April - May 2012

www.kcmbca.org

Presidents Messageby Jeff Klepac

A few weeks ago I made a Saturday afternoon trip to look at a sixty year old Mercedes-Benz. Much to my surprise, this 1952 Classic had been stored in a barn for the past 31 years.

It’s really a shame the owner let this magnificent car set idle for such a long time. Needless to say, it’s in pretty rough shape after such a lengthy period of storage. After looking it over I thought, wow, someone could have enjoyed sharing this classic with others; but alas, no one took that opportunity. Now it will take many hours and $$$$’s to bring it back to life. If your will allow me, I’d like to draw an analogy here; just like the hidden Mercedes-Benz treasure found in that barn, some of you, yes you, have talents, ideas and strengths (hidden treasure) just waiting to be used in the KC Section.

Our officers and board need your input and ideas, and especially your involvement. Having said that, I wanted

to personally invite you to ‘jump in’ and offer your help and assistance. We have several areas of need, and I’ve listed some of them below. Please contact me to discuss further.

Current needs - where you could help;• First Sunday Drive – Drivemasters needed• Proof readers for ‘der Benz• Back up person to produce our twice monthly e-minders• Winter Gala planners• Spaßnacht locations & coordinator• Breakfast Speaker Guest Ideas

Looking ahead to September, we’ll once again hold the annual election for Section Officers and Board of Directors. Perhaps you’d like to serve in that capacity. If so, I also like to talk to you about this. Thanks for allowing me to share this with you; we want to make sure you know it takes many people, working together behind the scenes, to keep the Kansas City Section out front and moving ahead. The Mercedes-Benz Club of America continues to bring together enthusiasts of the marque through over 85 sections across the country. The Kansas City section continues to provide opportunities to learn more about your car, participate in driving events, car shows and other venues. ‘More Than a Car | We’re a Community’ Make plans now to attend some of the KC section events during 2012. Registration is open for the regional Defensive Driving / AutoCross event in April. Read more about this event in this newsletter and send in your registration without delay. Hope to see you soon! Jeff Klepac President | Mercedes-Benz Club of America | Kansas City Section

In this issue:

Feature ArticlesMy Most Memorable Benz 2-3Carolyn Vogel 3Scenic Drive to Casino 3Eveland Bros. at March B’fst. 9Letter to Editor 9Ohio Back Roads Tour 9

Spaßnacht Dates 5DD/AX April 2012 11DD/AX Registration Form 11StarFest 2012 11Calendar 12

ColumnsPresidents Message 1

Miscellaneous Rants, Raves and

RamblingsHow to Join MBCA 5Officers and Board 5Loyalty Awards Program 7Logo Shop 7 Club Store Discount 7Uplift 7NTB Discount 7Tire Rack Rebate 7Advance Auto Rebate 7Request from NBO 7 New Members 9

Coming UpApril - July

Jeff Klepac sees beauty be-neath the dust on this 60-year-old classic M-B. Photo by Denise Klepac

away from his lot as he could. My plan was different. I took my new purchase straight to my buddy, the welder, and he welded the crack on the exhaust manifold in exchange for a 12 pack of long necks. The next stop was Aristocrat Motors’ Parts Department, to pick up a cold start idle valve ($29.50), and then a half hour wrenching session in the garage. The “baby” was good to go, and ready for the road!

We had that 190E for close to a year and had no issues what so ever. Allie became very comfortable driving it, even though an adult driver was required to ride with her as she logged

miles, and we were constantly reminding her to look ahead, or brake earlier, or slow down. And, even though it wasn’t a Mustang or Miata, or the like, it was “cute” and “flashy” (her original requirements) . After all, how many fifteen year olds drive a Mercedes-Benz?

Whenever a parent allows their child to be mobile, and sends them out onto the streets, safety is always a concern. We’ve all heard the horror stories of fatalities involving teen drivers, and we all cringe when the phone rings while our kids are out. Because

of that very fear, the “baby” became my most memorable Mercedes.

It was an evening, toward the end of the Summer. We were all home together, when we heard a clap of Thunder (or at least we thought it was). A few minutes later, our daughter looked out the door and said something was going on outside on the street in front of our house. Before we could go to the door she added, “I think somebody has stolen the baby!”

When we made it outside, we discovered what all the commotion was about. The clap of thunder we had heard was not thunder at all, but, instead, the sound of a teen driver running into the parked “Baby Benz”. The “baby” wasn’t in its usual parking place because it had been launched over one hundred feet into the breezeway

Continued Page 3

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It’s not a secret. Most Mercedes-Benz owners are VERY passionate about their choice of vehicles. They appear to take the notion, “driving is not a right;, it’s a privilege”, to a higher level. Whether you are driving your first Mercedes-Benz, or your twenty-first, you no doubt have formed a relationship, or further, a passion, for that German in your garage. And, if you’ve had the pleasure of owning more than one of those Stuttgart beauties, you most certainly have chosen a favorite. The following is a story about my most memorable Mercedes.

I’d had my 380SL for two or three years, and had just sold my “Rummage Sale 300D” on eBay (that’s another story for later), and my oldest daughter, Allie, was fifteen and had just completed a driver’s education course and gotten a learner’s permit. We’d been searching for the right vehicle for weeks so she could get some miles under her belt before taking the Kansas Driving tests. Allie wanted something “cute and flashy” where Dad was more concerned with “safety and reliability”. One evening, when the Afternoon commute on I-35 was unbearable, I had the opportunity to venture off the highway, and into the view of our next Mercedes. The traffic that day forced me to take the back roads home via a used car lot on Southwest Boulevard. Days later, we brought home “the baby”, a 1985 190E.

When we take in the German engineering perspective, our cars are generally easy to understand and diagnose, but, not at all like understanding domestic vehicles. While on the lot, our “baby” started fine, but had a difficult time staying running. It also had a horrible exhaust leak that made the motor sound very loud. The used car dealer was having a hard time getting anyone interested in this unit, and was eager to talk to anyone interested in taking it home. He knew that he didn’t understand these German cars, and was looking for someone who did.

Those that know me would consider me to be a bit of a horse trader, but I prefer the term opportunistic. The dealer was very eager to take my $1000, and get this car as far

My Most Memorable Mercedesby John Ryan

John Ryan’s most memorable Mercedes-Benz. A preowned 1985 190E. Photo by John Ryan

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Scenic Drive to Casino Diningby Jeff Klepac

The Kansas City Section’s First-Sunday Drive for March took us through some scenic areas along the back roads of east central Kansas. The day was perfect, with the weather in the low 60’s - definitely not the norm for this time of year. John & Donna Ryan were once again our drive masters. They had planned diligently to lay out a long country route, winding its way through quaint Kansas towns which intersected with the Sante Fe, Oregon and California trails. This may not be Highway 1, but for a relaxing drive, it would have been hard to beat this one – at least in our neck of the woods.

The towns of Olathe, Gardner, Edgerton, Eudora and Linwood provided beautiful scenery complete with old barns, farm houses, cattle and yes, even Kanas oil wells.

Ten Mercedes-Benz vehicles made their way over the hills and around the curves as we headed northward towards the Kansas Speedway. The Speedway’s newest addition is the Hollywood Casino - only open for about a month. Our lunch destination was inside at the Turn 2 Lounge. After lunch, many turned homeward, while others lingered behind to try their luck in the new casino.

between our house and the neighbors’. A late model Chevy Impala rested inoperable in the middle of the street, its occupants sitting on the curb in amazement. When the dust settled, the stories came out of how the Impala’s teen driver’s attention was diverted because of a group of teen girls in our adjacent cul-de-sac. When he turned to gaze and wave at them he failed to notice the 190E parked on the street.

No one was seriously hurt, thank goodness. The Impala was totaled, and towed away. The driver was likely grounded for years. The policemen made their reports and left. The “baby”, still resting between the houses, started right up, backed back into the street, and drove around the block without as much as a hesitation. I pulled it into the driveway to assess the damage. The rear of the car had taken all of the impact of the Impala and survived. The crumple zones had done their job, and the rear bumper rested almost directly below the rear window. Both quarter panels were crushed, but, there was no visible damage to the inside of the car. All four of the doors opened and closed as if nothing had ever happened. The integrity of the passenger department was uncompromised. The “baby” had protected, defended and delivered itself and its cargo, as it was designed to do. This is why we drive what we drive! This is why we chose a Benz for our daughter’s first car!

An insurance adjuster contacted me a few days later and evaluated our “baby”. As expected, the repair estimate for the 190E was much higher than the car’s value. He wrote us a check before the tow truck came to take the remains. Allie cried for a while, until she saw the numbers on the check. Then, she realized that amount not only was nearly four times what we had invested in the Benz, but resembled the cost of the Mustang she originally begged for. You probably know what came next.

My Most Memorable Mercedesby John Ryan

Continued from Page 2

Carolyn VogelWith much sadness we learned of the passing of Carolyn Vogel. Carolyn and her husband Gary have been active members in the KC Section for over 15 years. The funeral was February 25th at Holy Angels Catholic Church, Bashor, Ks. Our sympathies are with Gary and the family. Gary has continued to attend club events during this time of sadness. We wish Gary well and hope that our presence can be a source of comfort for him.

Carolyn Vogel (right) at the Winter Gala last January. Photo by Morgan Klepac

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SpaßnachtFind out more:

www.kcmbca.orgClick on “Club Info”

_______________

April 16, 7:00 PM

The Blue Moose4160 W 71st St.

Prairie Village, KS_______________

May 21, 7:00 PM

Joe’s Crab Shack 11965 S. Strang Line Rd.

Olathe, Ks._________________

June 18, 6:00 PM

Sadlers Indoor Racing325 N Murlen, then,

Garozzo’s Ristorante13505 Mur-Len, Olathe, Ks.

Olathe, Ks._________________

July 16, 6:00 PM

KH Automotive Open House

5925 Broadmoorthen, 7:00 PM

Johhny’s BBQ5959 Broadmoor,

Mission, Ks. _________________

JoinMercedes-Benz Club of America

Kansas City Section• Bi-monthly issues of our award-winning, full-color na-tional magazine, The Star, and bi-monthly issues of our award-winning section newsletter, der Benz!

• Owner Loyalty Program with a $1,000.00 Discount Certificate good on the purchase of certain M-B vehicles.

• 15% discount on parts, labor and accessories at Aristocrat Motors and Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City.

• National events with a wide va-riety of driving and social events, technical information and active discussion forums.

• Local events: Monthly breakfast meetings and pub nights, tech ses-sions, dining events, historic and driving tours, autocross and driver education events, rallyes, track events, picnics, annual holiday party, charitable events, concours, and more.

JOIN NOW!www.mbca.org

or call 1-800-637-2360

Your membership includes an associate membership for an-other person in your household in the Mercedes-Benz Club of America and the Kansas City Section. Ownership of a Mer-cedes-Benz not a prerequisite. 1 year $49, 2 years $95, 3 years $139.

2012 MBCA Kansas City Section Officers and Board Members

Officers PhoneE-mailJeff Klepac, president (913) 782-5865 jeff@kcmbca.orgMark Moody, vice president (913) 685-8573 mark@kcmbca.orgKevin Arburn, secretary (913) 648-7675 kevin@kcmbca.orgJoyce Smith, treasurer (913) 338-0766 joyce@kcmbca.orgJohn Ryan, past president (913) 268-1252 grownup@kcmbca.org

Board of Directors Bob Del Popolo (913) 888-2617 bob.d@kcmbca.orgMelvin Price (816) 721-0640 melvin@kcmbca.orgDonna Ryan (913) 268-1252 donna@kcmbca.orgBob Poduch (913) 327-1632 bob.p@kc.rr.comRich Carlson (913) 897-0260 rich@kcmbca.orgBob Smith (913) 268-8984 newsletter@kcmbca.orgLarry Ebner (913) 649-7596 larry@kcmbca.orgDudley Smith (913) 338-0766 dudley@kcmbca.orgIan Harns (816) 812-9495 ian@kcmbca.orgJohn Ryan (913) 268-1252 grownup@kcmca.org

NewsletterEditorBob Smith (913) 268-8984 newsletter@kcmbca.orgWebmeister-Administrator John Ryan (913) 268-1252 grownup@kcmbca.orgMembership Director Bob Del Popolo (913) 888-2617 membership@kcmbca.orgMidwest Regional Director Bill Denton (Oak Brook, IL) (603) 734-3200 regional.director@kcmbca.org

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Eveland Bros. Collision Repair

• Vehicles restored to pre-accident condition• Expert color matching• Foreign and domestic

Call for an appointment

7200 W. Frontage Road, Shawnee Mission, KS 66203 www.evelandbros.com

Certified Mercedes-Benz Collision Repair Center• Insurance claims assistance• Environmentally safe• Written limited lifetime warranty

• Factory trained technicians• State of-the-art equipment• Rental cars available

913-262-6050

Bosch Authorized Service

Kansas City’s independent Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, Jaguar, Lexus,

Land Rover and Audi repair shop.

5400 Antioch Rd.Merriam, Kansas

66202

913-432-7800

Not just your average garage...

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Uplift Organization, Inc. accepts donations of goods and funds. See the Uplift website at www.uplift.org for a list of needed items and how to donate them.

There is a link to TireRack on the Kansas City Section’s website, www.kcmbca.org. Click the link, which is the logo shown above, to enter the TireRack website to buy their products. The K.C. Section receives a small re-bate when you purchase their products through our website.

NTB National Tire & Battery is of-fering a discount for KCMBCA members. Our friend, Brandon Ebert, the manager at the 119th & Metcalf store arranged for that gen-erous discount for our members. Mention account #913-660-8439 and your club membership to the salesman/service writer.

NTB Offers Discount to KCMBCA Members

Request from the NBOWith every email and address update that we receive at the NBO, (either by website, phone, email or snail mail), we will send a 10 % Off Coupon for one item in the Club Store. One coupon per member will be sent electroni-cally (so it must include a valid email address). Please send these updates to Geni at geni@mbca.org. Remember, incorrectly mailed items cost the club money!

Advance Auto Parts offers many online-only specials and rebates to our section with 8% of the sale being returned to the KC Section. You can have your order shipped to your home, or pick it up at your neighborhood Advance Auto Parts store.Just click on the Advance Auto Parts banner ad on our website, www.kcmbca.org, and you will be taken to their websites to shop.

www.Complete-Garage.com

For all your detailing needs, visit us at the Complete Garage. We have Griot’s full line of car care products. Save the shipping and

get it today.

For the best in

Car Care

Complete Garage

15209 W. 87th Street Lenexa, KS 66219

913-322-9175

2012 Loyalty Rewards Program (U.S.)

Get $1,000 off the price of your next Mercedes-Benz. Being and staying a member of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America has its privileges. Members of the Club who have enjoyed 12 consecutive months of membership or longer without lapse, and who are current members today, qualify for the NEW Loyalty Rewards Program offered by Mercedes-Benz USA to Mercedes-Benz Club of America members only. See complete details, terms and conditions at the MBCA website mbca.org

At the encouragement of its Board of Directors, MBCA|Kansas City has opened its own online Logo and Apparel Shop. Working with The Queensboro Shirt Company of Wilmington, North Carolina our section can now offer the Club Logo and special events graphics to be embroidered onto hundreds of different items ranging from T-Shirts to Polos, Jackets to Jerseys, and everything in between. No longer does the club have to predict, purchase and inventory numerous styles and sizes of logo apparel. Our new store will allow a much wider variety of items with no “up front” costs to the club. There’s no minimum

MBCA|KC Logo Shop Now Open!

purchase requirement, and the item(s) will be delivered to your mailbox or doorstep. And, every item purchased provides additional revenue to the section’s treasury, to help fund the great events where you’ll be wearing your new “duds”. So, what are you waiting for? Head over to our website, www.kcmbca.org and click on the graphic/link for our new Logo Shop. And, if you want to know what to get me, there’s a nice NIKE polo with the section logo on it. Size medium, please.

by John Ryan

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The Ohio Backroads Adventure TourAugust 5th throuth 9th 2012

The Ohio Backroads Adventure is a Great Lakes Regional event presented by the Western Reserve Section, Mercedes Benz Club of America. This is a four-day driving tour that will go through east-central and southeast Ohio featuring the “roads less traveled.” For further details and registration information, see the Western Reserve Section website:

http://benzclub.org/info/

Questions:Call Don Velcio, work, 440-886-1660

or email Velcio@aol.com

Willkommen New Members !

We look forward to meeting you soon at one of our events.

Warren CarlRodney Cummings, Dr Wayne Fowler, Link Kittrell,

EvelandBrothersFeaturedAtMarch Breakfast

The Eveland Brothers have a long standing relationship with the Kansas City Section. You can see their ad in every issue of der Benz! At the March membership breakfast Bill Eveland was the guest speaker along with daughter Amanda and brother Mark. Bill reminded the group that the firm a certified by Mercedes-Benz for collision repair of Mercedes-Benz products. He said that the auto industry has many new materials and electronics that are not as easy to fix these days. Bill showed the group a sample piece of automobile frame material. It was amazingly light weight. Substandard aftermarket body panels may be OK for the insurance requirements, but if you’re an aficionado, you probably will not like the results. The Evelands prefer to use OEM parts. We appreciate the Evelands visiting with us and a big thanks for the nice door prizes they provided.

Hi Bob, Thom Leshinsky (recent member) here. I just read the “ Good Vision ..... “ article and couldn’t help commenting. I hope you don’t mind. Where the author of this info came up with his/her assertions I’m not sure but here’s what I know;

#1 In many States it is Illegal to drive with sunglasses other than ‘ yellow ‘ or transitional lenses in the rain/fog or snow. #2 The only sunglasses that will “improve” your vision in rain/fog or snow are Yellow shooters lenses. (I personally keep a pair of Nikon Shooters in the glovebox for such weather, as well as shooting.) #3 RainEx on the windshield (I do all windows plus mirrors and headlight covers) is highly recommended (picked that up from my rally/racing days) both for rain, scraping frost and ice off in the winter as well as snow (there’s a trick to applying it.)#4 His comment on Cruise Control in the rain is pretty far off the mark when it comes to modern TC and ABS equipped cars. Technically what he’s saying makes no sense at all and I’ve certainly never experienced that in any brand car (FWD 4WD AWD or RWD) I’ve ever owned. I don’t usually leave the Cruise on in the rain or snow myself, but not for the reasons he’s stating. More to be able to react to rapidly changing traffic conditions.

Finally your comments were spot on . Thomas Leshinsky letomsky2@earthlink.netEditors comment:Thank you, Thom, for your input. I (and surely the entire membership) really appreciate your sharing valuable information and experience. Yours is the first “letter to the editor” since I have been editor of der Benz! Recently I tried using polarized sunglasses while driving in the rain. Even though the view was darkened, the glare of the wet highway was reduced and view ahead had a more normal and distinct contrast of lighter and darker objects within view. I thought my vision ahead was improved using the sunglasses. I left them on the entire trip of about one hour. I will try the yellow “shooter” style glasses.

LettertotheEditor

W. Brock Kretsinger, Patrick McGlinn, Stephen PaddockJustin Ray

Chetan Soni, John Stubbs, Steve Walter, Susan Winter,

CoreFirst Bank & Trust was a major sponsor of the Mid-America Caravan in 2009

Refinishing Straightening

Remanufacturing

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kcmbca.org

Name(s)______________________________________________________________________ Address______________________________________________________________________ City __________________________State ____________________ Zip ___________________ No. attending___ Friday Evening Welcome Reception – 6 PM - Johnny’s, 95th & Antioch - Order & pay from Menu

No. attending___ Saturday Driving Events $45 X ____ Participants = $_____________

No. attending___ Saturday Banquet – 7 PM - Will Jenny’s, 135th & Metcalf - Order & pay from Menu

No. attending___ Sunday Morning Breakfast and Funcours – 9 AM – Ingredients, 117th & Nall - Order & Pay from Menu

Total Fees Enclosed $_____________ Make Check Payable to "KC-MBCA".

Please clip and send this reservation form and your check to:

Joyce Smith, MBCA|Kansas City, 4344 W 124th Terrace, Leawood, KS 66209

Defensive Driving / Autocross Registration Form

kcmbca.org

The Kansas City Section will once again hold a

Midwest Regional Defensive Driving and AutoCross event.

Come improve your driving skills

and learn how your vehicle will handle in an emergency situation.

All in a controlled area with the guidance of an experienced instructor.

Here’s the tentative schedule;

Friday, April 20th 6 PMJohnny’s, 95th & Antioch

* Friday evening welcome reception

Saturday, April 21st, 8 AM

* Defensive Driving & AutoCross at Metropolitan Community College see the facility here

http://www.kcrscca.org/new/content/mcc-blue-river-precision-drivng-center

Saturday evening 7 PMWill Jenny’s, 115th & Metcalf

* banquet with Awards

Sunday, April 22nd 9 AMIngredients, 117th & Nall * Breakfast and ‘Funcours’

Defensive Driving / AutoCrossComing in April

Breakfast is at 9 AM the first Saturday of each month at the First Watch, Shawnee Mission Pkwy. at Nieman Rd., Shawnee, KS. Order your favorites from the menu. Individual checks.

What activities would you like to do with your Benz friends in 2012 ? Contact a board member and let them know.

FIRST-CLASS MAILU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSHAWNEE MISSION, KS

PERMIT NO. 113115678 S. Lindenwood Dr.Olathe, Kansas 66062

Smart Phone Users, click this QR Code and our website will magically appear on your phone.

Apr. 1 First Sunday Drive US Bank, 119th & Roe, Leawood, Ks. 12 NOONApr. 7 Breakfast Meeting, First Watch, Shawnee, Ks. 9 AM. Program, Preview of Defensive Driving / Autocross event.Apr. 16 Spaßnacht, 7 PM. The Blue Moose, 4160 W 71st St. Prairie Village, Ks.Apr. 20-22 Defensive Driving/Autocross Fri. 6 PM Meet & Greet, Johnnys, 95th & Antioch Sat. 8 AM DD/AX events, MJC Sat. 7 PM Banquet, Will Jenny’s, 135th & Metcalf Sun. 9 AM Breakfast, Ingredients, 117th & Nall

May 5 Breakfast Meeting, First Watch, Shawnee, Ks. 9 AM. Speaker, Doyle Comfort, Historian, Kansas History.May 5 McPherson C.A.R.S. Car Show, McPherson College, McPh. Ks.May 6 First Sunday Drive US Bank, 119th & Roe, Leawood, Ks. 12 NOON May 21 Spaßnacht, 7 PM. Joe’s Crab Shack, 11965 S. Strang Line Rd. Olathe, Ks.

For the latest list of events, visit our Web site at:

www.kcmbca.org

Our calendar is continuously being reviewed and updated throughout the year. It’s never too late to suggest activities that you think would be of interest to our members.

June 2 Breakfast Meeting, First Watch, Shawnee, Ks. 9 AM. Speaker, Ron Butler, C & D AutoJune 3 First Sunday Drive US Bank, 119th & Roe, Leawood, Ks. 12 NOON June 3 St. Louis Auto Show. St. Louis, Mo. June 18 Spaßnacht, 6 PM. Sadler’s Kart Racing, Olathe, Ks.June 24 Art of the Car. Kansas City Art Institute, KC, Mo.

July 2 UpLift - Serving meals to the homeless - volunteers needed 5 - 10 PM. July 7 Breakfast Meeting, First Watch, Shawnee, Ks. 9 AM. Speaker, Chad Derst, KC TrendsJuly 8 First Sunday Drive US Bank, 119th & Roe, Leawood, Ks. 12 NOON July 16 Spaßnacht, 6 PM. KH Automotive Open House, 5925 Broadmoor and Johnnys BBQ 5959 Broadmoor, Mission, Ks.