Southwest star magazine 2015 4th quarter

The Southwest Star COVERING THE SOUTHWEST REGION OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ CLUB OF AMERICA VOLUME 3, NUMBER 4

In this issue we look at GT S Tuners, Mercedes bi-turbo upgrade, the Pasadena Art Center Car Classic, the CLK in retrospect, Lewis Hamilton, Aston Martin’s DB11, 2015 Techno Classica, Mercedes-Benz new west coast offices, and more Your cars, your events 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 Pasadena Art Center Car Classic . . .

Dual Turbo upgrade. . . . . . .

F1 World Drivers' Championship . . . . .

The CLK-Class . . . .

Car meet etiquette . . . .

GT S Tuners. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Aston Martin DB11 . . . . . . . . . .

The New A-Class. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mansory Gronos Black Edition . . . . . . .

Techno Classica. . . . . . . .

Mercedes’ new West Coast Offices . .

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Planes of Fame Museum . .

San Diego Wash and Shine or not. . . .

Desert Stars Tour to Prescott. . . . .

Geoff Bolt . . . . . .

Speed Festival. . . . . . . . .

Desert Stars Rock n Roll Car Show . . .

Bob Gunthorp in Monterey. . . . . .

Legends of the Autobahn. . . . . . . .

CommuniquĂŠs from the section presidents . . . .

Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . and much more 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 November 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 Motorsports Editor Kevin Ehrlich East Coast Bureau Chief Wendy Fitzhugh Creative Consultant Sean Fitzhugh Contributors To This Issue Beverly Maddalone Bob Gunthorp Bob Scudder Carol Kruse-Ross Chris Bingham Christina Mattingly Diana Kruse Ed Gladish Edward Dykstra Evelyn Ives Fran Schoenfeld George Brown Gerhard Fehrmann Jay Pill Jerry Tucker Jim Salisbury Jim Wiens Jocelyn Salisbury John Phin Judy C Jutta Lunario aruso

Kathy Wilber Ken Borowitz Kenneth George Kevin Wright Lana Tbilisi Laura Dykstra Lonnie Estrella Lynn Davison Mark Ichiyama Marlyn Ortiz Mary Fischer Matthew Crawford Michael Cooper Michael Turner Mike Bailey Nora Fleming Rebecca Crawford Rhonda Borino Robert Wilber Roberta Phin Ron Borino Rosi Bauer Roz Bergstrom Shirley Hern Tina Wright Verna Eason Victoria Mazelli, William Hopper MBCA Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz USA Daimler AG Brabus Posaidon Prior Design Airpark Collision Center Arizona Concours Canyon Lake Marina experiencescottsdale.com

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

Queries info@fitzhughmedia.com Page | 6

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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

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

From the editor’s desk

F

rankfurt is in the books and it was spectacular. Most auto shows are held annually. The International Motor Show in Frankfurt is so big, it’s held every other year.

Unfortunately, Europe was in the middle of an economic slowdown during the 2013

show. Corporate funds were tight, and it was less than breathtaking. 2015 made up for lost time.

Mercedes-Benz typically sets up shop in the Festival Hall, right at the main entrance to the exhibition site. As guests entered, they were offered a cell phone app. The app served as a digital guide to the Mercedes-Benz exhibit - and it was big enough to need it.

150

Mercedes-Benz employees worked on the show for a solid year. The Mercedes-Benz space was over ninety-six thousand square feet, used 850 tons of steel, had over 140 miles of cabling, and the 60+ vehicles on display were lit by 4500 lights. Keep in mind, this was just the Mercedes-Benz exhibit.

Mercedes-Benz rolled out three world premieres, the 'Concept IAA' (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile), the S-Class Cabriolet and the C-Class Coupé, but there was more to the show.

Much more.

Porsche officially served notice that Tesla doesn’t own the premium electric car market.

The Porsche Mission E Concept has an 800-volt drive system that produces over 600 horsepower.

The Mission E hits sixty MPH in under 3.5 seconds, can go 310 miles on a

single charge AND can recharge to 80 percent in just 15 minutes.

That’s half the Tesla’s

charge time (using a Tesla Supercharger) and the Porsche’s charge results in a 45% greater driving range.

An 800 volt charging system network don’t exist yet, but that’s a minor

detail.

Bugatti brought the Vision Gran Turismo.

Although it was first developed for the Gran

Turismo 6 video game, this may actually be the highly anticipated successor to the Veyron.

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Bentley introduced the $230,000 Bentayga. This new Bentley was built to be the fastest and most luxurious SUV available. The Bentayga has a 6.0-liter V12 that produces 600 horsepower. The 5,300+ pound SUV can reach zero sixty in 4.0 seconds, and has a 187 mph top speed.

Lamborghini brought a convertible version of the Huracán called the LP 610-4 Spyder. The Spyder is powered by the same 610 horsepower 5.2 liter V10 as the coupe. The Spyder’s power soft top opens in 17 seconds at speeds up to 31 mph.

Rolls-Royce introduced the Dawn.

According to Rolls-Royce, this is the quietest convertible

available.

The Frankfurt Show featured more than just supercars.

Toyota brought the new Prius, Kia

introduced the new Sportage, Nissan brought their new Gripz crossover, and Mazda brought the CX-9 replacement concept.

I thought the star of the show was the Porsche Mission E. An electric car with a 310 mile range is great, and being able to recharge in 15 minutes is a huge selling point. Basically, the driver gets a 15 minute break every four hours. If the 800 volt charger doesn’t cost as much as the car and I can charge it at home, trust me, I won’t miss not going to a gas station. Why Porsche instead of something from our favorite manufacturer?

Porsche made what I thought was “the best”.

Besides, Mercedes-Benz has something in the works. We can’t show photos yet, but it would have been my personal “best of show”. The best is yet to come.

Marcus Blair Fitzhugh 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

ew places and events are better situated to provide a look at the past, present and future at the same place at the same time than the Art Center College of Design and its annual Car Classic. The 2015 edition featured examples of iconic classic cars, cutting edge current products, and prototypes testing the limits of the future.

If you want to see the future of the automobile, a walk through the hallways at the Art Center will Page | 14

Art Center staff curates the event and invited particular cars of interest.

The

theme of the Car Classic this year was futuristic design, so the cars on display represented an attempt to push the design envelope and push towards the future when they were originally constructed.

As you might expect, Mercedes models had a presence. Walking onto the lawn behind the school overlooking the Rose Bowl, a brand new 2016 AMG GT Coupe kept watch over coupe and drop top versions of the 1955 300SL with the rare 1997 CLK-GTR just behind.

A black 300SL gullwing coupe of Bruce Meyer, owned since 1964, is one of the first collector cars he purchased. A pristine blue gray 300SL cabriolet nearby brought by Canepa Design was similar, but had its own flavor. This particular example logged only 15,000 miles after being displayed at the 1960 Copenhagen Motor Show.

Bruce

Canepa’s team did an extensive restoration after the car sat in a barn for three decades and the result is impressive.

Both the

coupe and roadster were groundbreaking and futuristic when originally designed,

By Kevin Ehrlich Photos by Mary Fischer and Kevin Ehrlich

built and sold and have aged well.

The aforementioned silver 1997 CLK-GTR

give you a glimpse. The Art Center is one of the world’s

was one of only 25 examples made. It was

premier design schools and consistently sends graduates

originally built to meet regulations that

to the world’s automakers and independent design

enabled Mercedes to develop racecars for

studios. Many faculty split time between their day job

sportscar events like the 24 Hours of

in design studios and the classrooms at Art Center.

LeMans. Carbon fiber, a huge rear wing,

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

fender flares, center lock wheels, and giant scoops are unsubtle hints of the racing connection.

Such

a

road

car

with

exotic features and racing influence certainly pushed the

notion

of

what

it

meant to be a “road car”.

In light of the Mercedes experience with airborne CLK race cars at the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1999, someone at Art Center had the sense of humor to position the CLK-GTR in front of an airplane.

CLK GTR

The field included quite a range - everything from a pair of vintage racing Italian Alfa Romeos to examples of the rear-engined Czech Tatra to US hot rods of various shapes and sizes. Perhaps the most striking art deco car of all time, the one-off 1938 HispanoSuiza H6B Dubonnet Xeina could easily be displayed in any museum without competing for eyeballs. Each was selected because they represented

an

attempt

to

advance

automotive design when they were built.

Hispano-Suiza H6B Dubonnet Xenia

On a field featuring futuristic designs, a Delorean was mandatory. The Car Classic had two on display, one in original spec and one as a fully outfitted “Back to the Future” replica.

Nearby, the 1982 Pontiac TransAm

known as KITT from the television show “Night Rider” showed off its custom electronic instruments and controls.

Alfa Romeo

Page | 16

General

Motors

visibly

supported the event and brought some interesting goodies

from

their

collection, including the slippery 1987 Oldsmobile Aerotech designed by Ed Welburn. Welburn is now Vice President of Global Design for General Motors and shared war stories with Jay Leno for the crowd’s benefit in front of his creation.

2014 LaFerrari and a 1975 Countach – avant-garde both now and then

Cars were strategically placed on the grounds.

A black 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari supercar was positioned with its doors flipped upwards in nose-to-tail fashion in front of a red 1975 Lamborghini Countach with its scissor doors similarly opened. The juxtaposition with almost four decades of history between them was striking – both seeking to push the design discussion when produced.

Jay Leno and Ed Welburn

Straddling the bounds between the present and future, a supercar produced via 3-D printing methods called the “Blade” sat in the middle of the field. A company called Divergent has been working to develop 3-D printing technology with the goal of radically transforming the manufacturing process.

The car weighs very

little and a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine can give the two occupants quite a ride.

The

company

with

has

already

been

talking

manufacturers about how the technology might be employed.

300 SL Gullwing

It is a fascinating glimpse of

what might be possible.

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

The Art Center facility was open for tours and general wandering through classrooms and studios.

The future is visible on the walls and in the scale models in clay and resin, some on display in completed form and others works in progress.

Junior students in one classroom were working on modern design interpretations of the Voisin marque – an obscure French manufacturer known mostly for its striking designs in the 1930s.

The walls were filled with drawings

and clay models were in various states of formation and finish. Students further along

in

the

program

have

more

developed

concepts, themes, and 1:5 scale models.

A

big part of the magic of the Car Classic is the ability to go into these studios and talk to students of varying degrees of development and hear descriptions of their projects and aspirations.

The Art Center’s stature attracts designers from across the industry for such events, many of them alumni. Designers strolled the grounds amid students and attendees taking a close look at the displays. A panel discussion featured the alumni trio of Chris Bangle (best known for controversial BMW designs), Clay Dean (Director of Global

Design

Motors),

and

for

General

Tisha

Johnson

(Senior Director of Design for Volvo).

The

panel

recollections designers

started of

thought

with

what the

the future

would look like as they started out.

Despite best efforts, the

discussion inevitably turned to hottest topic in car design at present – autonomous cars.

Chris Bangle, Tisha Johnson, and Clay Dean

Page | 18

It

was interesting to hear the thoughts and challenges but clearly the possibilities of autonomous cars are transformational.

The panel challenged future designers to think about how the diving experience could change with more autonomy. Would a parent be willing to trust the car to transport their child to school?

Would adolescents still have any need or desire to obtain a driver’s license? Could an autonomous car offer an interactive experience for passengers, both for those that know each other than those that are strangers and sharing the vehicle? Could an autonomous car act as a real time driving coach for a track event?

Perhaps the most pointed comments came from Mr. Bangle. No stranger to bold thoughts, he observed that “cars” as a means of driving pleasure might go the way of the horse. There could still remain a few places where those interested in the driving experience could exercise their mounts, but enthusiasts could find driving pleasure as a hobby or pastime to be enjoyed in limited places and circumstances. The prospect is certainly a sobering thought for those of us that relish the visceral experience of moving through the gears as we drive along Pacific Coast Highway with the top down, sun shining and engine singing.

The Car Classic and broader environment at Art Center provides a rare opportunity to mingle with industry designers among iconic cars of the past and prototypes of the future while talking to students and seeing their projects. The Car Classic at Art Center is an annual event worth putting on your calendar, but stop by the school anytime and walk through the student works on display in the lobby gallery. Rotating displays show drawings and models from students at different stages of their Art Center

experience. In fact, several Mercedes design projects were on display in the student galleries which only added to the Car Classic event.

If nothing else, a visit to Art Center for the Car Classic is a unique opportunity to see a timeline in a single place that spans the past, present and future of transportation design.

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 Marcus Blair Fitzhugh Photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

ual turbo AMGs are King. If five Hundred and fifty horsepower with over five hundred and thirty pound feet of torque isn’t enough, the standard biturbo 5.5 liter eight can be upgraded. Whichever engine you choose, your hypersonic whip will be a thing of beauty.

But what if you just want “regular fast”? You know, a car for those who are satisfied with 60 in the fives. Is there something available for that market? Yes, and it powered by the M276 based 3.0 liter biturbo six.

First, a little history. Mercedes-Benz added V6 engines to its line in 1998. Before then, they built incredibly smooth in-line sixes. That first V6 was called the M112. It was an all-aluminum, single overhead cam, three valve per cylinder, dual plug design. The M112 was just as powerful as the outgoing inline six, weighed less, was more fuel efficient, less expensive to build, and had longer service intervals. The M112 was replaced six years later by a dual overhead cam, four valve per cylinder design with variable valve timing called the M272. The M272 was a better design, but both the M112 and M272 were 90° engines. 90° V6’s have vibration issues. Mercedes-Benz addressed this with balance shafts, but a 60° V6 is a much better starting point.

That brings us to the current Mercedes-Benz V6; the M276. This new engine has a number of advancements, including a 60° design. The first M276 was a naturally aspirated 3.5 liter that produced 302 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The M276 has since been upgraded and now produces 30% more torque.

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That bump in torque is the reason the V6 equipped E coupe can see 60 MPH in the mid 5s. For those keeping score, that’s only about a half second behind the V8 powered E coupe.

This new engine is smaller. It’s a 3 liter rather than a 3.5, gets better fuel economy, produces 27 more horses, and an additional 81 pound-feet of torque. How? Dual turbos.

The M276 is an all-aluminum engine. Starting with the bottom end, a forged steel crank is mated to forged steel rods that have been hydraulically cracked using a laser guide tool.

The rods are connected to pistons with oil jets used for cooling.

The biturbo version of the

M276 has thicker piston crowns designed to handle its higher combustion pressures.

All

M276’s have cylinders that use an award winning technology developed by MercedesBenz

called

NANOSLIDE.

To

make

a

NANOSLIDE cylinder, iron/carbon alloy wires are melted in an electric arc, and sprayed onto the cylinder walls. A special honing process is then used to give the ultrafine nano-crystaline coating an extremely smooth finish with fine pores. The Above: The twin-arc process being applied

resulting layer is only 0.1 to 0.15 millimeters thick, extremely hard, and very resistant to wear. This process reduces

friction

percent

over

up

other

to

50

current

technology.

Bolted to the block are heads with continuously variable dual overhead cams that use four valves per cylinder.

With the

biturbo, each head has its own turbocharger and the intake / exhaust scheme has been very Above: Final finishing of the resulting, layered ultra-fine to nano-crystalline iron coating creates an almost mirror-like surface with fine pores, which considerably reduces friction and wear between the piston assembly and the cylinder wall.

well thought out.

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

Cam overlap is when the exhaust and intake valves are both open at the same time.

When

designing a turbocharged engine, overlap is usually avoided because the pressurized air/fuel intake mixture typically follows the path of least resistance –right out the exhaust port.

The

unburnt fuel increases hydrocarbon levels (smog), which no one wants. The biturbo M276 was intentionally designed with overlap. This engine uses direct injection, so the intake valve only passes cool air to the combustion chamber. Fuel is added later – after the intake valve is shut.

The cool intake air that escapes down the exhaust port is heavier than the hot exhaust. This adds mass to the mixture. The increased mass causes the turbo to spool faster than it normally would, helping to sidestep any accursed turbo lag.

The M276’s direct injection system is Mercedes’ latest design. The piezo injectors are variably optimized, pressure fed at 200 bar, and allow up to five injections per cylinder on each power stroke. The mixture is lit off by a multiple spark ignition system (MSI) that can fire the plugs up to four times per power stroke. The sparks are fired within one millisecond of one another. This creates a plasma, generating greater expansion than a conventional ignition. The fuel injection and ignition are both fully adjustable by the ECU. Other M276 improvements include smaller hydraulic camshaft adjusters that vary valve timing both faster and over a wider range. The smaller adjusters use a new cam chain drive system with less tension and lower chain dynamics. This reduces friction and produces less noise. A variable vane oil pump is also used. At low engine speed and under low load, the oil pump generates less pressure and the nozzles that spray cooling oil on the pistons are turned off. When engine speed and load increases, oil pressure rises and the oil spray nozzles are turned on. This reduces internal drag when less cooling and lubrication is needed. The water cooling system employs a two-stage flow circuit through the cylinder heads. The improved coolant flow produces better heat dissipation under lower coolant pressure, requiring less power from the water pump. Also, engine warmup time is faster as no coolant is circulated when the engine is initially cold started. Bringing the engine up to temperature quicker reduces wear, increasing engine life.

The M276 3 liter bi-turbo: the right choice when subsonic propulsion will do.

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

P

by Jay Pill

art two of the Smart fortwo cabrio countdown has begun. Part one was the wait for the world premiere at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt Germany. Part two is waiting for it to arrive at dealers. The U.S. launch is scheduled for early next summer.

At the touch of a button, the new Smart fortwo cabrio changes from a closed roof two-seater to a car with a large sliding canvas sunroof. From there, it can easily make the transformation to a full on cabriolet with nothing between the driver and the sky. The flexibility of the “tritop” folding soft top and the removable roof bars are really unique features.

"Our new smart cabrio really exudes the 'joy of life' in the city – which is what our brand stands for. I am sure that we will delight our present 220,000 cabrio customers and win lots of new fans with this successful lifestyle icon."

Dr. Annette Winkler, Head of smart.

The new cab is obviously a Smart. It has the traditional silhouette, with ultrashort overhangs, the tridon safety cell, and rhombic headlamps. The fortwo cab has a narrower B-pillar than the coupe and the tridon safety cell design has been updated.

This gives the new car a more progressive look.

Page | 26

The fabric top is available in three colors; blue denim, which is a jeans look, red or black. All headliners are grey.

The removable roof bars come in the tridion color, and are stowed in the tailgate compartment.

The car is powered by the same turbocharged threecylinder as the coupe. This 89 horsepower engine comes with either the five-speed manual transmission or the six-speed dual clutch automatic. The interior of the Smart fortwo cabrio is similar to that of the coupe. The standard feature list includes the Smart audio system with Bluetooth® technology, automatic climate control, power windows, power steering, cruise control, a multifunction steering wheel, and an alarm system. A wind deflector is an available option.

The Smart fortwo cabrio is the perfect for short hops around town. It’s efficient, nimble, and surprisingly, more powerful than expected. Its size makes tight parking spaces look spacious, but don’t plan on using it to carry much more than another person. This is a very small car. Groceries shouldn’t be a problem if you’re shopping for one, provided you’re not at Costco.

For larger

purchases, owners should look into having items delivered.

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

Page | 28

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

s expected, the SLC is coming back. Mercedes-Benz discontinued the SLC thirty-five years ago. Back then, the SLC was a stretched coupe version of the SL. The new SLC will be a refreshed SLK. This will bring the Mercedes-Benz roadster naming convention in line with the SUVs. The largest SUV is the GLS, slightly smaller is the GLE, smaller again is the GLC, and the smallest model is the GLA. The roadster lineup will consist of the SL and SLC. The current SLK is one of the oldest models in the Mercedes-Benz lineup. It’s been with us since the 2012 model year. The new SLC is expected to be officially announced some time in 2016 and arrive as a 2017 model. As of right now, we’re expecting a mid-cycle upgrade with new bumpers,

Page | 30

by Jay Pill

grill, headlamps, tail lights, and a possible exhaust revision. The interior is expected to have richer materials, along with the new style console and infotainment system.

The entry level SLC300 will have the 241 horsepower turbocharged 2 liter. That engine produces 273 pound-feet of torque and will be mated to the nine speed automatic. Those who favor a clutch will be disappointed to learn that manuals will not be offered. The upgraded engine will be the dual turbocharged 3 liter V6. This should a substantial performance upgrade as the V6 is 50% more powerful and produces 362 horsepower with 384 pound-feet of torque. Rumors are floating around that a mid-range engine may be available. That would be the 329 horsepower biturbo V6.

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

Page | 32

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

by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh Photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

Y Marcus Blair Fitzhugh

ewis Hamilton clinched his third F1 World Drivers’ Championship in an electrifying U.S. Grand Prix win, but this story began long before October of 2015.

At age 8, Lewis Hamilton entered the sport of karting. He promptly began winning races and collecting championships. Two years later, young Lewis approached McLaren F1 team boss Ron Dennis for an autograph and said, "Hi. I'm Lewis Hamilton. I won the British Championship and one day I want to be racing your cars." Dennis wrote in his autograph book, "Phone me in nine years, we'll sort something out then." Over time, Hamilton continued to advance through the ranks. After winning his second British championship, Ron Dennis called Hamilton and signed him to the McLaren driver development program. In 1998, Lewis Hamilton became the youngest driver to sign a Formula One deal.

Page | 34

In his rookie year as an F1 driver, Lewis Hamilton went on to set a number of records: 

Hamilton started his F1 career with nine consecutive podium finishes. No other rookie has finished in the top three that many times.



The most pole positions in a rookie season - six.



He was the youngest driver to have the points lead in the F1 Driver’s Championship.



With four, Hamilton set the record for the most wins in a rookie season. This record is tied with Jacques Villeneuve.

However, Jacques Villeneuve was an Indy Car driver before

transitioning to F1. 

At second, he set the record for the highest Drivers Championship position for a rookie season. This record is also tied with Jacques Villeneuve. However, Lewis Hamilton didn’t simply finish second in his rookie season. He led in points for much of the season, before losing the championship by a single point.

The following year, 2008, it came as no surprise that Lewis Hamilton won his first Formula One Driver’s Championship. What is a surprise, is that 2008 was his only Formula One World Championship for McLaren.

Several years later at the 2012 Singapore Grand Prix, Hamilton recorded his fourth DNF (did not finish) in seven races. Within a week, he announced he was leaving McLaren, to drive for Mercedes AMG Petronas the next year. On the surface, this was an odd change.

Although Mercedes-Benz supplied engines for McLaren, the Mercedes-Benz team he was joining had won a total of one race in the past three F1 seasons.

In Lewis Hamilton’s first year with Mercedes AMG Petronas, there was a dramatic change.

Although Hamilton finished 2013 in fourth in position for the Driver’s Championship, Mercedes AMG Petronas finished second in points for the Constructor’s Championship.

In 2014 we saw Lewis Hamilton’s return to glory. He’s always possessed a wide-ranging skillset.

While qualifying, he’s a fierce racer who continually cranks it up notch until he’s got the pole.

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

Once the flag drops, he’s merciless. In a wheel to wheel struggle, he won’t back down from hostility, while always being aware of when and where he can overtake an opponent. For 2014, he was finally once again blessed with the equipment necessary to challenge for F1 dominance.

Lewis Hamilton qualified for the pole in the 2014 opening race. His engine ran poorly and he was forced to retire after three laps. Hamilton’s teammate, Nico Rosberg, finished first that weekend in Australia. Lewis Hamilton finished first in the next four races, with teammate Nico Rosberg finishing second. The term “finishing first” doesn’t quite describe the dominance of Mercedes AMG Petronas. In the fifth race of the season, the Spanish Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton finished first.

Four tenths of a second later, his teammate Nico Rosberg finished second. Forty-nine seconds later, the third place car crossed the finish line.

Next up was the sixth race of the season; Monaco. Mercedes AMG Petronas finished 1 – 2 again.

This time with Nico Rosberg finishing first and Hamilton finishing second. The next race was in Canada, and things started as many of the other races that season – the two Mercedes ran away from the field and dueled each other for the lead. Just after the halfway point, Hamilton had to retire his car due to braking problems. Rosberg also had car trouble, but was able to hang on for second place. The next race saw Mercedes finish 1-2 again, with Rosberg finishing first. Hamilton Page | 36

won the next race, the British Grand Prix, then hit a rough patch.

He finished third in both

Germany and Hungary, before getting yet another DNF in Belgium. The Belgium DNF was due to an accident with his teammate, Nico Rosberg. Good news followed, with Hamilton winning six of the remaining seven races. In the sole race he didn’t win, Brazil, he placed second. For 2014, Lewis Hamilton won the Driver’s Championship, Nico Rosberg was the runner up, and Mercedes AMG Petronas won the Constructors' Championship.

The 2015 Driver’s Championship is a little more exciting in the race for second place, but as stated in the opening sentence, first place has been decided and it belongs to Lewis Hamilton. The U.S. Gran Prix win was Hamilton’s 10th win of the 2015 season, making him the first driver to win ten or more F1 victories in consecutive seasons. Hamilton is also the first Brit to successfully defend his F1 crown. The US Grand Prix was the 25th 1-2 finish for the Silver Arrows in Formula One, the 50th for Mercedes-Benz powered Formula One powered cars, and MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS has once again won the 2015 Constructors' Championship.

This is a very good time for Mercedes-Benz F1 fans.

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

Page | 38

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

by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh Photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

I

n 1998, Mercedes-Benz introduced their all-new mid-sized coupe. The new CLK filled a hole left years earlier when the W124 based CE went out of production. Many felt the original CLK's starting point was the 'then new' W210 based E-Class. This was understandable as the CLK

did appear rather E-esque. However, an E coupe wasn't the goal. Mercedes-Benz had been down that route before. The previous two-door mid-sized coupe was the 1995 320CE. Although the 320CE was a success, it was in a completely different market segment. The CE was custom two door E, and as a consequence, an ultra-premium vehicle. The CLK was originally conceived as a coupe, which brought prices considerably down. The list price of the 1995 320CE was 55% higher than its replacement, the 1998 CLK320.

Mercedes’ goal was to build a powerful luxury coupe,

keep the prices in check, yet retain the prior model’s desirability. The CLK was a success and enjoyed a twelve year run covering two generations.

When the CLK was introduced, it had a unique internal number, W208, and was strictly a fourpassenger car. Although it shared many of the W210 based E-Class' styling cues, unlike the earlier CE, the CLK wasn't a modified sedan. When viewed next to the W210 E-Class, it's obvious that none of the body parts are the same. The original CLK used the then-current Mercedes-Benz bejeweled oval headlamp design theme. However, the four headlamps on the CLK have more rake than a W210 E. The E is also wider than the CLK. Being a four passenger coupe, the width required for the E’s three abreast rear seating wasn't needed. The original CLK is actually narrower than the then-current C-Class. Aside from the CLK having a narrower windshield, the glass is positioned at a greater angle than a W210 E. The windshield’s incline may have been due to the reduction in height; the CLK roofline is almost three inches shorter than the E. The ride height is lower as well. These differences demonstrate the uniqueness of this design.

Page | 40

The CLK interior had a familiar look to Mercedes-Benz owners. From the driver's seat, the gauges, switchgear and console layout all looked like the W210 E. The interior materials are exactly what one would expect from a mid-sized Mercedes-Benz: Hand fitted leather upholstery, fine wood trim, upscale electronics, dual-zone automatic climate control, high end entertainment systems, and the most advanced safety systems available.

Although the interior dimensions of the CLK were smaller than the E, the CLK retained a degree of spaciousness by reducing passenger count. This is demonstrated by the legroom. Despite having a wheelbase that's six inches shorter than an E, there is more front leg room in a CLK. Being a coupe, the rear seating is nothing like the E. Rather than a single bench seat, the CLK has two individual seats separated by a storage unit / arm rest. Unlike some luxury coupes, the CLK is not a compromised "2+2". The rear seats have ample leg, knee and shoulder room for two six foot tall adults.

W208 CLK trunk and interior

The first generation CLK also has a roomy 11 cubic foot capacity trunk. When the standard folding rear seats are lowered, the carrying capacity is greatly expanded.

The original US spec CLK came with one engine; a 3.2 liter ninety degree V6. While MercedesBenz had a 36-year history of building V8 engines, this was the company's first production V6.

The previous six cylinders were all in-line engines. The new engine was just as powerful as the old, but it had several advantages. The new six was over 100 pounds lighter, more compact, allaluminum (which cured the iron/aluminum head gasket issue), and modular.

Being modular,

Mercedes-Benz was able to manufacture six- and eight-cylinder engines under the same roof, and use many of the same components in both engines. This dramatically decreased production costs.

W208 CLKs feature a Mercedes-Benz designed and built, electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmission. BMW says something close, but "The ultimate driving experience" was originally a slogan in a brochure for the first automatic transmission developed in-house by Mercedes-Benz. That was back in 1961. Since that time, Mercedes-Benz has manufactured their own automatic transmissions. The new CLK five-speed was one of their early driver-adaptive transmissions.

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

At the center of the W208 transmission electronics is a microprocessor whose job is to mimic the proper shifting technique of a manual gearbox. The transmission processor does this by staying in constant communication with the engine and chassis management systems. This allows the transmission computer to adapt to a wide variety of driving situations, as well as make alterations to shift points based on the driver's style.

The new 1998 CLK was a big hit in the United States and just about the time we were getting used to our new best friend, the 1999 models were introduced.

Benz dropped the hammer.

That’s when Mercedes-

The V8 that was being built

alongside the V6 was offered, giving us two choices; the CLK320 or the CLK430.

The new V8 was an all-aluminum 4.3 liter, single overhead cam, three valve per cylinder, dual plug design.

Being

modular, it too cost less than the prior generation 4.2 liter V8.

The outgoing 8 used dual overhead cams and 4 valves per cylinder.

On paper, the older engine sounds like a better

design. Not so in practice.

4.3 Liter V8

When comparing engine design, two good measuring points are power output and efficiency. Both the new and the old engines made 275 horsepower and 295 pound feet of torque. Although the 4.3 liter has the same peak numbers, peak power was available over a wider rev range. This is most obvious when comparing the 1997 E420 against the 1998 E430. Aside from the engine, those two are the same car. According to Mercedes-Benz, the zero to sixty times decreased from 6.7 to 6.4 with the M113 design. Initially, one might think the extra 100cc of engine made the difference, but the fuel economy in the newer engine was 13% better.

So the new engine has better fuel economy, more power, weighs less, and it costs less to manufacture. This sounds almost too good to be true.

Hold

on,

we’re

not

done.

The

engineers at Mercedes-Benz were able to pull another rabbit out of the hat fewer pollutants. Being less efficient, the old design produced as much as 40% more pollutants under certain W208 CLK Cabriolet

Page | 42

conditions. Did I mention operational costs? The new V8 had longer maintenance intervals too.

The following year, Mercedes-Benz introduced the CLK Cabriolet. This was the first mid-sized Mercedes-Benz Cabriolet size the 1971 280 SE 3.5. The 2000 models also received dozens of other refinements.

For 2001, Mercedes-Benz introduced the fastest car in the lineup. Not the fastest CLK, but the fastest car available from Mercedes-Benz; The CLK55 AMG Coupe. The

2002 CLK55

CLK55 sped from zero to sixty in less than 4.9 seconds on its way to a 155 MPH electronically limited top speed. Those speeds are common for AMGs now, but at the time, that was over a second faster than either the E55 or the V12 powered SL600. Rather than just stuffing the big engine in the mid-sized body, the CLK55 came with an upgraded transmission, exhaust, wheels/tires, suspension, brakes, and interior.

Not to be left out, the CLK430 and CLK320 also received a raft of upgrades for 2001; the biggest of which was ME 2.8. ME 2.8 was Bosch Motorelektronik 2.8. With this upgrade, the engine electronics were completely revamped. The things that stand out to most performance types were the new higher flowing injectors and the 430’s new CLK55 sized throttle body.

In 2002, the CLK55 Cabriolet was introduced. There were no other changes as the next big thing was on the horizon; the all-new 2003 model.

2003 brought us the second generation CLK; the W209. The new W209s were 2.5” longer, ¾” wider, an inch taller, and a couple of hundred pounds heavier (depending on the model).

Surprisingly, despite the difference in size, the Mercedes-Benz spec sheets show the outgoing W208 coupe had more head and legroom for both front and rear passengers. This may have been due to the seats being higher in the W209. In other areas, the new W209 was decidedly improved.

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

European spec W209 CLK63 Coupe

Aesthetically, the interiors were more modern, quieter, and the W209 coupe had that gorgeous, pillarless design. Drivers appreciated the new rack and pinion unit, the increased rigidity, and the fact that the new model was faster (albeit via gearing for the V6). Unfortunately, the W208’s double wishbone front suspension was replaced with a strut design, but the W209’s better road feel made up for it. The brake calipers on the non-AMG models were upgraded, but the increased weight offset the advantage.

The new CLK320 had the familiar 215 horsepower V6, but the standard V8 had a larger, more powerful 5.0 liter. The new V8 produced 302 horsepower and 339 pound feet of torque. The CLK55 received an additional 20 horsepower, pushing it to 362. The new W209 was available with additional electronics such as Distronic adaptive cruise control, Keyless Go, and Bi-Xenon headlamps. The CLK55 transmission received an "M" (manual) mode feature with shift buttons on the back of the steering wheel. Convertible CLKs were still available, but only with the W208 body style. In 2004, W209 bodied Cabriolets replaced the W208s, and they were available in all three versions - the CLK320, CLK500 and CLK55.

In 2005, the CLK received a mid-cycle facelift that refreshed the interior and updated the electronics.

The big change was the new 7-

speed automatic transmission, which was only available on the CLK500. This was the last year for the CLK55 coupe, and they had the ultraW209 CLK interior

desirable quad exhaust tips.

Page | 44

The 2006 model year brought new model names and dramatic increases in power. Across the board, all-new dual overhead cam four-valve per cylinder power plants replaced the three-valve designs. The new CLK350 was powered by a 268 horsepower 3.5 liter V6. The new CLK550 had a 5.5 liter that produced 382 horsepower and 391 pound feet of torque. Since the base V8 was more powerful than the outgoing CLK55, AMG made a change; they unleased the 63. The 63 was really a 6.2 liter. The name paid homage to the 6.3 liter V8 from the 1960’s. No one cared about the 100 cc difference, all we saw was 475 horsepower. Many found it curious that Mercedes-Benz only offered the 6.3 as a Cabriolet in the United States. The coupe was available in Europe, but not stateside. Very late in 2007, we found out why. That’s when Mercedes-Benz introduced the very first Black Series, and it was a CLK.

CLK63 Black Series

For those who are unfamiliar with Mercedes Black Series vehicles, here’s is my best explanation Crème de la Crème de la Crème. What does that mean? Every Mercedes-Benz is special. They’re arguably the best mass produced vehicles available.

AMGs are limited production, special

Mercedes. Black Series are extremely limited production, extra special AMG vehicles.

The Black Series was the baddest “official” CLK ever offered in the States. At the time, some called the W209 CLK “soft”.

That may have been because the 55 Kompressor engine wasn’t

available, but there was nothing soft about the Black Series. The Black came in one flavor; it was a 500+ HP two passenger coupe. It was wider, lower, stiffer, and as depraved a vehicle as one could drive while still wearing a fitted suit. Outwardly, it had a unique nose, side skirts, flares, rear diffuser, wheels, and a ferocious quad-tip exhaust. Anyone looking at one knows they’re looking at a CLK, but it’s obviously much more. What you can’t see outwardly is the fully adjustable suspension, extensive bracing, improved brakes, carbon bits, and drivetrain upgrades. If someone with a deft driving shoe hits the Black’s loud pedal and the tires hook up, 60 can arrive in under 4 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

seconds, 100 arrives about 5 seconds later, and 150 in under 24 seconds. In addition to its ballistic missile like acceleration numbers, the Black was built to handle. In a curve, when it reaches its limits of adhesion, which are very high, the succeeding slide is progressive and controllable. The CLK63 Black Series is truly a driver’s car. The Black wasn’t for everyone though. Once buyers got past the fact that a CLK63 Black Series cost 50% more than a standard CLK63, there was a waiting list. Those who showed up a dealership with a check in hand in June of ’07, “might” get CLK63 Black Series in September. The Black sold out quickly. Buyers who showed up later that summer had to wait for one to appear on the second hand market.

Production of the CLK350, 550, and standard CLK63 continued through the 2009 model year, but The Black Series was the final highlight of the model run. In 2010, the CLK was replaced by the C207 E-Class Coupe.

There were a few specialized CLKs that never made it stateside. The standard CLK63 Coupe, four cylinder gasoline models, diesels, and the $265,000 CLK DTM were all unavailable at U.S. dealerships. There are several DTMs in the states. The DTM was two seater that was powered by a 580+ HP supercharged V8. It was available as either a Cabriolet or a coupe. Several have been seen semi-regularly in Southern California. One (not owned by Jay Leno) was commonly seen in Burbank, and at least two were listed for sale by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine California.

CLKs are luxurious, powerful, highly

dependable

cars.

Prices have fallen to the point where just about anyone can put

a

used

driveway.

one

in

their

People shouldn’t

lose track of the fact that the least expensive brand new CLK had a list price of about $40K.

The most expensive

was about $140K.

Repair

prices will reflect that. Those who can do most of the work

CLK63 Cabriolet

themselves will have lower ownership costs, provided they know what they’re doing. We highly recommend that anyone considering a used car have it inspected. This is doubly true for a Mercedes-Benz. A dealer may charge close to $200 for an inspection, but it may be the best money spent.

Page | 46

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

ou read about an informal car meet and decided to attend. You figured it might be a dozen cars and were surprised to see something closer to 50. You’ve spent a couple of hours making new friends and picking up tips you can’t wait to try on your car. You work your way back to your pristine white E-Coupe and . . . . . . . . who’s this waiting at your car and more importantly, why has she got her hind quarters planted on your freshly detailed fender?

Page | 48

This is basic car show common sense.

OK, so what is the proper response when someone embeds their grimy fingerprints in your previously unsullied wax? This is going to sound odd, but we should talk to them.

Politely. Some people simply don’t understand how seriously we take our cars (and how close to death they’ve come).

This is an opportunity to teach them not only how to read the giant DO NOT TOUCH THE VEHICLES sign, but also the true value of a classic car.

Truth be told, people do accidently touch vehicles. Unintentionally touching a car doesn’t make someone “that guy”. And “that guy”

by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh Photos Jay Pill

The first rule of car show etiquette is never touch anyone’s car without

isn’t gender specific.

“That Guy” is occasionally a girl.

their permission. Ever. I don’t know specifically where, but it’s in the official guidelines. If I remember correctly, it says spectators are to

The sketch of the girl to

keep their grubby mitts off the cars and owners of said cars on display

the left is a good

are to refrain from strangling attendees.

example of “that guy” -

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

someone who doesn’t know “car show protocol”. The cartoon depicts someone who wants a selfie by a nice car. That’s perfectly understandable, but her derriere is on the fender and her shoe heel is on the wheel. The car’s owner may zero in on one thing “my car is being scratched”. Then the challenge is to remove her butt from the fender without insulting her. Unfortunately, that’s one of the unplanned joys of attending a friendly car show get together. What’s even worse is when people sit on a car and feel the owner couldn’t possibly mind - because it’s obviously a heap of junk. Picture a 1960’s fintail that’s perfectly straight, but has the original, but faded paint. Car show attendees who try to use a fintail as a lawn chair may find the car owner to be less than congenial. For some of us, touching our car is akin to touching our spouse. If you were at a car show, and a stranger walked up and sat in your spouse’s lap, you might use vivid, colorful expressions to express your viewpoint. Our cars are not nearly as cherished as our spouses - but the rule still applies. Do not touch. Unlike spouses, car show attendees can stare longingly at cars and verbally express how they wish they were theirs - but the craving goes no further.

What are some other rules of car show etiquette? Keep food and drinks away from the vehicles. It happens at every large event. Some attendees show up hungry because they skipped a meal before the show. As soon as they arrive, they place an order for solidified grease on a bun with extra sauce from the local food truck. Please, keep that stuff away from the cars. No one wants to find blue Slurpee or chili-fries spilled on their car. Find a bench and enjoy the meal.

Also, attendees who bring pets are fully responsible for their actions. Ensure they don’t touch any of the cars. If some way, somehow, someone’s dog “has an accident” on a car’s wheels . . . . well, remember the analogy about our cars and our spouses? Yes, the pet owner is sorry. Yes, it can be rinsed it off with a water bottle, but that doesn’t come close to covering it. It’s a heinous crime and the term “justifiable homicide” comes to mind.

If “leaning in” for a better look entails “leaning against”, don’t. Remember what we said about not touching? That goes for the pelvic area too. And watch those cameras. If it’s on a strap, hold it so it doesn’t scratch the car.

While we’re talking about cameras, try to pay attention to those around you. People are frequently taking pictures. When they’re not taking pictures, they’re patiently waiting for people to get out of the way so they can take pictures. Try not to dash in front of someone who’s been waiting 10 minutes for a clear shot.

Page | 50

When arriving and departing, please, don’t be “that guy”. We get it. Your car is unbelievably fast and does fantastic burnouts. This isn’t the place for it. It’s also not the place to demonstrate how high you can rev your engine or how loud you can crank up that 10,000 gigawatt stereo. Not everyone has earplugs, so drive like you're in a hospital zone.

Also, park in ONE parking space. Yes, your car is special. It has the one-off do-dad that only came on exclusive models. Despite how impressive that option is, please, use one space.

Lastly, we all have opinions. We like some things, and don’t care for others. The owners of the cars on display have put their time and efforts into what is on display. They may recognize their car didn’t come out exactly as anticipated. Alternatively, it may look exactly as they intended. In either case, if an attendee can’t say anything nice, keeping harsh comments to oneself may be a better option.

If we all follow these guidelines, we may find events to be a bit more enjoyable.

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

Page | 52

by Jay Pill

he Mercedes-AMG GT S is long, wide, low, and has the kind of curves that cause people to take notice. Then came the tuners. Why? Because insanely fast isn't enough. Here’s a look at three offerings -

First, the Posaidon GT RS 700. This is a car for those who prefer stealth. That’s not to imply the AMG

GT

blends

in

with

conventional

transportation. Rather, the Posaidon bends in with stock GTs. No stripes, no bodywork and no badges; just a third more power. The Posaidon upgrades consist of a new freer flowing exhaust system, upgraded turbochargers, a larger intercooler, and a modified ECU.

These mods bring the power level up to 690 horses and an

electronically-limited 750 NM (553 lb-ft) of torque. From a rest, 100 KPH arrives in 3.2 seconds before hitting an electronically limited top speed of 350kph.

In addition to the engine upgrades, Posaidon can also permanently disable the engine's start/stop ECO system and integrate a radar speed trap warning system into the factory COMAND nav system.

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

Next, the Prior Design PD800GT Widebody and non-Widebody.

Mechanically,

the

Prior

Design

upgrade

consists of an upgraded exhaust. Specifically, it’s a cat back. The allows the stock turbos to spool faster, for which the stock ECU will adjust the fuel flow, but that’s about it. That leaves us with the presentation. Now some might say, “It’s Victoria’s Secret style padding over a Mercedes-AMG GT.” That’s true, but most of the target audience doesn’t care.

If Prior

Design’s goal truly was visual stimuli, they hit the target. This car has the kind of hips that will take some buyers from love to lust.

In a quest for additional downforce, the kit has an add-on spoiler and wings. It also has twopiece air intakes and a vented hood.

The

previously mentioned “hips” are front and rear fender flares that are connected by new side sills. The sills visually lower the GT’s ride height and appears to direct air away from the rear wheels. The rear features a huge diffuser that incorporates the original equipment tailpipes, and a trunk-mounted Porsche-style ducktail wraps up the posterior. The difference between the widebody and the non-widebody, are the fender flares. Other than that, it’s the same kit. The body parts are a fiberglass-duraflex mixture and according to Prior Design, the fit is perfect. The kit requires no body shop modifications or alterations. Basically, it’s assemble and paint.

In addition to the PD800GT aero package, Prior Design offers the three-piece forged wheels shown in the photos. The wheels are available in a number of finishes. They also offer suspension upgrades and interior modifications as optional extras.

Page | 54

We all know Brabus. Ten years after AMG, Klaus Brackman and Bodo Buschmann formed a company which has become the world’s largest independent Mercedes-Benz tuner. They do drivetrains, suspensions, electronics, interiors, and exteriors. If a customer needs a Mercedes customized by someone other than AMG, Brabus is on the short list.

The Brabus GT S made its world debut at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, and this may be the most comprehensive upgrade package available for a GT. For a performance boost, Brabus developed the PowerXtra B40 – 600 performance kit. This upgrade adjusts fuel, ignition, and boost, providing an additional 88 horsepower and 74 lb-ft of torque, bringing the total output to 591 horsepower and 553 lb-ft.

As an additional option, Brabus offers a titanium and carbon, valve-controlled, quad exhaust system. The exhaust is lighter and has less backpressure. The reduced backpressure allows the turbos to spool faster, which generates boost earlier. The system also has a cockpit mounted controller to adjust exhaust noise. The Brabus Mercedes-AMG GT S sprints to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and has an electronically limited 325 km/h top speed.

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

The exterior is graced with a number

of

carbon

fiber

aerodynamic pieces. The nose has a new splitter that reduces lift

and

gives

it

a

more

aggressive look. The nose also features redesigned air intake covers.

New side skirts help

manage air flow between the front and rear wheels.

Out

back is a carbon fiber rear deck lid spoiler and diffuser insert.

The

aero

parts

increase

downforce and stability, as well as aid cooling.

Brabus spec

springs lower ride height 15 mm, and it rides on staggered wheels; 20Ă—9.5 wheels up front and 21Ă—11 at the rear.

Inside are carbon fiber door sills with stainless steel inserts and backlit Brabus logos. There is also a choice of matte anodized or

chrome-plated

aluminum

pedals. The steering wheel has new aluminum paddle shifters. New leather and alcantara is also used throughout the cabin.

These three are the newest complete packages available for the GT owner who feels stock is a good start. We’re sure more tuners and packages will follow, but for now, the bar has been set.

Page | 56

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

by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh

Yes, that is an Aston Martin. The sloped nose has Aston’s signature grill and headlamps, although this is not the current DB9.

Why is this in the Southwest Star, a magazine with a decidedly

Mercedes focus?

Page | 58

Three years ago we reported on the technical agreement Aston Martin signed with Mercedes-Benz.

The assistance includes Mercedes-Benz expertise in the area of engines, transmissions, and electronics. In return, Daimler will receive 5% of Aston Martin’s non-voting shares and observer status on the Aston Martin board.

Based on these photos, the project is well underway. The car in these photos may be the rumored DB11. The DB11 is supposed to replace the DB9. Although gorgeous, the DB9 has been around since the 2004 model year and a replacement is long overdue.

The Aston Martin here was photographed while testing at Nürburgring. The interior shots clearly show Mercedes-Benz components. In the photo below, the transmission buttons are standard Aston Martin parts, but to the upper left is a Mercedes-Benz TFT instrument cluster. Below and to the left is a Mercedes-Benz steering wheel. On the opposite page we see the rotary COMAND controller, suspension buttons, and other familiar Mercedes-Benz switchgear.

If the big question is, “which engine?” Some claim the new DB11, like the current DB9, will have a V12. The Mercedes-Benz biturbo V8s have shown to be capable of producing more power with better fuel economy than Aston’s existing 12. If the DB11 gets a 12, the next question is will Ford continue to build them, or will AMG?

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

T

he A-Class is made of pure unobtanium. It’s sporty, efficient, and unavailable stateside.

Remember the Peanuts comics, and how Charlie Brown longed for the red-headed girl?

The fact that she was inaccessible may have been her biggest draw. Among other things,

the A-Class has that too.

Page | 60

Let that settle in for a minute; OVER

EIGHTY

GALLON.

MILES

PER

It isn’t the fastest

car available, but the mileage is staggering.

Not that it’s

dangerously slow, it’s just that we’re spoiled. Think of it like this,

the

A-Class

BlueEFFICIENCY

is

considerably faster than the original Rx-7, seats twice as many people, and is four times more efficient.

The side profile of the newly redesigned A-Class has eyecatching body creases

that

flow into curved surfaces and although it’s a hatch, it has coupe-like rear window lines.

The

new

look

evolutionary the

is

change

Concept

an

toward

A-Class

we

covered a few years back. The front

has

revised

LED

headlamps and is available with a CLA-like diamond grille.

The

rear

designed

also

has

lights

newly

and

the

bumper cover has integrated exhaust pipes.

It’s a sporty

look for the compact class.

by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh Photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

For

those

who

prefer

Several engines are available, but I personally prefer the diesel.

something else, there are four

Specifically, the A 180 D BlueEFFICIENCY. Aside from having one

other diesel options and eight

of the longest names on record, it gets over 80 miles per gallon.

gasoline engines available.

.

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

One of those gasoline options is the 381 horsepower Mercedes-AMG, and it’s mated to a 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system.

The interior is nicely laid out. Behind the multifunction sport steering wheel is an instrument cluster with dial graphics. To the right is a large, free-standing infotainment display. The display can be networked with modern smartphones and is internet capable thanks to COMAND Online with a WLAN module. Below the display are circular vents and quality switchgear. The rest of the interior is fitted with good materials and adjustable lighting.

Although the A-Class is a great compact, I can see why it’s not available here in the States. The problem is customers would go to their Mercedes dealer thinking, “The A-Class looks like a car I could fall in love with.” But when they get there, the A would be on the showroom floor next to a tall glass of water like the CLS550 . . . . . and right about then they’d realize just how thirsty they are.

Page | 62

.

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

The Mansory Gronos Black Edition

By Jay Pill Photos courtesy of Mansory

bviously, the Mansory Gronos Black Edition starts life as a G63. From there it gets a carbon fiber body kit that allows us to recognize it as a G-Wagon, but a very different G. The fascia sports new headlights in new headlight surrounds, a new grill, bumper and lower air intakes.

Other nasal bits include daytime running lights and a Mansory badge that

replaces the Star.

The hood has an air intake and just above the windshield is a wind deflector that houses driving lamps. The front is so different that we almost didn’t notice the wheel arches are an inch and a half wider. Naturally, the larger arches hold larger wheels. The G550 rolls on 18s, the G63 has 20s, and Mansory ups those to ten-spoke 23s with 305/35s at each corner. The larger arches are connected with a wider running board.

The rear has a custom spare tire cover, revised taillights, a custom bumper with integrated diffuser, and a spoiler on the roof.

Inside, the G-Wagon’s stock hand fitted leather has been replaced with Mansory hand fitted leather and Alcantara. The upper dashboard has been redesigned while still making use of the factory Page | 64

gauges. The center console appears to have different materials while retaining the G-Wagon switchgear.

The go-fast parts now go faster. The engine has a different crankshaft, rods, pistons, heads, and exhaust.

All told, the 536 HP G63 makes 828 HP in Mansory trim. In an effort to keep the rest of the drivetrain intact, torque is electronically limited to 1000 Newton Meters.

Why Newton

Meters? Because saying 737 pound feet lacks panache, and the Mansory Gronos Black Edition is about stylish elegance for the off road crowd.

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

Page | 66

By Marcus Blair Fitzhugh

The Mercedes-Benz history of streamlined car design at the Techno Classica. ixty years ago, Stirling Moss won the “Mille Miglia”. Mille Miglia is Italian for “Thousand Miles” and this legendary 1,000-mile race was held in Italy 24 times between 1927 and 1959. In 1955, Moss set the record for the best time in the race’s history and he was behind the wheel of a well-known Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR race car. Many people recognize the car by the number; 722. Although famous, most people don’t know the story behind the number.

For that race, cars were assigned numbers based on what time they started. The SLR entered the race at 7:22 AM. That same SLR was featured in hall 1 at the Techno Classica show in Essen Germany. The Techno Classica is one of the worlds’ leading automotive exhibits. In addition to vintage, classic, and prestigious automobiles, the Techno Classica also specializes in restoration and motorcycles. In 2015, more than 2,500 classic vehicles and an unbelievable 1,250 exhibitors were on hand. In addition, 220 car clubs participated.

Now you know why some call the Techno Classica “The

World’s Fair of Automotive Passion”.

2015 was the 27th Techno Classica and the main focus for Mercedes-Benz was their history of streamlined car design.

Mercedes-Benz provided a number of vehicles which represented both

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

their past and present involvement with this visually appealing and technically superior design.

The vehicles supplied ranged from the 1909 Blitzen-Benz to the current 2015 CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake.

“In the history of our brand, the outstanding culture of innovation at Mercedes-Benz goes hand in hand with unique successes in motorsport. This is reflected in the main focuses of our appearance at the Techno Classica in hall 1 of the Messe Essen exhibition center. As one of the world’s leading events dedicated to vintage and classic vehicles, the Techno Classica provides an appropriate setting in which to present the legendary car that won the 1955 Mille Miglia, and an exclusive line-up of seven original Mercedes-Benz vehicles which set new standards for aerodynamics in their respective eras.”

- Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic and Customer Center.

In the early 1900’s, sleek, streamlined designs were a goal in automotive development. This was because advancements in engine technology and chassis design exposed wind resistance as the next barrier to increasing vehicle speed. The world famous 1909 Blitzen-Benz is recognized as launching Mercedes-Benz as a pioneer in automotive aerodynamic design.

In addition to the Blitzen-Benz, Mercedes-Benz provided a record-breaking twelve-cylinder car from 1936. This car was based on the W25 Grand Prix car and had a top speed of over 230 MPH. They also provided the C 111-III. This car was powered by a five-cylinder diesel and set nine world records in Nardò, Italy.

The Mercedes-Benz ClassicPartner concept was also presented at the show. The Mercedes-Benz ClassicPartner is a network that extends across Germany placing Mercedes-Benz classic car owners in touch with suppliers and technicians who offer the services needed for the owner’s specific model vehicle.

It’s hard to describe the enormity of the Techno Classica. Despite being open for less than a week, it was attended by over 190,000 people. Similarly to many U.S. auto shows, the Techno Classica Page | 68

is made up of attached buildings, which are then divided into halls. The event was so large, that outdoor areas were also used. Here is the layout as well as several photos from the event:

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

Page | 70

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

The New Facility will Bring Together Several Business Units to Increase Efficiencies

I

n early November, Mercedes-Benz USA officially celebrated the grand opening of its new west coast office in Long Beach, California. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new 1.1 million square-foot-facility included remarks from Steve Cannon, Mercedes-Benz USA President and

CEO, and Robert Garcia, Mayor of Long Beach.

Dietmar Exler, Vice President of Sales, MBUSA; Robert Garcia, Mayor of Long Beach; Steve Cannon, President and CEO, MBUSA attend the Grand Opening Celebration for Mercedes-Benz West Coast Campus.

“This is a monumental year for MBUSA. From the move of our headquarters to Atlanta, to launching exciting new vehicles like the Mercedes-AMG GT S and racing towards another record sales year – the future has never looked better for Mercedes-Benz.

This new

facility is proof of our commitment to look at every facet of our business - from people, process to bricks and mortar- and maintain a laser focus on delivering a world-class experience for our customers.”

Steve Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA.

Page | 72

“We are excited to welcome Mercedes Benz to Long Beach, and especially grateful that they’ve chosen this historic site. The stellar reputation of Mercedes and their commitment to quality are a perfect fit for Douglas Park and a great addition to the Long Beach economy.”

- Robert Garcia, Mayor of Long Beach. “ The new facility consists of two buildings totaling approximately 1.1 million sq. ft. on a 52.2 acre lot. This is the home of MBUSA’s Vehicle Preparation Center, Western Region Sales Operations and Mercedes-Benz Academy Offices. The historic location opened in 1941 as home to the Douglas Aircraft Company and later served as the Boeing 717 aircraft manufacturing facility until closing in 2006. The facility is located across the street from the Long Beach Airport in a mixed-use development known as Pacific Pointe at Douglas Park.

The new facility will include the following business operations:

•

VEHICLE PREPARATION CENTER – The Vehicle Preparation Center is responsible for ensuring Mercedes-Benz vehicles are ready to deliver once they arrive in the United States. Distribution tasks include receiving vehicles from vessels, inventory management for the U.S. market, port of entry services, shipping and wholesaling of vehicles. Quality tasks include vehicle inspection and factory quality checks. MBUSA operates three Vehicle Preparation Centers located in Baltimore, Maryland, Brunswick, Georgia and now Long Beach, California.

•

WESTERN REGION OFFICE – The MBUSA Western Region supports 84 dealerships with sales and fixed operations across 12 states including Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Texas and Utah. MBUSA has three other regional offices in the U.S.: Montvale, New Jersey, Rosemont, Illinois and Jacksonville, Florida.

•

MERCEDES-BENZ ACADEMY - Mercedes-Benz Academy provides training to dealership and MBUSA employees. Mercedes-Benz Academy conducts instructor-led training, eLearning, virtual classrooms, peer-to-peer training, and mobile learning to ensure that customer-facing personnel have the information and ability to deliver to the highest professional service. MBUSA operates Mercedes-Benz Academy Centers in Houston, Texas, Itasca, Illinois, Jacksonville, Florida and Montvale, New Jersey.

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

Page | 74

Mercedes-Benz in the News

A

fire that raged uncontrollably for days, ripped through a port area of Tianjin China this past summer.

The fire began in a port warehouse at about 10:50 PM.

Firefighters

arrived and were quickly overwhelmed. About 40 minutes later, an explosion the

equivalent of 3 tons of TNT occurred. Moments later, the second explosion hit and it made the first one seem like a firecracker. According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, the second one was seven times stronger and registered as a 2.9 on their Richter scale.

Amongst the carnage were a number of Brabus S-Class vehicles. The cars had been unloaded in the port city before the fire. It isn’t known how many cars were demolished, but the photo below shows a couple of rows. The cars are barely identifiable and only burnt out shells remain.

A number of other manufacturers fared much worse. Jaguar / Land Rover lost approximately 5800 vehicles.

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

Nine Reasons to consider guaranteed income annuities 9. 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 | 76

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.

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

The Orange Ocunty Setction visits

T

By Laura Dykstra

he July 12th Planes of Fame Air Museum and Dinner event was a lot of fun! Many people met at Carbon Canyon Regional Park then followed each other to the Museum and afterwards to dinner at Centro Basco Restaurant. Driving our Mercedes in a line up was

really great. Once at the Museum we were showed the whole museum and it’s collection of aircraft.

Neil was our docent and did a tremendous job of relating the history of the Museum and of all of the Museum’s flying and static aircraft collection. The Museum’s collection was a lot larger than I had anticipated. It was fascinating to see the collection up close. Dinner was yummy and everyone got to visit with and socialize with each other. Attached are a few photos from the event.

Page | 78

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

By Steve Ross

he predicted rain did not appear but the threat did dampen the turn out. In spite of this the Wash and Shine or not Wash Show went off splendidly with many Mercedes-Benz automobiles on display with their proud owners. This threat of moisture demonstrated who our diehard members are. There were several new faces and Mercedes-Benz autos and we even had a couple of vintage Packards join us. Great day of cars and FUN!

Lined up for judging. Due to the water shortage the grass has been removed.

High octane beverage for participants.

Wheel from a Mercedes event that occurred a long long time ago.

Tony & Ellen Edwards and their SL55.

Judge's Choice the Award

Joanne Barnard and her 2000 SLK winner of the "Least Clean" Mercedes-Benz Award.

Page | 80

Left: Radu Alexandra Winning the Most clean Car Award for his 2014 C350

Rose and Wes Gibbs with their 1973 280C

The Halloween theme refreshment area

Mary and Del Baumgartner and their 2006 CLK350

Gary Jarvis and Chuck Davis, Club elder statesman

The usual suspects

The 1982 300DT with hood up belongs to George Cossolias and has over 1,484,000 on the odometer.

George is the original owner.

After rounding up most of the participants to pose for the obligatory group photo shoot we gathered in the dining room for lunch and the awards ceremony. Some nice awards were presented such as free oil changes at Dieter's. At one time movie legend John Wayne owned most of Pauma Valley and most likely visited the Lazy H. They have a John Wayne room that is used for group functions. No rain and a sunny cool day for a fantastic event. Hope to see you at the movies!

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

Page | 82

he Chaparral Section is launching a new initiative just in time for the return of cooler temps and the fall driving season. It is open to all MBCA members and associate members, and especially the Chaparral Section and our winter “snowbird” MBCA members who may be visiting Arizona for an extended stay. We have named our new initiative, Chaparral Section’s Passport to Adventure in Arizona (CS-PAAZ) The CS-PAAZ is a self-guided driving program and NOT a competition. It’s designed to get all our members out on the Arizona highways and byways driving their vehicles, and experiencing our amazing state. We have selected 32 points of interest that highlight each region of Arizona, five of which are off paved roads that we are calling Optional Extreme Destinations.

Here is how it works. Somewhat like a US Passport, after registration with the Administrator we will supply each participant via email with 1) an AZ Passport pamphlet containing pertinent details about each destination, along with 2) a copy of the AZ Passport rules.

Participants have two years from October 1, 2015, to complete their passports by driving to 12 of the 32 destinations, taking a photo which includes; 1) signage indicating the name/location of the destination, 2) date stamp, 3) M-B Tri-Star or MBCA logo, and 4) a selfie. Email your digital photo to the CS-PAAZ administrator or print it and bring it to a Section event, or Cars and Coffee at AJ’s.

The CS-PAAZ administrator will validate your photo and even stamp your AZ Passport pamphlet.

In addition, the Chaparral Section is committed to planning at least two Section events a year that will include one or more of the PAAZ destinations. Once you have registered with the CS-PAAZ administrator, you will be requested to obtain a DVD or a USB flash drive on which to record your photos. If you are a traditionalist, a classic 35mm photo camera will work fine, too. The only cost to you is for the DVD, USB flash drive or film. Your Mercedes is the preferred vehicle for these drives; however, it is not mandatory that you drive your Mercedes on all 12 drives, especially for the off-road destinations.

That’s all there is to it. We plan to officially launch this program on October 1, 2015 in conjunction with our Section’s “Run to Pines” weekend event in Pinetop, AZ. If you have any questions, please contact Beverly Maddalone, Administrator, at bmadd732@att.net.

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

by Steve Ross

an Diego, Orange County, Long Beach-South Bay Sections, friends, family and neighbors of Star Car drivers gathered at Milton's in Del Mar for Brunch Sunday morning before Continuing across the freeway to the World Famous Del Mar Race Track the track where the stars hang out. I am pretty sure Bing was not there but through the miracle of technology his crooning baritone voice serenaded us during the races. As happened last year, President Michael ran of of tickets and was scrambling to get more seats. I think Michael was booking seats up until a few hours of race time. This has become one of our most popular events.

During

brunch

Michael

raffled

off

prizes

donated by Hoehn Mercedes-Benz of Carlsbad, Ca. Since the items being raffled were very nice, quality gifts the excitement grew as the dining and drawing continued. In the photo we see Brian Kruse checking his ticket and Carol Ross's hand playing the TA-TA music. Actually not her hand but the little music player. Just about everyone came home a winner, (in the raffle anyway). Can't speak for the race track results. The food at Milton's is delicious and the variety is amazing.

We loaded our winnings and full tummies into the Benz and fired her up for the trip to the race track where "Lady Luck" awaited us. Arriving at our private seating area most everyone had their racing form; studying them like they knew what they were doing. I think a few did, but not me.

Some of the tips I overheard were "Oh number 8 colors are cute", I like the grey horse", and the best of all was "always bet on the purple�. I must say that after every race someone in our group let out a yell of victory. Some of the tips I overheard actually paid off!

Page | 84

Our

group

between

races. The man on the phone

in

the

left

foreground

is

the

husband of my Grand Daughter. He was one of the people there that could read and understand

racing

forms, statistics and apply them. I wish I had listened to him but alas, alas.

It was a fun day filled with excitement of the crowd cheering their horse and rider on. I think it is a good bet that we will do this again next year so save those nickels and dimes for the ponies.

That is my horse leading over the finish line. I won but do not have an IRS problem.

Thank you Hoehn Mercedes-Benz for your generous support.

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

Page | 86

By Jutta Lunario

T

his beautiful emblem is recognized in every corner of the world. Many associate it with luxury, class, status, state of the art engineering, quality, longevity, design, the list goes on not to take that away, one of the more important features about MB is SAFETY! While

browsing the internet looking for feedback from everyday MB owners I found the following statements to be the most powerful why owning a Mercedes Benz is more than just status.

 “I can’t believe we walked away”  “The fireman told me “if you can live through that than I want my wife driving that car”  “I truly believe I owe that car my life and my daughter’s life”  “I decided I would never drive a car unless it was a Mercedes. The Police told me I would have been dead in any other car”  “The car absorbed all the force. It saved our lives”  “I feel so strongly about it, it’s not just a pretty car, it will also save your life”  “Everyone told me that it was our car that saved us, both insurance Companies, the police, the people in the ambulance. That specific car is the reason we walked away”  “We’ve always been very loyal Mercedes customers and after this accident we will never consider anything but a Mercedes Benz”

These were just a few of the comments by Steve Cannon, Vice President MB USA that he heard from MB owners over and over. I hope you never have an experience of this kind in your beloved Mercedes Benz but it is sure good to know you are in a safe car.

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

Page | 88

he Great Escape Rally was once again designed and organized by Membership Chair George Brown. A Good turnout saw the cars wind through West Los Angeles, Malibu, down the picturesque Pacific Coast Highway and finishing up at the Rosenthall wine tasting room.

This year saw John McCully and Natalya Ptashinky take the trophy.

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

By John and Roberta Phin

esert Stars Section members met at Schumacher Mercedes-Benz for a welcoming breakfast. After walking the dealer floor we began our tour, beginning first across the desert to Wickenburg and then north to Prescott through the quaint Arizona towns of Congress and Yarnell. We climbed about 5,000 feet on a dramatically winding road into the pine forests of the Prescott National Forest. In Prescott, we met for lunch on the patio of the historic Gurley Street Grill. Coincidentally, the Mile High Brewfest

was

being

held

at

the

Courthouse Square across from the Grill! Several members enjoyed the fest while others shopped around the Square or enjoyed the historic sights of this prior capital of Arizona. Many of us stayed

at

the

lovely

and

historic

Hasayampa Inn, also an easy walk (see the pattern?) and from there walked to dinner

at

Bin

239.

Daytime

temperatures were at least 15 degrees cooler than the Phoenix Valley, and the evening chilled down to a lovely 65 degrees. All in all, we had a great time enjoying each other’s company and the drive, sights and cuisine of this historic Arizona city.

Page | 90

Top: Do you think the E55,CL63, and this camera car, an S55, hung behind those ML’s for long?

Right, bottom, & opposite page, bottom: What we came for, lunch and great company.

Opposite page, top: A BIG THANKS to Schumacher for the venue and the photo!

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

The Third Annual Orange County / San Diego Day at the Races

By Laura Dykstra

he Orange County and Long Beach Club Sections joined the San Diego Club at the Del Mar Race Track. I’m not sure if any of our horses won any races but I do know my choices didn’t! But what fun anyway! We met for breakfast then proceeded on to the races. Raffle tickets were drawn all day long with really awesome prizes and I actually did win a prize …. a black Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Classic Selection model! We all had seats in the Clubhouse which gave us excellent views of the race track. Again, I have attached some photos of the day below and there is actually one of me this time thanks to someone’s offer to take a photo of me and my husband (with Isolde and Garhard) since the photos I take obviously never have me in them!

Page | 92

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

L

From the Long Beach Section

ong Beach section members recently went to Simi Valley for a docent guided tour of the Reagan Library. As we arrived, we met members of the Channel Islands section for a total of 27 participants.

Our tour started with a history of Reagan as a child and growing up in the Midwest and through his college years. It was in college where he developed his speaking talents. From there he went into acting and then into politics. The library highlighted his assassination attempt as well as his negotiations with Russia.

His official jetliner, Air Force One, and helicopter were also available for viewing on the inside. On the outer lawn of the library is a piece of the Berlin Wall, not far from where Reagan is buried.

An additional exhibit were cars on loan from the Petersen

Automotive

Museum.

While

the

museum is under construction, several cars used in movies were on display.

After lunch we said farewell to the Channel Islands members and agreed to have another joint event soon.

Page | 94

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

by Coop, of course

little about myself. I was born in California and came to Tucson with my family in 1952 because my Dad was hired to be the head Track and Field coach as well as the head Freshman Football coach at the U of A, so I grew up being a Wildcat (I have had season tickets for both football and basketball since the late ‘70s).

I graduated from the U of A in 1970 from the College of Agriculture with a degree in Animal Science.

After I

graduated, I worked for Arizona Feeds for three years as a Management Trainee, then I went to Tucson Gas and Electric,

which

later

became

Tucson

Electric

Power

Company (TEP), and I was in middle Management for 26 years until I retired in 1999.

During my adult life, I traveled to Mexico, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Italy as well as visiting the major cities throughout the United States. I was on the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House for 14 years; a Chapter Advisor and the Building Corporation’s Treasurer, Facilities Manager and Board of Director for my fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, for over 25 years. I am currently a volunteer for the Tucson Wild Life Center, Friends of the Pima County Library and President of my home owners association. I also have a plot in the Rincon Mountain Community Gar-den of Tucson.

How I obtained my Mercedes. Back in April of 1999, my Chevy Blazer was stolen while I was having dinner at a restaurant. After this ugly event, I started the process of purchasing a new vehicle. Then all of the sudden one morning about a week later, I received a phone call from the City of Tucson Police Department advising me that they recovered my stolen Blazer.

A good friend told me that I needed to give myself a “present” since my Blazer was now found.

Well I always wanted a MG convertible so I found one in the want ads section in the newspaper and test drove it. Because I was too big to fit into the front seat making it very uncomfortable to sit in, the front window was way too close to my face and my feet were too big to push the clutch and brake pedals making shifting and breaking very scary. So after that experience of that test drive, I did not pursue the purchase of any more MGs. Page | 96

Because I always wanted a convertible, and knowing that Mercedes made a convertible model, I again started looking into the want ads in the newspaper. I had no idea what the Mercedes model was for a convertible so I just started calling any seller who had a Mercedes for sale. After quite a few calls, finally a person that I had called said he did not have a convertible but his dad had one, which was for sale. I then purchased his 1980 280 SL which was shipped from Bremerhaven, Germany to Houston, TX in March of 1986 and so now I have very roomy and comfortable convertible.

I became a member of MBCA around 2000 but because of the inactivity of this club at that time, I quit about a year later. Around March of 2004, Fred Finney, who was the Club’s Treasures and who was my Vice President at TEP, called me and asked me to come to a Chaparral Section Board meeting. Well not only was I asked to be a Board member but I was also asked to be their new Secretary, which I was until January of 2015 when Fred and I ex-changed positions – Fred became the new Secretary and I became the new Treasurer.

Coop won 2nd Place at the Bisbee Car Show April 2014 with his 1980 Mercedes-Benz SL

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

Above: A fun road is ahead when you see that sign!

Page | 98

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

by Laura Dykstra

n September 13th more than 20 members met at the 17th Street Bar and Grill in Tustin for the Orange County Section election dinner. The officers remain the same except for Judy Caruso who was nominated as Secretary. Judy is a long time member and we know she is going to do a fantastic job. We thank Dorothy Lindeman, who moved out of the area, for serving as Secretary for so many years. We will miss her.

We had a great time at the dinner. The food was scrumptious and it was nice to see old members and new members gathered together. We had lots of time to chat and catch up after a busy summer. These informal election dinners are always fun. Next time you see one posted in the newsletter, come on out and join us. The more the merrier. Happy Fall everyone.

Page | 100

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

s many of you already know, our beloved president Geoff Bolt passed away peacefully on February 6, 2015 at 12:12 PM following a brave battle with cancer. His family, along with Regional Director Steve Ross, were at his side.

Geoff was a tireless supporter of the club and his absence has already been profoundly felt both at events and especially at our monthly board meetings. His constant banter with George Brown was always a delight.

Originally hailing from England, Geoff’s over fifty year career in printing took him from England to Hong Kong.

While living in Hong Kong he learned to SCUBA Dive.

Philippines in 1981 that he met his wife Jojie.

Page | 102

It was on a dive in the

by John W. McCully Following five years in Hong Kong, Geoff was off to the Philippines for two years, then back to England for a few more years. After working for a subsidiary of printing giant RR Donnelly, Geoff was off to Bangkok to act as Plant Manager for the Eastern Printing Company where he oversaw construction of the printing plant and the installation of multiple huge presses.

During his five years in Bangkok, Geoff and Jojie applied to immigrate to the US. When a sales position opened up in California, they jumped on it.

Geoff served as our section president for seven consecutive years. Under his leadership, the South Bay Section was selected as the Section of the Year in 2010.

His brave courage in facing his ailment was truly inspiring and I am sure that I speak for all of us when I say that I will miss him greatly.

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

Page | 104

by Laura Dykstra ktoberfest at the Phoenix Club was enjoyable with great entertainment. Quite a few Mercedes cars from both Orange County and Long Beach County showed up making a large crowd of members all delighting in the activities. We parked inside the gate alongside each other right in the midst of the goings on. There were many booths, including jewelry and crafts! The band had come all the way from Germany just for the Phoenix Oktoberfest

making

the

music

and

dancing

very

authentic. Many of us enjoyed dancing along with the crowd, which included German dances as well as what is called the traditional “chicken” dance! It was great people watching as many in the crowd wore their German outfits,

The Bauer’s and their beer stein

including Isolde Fehrmann. The Bauer’s and others even brought their own beer steins!

The

festival

served

genuine German food all of which was

delicious.

Join us next year for a lot of fun!

Isolde Fenrmann in a German outfit Laura and Ed enjoying a successful club event The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

life is a journey rather than a destination.

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

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Another Mystery drive has been solved from the Chaparral Section

n Sept 19, 2015 at approximately high noon, 18 Chaparral section members met at the starting point for the Mystery Drive and Dine, which was at the Denny's restaurant on W. Ina Road in Tucson, AZ. These members were given precise, written directions to mark their journey on a scenic drive through a favorite Southwestern Tucson road course. This 45 minute/25 mile drive took them onto Picture Rocks Road and lead them down through Sandario Road, to a hidden, yet scenic two-lane road which goes by the Tucson Mountain District Visitor Center. Once back on "civilized roads", the directions (once again) led the group through a very popular twisty road behind the Arizona Soronan Desert Museum. After making a quick right turn, the group was on their way to the final destination, J.J. Coopers Diner and Ice Cream Shoppe! Once there, the group was treated to a variety of popular 50's style eats, with some new-style entrees as well. The first 3 couples to arrive were even presented with a $10 gift certificate from the owners of the diner. It's also important to note that the group had 3 new members and their spouses present, who were on their first event with the Chaparral section. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the company, the local hospitality, and the great food and ice cream.

Left: Gathering to begin the drive

Right: Our destination watering hole

Left: Delicious food and a cold ice tea

Right: Mike Zonnefeld– Thanking the participants

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

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n the evening of Saturday September the 19th, we gathered for a pre event dinner at Karl Strauss Brewing in downtown San Diego. We had quite a few new faces join us including members from the Orange County Section. We talked, laughed and told stories while we sat around a large table eating some great food and drinking adult beverages.

The next day, members of the San Diego Section Mercedes Benz Club flocked to Coronado to witness vintage auto racing at its best. Some 14 cars from the club gathered in the “Car Corral” area. It was a nice warm day with a bit of a breeze. Truth be told, a good number of us spent much of the day under the club canopy eating yummy food and telling car stories. The Coronado Speedfest is much more than just a bunch of folks racing vintage cars. Areas were dedicated to vendors, test drives, car sales, a food court and guided tours of the pit area. Many car clubs joined us in the Car Corral. This is really a fun event as it allows you to go into the pits, see all of the cars and speak with the drivers. Thank you to those that joined us as we certainly were happy to see you and spend a little time together.

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

by Rosi Bauer

nown as the “Race at the Base”, the Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival includes 10 different race groups divided according to make, age and horsepower. The cars race at high speeds on a spectator-friendly 1.7-mile course constructed in mere days on the runways and taxiways of the military base. The track is set against the stunning backdrop of San Diego Bay. Each year, Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) is the host to this wonderful event.

Car enthusiasts can visit the Car Club Corral, which shows off a variety of automobiles that range in age, model and makes – over one thousand cars have been featured at the Car Club Corral – and we have been there also, thanks to the San Diego Section, who provided us with the corral pass!

Not only did we see car races. During the lunch break we enjoyed a helicopter demo, a Flyover Page | 110

and the USO Singing Troupe. Also fun was to witness Red Bull Endurocross Rider Geoff Aaron, who rides a motorcycle so specialized it doesn’t even have a seat. But standing up on the pegs of his bike, while negotiating seemingly impossible obstacles, is what trials riding is all about! People, who got tired of watching the races, could take the U.S. Navy Ship Tours. This year there were 3 ships on display you could visit (USS Somerset, USS Wayne E. Meyer and USS Cape St. George).

On Saturday evening we joined the San Diego Section at the Karl Strauss Brewing Company for dinner, beer testing and a lot of car talking.

After two great days at the Coronado Speed Festival, worn out ear plugs and sunburn, we headed home and told ourselves: WE’LL BE BACK NEXT YEAR FOR SURE!

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

By John & Roberta Phin

he afternoon was splendid; the rain held back, and due to the overcast sky it was actually not TOO hot in Scottsdale in July. Fifteen Desert Stars’ cars comprised the largest brand representation at the July 18th Rock and Roll Car

show at the

Pavilions Center in Scottsdale. We showed 107 and 129 SLs, an E Coupe and Sedan, a W123 sedan and several family hauler SUVs in both M and G classes.

Members brought

non-Mercedes cars as well, including smart cars, perhaps in

consideration

of

the

threatening weather.

Above: Lisa, Christina and Joe by a GL

Below: It wouldn’t be a car show without Mercedes SL’s!

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Needless to say, our cars drew a lot of attention from other show participants, which was very reinforcing. Then the thirty members attending made their way to the Pink Pony Restaurant. We had our own dining room and spent the rest

of

the

evening

enjoying

the

excellent

dining

experience and the camaraderie of fellow Mercedes enthusiasts. It was a great way to spend a “not too hot” afternoon and evening in the desert.

Above: The Pink Pony serves up a tasty dish

Left: Terry Horne and his R170 SLK looking sharp

Right: The E-class coupe, always elegant in black

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

2015 MONTEREY TRIP TO THREE CONCOURS SHOWS

by Bob Gunthorp

his year’s trip to Monterey was more ambitious than my past three trips. I had set out to achieve four goals this year. They were 1: Enter my car in the Legends of the Autobahn Concours. 2: Enter my car in the Concours D’ Lemon. 3: Have my picture taken with Wayne Carini and my Mercedes Station Wagon. I wasn’t able to get a photo of him and I and the car at the Mercedes “StarFest” meet in 2012 in Phoenix, so I thought I could have one taken with him at the Concours De Lemon. 4: Get a “Media” pass to the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance.

These goals may appear to be fairly challenging. However, number one was easy all I had to do was just apply and pay the money. On Friday when I arrived at Legends I was told: “You have just won the trifecta.” When I asked what he meant he said that my car was the only one in my class so I won the first, the second, and the third place trophies. I offered to withdraw the car from the competition but they chose to combine my class with another class that had only one vehicle in it. Now I was competing with a 300SL Gullwing. In the “new” class my car received a hard won second place trophy. Note: There were still only two vehicles in the new class.

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Number two also turned out to be just as easy. I went on line and filled out the application and submitted it. My car was not a “lemon” by their standards, but they were also accepting rare vehicles. That got my station wagon accepted. The cost to show and/or attend Concours D’ Lemon is free. I didn’t get a trophy at this show. However, on MSN.com they listed my Mercedes station Wagon as one of the eleven most significant cars at the Concours D’ Lemon.

Number three would just be “dumb” luck. I knew that every year Wayne shows one or two vehicles at the Lemon Show (the “Lemon” show is one of his favorite shows in the country), so I expected to see him there and I was not disappointed. He is very friendly and approachable. When I asked him for a photo, he said “sure”. He recognized my station wagon from Phoenix Mercedes meet and his comment was “I love this station wagon”.

Number four was slightly more challenging. They don’t just hand out Media passes like candy bars, so I contacted the photographer who has done photos of my collection for several magazine articles. I asked him if he would be there and if he needed an assistant. He got the credentials and was happy to have me as his assistant. With that, I accomplished all four of my goals.

This year’s trip was almost uneventful. The only problem I had was in Santa Ana. The traffic was stop and go on the I5. At one point I stopped and went to shift from 4th gear to 1st, only to find the shift lever flopping around in my hand. I was stuck in 4th gear. A bushing on one of the shift rods had given up the ghost. I drove from Santa Ana to Sylmar in stop and go traffic using only 4th gear. I didn’t ruin the clutch, but it did get quit a workout. In Sylmar we stopped for lunch.

Guess what they had at the mini mart next to the restaurant? “DUCT TAPE.” I was able to “tape” the linkage back together until we got to Monterey, where I replaced the bushing. The cost of the replacement bushing including tax was $ 14.01. Despite of the linkage problem, I considered it a great trip.

I now have a new motto: “DUCT TRAP RULES

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

by Steve Ross

f you were into German automobiles, Legends of the Autobahn was the place to be August 14 2015. There was some mighty fine eye candy on the field, believe me. The people I saw from San Diego were Gary Jarvis, Diana and Brian Kruse, President Michael Cooper and Jon Barnardi. Oh, and Bob Gunthorp. We were glad to see our new friend "Boady" (Michael says he knows him). Boady is a BMW type but a nice guy so we all love him.

The 1937 540K shown below was the oldest Mercedes-Benz at "Legends" this year and there were a few 2015 models as well. The 190SL's were honored on their 60th anniversary and they were out in force to celebrate. Brian and Diana Kruse were there with "Ruby Begonia"; one mighty fine looking 190SL with a few make up variations of her own which makes the other 190SL's jealous.

The honored 190SL Row

1937 540K

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Left: We had to eat. Clockwise from the left we have Carol Ross, Bob Gunthorp, Gary Jarvis, Diana Kruse and Mr. B.

Right: Mr. B and Diana Kruse's 190SL "Ruby Begonia"

Left: Carol Ross accepts the first place award for her 560SL the Golden Eagle

Right: National President Terry Kiwala presenting the trophies

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

Page | 118

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

The Regional Director’s Corner Mystery Every month as I work on our Star Bulletin I can't help but notice that the same faces and Mercedes-Benz automobiles seem to be in every issue. I found this odd so I commissioned a study to determine why this was. Actually I formed a committee, as is the norm in today's world, made up of a diverse group of individuals to find the answer. I was astonished at the findings. The results were that these are the people and cars that show up at our events! I was surprised and felt inadequate that I had not figured this out. Now the committee has to figure out what is the reason that the same members keep showing up and bringing their Mercedes-Benz automobiles with them. Let's see what we can come with to help out the committee. Could it be; 1) the events appeal to no one else in the club, 2) too expensive, 3) held on wrong day or wrong time of day, 4) location is not convenient, or 5) just has zero interest in participating in your club events. The one thing I am sure of is, the board and officers really, really want to put on events that appeal to the widest interests of our members. The Club needs you to help out the committee in their quest for answers to this question. The members who attend club events appear to be having fun or is it just a scam to trick us into coming to an event. I am going to look into this possibility to see if I can detect any hint of phony fun. Seriously let me or any board member know what you like or don't like. We all love feedback positive or negative. You may do so anonymously if you want.

WE WANT YOU WE NEED YOU!!

Steve Ross

Your car here Page | 120

Your photo here

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

Page | 122

s you'll no doubt have noticed, we have been behind on the production of the newsletter.

This year has been a difficult one as the board has been greatly diminished. Following quickly on the passing of Joe Edone, we lost our good friend and past president Geoff Bolt. We also saw long-time board member and also past president Alan Goodloe move out of state.

Needless to say the remaining board members have had to try to pick up the slack.

Historically we have been holding the board meetings on the first Monday evening of the month. This past month we decided to try something new and hold the meeting on a Saturday morning. We met at Ruby's Diner in Redondo Beach and were joined by regional director Steve Ross. The turnout was terrific. Ideas flowed and everyone seemed to have a great time.

The consensus was that meeting on Saturday morning was a better option for everyone.

Future meetings will feature an informal car show where members can show and discuss their cars and maybe get a bit of needed advice or encouragement. We'll then have brunch and those willing to hang around can stay for the board meeting.

I'll be sending out announcements via email to everyone prior to the monthly meetings and encourage all members to attend.

September is a busy month. We'll again be having our booth at the Palos Verdes Concours.

This is a great event. If you're into classics, you should try to make it out. We're also heading back to Ontario Motor Speedway for track day and the San Diego section has invited us to join them for Fleet Week - all great events that I strongly encourage you to attend.

I hope to see you at the next event

John W. Mccully President MBCA Long Beach-South Bay Section

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

Page | 124

The Desert Stars Section’s President’s Desk

By Debbie Ichiyama

wanted to share with you a change that affects the Mercedes Club of America Southwest Region. Below is an email that I received from Steve Ross:

We in the Desert Stars Section will miss Steve as our Regional Director and I am sure you will join me in wishing him all the best in his position within MBCA.

New Star Dust Section Members, “Welcome!”

John Baker, Howard Brodbeck, Ted Corse, John Dearinger, Raymond Dolan, Mihai Dumitrascu, Robert Gawlik, Rick Harray, Ryland Holeman, Dean Jacobson, Glenn Johnson, Jeff Morgan, Jeff Oltman, Harold Richter, and Robert Steele More Than a Car | We’re a Community

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

Page | 126

T

The Orange County Sections’s President’s Desk he OC section’s annual election of officers and board members was held on September 13.

All of the candidates recommended by the nominating committee ran unopposed. The officers and board members for 2016 are as follows.

Section President

Lynn Hern

Vice President of Programs

Jocelyn Salisbury

Vice President of Activities

Marlyn Ortiz

Secretary

Judy Caruso

Treasurer

Shirley Hern

Assistant Treasurer

Open

Board Member (4)

Jim Salisbury Judy Caruso Edward Dykstra Shirley Hern

In addition, Rosi Bauer has graciously volunteered to continue as assistant Vice President of Activities.

2015 will be ending soon and we will be planning next year’s activities in a few weeks. If anyone has any suggestions for next year’s events, now is the time to let the section officers know about it.

During 2015 the OC section had a car rally in January, a wine tasting tour in March and a scenic drive to the Planes of Fame air museum with tour and dinner in July. Our section also participated in the regional event at Borrego Springs in March and the fleet week speed festival in San Diego in September. In addition we held regular board meetings which all members were invited to attend and a series of Saturday morning breakfasts.

Since many members spend a significant amount of time planning for the Thanksgiving Holiday in November we have not planned any activities for this month. However, I hope to see many of our members at the Christmas Brunch on December 6 at the Anaheim Hills Country Club. Look for the details in this newsletter.

Remember you can always find the last newsletter on our web site at www.mboc.info

- Lynn Hern, We welcome our newest Orange County Section members – Ana Alford  Cheryl Bahn  Cy King  Dan Constantinide  Danielle Rager  David Parker Frank Ruckelshausen  James Dobry  Jerald Ferrell  Jerry Cantrell  John Hague Judith Soroudi  Kamran Khadivi  Marie Little  Michael Baldwin  Mina Balba-Dizon Philip Furlong  Rose Co  Scott Johnson  Walter Stevens  William Corbett The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

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From the Desk of The San Diego Section President

By Michael Cooper

appy November everybody! We on the Board wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Typically I like to fill my Presidents message with a little bit of fun and some updates. But this time, I reflect on an article written by Mr. Steve Ross in this issue. In his article he touches on a comment that I have heard before and that I have even made to others in the past. Yes, many of the pictures in the newsletter are same folks month after month. Yes, Mr. Ross is correct in his statement that these are the same people that participate and support the efforts put forth by your board and event planners. For those folks, I’m grateful and appreciative for all of your participation. Each month we ask for your input, every year we ask for your help on committees.

This month we were to have elections (Every position on the board is available. Even mine!) The issue at hand…. Nobody seems interested and not enough input from fellow members. If you would like to see changes in venue, events, personnel, club direction PLEASE step forward. Say something! We need you to be involved! We will be standing by waiting for your input.

This message has truly been no fun to write. I know how much effort the board puts into planning events for you such as Tequila Rose, driving events, dinners, plays, outings with the hopes of a large turnout. So, I’m going to ask, if you like this club, if you like what it has to offer in the way of activities, discounts, and friendship. I am personally reaching out and asking all of you to join us at the Holiday Party this December to show support of this club. We will toast to the year gone by and address a new beginning.

We look forward to spending time with each of you.

Michael Cooper President

New San Diego Section MBCA Members Joe Biscone  Godofredo Corpuz  Jeffery Elman  Gerald Hawkins  James Holcomb Toshihro Kusuhara  Monica Laflin  Edward Masucci Don Moore  Jim Newmann  Kevin Oleary

A hearty welcome to all our new members.

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

H

ello my fellow club members!

Yes, it’s me again, standing in for Paul. He’s just a little busy, so I offered to write a guest

perspective.

It was great getting together for our joint Los Angeles section / Porsche Club of America Oktoberfest Event. This was our second joint event with the Porsche Club of America this year and they are a fun group. Did anyone else notice the number of Porsche owners who drove their Mercedes to the event? I asked a couple of them why they didn’t bring their Porsche. Unless I’m mistaken there was some grumbling about the superior Mercedes-Benz air conditioning.

We’re wrapping up the year with our annual holiday party at Lawry's the Prime Rib Restaurant in Beverly Hills. We ask that you bring a new toy for our annual toy drive. Our guest speaker, Larry Crane, is incredible. Try to make it if at all possible. You’d hate to miss out.

We’ve got big news that affects not just the LA Section, but the entire Southwest. Attached is a letter from our Regional Director:

So what does this mean for us? First, Steve will be missed, but he’ll still be around. I don’t know if the members of the MBCA Board of Directors regularly attend events, but I’m pretty sure we’ll see Steve from time to time. On the other side of that fence, someone is going to have to step Page | 130

up and be our new Southwest Regional Director. How much time does it take and what type of experience is required? Unfortunately, the answers to those and many other questions are best answered by Steve. I’d tell you if I knew, but I’m just standing in for Paul while he’s down in Texas watching the F1 Race from his box seats. Paul may be able to fill us in when he returns.

By the way, did you notice something? Yes, this “Not Quite The President’s Perspective” just went into its second page. How did that happen? They told me this is the “new” newsletter. It’s digital and I can go on as long as I wanted. They also said I could add photos and yes, that’s me to the right. Make sure to say “Hello” at the next event. If I say “hello” back, you’ll know it’s me when I’m not wearing my disguise. But try to keep that particular secret handshake between just us, OK? Lastly, I said it the last time I was a guest columnist and it’s still true – your Los Angeles Section needs people to step up and run some events. Amir and Mindy Rudyan stepped up. That must have gone OK, because we’ve had a couple of BBQs at their house. Yes, they invited us back a second time this past year.

Craig Stevens and Bridgette Trapp stepped up.

They planned a

caravan to the California Oil Museum in Santa Paula, then lunch, and then a walking tour of Ojai to visit art galleries. It’s your turn. ONE EVENT. Really, just one. If you want to run with more, great, but one is all we ask. It’s easy. Just step up and say – “HEY!!!! Let’s go to [whatever]!”

Yes, it’s that simple. Well, you probably should attend a board meeting, but there’s one of those coming up in January. That will give you plenty of time to plan our outing. No ideas? Ok, here’s one - The Petersen Auto Museum has been getting renovated since forever and it reopens in December. Let’s go in 2016. You now officially have an idea, so there’s no excuse. If two of you show up at the January meeting with the same idea, you can BOTH plan it together. The Petersen too intimidating? How about coffee at a coffee house near where you live? We did that once and the turnout was great.

OK, two pages of endless blathering is probably enough. Until next time -

Anonymously yours Not the

President, Mercedes Benz Club - Los Angeles Section

A Warm welcome to our newest members: Alex Lovi, Ann Westfall, Bob Hiatt, Dave Skorjanc, David Halcrow, Hayden Pheneger, John Shieh, Kevin Cofield, Kris Finstad, Lenz Meylan, Liyo Shahkarami, Mike Tsai, Rainan F Sabalboro, Rebecca Koppenhaver, Robert Peterson, Ron Gerhardt, Sharon Bautista, and Vinod Patel

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

The President’s Desk

W

ell our summer is over, and with that, we start another season of wonderful Chaparral Section activities! Car shows, mystery dine and drive, overnight outings, holiday season parties, and a new Arizona driving event! Is it any wonder that our club has grown so

much in the past few years? We now number over 115 members and growing!

When I recently acquired another 560SL, I decided to research the company and now am even more impressed with the history of a company that has produced the world’s finest automobiles, in spite of being devastated by two wars that nearly completely destroyed their facilities! The three pointed star marquee represents the very best in quality, outstanding management, perseverance and a complete dedication to high quality performance, appearance and safety! The older models retain their classic appeal, and the newer ones the height of automobile performance and design.

Our Section is one of the most active ones in the MBCA organization, and we can hold our club high compared to others! Our events are exciting, the members out-standing, and of course our Mercedes automobiles are among the best.

We look forward to seeing you at one or more of our season events, and welcome you to attend our monthly board meetings, held the second Thursday of each month at 5:00 PM in Tucson Mercedes conference room.

Drive safely and enjoy your Mercedes!

For the Chaparral Section, MBCA

Mike Zonnefeld President

We welcome the following new members to the Chaparral Section: Gordon Reay, Scott Leather, and George Anderson Page | 132

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

reetings Channel Island Members And Friends, Our

Channel

Islands

website.is

expanding.

Create

a

shortcut

or

link:

www.mbcachannelislands.org Check the site often for event signup forms and copies of newsletters. We are still looking for some help on the Board. If anyone wants to be a part of this creative group and bring some ideas to our meeting, please let us know.

Some of the board members attended the 9th annual Camarillo Ranch Car Show. This is a fund raiser for the Camarillo Ranch House and every year a car club is featured. I am proud to say that for the Tenth Annual “Camarillo Ranch House Car Show/Food Truck Fund Raising Event�, THE MERCEDES CLUB, CHANNEL ISLAND SECTION, will be the FEATURED CAR CLUB for the June Event in 2016. (Yeah).

Along with many entrants, our club will have the Red Barn in which to display our Mercedes cars.

I am going to need some nicely restored old Benzes and some newer cars. So start getting those cars ready! Please contact me if you have a beauty we can show off so I can start a list. More to follow on this event.

I just want to thank all of you for the participation at the events we have. Be sure to recruit a member if you feel a person, friend or other members of your family would enjoy our activities and functions. Mention our section often to businesses you deal with. We always need advertisers for the newsletter.

See you at the next event,

Peter Samaha It is always a pleasure when we can welcome new members to our club. I would like to extend a very special welcome to our newest members: John Castorina, Thomas Cortese, Bob Dalby, Ron Dreher, John L Mullen III, Claudia Rhea, J Erik Swartz, Pam Watling, and Jodie Willard Page | 134

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

Page | 136

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.

The Chaparral Section’s Holiday Party at The Mountain Oyster Club Saturday, December 5, 2015 The Mountain Oyster Club is always a classy venue for a party, but this year there’s a twist: We’re going for lunch, with a preceding non judged car show. This is our annual members meeting and holiday party.

The Los Angeles Section Holiday Party Saturday, December 5, 2015 This year’s Holiday Party will be held at Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Beverly Hills. The party from noon until 3:30 PM. As always, we’ll have a room reserved just for the club. This year we’ll have a guest speaker; Larry Crane. Many of you may remember Larry from our Mullin Automotive Museum outing. Larry has a great wealth of automotive knowledge and we’re looking forward to a great time.

Lawry's The Prime Rib is located at 100 N. La Cienega Boulevard in Beverly Hills, CA 90211. A map is posted on our website, www.la-mbca.com/events.html. Lawry’s has their own parking lot, so there is no need to search for parking spaces. We hope you’ll be able to join us. If possible, please bring a new unwrapped toy that will be donated to Toys for Tots on behalf of the club.

Page | 140

An RSVP is required and payment must be received by November 28th to ensure your reservation. Please mail your reservation to Fran Schoenfeld. If you have questions, Fran can be reached by e-mail - Fran.Schoenfeld@la-mbca.com.

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

The Orange County Section’s Christmas Brunch Sunday, December 6, 2015

Join us for our holiday party from noon until 2:00 pm at the Clubhouse at Anaheim Hills Golf Course - 6501 Nohl Ranch Road in Anaheim, CA. 714-998-3041 The price is $30 per person.

Please RSVP before Thursday, December 3rd, with Jocelyn at Jocelyn.Salisbury@mboc.info.

Jocelyn will let you know where to send your check. The club will be responsible for any no-shows so there will be no refunds if you do not attend after RSVPing.

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It’s Holiday Party Time for the Desert Stars Section Sunday, December 6, 2015 The holidays will be here before we know it. So do you know what that means? It’s time for the Desert Stars Annual Holiday Party with the always important Member Anniversary recognition celebration. It is time to reflect back on 2015 as we spend time with friends and fellow members catch up, and welcome in the spirit of the holidays.

Once again Mr. Zoran Klisara, owner of Tommy V’s Urban Kitchen and Bar, has offered to open his restaurant exclusively for the Desert Stars for our annual party. Normally they do not open until 4pm on Sundays, however for us they are opening at lunchtime so we may celebrate. We will have the whole place to ourselves, with a specialized menu for our enjoyment. Tommy V’s is located in the heart of downtown Scottsdale with its own parking lot right in front of the restaurant.

So there is no need to hunt for parking spaces in Old Town. In fact, the location of the restaurant is perfectly suited for an afternoon of holiday shopping after lunch. Nearby are all of the local Western and Arizona themed stores for you to pick up a gift or two for friends and family.

We hope you will join your Mercedes-Benz club for an always-enjoyable lunch. Oh, don’t forget we are collecting for Toys for Tots so please bring an un-wrapped gift! More details and registration information will appear in the next newsletter. In the meantime, if you want more info please contact Debbie Ichiyama at dichiyama@me.com Tommy V’s Urban Kitchen and Bar 7303 East Indian School Road, Scottsdale

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

The San Diego Section Holiday Party Sunday, December 6, 2015

Please join us at The Country Club of Rancho Bernardo for our keystone event of the year. This is the time of year when we pull out “all the stops� to have a gala Holi-day/Christmas/End of year/or just a celebration party. It is a beautiful setting and the ambience is breathtaking.

This is the time of year when our section awards those distinguished members who have dedicated their time in making our club a great organization. The particulars are: PLACE: The Country Club of Rancho Bernar-do. 12280 Greens East Rd, Rancho Bernardo, CA WHEN: December 6, 2015 (Sunday) TIME: 6 P.M cocktails. Dinner at 6:30 P.M. COST: $55.00 per person. No Host Bar Menu: Steak or Salmon, wedge salad, veg-gies, potatoes, dessert, tea, lemonade or water Levis or denims are not acceptable attire at the Country Club for dinner events.

We are donating to the Bells of Freedom again this year. A donation for this charity which benefits Military families at Camp Pendleton is requested when sending in your reservation or you may donate at the party. Our goal is to raise $350.00 Page | 144

Join the Chaparral Section at the Cars and Coffee & Toys for Tots Benefit Saturday, December 12, 2015

The Chaparral Section and Tucson Cars & Coffee are hosting a Toys for Tots Benefit. This joint effort is a very worthwhile charity event. Last year’s December Cars and Coffee was both rainy and cold, but this year we’re hoping for Tucson sunshine. The event will be held at the regular Cars & Coffee location - AJ’s Fine Foods parking lot at the NW corner of N. Campbell Avenue and E. Skyline Drive (https://www.facebook.com/TucsonCarsandCoffee).

Tracy Long promises to get us acquainted better with our hometown. She’s planned a rally around town to find the answers to all those questions about the Old Pueblo you didn’t know to ask. Lunch and prizes will follow. (January Tucson Rally)

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

The Chaparral Section is attending the Tubac Car Show Saturday, January 30, 2016

Rain was on the menu for the Tubac Car Show last year. Hopefully the golf course at Tubac Country Club will be dry enough to permit car parking for their annual show this year. Check the Chaparral Section website for details as the date draws closer.

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The Orange County Section’s Las Vegas Weekend February 19, 20, (and for those who desire) 21, 2016 The Orange County Mercedes Club Section is hosting a Las Vegas week end. The overnight stay will be at The Orleans Hotel. This Mardi Gras-themed hotel is 1.5 miles from the Strip and 4 miles from McCarran International Airport located at 4500 West Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89103.

The room charge per night is $125.45 for Friday and Saturday and $69.55 for Sunday. The rates include taxes and fees. Call for your reservation at 1-800-675-3267 using Reservation I.D. A6MBC02 Mercedes Benz Club of Orange County. These special rates are only good until January 20, 2016. After this date the hotel may be sold out.

Friday:

Club hosted Cocktail Party

Saturday:

Activities throughout the day with dinner on Saturday night (activities will be determined at a later date)

Sunday:

Activities will be determined at a later date

More information will follow. Continue to check on the www.mboc.info website for details.

Please RSVP before January 20, 2016, to Marlyn at marlyno@cox.net or Rosi at stareuro@hotmail.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

67th Annual Grand National Roadster Show January 29th – 31st Noon until 8 PM Friday, 10 AM until 8 PM Friday, & 10 AM until 6 PM Sunday

The Grand National Roadster Show is now in its 67th year. Once known as the Oakland Roadster Show, it is the longest running indoor car show in the world! This is the 13th consecutive year at the Pomona Fairplex.

Over 500 show vehicles will compete for awards inside the Fairplex buildings. Another 400-800 vehicles will join the event Saturday & Sunday for the 11th Annual Grand Daddy Drive-In.

13th Annual San Juan Capistrano Car Show Saturday, February 6th from 7:30 AM until 2 PM

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Classics, new and exotics will headline this popular fundraiser, which promises a fabulous display of some 400 antique and classic cars and trucks. The return of the popular New-Car Row will show the latest models from local dealers. Bring the family! This is a pet-friendly event and many of last years’ attendees had their four-legged friends in tow. Come and see the impressive rows of cars and trucks, shop the vendor’s booths and enjoy delicious food with your family. Wellbehaved dogs on leashes are welcome!

This event will be held at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center / Sports Park. 25925 Camino Del Avion, San Juan Capistrano. If it rains on the 6th, the date will be pushed to Saturday, February 13, 2016 Early show car entries receive 2 free tickets to Mission San Juan Capistrano  Breakfast, Lunch & Refreshments Available  Show Cars Park on Grass  Vendors, Exhibits & Displays  Prizes & Opportunity Drawings  Car Club Cash Prizes  Incredible Disc Dogs Exhibition  Motorcycle Poker Run Terminates Here

Sweetheart Car Show February 13th from 10 AM until 1 PM St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Temecula hosts the third annual Sweetheart Car Show on Saturday, February 14th from 10AM to 1PM. Car lovers are invited to see a variety of classic and custom cars and street rods, enjoy food from local vendors, and enter a raffle for a chance to win prizes.

This is a pet-friendly show, so well-behaved animal friends are also welcome! Music and entertainment will be provided by Sounds Divine DJ service. Visitors can also get a tour of St. Thomas of Canterbury Church, guided by church members.

Car owners can enter their vehicles for $20 until February 12th, and will receive a car show Tshirt. Late registration is also available for $25 without T-shirt. Show day setup begins at 9AM. For entry information, contact Chris Junger at chrisjunger25@gmail.com.

The Sweetheart Car Show offers family fun for all. St. Thomas of Canterbury Church is located at 44651 Avenida de Missiones, just off Temecula Parkway. Phone: 951-302-4566.

BRING YOUR FAMILY! BRING YOUR PETS!

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

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Whittier Area Classic Car Show February 27th from 9 AM until 4 PM

This event will be held at the Whittier Area Community Church. There is free public admission, live music, vendor booths, food trucks, raffle prizes, event t-shirts, games, kids activities, and a drawing!

Open to all makes and models of American, Foreign Classic and Collector vehicles, 1976 and older.

All net proceeds from this event will fund community projects in the Whittier Area.

Temecula Rod Run March 4th and 5th in Old Town Temucula Please be aware, parking on Old Town Front Street is SOLD OUT Friday Night Cruise 5-8pm Come visit the Temecula Rod Run for our famous “Friday Night Cruise” and see hundreds of classic vehicles from all over the country cruise Old Town Front Street. The City of Temecula locks down Old Town from Arch to Arch to allow these classic beauties to run wild. Come watch while these classic vehicles roam around, rev up their engines and honk their horns!

This show attracts thousands of automotive enthusiasts and spectators year in and year out. Over 600 cars, including classics, special interest vehicles, hot rods and custom cars will be on display.

The Cruising starts at 5:00pm and goes on till 8:00pm, so come to Old Town Temecula and see some of the West Coast’s finest street rods cruising Old Town. The event is FREE to the public, music and entertainment are always a big hit, as well as great food, community vendors and much more.

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

Show and Shine 9am-4pm This is the day where you can get a close look at these classic vehicles and take a peek under the hoods. The City of Temecula locks down Old Town from Arch to Arch from 9:00am till 4:00pm and during this time, these classic beauties are parked waiting for you to get an upclose and personal look at them.

The vehicles are freshly detailed and polished to “Show and Shine”… they are just waiting around calling out to you to come see some of the finest street rods on the West Coast.

As always, the event is FREE to the public.

Be sure to bring all of your friends and family for a great time to remember.

Do not miss the family fun!

*Due to the number of people in attendance, dogs are discouraged from attending event. If necessary, dogs must be on leash at all times. *Scooters and Skateboards are discouraged.

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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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