- Memphis - Mercedes

MBCA
MEMPHIS SECTION
NEWSLETTER
Adventure!
JULY 2013
“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste it, to experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” Eleanor Roosevelt
I embrace this philosophy and it is clear that other Memphis Section members
do too. Section Member Cliff Reyle was kind enough to share the experiences
of two recent adventures with readers of this newsletter! Thanks Cliff, sounds
like you had a lot of fun!
I know that the Summer hot and Humid’s have set in to our local area, but Section Secretary Bill Sudekum has planned an AIR CONDITIONED adventure for
us in the month of August!
The Frist Center for the Visual Arts in nearby Nashville are hosting a display of
20 of the country’s most unique, artistic, stylish, rare, and expensive Art Deco
cars! We are planning a Nashville ADVENTURE on Aug 24th to go and see
them (details on page 4) Sure, you could succumb to the humdrums and stay
home…...but WHY?
This gem is SO CLOSE! The event is SO UNIQUE! You will have SO MUCH
FUN! Come with us!
Richard Rankin
President
MBCA Memphis Section
In Spring of 2014 the Higginbotham Group will open a Mercedes Benz dealership in Collierville TN. Owner Dennis Higginbotham has already reached out
to the Memphis Section, and wants to host meetings and events at his dealership as well as run a Rallye event. Join me in welcoming them to the area!
Memphis Section Treasurer
Lynn Jones drove his Ponton out
to see the construction progress. Lynn suggested a caption
to this photo that says “The line
for service begins early.”
Can you think of a better caption for this photo?
Email [email protected]
Best caption in next newsletter!
Would you like to see your car in
this newsletter? Send a photo to :
[email protected]
or: [email protected]
EVENT REPORT: STAR TECH
Each year Mercedes Benz Club of America hosts a national event. This year, it was Star Tech held on May 18-21, and
hosted by the Alabama Section, led by Section President, Dr. Jim Roberts. Two years of planning went into making
this event possible.
Members and guests who came on Saturday had the opportunity to visit the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville
AL. The Mercedes Benz of Huntsville then hosted a luncheon and reception for guests.
On Sunday, members visited classic Car Motoring, a Mercedes Benz approved collision center in the Birmingham area.
The owners and staff provided lunch and live demonstrations of their repair techniques. The facility was unlike any
“body shop: I have visited! Their level of experience, expertise, and dedication to quality was impressive.
Later Sunday afternoon, members went to Barber Motorsports Park where they had the opportunity to drive their
cars on the race course. Next there was a tour of the course museum which houses one of the largest collections of
motorcycles in the United States. The day finished with a panel discussion with the Mercedes Representatives who
were responsible for bringing the manufacturing plant to Alabama. It was a fascinating insight into the behind the
scenes work that went on. The MB plant in Vance AL is not only expanding, but associated vendors have moved to the
region.
Monday and Tuesday, club members had an opportunity to take an extensive tour of the MBUSA facility in Vance AL.
ALL ML,GL, and R class vehicles Mercedes makes for world-wide distribution (both right and left hand drive) are created in THIS plant alone! Production at the Vance location is expanding and late in 2014 all next –generation C class
sedans for North American distribution will be made there. Look for another yet-undisclosed vehicle to be produced
there in 2015 when the plant is projected to expand to more than 5000 employees!
The remainder of Monday and Tuesday was filled with a variety of technical sessions. These sessions addressed the
interests of the classic car owner as well as explanations of the state of the art technology offered on the newest Mercedes Benz models. There was truly something for everybody!
One of the special values of membership in the Mercedes Benz Club of America is having the opportunity to attend the
stellar national events produced by the club. I encourage Memphis Section members to mark their calendars and make
preparations to attend the next national event in 2014!
Cliff Reyle
Memphis Section Member
Central Region Director
MEMBER REPORT: MERCEDES CLASSIC CENTER
Mercedes Benz supports and nourishes their heritage unlike any other automobile manufacturer in the world. There is
a deep appreciation for the special and unique role that this company has played in the development of the industrialized world as the recognized producer of not only the first automobile, but a continual line of industry-changing designs
and technical innovations. It was that recognition that led to the opening of the Classic Center in Germany years ago,
along with a dedicated department to support the owners of “the classics.” Seven year ago, Mercedes Benz made the
strategic decision to open a second Classic Center in the United States. That center is located in Irvine, California in
Orange County (LA metro area).
In early July, Linda and I went to visit our son Brent, an MBCA Memphis Section AND San Diego Section member, who
currently resides in Del Mar, California. Even though we all have had the opportunity to visit the Classic Center in
Germany while attending one of the MBCA German Trips, we never had the chance to visit the Classic Center in California. So, we made the drive up Interstate 5 from San Diego to Irvine.
We were warmly welcomed by the Classic Center staff including Mike Kunz, Classic Center Director, and Tom Hanson, Director of Parts. Mike has worked for over 20 years for MBUSA and is the person who developed the Classic
Center. Tom Hanson had previously worked for many years at the largest volume Mercedes Benz dealer in the USA
as Parts Manager. Tom joined the Classic Center to provide his deep experience and leadership to the critical role of
parts. Many classic Mercedes owners have had the chance to speak with Tom and know what a friend he is to the
Mercedes Club and it’s classic members.
The Classic Center has master craftsmen that work on repairing and restoring classic Mercedes Benz automobiles.
They also purchase cars that have significant historic value for restoration. They then offer these limited-number of
cars for purchase.
The facility also has staff members who work with both dealers,
and customers to answer questions about parts and their installation. MBCA members can order parts directly from the Classic Center and receive a 15% discount when they identify and
provide their membership number.
If you are in the Southern California area, it is well worth the
time to visit the Classic Center. Additionally, you can always
visit their website: www.mbusa.com/ClassicCenter.
Cliff Reyle
Memphis Section Member
Central Region Director
NEXT EVENT: NASHVIL LE, THE FRIST CENTER AND THE LANE MUSEUM
Sensuous Steel: Art Deco Automobiles is an exhibition of Art Deco automobiles from some of the most renowned
car collections in the United States.
Inspired by the Frist Center’s historic Art Deco building, this exhibition features spectacular automobiles and motorcycles from the 1930s and ‘40s that exemplify the classic elegance, luxurious materials, and iconography of motion that
characterizes vehicles influenced by the Art Deco style.
Special reciprocal offer: Throughout the run of Sensuous Steel, Nashville's Lane Motor Museum and the Frist
Center will offer reciprocal admission discounts when ticket stubs are presented. Just bring your ticket stub from
whichever museum you visit first to the other museum, and receive a discount (half-price discount at the Frist Center,
and $3 discount at Lane Motor Museum). Frist Center tickets are $10 for adults, and $7 for Seniors and Students with
ID. Ipod audio tours are available for an extra $2 charge (I recommend it!) Hours: 10am-5:30pm.
Lane Motor Museum features 150 unique cars and motorcycles and is home to the largest European collection in the U.S.
The vehicles date from the 1920s all the way up to modern day
and feature a varied collection of microcars, amphibious vehicles,
military vehicles, alternative fuel vehicles, prototypes, one-of-akind vehicles and motorcycles. A great exhibit that the whole
family can enjoy!
Tickets are $9 for adults, Seniors over 65 are $6 and youth ages
6-17 are $6 Hours are 10am –5pm
As it means the biggest savings on the reciprocal offer, on Aug 24th let’s meet at, and tour the Lane
Motor museum first. Meet there at 10am and the exhibits will easily keep us entertained until noontime!
Lane Motor Museum
702 Murfreesboro Road
Nashville, TN 37210 (615) 742-7445
We will find a quick lunch locally, then head over to the Frist Center. Be sure to hang on to your ticket stubs! For
those who will join us later in the day the address is:
Frist Center for the Visual Arts
919 Broadway
Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 244-3340
At this point we will be getting hungry, so we are planning dinner at The Gerst Haus German Restaurant! Built
initially as a brewery in 1890, the restaurant has been providing the best German food in an authentic Beer Hall atmosphere. since 1955. Signature dishes include weiner schnitzel, bratwurst, corned beef and cabbage (Irish Germans?) and
one of the best Reuben Sandwiches in town. There is a live Polka band every Saturday night so we don’t want to miss
this delight!
The Gerst Haus is conveniently located near the Frist Center:
301 Woodland St.
Nashville, TN 37213 (615) 244-8886
By the end of the evening, we are bound to be too tired to drive back to Memphis. Weary Mercedes drivers can find
solace for $138 a night including taxes and complementary Continental Breakfast at:
Ramada Nashville Downtown
303 Interstate Drive
Nashville, TN 37213 (855) 809-3509
Special thanks to Bill Sudekum for planning this exciting event!
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 25th
Collierville Sunset on the Square Classic Car Night. While this is NOT an official Memphis Section
event, it is a great way to spend a balmy evening...listening to music and looking at cars under the stars!
FREE
Sept 28th
Euro Fest to benefit Youth Villages. This car show is put on by the Memphis Chapter of the British
Sports Car Club. It is open to all European Marques, and the Memphis Section have strongly supported this event for years. Please come out, show your car, and support this great cause!
Oct 5th
Ridgeland Renaissance Euro Fest This Classic Car show is open to all marques as long as the vehicle is
25 years or older. Organized by Memphis Section member Mike Marsh, there is no cost to enter and
lavish prizes to be won! Attracting over 150 of the best cars in the region, it is a weekend-long party!
I plan to attend and so should you!
Oct TBD
Memphis Walking Ghost Tour. Offered by Backbeat Tours in downtown Memphis, Memphis Section
members will get into the Halloween spirit by touring The Orpheum Theater where the ghost of
“Mary” has been sighted, the Memphis “Voodoo Fields”, several Haunted Houses, and the site of a
former “Haunted Bordello.” Cost $20 Date will be announced in the next newsletter.
Dec TBD
The Memphis Section has been asked once again to participate in the Germantown Holiday Parade.
If you have never done this, you owe it to yourself to participate! The smiles and waves make you
feel like a little kid again. And you never know which Classic Mercedes is going to break down
or overheat! It’s an adventure.
Later that same night, we will conduct our Christmas Party. Venue: Mary’s German Restaurant?
Or do some of you have a good recommendation?