VOL. 48 • NO. 10 SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA SECTION October 2010
A TRULY UNIQUE
2011 EVENT
OKTOBERFEST
PLANNING MEETING by Eva Gordon, Activities Director
by Eva Gordon, Activities Director
What: Oktoberfest & Member Appreciation
What: Planning Meeting for 2011 Activities When: Saturday, October 23, 2010, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
When: Sunday, October 24, 2010, 1:00 Where: Menlo Circus Club, Atherton
p.m.–3:00 p.m. Cost: $33 adult, $20 children 4-16
Where: Harry’s Hofbrau, 1901 El Camino Real
It’s time for Oktoberfest! But this year it’s not just an Oktoberfest—it’s an
(at Woodside Road), Redwood City
Oktoberfest combined with a show-and-shine car show on the polo fields
Cost: Nothing, optional no-host lunch of the Menlo Circus Club in Atherton. Those of you who attended our 50th
Anniversary event are aware of the magnificence of this great private club,
2010 has been another amazing year for and we assure you the Oktoberfest will rival our anniversary celebration.
Mercedes-Benz club events, so let’s continue
the fun! All SFBA members are invited to join On Saturday, October 23, our day will start at 10:00 a.m. as we arrive and
us for our annual activities planning meeting. arrange our cars on the club’s polo field where we will vote for some very
unique prizes and awards. We will move to the patio for refreshments and a
This year our 2011 Events Planning Meeting will
no-host bar featuring local beers, and then through the traditional Bavarian
take place on a Sunday, prior to the section’s Buffet and on to the full patio that has been reserved for our exclusive use.
Fall board meeting. As in years past, this is The traditional Bavarian Buffet will include a generous assortment of German
the time when we will set our club calendar specialty salads, assorted wursts, sauerkraut, braised red cabbage, an
for the following year. Many of you have great assortment of desserts, coffee, and iced tea. Yes, plenty of room to spread
suggestions for venues, and we will be able to out and enjoy our lunches and special presentations. For our members that
decide which one of the ideas we can include like to dance, entertainment will include traditional German style music,
and festive dancing is highly encouraged. Worried about the weather? We
in our 2011 calendar.
expect the usual Bay Area Indian Summer, but have also arranged for the
exclusive use of the entire clubhouse in case of inclement weather!
The meeting is open to the entire membership.
We strongly encourage you to come and help This year, our Oktoberfest celebration is also our Member Appreciation
us plan where and when we will go and what event where we will recognize our member anniversaries and also honor
we will do in 2011. We are also looking for several of our members with special awards. If you’re celebrating a club
members to host and help volunteer at these (Continued on page 4)
events, so please don’t be shy, and come help
us out! We will meet in the private dining room
at Harry’s Hofbrau at 1:00 p.m. Harry’s offers
2010 CALENDAR OF COMING ACTIVITIES
OCT. 2-3 First Sunday Drive
a huge variety of fabulous food at reasonable OCT. 6-9 Western States Driving Experience,
prices; we encourage you to try their buffet Richard Simonds (650) 592-7613
OCT. 23* Oktoberfest/Member Appreciation Party,
lunch. Eva Gordon (650) 834-2614
OCT. 24 2011 Planning Meeting, Eva Gordon (650) 834-2614
If you have event suggestions or questions, NOV. 6* Day at the Races, Eva Gordon (650) 834-2614
contact Eva Gordon, Activities Director, at NOV. 7 First Sunday Drive
DEC. 5 First Sunday Drive
eva@well.com. DEC. 5* Holiday Brunch, Robert Schilling (650) 619-7550
*Reservation form on page 7
OFFICER’S MESSAGE MERCEDES-BENZ CLUB OF AMERICA
By Mauna Wagner, Secretary
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA SECTION
Something for Everyone! www.mbca.org/sfba
What does the Mercedes Club have to offer? Something for everyone,
that’s my opinion. Whether you like to socialize, drive, get technical or Executive Board Treasurer, hOWARD STRAuSE
participate with leadership teams, you’ll find something enjoyable in the 925.939.5050 Fax 925.937.7744
San Francisco Bay Area Section. President, ROBERT SChiLLiNG hlstrause@yahoo.com
650.619.7550
res.mbca@offserver.com Secretary, mAuNA WAGNER
The Board is always looking for new energy and talent. There are 4 board 925.934.7220
meetings each year, as well as the annual event planning meeting. All Vice President, BOB DOERR maunaw@aol.com
members are welcome. Check us out and see if you’d like to participate 650.784.0842
in leading the club! doerr.bob@gmail.com Ex-Officio, hAL hARPER
503.208.2052
hal.harper@comcast.net
Richard Simonds - he loves details! - does a great job enhancing our
technical knowledge. This year we’ve been educated about insurance and
repairs at the European Collision Center. Some members have trained
to become official MBCA Concours judges. We’ve even learned how to Board of Directors Historian, LiNDSAy DROBiLiSCh
408.782.2305 Fax 408.782.1518
take professional quality photographs of our cars. That’s quite a variety Activities, EVA GORDON lindsaydrobilisch@att.net
of technical events! 650.834.2614 Fax 510.234.4574
eva@well.com Hospitality, PORTiA STRAuSE
What can I say about the First Sunday Drives? Originated by the very 925.939.5050
portia4mypms@yahoo.com
energetic Robert Schilling, we explore back roads and find hidden
Advertising, VACANT
treasures, like the Dry Creek Olive Company. Monthly drives cover the Membership, ANN BORNSTEiN
North, East and South Bay and are lead by volunteer club members. No 831.786.0782
reservations are necessary – just show up at the starting point and get Editor, LAuRA SimONDS annstitcher@charter.net
ready to drive! 650.592.7613
Ofc 650.691.9123 Fax 650.592.6318 Technical, RiChARD SimONDS
simondsl@pacbell.net 650.592.7613 Fax 650.592.6318
And of course we have wonderful activities, enthusiastically coordinated rsimonds@pacbell.net
by Eva Gordon. Private car collections, the wildflower train ride and an Photographer
ecological exploration of Elkhorn Slough are just a few of the events on SANDy DROBiLiSCh Webmaster, LOiS WONG
the 2010 calendar. Eva and volunteers do the planning and scheduling 408.782.2305 Fax 408.782.1518 415.601.1329
– all you need to do is register and have a great time! sandoreng@att.net lois.h.wong@gmail.com
Don’t have a lot of free time? Don’t know many club members? Don’t Director at Large, JERRy TERSTiEGE
Director at Large, RiCh PERSOFF
let that stop you from being an active participant in the best Section of 831.786.0782 650.574.0741
the Mercedes Club. Take a look at our calendar – you’ll find something mimulus@charter.net jerryt94404@aol.com
for everyone.
Director at Large, VACANT Director at Large, JACk WEiR
925.934.7720 Cell 925.899.4298
Fax 925.930.0446 jweir39@aol.com
A PERFECT EVENING ON
THE (MONTEREY) BAY Western Regional Director,
925.934.7720 JACk WEiR
National Treasurer,
650.592.7613 LAuRA SimONDS
By Robert Shilling, President Cell 925.899.4298 Fax 925.930.0446 Fax 650.592.6318
jweir39@aol.com simondsl@pacbell.net
Is there anything better than sitting on the deck overlooking the bobbing
boats in the Monterey Harbor just before sunset? Yes! Combine August
weather, add it to the end of a wonderful day amongst the cars at the
Legends of the Autobahn Concours in Carmel Valley, throw in some steaks The GOLDEN GATE STAR
and fresh fish and share it with friends from MBCA! Perfect!
Publisher Anza Group - San Jose
For thirty-two club members, the very casual Monterey Yacht Club Editor Laura Simonds
proved to be the ideal spot to relax with a cocktail before an early dinner Photographer Sandy Drobilisch
of perfectly cooked steaks and seafood. Conversation was lively at the
The Golden Gate Star is published monthly by the San Francisco Bay Area
three “family style” tables arranged for our group and SFBA members Section, Mercedes-Benz Club of America, Inc. Copy deadline: 10th of the
had the opportunity to visit with MBCA members from other sections and month preceding the month of issue. Please type and double space copy.
regions – Arizona, Southern California and Portland were all represented! ABOUT OUR ADVERTISERS: We hope you will support our advertisers. No
A few folks lingered on after their meal, but for the majority it was an inference, however, should be made that advertising in THE GOLDEN GATE
STAR implies approval of their products or services by the Club, its Officers
early departure for home in the Bay Area and beyond or an early curtain or members, or by Mercedes-Benz - USA Inc. or Daimler AG.
call ahead of the long weekend that culminated with the Pebble Beach MEMBERSHIP information or renewal, call toll free 1-800-637-2360
Concours on Sunday. A special thanks to Bob Doerr for hosting us as
his guests at the MBYC!
With the success of the Legends of the Autobahn and the dinner on the You can send that wonderful article or ad via E-mail
bay I hope we can look forward to many more years of increased section or FAX to me for inclusion in the Golden Gate Star
involvement in the Pebble Beach Historics Weekend! simondsl@pacbell.net or FAX 650-592-6318. Laura
2
UPCOMING EVENTS
FIRST SUNDAY DRIVES
First Sunday Events are casual driving events that
WESTERN STATES DRIVING EXPERIENCE are held on the first Sunday of every month. To be notified
by Richard Simonds, Technical Director of the next First Sunday event please send an e-mail to join-
SF@FirstSundayDrives.com. For more information and
links to event photos, go to www.FirstSundayDrives.com.
The San Francisco Bay Area Section is sponsoring a fabulous
4-day event at the Thunder Hill Raceway in Willows, California, on
October 6-9 for all MBCA members. Participants will enjoy a full day
of track events, a fun and challenging observation rally, a “People’s
SEPTEMBER FIRST
Choice” car show, great fellowship and more, all for a bargain price.
SUNDAY DRIVE
Registration is just $540 for one car and one driver. A second Two dozen enthusiastic Sunday Drivers turned up at the
driver can participate for only $440 more. Registration includes
starting point at Peet’s in Castro Valley. After admiring each
all three events plus two lunches and an awards banquet. These
other’s cars, we headed North on Redwood Road through
prices compare very well against the least expensive alternative
the hills overlooking Lake Chabot on one side and the
program of $995 per driver for only one day at a track. Although
Bay on the other. If you like twisty-curvy roads, this is the
the registration deadline has passed, spaces may still be available.
If you’re interested, please don’t delay, call Ann Bornstein at (831)
route for you! Sharing the road with many Sunday Cyclers,
786-0782 for information. we took Canyon Road into the south side of Moraga, and
then we were on to Orinda. The weather was perfect for
Although the date has passed when discounted rates were offered top-down cruising.
at the local motels of $55-$99 per night, tell them you are with the
Mercedes-Benz Club and they may still honor those rates. After driving around the Briones Reservoir near Lafayette,
we wound our way through rural Martinez and past the
old C&H Sugar plant in the small town of Crockett. Our
destination was the Nantucket Restaurant, a hidden gem
2010 HOLIDAY PARTY – right down on the water of the Carquinez Straits. We enjoyed
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5TH a hearty lunch on the patio, under the new Zampa Bridge
by Robert Shilling, President between Crockett and Vallejo. As usual, there was lots of
enthusiastic conversation about how many beautiful places
Holiday decorations haven’t started showing up in the stores just there are in the Bay Area. Thanks to Jack Weir for leading
yet, but that time of year is once again approaching and it’s time to this drive.
mark your calendars for the 2010 Holiday Party! This year we’re
listening to those club members who have said that they’d love to
attend this great social event but are unable to due to other holiday
engagements that compete for their Friday and Saturday nights in
mid to late December. Mark your calendars for the first ever SFBA
Holiday Champagne Brunch at noon on Sunday, December 5th!
We have reserved a beautiful private room at Hs. Lordships
restaurant in the Berkeley Marina. We will enjoy gorgeous views
of the bay before settling down to one of the most decadent buffet
brunch services in the Bay Area. Cost for this event is $52 per
person and includes champagne. In addition, we are adding a
Holiday Gift Exchange so you are asked to bring interesting and
entertaining gifts in the $10 price range. The club will be peppering
the pile with some surprise gifts for a few very lucky recipients!
To accommodate those who have difficulty with early commitments
during the Holiday season, we have arranged for a very late
registration deadline of November 24th! However, early reservations
do simplify the lives of the event planners so please do register
as early as possible! Please also include your e-mail address on
the registration form (or stamped and addressed envelope) so
reservation confirmation and additional details can be provided.
For those that want to participate, the December First Sunday Drive
will be planned to end in the parking lot of the restaurant.
3
WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
August 2010
(Order name badges from the National Business Office, From time to time, we recognize our SFBA Section members
1-800-637-2360, or online at the Club Store www.mbca.org.) who have recently celebrated a milestone MBCA membership
anniversary. We appreciate that you’re part of MBCA and hope
Edward A. Barber III, San Francisco that you continue to enjoy the benefits of your membership for
David Ricardo, Los Gatos a long time. Congratulations!
Gerald Goudeau, Richmond
Robert & Joseph Hylle, Pacific Grove Lewis & Lois Ackert, San Jose, 45 Years
Michael Klare, San Francisco Ricardo & Gay A. Seitz, Santa Rosa, 20 Years
Wolfgang Lochner, Sunnyvale Roy Spencer, Burlingame, 10 years
Kurt Oppenheimer, Redwood City Nathan Schneider, Santa Rosa, 5 Years
Steven & Ross Paulson, Clayton Ren & Jan Moreno, Santa Rosa, 5 Years
Barry Power, Santa Rosa
Thomas Pyle & Caroline Crokery, Pacific Grove
Terence & John Savastano, San Francisco
Tony Shaheen, Monterey A TRULY UNIQUE
Justin Stover, San Bruno
Glenn Vavoso, Alamo OKTOBERFEST
Roberta & Kelly Wood, San Jose
(Continued from page 1)
anniversary this year, please don’t miss this great event. Also, if you have a friend or family member that you’d like to introduce
to the club, this is a great opportunity, and we encourage you to bring non-member guests. Attendance is limited at this event so
please make your reservations as early as possible. Reservation deadline is October 13 or when limit is reached.
You are encouraged to wear traditional German outfits and bring your favorite stein. In our club tradition, prizes will be awarded
for the best of each. Event parking opens at 10:00 a.m. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. Questions? Contact Eva
Gordon at eva@well.com or (650) 834-2614.
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4
THE SPORT OF KINGS: DAY
AT THE RACES CLASSIFIEDS
by Eva Gordon, Activities Director
FOR SALE: 2007 S550. 15,850 miles. Barolo red, savanna/
What: Day at Golden Gate Fields cashmere premium leather, AMG sport-package, with
When: Saturday November 6, 2010, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. chromed AMG wheels. Active body control, night view assist,
Where: Golden Gate Fields, Berkeley dynamic rear view monitor. Much more, copy of window
Cost: $55 adult, $20 children 4-17 sticker by fax or snail mail upon request. Always garaged.
All service records. $65,000 OBO. Contact Rod at rdm427@
We invite you to join your fellow club members at the exclusive sbcglobal.net.
Turf Club at Golden Gate Fields to enjoy an afternoon of live
horse racing. Golden Gate Fields is the only remaining horse FOR SALE: Enclosed hardtop carrier for R107 hardtop.
track in the Bay Area, and the day we have planned for you is This is a very rare hard plastic, foam-lined case for the
an exclusive one because it’s one of the biggest racing days removable top on the R107 bodied SL. It is mounted to a
of the year. The famous Breeders Cup World Championship is steel frame on wheels so the case and enclosed top can
being run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and will be be easily moved. This is a fully-enclosed case that offers
simulcast at Golden Gate Fields on the day of our event. You the ultimate protection for your removed top. $300 OBO.
will have the opportunity to place your bets on the Breeder’s OEM jack and full soft case. OEM equipment for a 1972
Cup as well as the local races being run live on the track. For 280SEL 4.5 but may work with other models as well. $20
information on the Breeders Cup, go to www.breederscup.com. OBO.
New front brake rotors for W123. $50 for the pair.
Although we’ve been to the races before, we’ve never Rear quarter beltline chrome trim for left and right rear
experienced the premiere private suite at Golden Gate Fields. quarter panels on a W123 wagon (300TD). New and still
We have arranged to have this multi-level room for the exclusive in original MB packaging. Asking $50 for the pair.
use of the club for a champagne reception and gourmet buffet.
Our day begins with complimentary valet parking upon arrival. Contact Robert at (650) 619-7550 or res.mbca@offserver.com.
Once in the Turf Club, you will be presented with a glass of
champagne and an amuse bouche especially prepared by the FOR SALE: 1963 220SE. Good condition, a beautiful car
executive chef. Racing begins at noon, and lunch is served and a steal at $12,500. Contact William at (209) 823-8653.
from noon until two o’clock. Our menu includes a selection of
farmer’s market salads and hot entrees, including a carvery FOR SALE: 1982 380SL. Brown/tan, 56k miles, chrome
station of slow roasted prime rib, seared salmon medallions, wheels, near new condition. Contact Mike at (650) 771-6360.
signature fried chicken, and much more. The meal is finished
with an assortment of delightful confections and served with iced Please support our commercial advertisers! They
or hot tea and coffee. No-host cocktails will also be available support our club. Be sure to tell them that you’re a
throughout the day. member of the club and saw their ad in this newsletter.
We have invited members of the Sacramento Section to join us [Remember, classified ads are free to members, $25
in this great event, so come and enjoy a day at the races with for non-members. Your classified ad will appear both
in the newsletter and on our web site for one month.
old friends and new. Because of the popularity of the Breeder’s
Send your “for sale” or “wanted” ad to Laura Simonds,
Cup combined with the local races, we are told that Golden Gate editor, simondsl@pacbell.net, or (650) 592-6318 fax.]
Fields will be filled with excitement and energy, and general
admission tickets may sell out completely. We have a limited
amount of space available for our private room, so please return
the reservation form before the new October 14 deadline to
insure that you are included in this great day.
Your $55 ticket includes valet parking, entry ticket to Golden
Gate Fields, entry to the Director’s Suite at the Turf Club, racing
program, and our very special Director’s Brunch Buffet. Children
aged 4-17 are welcome with attentive parents at a reduced cost
of $20 each. The Turf Club dress code requests “smart casual”
dress and does not allow shorts. The reservation deadline has
been extended to October 14. Past that date, additional tickets
may be available at an increased cost - but there’s no guarantee
of ticket availability after October 14 so get your reservation in
today! If you have any questions, please contact Eva Gordon
at eva@well.com or by phone at (650) 834-2614.
5
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6
THE SPORT OF KINGS: DAY AT THE RACES 2010 HOLIDAY PARTY
Saturday, November 6, 2010 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2010
RESERVATION FORM RESERVATION FORM
Name: Name:
Address: Address:
City/Zip: City/Zip:
Phone: Phone:
Email: E-mail:
First Event: Y N First Event: Y N
____ adults @ $55 ea. = $______ persons @ $52 ea. = $__________
____ children ages 4-17 @ $20 ea. = $______
Total Enclosed: $______ Total Enclosed: $_________
Make checks payable to SFBA/MBCA and mail to: Please list your guests names:
Ann Bornstein
61 Devon Court
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-0782, annstitcher@charter.net
Reservation deadline October 14 or when limit is reached. Make check payable to SFBA/MBCA and send to:
For confirmation, enclose a SASE or email address above.
Confirmation will be sent upon receipt of registration. Robert E. Schilling
1969 Palo Alto Way
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Reservation deadline is November 24th. Confirmations will
be sent to the e-mail address you provide. Please include
OKTOBERFEST a SASE and a telephone number if you do not have an
Saturday, October 23, 2010 e-mail address.
RESERVATION FORM
Name:
Address:
City/Zip:
Phone:
Email:
E-NEWSLETTER UPDATE
First Event: Y N
All members with email addresses in the national
____ adults @ $33 ea. = $______ MBCA membership database will automatically
____ children ages 4-16 @ $20 ea. = $______ receive the e-newsletter. Members with no email
Total Enclosed: $_______ addresses will continue to receive the printed and
mailed newsletter. If you want to be sure that the
Make checks payable to SFBA/MBCA and mail to: MBCA National Business Office has your current
email address, contact Renee Herbert at (800) 637-
Ann Bornstein 2360. If you want to continue receiving the printed
61 Devon Court and mailed newsletter, you need to opt-out of the
Watsonville, CA 95076 electronic version by contacting Laura Simonds,
(831) 786-0782, annstitcher@charter.net editor, at (650) 592-7613 or simondsl@pacbell.net.
Reservation deadline October 13 or when limit is reached.
For confirmation, enclose a SASE or email address above.
Confirmation will be sent upon receipt of registration.
7
VOL. 48 NO. 10 • SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA SECTION • OCT 2010
MAILING ADDRESS: 2909 BRITTAN AVE. • SAN CARLOS, CA 94070
Please send any address
changes directly to MBCA at
1907 Lelaray Street, Colorado
Springs, CO 80909, or call
1-800-637-2360. We cannot
process address changes
locally.
LEGENDS OF THE AUTOBAHN