Southwest star magazine 2016 1st quarter

The Southwest Star COVERING THE SOUTHWEST REGION OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ CLUB OF AMERICA VOLUME 4, NUMBER 1

In this issue we check out the new SL, the AMG GT3, latex as you’ve never seen it, S65 Cabrio, Rebecca Minkoff, Pagani’s upgrade, a Mercedes while you’re overseas, 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 new SL . . .

The AMG GT3. . . . . . .

Obsession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

RENNtech R1 Performance Package . . .

S65 Cabriolet . . . . . . .

Rebecca Minkoff. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mercedes-Benz Cataracts . . . . . . . .

Buying a Vintage Mercedes . . . . . . . . .

Mercedes-Benz for overseas .

Pagani gets an upgrade. . . . . . . .

Sunday Drivers . . . . . . .

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Contents Chaparral at Tanque Verde . .

Cars and Coffee Tuscan . . . . . .

Quality time with Top Shop . . . . .

German American Heritage Day . . . . .

Air Park Collision. . . . . . . . .

Casablanca. No really, Casablanca . . .

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

Meet a Member . . . . . . . .

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 February 2016 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 Alan Nelson Ann Geskes Arica Ohanisian Barbara Cameron Beatrice Werner Beverly Maddalone Bob Gunthorp Bob Yoder Brian Parker Brigitte Sutherly Bud Cloninger Carol Kruse-Ross Chase Kaufman Chris Murray Debbie Ichiyama Diana Kruse Dick Sharp Don Burton Don Loyd Edward Dykstra Fran Schoenfeld

Jerry Tucker Jim Salisbury Jocelyn Salisbury John Hutchison John Phin Judy Caruso Jutta Lunario Ken Borowitz Kenneth George Kevin Wright Lana Tbilisi Lynn Davison Mark Ichiyama Marylyn Ortiz Matthew Crawford Michael Cooper Michael Davison Mike Bailey Penny Bonomo Rebecca Crawford Rhonda Borino Rich Schulte Roberta Phin Ron Borino Rosi Bauer Sara Aguinaga Sherly Hern Sherre Frost Steve Misner Steve Ross Terry Horne Tina Wright Ty Hilbrecht Victoria Mazelli MBCA Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz USA Daimler AG Airpark Collision Center Arizona Concours experiencescottsdale.com

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

Queries info@fitzhughmedia.com

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Legalese The Southwest Star Magazine is published quarterly

by Fitzhugh Media and we welcome all contributions.

Any and all items submitted to The Southwest Star Magazine will become the sole property of The Southwest Star Magazine and are subject, but not limited to editing, comments, and titles.

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

The publishers of The Southwest Star Magazine believe the content of the magazine to be reliable and correct at the time of publication. We do our best but no representation is made as to the accuracy hereof as this magazine is subject to errors and omissions.

With that in mind, neither the publishers nor contributors can be held responsible for any effects arising from the content of The Southwest Star Magazine. This may include but is not limited to excessive time spent tinkering with, admiring, discussing, or dolling out money on Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The views expressed in The Southwest Star Magazine are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of the publisher. Advertising is accepted with the understanding that it is accurate and does not contravene the Trade Practices Act. Inclusion of an advertisement should not be construed as an endorsement by The Southwest Star Magazine, the publishers or contributors.

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

All that said, feel free to contact Fitzhugh Media at Info@FitzhughMedia.com Š 2005 Fitzhugh Media

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

Southwest Region

President – Bud Cloninger

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 – Paul Kruger 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

t’s the New Year and some of you have determined to improve your quality of life. You’ve decided the new you is going to be someone with enough cash to walk into a Mercedes-Benz dealer and tell the first salesperson they see, “CLS, semi-aniline leather, the P2 Package, and lets be done in 45 minutes.”

If you’re starting with no savings, and follow the course many people lay out, you’ll play the “Let’s move the decimal point” game. You’ll start off putting away $100 and growing that to $1000. If it’s the first time you’ve done this, you’ll find turning $1K into $10K takes some effort, but you’ll get there.

After you see what it took to reach $10K, $100K will look impossible. It’s like explaining a PhD to a preschooler. If it took years to put away $10K, changing the game from “move the decimal point” to “double it” won’t work either. That’s because once you’ve reached $20K, $100K will still look like Mount Everest to a man on crutches. About that time, many will abandon hope and blow the cash on various inspirational knickknacks. The spending spree may feel good, but once the cash is gone, so are any dreams of financial independence.

If that sounds familiar, it’s because many people follow that same strategy. They’re frequently the ones telling “way back when stories” about their glorious life as a baller for some brief period.

And just in case you didn’t notice, those people aren’t rich by anyone’s standards. In fact, most of those people owe money. Do you know why? They played the wrong game.

Read any good book on accumulating wealth (preferably by someone who actually accumulated wealth).

Many follow this approach:

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

Put aside $100.



Invest the $100 in skills and training, or assets that will eventually net you $1,000.



Invest that $1000 in skills and training, or assets that will eventually net you $10,000.



Invest that $10,000 in skills and training, or assets that will eventually net you $100,000.



Invest that $100,000 until you’re where you want to be.

This assumes you didn’t pick up a book by someone who earned their money playing sports. Why? Most ball players don’t manage money. Here’s an example, between professional basketball and endorsements, Allen Iverson earned over $200M. Two years after his last NBA game, Iverson stood in an Atlanta courtroom, pulled out his empty pants pockets, and shouted “I don’t even have money for a cheeseburger.” Allen Iverson is a wonderful human being in many respects, but if you’re going to improve your financial quality of life, take advice from someone with financial expertise.

I know of two mindsets when it comes to money. Many people with lifelong financial issues see money as something to be spent. Many who overcome various basic financial issues view money as something to be invested.

This brings us to the basic question. What skills and training, or assets should be invested in?

The answer is easy, “What’s your field?” Look around your workplace. In your profession, are you the best in your office? On your floor? In the building? Don’t stop there. Are you the best [fill in the blank] your employer has ever hired? In the state? The country? The world? If not, get there. If you’re a programmer, take some classes, expand your skills, and become a better programmer. Into sales? Attend sales seminars and become a better salesperson. Every day try to improve. If you’re not better today than you were yesterday, then either you’re falling further behind, or the second best person in your profession just got a little closer to catching you. Did you know “Subject Matter Expert” is a job title? IBM has them and they weren’t born that way.

People with that title worked to get there and they work to stay there. It’s not a mountain. There is no “peak”. It’s uphill until you drop, but the rewards along the way make every step a joy. You will improve your quality of life, as you improve your quality of life. Money isn’t the goal, but it’s typically a byproduct.

We’ve all heard the ad; “the best or nothing”. They’re not kidding, and neither should we.

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

hen spring arrives, so will the new SL. The 2017 SL isn’t all new, but this is more than a mid-cycle facelift. The SL has always been a very good looking car, and this latest model continues that tradition. In addition to its good looks, it’s faster, more fuel efficient, and handles better.

The new look is primarily a revised front end. The nose, hood, and fenders are all new and AMG bodywork is now standard. The nose features a black diamond radiator grill with a single louver on either side of the star. In comparison to the old grill, the new one is upside down. It’s narrower at the top, wider at the bottom, with a shorter opening and flatter front. The side air intakes on the lower apron are larger, and on AMG models the mesh has been removed from the lower intakes.

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The front splitter is in body color for the standard models, and in carbon or chrome for the AMG 63 and 65. The hood has two power domes, which replace the slightly raised center section of the previous model. This gives it a sleeker look.

The headlamps are new. These housings are similar to those of the S-Class, and are equipped with standard LED lighting. They wrap into the fenders and contain the daytime running lamps, headlamps, and turn indicators.

The outer edge and much of the interior is black, which adds a sense of depth.

From the side, this is obviously still an R231. It has the SL’s traditional long hood and rearward biased passenger compartment with updated AMG side skirts.

The front fenders have larger ornamental air outlets that are

recessed in a bodyline whose upper edge flows into the rear quarter panel.

Those rear quarter panels, the rear bumper skin, taillights, and diffuser have all been revised for 2017, although you’d have to be familiar with last year’s car to notice most of the differences.

The interior has a lot in common with the early R231. Both have the same seamless

integration

of advanced technology wrapped

in

premium

materials. Four leather choices are available in fourteen standard colors with available contrast color stitching. Cabin accents include a choice of three hand-finished woods, aluminum, or genuine carbon fiber. Ambient lighting choices have also been expanded, and now include two new colors.

by Marcus B. Fitzhugh

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

New and old

The leather covered three-spoke sports steering wheel has an ergonomic grip area, and redesigned control buttons. The steering wheel rim has a flattened bottom section, and the transmission shift paddles are in silver.

A refined dual tube instrument cluster houses an analogue speedometer and tach, which are flanked by fuel and temperature gauges. Between the instruments is an updated color TFT display.

To the right of the instrument cluster, an analogue clock sits atop the dash, directly above the media display. As has been standard for some time, with SPLITVIEW, the passenger can watch a DVD on the display while the driver has access to the navigation and audio screens from behind the wheel.

In-car Internet and Cloud-based apps along with a choice of two surround sound

systems, the harman/kardon® or Bang & Olufsen.® are all available. The FrontBass® system, in which the front body structure doubles as a bass enclosure, is used with either the harman/kardon® or Bang & Olufsen.®.

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Although the SL’s curvaceous body and inviting interior got our attention, there’s more to keep our interest. The drivetrain has also been upgraded. The engines all have dual turbos and frankly, power isn’t an issue. There is only one question; how much do you want? The SL400 has given way to the SL450, and received a 34 horsepower boost. The SL450 is a still a 3-liter bi-turbo V6, but it now produces 362 horsepower. Couple that with its 369 lb-ft of torque and 60 MPH arrives in under 5 seconds.

The other engine choices stood pat. The SL550 is still equipped with a 449 horsepower bi-turbo V8 (516 lb-ft of torque), the SL63 steps it up to 577 horsepower (664 lb-ft of torque), and the SL65 has an unbelievable 621 horses with over 730 lb-ft of torque.

The new 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission makes its SL debut. The additional gears and wider gear ratio result in a smoother, more efficient drivetrain. Despite the two additional gears, the 9G weighs less and doesn’t require any more space than its seven-speed predecessor.

The new 9G-TRONIC currently has a maximum torque rating of 737 pound-feet, which excludes it from AMG duty. The SL63 and SL65 both use the seven-speed. Those who find that curious should note Mercedes-Benz doesn’t list peak torque figures.

The SL63 torque figures are a

minimum of 664 lb-ft of torque from 2,250 through 3,750 RPM, while the SL65’s minimum figures are 738 from 2,300-4,300 RPM. Handling has received a major upgrade.

Using DYNAMIC SELECT, the driver can adjust the

suspension settings electronically. The options range from comfortable to extremely sporty, and The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

now beyond with the new Sport+ mode. DYNAMIC SELECT works with Active Body Control (ABC).

ABC has been around since 1999. It’s Mercedes’ fully active hydraulic suspension and it reduces body roll when accelerating, braking and cornering. ABC has combination spring / struts that are automatically adjusted based on driving conditions making front and rear roll bars unnecessary.

The dampers sole job is to quell wheel vibrations and they’re set up to ensure comfort without sacrificing sportiness. At higher speeds, ABC automatically lowers the SL a half inch for better aerodynamics. Alternatively, at the press of a button the car can be raised almost 2 inches> This handy feature should help eliminate driveway scrapes. Those are ABC’s regular features. For the 2017 SL, a new feature has been added; the curve tilting function.

Curve tilting is more this (leaning in to the curve)

and less this (as a motorcyclist would say – a high side)

The curve tilting function counters cornering forces by tilting the body up to 2.65 degrees into a turn when moving between the speeds of 9 and 112 MPH. Picture a motorcyclist leaning into a corner. That’s it, but without dragging a knee. And best of all, curve tilt function removes the ECO function from the five Drive Select modes. Curve tilting function is not available on AMG models.

However, the SL63 and SL65 models come with a mechanical rear differential lock

STANDARD.

Although it would be nice to have a setting that eliminates the accursed ECO.

Old and New

So how does it drive? Think “private jet in calm weather”. If you want fast, it’s available. So is smooth, and they’re not exclusive. The drive starts with entering the SL’s executive suite. Next, the nappa leather sport seats are electronically adjusted to supply the lateral support you’ll shortly appreciate. Look around at the spare no expense interior and take it all in. This is what an SL is Page | 18

supposed to look like. You hit the starter to awaken the beast and notice it has a subtle growl.

It’s not offensive, more like a well-trained dog with unfamiliar house guests. He’s just letting you know that he’s there for you, and if things get feisty, well, he’s not opposed to drawing blood.

Pulling away in a normal fashion is very smooth and the comfort level is amazing. Regardless as to whether the top is up or down, the air is calm, the temperature is wherever you choose, and the suspension masks road imperfections. The brakes are linear and predictable with no fade, notwithstanding the powertrain capabilities. “Steering feel” is a vague term that no two people can agree on. Most agree that it relates to feedback, precision, and weight, but it’s subjective.

Some value precision over weight, with others it’s feedback over precision, while yet another group has no idea what I’m talking about. I’ll take the easy route and say the SL is very precise and nicely weighted, with the feedback expected of a Mercedes-Benz capable of punching a 185 MPH hole in the air.

If you decide to let ‘er rip, you won’t be disappointed. The SL is a very fast car. The “slow” one can reach 60 MPH in less than 5 seconds. With traction, the V8’s take less than 4, and the 12, well, by the time you think “what the?” you’re at 60. Nine seconds later, there’s a quarter mile in The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

the rear view mirror.

Terminal velocity is electronically limited to 155 MPH, although 185 is

available if the right option box is checked. What separates the SL from many other cars is warp speeds are effortless. By the time you recognize the exhaust note, the speedo has three digits and it doesn’t stop pulling until the electronics step in.

Throughout its history, the SL has been the quintessential sports car for adults. Other cars are available, but “they” are not “this”. This latest model is peerless. If you can wait, the new SL should be in dealer showrooms in a few short months. Then the only questions will be which model and in which color.

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

n March 2010, Mercedes unveiled a GT3 customer race car alongside the AMG road car variant of the gullwing SLS. Five years and 84 customer cars later, AMG unveiled a successor at the 2015 Geneva Auto Show in the form of the AMG GT3 race car.

The new AMG GT road car would compete for attention in the showrooms and the new race car was similarly launched amidst strong competition at the track. In 2015, sportscar manufacturers were busy building, testing and selling new race car models for customer teams. Audi launched a revised version of their R8 LMS in mid-2015, promptly taking an overall win at the N端rburgring 24 hours. Porsche finally started to deliver new 911 racecars in the fall based on the 991 platform rather than the 997 platform. BMW moved from the Z4 to the M6 coupe. Even Lamborghini offered a customer racing version of its Huracan that attracted significant attention.

Customer sportscar racing has been very popular over the past several years.

Clients can

purchase a well-developed sportscar, hire their own drivers, attract their own sponsors, and go racing with a shot at winning. As rule packages have ensured stability and cost control, Porsche, Audi and Mercedes have proved that larger-scale customer racing programs can add to the bottom line rather than operate purely a marketing or engineering exercise that drains corporate coffers.

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by Kevin Ehrlich The new AMG GT3 race car shares only the aluminum roof and chassis with the road-going GT version and wears a wider body of carbon fiber and Kevlar. While the road car sports a twinturbo, 4 liter V8 engine, notably the powerplant in the GT3 race car carries over the reliable 500 horsepower naturally aspirated V8 from the SLS GT3 race car.

Why stick with the same engine?

Three reasons.

First, customers loved the reliability and

maintaining a known engine will be cheaper and easier for them to maintain. Second, the current environment of sportscar racing utilizes balance of performance rules which makes the ultimate performance of the car less important in favor of reliability and driver skill. Those rules make spending additional money to develop a more expensive car that optimizes performance, a bad investment because the regulations will take measures to limit performance by adding additional weight or limiting air flow to the engine.

Third, customers (and fans) love the thunderous 8

cylinder engine which makes distinctive music on the track, so there is some value in preserving that novelty.

Yes, the race engine is given life in the same way as the road car engines with one AMG engine

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

builder assembler assigned to each engine and affixing their signature on top of the engine. carries

over

While the new car many

mechanical

components in the engine, additional engineering has resulted in the need for an engine rebuild only after 20,500km (12,738 miles) of running. Customers greatly appreciate efforts to minimize cost to operate on an ongoing basis.

Likewise, the six speed gearbox is new and engineered for both performance and reliability.

The AMG GT3 is lighter than the SLS GT3 and has a shorter wheelbase which should improve its ability to nimbly navigate corners. The AMG GT3 is intended to be accessible for both professional and amateur drivers, so it needs to be comfortable and user-friendly. Much development focused on this aspect through engineering the roll bars and safety cell to facilitate getting in and out of the car, as well as positioning of the dashboard and controls for easy operation.

In April 2015, the public got its first look at the new car in motion. Photos and videos from a test at the Nurburgring quickly scattered across the internet. Factory AMG drivers Bernd Schneider, Thomas Jäger and Jan Seyffarth combined to run in excess of 7,500 testing miles around this time. The car was the featured attraction in the AMG display at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring in May which was the first time that most racing fans were able to get a look in person.

Factory Entries at the Nurburgring The factory team made its competition debut in a 4 hour race at the NĂźrburgring in July 2015. After all, running in race conditions

is

the

best

testing

environment and a strong performance is the best way to gain the confidence of prospective customers. After a very encouraging pole position that showed the car’s speed, a wheel bearing failure cost several laps and a top finish, but it was a promising initial outing.

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Following a 30 hour endurance test in Portimão, Portugal, the factory team opted not to tear the car down, but instead go straight to the Nürburgring in early October for another 4 hour race. A second place was the frustrating reward for the team after suffering a time penalty for failing to slow on the track in an area with waving yellow caution flags. Regardless, the car showed pace and promise – both good things for prospective customers to see.

Brief outing at Daytona Test Late October saw the factory team in the

United

States

to

make

an

appearance at an open IMSA test in Daytona.

The visit was primarily

intended to obtain the balance of performance data in hopes that customers will run IMSA races at some

point.

No

times

were

published but the larger goal was to show

the

car

off

to

potential

customers and IMSA officials.

By October, bad news for potential customers was good news for AMG in the form of a full order book.

European customers and customers for the Pirelli World Challenge in the United States had gotten in line and AMG said that no cars would be available for at least the first half of the 2016 IMSA season - including marquis events like the Daytona 24 and Sebring 12 hour races.

Customer Deliveries and the Dubai 24 Hour Race Two European customers took delivery of the first cars in mid-December.

English team Ram

Racing was the first team to show their new arrival publicly, with some shakedown running in the

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

wet at a small airfield in Brackley, England shown on social media. German Black Falcon Racing took delivery of two cars at the same time as well.

All three were entered in the Dubai 24 hour race in mid-January, seeking to repeat success from the year before. In fact, the Black Falcon/Abu Dhabi Racing and Ram Racing finished one-two in the 2015 Dubai 24 hour race - both with Mercedes SLS GT3 customer cars.

Mercedes teams were well represented on the entry for the 2016 event. In addition to the three brand new AMG GT3 models, there were eight customer SLS GT3 runners intending to race.

The new AMG GT3, however, had a difficult debut. The cars struggled to find outright pace under the balance of performance parameters set for the event. Ultimately, contact with a slower car badly damaged the left front suspension for the #2 Black Falcon/Abu Dhabi Racing car. The #3 Black Falcon car had gearbox issues which significantly hampered its run, reportedly with a faulty compressor carried over from the SLS GT3 that had never troubled the team in the past. Ram Racing had the best result of the three, placing 21st overall after a cracked oil cooler cost an hour in the garage to repair.

While the AMG GT3 didn’t quite have

the

successful

outing

envisioned, the stalwart SLS GT3 was the star of the show.

Black

Falcon entered an SLS GT3 in addition to its new AMG GT3 entries, but a major fire in practice put the car (and the driver) out of commission. The solution? Get the 2015 race-winning SLS GT3 that was on static display at the track, prepare the car for a 24 hour race, and go racing. Starting at the back of the grid (98th out of 99 cars), the #16 Black Falcon SLS GT3 claimed a strong second place overall behind the winning Audi R8 LMS. The SLS GT3 not only finished second overall, but also claimed first and second in the A6-AM Class.

Swiss team Hofor Racing finished first in class and fourth overall with the English

Preci-Spark team second in class and sixth overall.

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The Future Customers have owned the SLS GT3 have and will continue to run them. They continue to be viable race cars but will start to diminish on race tracks as the new AMG GT3 model becomes available. In some cases, existing SLS GT3 customers are moving to the new platform and in other cases, new customers are buying the AMG GT3 model without prior SLS GT3 experience.

In an interview during the Dubai 24 hour race with Dailysportscar.com, Mercedes’ customer motorsport head Jochen Bitzer confirmed that more cars were sold than expected which caused the factory to ramp up production and even turn away potential customers. He stated that more than 30 of the new cars were scheduled for delivery to customers during 2016.

Emphasizing the global nature of the order book, Anaheim-based Weistec Engineering announced in September that is would be forming a new team to race two GT3 cars in the Pirelli World Challenge series.

A brand new AMG

GT3 car was unveiled in Australia in front of fans at the Bathurst 12 hour race on the first weekend of February.

(Incidentally, three SLS GT3 cars were in the field for the 12 hour race, but none finished despite very strong runs through most of the event.

Two

retired due to contact and one was hobbled with a mechanical issue.) At least four cars are expected to run in Australian GT sprint and endurance series events. The new AMG GT3 car reportedly will make its competition debut in Australia in March in Adelaide.

A brand new AMG GT3 race car carries a price tag of €372,000 (appx USD$415,000) in sprint configuration and €388,000 (USD$433,000) in endurance specification. By way of comparison, the older SLS GT3 was priced at €334,000 when it was announced in 2010. The weakness of the Euro and strength of the dollar, however, brings the difference much closer in dollar terms. Of course, prices are before additional nuisances like a VAT tax where applicable.

Being a customer team means that the car is delivered with support, so the relationship isn’t merely the delivery of a car in exchange for a wire payment. AMG provides ongoing support, The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

guidance, information, and has engineers on-site at the track. The factory has an incentive to make sure the customer teams can run reliably and competitively. For larger races such as the Nürburgring 24 Hours, a truck of spare parts will be on-site as well.

HWA AG, an entity spun off from AMG to focus on motor racing business of Daimler and AMG, provides the production, parts, service and support for the customer AMG GT3 program. HWA – named after founder Hans Werner Aufrecht – has been heavily involved in the SLS GT3 program as well.

2016 should see a renewed energy behind the three pointed star in GT racing world-wide. Several series across the globe will be active in March and will provide more chances to see the new AMG GT3 in action. The business model of making cars broadly available to customers and providing necessary support should ensure that the AMG GT3 is a worthy successor to the SLS GT3 in both commercial and competitive terms.

Page | 28

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

M

ercedes-Benz new European ad campaign has teamed the 2017 SL with Russian supermodel Natasha Poly. The ad is entitled "Obsession with an Icon" and takes its inspiration from the world of haute couture. As you can see, both Natasha Poly and the

SL are in matching skintight peacock-blue latex wraps.

Mercedes-Benz commissioned well-known latex fashion designer Atsuko Kudo to tailor the latex wardrobes for both Natasha and the car. The SL required 1400 square feet of material, which combined five separate sheets that were glued and polished by hand. Kudo said "They are so similar- both are sexy, curvaceous and super shiny" American photographer Jeff Bark chose a working quarry in Miami, as the location for the shoot.

Page | 30

by Jay Pill He felt it provided a contrast between rugged industrial elements and the SL's sleek lines and glossy latex. Bark is quoted as saying "For me, my photography is only about light and color, so in this case I wanted to light the car to emphasize its form and three-dimensional qualities, but having the latex as a second skin so you could see the lines of the car in a new way."

It’s an interesting ad. We’re wondering if the glue and latex can be removed without damaging the bodywork. That would be - the car’s bodywork. Although I envision latex in Miami is a sweaty combination, I’m sure Ms. Poly’s handlers can get her out of the latex the same way they got her into it. If Mercedes is going to write the car off, the Southwest Star can save them the disposal fees. If we flatbed the SL back to Southern California, the latex barrier may protect it from the stone chips that typically occur in transit.

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

Page | 32

ast year, Weistec showed the world its Mercedes-AMG GT S tuning package. At the time, Weistec set the record with a 10.8 at 126.25 in the quarter.

Refusing to stand on the sidelines, Renntech unveiled its GT S R1 Performance Package. The kit gives ads 65 horsepower and 110 pound feet of torque.

This brings the numbers up to 611

horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque. Those are staggering numbers for a 4.0 liter. (ed. note - Yes, we’re aware the Ferrari 488 has a 3.9 liter V8 that makes 660 horsepower. We find that equally staggering. We spend a fair amount of time staggering from one car to the next.)

According to Renntech, boost was increased with an ECU tune, ceramic coated stainless steel downpipes, 200 cell sport converters, and high-flow air filters.

As an added bonus, the R1 package is also compatible with the Mercedes-AMG C63.

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

By Marcus B. Fitzhugh

W

hen the W222 S-Class made its debut, Mercedes-Benz upped the bar. The new S-Class Cabriolet allows drivers to experience Mercedes’ personification of luxury and performance in an open air environment.

In an effort to improve luggage capacity, the new cabriolet features a cloth top. Although the SL’s folding metal artwork is a sight to behold, in the S it would devour way too much trunk space.

Even now, the top soaks up a fair amount of space when lowered. To conserve space, MercedesBenz inserted a power cover tray, which moves into position when the top lowers. The top lowers in less than 20 seconds and can be operated at speeds of up to 37 miles per hour.

The challenge of maintaining body stiffness was met by reinforcing the floor and sides.

However, those reinforcements are made of lightweight materials, which

Page | 34

keep the weight more in line with that of the coupe.

The S-Class Cabriolet uses an insulated top that’s equipped with sound deadening materials. To keep comfort levels high, the climate control system automatically takes the position of the roof into position. The Cabriolet is also equipped with heated seats, heated armrests AirCap, and AirScarf, which blows warm air around passenger’s necks, eliminating the need to bundle up during cooler weather trips.

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

As with any S-Class, there’s more to the experience than simply style. The Cabriolet’s advanced technology includes active suspension, the most sophisticated steering system available, safety features too numerous to list, and power plants that do both; put out power, and plant it. The standard engine produces 449 horsepower.

If someone needs more, the other V8 has 577

horsepower on tap. There is also a V12 option, and that produces considerably more power. Each engine upgrade comes with upgraded brakes, suspensions, and transmissions.

This is truly a remarkable car that gives legitimizes the term flagship.

Page | 36

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

By Jay Pill

ebecca Minkoff has her eye squarely on the future, and this just may change the way New York Fashion Week works.

Fashion week is usually attended by buyers, editors, celebrities and designers, all of whom are hoping to be photographed in their wildest ensembles. The performance itself is an exercise in showmanship. Designers choreograph the model motorcade, who are donned in the next season's outfits, make up, and hair. While the show is live, viewers at home watch with the hope of wearing what they’re seeing. In the spring, designers show fall and winter fashion trends and vice versa.

Think about that – these productions give magazine editors and retailors a glimpse of what lies ahead. The lead time allows them to plan for promising trends, prepare features for their pages and organize boutique showrooms in the coming months. designers the opportunity to fill retail orders.

This same lead time also allows

The fashions you see are commonly one-offs.

Getting those items to market commonly takes another three to four months.

Rebecca Minkoff understands that by the time those garments are ready for sale, the buzz generated by the show is a distant memory. She would like to change that with a system that makes her brand immediately available, right off the runway.

Instead of showing her line’s

upcoming collection, her show will have in-season products that are either available immediately, or within the next 30 to 45 days.

This will change the show’s focal point to include active

consumers. Yes, magazines will have to hustle to get the news out, but there’s a plan for that.

Rebecca Minkoff gets it. She has been quoted as saying said “The current fashion show system Page | 38

isn’t working”. Uri Minkoff, CEO of Rebecca Minkoff, has a programming background. Like any good programmer, he looks for the inefficiencies that exist within a system. The current fashion runway model is one that doesn’t allow customers to spend their money right now. In this digital age, customers can wait a few weeks, maybe a month or so, but six? They see it and they want it; now, not later. Later they may change my mind.

"In the film industry, you’ll get a minute-and-a-half trailer.

It’s

reflective of a two-hour movie but it’s not the whole thing. Why do we take the experience at these 'Super Bowl' moments twice a year and reveal everything? All of a sudden, the consumer is excited, the media universe explodes, but the consumer can’t act on anything."

Uri Minkoff CEO of Rebecca Minkoff This February, in its Spring 2016 show, Rebecca Minkoff will send the same styles down the runway that it did in September. Consumers will be able to purchase the styles immediately. Buyers and editors will be taken care of in a way that’s more in line with the auto industry.

Rebecca Minkoff

will share new designs with editors, buyers, and fashion directors in one-on-one meetings before the public unveiling. If the solution proposed by Rebecca Minkoff works, we can expect this model to be adopted by other designers.

Rebecca Minkoff and her brother Uri Minkoff The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

by Marcus Fitzhugh

he newer bejeweled headlight designs are like a person with gorgeous eyes, except you can freely ogle them without being impolite.

When they leave the assembly plant,

headlamps have an ultraviolet (UV) coating to preserve their clarity.

Eventually, the

coating wears off. The wear happens to every car with polycarbonate lenses. It’s because we rip down the highway at 80 MPH, pelting the lenses with bugs, dirt, rocks and whatever else is out there. After several years of this, there’s simply no coating left. Without the coating, ultraviolet rays break down the polycarbonate lenses and they get yellowed and hazy. Our gorgeous lenses are no longer as attractive and suffer reduced performance. I’ve seen some cars and wondered if the driver could see anything at night.

Fortunately, there’s a solution to this problem and it’s rather inexpensive.

Companies make

headlamp protection films designed for this specific issue. We did a little digging and the best headlamp protection film we’ve come across is from a company called XPEL. They sell it in sheets, or pre-cut for specific models. I feel I could install the product, but if you don’t feel comfortable, XPEL has a nationwide list of installers.

CL63 with the XPEL headlamp protection kit

Page | 40

One question many of you may have is, why XPEL? We contacted Mercedes-Benz owners who used XPEL headlamp protection kits, and everyone who responded told us they were happy with it. One owner said he had an XPEL headlamp kit on another car and after over a decade of use, removed it to install a new one. The product came off as advertised and he said the lens looked brand new.

When asked about the removal process, the owner replied he used a heat gun to loosen it up then peeled the film. Afterwards, he used a solvent to remove the remaining adhesive. We’re told ACRYSOLV works very well.

Another reason XPEL stands out is the thickness of the material. XPEL films are 30 mil thick. This is opposed to some competing brands that are as thin as 8 mil. If you hit a rock at 80 MPH, the thicker material will disperse the energy over a wider area. This protects the headlamp from shattering.

According to XPEL, a headlamp with their product can withstand a one-inch stone traveling at 120 MPH and not shatter.

We also heard a testimonial from Sue Mead, who won her class in the Dakar Rally a few years back.

The Dakar Rally is a 6000 mile off road race. It’s considered the world’s longest, and most grueling race. Her vehicle used XPEL and she too was happy.

For many Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the XPEL headlamp kit retails for about $70. Since a 2016 E-Class headlamp assembly lists for $550, I feel it’s money well spent to protect against yellowing. Some added bonuses are; it has a 10-year lifespan and being 30 mil thick, it would appear to provide better protection than others who’s safety protection is on par with common Scotch Tape.

The XPEL headlamp protection kit being installed on a CL63 The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Page | 42

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

by Steve Ross

o you are thinking about taking the plunge into the "collector car market", getting that old car of your youth or? Whatever your motivation there are some "rules of engagement" that may help you make the right decision and save some $$$. Most men are attracted to things that are shiny and have glitter. Therein lies our down fall in many instances. The right makeup, padding etc. can make something appear what it is not. Bondo works wonders! Keep in mind "all that glitters may not be gold". Purchasing an automobile is a big deal and I believe we have all had that experience. However, when buying our first "collector car", more caution is recommended. What is being purchased is not a necessity and one is using their discretionary income. The recommendations presented here are not from my vast fountain of knowledge and personal experience, but from written material and listening to those whom I consider experts in this area. Some of my advice has come from Richard Simonds of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America, Wayne Carini, Alan Taylor, Jerry Hjeltness, R&M restoration and Jim Woolsey.

We should begin our search for that automobile by leaving our emotions at home. This is no time to be thinking with our heart but the brain as this is serious business. Take a buddy with you who has no skin in the game and whose opinion you respect. You might consider taking your spouse.

I know, just a thought. Before starting out, decide how much you are willing to spend and stick with it. The experts say to add twenty-five percent to the purchase price of the car for work you will have to do after purchase. This is important and should always be taken into consideration even after you have done everything right in your selection. Never, never buy a car sight unseen! This sounds like obvious advice but we all know some-one who has done just that.

Now that we have set our sights on that car of our dreams and you have looked it over and you really like it and it is shiny, a virtual museum piece, emotion has started to kick in and you are "snake bit". Here is what the experts say to do. First thing to consider before going any further is to determine that one can stop the car, even if you are only pushing it out of the barn or garage.

Start the car and drive it for at least twenty miles getting the engine and drive train up to operating temperature. The operating temperature should not be boiling over. In most cases this will reveal Page | 44

problems with brakes, drive train, cooling system, things falling off, instruments that don't work and leaks. Speaking of leaks just about all old cars will have some leaks. We will address this later. Turn on all electrical systems and see if they work with no smoke. If a car will not run my advice is don't buy it.

Look for rust everywhere, fender wells, underneath chassis etc. You don't want a car that has major frame rust. This can be dangerous and very costly.

This is experience

speaking. Lift up the floor mats, trunk mats and any other covering that is easily lifted up. Determine the availability of spare parts. A car club associated with the vehicle is very useful when getting into the older car game.

Take a magnet and go over the car looking for bondo. I have a very good friend who has a very expensive car. When he took it in for a fresh paint job over 100 pounds of bondo was removed from the car! The reasonable paint job became a very expensive repaint. One could not tell there was any bondo on this car. It was an excellent bondo make over. Remember padding and glitter.

If the car is not safe my advice is to drive walk away. There are plenty of cars out there that will make you happy and proud.

The most important advice is, have a qualified mechanic look the car over for you. A qualified mechanic is one who works on the make and model of automobile you are looking to buy. It is not your brother-in-law or a buddy who overhauled a Chevy one time back in the fifties. This may cost a few bucks, but it’s money well spent. This is when you determine if those oil leaks we saw earlier are serious problems.

If you follow these simple steps you will have found the car you wanted, can enjoy, and minimize the possibility of having a horrible experience and wishing you had never gotten into the vintage car thing.

If you are independently wealthy, or have you own compete machine shop and are an expert in car restoration, say like Jay Leno, you may ignore all this advice and buy any damn car you want!!

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

n collaboration with the Frasers Hospitality Group, Mercedes-Benz is entering

the

apartment market.

premium

business

These are serviced

apartments available for both long and short term stays.

A serviced apartment is a fully furnished apartment with hotel-like amenities. The features

include

cooking

utensils,

housekeeping, front office, and parking.

Serviced apartments include all of the

convenience of a hotel room, with the space of a small apartment, while being less expensive than equivalent hotel rooms for longer stays. This meets the needs of many travelers who seek reasonable traveling expenses.

Last

fall,

a

'Mercedes-Benz

pilot

project

Living

@

entitled Fraser',

allowed visitors in London to book serviced apartments that have been designed Anyone who’s been to London on business or vacation can appreciate 1100 square feet of living space, the option of cooking your own meals on occasion, and parking. Nine new apartments are scheduled this year in Singapore.

With this move, our favorite

premium automotive brand can utilize its expertise in cutting-edge design, innovative technologies

and

integrated

transport

solutions to the serviced apartment sector.

After all, just because one is away from home doesn’t mean they have to sacrifice Page | 46

by

Mercedes-Benz

Style.

comfort, style, and convenience.

The project is based on an idea by the Business Innovation

department, the Daimler think tank that is tasked with identifying new areas of business.

More and more people are permanently on the move. They live and work in unfamiliar cities where they are looking for a 'home away from home' and a sense of security. That's exactly what we want to offer them – and at the very highest level and with the perfection and quality that you'd expect from Mercedes-Benz."

- Wilfried Steffen, head of the Business Innovation As in our vehicles, we have combined sensual surfaces and clean lines with intelligent high-tech functionality in order to create a perfectly conceived world of modern luxury that promotes wellbeing and relaxation.

- Gorden Wagener, head of Design at Daimler AG.

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

Page | 48

by Marcus B. Fitzhugh

agani, who uses V12 engines designed and built by Mercedes-AMG, has asked for a bit more power. Think about that for a moment. The Huayra, which weighs about 3,000 pounds, currently uses a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V-12 that produces 720 horsepower.

After enough seat time in that, someone at the factory decided, “You, know, if we just had a bit more power . . .”

Rumor has it some Mercedes powertrain guy in a white lab coat got the request and pulled another 100 HP from his back pocket. Rumor also has it that these 20 limited edition cars will be named after renowned car collector Benny Caiola and carry a “BC” moniker. Did I mention all twenty of these are already sold? And at 2.5M euros each? Well, yeah, that too. Based on the photo Pagani released, the cars are just about ready. The rear wing is new for the Huarya, and was also spotted on a prototype at the San Martino del Lago race track in northern Italy. Although not shown in the photo, the car has an extended front splitter to help boost downforce.

Along with the photo, Pagani posted a message, “2016 is coming”. We assume that to mean these Huarya variants will be unveiled in 2016. This might occur as early as March, at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.

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

Page | 50

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

From the Chaparral Section

rowing up in Germany during the 60’s allowed me to see the country while it was still rebuilding after WWII. During that time, Germany blossomed into an industrial and well organized society, yet managed to keep their traditions prominently displayed.

This allowed me to form

impressions as a child, that continued as a young adult.

ere you aware that from the 1950’s all the way to the 1980’s, the male German Mercedes Benz driver would never be seen driving without wearing a hat? I recall my grandfather and other gentlemen of his age all wore a plaid or grey hat. Something like this to the right:

f course, ladies wouldn’t have been caught dead without a lovely silk scarf protecting their coif in a Mercedes-Benz cabriolet. Their scarves looked something like the one to the right

nother interesting observation was that Mercedes Benz owners were usually old and grouchy. When I learned to drive myself, I understood what my dad meant by calling them ‘Sunday Drivers’ – Sonntagsfahrer. They were known for spending the better part of the weekdays polishing and waxing their pride and joy to shine and stand out on Sunday when taking it for a slow drive in the country or through town. Never expect them to go over 60 Kilometers/hour (37mph) on the highway. On the rare occasions they would be forced to drive their Mercedes during the week, they took the utmost caution not to exceed 35 Kilometers/hour (20mph). Some of them found my dad’s car on top of their rear bumper and he would call them yet another name from which I will spare you from.

ewer of the ‘Sonntagsfahrer’ species are found these days but a number of them are still on the road should you find yourself on the road in Germany watch out for: Page | 52

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

I

nclement weather.

by Lynn Davison

That pretty much sums it up.

Heavy rain the evening before and

throughout the night, then assurances that the October 17 event was still on from the Tucson Rotary Club. But that didn’t build enough confidence for the 14 Chaparral Section members

who had signed up. Only two members elected to actually chance a possibly rainy day (it actually turned out to be a quite nice partly sunny fall day) and some possibly muddy field conditions on the soccer field. Oh, well, there’s always next year for the Tucson Classics Car Show.

The event took place with fewer cars and spectators than the previous years.

We look forward to clear skies again 2016 see you then.

Page | 54

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

O

ur holiday brunch was wonderful with many individuals showing up and many new friends made. The Clubhouse at Anaheim Hills Golf Course is a great brunch venue having an array of scrumptious food at various stations with live

music. The table was decorated with beautiful orchids which were raffled off at the end of the brunch. What a pleasurable way for all to welcome in the Holiday Season!

Page | 56

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

by the Chaparral Section

hirteen Chaparral Section members and guests walked down the wagon path to the Cottonwood grove as the sun gave another Tucson sunset at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch chuck wagon BBQ supper on Saturday, November 7th, 2015.

Tables set with red and white checkered table cloths beckoned. Of course the Ramada with all the enticing beverages called to most of us as we enjoyed the ambience of a genuine country western picker and singer. Once the dinner bell rang promptly at 6PM, the line formed for juicy steaks cooked to order, smoked pulled pork, grilled chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs and all the side dishes from baked beans, corn on the cob, collard greens, salads, and mac and cheese. But the best was yet to come: blueberry and cherry cobblers served warm with lots of cookies on the side for the younger ones. Our out of towners already escaping the colder northern climes enjoyed the starry skies, gentle breezes, and warm evening temperatures. The walk back to the parking lot was much slower than our rush to get to those enticing smells when we arrived. Everyone left happy and full of Mercedes club and western hospitality and food. We’ll be back!

Page | 58

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

from the San Diego Section

he San Diego section gathered at the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo to celebrate the holidays and view photos of the past events in 2016. Santa was there with his lovely assistant Mrs. Claus and the guests were greeted by Santa as they arrived at the Ballroom. The tree was up, a beautiful one I might add, the stockings were hung with care and there were toys everywhere. A picture is worth a thousand words they say so let's look at photos.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus arrived early to assist in putting the finishing touches on the party setting.

Santa was so impressed with the decor that he wanted a photo. Rudy Wokoek and Rose can be seen on the big screen TV. If you look closely you may see Denise our First Lady. running

pictorial

was

A

presented

highlighting past years events.

Elaine and Chuck Davis were a welcome sight at our gala. Elaine is a past Vice President and Chuck was our treasurer for several years.

Our Vice President, Victoria Mazzelli making her entry after being welcomed by Santa.

I bet we have the prettiest Vice President in our region, maybe in the entire MBCA. Carol Kruse-Ross may be seen in the background sucking up to Santa. Wonder what she wants under the tree this year? – unknown San Diegan To the left: Pam, Floyd and Evie Burgess's daughter, Evie Burgess, Carol Kruse-Ross, Walter Welch and Munira Coomber. Doreen Welsh is the lady in the red dress behind Evie To the left, the movers and shakers, Mr. Ron Smith, Mr. Michael Cooper, Chair-man of the Board, Mr. Ron Davis, and Mr. David Coomber.

Distinguished Gentleman to say the least.

Page | 60

Ms. Vice, Victoria and Denise Cooper our first lady. Victoria baked homemade sugar cookies with the Mercedes-Benz Star on them and everyone got a Christmas cup filled with cookies

Left, Marilyn Smith, Ron and Lori Grabler, and Wes and Rose Gibbs

Below, table setting with a shot of Victoria's cookies and above a part of the group.

San Diego’s Vice President presents Mr. Cooper, our President, with the Member of the Year Award. The member of the year award year is selected by your Board of Directors and may be any member of the club.

Michael is the guy who leads our merry band of Mercedes-Benz folk ensuring that we have fun. If you don't have fun let him know straight away and he and his staff will fix it.

Below -left Elaine Davis and Bob Gunthorp Pose for the cameras.

Bob is the San Diego Section’s resident photographer and Club Historian.

Right Director of First Impressions, Diana Kruse "aka" Mrs. Santa Claus Lower left San Diego Section Treasurer Carol Kruse-Ross

What a great party this was with outstanding food and the ambience was excellent. How often does one get Filet Mignon at the price we paid? Not often, in my opinion of course. The best indication that this was a super Holiday Party was - we closed the place down! We are looking forward to a great 2016 with the great people of our club and their Star Cars.

Right - Santa "aka" Brian Kruse, Bob Gunthorp, Gary Jarvis, and Rudolf and Cheryl Hradecky Far right - Michael and Denise Cooper The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Page | 62

by the Chaparral Section

f you can count on anything, it’s bad weather for Cars and Coffee and Toys for Tots in December. For the Third year in a row, the Chaparral Section’s toy drive in conjunction with Cars for Coffee was hampered by cold, wet, blustery weather. In Tuscan we have the luxury of not turning out in our automotive treasures when it’s nasty, and we didn’t this year either. Still a success for the kids, we collected four large barrels of new, unwrapped toys for the Marine Reserves to distribute to those who need them. Ah, next year, sunshine and warm air . . . . .

Not your typical Tuscan day of sunshine

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

By Ken Borowitz

n this edition of “Sponsor Spotlight”, we head to Central Phoenix to speak with Top Shop, located at 1545 E Indian School Rd (just west of the 51 / exit #3).

Top Shop is a family owned and operated business. It was founded in 1972 by Terry Tapp, and now co-owned and operated by Terry and his eldest son James.

Q: Terry and James, what are the main products and services you offer at Top Shop?

A: Our primary business is the repair or replacement of convertible tops and rear window sections, as well as interior upholstery. We basically help owners get their vehicles back to original

condition,

or

any

level

of

customization they desire.

Q:

Tell us a little about Top Shop’s

history A: (James) Top Shop has been serving the greater Phoenix area for over 40 years. It initially started out with my Dad working at his parent’s place fixing older cars, and eventually came to having his own shop.

He moved to the current building around 1975. The main building has a unique past, as it was originally built to be a telephone switching station, where calls came in, and the operator would connect you to whom you were calling.

Q: Are there any special qualifications that Top Shop has?

A: We have over 80 combined years of experience in the auto upholstery / convertible top business. There are not many quality shops like ours. It takes years of doing this trade to be really good at it. Some shops may not take the time to do things right, but we try to provide customers the most authentic and original look as you can get. James has been with us full time since 2000, and has learned the trade well. Experience is the best way to learn how to do this.

Page | 64

Q: Besides the tops and upholstery repairs and replacements we discussed earlier as your main focus, are there any other special products or services you provide?

A: Yes. We can do frame repairs for convertible tops, replace headliners, and carpet as well as other interior repairs. Obviously, these take some planning with owner choices involved, so give us a call, and we can set up date and time to discuss any needs. We can help guide our customers through the restoration process, which can be overwhelming. We can also help if they are looking to locate or buy a car, as we have a lot of connections from years of doing business.

Q: Is there anything that Mercedes Benz owners should consider when deciding on a project for their vehicle?

A: We have the resources and means to get any car to near OEM as possible (meaning parts, color, patterns, and style). We hope people will consider our reputation in the valley and our years of quality craftsmanship when starting out their project.

Q: Tell us more about yourselves, and what you like to do away from the shop?

A: (James) Anything athletic! Dad was an extremist in his earlier years, and would organize skiing tours to the Rockies for the local ski clubs, scuba excursions, and mountain biking. We love to golf as well.

Q: What are the most interesting Benz and non-Benz projects that you’ve done?

A: (James) For me, probably the most interesting Mercedes so far is the 1971 280 SE that’s in the shop right now. We are restoring the top and interior. It used to be used to be owned by Doris Day. For the non-Mercedes, probably the Rolls Royce that was in the shop a few weeks ago. It used to be owned by Grace Kelly, and the Prince of Monaco.

Q: What are your business hours?

A: We are open Monday thru Friday from 8am to 5pm.

However, we can set up a special

appointment as needed. Just call office with as much advance notice as possible.

Q: Anything else you want our MBCA members to know?

A: Cost effective seat repairs are available, such as replacing worn panels, and dyeing as needed to get near perfect color match. Full carpet kit replacements are available. We are ready to help no matter the size of the project, and can service all makes, foreign and domestic. Whether the vehicle is old and new, or if the request is for custom or stock repairs / replacement, we can help.

Just give us a call.

Top Shop can be reached at 602-277-6949, or email them at tapper20@hotmail.com. Be sure to check them out on the web at http://aztopshop.com, or alternately on Facebook or Yelp!

Thank You Terry and James for your continued support of MBCA and Desert Stars!

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

Page | 66

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

Page | 68

from the Las Vegas Section

BIG THANK YOU to Sara and Bea for all their hard work putting together the venue and food for our Oktoberfest on October 18, at Broadbent Park in Boulder City.

The

sauerkraut, pretzels, beer, brats, potato salad and strudel were so yummy! The day threatened T-Storms, but as with so many events the MB club was lucky to be in the clear all day.

Thirty-six members including two new and two transferred members enjoyed the blue skies in Boulder City. A special THANK YOU goes to friends Oscar and Patricia for their help in grilling the brats.

BIG THANK YOU to all members who participated in the silent auction. There were 59 generous donations and bids-a good combination for a truly successful addition to the Club’s treasury, $804.00 to be exact. A few fun items in the auction were a handmade antique car quilt, gold trimmed decorative plates, a case of wine, car themed decanter and a radio.

Thank you Sherre for being “die Auktion Meisterin”

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

By John & Roberta Phin

D

esert Stars met on Saturday,

November 14 for further insights into the operations of a full service collision and re-finish facility. Onsite demonstrations included external Paintless Dent Repair on an ML SUV, internal PDR on a 107 SL, and removing “curb rash� from a 2001 SL AMG aluminum wheel. Much to member’s surprise, these demonstration repairs were done at no charge. We then went inside for a demonstration of dent repair using filler, i.e., Bondo, by a certified technician, emphasizing his sense of touch in assuring a perfect surface, ready for painting.

Ah, painting! The next demonstration was color and clear coat refinishing of a Ferrari bumper that had benefited from the plastic panel repair process Airpark Collision Center uses. This plastic repair is much less expensive than replacement and gives the car owner the benefit of keeping the original part on the car. The water-based, factory equivalent paints used by Page | 70

Airpark

were

completely

dry

and

ready

for

installation before we left!

Airpark staff then engaged in a dialogue with members on dealing with insurance adjusters, repair versus replace decisions, the use of used parts in older cars, and original equipment versus “parts made who knows where”, and diminished value after repair considerations.

We enjoyed early morning

snacks courtesy of Airpark Collision and a catered lunch presented by the Club. It was a great turnout and Airpark Collision had their MB cars in the parking lot, demonstrating their affinity with our marque!

Desert Stars thank Airpark Collision Center staff and ownership for their hospitality and this highly informative tech session.

Opposite page top Desert Stars Members gather at Airpark Collision Center; Opposite page below One of the many demonstrations was a detailed walkthrough of a dent repair using traditional but refined methods. ; Above Paint-less Dent Repair, ‘PDR’, cleaning up a small door ding on this SL. ;Left PDR is a great alternative for small dings. ; Lower left, the wheel has suffered mild curb rash. ; Below, afterwards, cleaned up like new.

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

If a picture is worth a thousand words, here’s a 6,000-word essay

Page | 72

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

unday evening November 6 an adventuresome band of Mercedes-Benz people went on a journey back in time to Casablanca the city filled with adventure, mystery and intrigue. Our journey begins in Nazi occupied France and we make our way to French Morocco along many other Europeans. There was standing room only to make the journey more realistic.

Casablanca is hot, dusty; smells of goat dung and exhaust fumes from all of those beautiful old cars!

We spot a 1926 MercedesBenz Model K on the street so it qualified as a MercedesBenz Club event. Our experience was similar to today’s world happenings. People were fleeing from Europe to escape the Nazis and many were going to French Morocco.

Today the refugees are fleeing from the Middle East to France and Europe.

Apparently history does repeat itself.

Directly above is a movie scene. The photo to the right is the same model MercedesBenz. Some car buffs claim the car is actually a Lincoln modified to look like a Mercedes. Others claim the car belonged to Groucho Marx. Groucho did own a Mercedes-Benz of this model.)

A 1941 Buick Model 81C was also spotted on the Casablanca street and of course it was driven by the French. A bit of trivia, only 230 Buicks of this model were built in 1940. We all wondered how the Buick got over there. We all agreed that Rick had it shipped in from the states and gave it to the French Police Captain as a bribe.

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Everybody here smokes constantly and apparently enjoy consuming large quantities of alcoholic beverages.

The

refuges we saw appeared to be well off; the gentleman in white suits or tux and the ladies in formal gown or hat and gloves.

When we were just about exhausted and feared for our life the lights went on and we were back in Gary's living room where we had refreshments such as shrimp, pizza, drinks of our choice, and are you ready for this? ROOT BEER FLOATS! Floats were served by our industrious and talented Vice President Victoria M. No popcorn for obvious reasons. Hard to get it out of shag Suddenly the lights went out and we were immersed back into Casablanca and things are getting really, really bad. The American Cafe, where we were hanging out is shut down and Rick finds out Isla is married to another guy and, and it was awful. There was a lot more drinking and smoking (did not think that was possible).

It was pretty much downhill from here on in but with lots of drama like, falling in and out of love and back into love again, people getting shot, more smoking and drinking, the Germans and the French have a sing off (the French win), trickery, intrigue, and sacrifice. It appears at this point that no one is getting out of here and then there was a miracle!

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

Just when we thought all was lost our aircraft a Lockheed Electra starts up, which was basically the same aircraft that Amelia Earhart attempted to fly around the world, and we take off in near zero visibility and landed safely in Gary's living room. More trivia? Amelia's Navigator Fred Noonan drove a 1937 Terraplane convertible (raise your hand if you ever heard of a Terraplane, extra points if you know who made it). Amelia had a Terraplane as well. We had a fun evening watching a great flick. Casablanca was picked number one out of the hundred best movies ever made.

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

by Terry A. Horne

This being its 6th year, The Legends of the Autobahn is a celebration of the world’s preeminent

German

vehicle

brands... Mercedes Benz, BMW, and Audi. Held at a Nicklaus Golf Club next to the Laguna Secca Raceway during the famed Auto Week in Monterey, CA.

This

year’s Showcase Car was the Mercedes Benz 190 SL Roadster; Celebrating 60 years. I counted 6 for judging, 2 more in the "corral" and 1 out in the parking lot. This was

a

very

nice

190

representation. Mercedes had just over 100 cars, BMW - 175, and Audi - 45 with approximately 3000 spectators and participants. We were invited to revel in the beauty, prowess

and

automotive

grace

of

engineering,

German catch

sneak-peeks of new vehicle releases and savor the rare models that each marque had on display. With my daughter Terra, and her husband Josh, in tow, we managed to look at, talked to, see, and photographed Page | 78

everything we could on this warm August day. Being a Retired Airedale Sailor, "I found" the free beer tent early - and it was most refreshing.

While walking around some more during a judging session, I recognized a couple from our Desert Stars Chapter, Robert St. John and Melanie Serle. They also spend time in the Bay area and they drove down and entered their beautiful '66 Beige Metallic 300 SE Cabriolet which ended up taking 2nd place in the '63-'71 Roadsters, Cabriolets, & Convertibles Division. A great showing for a very wonderful Mercedes. So Congrats to them!!! The People’s Choice went to a stunning Fire Engine Red '37 540 K. It's been a while since I've been to a Concours d’Elegance and seeing so many wonderful Mercedes Benz car models and years all together at a great location. I highly recommend to everyone to go to any of these events. We also enjoyed hearing the owners telling us their story and history of their cars. What a great Mercedes Day. I look forward to many, many more.

So Happy 60th to you 190 SL Roadsters, you did the Mercedes Benz Family Proud !!! The Best Or Nothing !!! Happy MB Motoring 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 Chaparral Section

en’s family moved from Ohio to Tucson in 1964. In 1975 Ken left Tucson to join the Navy until 1982 and returned to Tucson.

Once settled in, Ken attended school again and graduated with an Associate Degree in Computer Engineering.

Soon after that accomplishment, he met his lovely wife Lizzie who is originally from Panama.

They were married in 1987 and have 3 children who are now adults. They made Ken and Lizzie grandparents

eight

grandparents

twice

times early

over

and

in

2016.

great The

grandchildren are one of the highlights in their lives and aside from their loving famil,y the George’s love to travel. In 2014 they traveled to Alaska, Colorado, Texas and California. They love to hook up their trailer, hit the road and camp out while taking in the beauty of nature and the wonderful sites in the good ole USA. While on the subject of traveling, two and one half times Ken traveled around the world as a Merchant Marine working as an engineer. Twice it took him to the former Soviet Union (before the iron curtain came down) where a keg of German beer there was cheaper than in Germany itself!

That’s a good enough reason to stop over in the Soviet Union for sure. Ken has many interesting stories and memories to share from his time at sea and foreign travels just ask him about it.

During a conversation with a ship’s mate Ken realized that he had spent ample years as a merchant marine and was eligible to retire. So, he took the dog by the tail and retired in 1999. Of course, retirement did not mean retirement yet for 9 more years Ken took a position as chief maintenance mechanic with the Pima County.

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A few years after Ken had retired Lizzie joined Ken in retirement and during a life changing event Ken and Lizzie decided to get a sports car. For Ken there was only one color option the roadster had to be a red exterior and white leather interior. The search was on and soon they found a gorgeous ‘99 500 SL at the Tucson MB dealership. Between Ken’s mechanical skills and two sons who are also in the automotive business maintenance issues are easily addressed and fixed.

Approximately 5 years ago Ken joined the Chaparral Section and soon after was voted in as a board member. In addition to being a director Ken is in charge of advertising vendors and recruiting new advertisers BUT as the saying goes ‘behind every great man is an even greater woman’ and that is Lizzie. She keeps an up-to-date spread sheet of the advertisers, who joined when, paid what and so on. Thank you Lizzie! Ken and Lizzie have joined most of the Chaparral events and are looking forward to attend many more.

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

Page | 84

The Blitzen Benz

and other Mercedes Race Cars from the San Diego Section

Clockwise from the left:  A Blitzen Benz is Tuned-Up at the International Motor Co  One of the two Blitzen Benz cars in New York City in 1915 after a rebuild at International Motor Co  Preparation for a race. Location is unknown  “Wild Bill” Endicott in Blitzen Benz No.2 the Oct 23, 1917, Arizona Republican

A

Mercedes 4.5 liter GP driven by Ralph DePalma won the Indy

500 in 1915. Mr. DePalma wasn’t doing well on the practice laps at Indy. Jesse Vincent Chief Engineer at Packard Motor

Car Company told DePalma if he would let him take the car to Detroit he could make it go faster. DePalma agreed and after modifying the carburetor and some other modifications DePalma increased his lap time by a phenomenal 16 seconds. DePalma owned the Mercedes as did some of the drivers of that era. In the 1912 Indy 500 DePalma led the race for 196 of the 200 laps when his Mercedes blew a piston with two laps to go.

He and his riding mechanic pushed the car across the finish line to take eleventh place.

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

Page | 86

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

he Chaparral Section’s best event yet, and best Holiday Party ever! That’s what all 50 of the attendees said about our gathering at the Mountain Oyster Club on December 5th 2015. About 20 cars lined up for the car show in the parking lot below our venue, where they were on display for everyone to see on this gorgeous late fall day. Mercedes-Benzes, blue sky, bright sunshine, and temperatures in the 70’s made it all come together.

Once inside the Mountain Oyster Club after taking the obligatory group photo, we all enjoyed the western art show and sale on offer. Jerry Tucker, our emcee for the day, introduced MBCA National Vice President Steve Ross, then told us the history of the Club from territorial days in the Old Pueblo. After settling into our choice of entrees from flat iron steak, pistachio crusted sand dabs, or grilled chicken Caesar salad, President Mike Zonnefeld started the annual membership business meeting. In short order we received a Treasurer’s report from Mike Cooper, reading of the minutes

Page | 88

of last year’s meeting from Secretary Beverly Maddalone, then Lynn Davison thanked outgoing members from the Board of Directors. Ed Gladish, Fred Finney, and Michael Turner all received appreciate applause for their past years of service. Next Lynn presented the slate of nominees for the 2016 Board. Mike Zonnefeld, Lynn Davison, Mike Cooper, Beverly Maddalone, Jutta Lunario, Ken George, and Mike Bailey were all reelected to the board.

Lunch at the Mountain Oyster Club

Steve Ross came from San Diego just to present the

Jerry Tucker, Steve Ross, and Mike Zonnefeld Lunch at the Mountain Oyster Club

prestigious Southwest Region Officer of the Year award to Mike Zonnefeld.

Lynn Davison then presented the

Section’s Member of the Year award to Jerry Tucker.

Asked to stand, Mike and Lilliane Zonnefeld, Jerry and Kathy Tucker, Fred and Vera Finney, along with Steve Ross were recognized for their leadership by a standing ovation for their contributions to reviving Chaparral Section when it had no events, no newsletter, and no funding. These individuals are credited with bringing the section back from the ashes.

In conclusion, Lynn Davison described upcoming events, such as the Toys for Tots drive on Saturday December The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America Michael ‘Coop’ Cooper

12th as well as events that are sites for the Arizona Passport, our signature club event for the next two years. Everyone in attendance received a holiday gift, either an MBCA mug or MercedesBenz flash drive. Yes, it was the best Chaparral Section Holiday Party yet.

A gift for every guest

Lynn Davison

Page | 90

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

By

by Debbie Ichiyama MBCA President Terry Kiwala came down from Chicago

e had an awesome turnout for this year’s Holiday Party and were also honored to have MBCA National President, Terry Kiwala join us and I would like to thank him for taking time out of his busy schedule to attend.

After a delicious meal, we proceeded with our tradition of recognizing our member anniversaries.

Resident Emcee, Chuck Stanford, presented the anniversary recognition pins to the recipients.

This year’s Member of the Year Award went to Matt Crawford in appreciation for all his hard work and dedication to the club. Matt Crawford was not at the party, he was attending his brother’s wedding in Florida, so the plaque was awarded to him the week before and the traveling trophy was presented to him at the December Board of Directors Meeting. Congratulations to Matt!

Thanks to all who brought toys for the 2015 Toy Drive, which were delivered to the Scottsdale Fire Department. The firemen were impressed by all toys collected and they expressed their gratitude for all the club’s efforts.

Our other fund raiser was a 50/50 raffle to benefit Ronald McDonald House. Cathy Hobson won the raffle and Ronald McDonald House was very thankful for the donation. Thanks to all who brought toys and purchased raffle tickets. It is really an honor to be associated with a giving and caring group of people I would also like to thank Zoran Kliskara and his fantastic staff at Tommy V’s in Old Town Scottsdale. Once again they did a fantastic job and it was very much appreciated

Page | 92

Bob Yoder with his 30-year membership award

Rhonda and Ron Borino with Section President Debbie Ichiyama

Manfred & Marlene Pfeiffer Chuck and Ava Stanford

Jim Friesen

Matt Crawford

Phil and Corky Hammond 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 | 94

5. They are designed just for you.

When do you need your income?

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

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

How often would you like to receive your income?

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

Do you foresee your income needs changing?

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

6. They can cover your loved ones, too.

Share your income through joint ownership.

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

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

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

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

Create higher income amounts than other types of strategies.

9. Your money can be passed to your heirs.

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

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

8. They help simplify planning.

Meet Required Minimum Distribution rules automatically.

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

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

Leave a legacy to those who mean the most.

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

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

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

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

Page | 96

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

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 Regional Director’s Corner Hello fellow Members, As your new MBCA Regional Director for the South West Region I would like to introduce myself.

My name is Bud Cloninger. I have served as a section board member, Publicity Director, Vice President and Section President for six years. I understand the challenges faced by sections and their board of directors in keeping up with the demands of the membership. We are all doing this without pay, and doing this out of the love of our automobiles. I understand this and want to help as your Regional Director. Per MBCA By-laws this is my job description: Section 8. Regional Director: The members of each Region shall elect a Regional Director to represent them on the National Board. Each Regional Director shall be a member of the National Board. Regional Directors shall promote membership growth and the formation of new Sections within their Regions and shall promote and coordinate combined Regional Events whenever possible. The Regional Directors shall have the power to appoint Committees within their Regions to assist in the performance of their duties. The Regional Director and the Presidents of all the Sections within a Region shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Region. No Regional Director shall be a Section Officer but may be a Section Director.

What this means is that I am to help you in furthering the goals of our National organization, and to enhance the memberships enjoyment of the club. And in the words of Steve Ross, our outgoing Director and now Vice President, “If you are not having fun, you are not doing it right!” I am looking forward to meeting with all the Southwest region sections in the next year and helping you in any way I can. My door is always open so feel free to contact me at any time.

Bud Cloninger Page | 100

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

Page | 102

The Desert Stars Section’s President’s Desk

By Debbie Ichiyama

appy New Year to all!

The Desert Stars has had a fantastic year. We had great events with awesome turnouts of members including many new folks. It is always great to meet new members and catch up with all members.

There are many car related events coming up in the Valley this month. The Auctions are always fun. I so enjoy seeing the cars and reminiscing about them and remembering when I had one or someone I knew did.

Then of course it is always a treat to see some classics and watch the Auctions. Pick a car and see if you can predict what the sale price will be. How close did you come? Don’t forget that the recap of the Auction Week is our MB Enthusiasts Dinner. Details can be found on page 1 of the Newsletter.

There are some changes that affect our Region in the New Year. As some of you might already know our former Regional Director, Steve Ross has been elected National Vice-President of the Mercedes-Benz Club or America. Congratulations to Steve in your new role with the club! Replacing Steve as the Southwest Region Regional Director is our very own Bud Cloninger. Our best wishes to Bud and we all look forward to working with him in his new position. We are so lucky to have these dedicated folks working on our behalf within the organization.

New Star Dust Section Members, “Welcome!”

Craig Smith, Dan Darby, David Curry, Ken Grogan, Ken Richardson, Kenneth Jordan, Kevin Niekerk, Lissa Kennel, Richard Goodrum, William Ewing

More Than a Car | We’re a Community The Southwest Star Magazine – covering the southwest region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Page | 104

The Orange County Sections’s President’s Desk would like to remind all OC section members about our board meetings and to invite all those interested in helping to plan events to attend. The board meetings are usually held on Sunday afternoons. Club members take turns volunteering to act as host. Club business is conducted first and then after the business meeting is adjourned we have an informal potluck dinner party. These gatherings provide an excellent opportunity for members to meet the club officers and get involved in club activities. The next board meeting will be during our road trip to Las Vegas on February 1921, 2016. I hope to see some new faces there.

For a long time, the OC section has been thinking about being more proactive in helping local charities.

The board of directors recently approved a set of guide lines to insure any donations go to very worthy causes and are used for their intended purpose. With this in mind and keeping with the Christmas spirit the OC section has donated $2000.00 to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund and $2000.00 to the local chapter of the Salvation Army.

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

On behalf of the OC section officers and board members I wish all our members happy holidays and a prosperous New Year.

- Lynn Hern, We welcome our newest Orange County Section members – Al Annexstad  John Betts  Bill Hatch Daniel Hoefflin  Donald Osborne  Robert Moore  Craig Schwab

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

Page | 106

From the Desk of The San Diego Section President

By Michael Cooper

appy New Year! I want to thank all that attended the December Christmas Party in December. It was truly nice to see all of you. As we look to the New Year we welcome all members to take advantage of all that the club has to offer. Car purchase discounts, parts and service discounts at your favorite participating Mercedes dealerships, the award winning Star Magazine, local events with your San Diego Section and all of the new friendships that form by being active members. We have a lot of fun events coming up for you including a museum overnight trip in February. Again, thank you for the wonderful memories from 2015 and we look forward to making new memories in the coming year.

We look forward to spending time with each of you.

Michael Cooper President

New San Diego Section MBCA Members Robert Moore  Robert Moore  Jeff Baker  Mike Cohill  Joseph Decristoforo

A hearty welcome to all our new members.

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

ellow members, “Happy New Year!” 2016 marks the year we finally roll out our digital newsletter. This format allows your Los Angeles section to provide more content and dramatically reduce costs.

In addition to the newsletter, we’ve started the year by adding Facebook and Instagram pages. Coupling those with the Southwest Star gives us a wealth of event coverage.

Speaking of events, thanks to everyone who attended the planning meeting at Tony P's.

It was a good social gathering and we were also able to put together some great event ideas.

As I’ve asked in the past, if you have some spare time, please consider helping us out.

Currently, we need an administrative assistant, a membership chair, and a board member.

If you’re on the fence, I recommend you attend a board meeting to see if you like it.

There’s no commitment, just attend one meeting. I’d like to thank the five club members who stepped up to lend us their help. It is appreciated.

The year is moving quickly, so mark your calendar for the next club event. I’ll be at the Petersen for the Breakfast Drive-In and I hope to see you there.

A Warm welcome to our newest members: John Wood, Richard Dahler, Robert Williamson, Craig Cornwell, Gunther Hansele, Andrew Abdul-Wahab, Chris Brow, Malisa Wattanawongkiri, Trust Ying and family, Karl Wittnebel, Obi Okeke, Jeb Johenning, Keyvan Roodsari, Daisy Blide, Terry McGee, Alexander MacKenzie, Lauren Sanchez, James Larose, Sebastien Tobler, Phillip Rothschild, Mingxuan Zhu, and Vinod Patel

Page | 108

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

The President’s Desk 2015 was a great year for our Chaparral Section, and 2016 promises to be even better!

We have the largest membership ever! We have put together several exciting events for the coming year, and our event attendances are also at an all-time high! Our holiday party luncheon for example had the largest attendance of any of our events ever!

I believe Chaparral Section is one of the most active and vibrant ones in MBCA! Nothing is so constant as change, the saying goes, and that is true of MBCA as well.

Steve Ross, our Regional Director is now moving on to a National Vice President MBCA, and he is being replaced by Bud Cloninger, former President of Phoenix Desert Stars Section. Our own Board of Directors has had a few changes as well! Some outstanding members have moved on, and are being replaced by more out-standing members. We plan on continuing to offer services and benefits for our section members, and strive to make your membership even more valuable for you!

You are always welcome to attend the monthly board meetings held at Tucson Mercedes at 5:00 PM the second Thursday of every month. We welcome your in-put, and ask you for it, as we wish to be responsive to your desires as Chaparral Section members.

Plan to attend many of the events this year and be sure to check out the Passport to Arizona program put together by your Board of Directors, as a means to use your Mercedes to explore Arizona! See the web site for all the details.

2016 promises to be an even better year than 2015, particularly with the type of members we have in our Section!

Looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible this coming year!

Drive Safely!

We welcome the following new members to the Chaparral Section:

For the Chaparral Section, MBCA

Alan Frankle, Danny Vaughn, Jack Davis, James Betty, Marge Garnea, Roger Moss, and Ronald Savier, Page | 110

Mike Zonnefeld President

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

Page | 112

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

Page | 114

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.

MBCA 2016 Amelia Island Friday March 11th & Saturday March 12th

Attendees MUST register if they plan to attend either of these dinners, as counts are needed to be given to the restaurants. Individuals will pay for their dinners/drinks at the time of the event.

To register (deadline is March 9, 2016) for the Kingsland Millhouse or the Crab Trap dinner click here: http://msreg.com/AmeliaIsland2016.

Only Electronic registrations will be

accepted. Questions? Please contact Germany Greer at gagreer@comcast.net 404-4299257 or Jim Roberts at jertoothsaver@gmail.com 205-933-9333(o) or 205-529-0071(C)

Kingsland Millhouse Friday, March 11th 6:30 pm

The Kinsgsland Millhouse is located off of I-95 exit 3 just west on GA 40 (at the southbend exit ramp).

The menu is varied: steaks to seafood to Italian.

We have reserved a

Mercedes-Benz Club area. Kingsland Millhouse is located at 1215 E King Ave Kingsland, GA 31548 (912) 576-4349

The Crab Trap -Fernandina Beach Saturday, March 12th 6pm

This has become the traditional spot for MBCA members to gather for the evening following Cars & Coffee and before the Sunday concours d’elegance.

We invite those sections

staging events of national interest to present at these events. The Crab Trap is located at 31 North 2nd Street, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, FL 32034 (904) 261-4749 Page | 116

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

Join the Chaparral Section for a Tech Session Saturday, March 19 We’ve been short on tech sessions of late, so this one will let you learn all about your Mercedes from Rick at Monsoon Automotive. Ladies of Mercedes, don’t you dare be intimidated by anyone.

This one is for you too.

The Desert Stars Section’s Show Off Your Car Show Sunday, March 20

Springtime is the best time to bring out your treasured automobiles, clean, wax and shine, and share them with other car admirers! We are providing just such a venue

at

the

Doubletree

Resort

in

Scottsdale on March 20, 2016. And we have a few extra attractions to help us make the day fun and educational.

Scottsdale Mercedes-Benz will bring a few new cars for our viewing pleasure, and will be available to answer questions about new models and plans for changes to

existing

lines.

In

addition,

Bud

Cloninger, MBCA Regional Director, past Desert Stars President and experienced club

car

judge

will

provide

a

demonstration and discussion of how to judge a car!! Right there in the parking lot. And then he will give the group a competitive challenge to take an assigned vehicle and score sheet and put into practice what he just taught us.

We will also be voting on a “People’s Choice Award”, with a prize awarded at the luncheon.

After working so hard at all that judging, we will convene for a delicious meal, complete Page | 118

with self-pay bar. The Doubletree chef has received accolades for his culinary skills, so we look forward to a very enjoyable and full event.

Please register and pay by March 10th and make your luncheon choice on the registration form included in this newsletter on page 12. The price per person is $35. We will convene at 10:30 AM at the Doubletree Resort, 5401 N. Scottsdale Road, on Sunday March 20, 2016. Call John and Roberta Phin at 480-272-8851 for more information. John and Roberta will make the arrangements at the Doubletree; please do not call the resort. We look forward to seeing you and your car there!!

The Desert Stars Section’s 1000 Send-Off and Brunch Sunday, April 10th

Join Desert Stars for the start of the Copperstate 1000 tour for classic and vintage cars sponsored by the Men’s Art Council of the Phoenix Art Museum. This event is a fund-raiser for the museum and for more than 25 years participants from around the world have toured Arizona and Utah scenic venues in fabulous and invaluable cars that might also be seen at the Mille Miglia Storico, the Colorado Grand or the California Mille.

We are fortunate to have cost-free access to the staging area at Tempe Diablo Stadium, 2200 W. Alameda, Tempe, where more than 100 participating cars can be viewed by enthusiasts. We will gather at 9:00 AM on Sunday, April 10th and after seeing the cars off, we will proceed to brunch/lunch at a local restaurant. RSVP to John Phin at 480-2728851 or jgphin@cox.net by April 2nd so parking and luncheon arrangements can be made.

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

Wine Tasting with the San Diego Section Saturday, April 16, 2016 Saturday April 16, 2016 we are visiting the Hacienda De Las Rosas Winery, located at 18011 Blue Grass Road, Ramona for lunch and wine tasting. For those who want a group will meet at Mercedes-Benz of Escondido at 10:00 AM and proceed to the winery. Cost is $10.00 for wine tasting and appetizers. Bring your own box lunch and anything you wish to share.

The Chaparral Section’s DN 50 Car Show Saturday, April 16

DM 50 is an organization that supports Davis-Monthan AFB and its mission. Every spring they throw a superb picnic for all the base personnel and their dependents. Part of that is a car show which we support wholeheartedly. Come on out, enjoy the picnic and a fine time in the spring sunshine.

The Chaparral Section’s Bisbee Car Show April Exact date is unknown, but those who went last year enjoyed the Bisbee ambience. This year we plan to go earlier and stay later for dinner in downtown Bisbee.

The Desert Stars M-B.E.A.T. (Proposed) Saturday & Sunday, April 23-24, 2016 The beloved B.E.A.T. that we have known for many years has gone out of business!! A number of Desert Stars members have suggested that we form our own M-B.E.A.T., the first of which is proposed to be held on Saturday/Sunday, April 23/24, 2016.

The event will start at a location to be defined within the shopping center at I-17 and route 74 (Carefree Highway) around 7:30am with donuts and coffee followed by a fun and scenic drive to Flagstaff, passing over Weaver Mountain, through Kirkland, Skull Valley and the Prescott National Forest, onto Iron Springs Road and Route 89A, up Mingus Mountain, through Jerome, Cottonwood, Prescott and Sedona, up Oak Creek Canyon and finally arriving at Little America Motel in Flagstaff for dinner and the night. Sunday you would be free to return leisurely to your home or tour around Flagstaff, head back to Sedona or experience other scenic areas of Northern Arizona. Lunch will be in either Jerome or Old Town Cottonwood.

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The actual route and rest/lunch points will be selected after we find out how many cars and participants will be attending. There may be a nominal charge for the event, but everyone would pay their own major costs for meals and lodging. We will try arranging for discounted rates at Little America.

Please contact Dick Sharp at richardsharp31@gmail.com if you would like to participate or have any questions.

The Chaparral Section’s Trip to Kartchner Caverns Saturday, May 14 It’s starting to get warm in May, so where better to spend time than a cool cave? We’ll have reservations for the tour, then have lunch after the tour. This is one of the destinations for Chaparral Section’s Arizona Passport, so bring your camera and a Mercedes or MBCA logo to get credit for the visit.

The Chaparral Section’s Trip to Kartchner Caverns Saturday, May 14 It’s starting to get warm in May, so where better to spend time than a cool cave? We’ll have reservations for the tour, then have lunch after the tour. This is one of the destinations for Chaparral Section’s Arizona Passport, so bring your camera and a Mercedes or MBCA logo to get credit for the visit.

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

Mercedes Benz Club of America Southwest Regional Event May 20-22, 2016 Hosted by the Channel Islands & Long Beach Sections Join us in the Solvang Valley north of Santa Barbara, Ca. for a fun-filled weekend. Bring your Mercedes Benz to enjoy the spectacular scenery this area has to offer.

Host Hotel: Anderson Inn, 51 East Highway 246, Buellton, CA 93427 Participants will meet at 9:00 am Saturday morning in the hotel lobby for a detailed itinerary.

Highlights include: - Welcome reception Friday evening - Rally through the picturesque wine region - People’s choice Concours D’Elegance with catered BBQ lunch at a winery - Banquet dinner at a local restaurant - Awards for Rally and Concours winners - Raffle drawing with prizes - Private tour of Mendenhall’s Museum of Petroliana and Gasoline Pumps - Commemorative wine glasses

This weekend also has free time to visit the following nearby attractions: - 2 California missions - Chumash Indian Casino - Shopping in the Danish village of Solvang - Santa Barbara Riviera

2 participants 1 participant

Friday & Saturday Night Lodging $495 $390

Saturday Night Only Lodging $360 $255

Without Lodging $225 $120

Registration and payment must arrive by April 16, 2016 (see below for Registration Form) For any questions contact Gerhard Fehrmann at fehrmannranch@msn.com or 714425-1036

Solvang Southwest Regional Event May 20-22, 2016 Name(s) registering: Address: Phone Number:

Number Attending: Day/Night

Email Address:

Make your check payable to MBCA and mail to: MBCA, P.O. Box 30132, Long Beach, CA 90853

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

The Chaparral Section’s Lemmon Drive and Dine June This traditional drive is always a favorite because it leaves hot Tucson behind for cooler mountain temperatures, a neat road to enjoy with your Mercedes, and the Sawmill Restaurant is always a favorite.

Of course there are other Section gatherings. Don’t forget Cars and Coffee at La Encantada parking lot on the second Saturday of every month. If this is an El Nino winter, the wildflowers should be the best in years. We’ll scope it out and organize a drive to see them, but notice for the drive will be short. Be Ready! Likewise, short notice a little later to see wildflowers on the back road to Coronado Memorial. The first few miles are paved, but the last half is not, so plan on a high clearance ML, GL, or another brand of truck or SUV. This trip is also on the Passport list. See you at an event soon.

MBCA 2016 European Tours June 20th and Sept. 19th

MBCA’s Stuttgart Germany Tour presents the rich heritage of Mercedes-Benz in its home region.

Travelers will enjoy: 

Guided tours of the Carl Benz Museum in Ladenburg



The Daimler Workshop in Bad Cannstatt

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AMG facilities in Affalterbach

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The Mercedes-Benz Museum and Brand Center in Unterturkheim

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The Technical Museum in Sinsheim

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The Bad Cannstatt Engine Assembly Plant

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The Classic Center in Fellbach and the Sindelfingen assembly plant that covers more ground than the entire principality of Monaco.



AND be one of the first to witness the production of the Mercedes-Benz 2016 CLA Sedan and GLA SUV in Hungary on our G-Wagon tour in Austria and Hungary October 2016 Space is limited! Reserve now to guarantee your slot. Registration form HERE

For more information, please contact Jim O'Sullivan at 843.671.2079 or osullivanj55@gmail.com Page | 124

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

StarFest速 2016!

Wednesday August 3rd- Saturday August 6th, 2016 in NORTHEAST CONNECTICUT

The Minuteman Section invites you to New England for 2016 StarFest速! StarFest速 2016 will take place in Connecticut's "Quiet Corner" with lush Green Valleys and picturesque Hilltop Farms, it's also known as the Antique Capital of Connecticut. From the seashore near the host hotel, to the lush greenery near the host track, the two linked by a short trip on I-395. Spectacular scenery and iconic New England towns await your discovery.

MBCA Multi-Regional Event: Mesa Verde National Park & Four Corners September 9, 10 and 11, 2016, From Michael Davison, Rocky Mountain Regional Director You are cordially invited to participate in an event which is still in the planning stage.

I am

organizing a visit to Mesa Verde National Park with a side trip to Four Corners Monument. The idea at present is to meet in Cortez, Colorado on Friday the 9th and check into a hotel or I will schedule ranger-guided tours of two of the park's main attractions. Club members are free to explore other areas of the park as well. The entrance fee to the park is $10 per car for up to four adults in the car. There is no charge for those of us who have a Senior National Parks Pass (now $20 and good for life).

Saturday evening, the 10th, we will enjoy a group dinner tentatively scheduled at Stonefish Sushi & More, 16 W. Main St in Cortez. The owner has graciously agreed to host our group. For those interested, Sunday will include a drive to the Four Corners Monument, 40 miles from Cortez. A five dollar per person fee will be assessed by the Navaho people to enter the reservation on which the monument is located. Only cash is accepted.

Final costs have not yet been determined. I have in mind that each participant will send a check to the Mile-High Section to cover the park tours and Saturday's group dinner. Additional costs will be the hotel stay, meals other than Saturday's dinner, park entry fees and Navaho reservation entry fee. I will apply for a subsidy to reduce each room fee. More information will be forthcoming after I can get some idea of the size of the group.

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If you have an interest, sometime before January 16, 2016 please let Debbie Ichiyama know at dichiyama@me.com. Thank you. Michael Davison Rocky Mountain Regional Director – MBCA mhd539@msn.com

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

The Chaparral Section Recurring Ladies Luncheon

Hello, Ladies of Mercedes: 2016 lends itself to be the perfect beginning to bring together the ladies in the club and unite once a month or quarterly for a luncheon affair.

Perhaps we meet for lunch sampling different cuisines or seek out restaurants with special ambience and best of all get to know each other a little better.

Please let me know if you would like to unite for a luncheon every so often.

Please contact me via email: jutta@juttalunario.com Page | 128

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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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.

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!

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

*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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