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Welcome
To the Spring/Summer edition of our e-newsletter.
2014 is starting to become a great year for the Toronto Section.
While here in Ontario we are were getting hammered by extreme weather with cold and snow records, we can see the sun shining through again.
And being busy as usual we already have some key events pinned down. We hope you can find time to attend and participate in any or all of our summer events.
If you have any news or ideas for an event please do not hesitate to drop us a note. See you soon.
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New Members
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Please welcome the newest members into the Toronto Section.
Demetrios Barogianis, Brooklyn
Simcha Bielak, Maple
Mark Dimech, King City
Rui Fernandes, Toronto
Mark Manning, Burlington
Douglas McPhee, London
Andrey Mokin, Richmond Hill
Ken Morrison, London
Steven Motschenbacher, Oshawa
Patrick Rechtorik, Toronto
Aris Stigter, Brantford
Jeremy Tedes, Toronto
We hope you have an opportunity to join us at a club event in the future. |
Member & Sponsor Profile - Gary Shapiro
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Gary has always had a passion for SL's. His daily driver is a 550SL and he is eagerly waiting delivery of his beautifully restored '71 280SL.
Gary's day job is as proprietor of Auto Vault Canada, a prestige auto storage solution in Toronto. Like most good ideas, Auto Vault happened to the right person at the right time. "I've always been a car guy, I collected cars, and always drove nice cars." he said.
Auto Vault became successful very quickly. "We opened in the fall of 2004 with zero customers," owner Gary Shapiro said. "And now we are searching for more space because we are looking after 400 cars."
His journey started when Gary got a job as a salesman at Grand Touring Autos, an exotic car dealership in downtown Toronto. While he had a good thing going, he knew he was too entrepreneurial to work for someone else for long. The idea for Auto Vault struck him when he was offering a customer a great deal on a Bentley. "He said to me: 'Oh, the money's no problem,' " Shapiro recalled. " 'But where would I put the damn thing?' "
The customer's dilemma made sense to him. "I could see the shift taking place...of people moving into smaller places and not having space for everything they had accumulated," he said. "And that kind of people really care about their cars, they don't want to expose them to the snow and sleet and salt."
We are always looking for interesting stories from our members.
When he/she also becomes a sponsor and has great products or services to offer to our club members even better.
Please contact us with your member / sponsor profile. mbca@langsdorff.com
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| Visit with Tim Reuss, CEO of MB-Canada |
Harald von Langsdorff, President MBCA Toronto-Section and Doug Dees, President of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America Educational Foundation (MBCAEF) met with Tim Reuss CEO on Mercedes-Benz Canada on November 12 to present him with the 50th anniversary autographed edition of the Pagoda Style book by Michael Salemi.
Tim Reuss was impressed with the quality of the book and the various Pagoda stories around the world. Doug Dees' son Oliver 1969 280SL was recently featured in The Star magazine and was one of the many stories in the book.
What was to be a 30 minute meeting became 2 hours in updating Tim Reuss, JoAnne Caza, Director Communications and Public Relations and Arden Nerling, Manager Events and Auto shows on the upcoming activities for the Toronto Section and the MBCA for 2014.
They were particularly interested in our new club marketing material, brand positioning and we had a good discussion on the importance of dealer relationships. JoAnne thanks the MBCA for our assistance in providing the W126, W140 and W220 models for the world launch of the new S-Class in Toronto in July.
We also discussed our "Safe Drivers-Save Families" program and provided a copy of the Educational Foundation's program that was run at 2012 StarFest and Toronto Driving School.
We look forward to working together with Mercedes-Benz Canada to enhance brand loyalty and brand awareness.
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| 2014 Toronto International Autoshow |
 On February 18th, Mercedes-Benz Canada hosted a private tour for Toronto Section MBCA members of their pavilion at the Toronto International Autoshow.
Despite the severe weather warning that was in effect that day, we had 20 members present.
We also had a chance to greet some of our friends from PureMB.  Arden Nerling of M-B Canada walked the members through the new models including the new GLA, S-Class, C-Class.
 After we visited the M-B exhibit members made their way to the South Building. Here the S-Class drive simulator was waiting for us.
Our full report, a video and many more pictures can be found here and on our www.MBCA-Toronto.org website.
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TechSession at Mecedes-Benz Canada
April 5, 2014
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We are happy to announce our 2014 TechSession will take place April 5 2014.
 
Like in previous years, Mercedes-Benz Canada is inviting us once again to their Logistic Center and Training Academy. Here, they will show us in detail the latest in Mercedes-Benz technology and safety features. Some hands-on learning is included. Snacks will be provided and a prize draw will finish up the morning.
Time: 9:00 - 12:00
Location: Mercedes-Benz Logistic Centre and Training Academy
7380 Bren Road, Unit 2
Mississauga, Ontario
L4T 1H4
Click here for Google map directions.
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Advanced Driving School - Mosport April 26/27, 2014
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It is the first one of the series for this year. The Advanced driving school at Mosport in cooperation with BMW Trillium Section will have a comprehensive schedule for a hole weekend of class room and track training. Spring is beautiful in the country setting and even more exciting with engines reving and tires fighting for grip while getting very intimate with your highly engineered "partner". Truly advancing your skills in performance driving has always been the best performance tuning options while significantly increasing your day to day safety margin.
The event starts on Saturday morning 8:00 and goes for the whole weekend. Dinner on Saturday is included.
 Date: April 26 and 27, 2014
Location: Canadian Tire Mosport Park
For more information click here
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Safe Drivers - Safe Families
May 31, 2014 Driver Training and Autocross
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Our 2nd annual "Safe Drivers - Safe Families" event will be again held at the Brampton Powerade Centre and provide a great opportunity for you and your teens to hone your day to day driving and safety skills. The schedule includes class room as well as driving activities that include sections such as collision avoidance, slalom maneuvers, technical inspection of your car and even details such as proper seating position.
It is an event that also allows us to show our community that as Mercedes Club members we consider safety is an integral part of our philosophy. Safety is not just automotive design innovation but the driver is at the heart of the situation irrelevant of age and brand. Consider your own family but also friends and coworkers and their families and we can make it a fun event for the better of all around us. It is not required to bring or own a Mercedes or that attendants are current MBCA members.
The event is priced at a very reasonable $99/person.
Current MBCA members receive a $40 instant discount.
Non-Member receive a one year membership included in the price.
We hope that the weather will be as pleasant as last year giving our group an entertaining and educational day. Lunch included; snacks and refreshments are provided throughout the event.
We look forward to seeing everybody out there. If you feel you already have sufficient training feel free to contact us to help and support the event. Time permitting, helpers will be able to participate in the autcross in the afternoon.
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STARS of the AUTOBAHN
June 14-15, 2014 Concours and Driving Event
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After our stunning success in 2013 we are preparing for the 2014 event.
Keep the weekend of June 14-15 open for some genuine Father's Day activities.
We will report shortly with more details.
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Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance
September 13-14, 2014
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The 2nd annual Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance will be held at the Cobble Beach Golf Resort Community, in Kemble, Ontario, on September 13-14, 2014.
Set against the romance of lush fairways and windswept costal views, international tastemakers and distinguished guests will have the rare opportunity to view an elite collection of classic automobiles.
The inaugural 2013 event hosted over 4,000 attendees, 100 vehicles in competition, and an international field of accomplished judges, Last year's event was a wonderful debut, with two Mercedes in the show including a 1959 Mercedes 190SL, and a 2005 Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren. The inaugural Concours raised over $50,000 for the Sunnybrook Foundation helipad project.  The Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance is currently sourcing vehicles for the 2014 Concours and is looking for a couple of exceptional Mercedes for inclusion. There is no cost to register.
Our call for entries includes the following classes:
1. European Classics, which include all Mercedes between 1925 and 1948
2. European Sports Cars (to 1973)
3. Supercars
Please visit www.cobblebeachconcours.com for additional details or to register your vehicle, or call Kathryn Smith 416-366-4820 ext. 228.
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