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“The Star Letter” of the Virginia Section, MBCA

May/Jun 2015

Event Reminder

May 30 .. Yorktown Tour

Jun 27 .. Carolina Track Day

Jul 25 .. Driveway Mechanics

In This Issue

Page 3 ….. Driveway Report

Page 4…….… Trading Post

Page 5.... Driveway Photos

Page 7.....................Masthead Member News

Classifieds

Back Page ……… Calendar of Events

Club Web Sites

National...........www.mbca.org

Virginia Section ...................... http://mbca.org/virginia

Segway Tour of Yorktown - Saturday May 30, 2015

We will meet at Tysinger Mercedes-Benz 2712 Magruder Blvd. Hamp-ton VA 23666 at 9:30 AM on Saturday, May 30. We will leave promptly at 10AM for Patriot Tours, 321 Water Street, Yorktown, VA. There are over a dozen shops, galleries, and restaurants within 3-4 blocks of the Segway office. We will be right on the river with beautiful scenery. We will check in about 15 minutes before our tour to learn the simple operation of our vehicles. Age limit is 14 and above and weight limit is 260 pounds or less. You will be amazed at how simple and fool-proof these Segways are. All you have to do is stand and lean; the Seg-way does the walking for you. We will tour the historic streets of York-town and make note of anywhere you wish to visit after the tour is over.

Lunch will be at Riverwalk Res-taurant at 1PM where we will compare experi-ences and pur-chases while having a great lunch overlooking the river. 323 Water Street Suite A-1. The Segway Tour will be for one hour and cost $ 33-39/person depending on how many sign up. Please contact me to reserve your spot on this trip.

Jerry Schonfeld 488-7786 or 5677600cell. jerryschonfeld@yahoo.comFeel free to google Historic Yorktown and www.patriottoursva.comwww.riverwalkrestaurant.net

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*Actual time may vary based on certain external circumstances.

Visit our website where you can shop our new car inventory anytime:MBVaBeach.com

Service 757.499.3773 | Parts 757.499.3775

4949 Virginia Beach Boulevard Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Get routine vehicle service maintenance while you wait, without having to make an appointment.*

Certified Dealer for Sprinter

Mercedes Customer Commitment Program

Mercedes-Benz Premier Express Service – While You Wait

•Loanercarwhileyourvehicleisin forservicemaintenanceorrepairs•Preferentialschedulingforservice andcollisionrepairs

•Expressmaintenanceforconvenience•Carwashwhileinforservice•24-hourroadsideassistance•Overnightpartsdelivery

Mercedes-Benz Service Specials

Regularly $18995

Now only $16995 with coupon*Must have coupon. Not valid with any other discounts. Expires June 30, 2015.

Our Service Department is open 6 days a week.

Gift certificates available. Call for details.

Monday - Friday: 7:00 am to 6:00 pmSaturday: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm

15% oFFAny scheduled maintenance

*Excludes Express Oil Change Service. Must have coupon. Not valid with any other discounts. Expires June 30, 2015.

Maintenance Special

Complete Detail

Tire SpecialsFour Wheel Tire Balancing(with authorized Mercedes-Benz

wheel weights)

$1000 oFF*Excludes Diagnostic Charges. Must have coupon.

Not valid with any other discounts. Expires June 30, 2015.

Authorized Four Wheel Alignment

$2000 oFF

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Summerfest Regional Track Event. Saturday, June 27th Summerfest 2015 is coming up on June 27 at the North Carolina Center for Auto Research in Garys-burg NC, just three hours south of the Beltway. Reg-ister via Motorsportreg.com, search Summerfest. We have a block of rooms reserved at the Hilton Garden Inn, 111 T Carolina Crossroads Pkwy., Roa-noke Rapids, NC 27870, 252-519-2333. The dis-counted rate is $99 per night, but there are only 15 rooms left at this price. Mention the “Mercedes Club” to get the discount.

Please bring a completed tech form when you arrive. We will verify that the form is completed and do a final technical safety check of your car to ensure safety for yourself and others on the track. The tech form is on our web site.

Cost is on $99 for MBCA members, $149 for non-members. For questions or concerns, please contact Don LaBar at dlabar3@verizon.net or 757-620-6772

Driveway MechanicsGathering - SaturdayJuly 25, 2015This will be the second Driveway Mechanic Gather-ing this year and the opportunity to get out and join fellow club members for coffee, donuts and a little car work. It is now time to begin thinking about your spring car projects that you can bring to the gathering and share with your fellow club members. There is always plenty time for looking into other problems or to just "kick-the-tires" . That is the way these sessions work, it is really an open forum for what ever drives in. Mechanic activities will start around 9:30 a.m. We normally finish up by 1:00. For those needing advice on a problem, or needing a bit of encouragement to troubleshoot a problem, come to this event. If you would like to put your project on the schedule or desire information contact Jim Villers at 190SLJim@cox.net.

Legend of the Autobahn 2015 Legends of the Autobahn will be held Friday, August 14, 2015 at the prestigious Nicklaus Club in Mon-terey, California. Co-hosted by MBCA, BMW Car Club of America, and Audi Club North America, this one-day MBCA national special event puts the spot-light on distinctive German metal—three of the fin-est marques in the world. Michelin USA is the pre-senting sponsor. This year, Mercedes-Benz at Leg-ends of the Autobahn will celebrate the 60th anniver-sary of the 190SL,

Registration information and information about the event is on the MBCA web site and in the STAR magazine. Questions or need more information? Contact MBCA event chairwoman Laura Simonds, 650.592.7613, simondsl@pacbell.net.

Driveway Report, March 21 What a fun gathering. We gathered in Jim Villers' garage on Saturday, March 21, for the first Drive-way Mechanics Session of the year. The weather fi-nally warmed up and this was the largest gathering in many years. It was wonderful to see so many mem-bers attending their first Gathering. Robert Aftel, President of the Central Virginia Section drove down in his beautiful 6.9 sedan. Coffee was in great de-mand as were the donuts brought by Roy Wiley and Betty’s warm and irresistible “monkey bread”.

Don LaBar brought his “new” 1995 300D Diesel.His project was to remove goofy HID headlights and install a pair of European lights, a great improve-ment.

Thomas Woods worked on his hand brake for most of the morning. With the help of Jim’s new “Quick Lift”, what he thought was a simple adjustment turned out to be a cable was not attached to the brake on the passenger side. He also found some poor workmanship from a previous “mechanic”. By the continued on page 4

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end of the gathering, his brake worked perfectly and there were smiles all around.

More members arrived all morning until the drive-way was full. This was one of the largest and en-joyable gatherings in a while. Thanks for coming.

The attendees included Roy Wiley, Don LaBar, Bobby Ross, Bob Vann, Bob Goodwin, Steve Turner, Jon Sieck, Jack Piatak, Jim Freeh, Steve Bilenky, Thomas Woods, Frank Shaeffer, Rich Savage, Vince & Teresa Canepa, Jack Hilgars, Al-bert Solomon, Robert Aftel and Jim Villers.

Trading Post Members are invited to submit Trading Post ads at no charge. Photos are $25. All ads must be auto related. Send all personal ads to Jim Villers.

Two Mercedes for sale. I am the original owner of both, and have maintenance records since purchase (at Phillip's Mercedes ), serviced there and at European Autorwerks exclusively and each driven regularly.

1985 300 D, midnight blue, shearling seat covers, 200,000miles, 22 mpg city driving, asking $5,000.

1990 560 SEL, black, shearling seat covers, 61,000 miles, 15 mpg city driving, asking $9,000.

If anyone is interested, I can be reached either by email or phone ; I am a resident of Virginia Beach, Wendy Coffield awengel@verizon.net ( 757 ) 332- 1103

Please remember to support our advertisers - they support our club

and Das Stern Blatt

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Driveway Gathering Pictures Upper Right - The “Quick Lift” supporting a C class

Lower Left - Tomas Woods repairing his hand brake while his car is supported by the Quick Lift.

Upper Right - Bob Goodwin investigating an issue using the Mercedes-Benz WIS (Workshop Interac-tive System)

Mercedes-Benz& BMW Specialists

MERCEDES-BENZ PARTSComplete Maintenance Facility

Custom Paint & Body WorkProfessional Auto Detailing

Accepts All Insurance ClaimsTowing Available

ADVERTISERRECOGNITION

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2000 2002 2004 2006

2001 2003 2005 2007

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STAY COOL!

10% OFF A/C Special All Parts and Labor on ANY A/C Service

Offer expires 5./31/15. Not valid on previous charges or purchases. Coupon must be present at time order is written. Coupons not valid on any specials or discounts. All prices plus applicable

sales tax.

Super Polish $69.99 (regular $89.99)

Super Polish includes soft cloth wash, plus vacuum inte-rior, clean widows, dress tires and apply wax protection

with our state-of-the-art cloth polishing machine.

Mercedes-Benz Service Teams - Direct Lines -

LaDonna Staton ~Orange Team Manager ~ (757) 251-2078 Marie Tominich ~ Gray Team Manager ~ (757) 251-2010

Delano Bowens ~ Green Team Manager ~ (757) 251-2079 Andy Trowbridge ~ Blue Team Manager ~ (757) 251-2011

Brett Whitney ~ Sprinter/Gold Team Manager ~ (757) 251-1256

Come check out our newly renovated Service and Sales Facilities! Call for Appointment 251.APPT (2778)

**Lease Special $699/36 month** *Based on approved credit, $5,407 due at signing, based on a 10,000 mile per year. Tax, tags, license fees not included. Add must be present, see Sales Manager for Details.

2712 Magruder Boulevard Hampton, Virginia 23666

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Virginia Section MBCA Officers

PRESIDENT Don LaBar

1274 Christian Court Virginia Beach 23464

757 620-6772 dlabar3@verizon.net

VICE-PRESIDENTJohn Schonfeld

5000 Portsmouth Blvd Portsmouth, VA 23701

757 488-7786 jerryschonfeld@yahoo.com

SECRETARY Tom Dawson 125 Brittany Ln

Suffolk, VA 23435 757-434-1587

TDawson50@aol.com

TREASURERJim Freeh

633 Centerville Turnpike S Chesapeake, VA 23322

757-482-1401 jfreeh9999@aol.com

DIRECTORS

Bobby Ross 757 291-8550Don LaBar 757-620-6772 Jim Villers 757 481-6398 Pat Evans 757 238-2824

COMMITTEESMembership Windsor Brabsom 757-408-3560 ramonamac1@verizon.net

Marketing Ed Batkin 757-647-5000 mercedes672@cox.net

NEWSLETTER EDITORJim Villers

3133 Inlet Road Virginia Beach 23454

757 481-6398 190SLJim@cox.net

Eastern Regional DirectorWilliam Hopper 202-363-4189

wwrestoration@att.net

Brutis Goodson .. Portsmouth James Guilianno ………….... ………………….WilliamsburgGeorge Hanford ……………... ………………...Virginia BeachRichard Savage ……………... ………………….Virginia BeachMartez Smith ....Virginia Beach Walter Ulbricht …….. Yorktown Ronald Wagerman …... Norfolk Stephen Wallace …….... Keller Paul Whiteley ….. ChesapeakeSimon Wohlfahrtstaetter …….. ………………….. Williamsburg

Welcome! It is always our pleasure to meet new members. We encourage you to attend one of our Virginia Section events.

Percent on Parts & LaborMercedes-Benz of Virginia Beach,10%Discount on parts and labor charges. See our ad in this issue.757 499-3771

Tysinger Mercedes-Benz – Hampton, VirginiaDiscounts are limited to the first $250 of TOTAL parts and labor charges. SENIOR CITIZENS RECEIVE AN UNLIMITED 10% DISCOUNT. See our ad in this issue. 757 865-8000

Ten Percent on Labor Only

Auto Haus – Yorktown, Virginia See our ad in this issue 757 898-7121

Ten Percent on Parts OnlyLarry’s Import Center - Virginia Beach, Virginia See our ad in this issue. 757 422-3295

Trading Post Members are invited to submit Trading Post ads at no charge. Photos are $25. All ads must be auto related. Send all personal ads to Jim Villers.

Multiple Section Membership AvailableThe MBCA National Business Office is setup so that it is possible for members to have membership in an additional section or sections. The membership cost is $15 per additional section. Members will receive newsletters from additional sections and membership in the additional section(s) must run concurrent with the member’s existing membership expiration date. To take advantage of this new benefit contact the National Business Office at the address and phone number to the right.

Membership questions? Gift memberships? Address change?

Want to join MBCA? Renewing?

All the above and more can be done at www.mbca.org

Don’t want to use the web? Don’t have a computer?

Call 800-637-2360

Mailing address:

MBCA1907 LeLaray Street

Colorado Springs, CO 80909

Advertising in the Das Stern Blattdoes not imply approval or sanction of products or services by the Virginia Section, MBCA, its members, or MBUSA.

Das Stern Blatt is the official newsletter of the Virginia Section of the Mercedes-Benz Club America, Inc. Publication is bi-monthly. Copyright © 2012 by the Virginia Section, MBCA. Articles may be reprinted in newsletters for members of MBCA, giving credit. Other use without written permission is prohibited.

Das Stern Blatt 3133 Inlet Road Virginia Beach, VA 23454

VIRGINIA SECTION, MERCEDES-BENZ CLUB AMERICACALENDAR OF EVENTS - 2015

Virginia Section Events May 30 Segway Tour of Yorktown Contact: John Schonfield

Jun 27 Carolina Track Event Contact: Don Labar

Jul 25 Driveway Mechanics Gathering Contact: Jim Villers

Aug 22 MBCA Concours in Shelton NC Contact: Don Labar

Sep 26 Wing & Wheels with Pizza Contact: Don Labar

Oct TBT Driver Days & OctoberFest Contact: Jim Freeh

Nov 7 Driveway Mechanics Gathering Contact: Jim Villers

Dec 6 WinterFest at the Princess Anne Contact: Don Labar

MBCA National Events

Jun 12 StarTech 2015 in Hebron, KY Aug 14 Legend of the Autobahn 2015

Monterey, CA