FOURTH QtR 2012
MBCA | Carolinas Section The official newsletter of the mercedes benz club of america, carolinas section
Euro Auto Festival
Domination
The 17th annual EURO Auto Festival was held the weekend of October 19 - 20 in Greer, South Carolina, which is between Greenville and Spartanburg in the upstate. The event covered the entire weekend, with two rallies through the area early Friday afternoon, a series of workshops on Friday, followed by a welcome dinner at the Embassy Suites, which was the host hotel for the weekend’s festivities.
Other workshops included sessions on ethanol fuel, concours judges training and high performance tires. The main event was, of course, the car show held on the grounds of the BMW Manufacturing Plant on Saturday, October 20th. The morning was quite chilly, but the day turned out to be perfect in all regards, with afternoon temperatures in the 70s. By the time the show opened, there were 415 fine vehicles representing 30 marques in 54 classes. There was something for everyone, and the highlight was the massive attendance of Mercedes Benz owners. Sixty four excellent representatives of the brand were lined up in two large rows for all to see and appreciate. Members of MBCA from both the Carolinas Section and the Peachtree Section were represented, and
One of the show sponsors, BASF, brought a beautifully restored 1957 300 SL Gull Wing Coupe prepared by Chip Foose. It’s two-tone paint was breathtaking. Dennis Gage, host of the Speed Television network show, My Classic Car, was in attendance to participate as a judge and to shoot footage for a future episode. The next EURO Auto Festival honored marque will be Ferrari for 2013. If you’ve not participated with this event before, please consider attending with your Mercedes Benz this coming Fall. The venue is absolutely beautiful, the facility offers great amenities (indoor restrooms!), and it’s centrally located between North and South Carolina. Come join your fellow MBCA members and let’s keep showing our beautiful cars! Be sure to look inside for a full photo feature on the 2013 EURO Auto Festival.
MBCA Carolinas
One of the workshops held Friday afternoon was a session on detailing. The small conference room was packed to standing room only and we learned all about what chemicals to use and not use, and the importance of keeping up with your car from Tim McNair.
Bill Hopper our Eastern Regional Director attended as well. The club had a great tent setup, and different members took turns manning the booth. Many copies of The Star magazine were distributed, as well as several membership applications.
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President’s Message
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New Member Roster & Benefits
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EURO Auto Festival Photos
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Calendar of Events
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Member of the Year
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Christmas Party
PRESIDENT Richard Deiber Huntersville, NC (704) 948-1433 president@mbcacarolinas.org IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Anthony Santagati Beaufort, SC (843) 522-9444 sandspub@aol.com VICE PRESIDENT Soren Pedersen Waxhaw, NC (980) 722-5651 vicepresident@mbcacarolinas.org SECRETARY Position Vacant TREASURER Roy L. Davis Columbia, SC (803) 331-1852 royleedavis42@gmail.com MEMBERSHIP CHAIR Fred Harris Statesville, NC (704) 902-6253 harrisfred@hotmail.com EVENTS CHAIR Position Vacant NEWSLETTER EDITOR Melissa Sprouse Browne Columbia, SC (803) 791-3800 info@mbcacarolinas.org
From the National Business Office: With every email and address update that we receive at the NBO, 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 2 include a valid email address). Please send these updates to Geni at geni@mbca.org.
president’s message
Ready for What’s Next
This year has been a busy one for the MBCA Carolinas Section, with several huge events and increased attendance well over the previous year. These are signs of positive growth in our club and I’m looking forward to what the new year will bring. We will be having our planning meeting in January, 2013 in Columbia to plan the events and outings for 2013. Of course everyone will be invited to attend and a notice with a date and location will be provided in advance. We will need to look toward replacement officers for the coming year as well. If you have an interest in serving in any capacity for the club, please let me know and we’ll help you get plugged in to the role you desire. You may reach me via email at president@mbcacarolinas.org. Our section has several great traditions, including our annual Dock Party which is held every summer. Don’t be afraid to come to one of the posted outings; you’ll find everyone to be friendly and welcoming. And, we already have so much in common –our love of all things Mercedes Benz. Join us and meet some new friends!
About MBCA
Established in 1956, MBCA has approximately 20,240 active members and 9251 additional household members in 12 regions which are comprised of 80+ local sections throughout the United States and Canada. Each region is adminstered by a regional director who is responsible for assisting and inspiring the sections in the region. The regional director also fosters the formation of new sections, coordinates regional activities and represents the constituents as a member of the national board of directors. Hundreds of events are organized by sections, from social gatherings to tech sessions, from car shows to driving events. Most sections publish a newsletter of information and events and each section has its own officers and bylaws.
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THE LATEST FOLKS TO JOIN US We are so pleased to welcome the newest members of the Mercedes Benz Club of America to the Carolinas Section! Ed Keady Charlotte NC Paul Sykes Charleston SC Roger Loewenheim Hendersonville
NC
Wendy Spitz Ft. Mill SC Darrell Burdick
Hanahan
SC
Rock Hill
SC
and beyond the normal extended to a club member. At Hendrick Motors of Charlotte and Mercedes Benz of Myrtle Beach, members receive a fifteen percent discount on parts. AND, both dealerships generously offer a reduced hourly labor rate of $99, which represents a savings of thirty percent over the standard rate! Finally, a chance to meet with fellow enthusiasts may provide benefits you never expected. One chance conversation might lead you to that one piece of information you needed; for example, several of our members are very knowledgeable about parts and may be may be able to point you to a resource you never knew existed for that one part you needed. 3
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Benefits for NEW MEMBERS Christopher O’Leary Hilton Head SC There’s a lot of good to be had from your Don Dicus Chapin SC membership! In addition to all of George Bokas Concord NC the cool things you get from National, such as Brian Hayes Mooresville NC the loyalty discount you receive on the purchase Gerald Axner Aiken SC of a new Merceds Benz, Robert Bilka Myrtle Beach SC your very own Carolinas Section offers special Danny Arnold Asheville NC benefits, too! First, as a new Lee Oppenheimer Hilton Head SC member, please feel free to attend an event at Donnie Todd Marvin NC no charge. For activities Daniel Olson Lincolnton NC that include travel or dinner, those expenses Erik Griffen China Grove NC will still remain the responsiblity of the Steve Haas Matthews NC member. But any cost charged by the club M. Emma Crawford Summerville SC to participate will be Michael Cottone Aiken SC waived for your first outing. Stephen Coma Charlotte NC Second, your club officers have made Molly Hammonds Charlotte NC some amazing arrangements with Gene Madden Laurens SC dealers in our territory Tom Barnett N. Myrtle Beach SC to offer discounts above Chuck Layer
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EURO Auto Festival
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2013 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
JANUARY
•Planning Meeting, January 2013, Columbia SC. We will hold our annual planning session at the Real Estate School of SC, 101 Medical Circle, West Columbia SC on a Saturday morning in January to plan events for the remainder of 2013.
MAY
Go to http://startech.mbca.org/ for additional information and to register.
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•StarTech 2013, May 18-22, Alabama.
Registration is now open for StarTech 2013, running May 18-22 in sun-kissed Alabama. Save up to $45 if you register by March 15th.
StarTech 2013 ®
Birmingham, Alabama May 18-22, 2013 MBUSI Headquarters
NOVEMBER •CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE & CAR CLUB JAMBOREE, Hilton Head, South Carolina.
The annual car show in Hilton Head has a BIG change this year! The venue will be adjacent to the Westin host hotel and no longer at Honey Horn! No more dusty cars! Look for additional info on this event in the next issue and plan to join us the first week of November in 2013.
MBUSI Welcome Center
Modification
Come for the Tech! • Factory Tours of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI) • MBUSA and MBUSI Speakers • Touring Laps – Barber Motorsports Road Course • Technical Seminars – Maintenance – Repairs – Restoration
Barber Motorsports Park
Aldridge Gardens
Come for the Fun! • • • • •
Vintage Races at Barber Motorsports U.S. Space & Rocket Center and NASA Tour Shopping Garden & Museum Tours Something for everyone ...
– Modification – Manufacturing
For information and registration package contact Liz Roberson at lizroberson2013@gmail.com | 205.822.8460 Mercedes-Benz Club of America | Alabama Section www.StarTech2013.org
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U.S Space & Rocket Center
MEMBER OF THE YEAR
And the Award Goes to... Motors dealership and they provide excellent service to our club members.
The General Manager of Hendrick Motors of Charlotte, Ed was instrumental in arranging the absolutely incredible private tour for the Carolinas Section of the Rick Hendrick Racing facility this past April.
“I’m thrilled to present Ed with the Member of the Year honor,” said Rick Deiber, Carolinas Section president. “He is a very supportive part of our network of dealers and we wanted to show him how much he is appreciated.”
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The Carolinas Section is pleased to honor Ed Keady as the 2012 Member of the Year!
Ed is responsible for the Hendrick
ODDS AND ENDS
UNIQUE TOUR OF GERMANY
As a special bonus in 2013, the National Business Office has partnered with Frosch Travel to offer MBCA Members a unique tour of Germany. This tour is open to all MBCA members. Members will travel from basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam, Holland September 29-October 6, 2013 aboard the exquisite Viking River Cruises Sun cruise ship. Explore four countries with six guided tours and visit some of the most amazing highlights along the breathtaking Rhine River. Special price discounts have been created exclusively for MBCA Members. Contact Randy Norris at Frosch Travel for infromation and reservations, 800-262-7447, ext. 105. You can also contact John Martiss at 800262-7447, ext. 114. Space is extremely limited, so please call ASAP.
NEWSLETTER EDITOR PUBLISHES BOOK ON SENIOR CARE
Melissa Sprouse Browne, a Carolinas Section member since 2003, has written a book on caring for aging parents. The Caregiver’s Training Program: What You Need to Know to Take Care of Your Parents in Their Golden Years gives you practical, immediately useful tactics for caring for a senior loved one. Available in print on www.amazon.com, and through caregiverstrainingprogram.net. E-book offered on Kindle, Nook, Kindle Fire and all other e-readers. If you have questions about caring for an aging parent, please feel free to contact Melissa at melissasprouse@aol.com. 7
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Photos and Story By Nick Pasquine
On December 1st, almost 30 members went to the historic town of Aiken, South Carolina for our annual meeting.
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This year, it was held at the Willcox Inn, which is ranked number 32 out of the Top 50 Small Inns of the World. After a short pre-dinner cocktail, we went on to dinner in our private dining room, which the Inn had decorated for us, right down to our own Christmas Tree. It was unusually warm, so we bypassed having the large fireplace lit. Our former club secretary Roger Levesque generously brought his keyboard and voice and provided Christmas music for the event. The food was absolutely excellent. After dinner and opening remarks, we shared in a gift exchange and then door prizes from several Mercedes Benz dealers in the Carolinas. Some members virtually got their dinner costs back in prizes! Our club president also awarded Ed Keady of Hendrick Motors of Charlotte with our Member of the Year award for his contributions to our club. 8
We then wrapped up club business with closing remarks and sincere holiday wishes. Some of us took this to mean we should go to the bar until we close it! Some couples also took advantage of the Inn’s great room offer. Our rooms were just beautiful. The next morning, the Inn provided breakfast and we did all of the usual talking about the previous night, our cars and other club events. Based on attending members’ votes, we look forwar to returning next year.
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ODDS AND ENDS In the event of an uncontested election where there is only one nominee for each National Board position and there are no ballot issues to be submitted to the membership, a slate of candidates will be printed in the Sept/Oct The Star in lieu of separate delivery to the Active Members.
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In order to be counted, ballots must be received by October 15, 2012.
NEWSLETTER EDITOR PUBLISHES BOOK ON SENIOR CARE
Melissa Sprouse Browne, a Carolinas Section member since 2003, has written a book on caring for aging parents. The Caregiver’s Training Program: What You Need to Know to Take Care of Your Parents in Their Golden Years gives you practical, immediately useful tactics for caring for a senior loved one. This book provides the step by step instruction you need to understand what to do, who to call and how to find help when you need it. Written by Melissa, who owns Seniors First Home Care, this book addresses the common issues you’ll encounter, incluing how to handle a parent with Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson Disease, breathing disorders, mobility issues, stroke, congestive heart failure and more. Available in print on www.amazon.com, and through caregiverstrainingprogram.net. E-book offered on Kindle, Nook, Kindle Fire and all other e-readers. If you have questions about caring for an aging parent, please feel free to contact Melissa at melissasprouse@aol.com. 10
NEW MERCEDES BENZ MAGAZINE
Sundial Magazines the publishers of the monthly title Mercedes Enthusiast have launched a new quarterly magazine Classic Mercedes. Classic Mercedes will focus on the world’s best and most coveted classic Mercedes Benz models, from the iconic SL Gullwing of the 1950’s through to the Modern Classics of the 1980s and 1990s. NE W !
MBCA NATIONAL ELECTION
Classic Mercedes will have strong international theme sourcing the broadest possible spread of material from across the world with company and model profiles, plus guidance on buying. The photographic element will be pronounced feature of its presentation.
Classic
Mercedes Issue Number 1 £4.95
C E L E B R AT I N G T H E W O R L D ’ S G R E AT E S T C A R S
BETTER THAN
W113 BUYER’S GUIDE PICK ATOP PAGODA SL
NEW! On the road with a beautifully restored 300SL Gullwing
ORIGINAL SUPER SALOON
TO STUTTGART IN STYLE
300SEL 6.3’S PACE AND SPACE
1,400-MILE R107 DASH
MAJESTIC COUPES
It is designed to PLUS 190E 2.5-16 EVO II ◆ BARN FIND PONTONS ◆ MERCEDES LEGEND - ERICH WAXENBERGER complement Mercedes Enthusiast which maintains its policy of covering all aspects of the Mercedes brand while leaving the new Classic Mercedes to concentrate on solely classics. TWO W111 V8s
Classic Mercedes is targeted at the affluent collectors and enthusiasts of the brand which will emphasised by the high quality production and paper stock of the title. Classic Mercedes will be on sale in selected Barnes & Noble stores from the end of July/early August 2012 and will cost just $12.50 per issue. If you can’t get to a Barnes & Noble store, then you can order Classic Mercedes on the website ($12.50 inc. air mail) or subscribe for just $40. For more information www.classicmercedesmagazine.com