Annual Business Meeting June 5th at the Phoenician Resort · annual business meeting june 5th at...

Annual Business Meeting June 5th at the Phoenician Resort

ITALIAN LUNCH BUFFET TOMATO BASIL BISQUE, OLIVE & CAPERS PANZANELLA STATION WITH ATTENDANT

LIGHTLY TOASTED FOCACCIA, TOMATOES, FETA CHEESE, ROCK SHRIMP, CUCUMBER,

ROASTED FENNEL, OLIVES & BABY ARUGULA BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

ANTIPASTO OF GRILLED VEGETABLES SALAMI, CAPPACOLO, PROSCIUTTO & ASSORTED CHEESES

ALMOND CHICKEN SALAD STUFFED TOMATOES SUN-DRIED TOMATO & EGGPLANT MANICOTTI

CHICKEN PICATTA, LEMON CAPER SAUCE ORIECHIETTE PASTA WITH BROCCOLI RABE

KALAMATA OLIVES, TOMATO CONFIT, SMOKED MOZZARELLA & ROASTED GARLIC

MAKE YOUR OWN MEATBALL HOAGIE: MEATBALLS, MARINARA, PARMESAN CHEESE SLICED FRESH MOZZARELLA, HOAGIE ROLL

TIRAMISU ZUPPA INGLESE

MARINATED FRUIT WITH ZABAGLIONE FRESHLY BREWED COFFEE, DECAFFEINATED COFFEE AND

SELECT TEAS

To top last years venue we’ve chosen this world class five diamond resort for this year’s Desert Stars’ Annual Business Meeting. From 11:00AM until 2:00PM the Las Brisas Room and it adjacent patio is ours for our Italian Brunch and the conducting of section business. The menu for the brunch is below and as usually a no-host bar will serve drinks

After the brunch we’ll hold section elections for officers and directors. You’ll find the slate of officer and directors suggested by the nominating committee below. They will be nominated before the election and nominations from the floor will also be accepted. With the time left, we’ll brainstorm for ideas for next year’s schedule of events. This year’s events have been a huge success and we’d like to continue drawing the large attendance numbers we have seen throughout the year. Your ideas are import and we’d like to hear your opinions of what we are doing right and wrong.

The price for this event is $4500 per person (no one ever called the Phoenician cheap.) The section is heavy subsidizing this price, so we must restrict attendance to members and their associate or a guest.

If you have any questions, or will not be able to attend but have an idea for an event for next year, call Elaine Petrick, (480) 998-0194; or Mindy Sharp, (480) 661-1325. Please fill-out and mail in the registration form on page 4, as soon as possible, so we can make appropriate plans.

Slate of Officer Candidates

President Rick Stacio Vice-President Bob Yoder

Treasurer Dick Sharp Secretary No Candidate

Slate of Director Candidates -- Class of 2005

Chuck Stanford Jr. Chuck Landenburger

Rich Leamon John Hutchison Bud Cloninger

May 2005 The Stardust© of 8

President’s Message: May 2005 Volume 41 Number 3 © 2005 MBCA Desert Stars Section

I enjoyed meeting so many new

members at the Luke Air Force Base visit. Besides a delicious brunch, the weather was beautiful and everyone enjoyed Wes Squires’ tour of the retired fighter aircraft on display at the base. Some ex-fighter jockeys in the group kicked in a few comments about their rides and everyone posed for a group shot by an F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The following weekend, seven vehicles from the Desert Stars joined over a hundred British and European models for the eighth annual British / European Auto Tour (BEAT). With an early start on Saturday, we toured from Phoenix to Flagstaff through the back routes of Arizona.

As our event year wraps up, I would like to thank all the officers, directors and other members who volunteered their time and effort in putting together the past year’s calendar of events. This year’s attendance at events was a recent all time high. Our membership is growing and new members are attending our events. This kept our event coordinators busy trying to increase facilities to accommodate higher than anticipated turnouts. Everyone involved enjoys these kinds

of dilemmas, despite the fact that for the first time that I can remember, we had to turn members away from fully booked events. I also want to thank all our members and their guests for attending these events. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. No one likes to throw a party and have no one show up.

Our last event of the season is our Annual Business Meeting. This event wraps up our schedule with the election of new officers and a new class of directors. Our nominating committee has put together a slate of officers and candidates for directorships. This slate appears elsewhere in this issue. If you’re interested in holding office in the section, nominations will be taken from the floor before the election. Also at the business meeting, we traditionally brain-storm for ideas for the upcoming year. Your board has already started the planning with perennial favorites like Havasupai, which will be highlighted in the next issue of the Stardust, and our Holiday Brunch at Paradise Valley Country Club. In the planning stage are some new events like a putting event at Desert Highland in February and high performance driving education this fall. We’ll also throw in some other events like rallyes and car shows and we won’t forget the social events. If you have an idea or preference for an event, the Annual Business Meeting is the place to make your views known. See the notice and registration form on page 4.

Hope to see you at an event soon. Rick Stacio, President

Desert Stars Section

The Stardust Newsletter is published by the MBCA Desert Stars Section bi-

monthly. All rights reserved, except permission to reprint original articles is

expressly granted to all MBCA Sections Send advertising inquiries to:

• [email protected]; • the address below the Stardust

Masthead on the back page; • or call (623) 582-6694.

Board of Directors Rick Stacio, President

[email protected] Chuck Stanford Jr., Vice President

[email protected] Richard Sharp, Treasurer

[email protected] Elaine Petrick, Secretary

[email protected] Valerie Olmsted, Past President

[email protected] Wayne Burford, Director

[email protected] Louis Horwin, Director

[email protected] Ed Kasmar, Director

[email protected] Norm Nichol, Director

[email protected] Janice Nichol, Director

[email protected] Mindy Sharp, Director

[email protected] Ron Stafford, Director

[email protected] Bob Yoder, Director

[email protected] Board meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month. All members are welcome. Check with a board member concerning place and time.

Web Site www.desertstars.org

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

New Members

April Merton Marks Jorge Alandia

Gerry Rasmusson Jerry & Joan Rosen

Ali Afsharha Mark & Ryan Fisher

Stephen Rosa

March Richard & Jean Blasdell

Darren Whitehurst Mark Nye

Claudia & William Owens Kevin Hilding Diana Morris Micheal & Jennifer Mooney

Sbignet & Marianne Miszuk

Rick Stacio, Newsletter Editor & Webmaster

Highlights Inside: Annual Business Meeting...........1 President’s Message ..................2 New Members ............................2 British/Euro Auto Tour ................3 Concours in the Desert...............5 Luke Air Force Base Visit ...........6 High Performance Driving ..........7 Save these Dates .......................8


British / European Auto Tour

Fourteen Desert Stars members joined a couple of hundred British and European Marque enthusiasts on the British / European Auto Tour (BEAT) for the weekend of April 23rd and 24th. On Saturday our hearty group met at Dunlap and I-17 at 6:00 AM with other auto aficionados for registration. After a brief drivers’ meeting we were on the road heading north on I-17, then west on the Cave Creek Highway to Wickenburg via Lake Pleasant.

A stop at Wickenburg’s train station for coffee and doughnuts and it’s back on the road, this time heading for Prescott. Not the normal jaunt up state route 89 for these devotees of the tarmac, but on state route 93 for 50 miles,then onto state routes 97 & 96 through Hillside, Kirkland, Skull Valley and Iron Springs.

Finally in Prescott, we parked on Whiskey Row which was blocked off for the BEAT participants. We had a leisurely lunch at a crepe place on the square, recommended by a pair of our companions.

On the road again, this time heading for Cottonwood on state route 89A over Mingus Mountain through Jerome and Clarkdale. At Cottonwood’s River Front Park we had ice cream and sodas and a quick visit by the Governor. Also photos were taken.

Some of us continued to Flagstaff by the scenic state route 89A through Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, while others made the trek more expeditiously via I-17. At

Our group at the Wickenburg stop

‘Little America’ after checking in and removing a mild layer of road dust (the weather was beautiful and the convertible tops were down), we all gathered in the main ballroom for a mixer.

On Sunday morning we awoke to snow covering our cars. We gathered again in the ballroom for a breakfast

See BEAT 2005 on Page 6


ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING AND BRUNCH June 5th

While making plans for our coming year enjoy:

GREAT FOOD

INTERESTING PEOPLE “CAR TALK”

In a beautiful atmosphere of the Phoenician Resort

Mail in your registration soon - seating is limited.

(Desert Stars has already contributed over 20% of the cost of this affair).

Annual Business Meeting at ‘The Phoenician’, June 5, 2005

Registration Form

Name(s):

Address:

City: State: Zip: Contact Information –

Phone No.: Day Night and/or (specify day and/or night)

Email Addr.:

# Attending: The cost is $4500 per person. Mail this registration form to: MBCA, Deserts Stars

℅ Dick Sharp 11371 East Cochise Drive Scottsdale, AZ 85259


Concours in the Desert On April 2nd at the Peoria Sports Complex, the Girl

Scouts of America held their first car show to raise money for the local council. The south parking lot was filled with a fantastic array of muscle cars, off road vehicles, low riders, American restorations from the 1920s through the 1980s, and of course, the monster trucks. The collection was impressive but not up to the caliber of the few, but beautiful, Mercedes on display in the concession area of the stadium itself. Desert Stars member, Dr. Phillip Lufty, had 3 roadster on exhibition, a 1963 300SL, a 1967 250SL and a 1967 250SL. Member, Joseph Thompson, had his

1971 Cabriolet displayed. Also present was a 1954 300SL Gullwing.

If you enjoy showing off your Benz keep this show in mind, it would be nice to see more Mercedes on display next year. This was the first year for this Concours and it was a terrific show and for a good cause.

Another good auto show is the British and European Car Day sponsored by the Arizona MG Club. This year it is on Sunday, October 30th at the Scottsdale Pavilions. The Stardust will remind you again of these events as their dates approach.

Dr. Lufty’s 300 and 250 SLs Joe Thompson’s Cabriolet

For Sale 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300TE, $8,250

165k miles, 3rd rear seat-seats 7, self leveling rear suspension, meticulously maintained, all maintenance records, all work done by Mercedes authorized mechanics, Thule roof ski/luggage rack. All Mercedes E series luxury features, sunroof, speed control, auto temperature control., etc.

Phone 480 460-8356 (home) 480 732-5790 (work)

For Sale 1977 Mercedes-Benz 450SL, $14,995

450 SL Roadster two door coupe. 50,000 original miles. Two tops, hard and new convertible top. Exterior color is Desert Tan. Tan leather interior with custom sheep skin covers. Garage kept In Arizona. Pleasure car for life of car.

Direct Inquires to: Mark Strang 847 767-0762 [email protected]

Don’t miss an issue of the Star or Stardust. Keep your mailing address current with the MBCA National Business Office. You can change your address online at http://mbca.org/mbca/addchange.htm or

mail your address change to: MBCA 1907 Lelaray Street Colorado Springs, CO 80909


Desert Stars Revisit Luke Air Force Base

Forty-five Desert Stars and their guests met at Luke Air

Force Base’s Office Club on April 17th. We had a real good turnout of new members for this event. New and old members gathered in the lounge making new acquaintances and renewing old. As usual the brunch was a feast of generous amounts of salads, a vast choice of vegetables, fresh carved prime rib of beef, sliced pork roast, all the breakfast fixings, including omelets made to order, and a limitless dessert selection.

After brunch and a little time to relax and socialize, Wes Squires, our host at the club and retired fighter jockey, lead our group

through the display of retired fighter planes exhibited on the base. The beautiful weather and Wes’ knowledgeable

and sometimes humorous narratives made for an enjoyable outing.

There was a snafu with base security due to an emergency leave which meant we were not pre-cleared to the base as last year. Each individual car had to be cleared by the air police which slowed down our arrival. It also prevented a member and his guest from entering the base, due to lack of the proper paper work. Our apologies, again, for this situation.

BEAT 2005 (cont’d from page 3)

buffet and then the infamous BEAT raffle. A few of our group went away with tool kits and emergency jump starters.

The drive home was a hair-rising adventure down the hill from Flagstaff on I-17, since the snow/sleet/rain had continued throughout the morning. For those of us who learned to drive in the snow but now only drive in it every ten years or so, we just took it slow. It’s still a little harrowing to see SUVs skidding into the median in front of you as you watch a red Camero do 360s in your rear view mirror. Regardless, everyone made it home safely after a wonderful weekend adventure.

DRIVER’S EDUCATION (cont’d from page 7)

comfort level, learn the limits of your car, which will be a real eye opener to you, in a safe environment, while having the time of your life.

In order to complete our planning, we need to know how many of our members are interest in this type of event. Please call Ron Stafford at (816) 739-7005 (cell) or 480-664-2680 (home) for details about the dates, locations, and any other information you might need. Bring your friends, or come on out yourself, just to watch. You don’t have to drive to have fun! We will have a special area just for Mercedes Club members, with a tent and some refreshments.

By Ron Stafford


HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVER’S EDUCATION This fall, we will be encouraging you to come out and

participate in a formal on-track High Performance Driver’s Education event. We have arranged for a club discount for our members so you can try this form of car fun. Don’t worry, your street car, be it a 2 door, a 4 door, a wagon, or a sport utility, is just fine. Even a Ford Econoline van has participated!

This is your opportunity to become a safer driver while having a whole lot of fun. You drive your car at either Firebird International Raceway, or at Phoenix International Raceway on the same track where Formula One cars, Grand-Am Rolex cars, IRL and Indy Champ cars run.

The regular cost is very reasonable, about $175.00 for a one day event at Firebird International Raceway and $250.00 for a three day event at Phoenix International Raceway. We have arranged for a $25.00 discount for the one day course and anticipate a comparable discount for the three day course, although we are still working the details. All you need to bring is a car and a helmet. In some cases, with prior arrangements, a helmet can be found for loan, if you don’t have one. An Instructor is provided, to teach you the safe way to handle your car in fast and unusual situations. The one day experience starts with a safety look-through of your car, then a few hours in the classroom, where you are taught the basic safety rules of the road. Then the psychological and physiological aspects of mental stress and the physical responses of your body to the riggers of the situation are covered.

The track layout, and the safest way around, is diagramed and discussed. Sometimes a video of the track being driven, from the driver’s point of view, is shown to familiarize you with what you are about to experience. Safety issues are covered again and the very strict rules of the road. You are taught the proper way to adjust your mirrors, seat, seatbelt, and steering wheel, to give you the safest and most comfortable driving position, so you will be in control.

When your first track session comes up, you will meet your Instructor. Sometimes he will drive first, to show you the track layout, and the safe, fast way around. He will make sure you understand the safe rules of the road, any danger areas, and the areas where you can push your limits, safely. While on the track you are also observed by a highly qualified staff of corner workers and safety personal, who will make sure you do the right thing at the right time.

Then it is time to return to the classroom for a debriefing, with discussions of what you learned, and what problems you might have experienced. This is your last time in the classroom. Your continuing education is handled by your instructor. Normally, by your afternoon session, you will be soloed by your Instructor. If you so desire, you can now run in the Red Group with other drivers. The three day experience is obviously more detailed and intense.

You will learn to push your limits to your personal See Driver’s Education on Page 6


Save these Dates Memorial Day Weekend Trip to GC North Rim May 27 – 30, 2005

National Parks Tour (see January issue of the Stardust) June 5 - 9, 2005

Annual Business Meeting at “The Phoenician” June 5, 2005

Watch for the next issue of the Stardust, with details of our upcoming Havasupai’05 Rallye Weekend.

Check our web site… http://www.desertstars.org

“Fun with your friends and your Benz”

Keep your address updated with the MBCA National Business Office at

(800) 637-2360, or http://mbca.org/mbca/addchange.htm.

STARDUST Editor 3344 W. Taro Lane Phoenix, AZ 85027-6157

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