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Sunday, October 20, at 1:00PM to 3:00PM the Greater Washington Section will hold its Annual Membership Meeting at American Service Center in Arlington, Virginia. Our always gracious hosts at ASC will provide light hors d'oeuvres and refreshments.
This year's meeting promises to be an eventful afternoon. Besides the review of club activities and affairs, we will also hold the Annual Mid-Atlantic Concours complete with trophies! After being rained out two times, the officers decided that perhaps we should hold the Concours indoors. So if you have not already spiffed up you car, give it a quick wash and come down to ASC for a fun afternoon.
And if that were not enough, it is time for the section to hold its biennial election of officers. All active members are entitled to vote. There is only one vote per membership. The Nominating Committee has completed its selection of candidates. Nominations for officer positions can also be made from the floor at the meeting.
Remember the Annual Membership Meeting is one of the activities where 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 year pins are presented. So come out and enjoy the wonderful hors d'oeuvres, fine new automobiles in ASC showroom, and the good company of old and new friends.
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biennial elections of Greater Washington Section officers will be held at the Annual Membership Meeting on Sunday, October 20, at 1:00PM at American Service Center in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in several years, we have multiple candidates for Vice President and Secretary. The Nominating Committee would like to put forth the following names for consideration by the GWS membership:
| President | |
| Mason Beale | |
| Vice President | |
| Vern Luke | |
| Harry Newman | |
| Judy Roth | |
| Secretary | |
| Al Angulo | |
| Rob Kaplan | |
| Treasurer | |
| Jim Glenn | |
You can read the candidate statements in September's Metro Tri-Star or on the GWS web site.
If you have a question for the candidates come to the Annual Meeting or drop them an email prior to the meeting. You must be present to cast your vote.
Nominations may be made from the floor. If you are interested in reading the clubs bylaws that govern our elections and other club activities you may access them on our web site.
If you have any questions regarding the elections, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee: Bill Hopper (202-363-4189), Janet McFarland (703-765-9405), or Jim Smith (jimsmith@visuallink.com).
Annual Holiday Party
Celebrate 2003 in Style with a Winter Brunch
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you looking forward to winter so you can get into the G-Wagon, the 4Matic, or the ML and go off to a place new and exciting? GWS members love to celebrate no matter what the weather and they always do it in style! This year's Annual Holiday Party has been turned into a January Sunday brunch. The party will be held on Sunday, January 12, at Noon at The cost is $39, and includes two "hard" drinks, unlimited soft drinks, and a full buffet. Not to mention the great camaraderie of fellow section members, and the excitement of the awards ceremony all in a great new location.
Columbia Country Club, built in 1909, was one of the first all new golf clubs built in the Twentieth Century. Columbia was honored to host the 1921 United States Open Golf Championship. After that tournament it was stated "The Columbia Country Club... certainly set a standard which will be hard for other clubs to aspire to. Every detail was looked after in the most efficient way and it seem as if every thought and wish was anticipated and provided for."
Well, we will not be playing golf in January, but the wishes of many GWS members has been to celebrate with the club north of the Potomac River and not in December. So this year we will be doing just that! So mark your calendars now. And don't forget to send your check and coupon in to reserve your place!
More details will be in future newsletters. Call Bill Hopper at 202-363-4189 if you have any questions.
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Club News
New Member Reception
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new Mercedes-Benz of Alexandria has graciously offered to host a new member wine and cheese reception on Sunday, December 1 at their dealership on south Pickett Road in Alexandria from 1:00PM to 3:30PM.
Of course, all members are invited. "Old" members---membership years not age---are asked to welcome our newer members and make them aware of our varied Greater Washington Section activities and friendliness.
The dealership is off Duke Street near the Landmark Mall. Mercedes-Benz of Alexandria is still renovating the old Stohlman Oldsmobile store and progress has been steady. When completed in spring 2003, the dealership will be another in the jewel in the Washington-area Mercedes-Benz crown. Come see the new E- and SL-Class cars and the updated S- and CL-Class models.
Your officers, board members, and event committee chairs will be there to answer your questions and to listen to your suggestions on how we can make GWS even better.
Please let us know if you wil be attending by completing the enclosed coupon so we will have an accurate count for our hosts.
ecently,
the National Business Office of the Mercedes-Benz Club announced that members can now join additional sections. This will permit members who live near other club sections to receive the newsletters of those sections.
For example, members who live in the southern part of the Greater Washington Section might be interested in attending events in the either the Virginia or Central Virginia sections or those in northern Maryland or Delaware might want to participate in the South Jersey or Delaware Valley section events. It will also benefit "snowbirds" traveling south for the winter.
The cost per additional section is $15 and membership in the additional sections must run concurrent with the member's existing membership expiration date. Voting privileges are limited to national elections and the primary section membership.
alifornia
girl. You've seen her. Brilliant and beautiful; fearless and fun-loving. She's descendent from that gallant race of men and women who walked across a continent next to a Conestoga wagon and a team of oxen. She learned to surf when she was eight and had started reading Dostoyevsky before she turned eighteen. She can handle a chopped Harley or drink carrot juice with an avocado salad. I've seen her driving her vintage Mercedes 230SL down the Coast Highway with the top down and the wind in her hair. She's the stuff of song and legend, but she's as real as you or I. Gosh, I've known her for years... California dreamin'.
Kathy Kennel; former National President of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America; California girl, par excellence; carperson-starperson; intellectual giant; dauntless, idealistic crusader; my dear friend... Kathy's life membership in the MBCA expired on September 22, 2002 after a ten year battle with cancer. It was the last day of summer.
Kathy held the line on membership dues while she was club president. She could change her own oil and set her timing. She fought long and hard for monthly publication of our club's magazine, The Star. She had a lead foot on the track. She was completely dedicated to openness and democracy in club governance. Her magnificent starship was a regular at the prestigious Fashion Island Car Show. She struggled against the appearance of cronyism and the "ole boy" network like a tigress. She was my navigator in the famous '98 Savannah Rallye.
Kathy was the most naturally funny person I have ever known. She could pillory the pompous with a single rapier-fast comment, right on target. We laughed and laughed when some humorless lad proposed disciplinary charges against her in some bureaucratic context for her sharp and insightful wit. Even now, when overcome with a very different emotion, I can't help but smile when I remember Kathy's jocular quips full of pith and sweet venom.
Kathy, Kathy, Kathy... there are so many things I still want to say.
If I live to be an old man, I suppose, some day, I'll head for California. I spent part of my childhood at the foot of the Angeles Crest Mountains. I know what it means to run jacks on the high desert of the Joshua tree. I've earned the right to wear the surfer's cross. I can drift a roadster through the switchbacks of the Los Padres. Bet you I can still nail a rattler with a 22 at ten paces in a shady arroyo.
California dreamin'... In that fair and sunny future I'll become the "little old gentleman from Pasadena." I'll put down rubber on Colorado Boulevard and smoke the teenagers with my trusty Finback. I'll spend my evenings waxing my board and wear my Pendleton out of chinos. I'll get a Zuendapp two-stroke and lean it into the sweepers on the way to Big Bear. You bet I'll pack iron when I head down to Baja.
California dreamin'... I'm tooling down the Coast Highway with the heavy early morning mist swirling in my wake. The sound of rolling Pacific breakers punctuates the sweet heartbeat of my high revving engine. A couple of amber Bosch fog lamps are coming up fast from behind. In my rear view mirror I see the glint of a silver star. I hear a well executed down shift just before the flying SL darts out to overtake me... Wait, I know that California girl behind the wheel!
| John Kuhn Bleimaier |
Calendar of Events
Greater Washington Section Events
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President's Message
Thoughts of a Car Guy
ummer's
end is here and with it the end of my tour of duty as president of the Greater Washington Section. It has been an honor to serve the biggest and best section in the country. Our event schedule is rivaled by no other. Every month a variety of member events, not to mention three Tri-O-Rama national events in four years, wow! Your GWS team of officers and board members have supported me well over the four years and I thank them all.
We have tried and, I believe, have been very successful in bringing new blood into leadership roles in the section. For without new spirit any organization will become stale and wither. Your section is in good hands and will continue to be the flagship of the national Mercedes-Benz Club of America fleet. 2003 will be yet another banner year for the Greater Washington Section with the return of Tri-O-Rama in September. And, TOR will be bigger and better than ever. There is a very distinct possibility we will be at Virginia International Raceway in South Boston, Virginia. Hopefully, we will take our premier event on the road and acquire many new participants from the two North Carolina sections and the greater southeast.
See you there...
| Dick |
an
you believe it? It rains six times this summer and twice it falls on our parade. We can not afford to attempt to hold this year's picnic again. Our setup costs are significant and they cannot be recouped. Outlays for tables, chairs, portable toilets, and music were made twice, and the third time would really dip too deep into our treasury.
The food that was frozen after the first date was thawed late in the week before the second date. It could not be frozen again so we donated it to a local food bank.
We have an idea to salvage the beer, frozen cookies, and trophies!
We will hold the Annual Mid-Atlantic Concours at the Annual Membership Meeting which is being hosted by American Service Center in Arlington, Virginia on Sunday, October 20. This event will be held... rain or shine! We ask those folks, who prepared their cars in September to be judged or just displayed, to bring them by and attend the meeting. ASC always provides great wine, cheese, and snacks for the meeting. So come by Sunday afternoon at 1:00PM for section elections, a car show, and cocktail party.
We'll provide the cookies!
| Dick |
pylon alley by Joe Wozney
Autocross #6
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have a new winner! Fastest Time of Day in a Mercedes-Benz was captured by Al Angulo in his V12 SL600. There is now no doubt that the big beast is fast and that Al is quickly learning how to reel in all that horsepower. If this continues, next year we'll have a separate class for Al, Marty, the Triumph and Morgan boys, and Gonzalo.
Debbie Hirtes finished with Fastest Mercedes Ladies Time of Day - a tick back of AL in the SL class and was followed by autocross returnee Peter Flinch in his SLK.
Jim Smith continues to dominate the class composed of 300Es, E300s, E320s, and six-cylinder 190s. It has a lot to do with the fact that he lives two miles from the school and practices there every afternoon. He's also put more than 400,000 miles on the car. He and the car are starting to look like each other!
Steve Walters owns the "older" sedan class and pushes the car around like it was 3,000 pounds lighter and 10 feet shorter. Janet took yet another second place. In the battle of the new comers in this class, Debbie Repass eked out a two tenths win over "spoose" Bill.
Speaking of Gonzalo... he continues to add points to his season's total in his incredibly quick WRX with a win. Joe Seward was second and only 12 thousands back in his Triumph. Tom Newman (does anyone remember that name?) stole brother Kyle's SVX and stole third place from Bill Brochu.
The surprise of the day was Marty Gallagher showing up in another Mustang. Yes, it too was supercharged. But it's a 390-pony 2003 Cobra. New car... same results - another FTD. We had no SCCA class for the car. On Monday, Marty emailed me to say: "Xxxx, I'm with the Z06." Sure 'nuff... Super Stock. SS also has the 996 Porsches, the SLK32, the M3/M5, the Viper, the RX-7 Turbo and all the C5 Vettes. Fast company!
After Marty, came Lief Graham - back in the GTi after a less than satisfactory drive in the old Rabbit. Kyle was next in his SVX. (The rumor that Tom offered him the Firebird, $5000, and a future draft pick for the Subaru are untrue.) In eighth was Andrew Lee in his incredibly fast but horribly indexed Audi S4.
Angie Brochu took another Ladies class win and Ladies Fastest Time of Day. Dana Argiro finished a close second in a borrowed Audi S4 shopping cart. (Yeah, the TT was in the shop.)
With only two events to go, there are still a lot of points to be won. The season trophies hang in the balance. Drama? We've got it. Is this a great series or what?
Mercedes Benz of Alexandria Tech Session
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than 30 GWS members gathered at the newest dealer in the area - Mercedes-Benz of Alexandria - on September 7, for an all-day tech session.
Participants were able to learn more about their cars, perform routine maintenance, make minor repairs, and trouble-shoot impending problems. Most work involved fluid changes, brake pads, minor electrical/mechanical fixes, and safety checks with many members merely becoming more familiar with the underside of their cars.
Service Managers Carl Patton and Mike Martin kept everything under control along with techs John, Sandy, Tim, and Aaron who shared their tremendous insight into the care and feeding of three-pointed chariots. Josh ably manned the parts department and Valerie kept the books straight.
Our special thanks go out to Mercedes-Benz of Alexandria for going the extra mile to open up their shop and for being such gracious hosts. The cookout lunch provided by our the dealership topped off a great day.
The dealership is centrally located off I-395 at 200 South Pickett Street near Landmark Shopping Center and is in close proximity to Metro. Contact Mercedes-Benz of Alexandria at 703-341-2100.
There is a possibility that we will be able to hold another Do-It-Yourself tech session after the first of the year at the same location.
| Vern Luke |
Mercedes-Benz News
Best August Ever
ercedes-Benz
USA reported August sales of 18,348 vehicles, making this the best August on record for the company. On a year-to-date basis, August sales pushed the company's volume to 136,212, up 1.2 percent over last year's record-setting pace of 134,619, representing the best year-to-date sales for the first 8 months of any year in MBUSA history.
"The new generation E-Class and CLK-Class models - both of which arrived in showrooms in August - have met with an overwhelmingly positive reception. We sold 1,844 of the new E-Class models in just over a week on the market - there's terrific demand for this model line. This is evidence of the increasingly strong momentum MBUSA has had - and will continue to have - in this market based on an unmatched product offensive," said Keith May, vice president, sales for MBUSA.
Other highlights for the month included an 8.5 percent increase in August sales for the M-Class (3,793 vs. 3,497) and a 38 percent increase in August sales for the CLK models (1,802 vs. 1,306). Sales of the company's high-end models - CL, SL and S-Class - as a group were up 6 percent.
Boosted by sales of the new sporty C-Coupe, the sales volume leader for August was the C-Class model line with 6,099 units sold, a 29.7 percent increase over the 4,704 units sold in August 2001, achieving the best August on record for the C-Class. The model line was also the volume leader for year-to-date sales with 44,188 new C-Class models sold, a 44 percent increase over the first eight months of 2001 and another C-Class milestone.
Separately, through its Starmark pre-owned vehicle program, MBUSA recorded sales of 3,807, an increase of 15.8 percent over last August, marking the third-highest month in Starmark history. On a year-to-date basis, Starmark sales increased 17 percent to 29,069 units sold compared to 24,841 year-to-date in 2001.
aimlerChrysler
AG has developed an engine that can improve fuel efficiency by 14 percent through a series of design changes.
The company said its Chrysler unit's standard gasoline-powered, 4.7-liter V-8 engine achieves the gain at an extra cost of less than $200 per unit. The MAGIC engine achieves greater efficiency without sacrifices in emissions, power, cost, weight, engine life, noise, vibration, or harshness.
Chrysler engineers put the engine into a Dodge Durango SUV along with additional design changes to increase fuel efficiency. That vehicle, project Apollo, has 25 percent better fuel efficiency at a cost of $700 per vehicle.
The company said it made eight design/engineering changes to the standard engine. Among the engine's features are:
- Higher compression ratio = greater efficiency and lower emissions, achieved using an intake port air-gap thermal barrier, on-demand piston oil-squirters, and precision cooling system.
- Charge motion control improvements to enhance flame propagation during warm-up and partial load.
- Friction loss reduction.
- Redesigned oil pump with reduced internal leakage and reduced friction.
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August 9, MBUSA held one of six AMG Challenges at Summit Point Raceway in nearby West Virginia. GWS members will "fondly" recollect Summit Point for the Greater Washington Section's famously cold Annual Drivers' Ed March weekend held for members.
AMG challenge is a marketing effort focused at current Mercedes-Benz and AMG owners, offering them a day of track time with professional instructors, classroom time, and plenty of seat time in just about every one of the AMG line of vehicles.
Fifty participants each paid $850 for a day at Summit Point driving AMG vehicles and track education. Members who arrived by 7:00AM were served a wonderful summer breakfast in the main tent on tables set with white linen tablecloths. Everyone was issued an AMG name badge, an AMG Challenge 2002 cap, a workbook, and an arm band signifying which one of the three groups they were assigned to.
The morning started out with skid pad skill training, driving CLK55 Cabriolets with tops up, as the sprinklers were on to get the pad good and wet.
We then "played" Lead-Follow on the track where every AMG type of vehicle was lined up, one for each person, and a conga line is formed where you follow the leader around the track and then drop to the back of the line. Each time around goes just a little bit faster.
We had the required chalk talk in the classroom with a professional race car driver. The classroom time was best when the folks from Michelin spoke about tires and their importance in a vehicle's track performance.
In the question and answer session, a lot of myths were put to rest and good information learned. Did you know that passenger car tires have a week and a year stamped on them when they were made - just after the DOT markings?
Not to be outdone by the rubber guys, electronics took center stage as Motorola gave a complete demonstration of their Mercedes-Benz phone system complete with voice recognition. The demonstration vehicle was a G55 AMG. A massive, but most beautiful beast, set up to be a hot rodder (sadly this was the only one on-site, and was not available to be driven, only spoken to and heard through its command phone system). At the end of the day, Michelin gave out a set of tires and Motorola a new V-60 phone.
After the three groups had rotated through these sessions, we were served a multi-course gourmet lunch. This time was well used to interact with AMG representatives and the other participants. Many came as far away as North Carolina, Connecticut, and Ohio.
After lunch the relaxed learning sessions of the morning gave way to more heated completion, as the three sessions turned to a hot lap with a pro driver in an E55. Each person also drove on the track with an instructor, giving them the opportunity to perfect their driving skills. And across the parking lot, an autocross course was set up where everyone got to learn how to autocross with an instructor. Two MBCA members, Bruce Roth of the Greater Washington Section and Norm Crowe from Cleveland, took top autocross times of the day.
Most appreciated was the one-on-one time spent with the instructors going around the track. In the afternoon, we were paired up with different instructors than were available in the morning, and who were really able to help you perfect your on-track driving skills - knowing where to plant the vehicle in any one of the many turns on the track, so that you would not only come out quickly but smoothly, gaining those previous seconds.
At the end of the day a champagne celebration ensued. Awarding people for the most improved driving of the day, most scared driver of the day, and the ever-present fastest times of the day. Everyone left with a Mercedes Benz flag, a goodie bag with a pewter AMG trophy and a certificate of completion. And those folks that visited the Michelin booth got free Motorola walkie-talkies, as well as a chance to win a set of Michelin tires.
The day was memorable, not only due to what was driven, but what was learned and whom you got to meet. It is always amazing to find out how many enthusiastic Mercedes-Benz drivers do not even know there is a club devoted to their favorite car out there. But what the day truly drove home, is the value and benefit of the club, as everyone kept saying how much they would like to take their own Benzes out on the track... Well each March GWS and other MBCA members have just that chance for a weekend not just a day, and at a considerably cheaper price. AMG plans on running this same program for 2003 - look for it and give it a try. You might have a whole new appreciation for the vehicle you drive every day.
| Bill Hopper |
600 SWB, 1965: Dark green/gray wool interior. 48k original miles. Perfect body & chrome. Sun roof, A/C, rebuilt suspension, excellent hydraulics. Many new & rebuilt items. Engine and trans smooth. Becker Grand Prix. $35,000. Call Preston at 410-296-4063.
380SL, 1983: Grey/brown leather. Both tops. Dual timing chain. 160k miles. Well maintained. Runs well. $9000 obo. Call Karl at 703-497-0239, email at drkarllouise@aol.com
380SL, 1985: Black with tan interior. 113k miles. New DC inspection. Two tops with garage top lifter and cover. $12,000. Email Thomas Soles at <tom@tomsoles.com> or call at 202-243-3005.
300SL, 1991: Teal blue/parchment interior. Two tops, hardtop stand, 6-disk CD, new Michelins, always garaged/covered, detailed weekly, absolute showroom condition. Only 59k miles. $29,900. Call John at 703-768-1073.
400E, 1992: Silver/blue leather. 143k miles. Well maintained. New tires, front brakes, cat, steering box, plugs, tie rods in past 10k miles. Very smooth and strong engine. $9500 obo. Call Joe at 703-689-4048.
E300 Diesel, 1996: Silver/gray leather. Bose stereo with cassette, wired for CD. 105k miles. Michelins. Recent service, replaced rear axle seals, glow plugs. 600 miles/tank. Clean, ready to go. $22,500obo. Call Francis at 410-239-3196 or email at <Francisewalsh@bww.com>
ML430, 1999: Green/parchment leather. Bose, CD changer, tow package, sun roof, fogs, brush guard. One owner. All records. Extended 100k warranty. 63k highway miles. Asking $25,995. Call C.H. Emely at 703-795-9608 or message at 540-286-2872.
Custom car cover: For 380SL and similar body styles. Like new. $50. Call Karl at 703-497-0239.
Wheels: Four 17-inch alloy rims for ML series. Includes P275/55HR17 Grid Track TR35 tires, used 5k miles. $500. Call Toni at 703-980-7073.
Parts: '69 108 280 sedan and '64 111 two-door parts. Free to a good home. '69 sedan body shell w/doors, hood, trunk lid, fenders, working sun roof. Body rusty, rest usable. '64 subframe w/susp. parts, complete rear axle. You pick up. Call Tom for details at 540-987-9466.
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American Service Center
703-525-2100 EuroMotorcars 301-986-8800 Merchant's Tire & Auto 800-637-2426 RC Imports 301-762-4205 Curry's Auto Service 703-502-0400 MB Motors 703-978-4564 Potomac German Auto 800-831-7686 Special Advertisement |
Radial Tire Co.
301-585-2740 Dent Wizard 800-336-8949 EMB Parts 703-425-5380 Wheel Worx 410-969-7301 MB Roadside Assistance 800-367-6372 Electronics Service Center 301-881-8637 |
The Metro Tri-Star is published monthly by the Greater Washington Section of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America, Inc. It is furnished to each of the approximately 1,750 Section members. Please send all materials for publication to The Metro Tri-Star, 1625 Park Overlook Drive, Reston, VA 20190. For display advertising information, contact Joe Wozney, Editor, at 703-437-7866. Explicit permission to copy or republish any article is given to all sections of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America, Inc. The articles in Metro Tri-Star are the opinions of the writers and no authentication is given or implied as to the validity of any expressed opinion.