may / june 2013 silver star newsletter
DESCRIPTION
May / June 2013 Silver Star Newsletter for Seattle Mercedes-Benz Club.TRANSCRIPT
● M e r c e d e s - B e n z C l u b o f A m e r i c a , S e a t t l e S e c t i o n ●
May 4 -5 th LeMay — Americas Car Museum Tour And Griots Garage Detailing, Tacoma
May 18 -22nd StarTech 2013, Birmingham, AL.
June 21 -22nd Radioactive Tour, Richland, Tri -Cities
July 6th SOVREN—Pacific NW Historics, Kent
July 14th
Summer Night Drive to Dinner, Bellevue
July 21st
Forest Grove Concours, Oregon
August 11th
Regional Show & Shine, Mountlake Terrace
December 7th
Holiday Gala, Mukilteo
Officers & Board Members ............... 2 From the President’s Desk................ 2 Radioactive Weekend ....................... 3 Welcome New Members .................. 4 Next MBCA Board Meeting .............. 4 LeMay & Griots Tour (cont’d) ........... 5 Interested In Membership? .............. 5 Joy in the Auto Graveyard. ............... 6-7 Member Featured Car ...................... 7 SOVREN Car Corral 2013 .................. 8 Upcoming Events .............................. 8 Forest Grove Concours ..................... 9 Mercedes Auto Recap ...................... 10 Scavenger Hunt Review .................... 12 MBCA Loyalty Program .................... 13 Technically Speaking ........................ 14 Want Ads .......................................... 14 Classified Ads .................................... 15 Other Car Events .............................. 16
By Ian Gleadle
Join the MBCA-Seattle Section for an exciting weekend of events! May 4th & 5th in
Tacoma. Featuring a unique guided tour of LeMay-America’s Car Museum & a
Griot’s Garage Detailing Workshop.
Saturday, May 4th, 2013, 2:00 pm: LeMay – America’s Car Museum (ACM) — Join
us for a special Guided Tour and VIP Parking for club member cars. The LeMay
museum spotlights America’s love affair with the automobile. Featuring a nine-acre
campus – with a four-story museum as the centerpiece – ACM, situated atop
Tacoma, Washington, 30 minutes south of Seattle and in the shadow of Mt. Rainier,
is today one of world’s largest auto museums and attractions.
ACM is designed to preserve history and celebrate the world’s automotive
culture. The spacious facility houses up to 350 cars, trucks and motorcycles from
private owners, corporations, and the LeMay collection, which amassed a Guinness
Book record of more than 3,500 vehicles in the mid-‘90s. “Everybody remembers
their first car, family driving vacations, a sports car they fell in love with as a
teenager,” says ACM CEO David Madeira. “Personal experiences with cars are at the
heart of the American experience, and we’re going to showcase more than a
century of automotive lifestyle and history as well as the future of transportation.”
The museum is located at 2702 East D. Street in Tacoma.
Discounted entry fee and our guided tour is $10.00. Please send pre-payment by
May 1st to MBCA-Seattle Section: c/o Ian Gleadle, 69 N Sunset Drive, Camano
Island, WA 98282.
6:30 pm: BJ’s Brewhouse Dinner — Great food, group accommodations and
reasonable price. BJ’s prides themselves on running a fun & family friendly
restaurant, serving fresh & flavorful food and award winning hand-crafted beers. (Continued on page 5)
LeMay Museum & Griots Garage Tour Saturday, May 4th, 2:00 pm — Tacoma
Upcoming Events
Inside This Issue
Mercedes-Benz Club of America - More Than a Car | We’re a Community℠
Mercedes-Benz Club
of America
Seattle Section
MAY · JUNE 2013
Officers
President, Ian Gleadle…………………………..……......(360) 926-8041
Vice President, Tony Andrews.…………………..…….(253) 272-0358
Treasurer, Linda Gleadle………………………….…......(360) 926-8041
Secretary & Past President, Jim Houk……………..(360) 479-6650
Board of Directors (Expiration Year)
Rick and Patti Tuttle — At Large, Eastern Washington (2013)
[email protected] & [email protected]……...(509) 527-1229
Jerry Cole (2013)
[email protected]………...….….………………..……(253) 227-0972
Northwest Regional Director
Barry Patchett (2014)
[email protected]………………………………...……(250) 246-5329
Membership
Tony Andrews…………..………………….………………….(253) 272-0358
Technical Advisor
Jerry Cole………………….………………….………………….(253) 227-0972
MBCA Seattle Section Webmaster
Rick Tuttle………………………………..………………...…...(509) 527-1229
Silver Star Newsletter Editor
Ian Gleadle....………………………..…..……………….…...(360) 926-8041
Silver Star Advertising
Barry Wajda....…………………….………………....…….….(425) 868-2109
Silver Star Classifieds
The Silver Star is the bi-monthly official publication of the Seattle Section, Mercedes-Benz Club of America, Inc. and is provided solely for the benefit of its members. Opinions, ideas and suggestions are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher or MBCA. The MBCA Seattle Section editor and board reserves the right to edit, and to refuse any submissions and/or advertising. Permission to reproduce material original to the Silver Star is granted provided proper credit is given.
All articles, pictures, advertising, and classifieds are due by June, 1 2013 for the July/August 2013 issue of the next Silver Star. This newsletter uses mailing information supplied by the national office; mail all address changes directly to the National Office.
Copyright © 2013 MBCA Seattle Section. All rights reserved.
By Ian Gleadle, Seattle Section President
When considering a first car for their
teenage drivers, many members peruse
the “For Sale” ads looking for a solid,
dependable older Mercedes like a
240D. We can appreciate the quality,
engineering, and built in safety
features. Even if a model has over
100,000 miles on it, we know that it is just broken in and still
has potentially two-thirds or more of its life still ahead of
it. Just ask Portland Section member Barry Corno whose
1983 380SEC with 580,000 miles is featured on the cover of
the March-April Star magazine! A well-taken care of older
Mercedes can be the perfect starter car for our new drivers.
When our teens become young adults with families of their
own and as their income levels rise, so do their dreams of
stepping up to a modern family car with more bells &
whistles. Then we hit middle-age and our peak earning
potential, and all stops are off. Glitz, glamour and speed are
on the wish list. Of course Mercedes-Benz offers the perfect
model at all price levels still with the same quality,
engineering, and built in safety features. A funny thing
happens when we reach “a certain age”. Nostalgia sets in
and we start to peruse the For Sale ads looking for a solid,
dependable “classic” Mercedes. This is the circle of life that
has kept the Mercedes-Benz Club of America running for over
50 years and why our membership works for people of all
ages. It is also why your Seattle Section Board tries to plan
events that appeal to many age groups.
This newsletter highlights some great summer events that we
hope many of you will attend. Our last drive to dinner in
February brought out over 50 members and the Annual
Show & Shine is always well attended with 50+ cars and over
100 members. To quote Louis Fourie, President of the BC
Stars section, “the greatest compliment you can give the
Board member who setup events is to attend them!”
Also in this newsletter, check out the changes made to the
MBCA National Rebate Program described on page 13. In
some cases, you may be able to get even more of a rebate
than in prior years. Don’t forget all of the other benefits with
your MBCA membership as well!
You asked for it and we deliver. Look for a new section in this
issue called “Want Ads”. It is a space to advertise anything
car related that you are looking for. Perhaps a specific year
(Continued on page 13)
From the President’s Desk
The 2013 MBCA Seattle Section Board
PAGE 2
MAY · JUNE 2013 PAGE 3
By Patti & Rick Tuttle
You’ve probably heard of the Manhattan Project, but how
much do you really know about it? Do you know that the
world’s first full-scale nuclear reactor is now a National
Historic Landmark located in Washington state? Do you
know that the plutonium used for the “Fat Man” bomb was
produced at the B Reactor located in the DOE Hanford Site in
Washington State? Would you like to experience part of this
history first-hand? Then join us June 21-23, 2013 for the
MBCA Seattle Section’s Radioactive Weekend in Richland.
Our first event of the weekend is Friday’s lunch in the
vineyard and tour of the wine caves at the beautiful Terra
Blanca Winery & Estate Vineyard at 34715 N. DeMoss
Rd.Benton City, WA. (www.terrablanca.com). Terra Blanca is
3 1/2 hours from the Seattle area. Dinner that evening will
be at a venue of your choosing. Following dinner you may
want to watch the Cool Desert Nights Cruise in downtown
Richland and join in the street dance. Visit
www.cooldesertnights.com for more information on this
event.
Radioactive Weekend June 21-23, Richland, Tri-Cities
The weekend’s main event is the Hanford B Reactor Tour on
Saturday. This is a 4.5 hour tour, with about 2 hours
allocated for touring the B Reactor itself. Note, cameras, cell
phones, and other recording devices ARE allowed.
Participants must be at least 12 years old. More details can
be found at www.manhattanprojectbreactor.hanford.gov.
There are 2 tour departure times available (8:00 am & 11:00
am) to offer you some flexibility. Note, we will be far away
from the reported leaking Hanford Spent Fuel Tanks.
Those of you who opt for the early tour will caravan to a
delicious lunch at Taverna Tagaris in Richland
(www.tagariswines.com). After lunch you may choose to
participate in a fused glass class in the studio at Barnard
Griffin Winery (www.barnardgriffin.com), where you will
make a unique souvenir of your trip, followed by a tasting
tour of your making (a map of local wineries and a distillery
will be provided). Or you may choose to skip the glass class
and go straight to the tastings and beautiful scenery. Just
remember to make it back in time for the evening’s banquet
at our home base, the new Clover Island Inn.
No events have been planned for Sunday so that you can
choose your own adventure for the trip home. Check the
club website at www.mbcaseattle.org for late details.
Hotel Reservations: Make your reservations now for Clover
Island Inn in Kennewick at (866) 586-0542 for night of June
20 and 21st. Ask for Mercedes-Benz Group rate of $89.00
per night. A block of rooms have been reserved.
Questions: Call Rick or Patti Tuttle at (509) 527-1229 or email
Radioactive Weekend Registration June 21st— 22nd,, 2013
Name (s) _______________________________________
Address ________________________________________
City, State, Zip __________________________________
Cell Phone (________) _________________________
Email Address: _________________________________
Registration Fee: $15 / person: __________________
Friday, June 21st: (Select Number Attending)
Terra Blanca Vineyard Lunch & Wine Caves Tour ______
Saturday, June 22nd: (Select Number Attending)
Hanford Tour 8:00 am _______ or 11:00 am ________
Lunch at Tagaris Taverna (after 1st tour only) ________
Fused Glass Class after lunch at Tagaris ________
Banquet at Clover Island Inn ________
Payment: Make checks payable to MBCA Seattle Section by June 15th for the $15/pp Registration Fee.
Mail To: MBCA c/o Rick & Patti Tuttle, 11 North Clinton, Walla Walla, WA. 99362
MAY · JUNE 2013 PAGE 4
The Seattle Section welcomes all of its newest members and
their cars to the Mercedes-Benz Club of America these last
three months. We hope that you will all become active
members and be a part of the activities we plan each month
for your pleasure.
If you ever have any questions or suggestions please feel free
to call any one of us on the Board. Thank you for joining and
we’ll look for you at the next club event!
February, 2013
Susan & Steven Norman, Ferndale, 1987 560SEC
Jonathan Oamil, Bellevue, 2013 GLK350
March, 2013
Rodney Ho, Mercer Island
Neil Martin, Redmond, 2003 SL500
Brent Arnold, Snohomish, 2009 SL63 AMG
Cheryl Smith, Wenatchee
John Njuguna, Federal Way
James Boldway, Mill Creek
James Laurine, Edmonds, 2013 C250 Cpe; 2013 ML350
April, 2013
Shane Wittmann, Lynnwood
John Necklas, Seattle
Paige Stockley, Seattle
Carol & Kenneth Vogt, Puyallup, 1969 300SEL 6.3
Dennis Noland, Seattle
Welcome New Members
(425) 243-5876
Authorized Bosch Service Center
3430 4th Ave South Seattle, WA 98134
Next MBCA Board Meeting Your MBCA Seattle Board Members invite all club members
to attend board meetings! Come out every other month and
enjoy the camaraderie of your club’s Board while dining at a
great restaurant! Dates and times change as we select
restaurants or MB dealerships in a variety of locations in
Western Washington.
Mark your calendar for the next MBCA Board Meeting on:
Sunday, May 5th at 12:30pm at
Griot’s Garage, 3333 South 38th Street in Tacoma
Directions: From the North or South Interstate 5, take exit
132 for South 38th St. Head West on South 38th St and
Griot’s is 1/2 mile up on the right.
PAGE 5
Become a Mercedes-Benz Club member by completing the
form below and submitting your application by mail, or by
using the QR code on your smart phone, or by applying
online at www.mbca.org/join-today.
Interested in Membership?
Seattle Section
BJ’s is located at 4502 S. Steele St in Tacoma, (253) 472-1220.
Hotel Murano — Our out of town guests may want to take
advantage of our group discounted rate for King Suite Rooms
of $129/night. Book your room by April 20th and mention
MBCA-Seattle Section for your discounted rate. The hotel is
located at 1320 Broadway Plaza in Tacoma, (877) 986-8083.
Sunday, May 5th, 2013, 10:30am: Griots Garage Detailing
Tech Session — Inside their show display garage, we’ll see
demonstrations of how to wash, clay, polish and wax your
car. Griot’s specializes in quality car care maintenance
supplies, tools with a Customer for Life Guarantee, and
products & accessories to transform your garage into the
favorite room in your house. Check out Griot’s display of
vintage sports cars as well. Griot’s will offer discounted
shopping for club members. Griot’s is at 3333 South 38th
Street in Tacoma, (800) 345-5789.
Come join us for a day or the weekend. There is plenty to do
and see in Tacoma. Don’t forget to book your hotel
reservations by April 20th for the discounted rate and send in
your Guided Tour pre-registration by May 1st. We look
forward to meeting members from all across our Northwest
Region and hope to have quite a showing of our beautiful
Mercedes’ on the grounds of LeMay – America’s Car
Museum!
(Continued from page 1)
LeMay & Griots Tour May 4 and 5th, Tacoma
LeMay and Griot’s Tour Registration May 4 and 5th, 2013
Name (s) _______________________________________
Address ________________________________________
City, State, Zip __________________________________
Cell Phone (________) _________________________
Email Address: _________________________________
Number of Museum Entries at $10.00 each: ________
How many for dinner at BJ’s Brewhouse: ________
How many for Griot’s Detailing Class: ________
Payment: Please enclose Museum Entry. Make checks
payable to MBCA Seattle Section by May 1st.
Mail To: MBCA c/o Ian Gleadle, 69 N Sunset Drive,
Camano Island, WA. 98282-8607
MAY · JUNE 2013
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MAY · JUNE 2013 PAGE 6
By Clay Monroe, Seattle Section Member
There are more older Mercedes-Benz on the road than those
under warranty. What is the most cost effective way to keep
all these classics and experienced cars on the road?
For the past decade I have been quite fond of our local Pick a
Part yards. In that time, many of these great resources have
faded away, been acquired by conglomerates or pushed out
of business by regulations. Sad as that is to those of us with
limited budgets and a deep love for our cars, this is still a
great way to continue to drive to a Show and Shine or
scavenger hunt, even for a daily driver.
Even if you are not mechanically inclined, you can tackle most
jobs if you bring a simple tool kit. A set of metric wrenches in
6—17mm, ratchet of the same sizes, screw drivers, both
Philip's and flat, a metric Allen set for the fiddly parts, and a
few extensions for the ratchet. A set of pliers will be handy
and an adjustable wrench to hold a stuck nut. If you do not
have a tool box, snag a five gallon bucket. This will be handy
for socking away all the little bits that can go missing for the
parts you find. The larger things will fit in the wheel barrow
that are available on site. If you are quite handy and
ambitious, the yard will have fork lifts and engine lifts to help
you drag out an axle set, engine, or transmission.
Most yards will charge a tiny fee ($1.00) and have you sign a
release. Pick a sunny day for your first visit and wear some
Joy in the Auto Graveyard
rubber boots. Puddles are endemic. Wander the yard and
get a feel for what is going on. On a working day (weekdays)
they may be removing or placing cars. This means the loader
is picking up stripped cars, or placing new ones for you to
find the hidden treasure you needed. The old-timers will
descend upon the car and attack it. They may smash a
window to get in, rip out the stereo, and tear out the back
seat while scrounging for spare change. Next on the list will
be to rip out the instrument cluster and center console parts.
Then they will move on to the next car and attack that. Now
is your time to look over the carcass.
Now you can help yourself to carpeting, wheels, engine
parts, body parts, glass and all the other bits and pieces that
you need. I have gotten a treasure trove of spare parts, (Continued on page 7)
Pick a Part Yards Offer Amazing Deals
MAY · JUNE 2013 PAGE 7
from headlight units, to taillights, relays, injectors, seats,
consoles, clusters, gauges, wheels and hubcaps. I know that
you have taken a few moments to price out a new part.
Sometimes it feels like highway robbery. And of course the
Classic Center may no longer have that exact part available.
If they do, it may run to hundreds of dollars. A Pick a Part
offers us the opportunity to not only learn how to fit the
parts to our cars, but to also build a parts shelf to keep a few
hard to source non-wear parts.
Never consider a Pick a Part as a place to pick up a wear item.
By the time the car gets to the yard, the wear parts are not
worth wasting your time trying to get a drive belt, flex disk, or
most rubber parts. Bite the bullet and be safe with a new
part. Your life is not as invaluable as the old worn rubber.
Wear parts are best installed from known good new stock
since they are important in keeping you safe and alive. Body
parts and big heavy bits that do not wear out for years
though are just the thing you want to load up on.
Now my most recent adventure in pulling my own parts….
I have been trolling Craigslist and eBay for older parts for
years. I had picked up a decent 1974 R107 last spring and
though it had been taken care of over its lifetime, it had sat
for a number of recent years being ignored. It has a less
common dual tone paint scheme in an even less standard
color. Very haute colors for the era though, Green. Same
sort of green that Chrysler and General Motors used during
1973-1975. Try to find that sort of interior parts on eBay. On
top of this, being a D-jet system, the engine parts are
exponentially more expensive to source. Have any of you
R107 owners tried to purchase a V rated 14 inch tire
recently? Coker Tires sells them for $500 each.
I had found a local PnP listing an R107 on the Craigslist a few
months ago. When I got there, the car had been stripped and
crushed. I swore I would keep an eye out and jump the next
time I found another. I called to confirm in the morning and
jumped in the car and headed out with my boots, tool box
and cash. The posting had a 1976 red SL and 1974 SEL. There
were bound to be parts I really needed or could use. And
there were.
My helper took on freeing the AC cooling fan while I scouted
out what other bits could join my parts closet. I found a
usable fog light, indicator lens, some gun sight chrome trim,
and speaker covers. The Visigoths had wreaked havoc upon
most of the rest of the car, having removed the hard top and
broken the rear windscreen, destroyed the door glass and
allowed the rain to soak the leather and carpeting as well as
removed the other bits I outline above. Just across from the
SL was the SEL. That had more engine bits and a set of fog
lights I liked. When we had loaded our treasure into our
barrows, we went looking for a 280C W115 that also was
(Continued from page 6)
Tim Pash with his 1988 560SL Roadster. When I was in
college and didn't have two nickels to rub together, a young
lady had this car, which was insane considering it was
$64,000 even then! Both the car and the girl were
completely unattainable at the time, and while I'm happily
married, the car remained an unrequited love. One became
available in Bremerton a few years ago and I've been lovingly
restoring it to pristine condition ever since. It's a money pit,
but I can't wait for a few sunny days to arrive to drive with
the top down.
Member Featured Car
online. My helper found a nice W123 on one row. I went
the other direction and scored it big. Covered in lichen was
an early edition 450SLC in the exact same paint as my SL.
Woot! Woot! I was able to liberate the trunk carpeting, the
center console, which was in much better condition than
the one in my car, as well as a few switches and wires I
could find a use for. I had been able to liberate the fuel rail
from the SEL, but for the day, passed on the SLC's fuel rail,
since it was corroded, much as the rest of the car, which
looked like it had been underwater for a bit. The biggest
score for me was being able to salvage the center console.
New ones are no longer built with the carpeting, so you
need to mess about getting the old part to mate up with the
new plastic console. Retail or eBay will set you back $300 -
$600 for used or almost complete new. A new trunk carpet
set will dent your wallet for $300. Want a brand new sun
visor? Be willing to part with five Benjamins. For me to
take this home I paid almost $60 instead of the few
thousand for new. A little elbow grease and the used
original parts can be installed.
Taking a “pirate treasure hunting trip” to a Pull a Part yard is
not for everybody or situation. If you have a top end car
that you want to look like showroom, spend the piles of
cash to make that happen. If you are a cheapskate like me,
you are bound to find what you need for pennies over retail
to keep your car on the road. Just remember, do not go the
cheap road where safety matters. Buy new, buy top of the
line and invest in staying alive.
MAY · JUNE 2013 PAGE 8
about logistics. Please fill in the SOVREN registration form
and include with your payment. Sign up early, the spots will
fill quickly. For questions contact David at
Please bring a canned food donation for our charity. See you
at the races!
By David Glass
The Society Of Vintage Racing Enthusiasts (SOVREN) is
presenting the 25th Annual Pacific Northwest Historics July
5—7 at Pacific Raceways in Kent. The event will also
commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Porsche 911.
SOVREN is a Seattle-based non-profit racing organization
boasting 300 members throughout Washington, Oregon, and
British Columbia who are owners and admirers of classic
sports cars with racing histories.
This is the premier vintage sports car race in the Pacific
Northwest. All of the entry fees and any other donations go
to the uncompensated care fund at Children’s Hospital.
We have been invited to bring up to 20 of our Mercedes-Benz
automobiles to the Car Corral on Saturday, July 6. The ticket
price is $30 for the day or $50 for the entire weekend. That
price is for a car and driver. Additional adult passenger
tickets are available for $25 each, or may be purchased at the
gate.
The gates open at 8:00am and we must be parked by 10:00
am, to be together. During the lunch break, we may be
allowed parade laps on the track if time permits.
To reserve your space, specify how many tickets you want for
Saturday or the entire weekend and send your payment
(Seattle Section MBCA) to David Glass by May 31. I will
confirm receipt of your payment with additional information
SOVREN 2013
Saturday, July 6th — Pacific Raceways, Kent
By Linda Gleadle
Your Seattle Section board is hard at work planning a laid
back, top down, lazy day Summer Drive to Dinner for
Sunday, July 14th. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for the top
down weather part,.
We hope that you can join us at our May 5th Griot’s Garage
Detailing Session to pick up some tips and tricks for getting
your Mercedes ready for this year’s Show & Shine. Be sure
to mark your calendar for Sunday, August 11th and plan on
bringing your beauty to the Nile Golf and Country Club in
Mountlake Lake Terrace, just north of Seattle, for a People’s
Choice event offering awards in several categories, dash
plaques for participants, a catered picnic lunch available for
purchase and fun for all.
We know it is hard to think about the holidays so soon, but
you will want to mark your calendars for this year’s Holiday
Gala to be held on Saturday, December 7th. We are working
with the Hilton Garden Inn located adjacent to Paine Field
Airport and the Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing
Tour. They are excited to host our event, and with plenty to
do in the surrounding area, you may want to spend the
weekend! We have a committee of members who are
looking forward to putting on a fun party for us all. Watch for
further details in upcoming Silver Stars!
Upcoming Events Mark on Your Calendars
SOVREN Car Corral Registration July 6th, 2013
Name (s) _______________________________________
Address ________________________________________
City, State, Zip __________________________________
Cell Phone (________) _________________________
Email Address: _________________________________
_____Car & driver Saturday only @ $30= _________
_____Car & driver Weekend Pass @ $50= _________
_____Tickets Passenger Day @ $25= _________
Total Enclosed: _________
Payment: Make checks payable to MBCA Seattle Section by May 31st.
Mail To: MBCA c/o David Glass
10806 179th Court NE, Redmond, WA 98052
MAY · JUNE 2013 PAGE 9
Visit Mercedes-Benz of Seattle
www.mbseatt le .com
By Allen Stephens, President, Portland Section
50th Anniversary of the W113 Pagoda SL and Grand 600
honored at Forest Grove Concours d’Elegance
The 41st Forest Grove Concours d'Elegance will celebrate the
50th Anniversary of the W113 ‘Pagoda’ SL and Grand 600
with a special class on July 21st.
MBCA members are invited to enter their Mercedes-Benz for
judging, or display only. The Forest Grove Concours
d’Elegance features more than 300 vintage, sports and
Forest Grove Concours Saturday, July 21st— Forest Grove, OR.
collector cars presented on the campus of Pacific University
in forest Grove, Oregon, just west of Portland. Classic
automobiles compete for awards in over 50 judged
classes. What makes this Concours special is the gorgeous
tree-shaded setting and the relaxed nature of the event.
Great food and live music make it a perfect day out for the
whole family. Entrants are also invited to the Vineyard
Driving Tour and Evening of Elegance Dinner on Saturday,
July 20th.
To enter your Mercedes-Benz, contact Allen Stephens at
(503) 708-0397 or [email protected].
MAY · JUNE 2013 PAGE 10
By Jerry Cole
On Saturday, March 2nd, members of the Seattle section met
at Mercedes Auto in Lakewood. It was quite literally standing
room only. A great turnout of 43 people and Mercedes
models spanning five decades filled the parking lot.
Mercedes Auto Recap Another Great Tech Session
Ted Lazzari, Bill Minton and Jeff Brehm of Mercedes Auto
knocked it out of the park once again with this event. These
guys came in on their day off and put on a fantastic tech
session for us, sharing their enthusiasm and a depth of
Mercedes knowledge hat is second to none. They kept on
going until everyone that wanted to inspect their car on
one of the lifts had a chance to do so. They even discovered
the failing sub frame mounts in my W110 that I didn't know
about; you know, the ones that Mercedes stopped making
many years ago. That's a problem for another day.
MAY · JUNE 2013 PAGE 11
MAY · JUNE 2013 PAGE 12
By Tony Andrews
So you think you know Seattle? A small but adventurous
group braved the winds and rain of a blustery April morning
to take on the challenge of our Seattle Scavenger Hunt.
Our adventure began at Seward Park in South Seattle where
we distributed the scavenger hunt list and members
strategized their routes. Each of the 37 items was assigned a
point value based on difficulty of obtaining. For example,
something that could be discovered without leaving the car
earned 1 point, but if it required a walk or activity, more
points were allotted. The challenge was to earn as many
points as possible and meet up at the Northlake Tavern by
1:00. Kim & I enjoyed a leisurely tour through Seattle and
met up with Ian & Linda Gleadle who came to help score the
results.
Everyone made it back by the deadline looking a little worse
for wear, happy to drop off their baggie full of sand from Alki
Beach, their coasters from local micro-breweries, their signed
Dick’s Hamburger wrappers and whatever else they were
able to collect. Their stories of how long it took to climb the
Scavenger Hunt Review A Wet and Windy Sunday Drive in Seattle
steps to the top of the
Volunteer Park
observation tower and
the looks on the coffee
vendor’s faces when
asked to draw a Mr.
Yuck! face on the
bottom of a competitor’s coffee cup were
priceless. Members ordered up a hot beverage and a
delicious Northlake Tavern pizza while we tallied up the
results. The first place winners were Gerry Lamar &
Debbie, second place went to John & Diane DeYoung, and
third place went to Paul & Debbie Ward. We want to also
thank our other brave souls Steve & Stephanie
Lloyd, Logan Galyan & Sarah Rollinger, Laurel Johnson
and Mathias Baucum. Mathias is one our youngest new
members who brought his dad Jeff to the event. Everyone
attending definitely learned a little bit more about Seattle.
We also learned that April may not be the best time of year
to plan this type of event due to weather, but we give
kudos to our hardy members who took on the challenge,
shared some great stories, laughed a little, cried a little, and
begged for more time to finish out the hunt. Maybe next
year!
MAY · JUNE 2013 PAGE 13
By MBCA National
Beginning April 1, 2013, Mercedes-Benz USA is changing the
Loyalty Reward Program for U.S. Members of the MBCA.
What’s Changed? Instead of receiving a (maximum) Loyalty
Reward discount of $1,000 off the purchase or lease price of
a NEW 2013 or 2014 Mercedes-Benz, Members can now take
$500 off a NEW 2013 or 2014 Mercedes-Benz and combine
that discount with a second MBUSA Dealer incentive —
including guest appreciation certificates, seasonal event
discounts like Summer and Winter Clearance sales and other
Dealer offers. In some cases, you may actually SAVE MORE
THAN $1,000 when you combine discounts.
What’s The Same? 1. You must be a “Member in Good
Standing” of the MBCA to qualify for the Loyalty Reward
discount. To check your standing, go to www.mbca.org. Click
the ‘Login’ button at the top right corner of the page then
enter your username and password. If you have been a Club
Member for 12 consecutive months or longer, and are still a
Member today, a Member in Good Standing symbol will
appear at the bottom left of your personal profile page. From
your profile page, go to ‘click here’ for time-sensitive terms
and conditions and to print an official Loyalty Reward
Certificate redeemable only at U.S. Mercedes-Benz
Dealerships. 2. Go to your local Mercedes-Benz Dealership
and negotiate the best price for your new 2013 or 2014
Mercedes. Be sure to ask if your Dealer is offering special
price discounts; like a guest appreciation offer or a Summer
or Winter Clearance. On the day of your purchase, present
your Certificate to the Dealer to receive an additional $500
off the price of your new vehicle.
Which Vehicles Are Eligible? You may apply your $500
discount toward the purchase or lease of any new 2013 or
2014 Mercedes-Benz vehicle except: Sprinter Vans, Smart,
SLS AMG Coupes and SLS AMG Roadsters.
MBCA Loyalty Program Which Dealer Incentives CAN NOT Be Combined with the
$500 Discount? Always check with your Dealer first for the
discounts and incentives that you CAN combine with your
$500 Reward. There are specific Dealer incentives that may
NOT be combined, check with your local MB dealer.
Questions? Call the National Business Office of MBCA at
(800) 637-2360 Mon-Fri 8:00 am-5:00 pm Mountain Time.
Seven Year Model Changes Are Gone Changes Start April 1, 2013
and car model, a certain part, or a specific tool? Ads will
run for one issue and are free for MBCA members. Ads
must be received by June 1st for the next issue.
Also, many members have asked how to obtain or upgrade
their old fashioned pin type fastener name tags to the new
magnetic type. The new gold colored, magnetic name tags
can be ordered from the MBCA National Store at http://
www.mbca.org/product/name-badge. We thank all of you
who take the time to locate their name tags and wear them
at the events. Even if you forget yours, we should always
have the old fashioned “My Name Is:” paper name tags for
you. For some people, like myself, names are often stored
too deep inside the old brain to bring out at the
appropriate time!
In case you are wondering, I am at the nostalgia stage in my
MBCA circle of life! Happy safe Spring driving!
P.S. Late Breaking News! Please join me in welcoming the
30 MBCA Idaho Section club members into our MBCA
Seattle Section. We will be working together to plan some
events in Idaho area and to share activities, want ads, club
information and communication. Thank you to Jeremy
Knopp of the Idaho Section and Barry Patchett, Northwest
Regional Director, for coordinating the transition.
President’s Letter (Continued from page 2)
MAY · JUNE 2013 PAGE 14
By Jerry Cole, Technical Advisor
If you have lived in the Pacific Northwest for more than a day,
you have probably noticed that it rains here – a lot. No
matter which year or model of Mercedes you have, it’s
equipped with drains that are designed to carry water away
from a variety of places and channel it to the ground beneath
the car. In Western Washington, we also have fir trees. Fir
trees that have been standing in the same spot for many
decades or more and they get bored. I am relatively certain
that fir trees get points for accurately dumping needles in
your gutters, in your open beverages and yes, your car’s
drains. Needles, a little dirt, a little water and you have one
effective drain plug.
These drains are located in numerous places. Behind the fuel
filler door, in the pockets around the hood and trunk hinges,
in the bottoms of the doors, the rocker panels, the trunk side
pockets and at the corners of the tray around the sunroof
opening, to name a few. When these drains get clogged, it
allows water to pool in places it shouldn’t be. This results in
anything from water dripping on your head when turning
corners (clogged sunroof tray drain), to rust from standing
water and even water damaged electronic modules that
reside beneath the trunk floor, as we learned in the January
tech session at Park Place Motors.
Clogged drains are usually pretty easy to clear. A vacuum
cleaner with a plastic tip (to avoid scratching the finish) for
the bulk of the cleaning, an air compressor if you have one, a
piece of coat hanger wire and a garden hose with an
adjustable spray nozzle is usually all it takes. If you find it
necessary to use coat hanger wire to clear a clog, be careful
not to apply too much pressure, since it is possible to
disconnect or poke holes in the rubber tubing that is attached
just out of sight, to many of the drain openings. One such
Technically Speaking hose location is from the sunroof tray. These hoses carry
water from the tray down the pillars alongside the windows
and drain out the bottom of the car. It is possible to
reconnect the hoses if they become dislodged, but it isn’t
much fun.
Worthy of mention is the large, black plastic assembly that
runs from side to side underneath the windshield of a W140
S Class. Underneath it is where the cabin air filter resides. It
has a drain on the bottom that seems to have been designed
to clog. When it does, that black plastic assembly gets filled
with water and you can hear it sloshing from side to side, as
you turn corners. The assembly is easily removed in minutes,
with nothing more than a Phillips screwdriver. After having
the drain clog numerous times in a single winter, I ended up
trimming off the pinched rubber end of the drain tube and it
has not clogged again for five years and counting.
Check Your Drains
1995-1999 S420 W140 OEM Front Bumper Cover. Prefer smoke silver in color, but I will consider other colors if the bumper cover is in good condition (no cracks, holes or deep gouges). Contact Jerry at [email protected]. 1955-1963 190SL Spare Parts. Got anything tucked away in your garage that you want to go to a good home? Send parts and price list. Contact Ian at [email protected].
Want Ads This is a new feature we will be adding to the Silver Star newsletter. Got anything car related you are looking for? A specific year and car model? A certain part? A specific tool? Ads will run one issue and are free for MBCA members. Ads must be received by June 1st for the next issue.
MAY · JUNE 2013 PAGE 15
Ads will run for one issue and can be placed free of charge by MBCA members. Non-club members will be charged
$10.00 per ad, $20 with a picture. The next deadline is June 1, 2013. Contact the newsletter editor to place an ad.
1972 250SE Sedan $3000 Good shape, burgundy/maroon color, 161,000 miles, second owner, needs tune-up. Best Offer or Trade for car trailer or Chevy or GMC pickup. Call Jack in Port Orchard at (253) 691-5028.
1988 560SL $12,000 Cabernet exterior with tan interior. Comes with both tops, the soft top is black. Excellent condition. 107,700 miles. Includes wind screen for comfortable top-down driving. Contact Chuck in Wenatchee at (509) 662-2374 or [email protected].
1989 560SL $22,000 One owner car. Desert Taupe w/ Parchment interior. 28,000 miles. Major service just completed. Contact: John at (425) 481-6658 or [email protected].
Classified Ads
1991 420SEL $7,599 Immaculate condition, black on black, new injector, sunroof motor, and many more. It has 153,000 miles and has never been driven in snow. Has no leaks, or rust, A/C and everything works. Contact Camran in Idaho at (208) 762-9079 or [email protected].
2007 G500 $49,000 49,000 miles, excellent condition. Charcoal with black interior. Service up to date. Contact David in Oak Harbor, at (604) 230-1912 or [email protected]. Mercedes-Benz Wheels $100 Four M-B wheels, part # 1244001802, with M-B star center caps and bolts. Excellent condition, taken off 1987 300E. Will fit several other models from approx 1985 to 1990. Either pick up in Port Ludlow, or pay shipping. Contact Terry at (360) 437-2431 or [email protected].
MBCA Seattle Section P.O. Box 2738 Redmond, WA. 98073-2738
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
P A I D PERMIT NO. 2358
PORTLAND, OR
Visit MBCA on the web at:
MBCA Seattle Section: www.mbcaseattle.org
MBCA National: www.mbca.org
To the owner of the Mercedes-Benz at:
Silver Star • May / June 2013
The latest event and ad updates are at: www.mbcaseattle.org
Other Section
and Local Car Events
May 18: All British Field Meet at Van Dusen Gardens , Vancouver.
May 18 : Gallagher Auto Spa Detailing Event , 10:00 to noon, Portland.
May 31—June 2: Cascade Classic Rallye & Tour, Olympia, http://www.collegeplan.org/rally
June 15: KMS Tools Show & Shine, 110 Woodridge Street, Coquitlam, BC 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
June 16: Italian and French Father’s Day Show - Waterfront Park, North Vancouver.
June 22-23: Islands Wine Tour, Saltspring Saturday market, Saltspring wineries, dinner and overnight on Saltspring; Cowichan Valley Wineries, lunch Cowichan Bay. Contact Stan Garrod at [email protected]
June 23: German Car Festival at Waterfront Park North
Vancouver.
July 9th: All Convertible Cruise-In. 3rd Annual event at XXX Rootbeer in Issaquah. www.triplexrootbeer.com.
July 28: Edgemont Village Show and Shine Car Show , Edgemont Boulevard, North Vancouver, 10 am to 4 pm.
July 28: Coal Point Barbeque. A mid -year afternoon barbeque, hosted by John and Cordelia McIntosh at their home on Coal Point.
June 29-30: MBCA Club Corral at Portland Historic Races, Portland International Raceway.
August 18 : Rally /Treasure Hunt. Jeff Cohen and Rob Watson have offered to put together a rally and treasure hunt in the Victoria area.
August 31st : Crescent Beach Concours d’Elegance , White Rock - Display entry by invitation only.
www.facebook.com/MBCASeattle