CLUB NEWSWelcome

Recent and forthcoming eventsLondon Classic Car Show – February 15-18

The Club stand at this show featured a 600, a 300SE cabriolet, a 280SL and a 250SE.The Mercedes-Benz Club

had a prominent stand at thisgrowing event held in London’sDocklands. The display featuredfour cars, all designed by PaulBracq, and Club Memberswere able to take advantage ofreduced price tickets. The 600 onthe stand was selected by theevent organisers as the ‘BestClub Car’.

Welcome to the Mercedes-Benz Club’s website. What you can see on this ‘News’ page and onthe other ‘public’ pages of the site is only a taster for what the Club has to offer. To enjoy itsfull technical, social and financial benefits, the Members’ only pages of this site, including theon-line forum and Technical Library, and to take part in Club events you need to join – eithervia this website or by calling 0345 6032660.Scroll down to see:• Recent and forthcoming events• Some highlights from 2017• What’s in the latest Club magazine• The technical help available from the Club

• Exclusive insurance policies• The Club Archive • Members’ benefits• The Club Shop

Techno-Classica, Essen, Germany – March 22-25

The Mercedes-Benz Club once again had a trip tothis event, the largest indoor classic car show in the

world. Members enjoyed luxury coach travel,

There was also displayof Grand Prix cars.

G-Wagens, old and new, were at the centre of the Mercedes-Benz stand at this year’sTechno-Classica.

This was an opportunity for Club Members to meet atthe new Mercedes-Benz dealership at Cheshire Oaks

– to enjoy breakfast and a guided tour of this ‘state-of-the-art’ facility.

R129 SL meeting at Mercedes-Benz Cheshire Oaks Saturday April 28

comfortable hotel accommodation and the company of like-minded enthusiasts.

The ‘Classic Partners’ – appointed dealerswho offer specialist services for classic cars– had very prominent displays.

This W201 190 cabriolet conversion wasamongst the cars for sale.

Mercedes-BenzCheshire Oaks.

Spanish Tour – May 15-29

The Club’s international rally in2018will be on the peaceful and

picturesque roads of the Pyrenees.The programme will include visitsto San Sebastian and Barcelonaand there will be luxury accommo-dation and great food and winethroughout.

One of theparadors Members will bestaying in.

This will be a chance to enjoy thequiet and breathtaking rural roadsof Spain......and some of the sights of its cities.

The Donington Historic Festival is firmly established as a major fixture on the international

historic racing calendar. At this year's event the

Mercedes-Benz Club displayed some of its cars in theheart of the infield and all Members benefited from reduced price tickets.

The Donington Historic Festival – Friday-Sunday May 4-6The track action at Doningtonincluded pre-war cars...

...1950s sports cars... ...and latersaloons.

The Letchworth Garden CityClassic and Vintage Car Club

has invited the Mercedes-Benz Clubto hold this event at their picnic inHertfordshire. Amongst the SECs(1980s top of the range coupés) todisplayed will be several once ownedby Formula One World Champions.‘Mercedes Mark’ of MercedesClassic Parts is sponsoring the prizesand will be helping with the judging.He will also be on hand to answerquestions about SECs.It’s hoped that this event will beatthe record for the most SECs in oneplace, which was 32 at Mercedes-Benz World in 2017. Everyone iswelcome to come along, but if youhave an SEC that should feature inthe display join the Club and enter it.

The cars attending the SEC Day will include the ex-Ayrton Senna500SEC (photo by Richard Parramint).

SEC Day, Letchworth – June 2

National Concours, Milton Keynes – June 16

This R107 300SL was the overallwinner in 2017.

Mercedes-Benz always display their latestmodels at this event – and offer Club

Members test drives.

Some of the cars in theEnthusiasts Class in 2017.

The Club’s premier concours competition willagain be held at Mercedes-Benz UK’s headquarters

in 2018. Located in Milton Keynes, this venue provideshard-standing for all the cars entered plus a wide rangeof other facilities that make for a great day out.

The Club’s Coupé Daywill again to be held atCosford, this event features all models of

Mercedes coupé – from the 1950s to the presentday, including CLSs. This year the coupés will also be joined by the first dedicated meeting of the W220 S-Class Model Register – celebrating the 20th anniversary of the launch of this model.As with all Club events, this one is open to allMembers, with any model of Mercedes, to attend.

The competitive classes include some for ‘Enthusiasts’– ie everyday cars owned by people whomight not have entered a concours before – and thereare displays of Mercedes’ latest models plus the chanceto take test drives.

Here and above some ofthe cars at last year’sCoupé Day.

Coupé Day and W220S-Class event, at RAFMuseum, Cosford – Sunday July 1

W220 S-Class.

This year’s National Weekend will be based at the Nottingham Belfry Hotel.

Dinner will be servedby the ‘Faulty Towers’team.

The SL Day will be at Wollaton Hall.

National Weekend, SL Day and now SLK Day, Nottingham – July 6-8

The Club’s SL Day always attracts a breath-taking display.

The Mercedes-Benz Club’sbiggest event, its National

Weekend and SL Day, will thisyear be centred on Nottingham. Its base will be the four-star Nottingham Belfry Hotel and theprogramme will include a tour ofthe historic city, a road run aroundthe local countryside, with an optionof seeing the National Space Centre in Leicester, and a black-tiedinner. Some very special guestsfrom an infamous Torquay hotelwill be assisting with this. On the Sunday the SL Day will beat Wollaton Hall and the SLs present

will include some W113 Pagodasfrom Germany. All SL models will beattending, and this event will also incorporate the Club’s SLK Day, featuring all versions of Mercedes’smaller sports car. There will be

prizes for the best cars and, as withevery Club event, all Mercedes willbe welcome and there will be a display area for non-SLs.To take part in this premier eventjoin the Club now.

The 2018 SLK Day will now be part of this weekend.

W123 Day, World of Wedgwood – July 15

Silverstone Classic July 20-22

Part of the Club stand at Silverstone in 2017.

The Mercedes-Benz Club will, as usual, have a prominent stand atthe Silverstone Classic. If you like historic motor racing and all the

other events taking place over the weekend, including 10,000 classic carson display and live music, join the Club to get discounted tickets. It is hoped that there will be parade laps in celebration of the /8(W114 and W115) models’ 50th year. The Club will also be marking20 years of the Smart.

W123s, the mid-size saloons,coupés and estate cars from

the 1970s and 80s, have been popular in the Club for many years.Their 2018 gathering will be at theWedgwood factory and museum inthe heart of the country which hasexcellent facilities for such an event.

...and coupés at aprevious W123 Day.

Estates...

The E-Class has been the mainstayof the Mercedes-Benz executive car

range for well over 20 years. The Club willbe celebrating this series in a special day atBurghley House near Peterborough.

E-Class Day,Burghley House –August 19

All Members and their cars will bewelcome, but it will be the W210,W211, W212 and W213s that willbe display parked in front of thehouse – and ‘daily drivers’ will bejust as welcome as immaculate examples. Join the Club to take part.

All models of E-Class and all Members... ...will be welcome at this spectacular venue.

R129 SL Model Register Event, Sywell Aerodrome –September 9

This event, featuring SLs from the 1990s, will be atSywell, near Northampton – so easy to reach from

much of the country. These SLs have become classics inshort order and this will be an opportunity some of thebest examples. The programme will include guidedtours of the aerodrome’s museum.

The Aviator Hotel at SywellAerodrome... ...a suitably stylish setting for R129 SLs.

W124 Event, Leyburn, North Yorkshire – Sunday September 16

W124 Event, Leyburn, North Yorkshire – Sunday September 16

Car of the day at the 2017 W124Day was this E36 AMG coupé.

After three years in the West Midlands, the Club’s 2018 W124 event ismoving to North Yorkshire. It will see a full range of these ‘young-timer’classics from the 1980s and 90s displayed at Tennants Auction House,where the facilities include a café and restaurant.

Some highlights from 2017AMG 50th anniversary

celebration and SEC Day – June 4

SECs lined up on theCampbell Circuitoutside MB World.

This event, at Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands,Surrey, was something not to be missed for

anyone with an interest in AMG or the iconic S-Classcoupés of the 1980s and 90s.

AMG, the special tuning wing of Mercedes-Benz, was 50 years old in 2017 and to celebrate the Club organised a gathering of a very special collection ofAMG-powered cars.On the same day the SEC Day took place and included in the cars displayed was Nigel Mansell’s560SEC and Ayrton Senna’s 500SEC.Full use was made of all the facilities at Mercedes-BenzWorld, including the handling circuit on which ClubMembers enjoyed parade laps and AMG driving experiences.

The ex-George Harrison SEL on the left withNeville Brown’s Wide-body SEC.

AMG cars lining up to go onto the MB World handling circuit.

The ex-Ayrton Senna SEC.

S-Class Fest 2017, Donington Racing Car Museum – July 30

There was a wide range of S-Classes at this event...

Once again the S-Class Fest provided a chance to see

virtually every type of S-Class – Mercedes-Benz’s top of the range –and there were technical experts onhand to solve problems and providevaluations.In addition the Donington museumoffered the opportunity to see thelargest collection of racing cars inthe world plus World War Two vehicles and memorabilia. ...held at the Donington Racing Car Museum.

Southern Ireland Rally – September 16-23A chance to discover the delights

of rural Ireland.

The Mercedes-Benz Club has a significant presencein Ireland and this event was an opportunity for

Members to enjoy the quiet, picturesque and sometimeschallenging roads on the south coast – with the benefitof expert local knowledge.

The Club stand at the NEC...

Classic Motor Show – November 10-12Classic Motor Show – November 10-12

The Club’s stand at the Classic Motor Showattracted many Members, who were able to buy

reduced price tickets for this huge annual event at theNEC. Not only that, they could relax with free hotdrinks and biscuits in the Members’ Café – around1,200 took advantage of this.The cars on display ranged from a 1956 300SL Gull-

wing through representatives from each decade up tothe 1990s. The Gullwing and ex-George Harrison500SEL AMG were put to good use in raising moneyfor charity in exchange for photo opportunities – a totalof nearly £800 was collected for the RNLI and Huntingtons Disease Association.

...it included the very popular Members’ Café.

The 300SL Gullwing on display, as always,attracted a lot of attention – and charitable donations. The ex-George Harrison 500SEL AMG.

190E 2.6 –adjacent to the

TechnicalTeam’s deskand elevated

for inspection.

The Club Shop was on hand as was a strong Technical Team – who were kept busy all weekend answering Members’ queries. 151 new Members joinedthe Club at this event.

Not just national eventsThe Club’s Regional Officers run events across the country

throughout the year.

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 monthlyGazette 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 ofthis website.

Afull list of Club events can be found on this siteif you click on the ‘Events’ button. You will find

that, as well as the national events, there are over 100regional shows, visits, drives and social occasions –across the UK and the whole of Ireland – plus 20regular pub meetings. The newest region is Milanin Italy. To get more details you need to join the Club, which you can also do via this site or by calling 0345 6032660.

The latest Club Gazette

The June Club magazine in-cludes a beautifully illustrated

report of some Members’ participa-tion in last year's ‘Ponton Rally’.This is a major event run annuallyby one of the biggest German

A Club Member’s 300SE on

the 2017 ‘Ponton Rally’.

This SL, converted to diesel power by the late Derek Rhind,was well-known in the Club.

Mercedes clubs and the UK Club hasa long tradition of taking part in it.This Gazette also includes tributes to two leading Club Members who, in their differentways, had highly memorable cars.

The technical topic raises the ques-tion of whether an inspection pitwould be a good investment.Successes for Mercedes in the

British Touring Car Championshipand Formula One are reported plus

Since 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 usu-

ally only made available to garages, at a cost. Instructions on how to use this facility were given in the DecemberMercedes-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.

On-line technical information

The fondly remembered Mike Rutledge with his immaculate Pagoda SL.

Is an inspection pit a good idea?

A-Class success in the BTCC. The fondly remembered Mike Rutledge

with his immaculate Pagoda SL.

details of new road-going models. There are updates from theClub and the regular columns from the Club Archive and theregions.All fully paid-up Members also received the Club

Directory of Officials’ contact details, Club benefits andMembers’ recommendations with this Gazette.

Archive developmentsThe Brooklands Control Tower.

A tiny selection of the material in the Club Archive.

The Club’s Archive, which contains an amazing collection of brochures, technical

literature, price lists and photos, as well as theClub’s history, is now well established in offices inthe old Control Tower at Brooklands. The workof ‘digitising’ the Archive contents is well inhand and a website presenting it is now on-line.Club Membership brings you access to all this fascinating material.

All 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. 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.

If you need technical help…

DISCOUNTEDINSURANCE

The Club has a panel of approved insurers that offer a

full range of policies, all with discounted rates for

Members.

...ChristopherWard watches...

...car covers…

…battery chargers…

…clothing……clothing…

As well as free access to theMercedes-Benz Electronic

Parts Catalogue and Workshop Information System mentionedabove, Club Members can take advantage of preferential terms froma 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 refurbishersThe Wheel Specialists and theChipEx stone chip repair system.

Members are entitled to a numberof exclusive discounts from hotelsand ferry operators. These can helpyou get the best possible enjoymentfrom your Mercedes at home andabroad.To keep your Mercedes in top condition there are offers on oils, battery chargers, car covers, cleaning materials, leather repairs andreplacement parts. If you are buying acar, there are special terms on inspections and warranties – and forpeace of mind there are deals on break-

down 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 onChristopher Ward watches and 10per cent off DVDs and books fromTerrific Stuff.The latest special offers are freefuel cards when buying Pirelli tyresand a discount from LongstoneClassic Tyres.

Latest Members’ benefitsLatest Members’ benefits

Club Members enjoy substantial discounts on a wide range of products and services such as...

…tyres...

...and high-performance driving....and high-performance driving.

CLUB SHOP –

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Club sweater,now in

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pKeyrings from £5.00

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pReversible coat in several colours£58.00

pSoftshell jacket in variouscolours £35.00

Padded body-warmer with Clublogo £32.00 u

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pBarrel bag in various colours £22.00

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pCoolplus polo in long or shortsleeves, ladies or gents in variouscolours £25.00

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Awide choice of Club clothing, personal and car accessories, books andDVDs can now be ordered from this website.

pClub fleece in various colours£32.00

now available from this website

pBaseball caps in navy, black, red,burgundy or bottle green with silverClub logo £10.00

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pBeanie hats in various colours£10.00