March Breakfast & Fun Run Saturday, 17 March 2018 9:00 a.m. Wear some green when you join us for breakfast on St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, 17 March at the Egg & I Restaurant at Platte & Academy. Clark Absher will be on hand to tell us about the Veteran Motor Car Club of America (VMCCA) and the future of the Abbey Car Show in Canon City. Then we’ll be off to the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver. The Forney is a one-of-a-kind collection of over 600 artifacts relating to historical transportation. It began 60 years ago with a single 1921 Kissel, but soon expanded to include vehicles of all kinds. Today it includes not just vehicles, but also buggies, motor- cycles, steam locomotives, aircraft, carriages, rail equipment, fire apparatus, public transportation, sleighs, bicycles, toys & diecast models, vintage apparel and much, much more! Collection highlights include: Union Pacific 'Big Boy' Steam Locomotive #4005, Amelia Earhart's 1923 Kissel 'Gold Bug', Forney Locomotive, Colorado & Southern Caboose, 1923 Hispano-Suiza, 1913- 53 Indian Motorcycle Collection, Denver & Rio Grande Dining Car, Stutz Fire Engine, 1888 Denver Cable Car, 1923 Case Steam Tractor, 1817 Draisenne Bicycle, 500 Piece Matchbox Collection, and more! On Display Now Using dining car menus and china, and railroadiana such as timetables, The Forney provides a glimpse into what travel was like on the famous railroads of that now- vanished era, before the consolidation of passenger service into Amtrak in 1971. Admission is $11, $9 for seniors, $5 for kids (5-12) and parking is free. We will have lunch at a suitably transportation-themed restaurant close by. Contact Andrew Nelson at (719) 634-7522 or drop him a note at [email protected], if you have any questions. Welcome New Members! Joe Konicek Scott Schlieper Inside this issue: Pi(e) Day 3 Bowling By Benz 4 PP Observatory 4 Earth Day Rally 5 DIY Tech Session 5 Der Marktplatz 6 Click 6 Abbey Car Show 7 SilverStars&Golden Aspens 8 Trolley Recap 9 ?? of the Month 10 M-B EQC SUV 10 March 2018 Newsletter of the Pikes Peak Section ‘ROUND THE BENZ
Transcript
March Breakfast & Fun Run Saturday, 17 March 2018
9:00 a.m.
Wear some green when you join us for breakfast on St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, 17 March at the Egg & I Restaurant at Platte & Academy. Clark Absher will be on hand to tell us about the Veteran Motor Car Club of America (VMCCA) and the future of the Abbey Car Show in Canon City. Then we’ll be off to the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver.
The Forney is a one-of-a-kind collection of over 600 artifacts relating to historical transportation. It began 60 years ago with a single 1921 Kissel, but soon expanded to include vehicles of all kinds. Today it includes not just vehicles, but also buggies, motor-cycles, steam locomotives, aircraft, carriages, rail equipment, fire apparatus, public transportation, sleighs, bicycles, toys & diecast models, vintage apparel and much, much more!
Collection highlights include: Union Pacific 'Big Boy' Steam Locomotive #4005, Amelia Earhart's 1923 Kissel 'Gold Bug', Forney Locomotive, Colorado & Southern Caboose, 1923 Hispano-Suiza, 1913-53 Indian Motorcycle Collection, Denver & Rio Grande Dining Car, Stutz Fire Engine, 1888 Denver Cable Car, 1923 Case Steam Tractor, 1817 Draisenne Bicycle, 500 Piece
Matchbox Collection, and more!
On Display Now
Using dining car menus and china, and railroadiana such as timetables, The Forney provides a glimpse into what travel was like on the famous railroads of that now-vanished era, before the consolidation of passenger service into Amtrak in 1971.
Admission is $11, $9 for seniors, $5 for kids (5-12) and parking is free. We will have lunch at a suitably transportation-themed restaurant close by. Contact Andrew Nelson at (719) 634-7522 or drop him a note at [email protected], if you have any questions.
Welcome New Members!
Joe Konicek
Scott Schlieper
Inside this issue:
Pi(e) Day 3
Bowling By Benz 4
PP Observatory 4
Earth Day Rally 5
DIY Tech Session 5
Der Marktplatz 6
Click 6
Abbey Car Show 7
SilverStars&Golden Aspens 8
Trolley Recap 9
?? of the Month 10
M-B EQC SUV 10
March 2018 Newsletter of the Pikes Peak Section ‘ROUND THE BENZ
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View From the Peak by Steve Dierks
Just last month, that pesky Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter. It’s already been four weeks and, if he’s right, it’ll soon be “goodbye winter and hello spring.” I’m pretty pleased about that. How about you? March is such a great month. It’s often Colorado’s snowiest month. The ice, snow and backsplash often experienced in March will challenge both your windshield wiper blades and your blue wash reservoir. This is a great time to look at both of those items and, if necessary, have your car
inspected by your favorite technician. March also gives us the first day of spring, Pi(e) Day, the Ides of March and St. Patrick’s Day. We’re going to be busy. First up, we’ll add a little fun to Pi(e) day (3.14), when many of our members are gathering at the Black Bear Diner for pie, coffee, and conversation. You don’t need a reservation. Just join other members for some fun and food on “pi” day. Next, our guest speaker for the March 17 breakfast meeting is our own Clark Absher. Clark is a genuine automobile enthusiast and he will be talking with us about his role in the 2018 Canon City Abbey Car Show. It’s a fabulous car show on a gorgeous venue at just the right time of the year. I know you will enjoy hearing what Clark has to say. We are meeting at The Egg and I at 733 North Academy. After breakfast, Andrew Nelson will lead a group to the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver. Discounted admission may be available for the self-guided tour of the museum. There will be a late lunch gathering for conversation and camaraderie after the tour. The Section’s signature 2018 event is, of course, Silver Stars and Golden Aspens in September. Nationwide enthusiasm has already been building for this event. There is a promotional ad in the current edition of The Star and you can get more information at www.mbca.org/silverstars. This is an epic driving opportunity with your friends. Don’t miss this one! Let’s go driving,
Steve ‘Round the Benz is published monthly by the Pikes Peak Section of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America (MBCA). Articles and ideas are the opinions of the writers and no authentication is implied as to the validity of the information contained herein. Explicit permission to republish any article with proper attribution is given to all sections of MNCA. Articles for publication consideration should be mailed to Pikes Peak Section, MBCA, Attn: Editor, 4335 Penhurst Place, Colorado Spring, CO 80906 or, whenever possible, emailed to: bennett912@ comcast.net. Deadline for receipt is the 18th of the month prior to the month of issue.
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Hey, Pikes Peak Section, are you looking for an excuse to get out from under the winter blues? Well, join us for our first annual Pi(e) Day celebration.
Pi (Greek letter “π”), in case you've forgotten your middle school algebra, is the mathematical constant that represents the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. It's a number with infinite digits that has been calculated to more than 1 trillion digits beyond the decimal point — but most people know it simply as 3.14. Hence, the equation for a party: March 14 = 3/14 = 3.14 = Pi Day Plus it’s also Albert Einstein’s birthday!
"Never underestimate the power of pie." Those wise words come from famous pastry chef and pie maven Gesine Bullock-Prado, and are especially timely this time of year. Because what better way to mark the annual tribute to pi than with a slice of pie? "Pi the number is described as being irrational and transcendental, which pretty much sums up my love of pie," says Bullock-Prado, author of Let Them Eat Cake. "Infinite is my love of pie."
So what pie do we recommend for the occasion this year? The possibilities are almost endless at the Black Bear Diner, 1340 W. Garden of the Gods Rd (on the north side of the intersection at Centennial & Garden of the Gods). They have the very best dessert menu that is perfect for Pi(e) Day. You can choose chocolate cream pie, banana cream pie, coconut cream pie, fruit cobblers, bread pudding, as well as lava cake. Of course you can also have dinner or breakfast-for-dinner first, if you choose. It’s totally up to you. We’re going to meet at 5:30 p.m. for a no-host evening of camaraderie and pie. It’s a totally unscripted, informal get-together; so if you want to shake off the blues, come on out and join your fellow Mercedes fans. Hope to see you there!
“Never underestimate the power of pie..”
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Bowling Bingo - Bowling Poker$10 per person includes shoes, ball & 3 games
Bowling shirts and skills are optionalSnack bar at the alley has a variety of snacks – pizza, hot dogs,
sandwiches, chips, etc. Cocktails available (no host)Dinner at The Hatch Cover following
1511 Chiles Ave, Fort CarsonMeet in the parking lot outside the main gate at 3:15
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Preview of Coming Attractions
Pikes Peak Observatory – 21 April 2018 Did you know there’s going to be an observatory on the top of Pikes Peak? Well, that’s the plan. It will be 3.3 ft in diameter and optimized for remote operation. Come on out for breakfast in April and learn all about the details from the National Space Science and Technology Institute speaker. Stay tuned for more details in next month’s ‘Round the Benz.
Earth Day Rally – 21 April 2018 Please join us for our monthly Pikes Peak Section breakfast at The Egg and I Restaurant, Citadel Crossing. After breakfast and our guest speaker’s presentation, we will commence with our first car rally of the year. To loosely commemorate Earth Day, the theme of the rally is “What in the World Is . . . ” (as in what in the world is that?). The rally route will travel all around the Pikes Peak region, with questions along the way about unique landmarks, buildings, geological features, etc., that are scattered all about our area. Additional questions on the rally sheets will be about general Earth-related facts and trivia. The rally will terminate at an appropriately-themed restaurant for lunch, where prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers. Cost for the rally is $15 per car. To RSVP or ask questions about the event, please contact Andrew Nelson, 719-634-7522, or [email protected].
D-I-Y Tech Session – 22 April 2018 Dave Williamson will host our first Do-It-Yourself Tech Session of 2018 on Sunday, 22 April 2018 at 10:00 a.m. You can shed your star car of those winter tires; change the oil, the brakes or the spark plugs; give your beauty a tune-up; or just polish her up a little. These are all jobs our members have performed in the past at significant savings from having the pros do it. The cost remains $10 for the use of the service bay and Dave will have a service tech on hand to give advice or lend a helping hand. Do yourself a favor and sign up for this one.
Mile High Section Events For more information, visit the MHS website at http://www.milehigh.mbca.org Denver 52/80 Week Date: 4 March 2018 Location: Cucina Colore, Cherry Creek Cost: $35 per person Contact: Lou Rogers, 303-466-3372, [email protected]
Quote of the Month:
Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead. ~Mac McCleary :
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Der Marktplatz Wanted: C36 or C43 sedan. 300 SEL 6.3 sedan. Call Pete at 719-599-7100 or email peter @hpeterwatson.com. For Sale: 1992 500 SL. Black, 120,000 miles. Runs great; must see. Call Greg at 719-486-2656, For Sale: 1968 280SL, 53K miles, automatic, red. Needs transmission work or a new one. $26,000. Contact Walter, 719-392-2575.
Click This, just in from the latest edition of the MBCA e-newsletter, Click, a quick wrap-up of news, discounts, and special events:
StarFest 2018: May 14-21, 2018. Visit Starfest2018.com for more information and the schedule. Starfest 2018 is the flagship national event for Mercedes-Benz Club of America. So, what could be a more fitting location than the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Factory's Brand Immersion Center? Combining elegance, fun, history, and motorsports.
2018 Germany Trips: The 2018 Germany trips are set! These member-only trips provide direct and personal access to Mercedes-Benz facilities and museums and many amazing European landmarks. Don't wait any longer, as space is limited and already filling up.
Summer Stuttgart, Germany Trip: June 18-24, 2018 Summer Stuttgart, Germany Trip: July 16-22, 2018 Fall Stuttgart, Germany Trip: Sept. 24-30, 2018 Do not book your flight until your trip is confirmed. To learn more, call trip Leiter and past national MBCA president Jim O'Sullivan at (843) 671-2079 or email him at [email protected].
“The 2018 Germany
trips are set!”
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36th Annual Abbey Antique & Special Interest
Car Show Saturday, May 19, 2018
In 1982, the combined efforts of the Royal Gorge Chapter of the Vintage Motor Car Club of America (VMCCA), the Royal Gorge Lions Club and the Canon City Rotary Club organized and ran the first Abbey Car Show. This annual car show has become the longest running and largest car show in southern Colorado, drawing between 375 and 425 entries each year. Last year, the VMCCA decided that the 35th annual show would be their last due to declining membership and just plain burn out. This led to a small group of VMCCA members from both the Royal Gorge and Pikes Peak Chapters getting together to form a non-profit corporation to try and keep the longest running and largest southern Colorado car show going for a minimum of one more year and hopefully for a number of years thereafter. We need volunteers! The day of the show requires between 90 and 100 volunteers to effectively fulfill all the jobs necessary to administer and control the activities of the Show. Local civic organizations have provided 30 to 40 of those volunteers working for a stipend paid directly to the organization providing the volunteers. The rest of the volunteers came from the two VMCCA clubs. Due to losing the direct support of the two VMCCA clubs we are trying to expand the use of stipend-based volunteers from other non-profit organizations. This is where the Pikes Peak Section of the Mercedes Benz Club of America comes in. In addition to paying the participating organizations a stipend, based on the number of volunteer hours provided, we will provide a 10 foot by 10 foot space, free of charge, that the Club can use to promote their activities and the benefits of being a member. This will provide the Club an excellent opportunity to undertake a fund raising activity and promote Club membership. Please contact Clark Absher, [email protected] or 719 332-5334 for more information on the car show and volunteering to work the show on Saturday, May 19, 2018.
This is where the Pikes Peak Section comes in.”
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Trolley Museum Fun Run Recap
Pikes Peak Section members are not only Mercedes-Benz automobile enthusiasts, but we are also transportation enthusiasts in general. It’s only natural that our February breakfast guest presenter was John Haney, founder of the Pikes Peak Historical Street Railway Foundation. A native of Colorado Springs, John is an enthusiastic historian and author. Dressed in period costume as a streetcar conductor, John delivered a lively presentation that recapped the history of streetcar rail transportation in the Pikes Peak region. After the breakfast, our members traveled to the Pikes Peak Historical Street Railway Museum where we enjoyed a tour of the museum, including current railcar restorations and a short ride in a motorized streetcar. If you missed this one, you missed a real treat.
All Aboard! Steve & Conductor John Haney
Under restoration This one has a ways to go
“...enjoyed a tour of the museum, including
current railcar restorations, and a short
ride in a motorized streetcar.”
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Mercedes Question of the Month Question: Who helped develop the first supercharger-equipped engine, aka Kompressor?
Answer: a. Ferdinand Porsche b. Juan M. Fangio c. Wilhelm Maybach d. Col. Klink
Answer to Last Month’s Question: b. 1886
M-B EQC Electric SUV By V. Vijayenthiran The first prototype for Mercedes-Benz’s electric SUV based on the Generation EQ concept has
been spotted. Due in showrooms in 2019, the vehicle will be called an EQC. The C in the name reflects the size and positioning being in line with the C-Class. The EQ part represents Mercedes new sub-brand for electric cars—the name stands for “Electric Intelligence”—and models from the sub-brand will ride on a modular “skateboard” platform dubbed the Modular Electric
Architecture (MEA), where the battery is stored in the floor and an electric motor is mounted at one or both axles. In the Generation EQ concept, two electric motors deliver a combined output of approximately 400 horsepower. They form an all-wheel-drive system and promise 0-60 mph acceleration of less than 5.0 seconds. It’s likely the EQC will offer varying levels of power and range to suit multiple price points. All Mercedes is willing to state is that the battery will have more than 70 kilowatt-hours and a range of at least 300 miles on a single charge. The battery will be a lithium-ion unit sourced from fellow Daimler subsidiary Deutsche Accumotive. The German firm already has a battery factory up and running and is extending this in preparation for Mercedes’ new electric cars. Production of the EQC will be handled at Mercedes’ plant in Bremen, Germany. The plant is the lead plant for the C-Class and GLC and where Mercedes will also build the low-volume GLC F-Cell hydrogen fuel cell car, which is also due in 2019. A reveal of the EQC is expected to take place late this year. As mentioned, it will arrive in showrooms in 2019, likely as a 2020 model. Mercedes will follow up the EQC with at least nine more electric cars by 2025. There will be both sedans and SUVs and possibly even a sports car. One we know is coming is a compact hatch to be called the EQA.
“...promise 0-60 mph
acceleration of less than 5
second.”
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Return Service Requested
To:
Calendar of Upcoming Events6 March 2018 Board Meeting – 6:00 p.m. Steve Dierks – 719-659-9959 14 March 2018 Pi(e) Day – 5:30 p.m. Andrew Nelson – 719-634-7522 17 March 2018 Breakfast – 9:00 a.m. Forney Fun Run Andrew Nelson – 719-634-7522 31 March 2018 Bowling By Benz Judy Bennett – 719-576-9737
3 April 2018 Board Meeting – 6:00 p.m. Steve Dierks – 719-659-9959 21 April 2018 Breakfast – 9:00 a.m. Pikes Peak Observatory & Earth Day Rally Andrew Nelson – 719-634-7522 22 April 2018 Do-It-Yourself Tech Session Dave Williamson – 719-575-7976 1 May 2018 Board Meeting – 6:00 p.m. Steve Dierks – 719-659-9959
The Pikes Peak Section Board of Directors meets on the first Tuesday of each month at
Mercedes-Benz of Colorado Springs, 730 Automotive Drive. Meetings start at 6:00 p.m. All Section members are welcome and encouraged to attend
