|
|
|
Welcome
To the Winter edition of our e-newsletter.
While most of your classic Mercedes-Benz cars are in hibernation, many of us are still busy around our hobby. Be it restoring their love, planning to attend upcoming events or looking to buy a new or used one. Either way
,we are here on your side to help in any way possible. Let us know.
|
|
New Members
| |
Please welcome the newest members into the Toronto Section.
- Jeffrey Brown, Cambridge
- Peter Dhama, Thornhill
- Alen Mayer, Pickering
- David McCaskill, West Hill
- Jose Pimentel, Toronto
- Robert Smith, Newmarket
We hope you have an opportunity to join us at a club event in the future.
|
| Fall Wine Tour | 
The MBCA Niagara Fall Wine Tour took place the weekend of October 13-14th. The tour commenced with a delicious tasting and lunch at Peninsula Ridge winery before driving amongst the vineyards and fall colours on display throughout the region. The two days of driving and tasting covered a distance of about 300km and included stops at six different wineries, a visit to Brocks monument and a humorous and detailed formal tasting at the Colaneri Estate Winery (pictured). The weather, company, and food were all outstanding. Thanks to all who participated.
Please go to our website for a more detailed report. |
| Christmas Dinner and Annual General Meeting |
The evening started with the Annual General Meeting where we discussed the past year and outlined the course for the next year. Congratulations to the Board members who were all re-elected.
- President, Harald von Langsdorff,
- Vice-President, Doug Dees,
- Membership Secretary, Marcus van Bers,
- Webmaster, Peter Spitzer, (Richard Calingasan retired but supervised the transition to Peter, himself an experienced software engineer),
- Treasurer, Norbert Egli & Doug Dees,
Next was Cocktail Hour. Here we could enjoy a large screen presentation with pictures and videos from the past year including STARFEST in Phoenix and mingle with old and new friends.
We had a wonderful 5 Course Dinner with an abundance of choices and all of the highest quality.
During dinner we could enjoy more videos and pictures from the past season. Very exciting are the new club activities planned for 2013 that will include a driving school and the Legends of the Autobahn Concourse (you'll find more information in the next edition of STARLite).
The final highlight was the drawing of the door prices and raffle tickets. This year our gift tables were almost breaking under the weight of some very fine jewelry - thanks to Exclusive Jewelry Sales, Mercedes accessories - thanks Mercedes-Benz Downtown, more gifts from Mercedes-Benz Durham, German SONAX car care products - thanks JRP, and last but certainly not least free Service A or B - thanks Oakridge Auto. Nobody was going home empty handed. Please check the Previous Events on the MBCA-Toronto website website for more pictures.
|
|
2013 Canadian International Autoshow
| |
The Toronto Section met on February 19th for a private viewing of the new models arriving for 2013 and 2014. Arden Nerling of Mercedes-Benz Canada was our host for the evening and shared with the 15 members in attendance the organization and layout of this year's MB booth. On display was a white 2014 E Class AMG 4Motion that was especially flown in from Germany along with a working prototype of a new Hybrid Smart car that is being tested for customer reaction to its "Avant-Garde" design. The new B Class was on display and I had the opportunity of telling members of the driving experience of this car as my wife's 2010 B Class was written off in an accident just before Christmas. One member may buy one based on my driving experience during the last snow storm.
The new GLK with a new 4-cyl diesel engine was also on display that featured a beautiful soft blue exterior that highlighted the new design features of the 2103 models. I wanted to wait for one of those but since the 2010 B Class saved my wife's life in that horrid accident, we decided to buy the white 2013 B Class which we have named "Baby Beluga".
The AMG Driving Academy representatives were there talking about their courses for 2013 as well as a display of the AMG vehicles which are very popular. For those that enjoy off-roading in luxury, a gold covered G Wagen was on display for those that wanted to have something different on the truck.
The highlight of our tour was the 2013 CLA, a four door that looks like a coupe. We heard that the first cars arriving in September 2013 will be very similar to the vehicle on display. Go to the video section on our Toronto Section website and watch the Super Bowl commercial. This is guaranteed to be a best seller and will no doubt be copied by the other manufacturers as was the CLS.
The accessories booth had items at a 20% discount from the normal retail prices which members took advantage of including myself. The ECO bikes, Smart cars and Sprinter with various available configurations were also on display.
The tour ended with a visit to the private Mercedes-Benz lounge where you had to be an MBCA member or show your Mercedes-Benz key fob to gain entrance.
The show will move on to Quebec City, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver before the special vehicles will be flown back to Germany.
Check our Previous Events webpage for more pictures.
|
| TechSession at Mercedes-Benz Canada | We are in the process of putting together our Sping TechSession. One of our Toronto-Section's most popular events for many years. Held at the Mercedes-Benz Logistics Centre in Mississauga in mid May. The team around Arden Nerling from MB Canada is preparing some very interesting presentations and close encounters with the latest in Mercedes-Benz technology. We will inform you about the exact day shortly. 
|
Driving School and Auto-X Lite
| |
After two years of planning we are extremely pleased to announce that the Safe Driving school and Auto-X Lite will be at the Powerade Centre in Brampton on May 5 and 6, 2013. This is a great and fun way to become a better driver, not just on those trips to the grocery store but when you hit a patch of black ice or someone suddenly pulls out in front of you.
You should have already received the announcement sent out earlier this month for early bird registration, which ends March 24th. Two courses are being offered. The Defensive Driving Course for the more seasoned driver that wants to update his/her driving skills and the Safe Drivers - Safe Families course where we will be teaching basic driving skills and car knowledge to our young student drivers. You do not have to drive a Mercedes-Benz to take this course. It is best if you bring the car that you regularly use throughout the week.
 The course is broken into two sessions. The morning session will start with some classroom instruction followed by instructor assisted practice driving avoiding obstacles in the road, proper hard braking technique and steering through a slalom to feel the cars dynamics. They will also experience the feel and sounds of their ABS brakes. We will take each participant through this several times until they feel confident or when we feel they have successfully completed the course.
The afternoon session, or the Auto-X Lite, is where it gets really fun. The course is redesigned and participants will be able to drive through this course (with instructor) and review the skills they learned in the morning session as well as have a lot of fun. The object is to practice some of the techniques learned and to have fun driving through the course as quickly as possible without knocking down any of the cones. Sometimes we take people through a few times until they feel comfortable and then ask them if they want to be timed. There will be certificates and awards but not necessarily only for the fastest!
So bring the car, you, your wife and your licensed teenagers (it does not have to be a Mercedes). The two courses will be offered on both May 5 and 6, 2013 at the Powerade Centre in Mississauga.
Space is limited so please register for one of those days as soon as possible. Early bird registration is still open and it can cost you as little as $30.
So please go to Upcoming Events on our website click on Event Registration.
|
|
Legends of the Autobahn - Canada
Concours and Driving Event
|
 Legends of the Autobahn is coming to Canada. The attraction of a car show that combines the major German car brands is evident in the rising success of the Concourse of the same name held now for the 3rd year during the Monterey Car Week. Thanks to the dedicated work of our Toronto Section, Legends of the Autobahn - Canada will be part of the Canadian Historic Grand Prix weekend at the newly renovated Mosport race track, now known as Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, June 15-16, 2013. Our Toronto Section President was instrumental in bringing this event to Canada. Together with the BMW and Porsche clubs we will host a distinct Canadian edition. Owners of Mercedes, BMW and Porsche cars are invited to park their cars in the Legends of the Autobahn Corral and have the choice of having their cars expertly judged by one of the respective clubs in the Concours. The Corral will be open Saturday and Sunday. However, for us holding just another car show is not enough. We go a step further by offering participants various other attractions and driving events throughout the weekend. There is the option for drivers and their navigators to partake in a scenic navigational road rally thru the surroundings of the Durham Region, Saturday morning and enter the Corral upon return. Next will be the opportunity to experience the famous Grand Prix track in the parade lap on Saturday and Sunday morning. And finally, drivers can immerse themselves to the fullest by taking their machines on some "high-speed" laps throughout the weekend. What other car show gives you the opportunity to take your car on a race track? Please visit our newly created website at www.legendsoftheautobahn.ca for more information and Early Bird registration.
|
|
|
