February - March, 2013 www.kcmbca.org
In this issue:
Winter Gala a Great Success
Presidents Message 2
The Winter Gala this year was just what it says. It was wintery, especially for those who drove to the event from the east side of town where an untimely and sudden snow storm occurred the afternoon and evening of the Gala. Fortunately for the folks west of town, the cold air was the only concern. About 50 festive folks attended the gala. The ambiance of the Hallbrook Incoming President Mark Moody accepts the Country Club was perfect, with piano gavel from past President, Jeff Klepac accompaniment, great food and drink and lively conversation abounding Photo by Morgan throughout. Our special guests were Bill and Jeannie Denton, MBCA National Director at Large, who travelled from Oak Brook Illinois to be with us. The Presidential Gavel was passed to incoming president Mark Moody from past president Jeff Klepac. Rich Carlson awarded plaques to the Oktoberfest Concours d’ Elegance winners. Bill Denton presented an award from MBCA to Jeff Klepac for the for the best overall communications of all the MBCA sections, and Mark presented the Member of the Year award to Ian Harns. Margaret Kressmann , wife of new member, Norman Kressmann, won the grand finale door prize of a print by famed auto artist Dana Forrester. Awards were presented to “milestone” members having up to 30 years in the Kansas City Section. More Photos on pg. 5
Columns
Feature Articles Winter Gala Great Success 1-5 KC Police Speaker 2 Klepac’s Route 66 Trip 2 Best Electronic Newsletter 2 Member of the Year 2 For Enthusiasts 3 Membership Milestones 3 Uplift T-Shirt Saturday 5 E15 Fuel Warning 5 Car Club Network 10 Star Tech 2013 10
Miscellaneous Rants, Raves and Ramblings How to Join MBCA 6 Officers and Board 6 Loyalty Rewards Program 8 Logo Shop 8 Club Store Discount 8 Uplift 8 Tire Rack Rebate 8 Advance Auto Rebate 8 Request from NBO 8 New Members 10
by Bob Smith
Gala
Coming Up February - May
Spaßnacht Dates 6 Calendar 12 Art of the Machine, River Market, June 2, 2013 DD/AX Metro Comm, Col. June 22, 2013
Above: Jeff Klepac accepts the award for communications excellence from Bill Denton, MBCA Director-at-Large. KCMBCA President, Mark Moody looks on.
Above: Bob Del Poplo, left, and Bob Poduch. Right: Lively conversations enjoyed by Barbara Del Popolo, left, Donna Ryan and Janet Barnes. Photos by Bob Smith
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President’s Message by Mark Moody
Greetings Benz Friends!
Mark Moody, President Photo by Morgan Klepac
We just recently held our annual Winter Gala. This years event was at the Hallbrook Country Club. What a beautiful facility, plus terrific food. It was great to see so many of you there. I would like to once again thank all those involved in putting this together, your hard work really shows in a great event. Speaking of winter, I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some warmer weather when I can put
the convertible top down and take my Benz out for a spin. If you’re looking for a good drive, come join us on a FirstSunday drive soon. Once again this year we will be hosting our Defensive Driving and Autocross event, stay tuned for more details. And, again this summer, on June 2nd, we will display our cars at The River Market’s Art of the Machine. What would you like to do this year with your club? Let us know, Mark Moody President Mercedes-Benz Club of America | Kansas City Section
March 9 - A Saturday Drive to Springfield Mo.
Our caravan departs the US Bank parking lot at 9:00 AM. We plan to arrive about noon at the Springfield Brewing Co., 305 S. Market St., Springfield. We will have an informal gathering and lunch with Section members living in the Springfield area. This will be a fun time with great people.
KC Police Officer Speaker at January Breakfast The guest speaker at the January breakfast meeting was Sergeant Tim Gaughan of the Kansas City Missouri Police Department. Sergeant Gaughan told of his experiences as a motorcycle patrolman. One interesting bit of knowledge among police officers is that during a pursuit in a police car they try to nudge the rear quarter corner of the bad guys vehicle to spin it out of control. Except that this maneuver will not work Sgt. Tim Gaughan of the when the bad guy is driving a Kansas City, Mo. Police Mercedes-Benz. The M-B is Department makes a point engineered so effectively to during his talk at the January avoid control and skid issues membership breakfast. that one will not spin out due Photo by Bob Smith to a police spin maneuver. One safety issue that Sergeant Gaughen reminded us is that when stopped on the highway, you are in as much danger as walking into the middle of an armed robbery. He went on the encourage that you should proceed to the nearest exit regardless of possible additional damage to the vehicle.
Klepac’s Take Route 66 to Starfest Jeff and Denise Klepac took the scenic and nostalgic route for their trip to StarFest in Phoenix. Their story is found in a feature article in January-February 2013 issue of The Star. You probably have received your issue by now. Take a look at some great photos and read about their adventure beginning on page 53.
KC Section’s Electronic Newsletter is Recognized as Best of the Best The Kansas City eMinder won Best of the Best in the first annual section newsletter competition. The three categories are website newsletters, printed newsletters and email newsletters. The KC Section’s eMinder was chosen as the best newsletter overall regardless of media. Jeff Klepac is the editor of the eMinder. Judges were a board of outside journalists and editors. Examples of the winners can be found at mbca.org club news section.
Ian Harns, Member of the Year
For his work in preparing and organizing several First-Sunday Drives during the past year, Ian Harns was recognized as the Section Member of the Year. Ian also
was very active in helping at the Oktoberfest Concours d’ Elegance. His award was presented at the Winter Gala. Congratulations Ian, and thank you for all you have done.
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For Enthusiasts
By Josie Lesler National Enthusiasts Committee Chairperson Edited by Bob Del Popolo AIA, by permission Your MBCA National Enthusiast Committee has created a worthy campaign of interesting programs that will provide benefits and assistance for all Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts. We are celebrating the legacy starting in 2013 of generations of MBCA enthusiasts whose knowledge and passion for this organization and brand are the building block of its foundation and the National Enthusiasts Committee. We anticipate the team will be a group of people that have the energy and wisdom, intense passion and the formidable knowledge of the marque, whose role is to provide accurate information, positive experiences and assistance to all Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts. The Ultimate Programs of interest for you, follows: 1. Directory of Pre and Post War Mercedes-Benz Models will be launched on the MBCA website in January of 2013. 2. 2013 Calendar of Events for Automotive Enthusiasts 3. Classic and Vintage Guide to Automobile Museums ( I have volunteered for this sub-committee) 4. Authors of Enthusiasm 5. Driving Activities for Enthusiasts 6. Historical and Anniversary Activities 7. Partnerships with Multi-Marque Enthusiasts Clubs 8. Educational Partnership with Young Enthusiasts at Automotive Restoration (I have volunteered for this subcommittee) 9. The Ladies of Mercedes 10. MBCA Enthusiast Gazette National MBCA hopes you will enjoy and participate in one or more of these programs especially designed for you. Remember Enthusiasm begins with you, your club and your choice‌. If you have any questions, for further detail on the programs please contact: Josie Lester jglesler@aol.com 330.995.0117 Bob Del Popolo bob.d@kcmbca.org 913.269.4498
Membership Milestones Awards were presented to these members for their continuous membership in the Mercedes-Benz Club of America | Kansas City Section. The club continues to be successful, principally due to the years of dedicated service from its membership. We are pleased to recognize these individuals and we appreciate their commitment to the Kansas City Section.
30 Years
Roland Hines
25 Years
Chris Isariotis
20 Years
Victor Enns Kenneth Jensen John Bricker Sam McCaffree
15 Years
Larry Barnes Doyle Comfort Jerry Howell Raymond Hartjen Alice Lewinsohn
10 Years
Richard Blackburn Ronald Pye Richard Morrison Kent Thomas G. Anderson Robert Newth
5 Years
Marvin Huey Tim Kinnard Lyle Paczkowski Charles Lake Pat Hamblin Esmond Alleyne A Miller Harold Mitchem J Vore
Wesley Penrose Helen Taylor Jill Conner David Greene Raymond Cardwell John Finch Steve Nieman Daniel Peters Darrell Hosler Donna Kaelke
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Some Random Scenes...
...at the Winter Gala
E15 Fuel Warning
According to an article in USA Today by Gary B. Strauss, The AAA has issued a warning about the use of E15 fuel in certain vehicles. In the article it says that “…Mercedes-Benz has said E15 use will void warranties…. citing potential corrosive damage to fuel lines, gaskets and engine components” KC Section members are urged to read the article. Find it by Googling E15 and scroll to the site “AAA Warns E15 gasoline could cause car damage”. The complete USA Today article is shown.
T-Shirt Saturday March 2nd
TM
by Bob Poduch
When we think of Uplift and the homeless we tend to think of the winter cold and the homeless survivability. Jim butlerbody.com Schmidt of Aristocrat Motors Butler’s C & D Body Shop and a strong advocate of 47 Kessler • Merriam, KS 66203 • Tel: (913) 262-9109 • Fax: (913) 262-2828 Uplift advised that the heat in Web: www.butlerbody,com Kansas City can be every bit as dangerous as the winter cold. Your Board of Directors has authorized a special drive Butler’s C & D Body Shop to help prepare for the summer heat. We have dubbed it “T-Shirt Saturday”, March 2, 2013. 5747 Kessler We ask that you bring new and/or gently used T-shirts, Merriam, Kansas 66203 short pants, golf shirts, etc. to our March 2nd membership Tel: (913) 262-9109 breakfast meeting. We all have items in drawers that have not seen the light of day for a long time and they would be Fax: (913 262-2828 greatly appreciated by those who look to Uplift for help. Web: www.butlerbody.com Those of us who have had the opportunity to see Uplift and their recipients up close and personal know what a rewarding experience it can be.
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Spaßnacht Find out more: www.kcmbca.org Click on “Club Info”
Note - New Time for Spaßnacht is 6:30 February 18, 6:30 PM
75th Street Brewery 520 W 75th St. Kansas City, Mo. _________________ March 18, 6:30 PM
Llywelyn’s Pub 6995 W 151st St., Overland Park, Ks. _________________
April 15, 6:30 PM
Zio’s Italian Kitchen 11981 S. Strang Line Rd. Olathe, Ks. ________________ May 20, 6:30 PM
The Salty Iguana 8228 Mission Rd. Prairie Village, Ks.
Join Mercedes-Benz Club of America Kansas City Section • Bi-monthly issues of our award-winning, full-color national magazine, The Star, and bi-monthly issues of our award-winning section newsletter, der Benz!
• Local events: Monthly breakfast meetings and pub nights, tech sessions, dining events, historic and driving tours, autocross and driver education events, rallyes, track events, picnics, annual holiday party, • Owner Loyalty Program with a charitable events, concours, and $1,000.00 Discount Certificate good more. on the purchase of certain M-B vehicles. Your membership includes an associate membership for another person • 15% discount on parts, labor and in your household in the Mercedesaccessories at Aristocrat Motors and Benz Club of America and the KanMercedes-Benz of Kansas City. sas City Section. Ownership of a Mercedes-Benz not a prerequisite. • National events with a wide variety 1 year $49, 2 years $95, 3 years of driving and social events, techni- $139. cal information and active discussion forums.
JOIN NOW! Call
Bob Del Popolo
cell 913-269-4498 email bob.d@kcmbca.org or go to www.mbca.org 1-800-637-2360
2013 MBCA Kansas City Section
Officers and Board Members Officers Phone E-mail
Mark Moody, president (913) 685-8573 mark@kcmbca.org Kevin Arburn, vice president (913) 648-7675 kevin@kcmbca.org Helen Hull, secretary (913) 568-3310 helen@kcmbca.org Joyce Smith, treasurer (913) 338-0766 Jeff Klepac, past president (913) 782-5865 jeff@kcmbca.org
Board of Directors
Bob Del Popolo (913) 888-2617 bob.d@kcmbca.org Donna Ryan (913) 268-1252 donna@kcmbca.org Bob Poduch (913) 327-1632 bob.p@kc.rr.com Rich Carlson (913) 897-0260 rich@kcmbca.org Bob Smith (913) 268-8984 newsletter@kcmbca.org Dudley Smith (913) 338-0766 Ian Harns (816) 812-9495 ian@kcmbca.org John Ryan (913) 543-1252 grownup@kcmbca.org Lisle Kauffman (701) 728-6329 lisle@kcmbca.org Jeff Klepac (913) 782-5865 jeff@kcmbca.org Steve Chase (913) 314-0452 steve@kcmbca.org
Newsletter Editor Bob Smith
(913) 268-8984 newsletter@kcmbca.org Webmeister-Administrator John Ryan (913) 268-1252 grownup@kcmbca.org
Membership Director
Bob Del Popolo (913) 888-2617 membership@kcmbca.org Midwest Regional Director (Position is vacant at this time. Bill Denton has the position of Director at Large,)
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Eveland Bros. Collision Repair
Certified Mercedes-Benz Collision Repair Center • Vehicles restored to pre-accident condition • Expert color matching • Foreign and domestic
• Factory trained technicians • State of-the-art equipment • Rental cars available
Call for an appointment
• Insurance claims assistance • Environmentally safe • Written limited lifetime warranty
913-262-6050
7200 W. Frontage Road, Shawnee Mission, KS 66203 www.evelandbros.com
Kansas City’s independent Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, Jaguar, Lexus, Land Rover and Audi repair shop.
5400 Antioch Rd. Merriam, Kansas 66202 913-432-7800
Not just your average garage...
Bosch Authorized Service
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MBCA|KC Logo Shop Now Open! by John Ryan
At the encouragement of its Board of Directors, MBCA|Kansas City has opened its own online Logo and Apparel Shop. Working with The Queensboro Shirt Company of Wilmington, North Carolina our section can now offer the Club Logo and special events graphics to be embroidered onto hundreds of different items ranging from T-Shirts to Polos, Jackets to Jerseys, and everything in between. No longer does the club have to predict, purchase and inventory numerous styles and sizes of logo apparel. Our new store will allow a much wider variety of items with no “up front” costs to the club. There’s no minimum purchase requirement, and the item(s) will be delivered to your mailbox or doorstep. And, every item purchased provides additional revenue to the section’s treasury, to help fund the great events where you’ll be wearing your new “duds”. So, what are you waiting for? Head over to our website, www.kcmbca.org and click on the graphic/link for our new Logo Shop. And, if you want to know what to get me, there’s a nice NIKE polo with the section logo on it. Size medium, please.
2013 Loyalty Rewards Program (U.S.)
Complete Garage
15209 W. 87th Street Lenexa, KS 66219 913-322-9175
For the best in Car Care
For all your detailing needs, visit us at the Complete Garage. We have Griot’s full line of car care products. Save the shipping and get it today.
www.Complete-Garage.com
If you’ve been a member of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America for 12 consecutive months or longer without lapse and are a current member now, you’re entitled to receive $1,000 off the purchase or lease price of any NEW 2013 or 2014 Mercedes-Benz vehicle (excluding Sprinter Vans, SLS Coupe and SLS Roadster ).
Request from the NBO With every email and address update that we receive at the NBO, (either by website, phone, email or snail mail), we will send a 10 % Off Coupon for one item in the Club Store. One coupon per member will be sent electronically (so it must include a valid email address). Please send these updates to Geni at geni@mbca.org. Remember, incorrectly mailed items cost the club money!
Uplift Organization, Inc. accepts donations of goods and funds. See the Uplift website at www.uplift.org for a list of needed items and how to donate them.
Advance Auto Parts offers many online-only specials and rebates to our section with 8% of the sale being returned to the KC Section. You can have your order shipped to your home, or pick it up at your neighborhood Advance Auto Parts store. Just click on the Advance Auto Parts banner ad on our website, www.kcmbca.org, and you will be taken to their websites to shop.
Monthly, Third Monday 6:30 PM
There is a link to TireRack on the Kansas City Section’s website, www. kcmbca.org. Click the link, which is the logo shown above, to enter the TireRack website to buy their products. The K.C. Section receives a small rebate when you purchase their products through our website.
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Star Tech 2013 Be sure to save the dates below!
Monday & Tuesday, May 20-21 (with a possible extension to May 22) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Technical events will officially get under way Saturday, May 18 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Get a rare, up-close view of moon at the Mercedes-Benz US International (MBUSI) facility; the landers, rockets, lunar capsules and more on a specially- ONLY U.S. factory that produces every ML, GL and R-Class guided tour of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, for the entire world. Meet and learn from nationally-recognized AL, about 100 miles north of Birmingham. Or take an experts in the art of restoration, modification, maintenance and repair inside MBUSIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on-site training center. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t optional tour of the adjacent Marshall Space get any better Flight Center. This indoor/outdoor museum is than this! Â&#x160; impressive and so are the unique adventures Enjoy special youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find here! VIP tours of their massive )PYTPUNOHT (SHIHTH Â&#x2039; 4H` factory; eat Sunday, May 19 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; See where MLs, GLs and lunch in the R-Class vehicles are meticulously prepared *VTL MVY [OL ;LJO *VTL MVY [OL -\U 5 0 0 - s e a t for car shows in Detroit, Paris and around Â&#x2039; -HJ[VY` ;V\YZ VM 4LYJLKLZ )LUa < : 0U[LYUH[PVUHS 4)<:0 Â&#x2039; =PU[HNL 9HJLZ H[ )HYILY 4V[VYZWVY[Z employee the globe during a one-of-a-kind tour of the Â&#x2039; 4)<:( HUK 4)<:0 :WLHRLYZ Â&#x2039; < : :WHJL 9VJRL[ *LU[LY HUK 5(:( ;V\Y Â&#x2039; ;V\YPUN 3HWZ Âś )HYILY 4V[VYZWVY[Z 9VHK *V\YZL Â&#x2039; :OVWWPUN dining room. Mercedes-Benz South Central body and paint Â&#x2039; ;LJOUPJHS :LTPUHYZ Â&#x2039; .HYKLU 4\ZL\T ;V\YZ Â&#x2039; :VTL[OPUN MVY L]LY`VUL Seminars on the repair facility in Birmingham. Join us at a manufacturing Mercedes-Benz corral then drive laps around process await the challenging Barber Motorsports Park 17-VY PUMVYTH[PVU HUK YLNPZ[YH[PVU WHJRHNL JVU[HJ[ 3Pa 9VILYZVU H[ SPaYVILYZVU 'NTHPS JVT c you as well as turn road course. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll celebrate your arrival an amusing at StarTech with a special Welcome Reception 4LYJLKLZ )LUa *S\I VM (TLYPJH c (SHIHTH :LJ[PVU c ^^^ :[HY;LJO VYN session on the at Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum from history of the 6pm-10pm. Muse among MBCA friends and the 1,600 motorcycles and 60 Lotus race cars on display Alabama factory â&#x20AC;&#x201D; celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2013 here. A rarely-offered tour of the restoration area is planned â&#x20AC;&#x201D; as told by some of the original German team members. Plus plenty of unique, non-technical events everyone will along with presentations by special guests. enjoy! Â
StarTech 2013
MBUSI Headquarters
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KC Section and CAR CLUB NETWORK by John Ryan
In our effort to bring value to members and increase participation in our club, we are pleased to announce that the Kansas City Section has joined forces with the Car Club Network. The Car Club Network is a customized video player that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve added to our club website. The network has a variety of channels updated constantly with content designed just for automotive enthusiasts like usâ&#x20AC;Ś Think of it as YouTube just for car guys. Included in the playlist is our own customized channel, Kansas City MBCA TV, where we can add videos from our events, recaps of our meetings and
anything else we want to add.  Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re excited about Car Club Network because it will help us increase traffic to our site, and help get the word out about our great club. And to top it all off, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s completely free to us with no maintenance or other fees. So check it out on the home page of our site  http://www.kcmbca.org and let us know what you think. And, if you have suitable YouTube videos of our events and happenings, please forward their YouTube addresses for review to webmaster@kcmbca.org
Willkommen New Members ! Robert Burean Barbra Davison Wayne Harlan Norman Kressmann
Lenny Lamanes Shawn Martin Arthur McCarthy Jacob Quinn
We look forward to meeting you soon at one of our events.
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Refinishing
Straightening
Remanufacturing
CoreFirst Bank & Trust was a major sponsor of the Mid-America Caravan in 2009
What activities would you like to do with your Benz friends in 2013? Contact a board member and let them know.
February
Feb. 2 Breakfast Meeting, First Watch, Shawnee, Ks. 9 AM. Speaker, Starfest Report by Smith’s & Klepac’s Feb. 3 First-Sunday Drive, 12 NOON US Bank, 119th & Roe, Leawood, Ks. Feb. 18 Spaßnacht, 6:30 PM, 75th Street Brewery, 520 W 75th St. Kansas City, Mo.
March
Mar. 2 Breakfast Meeting, First Watch, Shawnee, Ks. 9 AM. Speaker, Jim Schmidt, Bring Clothing for UpLift. Mar. 3 First-Sunday Drive. 12 NOON US Bank, 119th & Roe, Leawood, Ks. Mar. 9 Second-Saturday Lunch, Springfield, MO. see Pg. 2 for departure time & place. Mar. 18 Spaßnacht, 6:30 PM, Llywelyn’s Pub, 6995 W 151st St., Overland Park, Ks.
For the latest list of events, visit our Web site at: www.kcmbca.org Smart Phone Users, click this QR Code and our website will magically appear on your phone.
April
Apr. 6 Breakfast Meeting, First Watch, Shawnee, Ks. 9 AM. Speaker, Tom Strongman, KC Star Auto Writer Apr. 7 First-Sunday Drive. 12 NOON US Bank, 119th & Roe, Leawood, Ks. Apr. 15 Spaßnacht, 6:30 PM, Zio’s Italian Kitchen, 11981 S. Strang Line Rd. Olathe, Ks.
May
May 4 Breakfast Meeting, First Watch, Shawnee, Ks. 9 AM. May 4 McPherson College C.A.R.S. Getaway May 5 First-Sunday Drive. 12 NOON US Bank, 119th & Roe, Leawood, Ks. May 20 Spaßnacht, 6:30 PM, The Salty Iguana, 8228 Mission Rd.,
Breakfast is at 9 AM the first Saturday of each month at the First Watch, Shawnee Mission Pkwy. at Nieman Rd., Shawnee, KS. Order your favorites from the menu. Individual checks.
6532 W 134th St. Overland Park, KS 66209
First-Class Mail U.S. postage paid shawnee mission, ks permit no. 1131