COVERING YOUR CARS & YOUR EVENTS VOLUME 6, NUMBER 4
The new Macan, Mercedes in 2019, Benz There, Mercedes Benz Bikes, Singer-Williams DLS, C36 AMG, 53 Scuttlebutt, 2020 GLE, and more
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 2
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 4
10 All-New 2020 GLE 18 The New Macan 26 Porsche 356, Chassis 001 33 Major changes for 2019 42 Rodeo Drive @twenty-five 48 The Singer Williams DLS 56 C36 AMG 64 Mercedes and Argon 18 70 POP-UP Comedy
78 Ultimate AMG Wagon Road Trip 86 Getting The Shot 90 Porsche in F1 94 C53 Conjecture 98 Porsche Studio Milan 104 Sloan Stephens 107 Minimalist Muck 112 Project One Side Hustle 116 Vision EQ Silver Arrow 120 MBFW Milan news 124 Upcoming Events The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Covering your cars & your events September 2018 The Southwest Star Magazine is published four (or five) times per year by Fitzhugh Media Santa Clarita, California, USA www.thesouthweststar.com info@thesouthweststar.com www.fitzhughmedia.com
Special Thanks to
Editorial
Porsche
Editor in Chief Marcus Blair Fitzhugh
Singer Vehicle Design
Creative Director Karcy Bowles Motorsports Editor Kevin Ehrlich Features editor Mary Fischer East Coast Bureau Chief Wendy Fitzhugh
Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz USA Mercedes-AMG Daimler AG
AMG Thousand Oaks
Distribution The Southwest Star is available worldwide via the web at thesouthweststar.com, the 8 MBCA Southwest Section websites, Issuu, and Fitzhugh Media
Queries info@thesouthweststar.com
Creative Consultant Sean Fitzhugh Contributors To This Issue Brooke Cagle Jay Pill Jesse Cannon-Wallace JP Davis Justin Thomas Kenny Pi Sai De Silva Tony Brown VeeAnn Hegreberg
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 and/or Porsche 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, Porsche, all car clubs and their 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.
Hollis and 217th Street ISSN# 2576-9472
All that said, feel free to contact The Southwest Star at Info@TheSouthwestStar.com Š 2005 Fitzhugh Media
Subscribe Subscriptions are free of charge. We ask that you support our advertisers as they keep us afloat. To receive an email notification when new issues are released drop us a note at me2@fitzhughmedia.com We will not share your email address or send you spam. We will send you one email notification each time a new issue is released. Page | 6
\
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
From the editor’s desk
few years back, VW made worldwide news because they cheated on their smog test. It’s old news. Besides, is anyone really shocked to learn that people cheat? If so, the next time you’re on a freeway, look around.
Speeding is cheating.
So is illegally
downloading music, which actually hurt - effectively killing the record industry as we used to know it. Those last two examples of cheating involved people. Some feel we should hold corporations to a higher standard. Except corporations are made up of people. Some cheat, some don’t, and it’s been that way for a long time.
The first emissions scandal I remember involved GM.
They
designed Cadillacs to run better when the air conditioner was on. Unfortunately, those Cadillacs also produced two to three times the legal emissions levels when the AC was on. Turn off the AC and the cars passed smog. That was a long time ago. GM paid the fine and moved on. On a more current note, Renault – Nissan is the world’s second largest auto manufacturer. The Japanese Transport Ministry caught Nissan cheating on their emissions tests less than a year ago. The Japanese Transport Ministry caught Subaru doing the same thing within a week of catching Nissan. This year, Mazda, Suzuki, and Yamaha all admitted pulling shenanigans in the arena of emissions and fuel economy testing. The U.S., Europe, Japan . . . it’s easy to say, “Who’s left?”, but everyone isn’t doing it. Mercedes-Benz doesn’t sell diesels here, but it isn’t because they were caught cheating. MercedesBenz stopped offering diesels in the U.S. after the feds said they wanted to retroactively change the diesel emission rules. The problem was - the feds weren’t sure what the new rules would be. Mercedes told the feds, “After you’ve decided what the new rules are, we’ll tell you if we want to play. In the meanwhile, we’ll stop shipping diesels stateside.” And that my friends, is one reason we don’t have an E220d; an E-Class diesel with an official combined European rating of 72 MPG. Page | 8
Marcus Blair Fitzhugh
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
wenty years ago, Mercedes-Benz rolled out the award-winning M-Class. This was the first midsized Mercedes-Benz SUV offered in the U.S. and it immediately won the 1998 Motor Trend Truck of the Year award and the Detroit Auto Show Truck Page | 10
By Marcus Blair Fitzhugh | Photos courtesy MBUSA
of the Year award. The ML was renamed the GLE in 2015, and is currently the benchmark of which premium midsized SUVs are measured today. For 2020, Mercedes-Benz has once again raised the bar, with an all-new class GLE. The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Although the GLE will make its official public debut next week at the Paris Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz gave the press a preview in September. Here in the U.S., the new GLE will be available as the GLE350, GLE350 4MATIC, and GLE450. The GLE350 and GLE350 4MATIC will have a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, making 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This engine is mated to the 9GTRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission. The two-wheel drive version will sprint to sixty miles per hour in 7 seconds flat, with the all-wheel-drive version arriving one-tenth of a second later.
Page | 12
The GLE450 will have the EQ boosted 3-liter turbocharged inline six. This new engine produces 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, with an additional 21 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of assist from the EQ Boost starter-generator. The GLE450 also has the 9G-TRONIC transmission and 4MATIC all-wheel-drive.
Mercedes-Benz says the
GLE450 will hit sixty MPH in 5.5-seconds. The all-new GLE will be used to introduce a 48-volt air suspension system called E-Active Body Control. This allows individual control of both the spring and damping forces at each wheel. Mercedes-Benz says the new technology "generates dynamic forces that overlay the air suspension forces and actively support and dampen the vehicle during linear and lateral acceleration or when driving on uneven roads." This should allow the new GLE to have a smooth ride under all conditions. The GLE is also equipped with a "free-driving mode". This causes the suspension to quickly raise and lower itself if the GLE gets stuck in sand, mud, or snow. The bouncing motion allows the GLE to rock itself free.
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
"The new GLE is not only more comfortable than ever before on the road, but also shows its superior off-road character off the beaten track. This alone shows our determination to reinforce our claim to leadership in the SUV segment. Significantly more space in the interior, the new control concept,
considerably
extended
and
refined
driver
assistance systems, the best aerodynamics in the segment, a completely new range of engines and numerous other innovations emphatically underline this." - Ola Källenius, responsible for corporate research at Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz Cars development. Page | 14
Naturally, the GLE is also offered with the latest suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including Distronic adaptive cruise control, active brake assist, active steering assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The GLE will also be available with Active Stop-and-Go Assist, which allows the vehicle to take over steering, acceleration and braking duties at speeds up to 37 MPH. The interior is completely revamped and comes with the new MBUX infotainment interface which uses a pair of 12.3-inch displays. MBUX can be controlled by voice or touch, and commands can be spoken by beginning the request with, "Hey Mercedes." MBUX uses a high-resolution interface that’s been purposely designed to be easy to navigate for the “less than tech savvy crowd”. In addition to MBUX, the rest of cabin has been
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
redesigned with chic dashboard surfaces and vivid ambient lighting. The new center console has a pair of grab handles on both sides of the gear selector and the new steering wheel has the same thumb-bad controls found in other new Mercedes-Benz vehicles Outwardly, the 2020 GLE is slightly larger, but is styled sin such a way as to not look too big. The body panels are all-new, but it’s instantly recognizable as a GLE. The nose of the GLE has an upright radiator grille, a chrome-plated underguard, and ULTRA Wide Beam LED headlamps with a CLS inspired theme. Viewed from the side, the fenders, doors and rear quarter are much smoother than the previous model.
The GLE’s distinctive wide C-pillar was retained, and the wheels are
housed in wheel arches with prominent dark liners. This emphasizes the GLE's off road character, as do the pillared roof rails and (optional) running boards. The GLE has a muscular rear section begins with the rear wheel flares and extends past the C-pillar to the rear lights. The lights are thinner, longer , have backlit edge lighting, and gives the impression of width. The rear is rounded off with a chrome-plated underguard. Mercedes-Benz is skipping the 2019 GLE model year and diving right into 2020. This new GLE is projected to arrive in showrooms in spring. AMG models are expected to be announced in the near future.
Page | 16
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
orsche unveiled the new Macan in Shanghai.
The original Macan has enjoyed
fantastic success since being launched in 2014, but the new model shows us there
Page | 18
A world premiere in Shanghai: The new
Porsche Macan
By Marcus Blair Fitzhugh | Photos courtesy Porsche
was room for improvement. The upgraded model has been significantly improved in terms of its design, comfort, connectivity, and driving dynamics. That’s a full plate for a midmodel refresh. The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Top: the Macan’s LED headlamps Below: the 918
Several clever changes to the exterior have given the new Macan a sportier, more modern look. A number of details link the Macan to the 911 and 918. The lighting plays a key role. The new Macan has standard LED headlights that feature a 918-ish appearance. It’s a high-quality three-dimensional design, and if the appearance isn’t enough, the Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS) can be used to adaptively control the light distribution. It’s a refresh, but the front end of the Macan somehow appears wider. The Page | 20
rear renovation is more of a refresh of the predecessor’s sleek design. The new threepart, three-dimensional LED light strip is another Porsche design element. The four-point brake light design also reflects brand identity.
The upgrade was used as an opportunity to expand the range of assistance systems. The new Traffic Jam Assist, when included with adaptive cruise control, allows relaxed semiautonomous driving at speeds up to 35 MPH. The system features partially automated acceleration and braking, along with steering assist in a traffic jam or slow-moving traffic. The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
The new Porsche Communication Management (PCM) HD touchscreen sits above the rising center console. The screen has been enlarged from seven to eleven inches and has been integrated into the newly designed instrument panel. Like the Panamera and Cayenne, the user interface on the infotainment system can be customized using predefined tiles. The air vents have also been re-designed and are now positioned below the central screen. The new Macan comes equipped with a Connect Plus module, making every vehicle fully networked as standard. This module supports various digital functions and services such
Page | 22
as intelligent voice control and the real-time traffic information that forms part of the standard online navigation system. One of the key elements of this system is the “Here Cloud” connection, which offers swarm-based traffic data.
Lastly, the new Offroad
Precision App, makes it possible to record and analyze off-road driving experiences. The new Macan’s optimized chassis allows it to provide both on and off-road performance. It’s no 718, but the chassis improvements provide enhanced neutrality, greater stability and improved comfort.
The Macan still features staggered wheels and tires.
This
configuration allows the driver to take full advantage of the all-wheel drive PTM system (Porsche Traction Management) and the newly developed Porsche spec tires. The Macan is a genuine success story. The combination of Porsche performance on any terrain coupled with a high degree of everyday practicality has impressed customers enough to take delivery of more than 350,000 Macans. With over 100,000 deliveries to date, the model is especially popular in the Chinese market where Porsche unveiled the redesigned compact SUV. The model introduced at Shanghai will be offered exclusively in the Chinese market. Other models and markets will follow. The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
911 Carrera GTS Coupe
Page | 24
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
hen the Porsche Experience Center opened in Carson in late 2016, headlines focused on the driving experiences, the gift shop, the restaurant and bistro and the Porsche racing facility. In time, however, the display area has turned into a microsized California outpost for the Porsche factory Museum collection. Guests commonly open the doors and walk past the welcome desk to find several cars temporarily visiting from the main museum collection in Stuttgart. Page | 26
Even better, visiting
Story and photos by Kevin Ehrlich and Mary Fischer
cars are among the most significant examples of the collection because they’re often being sent for display at a high-profile event. The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
In early August, two extraordinary and historic Porsche milestones took up temporary residence in Carson, fresh off the airplane from their featured appearance to mark Porsche’s 70th anniversary at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.
Page | 28
The very first production Porsche 356, chassis 001, completed in April 1948 took center stage.
Silver exterior paintwork contrasts with the red leather seats and interior trim.
The 356 shape is unmistakable. Porsche needed money as production was getting up and running, so the car was sold to a private owner in September 1948. The car had an active life, bounced between several private owners and had several different mechanical changes and upgrades.
The factory had little interest in the car until 1958 when the
company celebrated its first decade in existence. A new 356 speedster was traded to the private owner at the time and 356-001 has been in the Porsche Museum collection ever since.
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
The first Porsche probably looks better and runs stronger now than it did when born. The bodywork is beautiful and the Porsche Museum staff looks after its care. Another iconic Porsche sat feet away with 50 years of distance. Porsche won the 24 Hours of LeMans overall in 1998 with the 911GT1-98 to celebrate five decades of company history. The GT1 features 911 bones but with a lot of aerodynamic massaging, carbon fiber and cutting edge 1990s technology. The race winning chassis 003 has been a flagship part of the Museum’s rolling collection. It has been seen at many festivals, races and vintage events and many Porsche factory drivers have had the privilege of time behind the wheel. The chassis has likely run many more miles in retirement than it did in active service.
Page | 30
The two cars together make for a stunning contrast and a visible manifestation of Porsche evolution through time. Both cars were awaiting display duty during Monterey car week in August. Afterwards, they returned with a few of their friends awaiting duty at the Rennsport Reunion in September. These types of opportunities to see significant cars and see historic pairings is one of the hidden gems of the Porsche Experience Center in Carson. Even better, the displays are always free to view, so stop by anytime and have a look around!
Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles 19800 S Main St, Gardena, California 90248 | Phone: (888) 204-7474
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 32
by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh | photos courtesy Mercedes-Benz
The 2019 models have started rolling out some major upgrades will be available in the next 12 months. - Leading the way is the all-new third-generation CLS 4-door coupe. The original CLS was a groundbreaking coupe in a four-door construct that sparked an industry-wide trend. The all-new third generation CLS is sporty, sophisticated, and available as the CLS 450, CLS 450 4MATIC and the AMG CLS 53. All three CLS models come equipped with a groundbreaking electrified powertrain that combines a new 3.0L inline six-cylinder gasoline engine with the revolutionary EQ Boost integrated starter-generator and 48V electric system.
The CLS 450 produces 362
horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The EQ Boost integrated starter-generator, which connects to the 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission, also functions as a The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
motor and adds up to an additional 21 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque for brief periods. The AMG CLS 53 uses an AMG-enhanced version of the new in-line six with an electricpowered auxiliary supercharger to supplement the turbo at low speeds. The AMG version produces 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, with the same additional 21 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque from the EQ Boost. In addition, all CLS 53s are equipped with AMG 4MATIC+ All-Wheel Drive with fully variable torque distribution and AMG Sport Suspension based on AIR BODY CONTROL. Standard AIR BODY CONTROL air suspension with adaptive damping system is optionally available on the CLS 450. The CLS 450 comes with an extensive list of standard equipment, including AMG body styling, LED headlamps and taillamps, 19-inch wheels, a 12.3-inch high-resolution COMAND display and Smartphone Integration. The Widescreen Cockpit has dual 12.3-inch displays under a shared, continuous glass cover, and the CLS’ ambient lighting is individually adjustable in 64 colors - including the air vents.
Page | 34
For the first time, the CLS has three-passenger rear seating. The seats are designed to resemble the individual rear seats of previous CLS models. The 40:20:40 split rear seatbacks fold to expand trunk capacity. The 2019 CLS also offers cutting edge driver assistance systems, including the optional Driver Assistance Package using the same Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive technology found in the S-Class. While looking at all the new CLS features, it's easy to overlook what's been removed. The CLS-Class has been in Mercedes’ lineup for 14 years and both the first and second generations were available with V8s. In fact, the U.S. spec 2018 CLS was only available with an 8. That's no longer the case. The top rung in third generation CLS is the 53. We've been told there's no CLS 63 in the works. That makes the next rung a completely different ladder. If someone wants a V8 powered Mercedes-Benz 4-Door Coupe, one is available, but it's not a CLS. It's the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. This makes sense in that it clearly differentiates the CLS from the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. These are different cars, with different drivetrain options, in different price segments.
- The AMG GT 4-Door Coupe is the third model developed independently by AMG and it makes its debut in 2019. The GT 4-Door Coupe has front and rear design elements from the two-seat GT models, with a 4-door, 4-seat mid-section under a sweeping coupe roofline. Just like the two-seat GT Coupe models, the 4-Door has an integrated tailgate to access the luggage compartment. Three versions of the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe will be offered: the GT 53, 63, and 63 S. The 53 is equipped with the same 429 horsepower 3-liter inline-six as the CLS 53 and E 53 models. The GT 63 is powered by the 577 horsepower AMG 4-liter V8 used in the AMG GT R, while the GT 63 S has the raucous 630-horsepower version. The AMG 4-liter V8s are handcrafted, biturbo’d, and are so technically advanced that other manufacturers are busy trying to copy the design. Both V8s are teamed with the AMG SPEEDSHIFT 9-speed MCT transmission. The 53 is exclusively equipped with the AMG SPEEDSHIFT 9-speed TCT transmission. All GT 4-Door Coupes are equipped with AMG 4MATIC+ Performance All-Wheel Drive with fully variable torque distribution. In the GT 63 S, selecting Drift Mode converts the car The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
from four-wheel to rear-wheel drive, and based on the name, you know what it’s for. Drift Mode is also available on the GT 63. All this technology allows the GT 53 to accelerate from 0-60 in 4.4 seconds. The GT 63 does it in 3.3 seconds, and the GT 63 S in 3.1 seconds. The GT 53 has AMG Ride Control Sport Suspension, while the V8 models feature AMG Ride Control+ air suspension and active rear axle steering for increased agility. The dual 12.3inch high-resolution Widescreen Cockpit is standard in all models, as is the Burmester Surround Sound system. The rear seating can be ordered with the Executive Rear Seat option.
This has a 40:20:40 split with folding seatbacks to expand cargo capacity.
Alternatively, the non-folding carbon fiber-backed rear seats can be ordered.
In a
nutshell, the folding rear seats are more versatile, while the fixed rear seats look sportier. Now the bad news; no official release date has been given. However, one was spotted at AMG of Thousand Oaks. Page | 36
- The G-Class has undergone its most comprehensive change to date. Every aspect of the 2019 model has been improved. It has better performance, improved handling, enhanced ride comfort, it’s more luxurious, has superior safety features, and does all this while still preserving its off-road prowess. The G is available in two models for 2019. The G 550 has a 4.0L biturbo V8 producing 416 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. Also available is the AMG G 63. The G 63 is powered by a handcrafted AMG 4.0L biturbo V8 with 577 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. Both models come with new 9-speed automatic transmissions which improve performance and efficiency, while providing a smoother ride. Although the 2019 G-Class body is all-new, the design remains instantly recognizable. Yes, it still has the external door hinges and it retains the unique G-Class door latch closing
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
sound. The new model is 2.1 inches longer and 4.8 inches wider for improved leg room. Nonetheless, the new G is 375 pounds lighter than the previous model thanks to the aluminum doors, hood, and fenders. A stronger ladder frame chassis carries the G’s first-ever independent front suspension and electromechanical power steering. The G is equipped with permanent all-wheel drive, selectable low range and three differential locks.
Ground clearance, fording depth,
breakover angle and angle of approach are all improved. A new “G-Mode” alters the damping, steering response, throttle response, and shifting for predictable and smooth off-road performance. The interior of the new G-Class is packed with more luxurious standard equipment than ever. It features a COMAND system with a 12.3-inch display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, three-zone automatic climate control, a glass-panel sunroof (a first for the G-Class), acoustic laminated side glass and a Burmester Surround Sound system. - The 2019 E-Class arrives with new engines and improved performance. The new E 450 and E 450 4MATIC models have an upgraded 3-liter biturbo V6. The new six produces 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. This is compared to 329 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque in the outgoing E 400 models. The Driver Assistance Package has been improved and now offers the enhanced safety systems featured in the 2018 S-Class models. The most noticeable component in this upgrade is the substantially broader scope of map and navigation data.
For 2019, all
driver assistance systems can be operated using the Touch Control Buttons on the new Nappa leather covered three-spoke multifunction steering wheel. The 2019 E has several cabin upgrades and additional trim choices. The Coupe and Cabriolet now offer the ENERGIZING Comfort Package, which allows pre-set preferences for the climate control system, cabin fragrance atomizer, the heat, ventilation, and massage settings for the seats, LED lighting and music. Page | 38
2019 is also the year the new AMG E 53 Sedan, Coupe and Cabriolet will be rolled out. The E 53 has the same turbocharged, supercharged, and EQ Boosted powertrain as the CLS 53. The E 53’s 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque is routed through an AMG 4MATIC+ fully variable all-wheel drive system. Being an AMG, the E 53 has upgraded AMG brakes, AMG sport suspension, sports exhaust, and AMG bodywork. All AMG E’s come standard with the 12.3-inch widescreen instrument cluster and Burmester Surround Sound.
As covered in earlier issues, the 2019 C-Class received a mid-cycle facelift. The
bodywork
includes
new
LED
headlamps, tail lights, a new front fascia, and a new rear bumper cover. The interior upgrades include an upgraded steering wheel with advanced touch sensitive buttons, and an improved instrument cluster. There is more standard equipment, which has resulted in fewer options. The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
The C 300 has a more powerful engine, producing 255 horsepower – 14 more than the previous model. The C 43 now produces 385 horsepower, an increase of 23. The 2018 C 43’s AMG SPEEDSHIFT equipped 9G-TRONIC has been replaced with the AMG SPEEDSHIFT equipped TCT 9-speed transmission. The C 63 and C 63 S also have a new transmission. The previous MCT 7-speed has been replaced with an AMG SPEEDSHIFT equipped MCT 9speed. The electronic limited slip differential is now standard on the C 63 and 63 S, and all C-Class models also have been upgraded to the newest generation of Driver Assistance features.
Page | 40
Summer’s gone and you had so many plans . . . . . . Just chill. I heard a rumor about something EXKLUSIV
Photo by Carlos Domínguez
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
T
wenty-five years ago, Ferrari was looking for a
suitable venue to launch their brand new 348 Spider. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills provided a glamorous location and the event was a success. In fact, it was such a hit that people like Bruce Meyer transformed the launch party into an annual concours event that is now a Father’s Day tradition and a highlight on the automotive calendar each year. For the 2018 event, organizers recognized the silver anniversary by recruiting a stellar field of about 100 entries with about half in silver. The effect of so many silver exotic and unique cars parked along the curbs of Rodeo Drive made the subtle point of the anniversary celebration. The Rodeo Drive event is always free to the public and organizers estimate that 30,000 people stop by each year. The more informal tone creates a welcoming ambiance but Page | 42
A Silver Milestone for the Rodeo Drive Concours
Story and photos by Kevin Ehrlich and Mary Fischer
there are always a few confused (and delighted) tourists who thought they were heading to Rodeo Drive for a day of celebrity spotting and window shopping. The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Entries for the Rodeo Drive concours are always stunning. The depth and quality of the field is amazing and it varies significantly year to year. Exotics, vintage, bespoke, race cars, cutting edge and more – it makes for a marvelous assortment. Unlike the inaugural event that featured only Ferrari, Mercedes, Porsche, Bugatti, Pagani, Bentley, Jaguar, Ruf, Alfa Romeo, McLaren, Rolls Royce and other badges are common. Low production and noteworthy histories ensure seven figure values of many of the cars on display. Enthusiasts of the cars with the three-pointed stars were treated to some special treats this year. The 1997 Mercedes AMG CLK-GTR was made at a time when Mercedes, Porsche, McLaren and others roamed the sportscar circuits of the world with wonderful machinery. Only seven CLK-GTR examples were built to race in 1997 and 1998.
Chassis 0006 claimed
overall honors in 1997 at Suzuka and is one of the few in private hands. The silver liveried V-12 monster has a presence with distinctive Mercedes AMG styling cues on the nose and
Page | 44
roofline and aerodynamic treatments everywhere. The car was clearly a crowd favorite, garnering more than its share of eyeballs on Rodeo Drive. In stark comparison, a 1937 Mercedes 170 V Sport Roadster with Sindelfingen coachwork enjoyed its own share of admirers. A descriptive sign along with the car noted that only 12 survive today of the original production run of 271 cars. Crème and black bodywork with red accents and interior make for a classic combination. A pair of 300SL Gullwings graced the event with their presence, one in silver and another in candy apple red. The red example was rescued in 2016 after being hidden away in storage since 1965 in the collection of legendary racer Jim Hall. Other modern and historic Mercedes-Benz entries joined the event as well.
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
The Rodeo Concours is one of those events where each car is significant, has a compelling history, is rare, or otherwise would warrant dedicated attention. Individual cars that would be a star attraction at almost any other event don’t get the time and attention they deserve. The upside, however, is about a hundred cars that are each worth the time for a closer look.
Congratulations to the Rodeo Drive Concours and best wishes for the next 25 years!
Page | 46
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
oney is a sensitive subject. That’s because some of us associate our self-worth with how much money we make. Although money is “a” market valuation of our skills, competence and resulting worth in the workplace, there’s more to it. Page | 48
Marcus Blair Fitzhugh | Photos courtesy Singer Vehicle Design
When it comes to things we purchase, other elements may come into play, but cost is the principal tool used to measure value. We mention this because the Singer-Williams DLS costs a staggering $1.8 million dollars. Or so. Is a 25 to 30-year-old 911 really worth it? The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Before answering that, lets look at coffee. There was a time when people would have called you nuts for suggesting a cup of coffee in a to-go container would cost $3. No linen napkin. No waiter. Just stand in line for coffee in a styrofoam cup. The catch is, it’s Starbucks coffee if you’re standing in New York City, $3 is a steal. Starbucks costs more than twice that in Berlin. Worldwide, people spent twenty-two point four billion dollars at Starbucks last year. Based on that simple market research, yes, the coffee is worth it. For that same reason, yes, the Singer-Williams DLS is worth every dime. The SingerWilliams DLS is clientcommissioned, production is limited to 75, and as of this writing, begging and pleading won’t get you the 76th. In the Porsche community, Singer is a household name and distinguished in the field. That’s probably why Scott Blattner chose Singer to get the ball rolling when he commissioned them to perform a serious renovation. As Scott put it;
“The guys at Singer have always been receptive to the question “What if?” So, the question became…what if Singer worked on restoring and modifying my beloved 27-year old Porsche 964, with the assistance of an engineering concern born from the world of F1. How would such a car look and how would it perform?” To meet the objectives laid out by Scott, Singer reached out to Williams Advanced Engineering. Yes, that Williams; Formula One’s third winningest Grand Prix Constructor. The Singer-Williams collaboration also worked with Michelin, Brembo, and BBS Motorsport to perform a Dynamics and Lightweighting Study – “DLS”. Page | 50
The DLS is powered by the famous four-liter air-cooled flat-six that was developed by Williams Advanced Engineering and Hans Mezger. For those who’ve never heard of this engine, it has dual overhead cams, titanium valves, custom pistons and cylinders, a redesigned lubrication system, bespoke lightweight throttle bodies (aluminum and CF), an F1 derived fuel injection system, a carbon fiber airbox with an active multi-stage resonator chamber fed by a ram air induction system, and it revs to nine. The 500 horsepower flat six was moved forward to The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
improve weight distribution and bolted to a Hewland six-speed transaxle. The transaxle is RWD with a magnesium case and hollow shafts. From there, the power flows to bespoke 18-inch forged magnesium BBS wheels wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s in a special DLS specific compound. The body panels were all fabricated in carbon-fiber, redesigned, and are unique to DLS cars. The bodywork improvements have resulted in increased downforce, improved cooling, reduced drag, and naturally, they weigh less. The suspension was also examined carefully to remove as much weight as possible from the double-wishbone front and aluminum trailing arm equipped rear. The DLS’ torsional stiffness was improved, and weight was centralized to improve handling. The DLS has adjustable shocks that are networked with Bosch electronics which also regulate traction control,
Page | 52
stability control, and the ABS. While we’re on the subject of brakes, the DLS has Brembo lightweight monobloc calipers and carbon composite rotors. The weight conscious efforts paid off. A standard 964 C2 weighs about 3,030 pounds, while the DLS weighs in at 2,180. The interior features unique door panels, carbon-fiber Recaros, and a carbon Momo steering wheel. The pedals, console, shift linkage, and instrument panel are all made from a mix of titanium, magnesium, and carbon fiber. As we said in the beginning, it will take at least $1.8M to get in line. Although that is a lot of money, we’ve been told that’s cost for the engineering and parts. There’s no markup.
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
“The Dynamics and Lightweighting Study has been years in the making. To see the results, representing the ongoing pursuit of our client's vision for their ultimate air-cooled 911, is so exciting. We've worked relentlessly to present a machine that visually celebrates the past while acknowledging the future — both inside and out.” - Rob Dickinson, Singer founder creative director Page | 54
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
n September of 1993, the Mercedes-Benz C36 AMG made its grand entrance at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt. The debut was 25 years ago, and it was the first of many highlights in the Mercedes-Benz / AMG success story. The W202 was Page | 56
Story by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh | photos and historical materials courtesy Mercedes-AMG
the first joint project by Mercedes-Benz and AMG. AMG was founded in 1967. Daimler acquired a majority share in 1999, with AMG becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler AG in 2005. This acquisition allowed AMG to grow into the wide-ranging division we have today. The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
When Mercedes-Benz unveiled the C 36 AMG, it was the pinnacle of the “then new” C-Class. By 1997, over five thousand C36s had been built. That was ten times the number of its predecessor, the W201 based 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II. The C36 was built on a history of passion for Mercedes which dated back to the 1960s. Back then, 1967, Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher founded their engineering firm to design and test race engines. In their spare time, these two Mercedes-Benz employees built race cars based on Mercedes-Benz production cars. Today, their renovation of customer vehicles as a second career would be called a startup. The letters AMG stand for Aufrecht, Melcher and for the place where Aufrecht lived, Großaspach. Even before the merger, Mercedes-Benz and AMG were close. They were drawn together by racing. Specifically, the German Touring Car Championship (DTM), where Mercedes-Benz and AMG enjoyed a very successful cooperation. In 1990, the partnership was expanded, and they worked together developing high-performance Mercedes-Benz production models. In 1993, the C36 AMG was the first result of this rewarding collaboration. That same year, enhanced versions of the W124 EClass and the R129 SL were offered with a 381 horsepower V8. These are known as the ultra-rare E 60 AMG and SL 60 AMG. The basis for the C36 AMG was the C 280, which received an extensively revised engine and chassis. Instead of the C 280’s 2.8-liter six-cylinder, a 3.2-liter engine was used as a starting point. The 3.2 liter was available in the W124 based E 320 at the time. In order to increase the cylinder capacity to 3,606 CCs, AMG engineers increased the bore from 89.9 to 91 millimeters and the stroke from 84 to 92.4 millimeters. However, there was a lot more to it. During development, developers systematically used other Mercedes-Benz components as a starting point. For example, the crankshaft from the Mercedes-Benz 3.5-liter diesel Page | 58
engine, the OM605 D 35 A, was turned, rebalanced, and used to increase stroke. The C36 front brakes were taken from the R129 series SL600. Those on the rear came from the W124 series E420. Other refinements also contributed to the success of the C36. The engine had custom pistons, a modified crankshaft damper, the oil deflector was lowered, it used custom oil spray nozzles, the intake cams had modified valve timing, the exhaust ports were larger, and the crossover pipe that connected the air filter box to the intake manifold was The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
considerable larger. The engine management system was also modified to take advantage of the numerous changes. These modifications resulted in the 3.6 producing 280 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque. That’s an additional 87 horsepower and 85 pound-feet of torque over the 2.8-liter engine. Being a complete package, there’s still more to it. The C36 also has upgraded suspension. Knowing their audience, the C36 suspension has a tasteful compromise between that of a firm sports car and a refined sports sedan. Aside from unique shocks and springs, it has AMG-specific roll bars, a quicker ratio steering box, and the SL500 Monoblocs. The fourspeed automatic transmission was also modified and thoroughly impressed the staff at “Auto Motor und Sport”. In a 1994 issue, they wrote
“It shifts quickly and unobtrusively, immediately reacts to kickdown and thanks to the selector lever surround it boasts effortless manual gear changes. On winding routes not only can this enhance the joy of driving; it can also increase the harmony of motion”. With the engine, transmission, brakes, and suspension all improved, it made sense to equip this high-performance sedan with the latest traction control system (TCS). This Page | 60
made using the additional power much less complicated. The C36 was superseded by the C43 AMG - the first C-Class with a V8 engine (same body, with a larger stick of dynamite under the hood), and its success led us to where we are today. Currently, AMG offers high performance four’s, sixes, eights, and twelves in everything from coupes and convertibles to sedans and SUVs. These cars are legendary. We can thank the C36 for the AMG of today – because if that project had been less successful, things may have played out quite differently.
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
In the above photo, beginning clockwise from the upper left, there’s an R230 SL55 AMG, a W202 C36 AMG, R129 SL73 AMG, W210 E50, W109 SEL 6.8, and the 300E 6.0 AMG. Special note: The middle car in the front row is the infamous Röte Sau – the “red pig”. The red pig is a W109 300SEL powered by 6.8-liter version of a Mercedes-Benz 6.3. This is the car that put the world on notice - AMG is to be taken seriously. In the 1970s, European sports car racing was dominated by small lightweight coupes. At its inaugural race, the 1971 Spa Francorchamps 24 hours, the red pig stood out like a fire engine. It was twice as big as many other cars on the grid and from appearances, it didn’t stand a chance. Based on its size, it should devour fuel like a refinery fire and go through tires like it’s a drifting competition. Anyone looking at it would assume this car’s consumables should put it in the pits twice as often as everyone else, and cars lose time every minute they’re in the pits. After 24 hours, the Rote Sau took first in its class and second overall. For a deeper dive into the history of AMG, click here to see our 2017 Special Feature: Celebrating 50 years of AMG. Page | 62
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Mercedes-Benz partners with highend road bike manufacturer Argon 18 to build high-performance bikes with an exclusive design
M
ercedes-Benz announced a collaboration with premium Canadian bike
manufacturer, Argon 18, for highperformance endurance bikes. Both Mercedes-Benz and Argon 18 are leaders in the field of innovative technology and unique user-experience. The new partnership is planned over several years. Products are being discussed that reflect the design philosophy of Mercedes-Benz and the expertise of Argon 18 in the field of advanced technologies. Page | 64
story by Tony Brown | photos courtesy Mercedes-Benz
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Former professional triathlete Kelly Reed on the new Mercedes -Benz Style Endurance Bike.
The first bike model will be launched this fall, and it’s an endurance road bike. Mercedes-Benz Style is responsible for its exclusive appearance with a silvercolored frame and silver-black gradient on the saddle and struts. The fork has a special shape, optimized for vibration absorption and control.
“The bike blends perfectly with our design philosophy of Sensual Purity. This expresses itself in the bipolarity of emotion and intelligence.
The
integrally
designed
carbon
frame
in
conjunction with the typical Mercedes-Benz color scheme, provides dynamics even while standing still, thus ensuring an emotional
connection.
Perfectly
integrated
technical
components and fascinating functions represent the high competence of our new partner.� - Martin Bremer, Senior Manager, Design Creation Brand Experience. Page | 66
The new Mercedes-Benz Style Endurance Bike is available in two component options— the Ultegra Di2 featuring electronic shifting with FSA Trimax 40 Carbon wheels and the Ultegra group with Trimax 30 wheels. The Ultegra Di2 features an integrated rechargeable battery wi th charge-level indicator. Each model can be ordered in six different sizes for an individualized fit. Mercedes-Benz Style Endurance Bike technical details: Components Frame Seatpost Sizes Front/rear Kit Brakes Crankset Cassette Handelbar Saddle Tires Wheelset
Ultegra Di2
Ultegra Argon 18 Argon 18 TDS Race C XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL Shimano Ultegra Di2 Shimano Ultegra Hydraulic FSA Special Edition SL-K Light Ultegra 11/28 Ultegra 11/32 Compact FSA Special Edition Fabrics Special Edition (Carbon-track supports) Challenge Paris-Roubaix Race FSA Vision Special FSA Vision Special Edition Edition Trimax Carbon Trimax 30 Clincher Disc 40 CSI Clincher TLCenterlock
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
About Mercedes-Benz Style In addition to classic automobile design, since 2010 under the Mercedes-Benz Style label, Mercedes-Benz designers have been turning their skills to products in the mobility, lifestyle and interior design sectors in cooperation with selected partners. The aim is to transfer Mercedes -Benz’s distinctive progressive design idiom and high standards of luxury and aesthetic appeal to other spheres of life. All Mercedes-Benz Style products reflect the Mercedes -Benz design philosophy of Sensual Purity as an expression of Modern Luxury. Products designed by Mercedes-Benz Style feature emotional and intelligent design, high quality and a choice of fine materials finished to perfection. About Argon 18 Argon 18 bikes are designed and engineered in Montreal, Canada. Established in 1989, Argon 18 bikes are the brainchild of Canadian Olympian and three-time National Champion Gervais Rioux – one of North America’s most successful racers. Sophisticated, inventive and strikingly different, Argon 18 bikes are built around the cyclist, with handling, aerodynamics and human perf ormance at the core of the design. Argon 18 bikes are sold in more than 80 countries and can be found on countless roads around the world. Below: the new aluminum Basis Carrier and Bicycle Carrier.
The co-designed FSA Special Edition compact handlebar.
Page | 68
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
eisure. By definition it’s supposed to be relaxing. I find it gets to be a problem when there’s too much work involved. I prefer a leisurely approach to my leisure. Here’s an example of some leisure that involves more work than I’m willing to do – watching the Los Angeles Dodgers play live. There’s nothing leisurely about a trip to Dodger stadium. Dodger stadium has the largest capacity in baseball. It seats 56 thousand people and they pack the place. Last Page | 70
story and photos by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh
year, the Dodgers averaged over 46 thousand people per game. The stadium and all the surrounding parking lots have a capacity of 19 thousand vehicles. The only other way The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
there is by bus or bicycle, and yes, the Dodgers encourage people to bike to the game. Thanks, but if I want to see professional baseball in LA, it’s not going to involve a 56 thousand car traffic jam and circling some place endlessly looking for a nonexistent parking spot. I’m surprised many of us don’t see these problems until they’re pointed out.
Movie
theaters are a form of leisure that doesn’t involve work, but they have a lot of issues. Given a choice, I think most of us would rather see a movie on a big screen at home. I’ve heard the arguments about the experience of seeing something on the big screen, but they don’t outweigh the downsides. At movie theaters, they’ve got overpriced secondrate snacks, parking can be an issue, people talk on their cell phones, and after driving to the theater, you may find the show you wanted to see is sold out. But that’s not the worst of it. The worst is the sketchy seating. Ever get grease on your clothes from the last guy’s semi-buttered popcorn? How about stains from someone’s melted chocolate? Did you figure out that perfect seat is empty because someone spilled a Coke in it? Did you figure that out after you sat down? None of that says leisure. For me, leisure involves going someplace that’s well-kept and easy to get to. While at the grand opening for AMG Thousand Oaks, I saw something that fits the bill; a Pop-Up Comedy Show. You may be wondering, “What’s a Pop-Up Comedy Show?” Pop-Ups are when a retailer pops up for one day, at one spot, and then usually shuts it down later that same day. Pop-Ups are common in the fashion industry. Kate Spade, Colette, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Nike, The North Face, and many others do pop-ups. Pop-Up Comedy is a little different. It’s held indoors, in a MercedesBenz Sprinter. Before forming an opinion, let me say it’s nothing like most people initially imagine. I attended a show and it was fantastic. I went to their website, saw when and where the show was being held, and ordered tickets. The Sprinter arrived in a prearranged neighborhood, and I was texted the exact location. Unlike many Page | 72
comedy venues, there’s no lining up outside like it’s lunchtime in grade school, and if I show up late, no one will say, “You’re late and the seats you paid for were re-sold.” If you don’t think that happens at your local comedy club, try prepaying your tickets and showing up either early or late. Inside, the Pop-Up Comedy Sprinter is spacious, and I don’t mean “van spacious”.
If
you’ve never been in a Sprinter, as soon as you step in you’ll know this was made by Mercedes-Benz. In the Pop-Up Comedy Show Sprinter, you enter through the side door and you never see the driver area – that’s blocked off. Normally, a Sprinter can seat fifteen full sized adults.
The Pop-Up Comedy Sprinter has ten seats facing rearward,
toward the stage and a mic. The view is good from every seat and the Sprinter remains parked for the entire show. With only three quarters of the normal number of seats, there’s plenty of elbow room. The interior top and sides are lined in Alcantara, and the
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
ceiling is six-foot three-inches high. The show has nice, spacious setting, and unless you’re taller than The Rock, height isn’t a problem. The show itself is just what you’d expect from a comedy club, minus the two drink minimum. The MC warms up the crowd and introduces the first comic. The comic enters through the rear of the Sprinter, which is right behind the stage. The comic does their set, thanks the crowd, and leaves the same way they came in. The MC returns to the stage and gets the crowd ready for the next comedian. With the acts coming and going through a stage exit, it works like a regular comedy club. As for the comedians themselves, they’re good. I’ve been to comedy clubs and these are real working comedians. In the past two months, the Pop-Up Comedy Show has been in Riverside, downtown Culver City near Sony Pictures Studios, North
Page | 74
Hollywood, and Thousand Oaks. Many times, the show will occur in the same area, but with different comedians performing from week to week.
Satarius Piernas is the
proprietor. Satarius is an actress who developed a love of comedy while in acting class. Somewhere along the way, she came up with the idea for a Pop-Up Comedy Show and it is ingenious. We’re all familiar with a three-course meal. There’s the appetizer, a main course, and desert. That’s the minimum requirement for something to be called a meal. Like the meal, I think a night out should have at least three courses. This place, that place, and another place. The Pop-Up Comedy Show fits right in. I saw the show in an area with several bars and restaurants, making it easy to hit other places and make a night of it. Maya Angelou once said, “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” The Pop-Up Comedy Show adds laughter to an evening, and that’s the kind of feeling you want on a night out.
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 76
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Benz There Done That
t all started with attending a Family Reunion in Denver and then the planning spiraled out of control! Atlanta to Denver and everything in between was the goal. Time for an epic Western Road Trip. Page | 78
by Jesse Cannon-Wallace
Conveniently we had just purchased the perfect road trip car, a 2014 Certified Pre-Owned E63 AMG wagon. My daily driver is a C43 cabriolet (luggage issues) and Aaron’s is a Sprinter 3500 converted to a mobile office (speed issues). The wagon was perfect with The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
the luggage space we needed for the camping gear and the speed to cover major distance. Aaron fitted it with a cell phone booster antenna, CB radio, Escort Radar Detector, dash cam and a small refrigerator. (I agreed to 50% camping in a tent‌but I am not one for roughing it!) The next step was charting a path. We knew we had to get to Denver by a certain date and worked backwards from there. Our goal was to maximize the number of National Parks and scenic byways we could reach. Obviously, we had to hit the major targets: Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Canyonlands and Arches National Parks were all on the list. Then it was a matter of figuring out what was nearby and not to be Page | 80
missed. Badlands National Park in Wyoming was geologically fascinating. Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho is Lava! The whole area is literally lava! We also planned detours to the Bonneville Salt Flats outside of Salt Lake City and Pikes Peak outside of Denver because road trips call for car related activities. There were a surprising number of seasonal roads on our route. Beartooth Pass, the northeastern entrance to Yellowstone, is only open during the summer and actually reclosed a few days after we drove through because of additional snowfall. Top of the Rockies is a National Scenic Byway that is mostly above 9000 ft with peaks close to 14,000 ft.
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 82
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
There was quite a bit of snow on the ground for June! One day we saw a curvy road on the navigation system that turned out to be a dirt road through Big Horn National Forest in Wyoming. We were glad to have the 4matic system that day! And wished for a little more ground clearance. Along the way we met great people! I had to check out every Sprinter in every campground and the owners were all happy to show me their customized beauties. We spotted
Live
and
Give
4x4
on
their
journey
around
the
world
(see
more
Liveandgive4x4 on YouTube, Patreon and Instagram) at Arches National Park and had to snag a picture with the coolest Mercedes-Benz Atego Overlander I’ve ever seen! We also showed the E63 wagon to quite a few enthusiasts. There was a Belgian couple hiking in Grand Tetons who had never seen a V8 wagon. We met up with an Instagram friend in Orem, Utah for an E63 wagon photo shoot. I think we inspired a family member in Denver to trade their CLK55 for something more technologically advanced! The wagon makes an impression! The Wagon Roadtrip total was 18 days, nearly 7000 miles, and $1123 in fuel costs. We saw the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. There were bison, moose, prairie dogs, mule deer and one rattlesnake. We visited National Parks in five states via some questionable roads. Temperatures ranged from 30 to 106 degrees! The wagon handled it all like a champ! And we didn’t see nearly all that there is to see! Until next time… Jesse Cannon-Wallace is a Master Certified Mercedes-Benz Sales Consultant at Atlanta Classic Cars in Duluth, Georgia. You can find more of her vehicle adventures under @benzblogger on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Aaron Tulin is a Mercedes-Benz enthusiast by proxy and can be found online as @advancedamateur on Instagram.
Page | 84
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Getting the Shot – Porsche Experience Center Carson, California
eflections can transform a picture. Outdoor photographers often seek out lakes and ponds and puddles in hopes of capturing a double-sided image of a shoreline in the water. Indoor photo opportunities are no different. Polished floors, mirrors, windows and other reflective surfaces can add depth and interest to an otherwise ordinary shot. This photo was taken at the Porsche Experience Center in Carson, California (see full story elsewhere in this issue). The 1998 LeMans winning Porsche 911GT1-98 (chassis 003) was on static display. The win capped a 50th anniversary celebration for Porsche and the marque’s 16th overall win at LeMans.
The 911GT1-98 was not the
fastest car in the field but was the most reliable, claiming the top two places and overcoming robust entries from Toyota, Mercedes-AMG, BMW, McLaren, Ferrari and Nissan. The 911GT1-98 was a radical styling departure from earlier 911GT1 versions. It was the last Porsche overall winner at LeMans until 2015 when the 919 hybrid Look the honors in France. A white base livery with gold wheels and flashes of red on the wing mirror contrasted with the highly polished black floor. The car was parked near windows that let bright morning sunshine into the display area which challenged the framing of the shot. Too narrow, and much of the car would be omitted. Too wide, and the bright light from the rear of the car would overwhelm the reflection with glare.
Page | 86
Story and photos by Kevin Ehrlich and Mary Fischer
But this reflection shot has a twist – literally. Remember that a reflection shot has two mirrored images.
Typically, the subject of the image is augmented by the reflected
surface. In this case, the shimmering reflection provides a subtle bit of distortion which provides just a bit more interest than a crystal clear view of the car. By flipping the image, the reflection now becomes the feature and the “original” takes a supporting role. Nothing fancy about camera settings or equipment – just a recognition of when a reflection with a twist takes an ordinary shot and turns it into something special.
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupe in designo graphite grey magno with AMG nappa leather two-tone magma grey/black
Page | 88
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
By Jay Pill
fter a nineteen year absence, Porsche is considering a return to Formula 1. Before you get too excited, the rumor is, they’d only consider joining as a partner. For fans who want a winner, that’s the only sensible approach. The problem with Porsche launching a Formula 1 team from scratch, is teams that join Formula 1 typically suffer mercilessly for several years. Haas joined Formula 1 in 2016. That year, they finished 8th in the Constructors’ Championship and their drivers finished with no wins, no podiums, and a total of 29 points. In 2017, Haas again finished 8th in the Constructors Championship and their drivers finished with no wins, no podiums, and a total of 47 points.
In comparison, in 2016 Mercedes-AMG Petronas won their third
consecutive Constructors Championship, their drivers finished 1st and 2nd in the Drivers’ Championship with 19 wins, 35 podiums, and 765 points.
Last year Mercedes-AMG
Petronas won their fourth consecutive Constructors Championship, and their drivers finished 1st and 3rd in the Drivers’ Championship with 12 wins, 26 podiums, and 668 points. A new team might do worse than Haas. In addition to pride, there’s the money. According to Forbes, it costs about $250 million to run a Formula 1 team. Anyone can see the wisdom in splitting that quarter billiondollar tab. Along with Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda, Porsche has been involved in discussions regarding future F1 power unit regulations. It sounds like Porsche is reviewing the options, but they haven’t made a formal commitment to the FIA and Liberty. Page | 90
"I guess that Porsche's interested, and looking at the environment, is not quite clear how. They are sitting on the table and giving their input." - Toto Wolff Executive Director of Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One
Red Bull and Williams have both been linked to a possible future deal with Porsche. Williams and Porsche have worked together in the past. Mercedes would welcome the arrival of Porsche to Formula 1 in 2021 if they return. Toto Wolff says that Mercedes would be happy to see its rival join Ferrari, Renault and Honda.
"The more we can fight, on our little playground – in the sandpit – the more we enjoy it." - Toto Wolff in a Sky F1 interview The 2021 power unit regulations are a large sticking point. Some manufacturers would prefer to retain more technology with fewer standard parts, allowing more distinction between brands. Whatever rules are established, it’s better for everyone if they’re decided sooner rather than later.
"I think transparency and a clear path are important, we need to know what's happening in 2021, what the regs look like, on the power unit side and on the chassis side, in order to get things moving and avoid a cost escalation, a cost rush, at the last minute. - Toto Wolff Those costs could be a big part of the decision for Porsche.
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 92
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Groundbreaking lack of news by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh Photo by Sai De Silva
Page | 94
T
he C53 chitchat is just that; rumor, gossip, and baseless speculation. We were talking about the 53 two years before the intro, and we can categorically say there is no imminent
introduction of an AMG C53 AMG. Yes, AMG trademarked the name, but the W205 may be out of production before we see the C53. I know, a friend of someone’s cousin heard something through the grapevine, but the official channels at Mercedes-Benz say otherwise.
“Anything
is
technically
possible,
but
there
is
no
consideration at this stage for a 53 powertrain for the CClass. The 43 package is enough for this vehicle, it’s a lot lighter than an E-Class, I think it does everything that you want a C43 to do, so it’s probably the right package for that car right now.” Jerry Stamoulis, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific public relations and product communications manager
If you squint real hard, and read between the lines, the answer is still “no”. Those who want an AMG 53 will have to buy an E or a CLS. If that has you wondering about the next generation C-Class, we’re a little early. We can say, pricing a C53 between a C43 and C63 would have challenges. A C63 lists for $12,600 more than a C43. Cut that in half and we’re at $6,300. If the C53 cost $6,300 more than a C43, would you buy a C43? If the price of a C53 was $6,300 less than a C63, would you buy a C53? If the price of the C63 were increased to make room for the C53, some would look across the showroom at the E53. And that my friends, is how baseless speculation works. Someone with no authority says “what if” and the next thing you know, people are telling dealers “I heard . . .” The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 96
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
orsche is working alongside its subsidiary, Porsche Design, to offer customers in Milan an enticing combination of sports cars and exclusive lifestyle products - all under one roof. Page | 98
story by Kenny Pi | photos courtesy Porsche
The new “Porsche Studio” is the first studio to present both Porsche vehicles as well as the complete collection from Porsche Design.
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
“Just like New York, Paris and London, Milan is a fashion metropolis where design trends are set. Presenting Porsche and Porsche Design at the heart of the city illustrates the close collaboration between the two brands and gives them access to a lifestyle-oriented target group”, - Detlev von Platen Member of the Executive Board responsible for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG. The location of the new “Porsche Studio” underlines the site’s strategic alignment: Situated in the historic city center on the “Via della Spiga”, the brands are positioned at the heart of “Fashion Square”.
Page | 100
Porsche Studio Milan unites both brands in a showroom that’s approximately 4300 square feet. In addition to an exhibition vehicle, a “heritage wall” provides virtual insights into highlights from the 70year history of Porsche sports cars. On the premises, customers can configure models on request, as well as arrange test drives. If the customer has made the decision to buy, contracts can be signed on site. Regular events and promotions will introduce new topics from the brand worlds of Porsche and Porsche Design to visitors. In Milan, Porsche Design presents products such as timepieces, sportswear, luggage and bags, eyewear, HiFi and electronics. A highlight of the Porsche Design watch collection is the “1919 Datetimer 70Y Porsche Sports Car Limited Edition”.
If you need a technically
inspired product that meets Porsche standards, pay them a visit.
“At Porsche Studio Milan, we are giving our customers access to the complete Porsche Design portfolio. With our highly attractive range of accessories presented alongside the exhibition vehicle, we are offering a special, lifestyleoriented experience for customers and fans of the two brands” Jan Becker, CEO of Porsche Design.
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Just keep straight. Events are listed in the back of the magazine. Page | 102
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
ercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) announced U.S. tennis phenom Sloane Stephens is the brand's newest global ambassador. From her iconic win at the 2017 U.S. Open, of which MercedesBenz is a sponsor, to her most recent win at the Miami Open and runner up finish at the 2018 French Open, Stephens is a proven force to be reckoned with.
"I am absolutely honored to be a part of the Mercedes-Benz global family," "Mercedes-Benz is constantly raising the bar in the automotive industry, which is similar to how I approach tennis. We both want to perform at the highest level and be the best in the world." - Sloane Stephens
Sloane Stephens is the perfect athlete to represent the Mercedes-Benz brand globally. She has emerged as a powerhouse in the world of tennis, and has her sights set on being the best. We are excited to see her strive for greatness and help grow the game. At such a young age, she has already proven to be a star, making her an ideal fit for our brand. - Monique Harrison Department head of Brand Experience Marketing At Mercedes-Benz USA At only 25 years old, Stephens is currently ranked No. 3 in the world by the Women's Tennis Association. In 2017, she won her first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open, where she became the fifth unseeded woman (ranked No. 83) in the Open Era to win a major. As a global ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, Stephens joins other elite athletes such as Roger Federer, Lewis Hamilton and Rickie Fowler. Page | 104
story by Tony Brown | photos courtesy MBUSA
As a part of the partnership, Sloane will receive a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE 63 S Coupe. Of the GLE, Sloane said, “It's just very fast and the interior is very, very nice.” What does a brand ambassador do? Sloane told CBS Atlanta reporter Ashley Thompson – “I get to drive around in some really cool fancy cars and do some social stuff, and just be a good ambassador for the company.” Also as a part of the partnership, Mercedes-Benz will work with Stephens to capture and promote content as well as engage in employee relations activities. The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 106
by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh | photos courtesy of J & Holli LLC
Keeping Filth to a Minimum verybody and their mother-in-law has a secret detailing trick. For every way there is to detail a car correctly, there are at least five ways to get it wrong. Yes, the do’s and don’ts are simple, easy to remember, and the products are readily available. Unfortunately, simple is a relative term, the don’ts are very easy to remember because they usually follow a bungled finish, and although the products are readily available, many don’t know which products to use. So how do we go about this? We’ll state the obvious first; don’t use dish soap to wash a vehicle. Dish soap is for dishes, pots, pans, and silverware. Like the commercial says, “It cuts through grease.” It also cuts through wax, helps oxidized finishes, and dries out both rubber and plastic seals. Almost any automotive soap is better, but I did say “almost”, didn’t I?
While you’re
wondering which soap to use, you can ponder whether, when, and how to use a foam cannon or a waterless wash. After you wash the car, it has to be dried. That opens another can of worms. What should be used to dry it? Cheap towels, bath towels waiting to be washed, bath towels that were just washed (if your wife reads this, there’s going to be a conversation), and discount chamois should probably be avoided. They can all cause scratches in the finish. Think we’re done? Hardly. Have you got game? Technique? Skills in the art of wax? If the answer is “no”, do you really think a fine German finish is a good place to develop that talent? Countless paint jobs have been ruined because someone got a buffer for their The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
birthday. The manual way isn’t much safer. Some don’t know the difference between a cleaner wax, rubbing compound, polishing compound, a non-abrasive wax, Lemon Pledge, or what order the products should be used - assuming they got the right ones. Fear not. There are two ways out of this dark tunnel. You can pay someone, or you can ask for help and learn how to do it yourself. Paying someone is easy. Paying the “right” someone is a little more difficult. Confused? Anyone can drive up to a carwash and pay $10 to have their car beat with brushes and sprayed with a soap and hydrofluoric acid (HF) compound.
Ignoring the brushes, HF
carwash soap is worse than dish soap. If you see a sign that says “HF Free”, it’s because they use Ammonium bi-fluoride (ABF).
ABF is just as bad as HF, it’s just a different
chemical compound. In case I’m being anything less than crystal clear, these chemicals are acidic and can be toxic. The Centers for Disease Control is on record saying this stuff has burned some people and killed others. I think we can all agree, any chemical that acidic, is probably tough on the paint. This link from the CDC, talks about how dangerous this is – www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6432a4.htm
What would your face look like if you walked through those spinning brushes loaded with hot acidic soap? Now think about your paint
Page | 108
So who do you call? Let me suggest a professional detailer. The fee is reasonable, the job doesn’t take long, and in many cases, they’ll come to you. If you need a recommendation in the SoCal, try Detailed by J. His number is 626.399.5614 and you can see samples of his work at www.instagram.com/detailedbyj Those that live somewhere else should Google “car detailers” in their area. If you want to learn the right way to wash a car yourself, seeking help has some of the same challenges as we described in paying someone to wash it for you. Before taking anyone’s advice, you may want to look at your alleged sensei’s car. If his or her paint is jacked, well . . . . let me put it like this - my dentist has straight teeth. I’m not seeing any dentist whose grille looks like they’re a member of Fight Club. That doesn’t mean your detailing expert doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
Detailed by J has this black finish looking better than new. And yes, that’s a door.
There could be a legitimate reason why their paint looks like WWIII, but you might want to err on the safe side and pick someone else. For help, I’ll make two recommendation– First, Detail Garage. The last time I counted, they were in three countries, with over 30 stores in the United States. Their website is www.detailgarage.com.
Hit the site, find your local store, and drive over.
Their
salespeople will walk out to the parking lot, see what you’re trying to do, and then make a recommendation as to what to buy and how to use it. Alternatively, go to YouTube, type “Jay Leno's Garage Advanced Vehicle Care” in the search engine, and watch some videos. They have great products and the videos tell you how they’re used. Whatever you do, stay out of mechanical car washes. The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 110
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Mercedes-AMG Will NOT Allow Buyers to Flip The Project One he Project One is an extremely limited
production
hypercar,
with only 275 being built. Each car costs $2.8 million, but there’s plenty of room for profit if flipped. Some manufacturers have strict rules to prevent buyers from flipping supercars, but if there’s money to be made, someone will usually give it a try. Mercedes-AMG is putting contingencies in place to insure this doesn’t happen with the Project One. Customer deliveries won’t begin until early 2019, so there is time to work out the details. Speaking to the German pub Auto Motor und Sport, Mercedes-AMG confirmed buyers of the Project One will be required to sign a contract stating they can not to sell the car within a certain time period or they will face legal action.
Page | 112
By Marcus Blair Fitzhugh | photos courtesy Mercedes-AMG
This happened to John Cena after he sold his Ford GT. Similar to what Mercedes-AMG has devised, Ford required buyers to sign an agreement saying they won’t sell their Ford GT to a private party for the first two years. They could sell it back to Ford though. John Cena sold his car to someone and Ford filed a lawsuit.
A settlement was eventually
reached between both parties.
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
The agreement covers what happens after the car is purchased. Recently, some people have been caught trying to sell Project One build slots. A build slot is an official spot in line to buy a Project One. Late last year, a dealership in Germany tried to sell a build slot for a staggering $5.2 million. That’s an 86% markup. The ad for the build slot has been taken down, but Motorsport Network has since found a similar listing for another Project One build slot and it too is for $5.2 million. Another manufacturer, Aston Martin, has a similar issue. Aston Martin said it will cancel orders for the Valkyrie if buyers are caught trying to sell a build slot. It seems there are some simple solutions to that problem. Mercedes-AMG has a list of the build slots and who was assigned to those slots. If someone who’s not on the original list attempts to pick up a car, they can be turned away like a common party crasher. Any funds that have changed hands are the problem of the person who re-sold the build slot, and the person who bought it second hand.
A non-transferable prepaid lease with a
residual of $0 would also seem to work. The Project One is powered by a modified version of the turbocharged 1.6-liter V6 from Lewis Hamilton’s 2015 F1 car and four electric motors. The combined output is more than 1,000 horsepower. The Project One is expected to weigh less than 3,000 pounds and uses advance advanced aerodynamics to keep it on the ground. If you have a build slot, you may want to use it for yourself. Many get rich quick schemes end up being very expensive.
Page | 114
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Story by Jay Pill | photos courtesy Daimler AG
Page | 116
onterey Car Week brought us a large number of new concept electric vehicles this year. One of the most noticeable cars was the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQ Silver Arrow show car. This was the latest electric vehicle to give us a glimpse of the new electric EQ brand. The all-new all-electric race car prototype made its debut at the Pebble Beach event in California. The Vision EQ Silver Arrow is a single seater that pays homage to the recordbreaking W125 car from 1937.
“Over
80
years
ago,
the
historic
Silver
Arrows
demonstrated that Mercedes-Benz was a pioneer when it came to speed thanks, among other things, to their streamlined shape. The Vision EQ Silver Arrow draws on that legacy. Intended for acceleration and driving pleasure, it embodies progressive luxury and provides an insight into the future of our design. As a result, the show car drives the design idiom of our new EQ product and technology brand to the top.” - Gorden Wagener Chief Design Officer at Daimler AG The carbon fiber body had several layers of paint in “alubeam silver”, which gave it a liquid metal appearance. The Vision EQ Silver Arrow is fully electric, and its electric motors are capable of producing 750 horsepower. It has a thin rechargeable battery in the underbody with a range of over 240 miles. Other highlights include the driver's cockpit, which can be folded forwards, and the partially free-standing multi-spoke wheels. The non-rotating hub caps and the partial trim on the wheels are other stylish, innovative highlights. Each wheel has 168 spokes, which are made of lightweight aluminum and are painted a rose gold color, as is typical for EQ. The wheels are wrapped with 255/25R 24 tires at the front and 305/25R 26 tires at the rear. The tires are Pirellis and as an attention to detail, the tires have a star pattern on the tread. The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
The rear diffuser is suggestive of motorsport. It has two extendible rear spoilers that act as an air brake by increasing the wind resistance when deceleration is desired. The interior is surprisingly wide and uses high-quality materials. These include genuine leather on the seat and steering wheel, polished aluminum throughout the interior and solid walnut with darker wood pinstripes on the floor. This creates a bridge back to the historic racing cars of the Silver Arrow era. On the other hand, it uses modern, high-tech solutions such as a large projection surface for the panoramic screen and AIRSCARF necklevel heating which is integrated into the seat. To match the alubeam silver exterior paint, the side walls of the interior are covered in a luxurious, grey suede. As stated earlier, the role model for the Vision EQ Silver Arrow is the W125. The W125 is a twelve-cylinder car which Mercedes-Benz built in 1937 on the basis of the Grand Prix race car. With it, Rudolf Caracciola averaged 432.7 km/h on the A5 autobahn between Frankfurt and Darmstadt. That’s over 268 MPH and they based the average speed on the roundtrip. This was a speed record for public roads that stood until November of 2017.
Page | 118
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Mercedes-Benz supports Tiziano Guardini in his runway debut at Milan Fashion Week
I
n keeping with its strong focus on improving the
future of electric mobility, MercedesBenz has selected a forward-thinking fashion designer to support as part of the International Designer Program. This initiative, which has been established for over nine years, offers emerging designers a unique opportunity to present their collections outside of their local market to an international audience.
Page | 120
story by JP Davis | photos courtesy Mercedes-Benz
A champion for eco-friendly and sustainable fashion, Tiziano Guardini made his catwalk debut at Milan Fashion Week with a co-ed runway show at “Le Cavallerizze,” an expedition The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
space inside the prestigious Leonardo da Vinci Science and Technology Museum. Inspired by an energetic, summery mood and infused with references to the beaches of Southern California, the brand’s Spring/Summer 2019 collection was centered on a relaxed and effortlessly chic wardrobe for dynamic and creative men and women. The collection was produced in collaboration with ISKO Denim, Fulgar, Lampa, and Aquafil. The compilation is crafted from a selection of high-end, innovative materials including; sustainable Econyl nylon (made from upcycled fishing nets) for camouflage parkas and windbreakers, and Filmar’s certified organic cotton for sweaters and sweatshirts.
Guardini presented a
selection of slightly oversized silhouettes. The exhibit was in a vibrant kaleidoscopic color palette of neon yellow, China blue, pink and green. This all contributed to the carefree attitude of the collection. Guardini is a graduate of Rome’s Koefia Academy, and after collaborating with several ready-to-wear and accessory brands, he launched his eponymous label in 2015. Citing nature as the most important source of inspiration for his collections, Guardini built a name for himself in the fashion industry with his unique creative vision - combining innovative, cutting-edge attitude with a luxurious couture-inspired design approach. The first recipient of the “Franca Sozzani GCC Award for Best Emerging Designer” in September 2017, Guardini was also prized with the “Peta Couture Award” in November of 2017. During his career, several of his one-of-a-kind creations were displayed at some of the world’s most prestigious cultural hubs, including the Royal Albert Museum in London and the United Nations Office in Geneva. Three of his sculptural pieces were included in “The Elegance of Food” exhibition hosted at Manhattan’s Chelsea Market.
In 2016 he also
collaborated with Academy Award-winning costume designer Milena Canonero on the “Cum Grande Humilitate” concert at Milan’s Duomo Cathedral. “I’m honored to be selected by Mercedes-Benz to participate in the International Designer Exchange Program. This has given me the chance to unveil my new collection on a prestigious stage,” said Tiziano Guardini. “I think that as a fashion designer I have the responsibility to show that high-end quality and sophisticated design can definitely coexist with a fully sustainable approach. I share the same vision with Mercedes-Benz, which is transforming the automotive world with the creation of high-end electric cars promoting a more eco-friendly type of mobility. We have the responsibility to think about our future in every aspect of our life.” Page | 122
About the Mercedes-Benz International Designer Exchange Program:
Over the past 23 years, Mercedes-Benz has established itself globally as a key player and partner at selected international fashion events. The brand is currently involved in more than 60 fashion platforms including Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weeks in Australia, Georgia, Russia and Milan amongst others. As part of its global fashion commitment, for over nine years, Mercedes-Benz has continued to support young and talented fashion designers through the Mercedes-Benz International Designer Exchange Program. The program offers emerging designers a unique opportunity to present their collections outside of their local markets to an international audience. Launched in 2009, the Mercedes-Benz International Designer Exchange Program is currently active across all of the Mercedes-Benz supported fashion platforms including London, Berlin, Prague, Madrid and Istanbul. Mercedes-Benz is committed to nurturing and mentoring emerging design talent, and the International Designer Exchange Program reinforces the brand’s commitment to this. The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
.
The 100 Rotwild GT S bikes are sold out. The AMG GT is still available. See your dealer for details.
Page | 124
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 126
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 128
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 130
AUTOCON AT FORMULA D IRWINDALE Saturday October 13th 10 AM until 5 PM AutoCon is teaming up with Formula Drift for a car show event in Irwindale, California. On Saturday, October 13th, 2018, the Irwindale Event Center will open its gates and welcome thousands of passionate enthusiasts to AutoCon at the Formula Drift competition. You can expect to see Live Formula D Drifting, Hundreds of the World’s Most Unique Vehicles, Leading Industry Brands & Exhibits, Live Music with DJs & Entertainment, Products, Demos, Services, along with Prizes & Giveaways. This motorized soiree will be held at the Irwindale Event Center; 500 Speedway Dr., Irwindale, California 91706
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 132
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
This event is on Sunday, October 21st and registration closes October 16, 2018 at 11:00 PM EDT Come out and join us for an educational day of fun driving on Summit Point's Shenandoah Circuit - The Shenandoah Circuit is a 2.2-mile (3.5 km) road course that first opened in 2005. It is a no holds barred technical challenge that will take years for drivers to master. The track contains a dimensional replica of the Nßrburgring-Nordschleife’s famous banked Karussell turn complete with 20 degrees of banking. The corners contain both positive and negative camber as well as increasing and decreasing radius turns with vertical drops. If you are truly up for a challenge to your car handling abilities, the Shenandoah Circuit is truly one of the most technical tracks in the country. For those of you who have not attended an MBCA | GWS track day before, we run our events with an emphasis on three key concepts: fun, learning, and safety. This is not a competition, and no one will ever ask, encourage, or pressure you to drive any faster than you feel comfortable driving. Leave your data-loggers at home, this is not the time to try and set a new track record. You can record your exploits on a camera if you'd like, and check your lap times after the event is over. You do not have to be a member of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America to participate in this event, and you can drive any car as long as it can pass the required pre-event technical inspection (independent shop or dealer).
The regular cost for this event for
students is $165. Pricing will increase after September 1, 2018 to $185 for ALL attendees. And pricing after registration closes online will be $200 (cash only, at the track, and your car MUST be tech inspected prior to the event by a reputable shop). Either way, this is about as cheap as track events get, so what are you waiting for?
Page | 134
Click here to register The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 136
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 138
Note: The SEMA Show is a trade-only event and not open to the general public. SEMA Ignited, the afterparty on the next page, is open to the public.
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 140
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 142
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 144
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 146
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
YOUR NEW CAR SHINE IS STILL AVAILABLE Detailed by J is a mobile auto care service. We’re located in Pasadena, California, but we’re happy to come to you. We specialize in complete interior and exterior detailing. The outside of your vehicle is the first thing you noticed when you bought it, so why not have it look its absolute best? While we’re at it, we can do the interior. Most people spend several hours each week in their car, and cleanliness should be a top priority. When we’ve finished, many people can’t believe it’s the same car. Our services also include full paint correction and headlight restoration. Give us a call at 626.399.5614 or click this ad to see samples of our work. Page | 148
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 150
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 152
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 154
The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 156
The Southwest Star Magazine doesn’t host events. We list the information about events as they’re supplied to us. Details about the events listed should be confirmed with the event coordinators. In 2017, 2.4 million Mercedes-Benz and Porsche enthusiast read the Southwest Star Magazine. If you have an event that would be of interest to our audience, and you’d like it listed here, please email us the details. The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events
Page | 158