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CLUB NEWS
Happy New Year
s we enter the New Year the Mercedes-Benz Club has already got a busy programme
in place to help you get the very best out of your Mercedes. Whether you need
technical help, are looking for the car of your dreams or would like new ways to enjoy your
three-pointed-star, joining the Club will help make 2015 a bumper year.
At the beginning of December the Club had its Annual General Meeting, which all
Members – who between them own the Club by virtue of their joining fee – are invited to
attend. Growing membership and a healthy financial situation were reported.
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Events already scheduled for 2015
Techno-Classica, Essen, Germany – April 16 - 19
Just part of the Mercedes-Benz
display at the 2014 Techno-Classica.
he Mercedes-Benz Club will be taking its traditional enjoy luxury coach travel and hotel accommodation and
trip to the massive Techno-Classica exhibition in have plenty of time to see the whole show – including
Germany from April 16 to 19 in 2015. Members will Mercedes-Benz Classic’s always breathtaking display.
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Donington Historic Festival – May 2 - 4
Club Members will enjoy discounted
tickets for this increasingly impressive event
and will be able take their places on the Club
stand to see the racing, other club displays
and the marvellous Donington Museum.
Some of the cars that will be
racing at Donington Park.
Mille Miglia Drive – May 10 - 17
SSKs awaiting the
start of the Mille
Miglia retro in Brescia.
2015 is the 60th anniversary of Stirling Moss and
Denis Jenkinson’s remarkable win in this 1,000-mile
road race – at an average speed of nearly 100mph. To
mark this occasion the Mercedes-Benz Club is holding
It’s a great
chance to see
Gullwings at speed.
a special event in which Members will drive to Italy,
enjoying some of the famous Alpine passes on the way,
and be road-side for the Mille Miglia retro event – in
exclusive and very comfortable accommodation.
190SL Celebration, Mercedes-Benz World – May 24
Don’t miss this special 190SL occasion.
2015 is also the 60th anniversary
of the launch of the 190SL. It is
hoped that 60 examples of
this unforgettable roadster will
gather at Mercedes-Benz World,
Brooklands for a day of driving
on the handling circuit, technical
presentations and an informal
concours competition to mark the
birthday. If you own a 190SL
you need to be there – and if you
don’t you will want to be there as a
spectator.
Ponton Rally, Germany – June 4 - 7
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he UK Mercedes-Benz Club has a long tradition of
its Members taking part in this event, the annual
rally of one of the leading German clubs – the MBIG. In
2015 it will be based in Schwabisch Hall, about 30
miles from Stuttgart. This event is open to all models.
UK Club Members’ cars on
the 2014 Ponton Rally.
National Concours, Milton Keynes – June 20
T
he Club’s annual Concours
d’Elegance in 2015 will once
again take place at MercedesBenz UK’s headquarters in Milton
Keynes. This event always attracts
many of the best-presented cars in
the country, but it is structured
to encourage everyone to enter –
even with ‘daily-driver’ recent
models.
Judging underway at the 2014
Concours.
‘Car of the Show’ in 2014 was
this 420SL.
Silverstone Classic – July 24 - 26
The Club stand in the paddock at the 2014 Silverstone Classic.
Group C Sauber-Mercedes will be racing again
in 2015.
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ickets at special rates for Club Members are
already available for this massive event. As usual the
Mercedes-Benz Club will have a large stand at the heart
of all the racing action, live music, club displays and
trade stands.
Pagoda Rally, Austria – August 6 - 9
Cars on the 2014 Pagoda Rally.
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his event, open to W113 SLs from the 1960s,
is organised by the German Pagoda club and
Members of the UK Club always make the
journey to take part. This year’s rally will be
based in Feldkirch, Austria.
Archive developments
The Brooklands Control Tower.
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he Club’s Archive, which contains an amazing
collection of brochures, technical literature, price
lists and photos, as well as the Club’s history, is now
well established in offices in the old Control Tower at
Brooklands. The work of ‘digitising’ the Archive
contents is well in hand and plans are being made to take
further accommodation to house additional technical
information currently stored elsewhere.
Club Members have free access to all this fascinating
material.
A tiny selection of the material in the Club Archive.
Highlights from 2014
Classic Motor Show
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he Mercedes-Benz Club had
a prominent stand in the
premier hall of the 2014 Classic
Motor Show at the NEC in November. The display, produced entirely by
the Club without financial support
from the manufacturer, featured all
models of the SL sports cars from the
W198 300SLs – both Gullwing and
roadster, through 190SL, Pagoda,
R107, R129 to the R230. There was
also an SLK and a W124 cabriolet.
The Club
stand at the
NEC before
the crowds
arrived.
As well as the cars there was a
‘big screen’ showing the story of
the marque in motor sport and the
Club’s own history. Members were
able to take a break with free tea or
coffee and biscuits, and have a free
entry in a prize draw for a weekend
in Devon.
The big screen in action.
Partnership with the IAM
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An IAM Observer in action.
he Mercedes-Benz Club has
entered a partnership with the
Institute of Advanced Motorists to
offer its Members the chance to
enjoy the benefits of passing the
Advanced Driving Test at
discounted prices. Club volunteers
are being trained as IAM Observers
and then they will be able to coach
other Club Members for the test.
This is just the latest in a wide range
of benefits available to Club
Members – there are more highlighted towards the end of these
news pages.
Mercedes-Benz in the BTCC
Adam Morgan at the limit in
the racing A-Class.
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he Mercedes-Benz marque competed in the 2014
British Touring Car Championship in the form of
an independently entered A-Class driven by Adam
Morgan. MB Club Member Paul Kelly is the team’s
official photographer and his reports appeared in the
Club Gazette every month – including news of the firstever race win for a Mercedes in this championship.
It is hoped there will be two A-Classes competing in
2015 – and the Mercedes-Benz Club Gazette will be
there to report the action.
SLK Day – Sunday June 22
SLKs as far as the eye
can see at MB World.
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he Club’s very first SLK Day attracted 110 examples of these
sports cars to Mercedes-Benz World. In addition there were a
wide range of AMG variants on show and the Club’s Honorary
President John Surtees held a special family day, featuring a collection of his racing cars celebrating 50 years since he won the F1 World
Championship, in support of the Henry Surtees Foundation charity.
A ‘Shine and Show’ competition was a key part of the day and
experts from the Club’s Technical Team were on hand to answer
queries from Members.
‘Shine and Show’ runner up was
John Cummings’ SLK55 AMG.
‘Shine and Show’ winner Simon Cheesman
and his wife with their 2000 SLK320 which
Simon restored from a rusty wreck.
Denmark and Sweden Rally – July 12-24
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his year’s overseas Club rally visited the quiet
and scenic roads of Denmark and Sweden. Ferry
crossings, hotels and meals were organised for
entrants – all they had to do was enjoy the driving and
a wide choice of visits and attractions in Malmo,
Stockholm and Aarhus.
The roads might have been quiet in
Sweden, but Members needed to look
out for moose (Staffan Widstrand).
Stockholm (Ola Ericson).
S-Class Fest – July 20
S-Classes as far as the eye could
see at Gaydon (Eric Richardson).
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Members enjoyed picnics and reduced
price entry to the Heritage Motor Centre.
Mercedes-Benz World brought along an SLS AMG and
Mercedes-Benz of Coventry showed the very latest S-Class.
cars lined up for the Club’s SClass Fest, held at the Motor
Heritage Centre, Gaydon on July 20.
The weather held good even though
the rest of the country suffered
frequent rain storms. Members enjoyed having their cars photographed
by Eric Richardson who raised a
staggering £315 for charity. Others
had their cars valued and bought
items from the Club Shop. All were
invited to try their luck at a tombola in
aid of Help for Heroes and to take
advantage of reduced rate admission
to the Heritage Motor Centre.
Mercedes-Benz World brought
along an SLS AMG and MercedesBenz of Coventry displayed the new
W222 S-Class, which attracted daylong interest. A Club Technical Help
Desk was on hand to answer Members’ queries and a membership desk
signed up new Members. A busy and
enjoyable day – which will be
repeated in years to come.
W123 Day – Sunday August 17
An elegant setting for elegant cars.
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hatsworth in Derbyshire was the
venue for the 2014 W123 Day and it
hosted a fine turn out of these models.
National Weekend and SL Rally – August 22-24
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outh Wales was the setting for this major event and
full advantage was taken of the open roads in the
Brecon Beacons. The weekend was based in a luxurious hotel in the centre of Cardiff where a gala dinner
was held on the Saturday evening. On the Sunday there
was a magnificent display of SLs, with concours awards
and driving tests.
Cars arriving for
the Sunday display.
SLs in the
Brecon Beacons.
W124 Day – Sunday August 31
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his year’s event for these very
popular mid-range cars was held
at the newly refurbished Haynes
Motor Museum in Somerset.
1980s to 90s W124s have a
strong following within
the Club.
Not just national events
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The Club’s Regional Officers run events
across the country throughout the year.
full list of Club events can be found
on this site if you click on the ‘Events’
button. You will find that, as well as the
national events, there are over 100 regional
shows, visits, drives and social occasions –
across the UK and the whole of Ireland – plus
20 regular pub meetings. The newest region
is Milan in Italy. To get more details you
need to join the Club, which you can also do
via this site or by calling 0845 6032660.
If you do not yet own the car you would
like it is just as important to join because
many excellent Members’ cars are
advertised only in the monthly Gazette and
you can get help in finding a good one from
the Club’s Model Register Captains,
Technical Advisers and from the forums on
the Members’ pages of this website.
Gazette and Club Directory
T
he monthly Gazette always brings Club
event previews plus news, technical information, event reports and historic features. Every four
months it is accompanied by the Club Directory.
This contains contact details for all Club Officials,
including the Technical Team and Model Register
Captains. It also contains special offers for
Members from Mercedes-Benz dealers, car accessory manufacturers, hotels and ferry operators.
One of the Directory’s most valuable sections
is the ‘Good Garage Guide’ of Members’
recommendations of places to get your car
serviced, repaired or restored plus specialist parts
suppliers. The Directory is sent only to paid-up
Club Members.
DISCOUNTED INSURANCE
The Club has a panel of approved insurers that offer a full range of policies,
all with discounted rates for Members.
IF YOU NEED TECHNICAL HELP…
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ll the technical articles and tips that have
appeared in the Mercedes-Benz Club Gazette
are now available – to Members – from the Members’
pages of this website, via a simple to
use search engine. If you can’t find the answer
there, contact details for the Club’s Technical
Advisers, Model Register Captains and its ‘Good
Garage Guide’ of Members’ recommendations are
all listed in the Club Directory supplied to new
Members.
On-line technical
information
S
ince November 2009 Club Members have had free
access to the Mercedes-Benz Electronic Parts
Catalogue (EPC). This enables you to identify the part
number for any component from all models since 1945 – it
is usually only made available to garages, at a cost. Instructions on how to use this facility were given in the
December Mercedes-Benz Club Gazette and are included in the Members’ pages of this website.
Now the Mercedes-Benz Workshop Information System (WIS) has been made available to Club Members. This
gives full service and repair instructions, including wiring diagrams, for all models from the 1990s onwards.
– the Club’s adopted charity
After supporting Macmillan Cancer Care for several years, the Mercedes-Benz Club has now chosen Help
for Heroes, which supports our servicemen and women wounded in action since 9/11, as its adopted charity.
Latest Members’ benefits
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s well as free access to the
Mercedes-Benz Electronic
Parts Catalogue and Workshop
Information System mentioned
above, Club Members can take
advantage of preferential terms
from a wide range of companies
and organisations.
These include discounts of up to
40 per cent from appointed
Mercedes-Benz dealers and 15 per
cent from alloy wheel refurbishers
The Wheel Specialists and the
ChipEx stone chip repair system.
Members are entitled to a number
of exclusive discounts from hotels
and ferry operators. These can help
you get the best possible enjoyment
from your Mercedes at home and
abroad. The ferry deals cover
Channel and Irish Sea crossings
where significant reductions are
available. Brittany Ferries also
offer a discount on ferry-inclusive
holiday bookings.
To keep your Mercedes in top
condition there are offers on oils,
battery chargers, car covers,
cleaning materials, leather repairs
and replacement parts. If you are
buying a car, there are special terms
on inspections and warranties – and
for peace of mind there are deals on
breakdown recovery.
There are also special prices
for high-performance driving
instruction at Millbrook and discounts on men’s wear and ladies’
clothing from Peter Christian.
There is a 15 per cent saving on
Christopher Ward watches and
10 per cent off DVDs and books
from Terrific Stuff.
Club Members enjoy substantial discounts on a wide range
of products and services such as...
…ferries…
...car covers…
…women’s wear…
…men’s wear…
…battery chargers…
...Christopher
Ward watches...
…and high-performance driving.
CLUB MERCHANDISE –
now available from this website
A
wide choice of Club clothing,
personal and car accessories,
books and DVDs can now be ordered
from this website and all the prices
quoted include UK post and packing.
£20 .50
Suit carrier in charcoal with
silver Club logo. £25.00
p Flight-bag in charcoal with silver
thread Club logo. £20.50
£12 .50
p Baseball
caps in navy, black, red,
burgundy or bottle green with silver
Club logo. £12.50
£26 .50
£21
£25 .00
Wall clock. The
ever popular
wooden wall
clock is
once again
available,
for
a limited
.50
time. £21.50
p Sports-bag/holdall in black
with silver Club logo. £26.50
Gazette binder
– holds 12
issues, complete with year
stickers. £13.00
Club fleece with
silver logo, in
navy blue,
burgundy, black,
grey or
green.
£34.50
Waterproof
blouson jacket
in navy blue
or black.
£61.00
£18 .50
£13 .00
£34 .50
£61 .00
Reversible
jacket/fleece.
Wear it as a
jacket or
reverse it
and wear
it as a
fleece.
£61.00
Club polo
shirts in
various
colours.
£23.50
Ladies’ rugby
shirt in black,
burgundy or
navy blue.
£35.00
£23 .50
£61 .00
Tie with
Club
logo.
£18.50
£35 .00