Autumn 2015 Newsletter

SLK DRIVERS CLUB OF NSW Inc.
Sportlich Leicht und Kurz
AUTUMN 2015
201 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS WEATHER JINX.
After a wet and windy drive via Macquarie Pass to
Mittagong in June and the cycle of thunderstorms
that cut a swathe through the Sydney and Illawarra
areas in December, the forecast of worse driving
conditions and hail on the December Berrima run
to forced the hand of the organizer who cancelled
the event on the Saturday afternoon.
The decision was regrettable after the anticipation
of a top down outing with of SLK aficionados, but
accepted by all as a rational move. Although the
day dawned with a cloudless sky, the decision was
vindicated on receiving Wayne’s advice of hail in
the Blue Mountains that Saturday evening and the
early arrival of the first storm at 2.30pm on Sunday
and a second wave of wild weather later.
Lightning activity at Blaxland
Weather forecasting is an inexact science and the
Bureau has two weather data computer programs
from which they compile the daily forecast. They
still err – but usually on the side of caution.
Once you have experienced hail damage to your
car, you are doubly cautious about taking the risk. I
learned a hard lesson some years ago when the
MX5 Club held an Xmas lunch at the same time of
year. Warnings cannot be issued by the Bureau
until storm cells develop late in the day,
day as was the
case on this particular day. As soon as the news
broke, so did the party.
Despite efforts to find shelter, mine
ine and other
pristine MX5s suffered damage. Dealers
ealers now ask
whether a traded vehicle suffered hail
hai damage. The
depreciation in value is significant and an
a owner
must reply honestly or face prosecution for
deception. The moral is to avoid hail damage!
d
MT. VICTORIA RUN FEBRUARY 2015
“Another great day out for one
on and I’m sure you will
all agree!” Martin’s comment on the drive in perfect
weather provided a marked contrast
con
to the photo in
the previous column.
Nine cars leftt the McGrath’s
McGrath Hill rendezvous to bypass Windsor and make a loop through Freeman’s
Freeman
Reach and then Grose
se Vale to Kurrajong for a pause.
The drive continued on the Bell’s
Bell Line of Road to Mt.
Tomah to take in the distant views before leaving
with a reasonably clear run up the mountain to Bell.
The “recently refurbished”
refurbished Imperial Hotel at Mt.
Victoria was the lunch venue but judging by
appearances the refurbishment was in 1815! We had
a good time all the same as the group photo below
shows!
PROFILE – WAYNE’S IMMACULATE R170
Wayne owns this concours condition R170 320
which is well worth inspecting at your next
opportunity. Here is his own story on the history
and features of his car.
“II fell in love with the 170 when I saw my first
example in 1998. The demand for these was such that
you could order one, wait for delivery, drive it for a
few months and sell it for more than it cost.
I first started looking for one in 2005 and good
examples were still bringing a lot of money. I was
looking for a White or Silver one but we saw the Red
car on the Turn Table
ble at the now defunct Rick
Damelian’s dealership.. Loreen loves red cars so we
bought it. The car was then 2 years old (first
registered March 2003) had travelled 23,000
kilometres and was pretty much unmarked. It was
fitted with 17” AMG Wheels, TV / DVD (why?) and
Sat Navigation.
We were both working at a Wakefield Park Race
Meeting when a voice from behind said, “I see you are
looking after my car”. It was of course the original
and only other owner who had let the car go when
her husband bought her a 171
1 55 AMG for her
birthday. I think I would have too but no one buys me
that good a birthday present.
We have used the car for HSRCA, and Morgan Car
Club runs and extended tours which have gained it
some stone chips but hey, they are not much fun
sitting in the garage!
The car has now done 54500 kilometres and is
serviced annually by the gentle giant at West Star
Autos. We flush and change the brake fluid and
coolant every 2 years. I use Elf Lubricants rather than
Mobil because I believe Mobil 1 is 1990 technology
tech
and Elf is 2010 Technology. I would also be quite
confident using Penrite.
We use Yokohama Advan Sport on the car and
quoting Tempe Tyres online prices to Bob Jane
outlets usually results in a well-fitted
fitted tyre at the right
price. We have always used Meguiars products to
clean the car.
My opinion is that a Mercedes can be operated for
not much more than an ordinary car and while some
parts can be very expensive, so they can be on the
average puddle jumper.
While the fall in value of these cars is a worry, wellmaintained Mercedes convertibles
onvertibles have a habit of
gaining in value once the ones that have been bought
by those that should not,, have been junked and
returned to earth.”
condition
Just as we said – concours condition!
SLK DRIVERS CLUB - PATRON’S TROPHY
ose of you who visit the SLK World Forum will
Those
be familiar with this avatar that belongs to our
Club Patron, Brian “Woolley”
“Woolley Rowbotham. Woolley,
who resides in England,, is the founder and super
moderator of the SLK World Forum and was
pleased to accept the title of patron of the first
Mercedes SLK car club formed in Australia when
we made the offer.. He has now made a counter
offer - to provide the Club with a trophy for annual
presentation.
We have thanked him for his kind gesture of
support and the Committee will provide a response
after having time to meet and consider his
suggestions for the text and purpose of the award.
“Woolley” visits Australia from time to time and
has friends on the Central Coast. We have given an
undertaking to meet him on his next visit for a club
drive to Patonga that he knows well. A pleasant
duty for Pete or Louis unless they enlist navigators
between times!
Woolley’s regular Forum photo - his SLK 350 6 speed
manual in Andradite Green with a woolly admirer.
BACK TO THE FUTURE! – or more on the SLK
name change
In the early seventies Mercedes-Benz
Benz released two
iconic models, the
he SL roadster and the SLC coupe.
coupe
These cars were the consummate status symbols
and had quite a cult following at that time being
driven by movie stars, executives,
xecutives, and
professionals around the world.. They were also
identical apart from the roof. The roadster had a
soft top and the SLC fixed metal.
The models were the second longest running
production cars in Mercedes-Benz
Benz history and
were adapted with
ith engine and cosmetic variants
for sale in any country in the world. These
automobiles were
re as luxurious as they were
sporting in a refined manner that only MercedesMerce
Benz could present.
The original seventies SLC
In their day, the two models were symbols of
exclusivity, readily identified by their uniquely
robust styling and much admired by those of us
drivers of less prestigious sports cars of the period.
They are now sought after collectibles.
So, coming to the present day. In
n rolling a dice and
deciding to rename the SLK roadster the SLC,
Mercedes appears to have ignored not only the fact
that the SLK is a different class from the SL,
SL but its
own advertising
ising of the R172 which defines the
model as a roadster – “Sculpted
Sculpted lines, the finest
materials and high-quality
quality craftsmanship right
down to the smallest detail make the SLK a roadster
without parallels whether open for top-down
top
cruising or closed for sporty sprints.”
The definition of a coupé in ISO 3833-1977 is
having a closed body, usually with limited rear
volume, a fixed roof of which a portion may be
openable,, at least two seats in one row, two side
doors and at least two side windows..
By this standard, the SLK marque falls outside the
definition of a coupé.
The decision to re-badge
badge the SLK has caused
gnashing of teeth and discussion among SLK
owners around the world. A rumour that the
company will issue owners of all R172 models with
a stick on letter ‘C’ to replace the revered ‘K’
eventually proved to be a gag. So was talk of
own
of ‘C’ badged
aftermarket ‘K’ letters for owners
vehicles so they can display the traditional
nomenclature.
Other talk suggested that ‘C’ badged cars will not
have the status
tus or retain the value of the original SLK
cars that will now be highly sought as collectibles.
Keep the polish up to your cars; they could be worth
big money to classic car buyers!
buyers
A THUMBNAIL HISTORY OF THE SLK
1954 - The 190Sl debuts in New York alongside the
300 SL Gullwing.
1955 - The 190 SL goes on sale.
1994 - A compact roadster design study shown at the
Turin Motor Show and later that year. Another in
Paris with a folding metal roof.
1996 - World premiere of the first generation R170
SLK at the Turin Motor Show.
2000 - The R170 SLK undergoes a comprehensive
facelift.
2001- The SLK32 goes on sale. AMG’s first compact
roadster.
2004 - The second generation R171 SLK debuts at the
Geneva Motor Show.
2006 - The SLK 55 AMG Black series hits the road.
2008 - The R171 SLK undergoes a facelift.
2011 - The third generation R172 SLK launched with
the first diesel powered model, the SLK 280CDI going
on sale in 2012.
2012 - Unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show,
Show
the SLK 55 AMG version goes on sale.
WELCOME KEITH AND NANNETTE LOCK
Keith and Nannette were introduced to the Club by
Adam after meeting on a run organised by the Sydney
Mercedes Benz Club. They attended our November
coffee meet at Parramatta Park and after mixing with
wit
those present on the day, had no hesitation in joining.
A former MGB owner of yesteryear,
yesteryear today Keith
drives this silver 2008 R171 SLK 200 Kompressor
with the AMG body kit.
WELCOME GEORGE AND YARDLEY KYLING
Our contact with George followed his introduction
on the SLK World Forum. After a chat over a cup of
premier quality coffee (George is a coffee buff!), he
and Yardley intended joining the Berrima run
which was cancelled and so met the group for the
first time at the January coffee & torque meet.
George has this 2011 R172 350 with the AMG body
kit and other options and Yardley also likes getting
behind the wheel. George was a founding member of
the Lexus Soarer Owners Club and introduced their
cruise program.
THINK ABOUT GETTING RADIOACTIVE!
The Club uses CH 13 on UHF radio for safety and
effective control on car runs. Our two 1-watt
1
UHF
radios allow contact between the leader and the
sweep car at the tail end. A third centrally located
radio is desirable so the present regular leader
supplements
nts the Club radios with his personal 55
watt radio. If you have a UHF radio,
you can follow the leader’s
transmitted warnings of road
obstructions, accidents, oncoming
heavy vehicles on narrow roads,
upcoming changes in direction or
unplanned detours. The sweeper
also reports disruptions to the
convoy so the leader can pause and
resume the run as a group. You can
also advise the leader of events
affecting you or other members.
Having a personal radio enlivens participation and
enjoyment of the drive. Small 1-watt
watt radios are
sold in pairs for bushwalking etc., but single
radios are available and the
he rechargeable models
are the best. UHF transmission is line of sight and
affected by obstructions, so a 1-watt
watt model is the
absolute minimum useful power with the
increasing number of cars on our runs.
runs
THE CLUB GOES LIVE ON FACE BOOK!
Many thanks to George Kyling for this imitative. On
the day of the January coffee meet, George posted a
reply to a Facebook question “Where are you
driving your Mercedes today?” and posted that he
was meeting members of the SLK Drivers Club of
NSW for coffee, He also included the link to our
website to encourage Mercedes viewers of that
Facebook page
age to seek us out.
George followed up his coffee and car torque club
morning with an offer
fer to create and manage a
dedicated Facebook page for the club.
club When the
Committee readily accepted his offer, he set up a
pilot page and this has been activated.
activated This new
internet publicity vehicle will supplement our
website and the notices and reports we publish on
the SLK World Forum.
Go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/SLKhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/SLK
Drivers-Club-NSW/,, check us out, register if you are
not a member and support George’s initiative by
posting comments
ments on Club events and related
matters to keep the page lively and attract other
SLK owners to the club.
That suggestion includes the ladies, Yardley Kyling
has already posted her first comment – add yours!
HOW ABOUT THIS FOR TOP DOWN DRIVING?
Do you have room in your garage for this classic
vintage Mercedes sports car?
car If only, but the price
would make the top line AMG SLK GT look like a
post Christmas bargain sale item.
You would certainly turn heads driving this lovely
car, but driving any classic vehicle is a nervenerve
wracking experience with the constant worry of
some yobbo running into it.
A FREUDIAN SLIP?
In the lead up to the Xmas Party season, one local
distribution newspaper warned of an increase in
the number of police patrols conducting breast
tests. Oops!
LEND ME YOUR EARS!
Apologies to Shakespeare for stealing the line, but
we should all be aware of the “silent killer” of
hearing while driving with the top down. It is not
the exhaust or traffic, it is the buffeting effect or
ambient wind noise that occurs at levels of well
over 100dB at highway speeds.
Wind noise is a continuous, high-frequency sound,
the type that is the biggest threat to hearing and
because it beats on your ears consistently, it
creates a condition called temporary threshold
shift, or temporary hearing loss from overexposure.
You can become partially deaf after an extended
period of exposure and that temporary deafness
affects all frequencies of hearing when you need to
hear low frequency sounds like cars around you,
engine RPM and approaching sirens.
Wind noise is a danger to hearing and builds faster
than you might think. The sound of a noisy motor
cycle is miniscule compared to the volume of wind
noise that reaches the 100-110dB range at
highway speeds.
According to the American OSHA, up to 85-90dB of
exposure for 8 hours a day is within hearing safety
limits. However, when sound levels exceed 100dB,
safe exposure time drops to only 2 hours, and at
115dB, is reduced to only 15 minutes.
The level of noise exposure in normal to heavy
traffic is 85-90dB at speeds of under 64 kph. City
driving, car horns, big rigs, sirens and loud vehicles
can strain your ears, but not to the level of
permanent hearing damage.
However, at speeds of 104kph or more, wind noise
creeps up past the 90db mark and increases
dramatically with speed. More damage is done to
ears when cruising on an empty highway at the
speed limit than in the middle of a crowded city.
If you are sensitive to the possibility of hearing loss
you notice the wind buffeting much more, but
driving with the window partly raised greatly
reduces the impact of threshold shift.
Enjoy your top down driving keeping these facts
and the deleterious effects of over exposure to
wind and noise in mind.
MEMBERS OF THE TAIWANESE R171 SLK CLUB
LINE UP FOR A RUN
Taiwan is a relatively small island, but the support
for the SLK R171 is strong. This is a recent photo of
members’ cars prior to leaving on a run. There are
at least eighteen SLKs in the group. The club does
not have a website, at least not in English, so the
arrangements for R170 and R172 owners to
participate are unclear and remain an open
question.
TIME PASSES AND OUR FIRST AGM LOOMS
Our dedicated SLK Club was formed on February
23 last year and a temporary committee to manage
the embryo club. Since incorporation, the club is
subject to the provisions of the Associations
Incorporation Act and we are now required to hold
our first official Annual General Meeting and elect
officials no later than July. That event is set for July
12 at the Parramatta Park Cafe.
In this first year we achieved excellent results with
12 SLKs on the Club Register and 22 very
compatible members so the future is promising
indeed.
The present committee must stand down at the
AGM and may not be available for election. In
addition, we need to apportion the administrative
duties more broadly than in the original
multifunction sole person arrangement.
Talk to us now about taking a more constructive
role to ensure the continuing success and growth
of the club as well as the personal benefits derived
from its existence.
There is no glass ceiling in this Club, women have
equal rights - so think about it girls!
Drive with your top down and spirits high!