correct if you noticed that one of the cars in the photo to the left is not a MercedesBenz. It is a 1935 Packard V-12 Limo. A few Packards joined in on the fun.

The following photos show the traditional walking of the 1,200 foot course. The gymkhana was taken from the MBCA Educational Foundation Safe Drivers Safe Families Training Program with minor modifications.

Page | 102

Ray Davis races to the finish line

Walking the track

A driver’s view of the course

And the distance to the post is?

MBCA National Prez Terry "K" approaching the finish line

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

Participants in the gymkhana and rallye completed paperwork prior to driving. After completing the gymkhana, teams were sent on their way to do the rallye through the beautiful blooming desert.

Although everyone was a winner just by attending this fun-filled weekend, some were given special recognition for excelling in the gymkhana and rallye. The gymkhana has been aptly named the "presidents event" as only current or past presidents were winners. Terry Kiwala, MBCA National President, Walt Anderson past National President, and Michael Cooper, San Diego Section President battled it out for the number 1, 2, and 3 spots. It all came down to a matter of inches as to who stopped closest to the pylon without touching it in determining the winner. The rotund gentleman in the yellow shirt you see in some of the photos is me--Steve

First place, MBCA Prez Terry Kiwala

First Place: Carol Ross

Second place, past MBCA Prez Walt Anderson

Second Place: Suzanne Strauss

Page | 104

Third place, San Diego Prez Michael Cooper

Third Place: Bea Moras

Richard is the Activities Director for the Packard International Motor Car Club San Diego Region and Bud Cloninger is the past President of the Desert Stars Section of the MercedesBenz Club of America. The Packard Club was invited to join us and they L to R is Karen and Richard Schauer with Dee and Bud Cloninger.

accepted our invitation. Three of the

people even drove their Packards. After completing the gymkhana, the rallye team set out on their adventure through the Anza Borrego State Park. All returned safely in due time with completed rallye sheets and some even had most of the correct answers!

1st Place John and Angelia Woodward

2nd Place Kai and Heidi Erdmann

3rd Place Gerhard and Isolde Fehrmann

Table 1; Isolde & Gerhard Fehrmann, Peter and Rosi Bauer, Florentino, and Marlyn Ortiz. Table 2; Suzanne & Martin Strauss, Kai & Heidi Erdmann, and Mark & Karen Souther. Table 3; Rudy Wokoek, Rose Bolton, Diana & Brian Kruse, Bea and Tony Moras

Lois and Dale Hull (left), the big winners of the weekend golf package at the Borrego Springs Resort. Dale and Lois are veterans of many Tequila Rose events. To the right are John Wooward, Lynn & Shirley Hern, Donald & Donna Halliday and Angelia Woodward.

This was a very successful regional event made possible by all the great Mercedes-Benz Sections from throughout the Southwest Region as well as the MBCA. The weather was, shall we say perfect, the accommodations were top notch and the food was also good. How often does one get all three?

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

Page | 106

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

By Harman and Susan Cadis, Poker Meisters

T

his year's annual Poker Run had 40 club member participants in 21 cars. The Poker Run / Tour started at the Mercedes-Benz of Chandler where we enjoyed their hospitality and nice lunch in their smart Car Center. They were truly gracious hosts. Next we were off to the

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. We took the tour of the "Great House" and contemplated what they built it for. All appreciated the mystery and complexity.

Page | 108

Then we ventured the back roads to Saint Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery. In the summer of 1995 six monks arrived in the southern Arizona desert to establish St. Anthony’s Monastery.

Who knew that such a place existed in the middle of “no-where”? Most took the opportunity to earn a bonus card by climbing to the top of their hilltop chapel, what a great view! It was well worth it even without the bonus card.

We then hit the trail to a great western BBQ dinner at San Tan Flats. Appetizers, libations and dinner prepared by Ryan, our own private grill cook. To top it off we had peach pie from Schnepf Farms, one of last year’s favorite stops. Oh yes, we also got a card at each stop and played poker while having drinks and good food watching the camp fires, listening to live music.

The podium of winners!

First place honors go to Rhonda and Ron Borino (above center), while Melanie Searle & Bob St John took second place (upper left) and Hillary and John Fiscus came in third (below, right.) The worst hand was held, again rumor has it, by Matt Crawford and Arnie Brown and yes they got a prize of fuzzy dice to hang from their Benz.

Above: The Greek Orthodox chapel and Bill’s E63 S.

Our great Mercedes-Benz of Chandler host!

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

Courtesy of the Sand Diego Section Left & Right: Brian and Diana Kruse and their freshly restored 1961 190SL aka Ruby Bagona

Below: A 1911 Mercedes 38/70 received the Mercedes-Benz Star of Excellence Award

Left: 190SLs and Pagoda Row Right: Director of First Impressions Diana Kruse and San Diego Section President Michael Cooper quite at ease.

Judging no sweat for them

Below: San Diego’s past President Jonathan White wins second place in class. Not beer steins but good enough

Page | 110

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

by Michael Turner

n the second Saturday morning in March, 10

immaculately

prepared Mercedes-

Benz automobiles with 15 Chaparral Section members, set off from the parking lot of Pima Community College, for the entrance to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona.

This year marks the 6th consecutive year the Chaparral Section has participated in the DM50 Picnic and Annual Casual Classic Car Show. This is a very worthwhile event sponsored by the DM50 organization of businesses and members that strive to coordinate mission and support activities between the US Air Force and the greater Tucson and Southern Arizona areas. This year our parking areas were 3 separately staggered rows due to a total attendance of more than 170 vehicles.

Page | 112

There were 7 award categories this year. For the 3rd time, the Chaparral Section had the award winning entry for Best in Class of the German category; Jack Watters and his 2015 S550 Coupe.

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

- Michael

Above: The coolest trophy ever; A 30mm canon round from an A10 Thunderbolt II (AKA The Wharthog)

Right: 1st Place German: Jack Watters 2015 S550 Coupe

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

O

by Laura Dykstra n May 16th the Mercedes-Benz Long Beach Section hosted a Santa Anita Horse Race event to which the Orange County Section had been invited. It was a special day at the races as it was the Preakness Stakes Day. Our seating was in the Picnic Circle which was very

different than being in the stands and made the event extra special. The BBQ was delicious and more food than you could believe! We all bet on at least a couple of the races with some of us wining and some of us losing, but it was all in fun. I bet $2.00 to win on one horse in the 6th race only because of his name; “Crazy About Him” (thinking about my husband)! The horse was a long shot but won with me collecting $78.65!! The 9th race was in honor of the Mercedes-Benz Club, so Isolde and Gerhard Fehrmann were invited to visit the winning horse and its jockey and owners in the winner’s circle. We all left with smiles on our faces!

Left, Isolde Fehrmann of the Long Beach Section

Right, Laura and Ed Dykstra of the Orange County Section

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We’ve heard life is a journey rather than a destination.

The Southwest Star is here to help you plan the trek.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Join the Desert Stars Section for Lunch at the Lake Saturday May 30, 2015

Join Desert Stars for a tour to Canyon Lake and lunch at the Lakeside Restaurant on May 30, 2015.

Canyon Lake is an amazing geological formation on the Salt River with shear rock walls where you might see a Big Horn Sheep or a Mountain Lion watching you as you cruise the lake through the canyon. The Lakeside Restaurant has an extensive menu of local favorites and provides comfortable

accommodations for

a

large

group. You will order off the menu and separate checks will be provided.

We will meet at Starbucks at 3300 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. Be sure to be there by 9:30 AM when we will leave for a tour along the Apache Trail past Apache Junction and into the Tonto National Forest towards Tortilla Flat. After lunch you can make your own arrangements to reserve a tour of the Lake on Dolly, a double decked steam boat. It is HIGHLY recommended

that

you

make

reservations

as

soon

as

possible

for

Dolly,

www.dollysteamboat.com, as there is only ONE excursion at noon on the 30th. Or, depending on weather and availability, join with the Phin’s to rent a pontoon boat and cruise the lake at your own pace. RSVP to John or Roberta Phin at jgphin@cox.net before May 23, 2015.

The Los Angeles Section’s Club BBQ Sunday, June 7th

Please join us for the club BBQ. It will be on Sunday, June 7th and the cost is $5 per person. The BBQ will be from 11AM until 3PM at the home of Amir and Mindy Rudyan. A map is available at the LA Section website. You can pay when you arrive, but we must have a head count so please, Page | 126

RSVP with Lana.

You can give Lana a call or send her an email.

Lana’s email address is

Paul.Bergstrom@la-mbca.com

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

The Channel Islands Section is having a Brunch at Safire American Bistro in Camarillo Sunday, June 7th On Sunday the 7th at 11 AM, we’re meeting at the Safire American Bistro in Camarillo. They are located at 4850 Santa Rosa Rd, Camarillo 93010. The cost is $22 per person. Please RSVP with Bob and Char Scudder by June 1, 2015 via email - Lp2riv@aol.com

Cars and Coffee Tucson with the Chaparral Section Saturday June 13 The second Saturday of every month, like-minded people bonded by the love of cars gather at the AJ’s parking lot at La Encantada for a gathering called “Cars and Coffee.”

The Chaparral Section’s Run to Pinetop Saturday and Sunday, June 13th and 14th Tired of hot June and no heat relief? Go with us on the “Run to the Pines” in Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizon. The event includes a one night stay in the cool pines with options for longer personal activity or just kick back and enjoy the cool weather. Contact Ed Gladish, e.gladish(at)comcast.net or Jerry Tucker, jerry(at)tuckerhome.us

The San Diego Section’s Coastal Drive & Brunch Saturday, June 20th We will meet at Starbucks in Carlsbad on Paseo Del Norte (Carlsbad Co. Stores) at 8:00a.m. for an 8:45 departure. No need to RSVP, just show up and cruise along with us. (Show up early for the Cars & Coffee gathering)

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Join the Desert Stars Section for the Prescott Tour and Mile High Brewfest Saturday June 20, 2015 with Optional Overnight to June 21 Come tour Prescott and join us for lunch at the Gurley Street Grill on Saturday, June 20th and then on to experience the historic town of Prescott, with art and history and on that Saturday the Mile

High

presents

Brewfest. to

the

The

public

Brewfest

the

latest

offerings of local craft and micro-brew beer makers. Beer makers of this sort are a rapidly growing and dynamic industry; they’ve changed the concept of “beer” forever! The Court House Plaza and surrounding shopping and site seeing opportunities are the center of the action for this event. You may want to book a room for the night at the historic Hasayampa Inn, which is an easy walking distance away. However, there are ample places to stay for the night, so make your own arrangements. And remember, Prescott is close to Phoenix and a reasonable drive, so an overnight stay is optional. If your preference is a one day trip, act responsibly and keep in mind the benefit of a designated driver. For those staying overnight, we will arrange a no-host dinner at a local restaurant.

We’ll leave from Schumacher Mercedes-Benz at the intersection of Scottsdale Road and East Chauncey Lane (just south of East Mayo Boulevard) at 10:30 AM on the 20th.

RSVP to John at jgphin@cox.net by June 13. No need to call the Grill as John will handle the reservations, but do make your own room reservation if your choice is to stay the night in Prescott.

The San Diego Section’s Car Show On The Bay Sunday, June 28th The San Diego Section is joining several other San Diego County Car Clubs at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Sunday June 28, 2015.

The proceeds from this event goes to numerous

organizations who support our military. You may enter your car to be judged, or display only.

The link to this event and registration form is http://www.mccsmcrd.com/carclassic/index.html.

Jon Bernardi is the coordinator for this car show. You may contact Jon at jon113sl@att.net

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

Join the Orange County Section for a Scenic Drive through Carbon Canyon to the Tour of Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, CA. Sunday July 12

The Mercedes Club of Orange County is visiting the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, CA. This will be an afternoon / early evening event ending with dinner following at Centro Basco Restaurant.

Beginning at 1:00 PM, we’ll meet at the Carbon Canyon Regional Park, 4442 Carbon Canyon Road, Brea, CA (714-973-3160). Exit on Santa Fe Road into the Park and look for our group in the parking area. We’ll drive as a group through Carbon Canyon toward the airport, and maps will be provided.

At 2:00 PM we will have a 2 hour guided tour of the Planes of Fame Air Museum, which is located at 7000 Merrill Ave. #17, Chino CA (909-597-3722). There is a $10.00 per person fee for the air museum.

At the conclusion of the tour we will drive over to the Centro Basco Restaurant for dinner. Centro Basco is located at 13432 South Central Ave., Chino CA 91710 (909-628-9014). Our Reservation

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for dinner is for 5:00 PM. The cost for dinner is $30.00 per member and $35.00 for non-member guests.

Dinner choices are Rib Eye Steak, Chicken Cordon Blue or Baked Salmon. Please RSVP with Marlyn Ortiz or Rosi Bauer no later than July 7th.

The Planes of Fame Air Museum has many flying and static aircraft, along with multiple rare examples under restoration. The museum’s collection of Japanese aircraft is the largest of its type in the world. Among the rare air-craft are the North American P-51A Mustang, a Northrop N9MB Flying Wing, a Boeing P-26A Peashooter, a Lockheed P-38J Lightning and a Republic P-47G Thunderbolt. This will be a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

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

Join the Desert Stars Section for the Rock and Roll Car Show and Dinner at the Pink Pony Saturday July 18 at 4:30 PM Join Desert Stars for a car show at The Pavilions in Scottsdale, 9140 E. Indian Bend

Rd.,

and

dinner

at

the

newly

revitalized Pink Pony, also in Scottsdale, on Saturday, July 18th. The Rock and Roll Car Show is a Saturday standard combining classic, antique and perhaps a hot rod or two. It is free to the public and wellsupported by local car nuts for years. We’ll convene at 4:30 and after an hour or so looking at the cars on display, we’ll drive to Downtown Scottsdale where the Shugrue family has undertaken an extraordinary remake of the Pink Pony. This once old and tired steak house, is now an upscale and modern new-cuisine dining venue emphasizing fresh and local ingredients. We’ll arrive at 6PM and as is our custom, order off the menu with separate checks. The Pink Pony’s address is 3831 N. Scottsdale Rd. No need to call the restaurant as John and Roberta will handle reservations but do RSVP to John at jgphin@cox.net by July 11.

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The Los Angeles Section’s Caravan Day Trip to Santa Paula and Ojai Sunday, July 19th Meet at the home of our event planners, Craig Stevens & Brigitte Trapp, at 9:00 AM in Woodland Hills. Coffee and Donuts will be provided by the hosts. Wheels will roll at 10:00 AM and we’ll proceed to the California Oil Museum in Santa Paula. Lunch to follow at Familia Diaz Mexican Restaurant. After lunch, we will continue to Ojai, where we’ll take a walking tour of Ojai and visit some art galleries. This event is estimated to take about 6 hours. It’s going to be a Full Day and a great Driving Event. The hosts address and other details are at the Los Angeles Section website.

Please RSVP by July 13 to Craig Stevens and Bridgette Trapp at brigittetrapp@me.com

The San Diego Section is caravanning to Legends of the Autobahn Friday August 14th at 9:00 AM The San Diego Section will once again be caravanning up the beautiful California coast to Monterey and, the now famous, Legends of the Autobahn. We will depart from San Diego on August 12 for those who wish to join us. Now is the time to start planning, getting the Star car ready and finding a place to stay. If you don't want to have your pride and joy judged that is great. We love all Mercedes-Benz especially those daily drivers.

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

The Desert Stars Section is hosting the Havasupai Rallye 2015 September 18-20, 2015

This year’s Havasupai will have the participants traveling through north central Arizona. We will begin our event Friday evening September 18th in Payson [the Heart of Arizona] with a reception at the hotel. The next morning the participants will be sent off through Payson looking for various clues and landmarks.

From

Payson

participants

will

drive

towards

Strawberry and ultimately over to Camp Verde for lunch. Once done with lunch the participants will be sent back out for round two which will take them across I-17 and in to the Verde Valley passing through Cottonwood, Cornville and ultimately Sedona. Sedona will be the end of the line and where we will enjoy an awards dinner and spend Saturday night.

September 20th we will plan an event in or around Sedona for those interested. Save September 18th – 20th.

To get a preliminary count of potential participants we are requesting you RSVP to rlborino@hotmail.com by May 22nd. Stay tuned for costs and details in the next newsletter.

The Chaparral Section’s Mystery Dine and Drive September After our summer break, newish members Mike and Tracy try their hand at leading an event. In the tradition of our Event Meister, Lynn Davison, they will come up with an interesting drive capped off with a nice meal. Contact Mike or Tracy at jammerkiller(at)hotmail.com

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It’s spring and you know what that means – StarTech 2015 is right around the corner! Register today for our weekend of great events, and wonderful technical seminars. To register Click the register now button above!

StarTech is the perfect way to kick off summer!

Friday begins with a Show & Shine in the

afternoon. The Welcome Party, sponsored by MBUSA, will be at the Mercedes-Benz Diamond Club at Great American Ball Park For more information on this Click Here.

It’s time to register for StarTech 2015 and book your DISCOUNT rooms at the Hilton Doubletree Airport by clicking here!

Saturday will feature great speakers and fun ancillary. The Ladies of Mercedes has a WomenOnly Tech session and a Meet & Greet in the afternoon for all ladies in attendance. The Saturday Evening Reception will have great food and great entertainment – the perfect way to wrap up a day. For the current lineup, Click Here On Sunday, StarTech is partnered with the Ault Park Concours d’Elegance. Mercedes-Benz is the featured marque, with six judged classes! The classes are: Pre-War, Post-War Sports 1955-1971, Post-War Sports 1972-1999, Post-War Coupes & Sedans 1949-1976, Post-War Coupes & Sedans 1977-1999, and Contemporary Sports 2000-present. The car selection committee is still looking for great cars to enter, so if you own a MB that would be perfect for one of these categories, please visit the event website (www.ohioconcours.com), click on the Nominations Forms link and submit your car.

Now is the time to register! Visit startech2015.mbca.org and click on the “Register” tab at the top. See you there!

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

Join Dick Sharp of the Desert Stars Section in Death Valley October 16-18, 2015 Dick sharp is planning a trip to Death Valley, and you’re invited to join him!

Death Valley is the largest National park and has a diverse landscape ranging from 3000 feet above sea level to 280 feet below sea level.

But don’t worry, you need not be SCUBA certified for this journey!

We will meet in Las Vegas on Friday where we will enjoy cocktails early in the evening. We will call it a night early so we can rest up for the big day on Saturday when we will be visiting the park.

Saturday will leave Vegas early in the morning after breakfast at the hotel. It is approximately a two hour drive to the park from the hotel in Las Vegas. Once we get to the park, we will enjoy more driving as we tour the area. We will be on paved roads and not doing any strenuous hiking, however we will be spending a lot of time in the cars, stopping for lunch somewhere in the middle of the day. Saturday night we will spend the evening in the middle of Death Valley at the Stovepipe Page | 136

Wells Village. They have a general store, the Badwater Saloon to wet your whistle, and a western themed Tollroad Restaurant where we will have dinner Saturday night.

Contact Dick at richardsharp31@gmail.com if you are interested.

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

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

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If you would like to see your ad here, send us an email at info@FitzhughMedia.com The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

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

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