Better Than a Hot Tub Time Machine... - Carolinas - Mercedes

THIRD QTR
2010
MBCA | Carolinas Section
We Saw This Car
Person! To
in
find out
what it is,
Ladies
and Gentlemen, please join us as
we step back in time to the year 1989...
Look Inside!
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER
OF THE MERCEDES BENZ CLUB OF AMERICA, CAROLINAS SECTION
Better Than a
Hot Tub Time Machine...
DON’S FOUND A EASIER WAY TO RELIVE THE 1980s
By Don Suttles
It’s Saturday afternoon... 98
degree weather outside, 72
degree inside... I’m sitting on
the sofa scanning my laptop for
any program I can find which
I haven’t already read meticulously. Oh well, let’s check out
e-Bay to see what’s offered
in the 1989 Mercedes Benz
560SL Model.
WAIT, I still have the 1989
560 SL I bought off e-Bay last
January. Boy, did I get a raw deal
that time! I remember how great
the pictures looked and the multiple paragraph description describing the many accolades of the car
and NO BIDS and NO MINIMUM.
“If I bid now, I may get this gem
because the auction ends within
the hour.”
I BID AND WON (as it turned
out, I bid and LOST).
Several days later, the car
showed up looking like a
Mercedes Benz salvage reject. I
think the proverbial junkyard dog
used the wheels as his preference over a shiny fire hydrant.
OK, so I’ll let bygones be
bygones and get on with my original plan to see what is now
available and at what price.
I logged in, entered make and
model into the search block and
pressed GO.
Continued on page 2
STARFEST
S eptember 24 - 29
Come for the weekend or for the
week. Enjoy showing your car,
driving your car, talking with other
Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts or just
enjoy gazing at some of the greatest
German made cars from the 60s,
70s, 80s 90s and today!
This is a great opportunity to really
learn how your car handles in a controlled environment under the watchful eye of an instructor at the speeds
that your car was designed to go.
All experience levels are encouraged to participate. If you have
questions about driving contact: Bill
Hopper, wwhopper@gmail.com,
202.364.2852.
If driving the track isn’t your thing,
enjoy some of the special tours of
the Virginia countryside arranged for
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
StarFest® 2010 will take place in
the beautiful Shenandoah Valley just
50 miles west of Washington, DC. A
scenic drive from virtually anywhere!
For more information contact Jim
Roberts: jertoothsaver@bellsouth.
net
General Registration is $45 which
includes a Friday evening Welcome
Reception; Detail Prep Clinics on
Friday; Technical seminars during
Saturday’s Concours d’ Elegance
and spectator admission to all driving events and the Concours d’
Elegance.
Event and Meal Registration varies.
For more information and to register go to: www.gws-mbca.org/SF/
StarFest.html
Registration questions: Contact
Paul Vandenberg: pdjv@pdjv.net
Questions about the event: Contact
Bill Hopper wwhopper@gmail.com.
T ime
M achine ,
C ont ’ d
Gosh, only five 1989 Mercedes
Benz 560SLs for sale? I think this
red one looks good and the seller
is only 200 miles from my
location.
Immediately this got my
attention:
Mouse Over..CLICK..
Bid history: 0 bids
Vehicle Description: “This is
a one family-owned 560SL with
complete records, window sticker,
books, manuals and absolutely
extraordinary! This car shows up
exactly like you see photographed
and without a doubt – THIS IS
THE BEST! This car could win
any show that it was to enter.”
The original owners’ son stated
the car had never been run in
the rain (they all say that). I really
believe the car was probably
never run in the rain. It shows as
a time warp back to 1989 in every
aspect – even the odor of the inte-
we would talk again on Monday
rior is of an 560SL in 1989.
and if we still agree, I would pick
The interior is incredible, the
engine compartment is incredible, up the car.
That was six days ago and as of
the soft top, the paint, the stainless steel, glass, wheels, tires, all now, I have had one person beg
incredible. As to the run and drive me to sell (on credit terms) and
another cash offer substantially
– INCREDIBLE!!
The car has nothing added or
higher than my purchase price.
subtracted from its original condiBUT: I love my wife, my house,
and MY 1989 Mercedes Benz
tion, no chrome lip moldings, no
door edge guards, no aftermarket 560SL and I say “NO SALE.”
radio, just pure Mercedes Benz.
The car was always garage-kept
and when driven to the office, it
was in an underground parking
garage. The undercarriage looks
like a new 560SL with nuts, bolts,
rubbers, exhaust, all still clean
and shiny.
Because of my prior experience,
I knew not to bid so I did the next
best thing. I called the number
listed and talked to the seller.
We agreed on a price of under
The in terio r looks p ris tin e ! Maybe it
$20,000 with the stipulation that IS 1989, after all!
Tax Day in Gaffney
AUGUST 7TH GATHERING IN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA
Our August members event was a
great success during
the annual Tax Free
Holiday weekend.
Held on Saturday,
August 7th at the
Prime Outlet Mall,
Carolinas section
members enjoyed a
full day of tax-free
shopping and camaraderie with friends
both old and new.
Adeptly organized
by Odette Sigler, the
group first met at
lunchtime at Exit 90,
right off I-85 at the
Prime Outlet Mall.
With over 70 outlet stores included
in the village-style
designer center,
some of America’s
biggest brand
names including
COACH Factory,
Pottery Barn Outlet,
Polo Ralph Lauren
Factory Store and
the Nike Factory
Store offered a vast
array of shopping
opportunities for the
bargain-seekers.
Around 3:30pm
in the afternoon,
the group lined up
all of the beautiful
Mercedes Benz cars
in attendance for
a series of photos,
including the ones
that you see here.
The outside activities didn’t last long,
as the temperature
was scorching hot.
The conclusion of the day
was an Aussie
delight at Outback
Steakhouse.
“We had a great
turnout,” said Rick
Deiber, president of
the Carolina section
of MBCA.
“We especially
enjoyed getting to
see Don Suttle’s
latest acquisition,
which is a superior
example of a 560SL
from the late ‘80s.”
The tax-free shopping event has been
an annual event for
the MBCA Carolinas
section for several
years now. If you’ve
never attended,
mark your calendar
now for
next year.
You won’t
want to
miss out
on the deals
next year!
President’s Message
MBCA CAROLINA’S SECTION PRESIDENT, RICK DEIBER
NEW MEMBERS
Thomas & JoAnne Clemons
Jerry and Caryloy Henderson
William and Lavern Hiatt
Dieter Klauss
Dennis & Shana La Caria
Nick Massarotto
Stephen Nielsen
Carolyn Poore
Jim Threatt
Marc Bowen
Brenner Wood & Karen Shea
Bob Boan
I have owned Mercedes Benz automobiles since my high school senior year in 1970. My
first MB was a 1960 220 S, the color was “green and rust”. A friend of my family was a
Mercedes mechanic at the Albany NY MB dealer and found me the car for $500. He also
patched the car and kept it running through my senior year of high school and my first two
years of college. Cancer (rust) finally killed the car after three years. I had become an
expert on patching rust holes with fiberglass, bondall and painting, but once rust starts,
you cannot stop it.
After the funeral for my 220 S, I was able to find a 1963 190 C in excellent condition. This
car was a dream compared to my old 220 S, no rust with low miles, European Model. I
purchased it from an Army Office who brought it back with him from Germany. I drove this
car for my final two years at Plattsburgh State University in Upstate NY (near the Canadian
border – 60 miles from Montreal). The car served me well on “Party Trips” to Montreal,
bi-weekly ski trips to Whiteface Mountain and Jay Peak in VT, and the 150 mile trip though
the Adirondack Mountains to my parents’ home in Schenectady, NY.
My senior year, I was driving though the Whiteface Mountain parking lot and drove over a
chunk of ice and punched a hole in the floor pan in the back seat. No problem, I patched
the hole with a “pop riveted” sheet of aluminum, and sealed with fiberglass cloth and resin,
and put the carpet and mat over the patch. Again, this car had “terminal cancer” (rust) and
only lasted another year.
In the past 40 years, I have owned over 25 cars and trucks (Mercedes and non-Mercedes),
but usually have at least one Mercedes in my garage.
Ed Horton
So, now that you know my story, I would like to introduce a new feature in our newsletter:
Naresh Jain
Edgar McVay
Every Car Has a Story
Robert & Janet Rosenzweig
Wajahat Syed
Frank Weckerly
WELCOME!
Cannon’s
• Specializing in Pre-Owned Mercedes•
2640 Asheville Highway
Hendersonville, NC
JERRY CANNON
Owner
828-606-7255 Cell
828-692-6541 Office
We will be featuring cars acquired by our members for reasonable amounts of money
(preferably under $20,000) in great condition with little work needed.
Examples of cars recently purchased by our members for under $20,000:
• Soren Pedersen -1998 SL 600 – Found in Florida in May with only 50,000 Miles
(Original Sticker Price $130,000+)
• Don Suttles -1989 SL purchased last month with 46,000 Miles
• My 2000 CLK 430 Cabriolet, purchased last year in Hickory with only 25,000 miles.
Stored in a garage since new with a car cover, never driven in rain or bad weather.
You don’t have to spend $50,000 + to get a MB! There are plenty of low mileage, mint
condition Mercedes available for under $20,000. These cars, if properly maintained, will
provide many years of service. Recent examples of cars for sales on Auto Trader and
Cars.com - 2001 CLK 320 Cabriolet at a MB Dealer in South Florida with 22,000 miles,
a 2003 ML 320 with 45,000 ($13,000) and a 2003 CLK 430 Cabriolet at a MB dealer in
Charlotte with 17,000 miles. These cars usually can be found in Florida and usually only
are used in the winter season.
In upcoming issues we will be featuring stories on our members cars. Please send us your
story about your car and we will feature it in upcoming newsletters!
See you at our next event at Shelton Vineyards in Dobson NC on Saturday August 28th.
Look for details on our website and in this newsletter.
H & H Auto Service
35 Hunter Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
Proud Members of the MercedesBenz Club of America Since 1983
•Sales and Service of Pre-Owned
Mercedes-Benzs
•Service by Experts Trained on Mercedes
•Great Advice and Helpful Information
H&H Auto Body - Check out our website at
www.hhautobodyhhi.com
(843) 681-8384 • www.handhautos.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
C heck
out full details at mbcacarolinas . org
Food Lion Auto Fair:
August 26 - 29,
Concord, NC. Charlotte Motor Speedway, Car show on 150+ acres
with 10,000 vendor spaces. WE’VE BEEN CHALLENGED! The
Porsche Club wagers that we can’t bring as many cars as they can.
Let’s prove them wrong! Let us know if you’re interested in attending
this event as a car club. Events are available daily from Aug. 26 - 29.
Shelton Vineyards:
August 28, 10:00am,
Shelton Vineyards in Dobson, NC. 10th Anniversary celebration
featuring vintage Mercedes Benz and wine! If you’d like to showcase
your car at this event, please email model and year to odette@
overgaardweb.com. Enjoy a winery tour and tasting before lunch and
then feast on fabulous food at the Harvest Grill at noon. There will
also be a car show, with neighboring sections bringing lots of beautiful cars, including some classics, including three 300SLs from the
1950s and 1960s. For more on the winery, visit
www.sheltonvineyards.com.
Euro Classica: in Winston Salem, NC. You are
invited to EURO CLASSICA, featuring the beautifully exciting cars
and motorcycles of Europe. Vehicles will be displayed in a park
like setting with the buildings of the 1700’s town of Old Salem as a
backdrop. The event will take place at historic Old Salem located in
Winston-Salem, NC. Sept. 10-11, 2010. $5 charitable donation at
the gate.
Call for Officer Nominations
The MBCA Carolinas Section is governed by an
elected group of officers. Every year, officers are
elected by you, the membership, at the annual
meeting, which will be held in December. These
elections are required by the MBCA Carolinas Section
bylaws.
As a MBCA Carolinas Section member, you are
eligible to serve on a committee or run for Section
Officer.
The offices for election this year are: President and
Treasurer. Additionally, the position of Newsletter
Editor will be open in 2011.
If you would like to be an officer, or volunteer to help
on a committee or produce the quarterly newsletter,
please contact Fred Harris, harrisfred@hotmail.com.
Thank you for your participation in the MBCA
Carolinas Section!
Oktoberfest:
Helen, GA: Oct. 8 - 10, Oktoberfest fall celebration. Enjoy the natural beauty of the
season with hands-on pioneer skills exhibits, hayrides through the park, traditional craft vendors, mountain
music, and apple cider from a hand-cranked press. Please note: the dates for this event may change. Please
consult the section’s website at www.mbcacarolinas.org.
Eurofest:
Spartanburg, SC: Oct. 15 - 16, Eurofest at the BMW Zentrum facility. The festivities will be
held on Friday and Saturday this year, with the featured marque of Volkswagen. Includes a show of many fine
vehicles, and lots of fun for enthusiasts.
Hilton Head Island Concours:
November 5 - 7, 2010. November 6: With car
clubs traveling from throughout the U.S. to participate, the Car Club Jamboree offers an eclectic mix of over
150 cars covering the history of the automobile from early production models to modern day’s high performance muscle cars, hot rods and European sports cars. This year will feature car clubs that celebrate the 2010
Honored Marque, Chevrolet, as well as celebrate the beauty of Italian design with clubs representing Ferrari,
Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo and more! November 7: The first Sunday of November, official Concours d’Elegance
competition day, will feature over 150 vintage cars and motorcycles competing for the coveted top honors of Best
of Show and People’s Choice. All exhibited vehicles must go through an application process and be accepted
by the Concours d’Elegance Selection Committee. To be considered, all cars must be 1972 and earlier and all
motorcycles must be 1980 and earlier. MBCA Carolinas section has participated as a club for several years now
- please join us in Hilton Head for an amazing weekend. Details will be available on mbcacarolinas.org.
Annual Dinner:
Asheville, NC. Gather together with fellow club members at our traditional
dinner in December. Plans to be announced.
NEW MAGAZINE, KLASSE, FEATURES SLKS IN FIRST ISSUE
A new magazine called Klasse is scheduled to be on sale at the end of this
year. The entire first edition will be devoted to SLKs! The editor, Tom Bentley, is
looking for content. He’s hoping to write about:
•Someone who owns three or more SLKs.
•A factory mechanic or specialty shop owner who is well-versed in
SLKs and really into them, not just someone who’s worked on one.
•An owner who has greatly modified their car.
•Someone who races SLKs.
•An unsual story with your car, such as you traveled to Europe to
pick up the car, or the car caused a profound change in their life.
To contact Tom,
you may reach
him at:
klassemagazine.com.
Dock
Party!
July 10th in Charleston: Sunshine? CHECK. Surf ‘n Turf? CHECK. Beautiful waterfront
view? CHECK. We have everything! So, it must be the annual MBCA Carolinas Section
Dock Party!!
Graciously hosted once again by Henry and Katherine Dunbar at their incredible home, it
was a perfect day for a dock party.
There were plenty of goodies and hanging out by the water on the Dunbar’s dock was a
favorite pastime of the members who attended.
“I was thrilled that we had new faces at the dock party,” said Rick Deiber, MBCA
Carolinas Section President. “We encourage everyone to attend events and get to know
the other members of the Club. I’ve made a great many new friends, just by participating!”
MEMBER BBQ IN COLUMBIA •MAY
22
!
a full weekend of activities including the sls amg
SLS AMG
interior
Dinner
SLS AMG
rear view
SLS AMG
Party Starting
Lunch
at the
at the
Tiki Hut
Brownes
at
Gervais
and
Vine
front view
Dinner
at
Gervais
Group
at
Dick Dyer MB Session
Rick Deiber
on the covered porch
Saluda River
Everyone’s
here!
Saltwater Pool
and
Vine
behind the
Brownes
Thanks to everyone that came to the Member BBQ in Columbia, hosted by Chip and Melissa Browne! The weekend included a Friday
evening dinner at Gervais and Vine, a tapas bar; a Saturday morning viewing of the SLS AMG at Dick Dyer Mercedes Benz/Volvo; the
BBQ on Saturday afternoon and a goodbye breakfast on Sunday morning at Cafe Strudel.
MBCA | Carolinas Section
101 Medical Circle Drive
West Columbia, SC 29169
TIDBITS • USEFUL INFORMATION
Carolinas Section Officers Contact List
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
COLUMBIA, SC
PERMIT #1098
AMG Driving Academy
AMG Driving Academy offers the opportunity to develop performance
driving skills under the guidance of professional racers and instructors
and takes place at two of the most legendary US circuits, Road Atlanta and
Laguna Seca Raceway. It offers three distinct programs, each of which
will push drivers to the limit in select AMG vehicles, including the most
advanced AMG vehicle ever built, the 2011 SLS AMG.
Visit AMGAcademy.com and use discount code ADAMBCA to register.
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
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
be sent electronically (so it must include a valid email address). Please
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
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
send these updates to Geni at geni@mbca.org.
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