June - July 2012

www.kcmbca.org

Presidents Messageby Jeff Klepac

In this issue:

Feature ArticlesDD/AX and Fun 2Oh! Arboretum 3Harns’ Host May Sun-Dr. 3Hydrogen Fuels Benz’s 9Kansas History Bk’fst Spkr 9

Spaßnacht Dates 5Ohio Back Roads Tour 9Flat Out Classic 11StarFest 2012 11Art of the Car Concours 11Legends of the Autobahn 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 UpJune - September

Hello friends! In the last issue of ‘der Benz, we were finalizing our plans for the next Regional Defensive Driving / AutoCross event. That weekend was a huge success and we’re planning to do it again next spring. See a complete recap on page 2.

Also on May 5th, our section presented a generous donation toward the Auto Restoration program at McPherson College during their 13th Annual C.A.R.S. auto show. That weekend was special for me, as I had the opportunity to meet four new friends.

First - Wayne Carini, a ‘car guy’ extraordinaire, who hosts a weekly show on the Velocity channel titled, “Chasing Classic Cars”.Look for an upcoming episode about the restoration program at McPherson College to be broadcast in October or November.

Second - Mike Kunz, Manager of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in California. Mike is a long term Mercedes-

Benz employee who was given the opportunity to develop this program and beautiful restoration facility.

Third - Nate Lander. Nate graduated ten years ago from the McPherson College Auto Restoration program and now works alongside other restoration professionals at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in California.

Fourth - Wes Anderson. Wes is a first year student at McPherson

College, fellow Mercedes-Benz enthusiast and MBCA member. Look for his student perspective in upcoming issues of the STAR magazine.

Now back to KC Section Business...Before long, our annual elections will be held in September. We’ll keep you informed as the time draws near, but its time for fresh ideas and leadership so consider a seat on our board of directors. Do your part to maintain the momentum that’s kept the Kansas City Section going strong now for 40 years!

Stay in touch...

Jeff Klepac President Mercedes-Benz Club of America | Kansas City Section

ps. If you are planning to attend StarFest 2012 - don’t delay! Register today at;

http://www.motorsportreg.com/index.cfm/event/event.advert/

uidEvent/971470D9-D200-A77D-37AD15888F50F180

See ad on page 11.

Early this year, our board of directors decided to host a regional defensive driving and autocross event. An excellent facility was reserved and things began coming together. Event advertising was placed in the STAR magazine and we booked defensive driving instruction by MBCA’s own Frank & Mary Alice Cozza. To help the Cozza’s with skid pad maneuvers and AutoCross,

we were assisted by some of our friends from the BMW and Audi club. Each section in the Midwest region was invited. We had participants register from as far as Minnesota, Nebraska and Illinois. In my opinion, the best part was seeing several young drivers enroll. The skills they would learn and practice might someday save their life. The weekend event started with a Friday night gathering at Johnny’s Tavern, where we enjoyed great tasting burgers while visiting with some of the event registrants.

Saturday morning came quick and the early risers gathered at the course to set up cones and driving patterns. Next came the registration table – “If you build it – they will come”. After classroom instruction by Frank and Mary Alice Cozza, we headed out to the track to practice skills discussed that morning. Accompanied by a driving instructor, each student completed several defensive driving exercises, then took their turn in a controlled environment on the wet skid pad. There the participants got to experience their car’s response to braking and turning movements in simulated wet road conditions.

Many got to feel anti-lock brake activation for the first time. Those who drove a car equipped with electronic stability control were able to see how that system kept the car from sliding around on a slick-driving surface. Those who were brave enough ‘disabled’ the traction control momentarily and sampled some do-nuts - and we’re not talking about the kind you have for breakfast. The day was perfect with sunshine and temps in the mid 70’s. We were ready for lunch around noon and afterwards, headed back to the track for some AutoCross before packing things up late afternoon.

The fun continued Saturday evening when we met for the awards banquet at Wil Jenny’s in Overland Park. Awards were given for the fastest times, most improved driver and of course, the famed “Cone Killer” award, which went to none other than our Regional Director, Bill Denton.

Before we said good-bye, the group met for a hearty breakfast Sunday morning at Ingredients Restaurant and then participated in a ‘Funcours’. Similar to the Olympics, the Gold, Silver and Bronze ‘travelling trophies’ were presented to those who placed First, Second and Third and were based on nothing they could have prepared their car for, such as what type programming the radio was tuned to, (news, country, pop, etc.), or the position that a wheels tire valve happened to be. Thus, the “fun” in Funcours.

As we said farewell to our friends, we realized the lasting value of our effort. This type of instruction is priceless. The benefits last a lifetime. We believe they’re so important that we’ve already decided to hold it again next year. Stay tuned!

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Auto Cross - Defensive Driving - and FUNby Jeff Klepac

Kevin Arburn navigates his 560SL through the cones dur-ing the AutoCross. Photo by Jeff Klepac

Under the guidance of a driving instructor, Alex O’Brien cor-ners his smart car on the water laden skid pad. Photo by Jeff Klepac

The First Sunday Drive on April 1st was a “Top Down SL Kind of Day”.

Kansas City Section members who drove their Mercedes-Benz SL or SLK were rewarded with plenty of sunshine and humid ‘August like’ weather.

We departed from the usual starting place at noon heading over to an area of beauty, especially at this time of year. An advanced jump into spring was the perfect way to enjoy the short jaunt through the back roads leading to our destination, the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.

The 300-acre Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens was founded to keep the city at the forefront of environmental and ecological issues. A leader of environmentally sound community development, the Arboretum is an educational, recreational and cultural resource for the Kansas City region.

It offers homeowners, landscapers and arborists an opportunity to view and evaluate a wide variety of hybrid trees and shrubs, native to this area.

About 85 percent of the property, in southern Overland Park, KS, is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of eight natural ecosystems. The remaining portion includes traditional botanical gardens trails the Visitors Center and maintenance facilities.

Section members strolled through the winding paths for about 90 minutes taking in the tranquil scenes, blossoming flowers and fragrance of spring all around us. All agreed we’d have to plan a return visit, albeit when the weather was a bit cooler.

After enjoying the scenery, we caravanned on to Olathe and met at Johnny’s BBQ for lunch. It was a wonderful

day to enjoy the start of spring with our ‘Benz friends.

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Oh! To Be in the Arboretum by Jeff Klepac

Scene of a resting place and garden with a view of the lake in the Arboretum. Many peaceful and quiet locations are along the walkways through the gardens. Photo by Jeff Klepac

The Arboretum recently placed eleven artistic statues by Chinese artists along the walkways of the gardens. This one depicts the labor of the Chinese Pioneer in the U.S. by Yang Xuejun. Photo by Bob Smith

May First-Sunday Drive to the Harns’ Homeby Bob Smith

Our First-Sunday drive in May took us for a ride through parts of four counties in eastern Kansas and Western Missouri. Rain was in the forecast and had been all around the area but the entire route kept our vehicles rain free.

Starting at the usual spot near 119th St & Roe we drove east and south through the countryside of southeast Johnson County, through parts of Cass County in Missouri, Miami County and Johnson County in Kansas, and then finally ending in Jackson County Missouri at the home of Ian and Mandy Harns.

By the time we arrived it was a bright, sunny, warm day. The hosts served hearty and delicious snacks of home-made Chinese pork dumplings. And we can’t forget the great tasting banana bread made from Ian’s secret recipe. Both were enjoyed by all.

We had a delightful time in the Harns home where they are in the redecorating phase of their recent move-in project. Their gracious hospitality was thoughtful and appreciated.

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SpaßnachtFind out more:

www.kcmbca.orgClick on “Club Info”

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. _________________August 20, 7:00 PM

Grunhauer’s101 W 22nd St. KC, Mo.

_________________September 17 6:00 PM

Complete Garage15209 W 87th Pkwy

then

Panzons8710 Lackman Rd.

Lenexa 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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Willkommen New Members !

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

Chris Barbour Fairway, Ks.Raymond Gee Lenexa, Ks.Nathan George Fort Riley, Ks.Timmy Hobbs Junction City, Ks.William Koury Lake Winnebago, Mo.

ConflictsinKansasHistoryRevealed

Don Lambert, of Topeka, a historian of local fame, was our guest speaker at the May breakfast meeting. Here is the story.

In the spring of 1855, it appeared that pro-slavery forces from Missouri would succeed in making the new Kansas Territory a pro-slavery state. Free-state settlers from New England who had moved to Lawrence, Topeka, Manhattan and many surrounding towns had been shut out of the democratic process. Not knowing what else to do, they met that fall in Topeka which then had a population of 350. At the end of three weeks, the Free-State delegates to this convention had written a constitution, the first of the four Kansas constitutions. It said, “There shall be no slavery in this state.” Their hope was that this would be approved by the U.S. Congress, thus negating the pro-slavery movement based in Shawnee Mission and later in Lecompton 17 miles from Topeka. This Topeka Constitution was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives controlled by the anti-slavery North. However, the U.S. Senate was controlled by the pro-slavery South which prevented it from coming to a vote.

Kansas became a state on Jan. 29, 1861, shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. From 1863-1869, Constitution Hall was used as the Temporary Kansas Capitol while the east wing of the current Capitol was being built five blocks south.

Efforts are now underway to restore Constitution Hall. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is listed by the National Park Service for its role in the Underground Railroad.

Constitution Hall is maintained by the Friends of the Free-State Capitol, PO Box 2551, Topeka, Ks, 66601. It is directly across the street west of the downtown post office.

Sleeping Heroes: The impact of the Civil War on Kansas communities.

It is believed that after the Civil War, more veterans settled in Kansas than in any other state. Thus, Kansas was known then as the Soldiers’ State. A new project was unveiled earlier this year to encourage middle school students across Kansas to “uncover” the Civil War Veterans buried in their local cemeteries. The Kansas Historical Society and the Kansas Department of Education are assisting.

LOS ANGELES -- Mercedes-Benz will begin limited sales of a hydrogen fuel cell variant of its B-class subcompact in 2014, followed by a larger hydrogen-powered vehicle one or two years later.

Sascha Simon, manager of advanced product planning at Mercedes-Benz USA, says the next-generation B-class F-Cell will have more options and an upgraded telematics system when it debuts for the 2015 model year. The F-Cell will be based on the B-class five-door hatchback now sold in Europe.

The fuel cell vehicles will be sold in California, and possibly in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, if a hydrogen refueling infrastructure is set up in time, Simon said.

Since 2010, Mercedes has offered the F-Cells for lease to consumers in the Los Angeles area. Mercedes has delivered 37 F-Cells to customers here and expects to reach 60 by year end as more hydrogen refueling stations open in Los Angeles, Simon said.

One or two years after the launch of the next-generation B-class F-Cell, Mercedes expects to launch a hydrogen-powered vehicle based on an existing Mercedes model. The vehicle will be larger than the C class, but Simon said the company has not decided whether it will be a large sedan or an SUV.

“This third-generation car will not be a unique platform,” he said. “It will be one of our cars that you know today. It just will run on hydrogen rather than gasoline.”

Simon declined to discuss sales volume or pricing details.

You can reach Ryan Beene at rbeene@crain.com.

Andrew Lynn Kansas City, Mo.William Mosimann Topeka, Ks.Steven Paisner Leawood Ks.Shane Robinson Joplin, Mo.Rick Schoeling, M.D. Pittspurg, Ks.

Hydrogen Fueled Mercedes-Benz Cars in Near Future

Automotive News 5-14-12Contributed by Jeff Klepac

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

Refinishing Straightening

Remanufacturing

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“Flat Out” ClassicThis is a car lovers dream you’ll never forget. The Kansas City, Great Plains, Sunbelt and St. Louis chapters of the BMW Car Club of America announce the inaugural Flat Out Classic to be held at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kansas June 8 – 10, 2012. It is an automotive festival where you can participate in high-performance drivers school, car control clinic, autocross and a car show. Visit http://www.flatoutclassic.com for more information.

The Sixth Annual Art of the Car Concours® will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 24, on the KCAI campus. The event will feature about 200 vintage, classic and special-interest vehicles, including cars, trucks, racing cars and motorcycles belonging to collectors from eight states.

Returning this year as the presenting sponsor are both local Mercedes-Benz Dealers, Aristocrat Motors and Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City.

This event, a benefit for the Kansas City Art Institute scholarship fund, is growing in popularity and stature among vintage and classic collectors. The Concours is unique for its size and scale in having no formal judging and no classes of vehicles. The intention is to provide a wide range of very high-quality, original, vintage vehicles in an eclectic, informal setting, without the pressure of traditional Concours events.

A new Saturday event will take place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Armacost Museum in Grandview, Mo. The Armacost Museum houses more than 100 vintage vehicles on two floors. This event will be open only to exhibitors, the CCCA Oil Belt Region Club in Topeka/Kansas City and the CCA Spirit of St. Louis Region Club in St. Louis. Members from Both of these clubs will be traveling to Kansas City not only to exhibit cars, but also to attend the Concours. Don Armacost has graciously agreed to open his museum for the event. There will be a modest $5 entrance fee. For more information about the museum, visit http://petersoncarmuseum.com.

Art of the Car Concours®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.”

An additional stop to our Day 4 drive from Marietta to Columbus has been added. Our final Point of Interest will be the Hopewell Culture National Historic Park outside Chillicothe, Ohio. You can learn more about Ohio Native American history and see the burial mounds there. It was and is a very spiritual place in our country. 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

LEGENDS OF THEAUTOBAHN

Four German Marques.One Unforgettable Concours.

2012

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.

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.

July 1 First Sunday Drive US Bank, 119th & Roe, Leawood, Ks. 12 NOON Ft. Leavenworth Tour. July 2 UpLift - Serving meals to the homeless - one additional volunteer needed 5 - 10 PM. July 7 Breakfast Meeting, First Watch, Shawnee, Ks. 9 AM. Speaker, Chad Derst, KC TrendsJuly 16 Spaßnacht, 6 PM. KH Automotive Open House, 5925 Broadmoor and Johnnys BBQ 5959 Broadmoor, Mission, Ks.Aug. 4 Breakfast Meeting, First Watch, Shawnee, Ks. 9 AMAug. 5 First Sunday Drive US Bank, 119th & Roe, Leawood, Ks.Aug. 18 Dinner with Ozark Section Members - Buca di Beppo on the Plaza.Aug. 19 Art of the Machine Car Show - KC River Market + Steamboat Arabia.Aug. 20 Spaßnacht, 7 PM, Grunhauer’s, 101 W 22nd St, KC, Mo.Sept. 1 Breakfast Meeting, First Watch, Shawnee, Ks. 9 AM. Speaker, Rich Carlson, Scoring Concours Vehicles. Election of Officers.Sept. 2 First Sunday Drive. to Springfield, Mo.Sept. 15 Saturday Garage - Auto Detailing, Your Classic Ride, 2711 Warwick, KC, Mo. Sept. 17 Spaßnacht, 6 PM, Complete Garage, Lenexa, then Panzons.

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 8-10 “Flat Out” Classic.June 18 Spaßnacht, 6 PM. Sadler’s Kart Racing, Olathe, Ks. Then to Gorozzo’sJune 23 Armacost Auto Museum Tour, 1:30 - 3:30 PMJune 24 Art of the Car. Kansas City Art Institute, KC, Mo. Dinner with St. Louis Section Members.