The official newsleTTerof The mercedes benz club of america, carolinas secTion

fourTh QTr 2012

mbca | Carol inas Sect ionM

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Euro Auto FestivalDomination

The 17th annual EURO Auto Festival was held the weekend of October 19 - 20 in Greer, South Caroli-na, which is between Greenville and Spartanburg in the upstate. The event covered the entire weekend, with two rallies through the area early Friday after-noon, a series of workshops on Friday, followed by a welcome dinner at the Embassy Suites, which was the host hotel for the weekend’s festivities.

One of the workshops held Friday afternoon was a session on detailing. The small conference room was packed to standing room only and we learned all about what chemicals to use and not use, and the importance of keeping up with your car from Tim McNair.

Other workshops included sessions on ethanol fuel, concours judges training and high performance tires.

The main event was, of course, the car show held on the grounds of the BMW Manufacturing Plant on Saturday, October 20th. The morning was quite chilly, but the day turned out to be perfect in all regards, with afternoon temperatures in the 70s.

By the time the show opened, there were 415 fine vehicles representing 30 marques in 54 classes. There was something for everyone, and the high-light was the massive attendance of Mercedes Benz owners. Sixty four excellent representatives of the brand were lined up in two large rows for all to see and appreciate.

Members of MBCA from both the Carolinas Section and the Peachtree Section were represented, and

Bill Hopper our Eastern Regional Director attended as well. The club had a great tent setup, and differ-ent members took turns manning the booth. Many copies of The Star magazine were distributed, as well as several membership applications.

One of the show sponsors, BASF, brought a beauti-fully restored 1957 300 SL Gull Wing Coupe pre-pared by Chip Foose. It’s two-tone paint was breath-taking.

Dennis Gage, host of the Speed Television network show, My Classic Car, was in attendance to partici-pate as a judge and to shoot footage for a future episode.

The next EURO Auto Festival honored marque will be Ferrari for 2013. If you’ve not participated with this event before, please consider attending with your Mercedes Benz this coming Fall. The venue is absolutely beautiful, the facility offers great ameni-ties (indoor restrooms!), and it’s centrally located between North and South Carolina. Come join your fellow MBCA members and let’s keep showing our beautiful cars!

Be sure to look inside for a full photo feature on the 2013 EURO Auto Festival.

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CONTENT2 President’s Message

3 New Member Roster & Benefits

4 - 5 EURO Auto Festival Photos

6 Calendar of Events

7 Member of the Year

8-9 Christmas Party

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

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.

Ready forWhat’s Next

PRESIDENTRichard DeiberHuntersville, NC(704) 948-1433president@mbcacarolinas.org

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTAnthony SantagatiBeaufort, SC (843) 522-9444sandspub@aol.com

VICE PRESIDENTSoren PedersenWaxhaw, NC(980) 722-5651vicepresident@mbcacarolinas.org

SECRETARYPosition Vacant

TREASURERRoy L. DavisColumbia, SC(803) 331-1852royleedavis42@gmail.com

MEMBERSHIP CHAIRFred HarrisStatesville, NC(704) 902-6253harrisfred@hotmail.com

EVENTS CHAIRPosition Vacant

NEWSLETTER EDITORMelissa Sprouse BrowneColumbia, SC(803) 791-3800info@mbcacarolinas.org

About MBCAEstablished 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 forma-tion 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.

This year has been a busy one for the MBCA Carolinas Section, with several huge events and increased attendance well over the previous year. These are signs of positive growth in our club and I’m looking forward to what the new year will bring.

We will be having our planning meeting in January, 2013 in Columbia to plan the events and outings for 2013. Of course everyone will be invited to attend and a notice with a date and location will be provided in advance.

We will need to look toward replacement officers for the coming year as well. If you have an interest in serving in any capacity for the club, please let me know and we’ll help you get plugged in to the role you desire. You may reach me via email at president@mbcacarolinas.org.

Our section has several great traditions, including our annual Dock Party which is held every summer. Don’t be afraid to come to one of the posted outings; you’ll find everyone to be friendly and welcoming. And, we already have so much in common –our love of all things Mercedes Benz. Join us and meet some new friends!

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Ed Keady Charlotte NC

Paul Sykes Charleston SC

Roger Loewenheim Hendersonville NC

Wendy Spitz Ft. Mill SC

Darrell Burdick Hanahan SC

Chuck Layer Rock Hill SC

Christopher O’Leary Hilton Head SC

Don Dicus Chapin SC

George Bokas Concord NC

Brian Hayes Mooresville NC

Gerald Axner Aiken SC

Robert Bilka Myrtle Beach SC

Danny Arnold Asheville NC

Lee Oppenheimer Hilton Head SC

Donnie Todd Marvin NC

Daniel Olson Lincolnton NC

Erik Griffen China Grove NC

Steve Haas Matthews NC

M. Emma Crawford Summerville SC

Michael Cottone Aiken SC

Stephen Coma Charlotte NC

Molly Hammonds Charlotte NC

Gene Madden Laurens SC

Tom Barnett N. Myrtle Beach SC

We are so pleased to welcome the newest members of the Mercedes Benz Club of America to the Carolinas Section!

Ready forWhat’s Next

Benefits for neW MeMBers There’s a lot of good to be had from your membership! In addition to all of the cool things you get from National, such as the loyalty discount you receive on the purchase of a new Merceds Benz, your very own Carolinas Section offers special benefits, too! First, as a new member, please feel free to attend an event at no charge. For activities that include travel or dinner, those expenses will still remain the responsiblity of the member. But any cost 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

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.

THE LATEST FOLKS TO JOIN US

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EURO Auto Festival

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EURO Auto Festival

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And the Award Goes to...2013 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Birmingham, AlabamaMay 18-22, 2013

Come for the Tech!• Factory Tours of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI)• MBUSA and MBUSI Speakers• Touring Laps – Barber Motorsports Road Course• Technical Seminars

Come for the Fun!• Vintage Races at Barber Motorsports• U.S. Space & Rocket Center and NASA Tour• Shopping• Garden & Museum Tours• Something for everyone ...

StarTech 2013

For information and registration package contact Liz Robersonat lizroberson2013@gmail.com | 205.822.8460

Mercedes-Benz Club of America | Alabama Sectionwww.StarTech2013.org

®

– Maintenance– Repairs– Restoration

– Modification– Manufacturing

Aldridge Gardens U.S Space & Rocket CenterMBUSI Welcome Center Modification Barber Motorsports Park

MBUSI Headquarters

JAnUArY•Planning Meeting, January 2013, Columbia SC. We will hold our annual planning session at the Real Estate School of SC, 101 Medical Circle, West Columbia SC on a Saturday morning in January to plan events for the remainder of 2013.

MAY•StarTech 2013, May 18-22, Alabama. Registration is now open for StarTech 2013, running May 18-22 in sun-kissed Alabama. Save up to $45 if you register by March 15th.

noVeMBer•CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE &CAR CLUBJAMBOREE,Hilton Head,South Carolina. The annual car show in Hilton Head has aBIG change thisyear! The venue willbe adjacent to theWestin host hoteland no longer at Honey Horn! No moredusty cars! Look foradditional info onthis event in the next issue and planto join us the firstweek of November in 2013.

Go to http://startech.mbca.org/ for additional information and to register.

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And the Award Goes to...The Carolinas Section is pleased to honor Ed Keady as the 2012 Member of the Year!

The General Manager of Hendrick Motors of Charlotte, Ed was instrumental in arranging the absolutely incredible private tour for the Carolinas Section of the Rick Hendrick Racing facility this past April.

Ed is responsible for the Hendrick

Motors dealership and they provide excellent service to our club members.

“I’m thrilled to present Ed with the Member of the Year honor,” said Rick Deiber, Carolinas Section president. “He is a very supportive part of our network of dealers and we wanted to show him how much he is appreciated.”

MEMBER OF THE YEAR

ODDS AND ENDS NEWSLETTER EDITOR PUBLISHES BOOK ON SENIOR CAREMelissa 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.

Available in print on www.amazon.com, and through 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.

UniQUe toUr of GerMAnYAs a special bonus in 2013, the National Business Of-fice has partnered with Frosch Travel to offer MBCA Members a unique tour of Germany. This tour is open to all MBCA members.

Members will travel from basel, Switzerland to Amster-dam, Holland September 29-October 6, 2013 aboard the exquisite Viking River Cruises Sun cruise ship. Ex-plore four countries with six guided tours and visit some of the most amazing highlights along the breathtaking Rhine River.

Special price discounts have been created exclusively for MBCA Members. Contact Randy Norris at Frosch Travel for infromation and reservations, 800-262-7447, ext. 105. You can also contact John Martiss at 800-262-7447, ext. 114. Space is extremely limited, so please call ASAP.

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On December 1st, almost 30 members went to the historic town of Aiken, South Carolina for our annual meeting.

This year, it was held at the Willcox Inn, which is ranked number 32 out of the Top 50 Small Inns of the World.

After a short pre-dinner cocktail, we went on to dinner in our private dining room, which the Inn had decorated for us, right down to our own Christmas Tree.

It was unusually warm, so we bypassed having the large fireplace lit. Our former club secretary Roger Levesque generously brought his keyboard and voice and provided Christmas music for the event.

The food was absolutely excellent. After dinner and opening remarks, we shared in a gift exchange and then door prizes from several Mercedes Benz dealers in the Carolinas. Some members virtually got their dinner costs back in prizes!

Our club president also awarded Ed Keady of Hendrick Motors of Charlotte with our Member of the Year award for his contributions to our club.

We then wrapped up club business with closing remarks and sincere holiday wishes. Some of us took this to mean we should go to the bar until we close it!

Some couples also took advantage of the Inn’s great room offer. Our rooms were just beautiful. The next morning, the Inn provided breakfast and we did all of the usual talking about the previous night, our cars and other club events. Based on attending members’ votes, we look forwar to returning next year.

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONPhotos and Story By Nick Pasquine

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ODDS AND ENDS

NEWSLETTER EDITOR PUBLISHES BOOK ON SENIOR CAREMelissa 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 instruc-tion 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, inclu-ing 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 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.

MBCA NATIONAL ELECTIONIn the event of an uncontested election where there is only one nominee for each National Board position and there are no ballot issues to be submitted to the mem-bership, a slate of candidates will be printed in the Sept/Oct The Star in lieu of separate delivery to the Active Members.

In order to be counted, ballots must be re-ceived by October 15, 2012.

On the road with a beautifully restored 300SL Gullwing

TO STUTTGART IN STYLE1,400-MILE R107 DASH

ORIGINAL SUPER SALOON300SEL 6.3’S PACE AND SPACE

W113 BUYER’S

GUIDE PICK A TOP PAGODA SL

MAJESTIC COUPESTWO W111 V8s

ClassicMercedesBETTER THANNEW!

ClassicMercedesC E L E B R A T I N G T H E W O R L D ’ S G R E A T E S T C A R SC E L E B R A T I N G T H E W O R L D ’ S G R E A T E S T C A R S

PLUS 190E 2.5-16 EVO II ◆ BARN FIND PONTONS ◆ MERCEDES LEGEND - ERICH WAXENBERGER

Issue Number 1£4.95Issue Number 1£4.95

NEW!

NEW MERCEDES BENZ MAGAZINE Sundial Magazines the publishers of the monthly title Mer-cedes Enthusiast have launched a new quarterly magazine Classic Mercedes.

Classic Mercedes will focus on the world’s best and most coveted classic Mercedes Benz models, from the iconic SL Gullwing of the 1950’s through to the Modern Classics of the 1980s and 1990s.

Classic Mercedes will have strong international theme sourcing the broad-est possible spread of material from across the world with company and model profiles, plus guidance on buying. The pho-tographic element will be pronounced feature of its pre-sentation.

It is designed to complement Mer-cedes Enthusiast which maintains its policy of covering all aspects of the Mercedes brand while leaving the new Classic Mercedes to concentrate on solely classics.

Classic Mercedes is targeted at the affluent collectors and enthusiasts of the brand which will emphasised by the high quality production and paper stock of the title.

Classic Mercedes will be on sale in selected Barnes & Noble stores from the end of July/early August 2012 and will cost just $12.50 per issue. If you can’t get to a Barnes & Noble store, then you can order Classic Mercedes on the website ($12.50 inc. air mail) or subscribe for just $40.

For more information www.classicmercedesmagazine.com