2012 Calendar - Carolinas - Mercedes

FIRST QTR 2012
MBCA | Carolinas Section
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER
OF THE MERCEDES BENZ CLUB OF
AMERICA, CAROLINAS SECTION
ClubDates
Special
Edition
2012
Events
Calendar
Your Key To Fun!
Check inside for all of the
exciting events planned
for your club this year.
You’ll want to grab your
calendar and add the
special dates for the
Mercedes Benz
Carolina’s Section that
you won’t find
anywhere else.
CONTENT
2
President’s Message
W W W . M B C A C A R O L I N A S . O R G
3New Member Roster & Benefits
4
Charleston Kick-Off Luncheon
5
Calendar of Events
7
Legends of the Autobahn
8
Odds and Ends
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
treasurer@mbcacarolinas.org
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 include a valid email address). Please send these
2
updates to Geni at geni@mbca.org.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Pardon me,
Have we
met before?
Did you know that the Carolinas Section
has 313 members? Spread out over two
states, our members are interesting folks
who have at least one thing in common:
passion for their cars and the Mercedes
Benz brand.
As a part of my last year in office,
iber.biz
rick@de
which concludes at the end of this year,
my goal is to meet as many of our members as possible.
For the members that I have met already, several of them
represent some of my closest friendships. I have enjoyed
every conversation and fun encounter at hundreds of events
over the years and know that you would likely feel the
same way - my hope is that you will make a point this year
to attend at least one club event in a city or town near you.
Even if you’re never been to an event, don’t worry; you’ll be
welcomed as the friend you already are.
One of the most unique and special outings planned for
this year is the private, behind the scenes tour of the Rick
Hendrick’s famous auto collection. Rarely accessible to the
public, we’ve made arrangements for you to have access to
the racing operation and a chance to see up close some of
the very fine automobiles in his private garage.
Good things are happening here and there’s plenty of
room for you to become more involved. Officer positions for
President and Vice President will be open in the next term
and we are currently seeking someone to serve as Event
Chairman. If you are interested, please contact me at my
email address listed above.
Let this year be the one you always remember for the great
times you had with the Carolinas Section!
e
WHAT’S NEW: 28 NEW MEMBERS!
We are so pleased to welcome the newest
members of the Mercedes Benz Club of America
to the Carolinas Section!
As a member, you can enjoy great meals, like this
Lowcountry Boil served at the last Dock Party!
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.
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W W W . M B C A C A R O L I N A S . O R G
Ralph Almkuist
Wrightsville Beach NC
Chris Arthurs
Greenville
SC
Dennis Bailey
Charlotte
NC
Antares Bennett
Charlotte
NC
Dee CarboniTaylorsSC
Ralph Crisp
Rock Hill
SC
Nat C. Frederick
N. Charleston
SC
AJ Geffert
Charleston
SC
H BlairHahn
Mt Pleasant
SC
BENEFITS FOR NEW
John Hargette
Matthews
NC
MEMBERS
Michael Harte
Asheville
NC
There’s a lot of good
Sandy Holland
Garden City
SC
to be had from your
Richard Holmes
Huntersville
NC
membership!
In addition to all of
William Jackson
Darlington
SC
the cool things you get
Steve Jordan
Charlotte
NC
from National, such as
Richard KingSalemSC
the loyalty discount you
Bobby
LongDallasNC receive on the purchase
of a new Merceds Benz,
George W. Price
Charlotte
NC
your very own Carolinas
David
RokesStatesvilleNC
Section offers special
Rick Scott
Charlotte
NC
benefits, too!
First, as a new
Ed Sewall
Bluffton
SC
member,
please feel free
Jeff Spector
NEW ZEALAND
to attend an event at
Peter SuttoniCharlotteNC
no charge. For activities
Frank TowsonAshevilleNC that include travel or
John WadeCharlotteNC dinner, those expenses
will still remain the
Edward Wagner
Cornelius
NC
responsiblity of the
Charles Williams
Greenville
SC
member. But any cost
Gary Wingate
Rock Hill
SC
charged by the club
to participate will be
waived for your first
outing.
Second, your club
officers have made
some amazing
arrangements with
dealers in our territory
to offer discounts above
W W W . M B C A C A R O L I N A S . O R G
CHARLESTON KICK-OFF LUNCHEON
Haunting the Holy
City... on Saturday,
January 28th, a crosssection of membership
from the Carolinas
Section converged
on Charleston, South
Carolina for a luncheon
to begin our series of
club events for 2012.
Charleston was
originally called Charles
Town (in honor of King
Charles II of England), and its nickname is “The
Holy City.”
The venue for lunch was 39 Rue de Jean, a
restaurant downtown on John Street. The cuisine
was French and the location in the heart of
downtown was very convenient.
Many thanks to Odette Sigler Pedersen
for making all of the arrangements with the
restaurant and creating the lunch invitations!
Odette has done a tremendous job over the past
year as the Events Chairman and everyone appreciates all of her hard work. She
has now completed her term and the club is looking for someone new to fulfill the
duties of this position. If you’re interested, please contact Rick Deiber, president, at
rick@deiber.biz.
In a city as interesting as Charleston, simply having a great meal isn’t enough.
So, to that end, several members went sightseeing afterwards. The rich history
and beautiful coastal
location provided plenty
of opportunities for
picture taking.
The photos
accompanying this
article were graciously
provided by Roger
Levesque, member from
Upstate South Carolina.
The next big event
in the Charleston area
will be the annual Dock
Party, held at Katherine
and Henry Dunbar’s
lovely home on June
9th. Hope to see you
there!
4
Ordering your MBCA
Name Badge is
Easier than Ever!
Show your local “Section
Pride” at the next club
meeting or event. Order
name badges for yourself,
your significant other or
anyone else who needs
one. The shipping fee is
included in the low cost.
Use the additional third
line on the badge for your
model of car, city in which
you live, office held, year
joined, or anything else
you like.
Choose from blue, silver
or gold and your choice
of back – either magnetic,
safety pin or tie tack.
Call MBCA National at
800-637-2360 to order,
or go online at www.
mbca.org and select “Club
Store” from the top menu
navigation.
FINALLY! THE 2012 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
MARCH
•March 9 - 11: Amelia Island Concours. Mercedes Benz marks sixty years of “SL” history at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance with a 1952 300SL Le Mans Victory Car and a 2013 SL550. Now in its second
decade, the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is among the top automotive events in the world. Always
held the second full weekend in March, this event draws nearly 250 rare vehicles from collections around
the world to The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach and the Ritz-Carlton. Since 1996, the show’s
Foundation has donated nearly $1.8 million to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida and other deserving charities on Florida’s First Coast. For more information, visit www.ameliaconcours.org or call 904-6360027.
•March 16 - 17: Hendrick Motor Sports and Rick Hendrick Car Collection Private Viewing. A rare treat, Hendrick Motors of Charlotte is offering members of the Carolinas Section a once in a
W W W . M B C A C A R O L I N A S . O R G
lifetime chance to tour the Motor Sports operation with a behind the scenes encounter on Friday afternoon, March 16th in Concord, North Carolina. Located just one mile from the Charlotte Motor Speedway,
the campus features state-of-the-art facilities and technology, which the organization’s four NASCAR
Sprint Cup teams employ in preparation for race day. And if the chance to see the inner workings of the
race organization wasn’t enough, the next morning members will be able to view the private collection of
fine and unique automobiles in Rick Hendrick’s own garage. Don’t miss either part of this amazing weekend, planned for Friday March 16th and Saturday, March 17th. For more information, contact Rick Deiber
at 704-231-1879. Registration information will be posted shortly on the www.mbcacarolinas.org site and
Facebook page.
APRIL
•April 19 - 22: Charlotte Auto Fair. The Carolinas Section is gathering participants who want to
exhibit at the Auto Fair on Saturday, April 21st as a part of the AACA National Meet Car Show. Cars will be
shown until 3:00pm. This event is a huge, multi-day affair at the Charlotte Motor Speedway with lots to see
and do. Registration information will be made available to members as soon as it’s available.
•April 28: Second Annual Broad River European Classic Car Show. Come out and show
your favorite car at this event held in Shelby, North Carolina. The show takes place in the Court Square on
April 28th. This car show is for all European Cars & Motorcycles. This event held along with the Arts On The
Square and the Merry Go Round Festival. To register, please visit www.broadriveremc.com.
MAY
•May 4- 6: Myrtle Beach Fun Weekend. Come take advantage of one of the top Tourist Destina-
tions in the South! The MBCA Carolinas Section will gather for a weekend of fun in the sun, combined with
fun outings for shopping, shows and more. Look for additional details via email in early April.
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2012 CALENDAR OF EVENTS, CONT’D
JUNE
•June 9: Annual Dock Party. A Carolinas Section tradition, the annual Dock Party will be held in
Charleston at the home of Henry and Katherine Dunbar. Right on the water, enjoy sitting on the dock
while eating some of the finest LowCountry Boil anywhere. For additional details, please contact Henry
Dunbar at 843-670-6000 or at dunbardome@yahoo.com.
AUGUST
•August 16 - 17: Road Trip to Alabama Mercedes Benz Plant Tour. The Mercedes Benz
Manufacturing Facility is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The plant tour will be on Thursday, August 16 at
12:45p.m. Tour fee is $5 per guest. Transportation will be provided to Alabama.
W W W . M B C A C A R O L I N A S . O R G
SEPTEMBER
•Columbia, SC Member Barbecue. Hosted by Carolinas Section members in the Columbia area, this
Fall party is a must! Additional details will be forthcoming.
•Sept. 20 - 23: Charlotte Auto Fair. The Fall version of the popular car enthusiast event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
•September 29: Rock Around the Clock Car Show and Street Fair. Held on Congress Street in
Winnsboro, South Carolina, the car show portion is held on Saturday from 11:00am - 3:00pm.
OCTOBER
•October 5 - 6: Oktoberfest in Banner Elk, NC. Take in the beautiful fall foliage, cool, comfortable
mountain temperatures, and a weekend full of festival activities from 10 am until 5 pm each day. Be sure to
bring the kids because the event is for the whole family. Held at the Sugar Mountain Resort, Main Lodge,
1009 Sugar Mountain Drive. For details, check out http://oktoberfest.skisugar.com.
•October 20: Eurofest at BMW in Greer, SC. Finally, it’s our year! The honored marquee this year is
Mercedes Benz, so let’s have a good showing at the field in Greer. A three-day event, the Eurofest activities
are hosted by BMW North America.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
•November 3 - 4: Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance. The Carolinas Section is an invited car club
and exhibits at the Car Club Jamboree on Saturday. Stay overnight and return for Sunday’s official Concours d’Elegance at Honey Horn.
•December 7 - 8: Christmas at Biltmore. The year concludes with the Annual Meeting and dinner
at the famed Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina. Decorated for the Christmas holidays, Biltmore is
unmatched in its majesty during the month of December. Don’t miss it!
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LEGENDS OF THE AUTOBAHN
Three German Marques.
One Unforgettable Concours.
LEGENDS OF THE
2012
AUTOBAHN
W W W . M B C A C A R O L I N A S . O R G
Share the Excitement of this Legendary Event
During the World-Famous Monterey Classic Car Week
Friday, August 17, 2012
Rancho Cañada Golf Club, Carmel Valley, CA
Open to the Public | Judged Classes & Corral | Awards
Refreshments | Media | All-Day Fun!
Register before August 1, 2012 at www.motorsportreg.com
Scroll to “August 17” then to “Legends of the Autobahn – MBCA”
For information, contact Laura Simonds at 650.592.7613
or simondsl@pacbell.net
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ODDS AND ENDS
FOR SALE SL Hard top. Complete,
good condition with all trim and
glass. $600 or best offer. Located
in Lugoff, South Carolina. Can be
shipped for an additional cost. Fits
Mid 70s - 80. Call 803-572-1186 or
email yewmanlugoff@gmail.com.
FOR SALE Diesel Mercedes SEL, 1976. Call Rick O’Conner, 919-365-0184.
NEWS FROM NATIONAL Effective January 1, 2012, MBCA membership
W W W . M B C A C A R O L I N A S . O R G
dues increased as follows: one year $49; two years, $95; three years, $139. It
has been twelve years since MBCA last raised its dues. This modest increase
represents less than nine percent over 2011. Operating expenses have increased, making it virtually impossible to avoid a modest increase today.
JUST FOR FUN
Here are some “not so great”
feats of automotive
engineering...
The list of MBCA member benefits and discounts has markedly expanded in
the last two years. Please visit www.mbca.org/member-benefits for a complete list.
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
www.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.
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