First Qtr
inside this issue: We’re
going green! The main distribution of this newsletter is now electronic. page
1
Calendar page
2
of events.
Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance recap. page
4
Scam page
6
Winter
2010
Your new GREEN publication
alert.
S TA R THE MBC A C A R O L I N A S
The official newsletter of the mercedes benz club of america, carolinas section
Carolinas Section
Changes for the New Year This issue marks the official transition to e-publishing for the Carolinas Section quarterly newsletter. For the first time, a majority of our members will receive or view this newsletter in an electronic format. The future is now and the leadership of your club is ready to embrace change. At both the national and the local levels, the Mercedes Benz Club of America is undergoing a facelift. Serving the needs of our current members is our most important goal. One of the ways we plan to do that is by increasing our local membership numbers and bringing better events that attract more members on a regular basis. You may be wondering how our goal can be achieved. First, we are transitioning to a more contemporary look for all club
communications. This redesigned newsletter is just one example. We also have a new website, found at our brand new domain, www.mbcacarolinas.org. Current events will be posted regularly, and you’ll find a link there to view this newsletter each quarter. As more and more people are accustomed to reading and receiving information via the internet, the time is right to move our primary communications tool to an electronic format. Second, we’re making it easier to communicate with club officers. We’ve established standard emails, so you can always reach
a club leader, regardless of who holds the position at any given time. Here’s a handy reference: President@mbcacarolinas.org VicePresident@mbcacarolinas.org Treasurer@mbcacarolinas.org Secretary@mbcacarolinas.org Info@mbcacarolinas.org (general inquiries) Third, we’ve planned new and different types of events for this year. While you’ll still find a few of the old favorites on the calendar, you’ll see a more inclusive strategy that hopefully appeals to a broader range of our membership. And, new members (in the club for one year or less) and prospective members may attend events at no charge. (Events that would normally have a charge, such as as rallye.)
Upcoming Events - 1Q
C heck
out full details at mbcacarolinas . org
BRING THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE... AND DON’T FORGET YOUR SPOUSE!
Valentine’s Weekend:
Join Us in the Queen City! Feb. 12 - 14, Charlotte, NC. Headquarters hotel: Marriott Center City Charlotte, 100 W. Trade St., 704-333-9000. Friday, 2/12: 5-6:30p, Marriott’s Savannah Red Bar 7p, Cajun Queen Restaurant 10p, Double Door Inn
Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance:
March 12 - 14, Amelia Island, FL. Headquarters hotel: Ritz Carlton, 904277-1100. Exhibits, auctions, golf. Friday, 3/12: 7th Annual MBCA Officers Dinner, hosted by Southern Stars section, Fireplace Room at the Ritz. Details: whitestars@msn.com.
Service Clinic:
March 27, Hendrick Mercedes Benz of Charlotte, 704-535-6400. Free food, car washes, inspections & diagnoses. Service clinic - meet service techs and vendors. Classic car show & more. Details: www.hendrickmotorsofcharlotte.com.
Saturday, 2/13: 9a, Hendrick Mercedes Benz 11a, Drive to downtown Davidson 5:45p, Valentine’s Dinner at Cafe Siena 8p, Blumenthal Center Sunday, 2/14: 9a, Goodbye Brunch, Mert’s Heart & Soul Restaurant
Charlotte Auto Fair:
April 8 - 11, Concord, NC. Charlotte Motor Speedway, Car show on 150+ acres with 10,000 vendor spaces. Details: Mel Carson, 704-841-1990, www.charlotte-autofair.com.
Low Country Rallye:
April 16 - 18, Charleston, SC. Headquarters hotel: Springhill Suites, North Charleston. 843-572-8866. Dinner Friday night at 7p, Fourth Annual Low Country Rallye on Saturday, starting at 9a. Followed by dinner on Saturday night from 5 - 9p. Farewell breakfast on Sunday morning at 9a. Rallye fee: $20. Details: Tony Santagati, 843-8127822, sandspub@aol.com.
Sneak Peek of Later Events:
•Williamsburg, VA: May 2, 11th Annual British & European Car Show. Details: www.wmbgbrit.com/ carshow •Columbia, SC: May 22 - 23, New Member Welcome Party/BBQ on the Saluda River & Golf Weekend. Details: Melissa Sprouse Browne, 803-791-3800, melissasprouse@aol.com.
Contact Odette Sigler-Pedersen, 704-290-2257. odette@overgaardweb.com
2009 MBCA C arolinas S ection
Annual Meeting
There was no shortage of rain or cold for our holiday gathering and annual meeting, held in Columbia December 11 - 13, 2009. Neither
dampened the spirits of the members and it was a great weekend.
The Friday evening foray to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden for the famous Lights Before Christmas was fun, but boy, was it cold! With a daytime high hovering at freezing, walking through the displays required full winter gear and a warm cup of Starbucks coffee. After the zoo, most of the group had dinner at the Sheraton hotel in downtown Columbia.
On Saturday, we joined the Ferrari Club of America’s South Carolina Chapter for a fabulous lunch at Rosso’s Italian Trattoria. Comparing notes on German engineering versus Italian made for lively lunchtime conversation. The highlight of the weekend was the annual meeting and dinner, held at Sheraton’s POSH restaurant. The dinner was made up of multiple courses, including an appetizer, soup, salad, main entree and dessert. It was an excellent culinary experience!
Club president, Tony Santagati, awarded the Member of the Year to Henry Dunbar, who graciously acceptMERCEDES-BENZ PARTS ed. Many thanks are also owed Specialists for 29 YEARS to Odette Sigler1955 thru 1990’s Models Pedersen, who Miller’s East 877-226-1870 ext204 organized the 1749 Williams Rd., Suite A Monroe, NC 28110 entire event.
Jimmie Dwayne Etterle
Ron Gerken
Julia & Keith Gaskill
Art & Dottie Lundquist
David & Michelle Grant William Griffen Barry Mackenzie Eugenia Clare Robert Mickey Daniel Quattlebaum Billy & Norma Baker Bruce Burdick John Glaser Ron Husbands Toni Larose Gerken
Henry Dunbar, Member of the Year
Don & Marilyn Murphy Carl Paquette Dennis Pieschke Lewis Stuart Mark John Tucker Gary & Maggie Hibler Richard Tripp Engel
Christine & Michael Friday John Scott Davis
Morris & Ann Knupp
Miller’s West 800-338-7787ext206 17420 Mt. Herrmann, Suite I Fountain Valley, CA 92708 World Wide Shipping
SHOP ON LINE 24/7 at MILLERMBZ.COM
welcome new members
Raymond Moore John Norton Ag Swearingen Aniko Thomas
Hilton Head Nov. 2009
concours
See photos online at mbcacarolinas.org
With four glorious days of events in a spectacular Southern coastal venue, the Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance chose 2009 as the year to honor Mercedes Benz. An enthusiast’s paradise, the Car Club Jamboree on Saturday and the official Concours d’Elegance on Sunday featured several stunning examples of the iconic brand. The Car Club Jamboree took place on Saturday, October 31st at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn. The weather was perfect; unbelievable, really for the end of October to boast bright sun and a temperature that settled around 85 degrees. Surrounded by towering oaks, hanging low with Spanish moss, car clubs from across the nation fielded more than 180 cars.
2009 Exhibitors for the Car Club Jamboree: • 1960 190-SL, Jim Mitchell Peachtree Section • 1962 220-SE Cabriolet, Bruce S. Dickey, Carolinas Section • 1968 280-SL, Ken Jarrett Peachtree Section • 1970 280-SL, Avery Wise Carolinas Section • 1971 280-SE 3.5 Cabriolet, Mike Marsh, Memphis Section • 1972 350-SL, Henry Dunbar Carolinas Section • 1987 560-SL, Soren Pedersen Carolinas Section • 1989 300-SE, Bill Head Carolinas Section • 2000 CLK-430 Cabriolet, Rick Deiber Carolinas Section • 2003 SLK-320, Fred & Gladys Harris Carolinas Section • 2004 SL-55 AMG, Tony Santagati, Carolinas Section • 2005 SLK-350, Melissa Sprouse Browne, Carolinas Section • 2005 SL-55 AMG, Dr. Richard Bearden, Carolinas Section • 2007 CLK-550 Cabriolet, Janet Langham Bishop, Carolinas Section
The Mercedes Benz Club of America has participated in the Car Club Jamboree since its inception eight years ago and has consistently offered some of the best representatives of the brand, including a 1967 300-SE Convertible, owned by Robert Platz, which was awarded the Chairman’s Choice Award in 2008. Even though this year is the first time Mercedes Benz has been the Honored Marque, Mercedes Benz has always enjoyed a strong showing, with over fifteen awards, ten of which have been Best in Class. This year, the Carolinas Section and the Peachtree Section combined to show fourteen beautiful examples of the marque, from a 1960 190-SL,
d’
elegance
owned by Jim Mitchell from the Peachtree Section, to an outstanding 2007 CLK-550 Cabriolet, owned by Janet L. Bishop of the Carolinas Section. Mike Kunz, manager of the Mercedes Benz Classic Center in Irvine, California selected four cars from the field of Car Club Jamboree exhibitors to represent the automaker as the Chairman’s Choice in the Parade of Featured Marques. Chosen to participate were: Janet L. Bishop, 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK 550; Bruce Dickey, 1962 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE; Ken Jarrett, 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL and James Mitchell, 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL. Mercedes Benz USA and AMG were proud sponsors of the Concours d’Elegance at Hilton Head. Mercedes Benz USA, together with MBCA, provided a hospitality booth both days, which was flanked by displays of a 300SL Roadster, in the unusual color of Strawberry Metallic, a replica of the 1896 Mercedes Benz Patentwagen, and a 190-D, currently in mid-restoration. Members of MBCA enjoyed the assortment of hors d’ouevres graciously provided by the hosts. It was a great place to find some shade and a cool drink while chatting with other club members. Jim O’Sullivan, past President of MBCA, attended the show as a part of the Concours organizing committee and was thrilled with the turnout. “This year’s theme of ‘Past, Present and Future’ is quite fitting, with the great examples of Mercedes Benz from the past through today’s current models that we have for both days of the event.” The Carolinas Section even picked up a few new members at the Jamboree, who attended that evening’s dinner at Sigler’s Rotisserie and Seafood Restaurant in Bluffton, SC. It’s not often that local section members have the chance to meet national officers, so the Carolinas Section’s dinner affair gladly welcomed current MBCA National President Pete Lesler and his wife Josie, Jim O’Sullivan, past President and Rodger Van Ness, curator of the Kemp Auto Museum in Chesterfield, MO.
Cannon’s
• Specializing in Pre-Owned Mercedes• 2640 Asheville Highway Hendersonville, NC
JERRY CANNON Owner
828-606-7255 Cell 828-692-6541 Office
H & H Auto Service
35 Hunter Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
Proud Members of the MercedesBenz Club of America Since 1983
The only INDOOR pre-owned showroom on Hilton Head!
•Sales and Service of Pre-Owned Mercedes-Benzs •Service by Experts Trained on Mercedes •Full Body Paint Shop for a Flawless Finish •Complete Restorations by Experts •Great Advice and Helpful Information
(843) 681-8384 • www.handhautos.com
S TA R THE M B C A C A R O L I N A S
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID COLUMBIA, SC PERMIT #1098
101 Medical Circle Drive West Columbia, SC 29169
Tidbits • useful information Carolinas Section Officers Contact List
Scam Alert
We’ve recently heard from several members who listed cars for sale online that they were emailed from a “buyer” from outside the US who is willing to pay full price. They mail a fake cashier’s check to you and ask you to pay the shipping costs in cash. If the check is no good, you’re out the money for the check plus the shipping. Essentially, your car has been stolen. The best buyer is someone you already know or with whom you have friends in common. Be careful when conducting business online!
PRESIDENT Richard Deiber Huntersville, NC (704) 948-1433 president@mbcacarolinas.org
TREASURER Roy L. Davis Columbia, SC (803) 331-1852 treasurer@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 include a valid email address). Please send these updates to Geni at geni@mbca.org.
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Anthony Santagati Beaufort, SC (843) 522-9444 sandspub@aol.com
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR Fred Harris Statesville, NC (704) 902-6253 harrisfred@hotmail.com
Wanted: 1971 280SL. Manual transmission, prefer unrestored. Call (541) 999-9999
VICE PRESIDENT Soren Pedersen Waxhaw, NC (980) 722-5651 vicepresident@mbcacarolinas.org
EVENTS CHAIR Odette Sigler-Pedersen Waxhaw, NC (704) 290-2257 odette@overgaardweb.com
SECRETARY Roger Levesque Easley, SC (864) 230-0081 secretary@mbcacarolinas.org
NEWSLETTER EDITOR Melissa Sprouse Browne Columbia, SC (803) 791-3800 info@mbcacarolinas.org
or email JB_JB-JB2002@yahoo.com
Capriccio Ristorante Make Your Reservation for a Romantic Rendezvous!
10% Discount for MBCA Members!
1034 Chuck Dawley Blvd. Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 (843) 881-5550