MBCA | Carolinas Section - Mercedes

FOURTH QtR
2011
MBCA | Carolinas Section
The official newsletter
of the mercedes benz club of
america, carolinas section
ilton Head Concours is This
WEEKEND: Nov. 5th - 6th
tma
r
If you
know the
way from
previous
years, please be in the White Lane 1
at 7:45am at Honey Horn. If you have
any questions, please contact Soren
at soren@overgaardweb.com.
s in
r Ha
sa
es
, p.
5
is
h
T
In
:
e
u
s
Is
e
Ev
And on Sunday, the official Concours
d’Elegance showcases the finest in
Soren Pedersen is in charge of our
club’s entrants this year, and advises
anyone exhibiting to meet at the
Welcome Center, just as you
come onto Hilton Head Island.
The exhibiting cars will depart
from the
welcome
center
at 7:30am
yC
sharp.
a
ris
Ch
We anticipate having a great turnout
in both spectators and exhibitors, so
if you’ve never been, please consider
making the trip over to Hilton Head this
year. You will get to see an amazing
assortment of cars, and have plenty
of chances to enjoy the fashion show
and Motoring Midway exhibits.
automobiles. This year’s honored
marquee is BMW, another German
product of which we can be proud.
pi
ctu
r
It’s time once again for the wonderful
fall event in Hilton Head, SC - the tenth
annual Hilton Head Motoring Festival.
The MBCA Carolinas Section has been
invited back as a club to participate in
the Car Club Jamboree on Saturday,
November 5th at Discovery Place at
Honey Horn.
olum
C
Barbecue in
Stor
Cha
y, p
rlest
.2
on,
p.
4
bia
H
Cool New Benefits & Discounts Inside!
6
’s
nt p.
e
,
sid age
e
Pr ess
M
St
ory
E v e r y C ar
H as A
by roy davis
MBCA | Carolinas Section
This 1987 560 SEL was
discovered on the back
row of a used car lot in
Raleigh, North Carolina
by my son, Brad (who,
by the way, is not a
Benz owner).
However, trusting his
opinion and knowledge
of cars, I bought this
560 SEL sight unseen,
over the phone.
The first owner was
Sugar Mountain Resort
and there were three
other owners since it
was first purchased,
including myself.
The car was in need of
brakes and I replaced
the tires with a set of
Michelins. Other than
that, I have made no
other changes.
I drive this car every
day for my work and
average approximately
one thousand miles a
week.
At 230,000 original
miles, she is still
going strong. I have all of the original paperwork and previous owners’ names and
addresses.
The car is black with a gray interior, sunroof, cruise control, heated seats in both the
front and rear, and reclining back seats. The VIN shows it to be a Canada Limited
Edition.
O c tober
Cl u b O uting
by vickie deiber
Special Event
The Carolinas Chapter of the Mercedes-Benz Club of
America gathered on a beautiful Saturday morning in
mid-October for a special club outing. The Hendrick
Motors of Charlotte Mercedes-Benz dealership on
East Independence Boulevard hosted our group for
a grand tour of their facility and so much more. The
“more” was exciting news for the club members and
a win-win for both our members as well new and
existing Mercedes Benz clientele.
A more comfortable waiting area features free coffee and refreshments, a business center with WiFi
access and a television to view the bay where your
vehicle is being serviced. The service bays sport
new flooring and tool boxes. And soon, a high line
body shop will be available to repair Mercedes Benz,
BMW, Ferrari, Porsche and other high end car lines.
Hendrick, a name synonymous with high-end automobiles for nearly 40 years, numerous charitable
organizations and, of course, NASCAR Racing,
opened their dealership’s showroom and shops
to our Club for an exclusive behind the scenes
tour. Though Rick Hendrick has been a Mercedes
Benz dealer since 1982, this location is their first in
Charlotte. The dealership was purchased in 2009 by
Hendrick Automotive Group.
The blending of new and old Mercedes Benz automobile technologies is at the heart of this dealership and best displayed in the Service Center repair
area. This mix of technological know-how is fostered
and shared between the new, often younger computer savvy “young guys” and the knowledge and
expertise in repairing older models by the “old
guys.” There is nearly 450 years of combined automotive expertise at Hendrick Motors of Charlotte.
Education and training is a constant, with an impressive number of Master Mechanics.
Leading our band of enthusiasts was General
Manager Ed Keady. Ed is a man who enjoys his
career with Hendrick Motors, is enthusiastic about his
product, proud of his team members, appreciates his
customers and strives to create an environment of
excellence to best serve all their clientele.
As proof they are doing something right, Hendrick
Motors of Charlotte has been awarded “The Best of
the Best Award” for 2010. This award recognizes the
excellent performance of the top 15% of Mercedes
Benz dealers in the areas of sales, parts and customer service. They are currently in the running to
receive this distinction again this year.
After the Club’s car photo-op, our tour of the facility began. Ed referred to customers awaiting the
complimentary wash. “Here at Hendrick, customers
with a HMB window sticker can drive in for a free car
wash, which is always nice; especially on a bright
and clear Carolina Saturday,” said Keady. The Detail
Facility is nearby where new, used and “just off the
truck” cars are cleaned and detailed before being
delivered or displayed on the lot.
Trained technical staff is on hand to service and
maintain the AMG brand. Hendrick is one of twenty
seven AMG Performance Center Dealers in the
United States.
The dealership recently underwent an external face
lift and internal renovations from the front to the back.
Color and building facades have been brightened,
the flooring updated, and a plan implemented for
the transparency of service line advisor offices, which
will encourage the flow of services and information
between disciplines.
There’s even more to anticipate with Hendrick Motors
of Charlotte. They currently use a mobile service
van for minor automotive services to be completed
in your driveway or in your parking lot while you’re
at work. Plans are also on the horizon for educating
customers on how to integrate technology (cellphone
and internet) with the car (where capable).
As a MBCA Club member (and with proof of membership in the Club) Hendrick Motors of Charlotte is
offering a $30 per hour discount off the normal labor
cost, and a 15% discount off parts and accessories.
Here’s keeping our fingers crossed that Mr. Hendrick
will allow our Club members to visit his extensive
private car collection in the future (hint, hint).
Charlest
on
H ol id ay Luncheo n i n H i s t o r i c
Located in historic downtown Charleston
SC, 39 Rue de Jean is a refined French
café and bar offering the best in classic
Brasserie cuisine. The creations of the
culinary team pay homage to the classic
brasserie cuisine that inspired vehemently
loyal Parisians. Guests of 39 Rue de Jean
enjoy indoor/outdoor patio seating, cocktails and a predominantly French wine list
blended with a selection of their steward’s
favorites.
Our holiday luncheon will be on Saturday,
December 3, 2011 at noon in the Oyster Room at the restaurant. The address
is 39 John Street, which is in downtown
Charleston between Meeting and King
Streets, near the Charleston Music Hall.
WELCOME
new members!
Douglas Bachtler
Lamar Baehr
Richard Bowden
Skuli Egilsson
Mark Pfeifer
David Presott, Sr.
Celine Rivers
Howard Scholp
William Willis
Cannon’s
Specializing in
Pre-Owned
Mercedes
2640 Asheville Highway
Hendersonville, NC
JERRY CANNON
Owner
828-606-7255 Cell
828-692-6541 Office
Columbia
M em ber
BBQ in
It was a sunny day in Columbia... almost. The
annual member barbecue was held at the
home of Chip and Melissa Sprouse Browne on
Saturday, September 24th and was a tremendous amount of fun. Except for the part when
it rained and half of the guests were trapped
under the gazebo, some were trapped at the
tiki hut and everyone else was on the wraparound porch.
Luckily, there was plenty of food and
drink at each area, so no casualties
were reported! Thanks to Roy Davis
for securing the barbecue and all of
the fixings from
Mathias Sandwich Shop.
other markets to negotiate discounts for
our members.
President’s
Message
Our Annual Membership Luncheon
will be held in Charleston on Saturday,
December 3. All members of Carolinas
section are invited, you will receive
details soon from our event coordinator.
The Carolinas Chapter of the Mercedes-Benz Club
of America has been working to add value to your
membership. Recently, Soren Pedersen, section Vice
President, had meetings with the management of
Hendrick Motors of Charlotte and Mercedes Benz of
Myrtle Beach.
The Vice President and Secretary
Officers of our section are up for election
this fall. If you are interested either of
these positions, please send a letter with
your name and contact info to:
info@mbca.org.
Both dealerships agreed to provide our members with
significant discounts on service and accessories. With
these discounts, the cost of service at these dealerships
will now be competitive with independent garages.
Specific details are included in this newsletter. Also, both
dealerships are partnering with our section to increase
our membership base. Hendrick Motors of Charlotte will
be attaching our membership hangers to all cars being
serviced. They will also be discussing membership in
MBCA with the delivery of each car.
rick@deiber.biz
MBCA Carolina’s
section
president,
rick deiber
Capriccio Ristorante
Make Your Reservation
for a Romantic Rendezvous!
10% Discount for MBCA Members!
Over the next few months, Soren and I will be meeting
with MB Dealers in Columbia, Greenville, Asheville and
1034 Chuck Dawley Blvd.
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 881-5550
Mercedes-Benz
Skyland Automotive, Inc.
255 Smoky Park Highway • PO Box 6359
Asheville, NC 28816-6359
(828) 667-5213 • (828) 667-8463
www.skylandautomotive.com
Va l u ab le
Discount
s
Hendrick
Motors of
Charlotte
Mercedes
Benz of
Myrtle Beach
Present a valid MBCA membership card and
receive:
Present a valid MBCA membership card and
receive:
•15% off parts
•Hourly labor rate of $99
•15% off parts
•Hourly labor rate of $99
This is a 30% savings compared to
regular rates!
This is a 30% savings compared to
regular rates!
H & H Auto Service
Look for
an exciting
event at this
dealership
in March
2012 for our
members!
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
Why Should I Become a Member?
Join the Club!
Dozens of reasons
to join. About
30,000 reasons to
stay
Why Should I Become a Member?
There are so many reasons to become a member of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America. For a nominal
membership fee of $45 a year (U.S.) or $55 a year (Canada and International countries), Club members receive
an impressive return on their annual investment.
Here some of the ways members have fun, learn more about their Mercedes-Benz vehicles and save money, all
at the same time:
After a year of membership and renewal without lapse, you'll be eligible for a $1,000 credit towards
purchase or lease of your next new Mercedes-Benz (from an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer)
Present your Club membership card at participating Mercedes-Benz dealers and receive an additional
discount of up to 20% off parts and service
15% off some of the finest clothes in the world at Brooks Brothers Clothing
Preferred pricing with the world's foremost Medical Evacuation and Transportation company, MedJet Assist
20% off room rates at eight exclusive resorts across the United States (See "All Benefits" link under the
"Membership" tab). Also includes complimentary daily breakfast for two at the restaurant of each resort,
discounts on tennis / spa amenities and much more!
Enjoy preferred rental rates from Avis and Hertz
Receive discounts on nearly every item that Sears offers only when your a member of MBCA
Get 15% off parts at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine, CA
Save loads of money when you insure your Mercedes with preferred pricing from Chubb Collector Car
Insurance, only through MBCA
Enjoy a one-year subscription—six issues mailed every two months—to our award-winning magazine, The
Star
Get preferred interest rates on purchases when you apply for and shop with our Visa Platinum Rewards Card
Get thousands of dollars off moving, home-buying, home-selling and mortgage financing products and
services through our Allied Van Lines Moving Benefits Program
And for fun, try any one of our car events, technical clinics or socials—from rallyes and racetrack driving to
under-the-hood tutorials, Concours d’Elegance, off-road drives, Germany vacations, wine tours and more.
There’s always something for everyone.
Want to invest around 15 cents a day for a year’s worth of fun, learning and excitement?
Join Now
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TREASURER
PRESIDENT
© MBCA,
Inc., 2011, All Rights ReservedRoy
| Privacy
Policy
L. Davis
Richard
Deiber
Columbia, SC
Huntersville, NC
(704) 948-1433
(803) 331-1852
president@mbcacarolinas.org
treasurer@mbcacarolinas.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
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
Position Vacant
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Melissa Sprouse Browne
Columbia, SC
(803) 791-3800
info@mbcacarolinas.org
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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.
National Board: Rodger Van Ness, President: rvann40398@aol.com; Steve
Dierks, Vice President: sdierks007@cs.com; Mary Alice Cozza, Secretary:
marcozza7@neo.rr.com; Laura Simonds, Treasurer: simondsl@pacbell.net. Eastern
Regional Director, William Hopper, wwhrestoration@att.net.
Additional officers and contact information may be found in the latest issue of The
Star magazine.
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.