his
year's holiday party will be a brunch on Sunday, January 11 at the Inn at Brookeville Farms in Brookeville, Maryland. Where the heck is Brookeville, Maryland? Well, it's halfway to Baltimore or halfway to Washington depending on where you are located geographically. So, that's where Brookeville is.
Now for a few historical facts about Brookeville. Roger Brooke had 15,000 acres of land in the countryside of Maryland. He left the land to be divided equally among his eight children. One of his daughters, Deborah Brooke Thomas, and her husband decided to create a small town out of their acreage and named it Brookeville in honor of the family name.
President Thomas Jefferson commissioned the first Post Office in Brookeville in 1802, and Caleb Bentley assumed the duties of Postmaster. In 1808, the Brookeville Academy was opened, becoming a premier educational institution.
Oh, ho hum, who cares? Well did you know that Brookeville Maryland was Capitol of the United States? Yes, that's right - the Capitol of the United States. How can that be? Well, in 1814 President Madison fled Washington, D.C. because the British were invading the capitol city and burning everything in sight, including the White House.
So, President Madison beat a hasty path out of town. When night fell, the President was in Brookeville, Maryland. Needing rest, he stopped and took refuge in the Caleb Bentley house for the night. That was all it took to officially make Brookeville the Capitol of the United States.
That was August 24, 1814; and, it was the Capitol for just one day. Yes, you read it correctly, just one day. On August 25, 1814, President Madison and his entourage departed the Bentley house and headed further north.
The Bentley House was later renamed the Madison House. The house, the Academy, and many other houses of that period (1794-1860) still stand today. So, that's Brookeville's claim to fame. It's a sleepy little town about 35 miles north of Washington, or south of Baltimore.
The Inn at Brookeville Farms now occupies the property of the Neeley farm. The Inn was constructed in 1919 and is located on Route 97 - Georgia Avenue.
I think you will find the place charming, with five dining rooms and a banquet room, a day suite for brides, an outdoor rotisserie, and a Gazebo. Surrounded by acres of land, the Inn boasts elegant and charming setting.
Brunch will begin at 12:30 with an hour of socializing while enjoying fresh Danish and pastries, coffee, tea, and juice.
Alcoholic beverages will be available to be purchase at the cash bar in the banquet room.
Brunch will be served at 1:30. You will have a choice of:
- Brookeville Eggs Benedict with Virginia Ham
- Maryland Quiche with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat
- Hickory Smoked Chicken with Yukon Golden Mashed Potatoes
Also, we ask that you remember to bring some canned goods that we will pass on to the local food banks. It's still the holiday season and still a time of giving!
The cost for the brunch is $40 per person. Wine will be served with the meal and is included in the price. The cash bar will be available to those who wish to enjoy other spirits.
When making your reservation, be sure to circle your entrée choices on the registration coupon. All reservations must be received by January 5. So come and relax, enjoy the company of friends. Sit back and let some one serve you after the long holiday season.
From the Washington DC area: take the Beltway (I-495) to the Georgia Avenue exit (Rt. 97) north and travel on this road all the way to the gates of the Inn.
From the Baltimore area you will need to use the Beltway (I-695) North to I-70 West and exit at Olney onto Georgia Avenue (Rt. 97). At the bottom of the exit, take a right onto Georgia Avenue south and continue for about 20 minutes to the gates of the Inn. Those of you coming from the Baltimore will drive through the Historic town of Brooksville. So, be sure to check the historic makers on your way in.
Look forward to seeing all of you there. Happy Holidays!
| Judy Roth |
he
Greater Washington Section has many opportunities to get together each year, but at only three of these events are longevity pins awarded to members according to how many years they have been with the club.
The first of these three events is the Holiday Party, which will be held on Sunday, January 11. The other two events are the Annual Picnic in the summer and the Annual Membership meeting in the fall.
Since the pins are awarded in increments of five years, that means that if you joined the club in 1999, you are eligible for a 5-year pin this year. If you joined in 1994, you will get a 10-year pin, and so on.
There is one catch, however. You must be present at one of these three events at which the pins are awarded. Invariably, eligible members attend one or all of the above events but leave before the pins are given out. We do not mail pins; you need to be present! If, for some reason, you must leave before the event is over, please see me or my wife, Deborah, so we may give you your pin at that time. Otherwise, you'll have to wait five more years before you are again eligible!
The following members are eligible for pins in 2004.
| 35 Years!!! | Neill and Elaine Darmstadter |
| 30 Years!! | Thomas Draude |
| John Gray Jr. | |
| Norbert Lamp | |
| Reuben Richards | |
| M. Davis Streaker | |
| 25 Years! | David Ballard |
| Lahugh Bankston | |
| Larry Buel | |
| Simon Cain | |
| John Gersic | |
| Klaus Hirtes | |
| Harold Hostetler | |
| James Keith | |
| Edwin Lehnert | |
| Thomas Morrow | |
| Robert Richards Sr. | |
| Also: | 21 twenty-year members |
| 37 fifteen-year members | |
| 50 ten-year members | |
| 110 five-year members |
The Greater Washington Section offers many different events for almost every taste and fancy for our 1,600 members, so we hope you'll join us for one that interests you. See for yourself what the officers and various chairpersons are working so hard to offer you. And always try to recruit a new member any opportunity you get. We are the largest section within the national club and strive to keep it that way.
| Klaus Hirtes, Membership Cochair |
Under the Hood Event
Designs that helped make Mercedes great
rom
the sporty 230SL to the powerful 300SEL 6.3, from the finbacks to the beautiful 280SE coupes and convertibles, classic Mercedes shared certain design elements. This is a rare chance to learn about one of them - the kingpin front suspension. This pervasive suspension design was used on most postwar cars up until 1972.
Ever wondered what made the older Mercedes such fine automobiles? Have you ever wanted to look under your classic Mercedes, or have you been afraid to? Or, even if you just want to hold up your end of the conversation at the front end alignment shop this session will be of interest.
In the comfort of a living room, you can see, touch and learn about the classic Mercedes-Benz kingpin front suspension. The entire component has been removed from a car and prepared for display. One side is assembled; one side is in pieces.
See how it works, understand the important features, learn about the major parts. Basic suspension concepts will be discussed, too, and the session will be suitable for "techies" and "non-techies" alike.
Depending on interest, future sessions can be more technically focused, and cover maintenance, repair and alignment.
The session will be held on Sunday, January 18, from 1:00PM to 4:00PM, just south of Old Town Alexandria (directions will be forwarded to those who register). Light refreshments will be served, and participants will have a chance to socialize and ask questions to their heart's content.
There is limited space available and advance registration is required. So, mark you calender and send in the reservation form today with a check for $15. If you have questions, contact Steve Walters at gwstech@earthlink.net or call 703-765-9405. This is really a great opportunity to look "under the hood" at one of the design features that helped Mercedes earn the reputation it has today.
Calendar of Events
Greater Washington Section Events
|
|
|
|
ALBERTOKI
An Open Letter to the Members of the GWS-MBCA
Albert W. Angulo
61 Smith Heritage Lane - P. O. Box 3
Boston, Virginia 22713-0003
TEL: 540-987-8701
FAX: 540-987-8702
November 24, 2003
Dear Fellow Members,
Today I have tendered my resignation as Secretary of this wonderful club. Unfortunately my career demands preclude my devoting the time necessary to do the job justice.
Last year the membership honored me by electing me Secretary of the Club. I accepted in good faith with the belief that I had the necessary time to perform these duties as they should be performed. You may be assured that my interest in our club and in my wonderful Mercedes Benz cars (1980 300D, 1991 560SEL, 1994 600SL) has not diminished, as a matter of fact, having the opportunity of sitting in the back (there is no other place one should sit in this car) of a Maybach 240 just makes me want to work harder so that I can buy one and hire a fellow member to drive me around.
The GWS is a unique organization. It is clearly the most active club in the country. We excel in all categories, number of driving events and quality, number of social events and quality, technical sessions, work on your own car technical sessions, vehicle preparation center visits, receptions for new members, etc.
With all of this out there, I urge you to become involved, enjoy your car together with other M-B enthusiasts and you'll find new friends. Did you know that most Dealers will give you a discount on parts, if you present your membership card? Did you know that you can call any officer or director and get advise on service or repair locations? If stuck somewhere well out of town the local club will help you as if you were one of their own?
I joined this club six years ago, got involved, participated at events (I especially like the driving events) have won a few trophies, but most of all I have made new and good friends.
I look forward to the day that I retire and will be able to once again give more than I take from this club. In the meantime, I will attend all events that time and schedule permit and hope to see you there and to meet those that become more active.
Sincerely,
Al Angulo
ody
shops are something we wish we knew more about when we need them, but when we need them, it is too late. In a perfect world we will never need one, but if we do, it's good to know what to look for in a shop that is going to work on our Mercedes!
On Saturday, February 28, from 8:00AM to 2:00PM you'll have the chance to find out about how a first class body shop operates. Also, it will be an opportunity for you to try your hand at some body shop skills! The Wagonwork staff will be on hand to answer all your questions - from the technical ones to how the insurance companies deal with the question of body repairs.
Wagonwork Collision, one of the top body shops in the area, is hosting an all day event for MBCA members at their new facility in Alexandria. The day will start with coffee and doughnuts, a tour, and a chance to talk with their techs on the subject of Mercedes-Benz sheet metal. Hands on demonstrations of how they pull out dents (Wagonwork drills no holes) where you will not only see how it is done, but give it a try yourself. The Wagonwork team will also show a variety of alternate dent removal techniques - and again will ask for volunteers to try it for themselves.
During lunch (included with the tour) you will see the intricacies of the modern painting process. The use of computer color matching along with the modern paint used by Mercedes will be demonstrated... Sorry folks no hands-on painting as only the experts are allowed in the spray booth! We'll see an up-close demonstration on the use of waterborne paint - the kind used in the modern Mercedes-Benz factory.
This will be a great time to see this new facility dedicated to Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Wagonwork is considered to be one of the best shops in the country and has been written up in many to-the-trade body shop publications, not only for their body and paintwork, but also their personnel. We will get to see first hand how Wagonwork is on the leading edge of technology and employee training.
This event is for every MBCA member! Men and women alike! We all love our Benzes and need to know how to handle a body repair if the time comes! Come out, have breakfast and lunch, and learn all you ever wanted to know about fine bodywork and the application of paint. It is truly an art form!
Cost for this event is $15 and is only open to MBCA members. Space is limited. Register early! The registration form is in the centerfold. More information will be sent upon receipt of your registration. Call Bill Hopper at 202-363-4189.
Do Yourself a Favor!
We need your email address!
ver
the last few years, we have been able to add "extra," last-minute events to our schedule. A few examples are a recent DIY Tech Session and a Car Care Seminar. The newsletter is not necessarily the most timely method of notifying you there is something new on the schedule.
National and local MBCA rules are very clear... Your addresses will not be sold or otherwise distributed! Janet McFarland has been maintaining a list of members' email addresses. We do understand that you don't want unsolicited mail. The list is only used to send notices and reminders that events are coming up.
We don't want you to miss a single event. We also need a way to contact you if an event has been canceled or changed. So, if you are not receiving Janet's email bulletins, please send her an email from the address that you want added to our list.
Send your email to jmcfarland@retrospectpublishing.com.
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 GWS might be interested in attending events in the the Virginia or Central Virginia sections or folks in northern Maryland or Delaware might want to participate in South Jersey or Delaware Valley section events. It will also benefit "snowbirds" wintering in the south.
The cost is $15 per additional section 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.
pylon alley by Tom Newman
Autocross #8
 |
Anatomy Photo by the Horns
Spring DIY Tech Session
Potomac German Auto
Concours Corner
Waxing and Polishing
There is a common misconception among the unwashed (pun intended) that waxes and polishes are the same thing and can be used interchangeably. This is nothing less than blasphemy among detailing aficionados. To help set the record straight the following definitions are offered:
280SL 1969: White/olive MB Tex. 81k miles. Auto, A/C. Local car with window sticker and records. Recent brakes, tires, new wood. Incredible new paint, trunk, door seals. Asking $18,250. Call Jonathan at 703-217-1704 or email at butlerbrothers@earthlink.net.
280SEL 1973: Forest green/tan leather. Immaculate original condition. Garage kept. Hershey Show winner. 23k original miles. Must see! $27,500. Call Dave at 301-622-1805.
300CD, 1984: Low mileage - 82k miles. Perfect condition. Spotless interior and trunk. Original paint. $9900. Call Larry at 703-780-1505.
S350, 1994: Pearl black/gray. Only 116k miles. New motor at 50k. 6-CD changer. Wonderful condition! No leaks. Dealer service. 2000 MB wheels. Tires have 5k miles. Asking $20,000. Call Larry at 828-891-1716.
E300TD, 1998: Brilliant silver/gray. 6 CD changer, rear sun screen, rain sensor, winter mats, E430 rims. Exc. condition. 69k miles. New Dunlop tires. Always garaged (home and work). Warranty until 5/04. BO over $22,000. Call Jim at 703-998-0024.
S430, 2003: Silver/gray leather. Heated seats. Loaded. Bose 10 speaker/CD, navigation. Tele-aid. Under 9k miles. Factory warranty. Immaculate. $67,900. Pictures available. Call Gary at 302-270-9161 or email <gwallick1@yahoo.com>.
Wheels/tires: HRE 543 wheels. From 2001 CLK55. Fronts 8.5 x 18. Rears 9 x 18. Email <jdvandemark@adelphia.net> or call J.D. at 304-267-1580.
Wheels/tires: For 107 SL. 4 race tires on newly refurbished 14 inch turbine wheels. Toyo 225 R14 R1 compound tires. Excellent shape. Used 1 season. Asking $300. Call Al at 703-527-2404.
Hardtop: For 107 body. Cabernet with cream headliner. Very nice condition. $600. Call Jonathan at 703-217-1704 or email at butlerbrothers@earthlink.net.
Car cover: Mercedes cover for 2000 CLK Cab or hardtop. Great condition. $60. Call Dick Renner at 410-308-0877, email <RJRTVL@aol.com>.
Parts: For 1981-85 W123 300CD turbodiesel coupe. Pair of front seat belts, $50. Passenger side electric mirror, $75. For 1981-85 W123 sedan, wagon, coupe - working ACC push button unit with horizontal buttons, $60. All plus shipping. Call Andrew at 202-452-7723 or email at <squasher@starpower.net
forget who said it, but at the drivers meeting, "today is to make up for the rotten May we had." I think that pretty well summed up the sunny 80-degree day that we had to close out the 2003 season. We had a great turn out for the event, 50 of our regular slots plus the Euls returned for their second autocross. The junior Eul, Larry, once again besting his father, Larry.
We did have one minor issue in the Benz classes. It seems that Bill Stewart is nothing short of unstoppable. So, we had to find a Benz driver who could consistently better him. We found our man. Fortunately for us, Halloween was still fresh, so the "other side" was able to let us borrow Juan Manuel Fangio for one last race. No one seemed to notice him, but he beat Bill by over 8 seconds in his 55 Silver Arrow. Man that guy can fly... errr, float, I mean cruise, I mean... aw heck. Bill once again proved that a 17-year old Mercedes is a formidable opponent. Congratulations to Bill for another brilliant season and yet another MBFTD.
The vintage class is a rivalry that has been developing for some time. To the uneducated, the thought of 60s and early 70s era Benz's conjure up images of rolling "luxo-boats" with very little performance character.
The other night, I saw for the first time, the original version of The Italian Job with Michael Caine. While this is not intended to be a movie review I suggest you watch it. The reason being that the big "luxo-boat" Mercedes were the chase vehicles that kept closing the gap on the agile little Minis through crowded streets - four-wheel drifts, J-turns, amazing cornering.
We were witness to this type of driving with these machines courtesy of Klaus and Deborah Hirtes, and Steve Walters and Janet McFarland. More than once, the comment was made that the most impressive cars were those piloted by these drivers. Cars that were built before many of our current participants were even born and outrunning the new technology with practiced ease. Steve was a little off his mark this past event, but made up for it with some creative pyrotechnics in the center of the course. Klaus clinched the final event and the final points tally will a very close battle.
Denise Dersin continued to make Ted Joseph sweat as she edged closer to his times, and once again secured the ladies MBFTD.
In the "foreign car" classes, one last afternoon of drama as Mac Henkel, Gonzalo Puig, Marty Gallagher, Bill Brochu, and Joe Seward... wait a minute, let me check that. Yes, Joe Seward! In the end, it came down to Gonzo pulling out another FTD in his WRX. The margin of victory between the three fastest cars was a scant 2-tenths of a second! Joe's little triumph seemed to be built for the course and left a number of competitors in numb disbelief. Bill, while not pulling FTD did garner yet another overall win and once again amazed us all with his driving. Next year, mandatory changes in the Bylaws dictate that Bill must drive a three-wheeled Yugo. Of course, he would probably win in that too.
Second place saw the return of our jolly SCCA driving buddy Matt Yip. I am sure there is a moral in here somewhere, but he borrowed an SVT Focus, not sure where he got it from -whistling distractedly - and beat the owner by nearly a second. Jon Jens continues to creep up in the standings and will be a definite factor in the coming year should he ever get race tires.
Andrew Danforth was also educated on the wisdom of loaning your car to a faster driver as Dana Argiro bested his time to claim another ladies FTD. Unfortunately, the index saw to it again that Angie Brochu took another overall victory. Congratulations to both ladies on some very impressive driving.
The season is now over and we are afforded the opportunity to gaze wistfully out doors waiting for spring. Before long, we will see snow and our thoughts will drift to dry asphalt, warm sunny days, and autocross. See you in 2004.
n
Saturday, January 17, all autocrossers and would-be autocrossers are invited to a social event to celebrate the very successful 2003 Series. This is the one time each year that lying and cheating is allowed!
Come hear Bill Brochu tell how to wring 367 horsepower out of a stock 1987 BMW 325! Listen to Tom Newman weasel his way out of the claim that his courses this year were fair to the high power cars! See Andrew take his keys away from Dana! Find out where Alex is moving to... this week! See Lief - Lief - oh, you'll remember him when you see him. And, playing Santa Claus in a really loud shirt without the need of padded suit will be Matt Yip!
We'll have the long-overdue 2002 awards to give out. One hundred elves have worked for more than a year to get them done!
Here's the best part! There is no charge! For those of you driving non-Mercedes cars, that means "free!" Snacks are on the club. You will be responsible for your own beverage charges! The event is from 2:00 to 5:00PM.
However, you must preregister! Use the form in the centerfold or send Tom Newman an email <Tom.Newman@GD-NS.Com> to let us know you are coming. Snow date is the 24th.
Il Lupo is on Route 123 in Fairfax City, three blocks south of the intersection with Route 236. It's on the left side (if you are traveling south) across from the Fairfax County Government Center and Courts.
Curry's Auto Service
urry's
Auto Service has invited the Greater Washington Section to a Tech Session at the soon-to-be-completed location in Chantilly, Virginia. It promises to be even better than that great time Matt Curry treated us to last year.
The "Fluids-Only" DIY session will be held bright and early on Saturday, March 13, snow or shine. Mark your calendar now, and start putting together your to-do list. Participants should expect a reasonable limit on the "lift time," so that others may enjoy Curry's hospitality, too. Tasks beyond fluid changes will require prior approval of the Tech Chair. If you have questions, please contact Steve Walters at <gwsTech@earthlink.net>. Look for more details in the next newsletter, and plan to be one of the first "techs" to use Matt's new shop.
The event fee is $15 per person. Please complete the registration form in the centerfold and mail it right away! This is definitely a first-come-first served event.
GWS Celebrates National Recycling Day
hat's
the most fitting way for Mercedes-Benz owners to celebrate the National Recycling Day? Of course, it's spending the day at the site of the world's largest recycling facility in the country devoted exclusively to Mercedes-Benz and European automobiles. Owner and founder Hall Miller, a long time supporter of the Greater Washington Section, arranged for a tour and refreshments for forty-odd club members. Our enthusiastic host for the day was Pat Bartholow, who was assisted by Gary Baker. Pat had the coffee on, donuts ready, and the doors open for us, bright and early. We consumed massive quantities of caffeine and sugar, and we were ready for Pat.
He led us through the inventory area, with parts neatly organized, stacked on shelves, reaching as high as the eye could see (or at least two stories). Out to the main storage area, several acres holding countless cars. It was the cleanest, best organized "junk yard"... It had a certain je ne sais quoi... Imagine a scene from a Terminator movie, where the streets are strewn with wrecked cars and people are wandering between them. Imagine, too, kids in a candy store, but not a regular candy store, maybe, kids on a treasure hunt in a candy store, looking here and there for a special item they had been seeking for months and months... Now picture this: the streets, the wrecked cars, the people, and the expressions on the faces of the kids on the treasure hunt. That's what I saw. Forty or so club members strolling through the grounds of Potomac German Auto's "live" inventory. It was fun. It was out of this world.
It inspired a tech session version of philosophizing. Tom Sheppard recalled the days when Hall's inventory sat on the red clay of the family farm, and noted the progress that Hall has made. Dave Thompson musing about why driveshafts have U-joints if the differential is
mounted on the chassis. Eric Wagoner: "if I only had the engine from that 230E in my 200E." Bill Repass: "if I swap out the differential, do I need a whole new rear end?"
There were some very nice looking cars in the yard, like the 600 limousine. It didn't matter that it was up on blocks, that there was a dent here and there, that some of the chrome was missing. It was still majestic. It caught the eye of many a member. But that car, more than anything else, clearly showed what the day was about. There seems to be something about the quality of these cars that attracts special people.
Clearly, Hall Miller created a first class operation, one that really has no equal. Potomac German processes about 1000 vehicles a year - removing major components, such as engines and transmissions, and salving undamaged body parts to help other Mercedes gain a new lease on life.
There is a great inventory of parts for cars from the 80s, on. They are great supporters of our club, and good people to do business with.
Pat Bartholow is a great example of that.. The enthusiasm of the parts seeker was matched only by Pat's enthusiasm for finding the part for them. It was impossible for an onlooker not to smile at seeing the joint delight. To the credit of Pat and Gary, they were excellent hosts, well beyond reason, waiting until all the club members were exhausted and on their way home before closing the doors. But just before that, Mario Martins confessed that after four years of club membership, this was his first event. He regretted missing out on four years of such fun. Come join us, you'll find it's lots of fun, too.
Steve Walters
or
a New Jersey farmer I've had a few interesting experiences in my life: been on a 52 foot sailboat in a force 12 gale... was in Moscow in 1991 when communism fell... have driven a 1937 Bugatti and a 2003 Maybach. "Been there... done that." I try not to become jaded, but I just cannot get excited anymore when the circus comes to town. But as I was driving from Biesk to Belokuria in central Siberia I actually had to pinch myself. Was this really happening to me? Was I driving 140 kph down a secondary road toward the Altai Mountains, 200 miles north of the Mongolian border, three time zones east of the Kremlin?
Yup, it was real all right. I could see the blue ridge outline of the high Altai shimmering in the distance. I could smell the wheat harvest as huge combines worked the fields on both sides of the road. I could feel the warm, late August sun on my forearm and hear the distinctive exhaust note of the new 3-liter Volga sedan. Isn't it odd that when you happen to be living life to the fullest your existence takes on an unreal quality? As these existential thoughts flit through my brain I pass by a Russian cowboy (Siberian Cossack) riding herd on 300 head of lowing beef cattle. Just then I was overtaken by a black S-Class Mercedes heading toward the mountains like a bat out of hell. Pinched my arm
again... ouch!
Russian cars are cheap, tough and unfederalizable. This Volga, about the size of an E-Class from Sindelfingen, is powered by a big bore four cylinder engine with a single dual throat carburetor. The five speed manual tranny hooks up to the live rear axle which is leaf sprung. Everything is rock solid and elementary school simple. There's no smoke coming out of the tail pipe that I can see, but my guess is there are plenty of hydrocarbons. No 5mph bumpers; no airbags; no anti-lock braking system; no ESP. The Russians have started to put up little monuments by the side of the road at the site of fatal accidents. There are a lot of crosses as we get into the foothills after Barnaul.
It should come as no surprise that Mercedes is the import marque of choice among Russians who can afford a foreign car. Despite all its complexity, as a result of its superlative engineering, a starship really can match the stolid Russian vehicles in reliability. No other import on the Russian market can take the abuse delivered by rutted Russian roads, the brutal Russian winter and flogging Russian drivers. During all my time East of NATO, in the course of numerous visits, I have only seen one Jaguar. It was on a flatbed.
The Altai Mountains are legendary for their mystical qualities. The early 20th Century painter and philosopher Nicholas Roerich began his aesthetic and spiritual pilgrimage in this exotic and beautiful region. The mountains are dotted with traditional spas where people come from near and far to drink the healing waters and to bathe in natural mineral springs.
The last leg of my Siberian journey, through the foothills, to the town of Belokuria seemed interminable. It felt as though I had been driving for an hour and a half on the verge of the mountain fastness. I looked down at the clock. Only fifteen minutes had elapsed from the time that the peaks first came into view. Strange. It was only after I reached my destination that I found out from my friends that time notoriously stands still in the Altai.
I slept on the couch in the living room of my friend's cabin in mountains during my visit. There was a fine old clock in the room which I had admired by day. At night, however, the clock had the disconcerting characteristic of ticking at very long intervals: tick.................... tick.................. tick.................. tick.................. tick. In the darkness it wouldn't let me sleep, until I checked it against my trusty '49 Omega wrist chronometer. It was actually ticking precisely on the second... the Altai second, that is.
There is a colorful quality about almost everything in what we used to call the evil empire. Even Russian capitalism is quirky and unfamiliar. For example around the filling stations on Russia's long stretches of lonely highway diminutive "strip malls" have sprung up. They consist of a series of little stalls containing two to four tables each, with chairs. Local farm women have exercised their right to engage in private enterprise and have established diminutive luncheonettes. When a driver pulls into the filling station he is likely to be offered the assorted daily blue plate specials.
I enjoyed a delightful meal of pilimeni (ravioli to you), piroshki (meat pies) and tea with cake for the princely sum of one US dollar. On my way back to the 3 liter Volga the proprietress of the neighboring stall hailed me, "Next time you pass this way, Stranger, try my kitchen. While you enjoy my cooking my son will wash your car!"
John Kuhn Bleimaier
The Devil is in the Details
n
last month's riveting installment, we discussed what equipment to use when washing your car and how to use it (a copy of the article can be found on our website if you missed it). This month we will cover how to wax your car.
POLISHES. Often referred to as cleaners, polishes are designed to remove contaminants and oxidation, restoring the paint/metal to a rich, light-reflecting luster, removing swirl marks/scratches, and preparing the paint for wax. For the most part, polishes contain abrasives and "clean" by friction. There are three types of friction polishes: hand glazes, rubbing compounds, and clays. It is almost always best to start with the least aggressive means first and begin with a fine abrasive (a glaze), instead of a coarse abrasive (a rubbing compound or clay). Furthermore, do not confuse metal polishes with paint or plastic polishes or try substituting one for another.
WAXES. Wax is designed to sacrifice itself and protect your paint from suicidal prehistoric flying insects, acid rain, salt, tree secretions, UV rays, X-rays, stingrays, and a myriad of other demonic substances. Most waxes are either organic or polymer-based. Polymer waxes are chemically manufactured and may contain silicone or Teflon, and are not recommended by most dedicated automobile enthusiasts. The reason is that silicone easily penetrates the clear coat/paint/primer. Painters hate customers who use it since silicone is very difficult to remove if the car or a body panel ever needs to be painted as "fisheyes" will often be visible afterwards. The most common organic waxes are from tropical plants (caranuba) or from bee's wax. Our experience at Curry's has been that a quality paste wax containing carnauba offers a superior protective finish and is applied and removed with less effort than products containing bee's wax.
CLEANER WAXES. We think it is counterintuitive to expect one product to perform completely different functions. Products that claim to clean and polish, while SIMULTANEOUSLY applying a protective coat of wax, are best suited for a lawnmower, not a Mercedes.
Generally speaking, how often you completely detail your Benz will depend on its use. We recommend polishing a car only about once a year, and always apply a coat of wax immediately after polishing it. Most, if not all, major wax manufacturers also make polishes. If the car is garaged and covered, and driven 3,000 miles a year on nice days, you might need to wax it only once a year. If it's a daily commuter, then 2-4 times or more a year might not seem unreasonable. Die-hard detailers apply paste wax with their fingertips. This method minimizes the potential for accidentally rubbing a piece of sand or grit into the paint and scratching it. An orbital buffer, not to be confused with a high-speed circular buffer, is oftentimes used by professionals to apply and remove wax since it saves time and is very effective. We recommend, however, that most garage detailers use elbow grease unless they are very familiar with how to use an orbital buffer.
Another tip is to apply AND remove polishes/waxes in the direction the wind flows over the bodywork, NOT in a circular motion. Simply stated, scratches and swirl marks are more visible when they are perpendicular to the lines of the vehicle. This is especially important if your prize possession is painted a dark color since scratches are more easily seen on darker finishes. And contrary to doctrine, you do not have to wait until the wax is completely dry before removing it.
Using Pledge™ or any other household products to shine automobiles is not a good idea. The chemicals in some household products might not be compatible with the chemicals in the paint. So why risk it? Furthermore, household products do not protect paint against UV, acids, salts, etc.
A word about bird poop is in order. Not only is this substance highly acidic, but a close inspection of this offering will probably disclose small pebbles which are used by some of these flying rodents in the digestion of their food. So don't spare the water, and remove bird poop as soon as possible after the deposit. This stuff will etch your bodywork quickly and permanently if not removed properly.
Next month: Detailing. If you have any comments or questions, please post them in the Forum at
www.CurrysAuto.com
so others can benefit from the exchange of information. If you have any ideas for a future article, please send them in an email to
bill@currysauto.com.
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
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.