June - July 2015

In this issue:

Feature Articles

June Sunday Drive 1Spaßnacht Dates 5DD/AX This August 13Calendar 16

Columns

Miscellaneous Rants, Raves and

Ramblings“LIKE” us on Facebook 2QR Code to Receive Email 3Save $500 5Officers and Board 5Gemutlichkeit 6StarTech 2015 9New Members 13How to Join MBCA 13NTB Tire Discount 14Tire Rack Rebate 14Logo Shop 14Uplift 14

Coming Up June - September

President’s Message 2

May Sunday Drive 1Helmets Needed 2Important Dates 2April Monthly Breakfast Mtg. 3May First Saturday Breakfast 8KCAM Display 12

May Sunday DriveOur most recent Sunday drive took place on May 3rd, and our drive took us to the KU campus in Lawrence where we were able to tour the Hill Engineering Research and Development Center. One of our members, Ron Hill, has chosen to share his personal success with the college and has funded the center where engineering students can go and work hands on with proj-ects using various types of eco friendly technology. “We never had anything like this when I was a student.” Ron told us. Our guide, Dr. Chris Depcik, who is responsible for the center told us all about the facility, and the projects that the students are working on.

The building was designed by students in the architecture program at KU in Studio 804. The building was built with recycled materi-als including aircraft aluminum sourced from manufacturers in Wichita. The glass walls on the first floor can be covered with panels filled with Areo-gel, a very lightweight insulation material.

Continued on Page 3Dr. Chris Depcik addresses the group inside the center.

June Sunday Drive – Special TimeOn Sunday June 7th, we will be taking a special drive to Clinton, MO to visit the Buck Harness auto collection followed by a catered lunch at the Henry County Museum. After lunch we will tour the Hover Motor Company collection. You don’t want to miss this special trip! We will be meeting at our usual departure point, the US Bank on 119th St. just west of Roe St. Plan on departing at 8:30am. A chicken Parmesan lunch will be served at the museum in Clinton, for $17 per person. Please RSVP to Kevin Arburn at 913-579-6318 or karburn@everestkc.net.

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Monthly, Third Monday6:30 PM

President’s Messageby Kevin Arburn

Kevin Arburn, President Mercedes-Benz Club of America | Kansas City Section

Kevin Arburn, President

https://www.facebook.com/kcmbca

Helmets Needed For DD/AXDo you have an old motorcycle or automotive helmet you are no longer using? Consider donating it to the club for use during our Defensive Driving / Autocross event. Hel-mets of all sizes are needed. Thank you!

Important Dates for 2015Mark your calendars for these events in 2015:

Sunday July 12th - Art of the Machine Display at River Market

Saturday August 8th - DD/AX Regional Event

Sunday September 6th - Smith Rallye and picnic

NEW DATE: Sunday, October 18th - Oktoberfest Concours - NEW LOCATION at Rosana Square!

More details to follow soon.

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SUMMER. The word itself conjures up comforting images of things to do in the great outdoors; to spend time doing all those things that cannot be done during the winter or the “April Showers” of early spring. Aside from the more mundane chores of yardwork and household projects, a lot of us really look forward to taking out the family Benz to enjoy the simple plea-sures of motoring: blue skies, sun, and the open road…or even just short trips around town. Any excuse to get behind the wheel is a good one, and we plan to offer Kansas City Section members plenty this summer.

Starting June 7th our first Sunday drive will be to Clinton, Missouri to a very special destination. Details will follow in our email blasts, but this one will involve an early start, so mark your calendars now. June 15th will

be Spassnacht at RC’s in Martin City. June 12th is StarTech in Cincinnati. June 28th is Art of the Car. We’re trying to plan a Sunday drive for July 5th, but July 12th is definitely Mercedes-Benz day for the Art of the Machine at City Market. August 8th is the biggie: Defensive Driving and Autocross at the MCC-Blue River Precision Driving Course in Independence, MO. But wait….there’s MORE: September 6th will be the annual Smith Rallye with a new twist: the super-secret destination will be a picnic for those members that register, with catered BBQ…that’s right…it’s on US!

There are many more events for 2015 – too many to list – so keep your eyes on Der Benz, www.kc-mbca.org and your inbox for our regular email notices of good things to come. So, here’s to a safe and enjoyable summer of motoring for all.

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April Monthly Breakfast MeetingOn April 4th we had a great turnout at the Paradise Diner in Overland Park for one of our favorite speakers and friend of the Kansas City Section. Captain Tim Gaughan, a veteran of the Kansas City Missouri Police Department joined us for breakfast and as usual, he had plenty to say. His tips on traffic safety were offered from both the viewpoint of the mo-torist and the officers that patrol the streets – an interesting counterpoint. Captain Gaughan has said this before, how-ever it bears repeating. It’s best to avoid a breakdown in the first place; however, do not stop on the side of the highway, do whatever you have to get your vehicle to the next exit. “When stopped on the highway, you are in as much danger as if you had walked into the middle of an armed robbery.” Tim cited several examples of fatal accidents in the Kansas City area that were a result of somone stopped on, or along-side a highway.

His comments about the state of the police force in Kansas City and crime prevention overall in the metro area were both candid and thought-provoking. Also as usual, Tim had

several amusing stories and anecdotes and it is always a treat to welcome him back each year.

Captain Tim Gaughan, and Rich Carlson

The roof features an array of solar panels that provide most of the building’s electrical needs. In 2013 the building was se-lected by Architect Magazine as one of the best projects of the year.

In addition to Ron and his wife Sue, over a dozen mem-bers attended the drive. After the tour was over the group went to the 23rd

May Sunday Drive, continued from Page 1

Ron Hill and Bob Del Popolo talk about the building.

Are you receiving our email?

For reminders of upcoming events and the most timely information on club activites make sure you’re on our list! Scan the QR code below. Or visit our website, www.kcmbca.org and look for the link on the left.

Continued on Page 7

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15% off service for MBCA members

SpaßnachtFind out more:

www.kcmbca.orgClick on “Club Info”

_________________

June 15, 2015

RC’s330 E 135th St.Kansas City, MO

_________________

July 20, 2015

Casa Agave1340 Village West Pkwy

Kansas City, KS_________________

August 17, 2015

Chappel’s323 Armour Rd.Kansas City, MO

_________________

September 21, 2015

Macaroni Grill9292 Metcalf Ave.Overland Park, KS

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2015 MBCA Kansas City Section Officers and Board Members

Officers PhoneE-mailKevin Arburn, President (913) 648-7675 kevin@kcmbca.orgIan Harns, Vice President (816) 812-9495 ian@kcmbca.orgMark Moody, Past President (913) 685-8573 mark@kcmbca.orgMark Moody, Secretary (913) 685-8573 mark@kcmbca.orgIan Harns, Treasurer (816) 812-9495 ian@kcmbca.org

Board of Directors Bob Del Popolo (913) 888-2617 bob.d@kcmbca.orgBob Poduch (913) 327-1632 bob.p@kcmbca.orgRich Carlson (913) 897-0260 rbmgr86@aol.comBob Smith (913) 268-8984 bob.s@kcmbca.orgJoyce Smith (913) 338-0766 Dudley Smith (913) 338-0766 Ian Harns (816) 812-9495 ian@kcmbca.orgJohn Ryan (913) 543-1252 grownup@kcmbca.org

NewsletterEditorMark Moody (913) 685-8573 newsletter@kcmbca.orgWebmeister-Administrator John Ryan (913) 268-1252 grownup@kcmbca.orgMembership Director Bob Del Popolo (913) 888-2617 membership@kcmbca.orgMidwest Regional DirectorJohn Ryan (913) 543-1252 grownup@kcmbca.org

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Page 6 kcmbca.org

Pittsburgh

Race Complex

Hosted bythe Western Reserve Section

Fun activities for all:

Defensive Driving Class••

•••

Experience the full potential of your Mercedes-Benz! Take the MBCA defensive driving class and attend the Performance Driving School.Feel your pulse quicken as you participate in the autocross and driving experience at thePittsburgh International Race Complex

Show off your Mercedes-Benz in the Concours d’Elegance! Every class of Mercedes-Benz is welcome from Show to Display.

Sign Up For information and registration package,

call Sue or John Morrison at 330-673-7885or email gobenzing@aol.com. Or register online at www.benzclub.org.

Hotel Headquarters

Cranberry Township, PA 16066

What is Gemütlichkeit?Gemütlichkeit is the oldest Mercedes-Benz

social events, a judged car show, non-judgeddisplay show, driver education events, and thechance to experience driving on the combined

Race sports car course. Beginners welcome.Instruction and coaching will be providedfor all events.

Join us for the oldest MBCA national event!

For information and registration package, call Sue or John Morrison at 330-673-7885 or email gobenzing@aol.com. www.benzclub.org

Hosted by theWestern ReserveSection

Enjoy the friendship, camaraderie and hospitality ofthe Western Reserve Section. This is a great eventfor everyone from the novice to the expert driver.

MBCA

International

Gemütlichkeit:“The spirit of friendship and camaraderie.”

August 19-22, 2015Fun Activities for All

• Event Registration Noon to 5:00 pm

Thursday August 20th• Event Registration

• Defensive Driving

• Driving experience at Pittsburgh International Race Complex

Friday August 21st

Saturday August 22nd

Sunday August 23rd• Hotel Checkout

• Final Awards Banquet

Wednesday August 19th

• Mandatory Drivers Meeting 5:00 pm• Welcome Reception 7:00 pm

• Concours d’ Elegance

• Autocross

• Activities for non-driving registrants

• Driving experience at Pittsburgh International Race Complex

• Activities for non-driving registrants

• No Event Activities

Autocross Track driving experience at Pittsburgh

International Race Complex Concours d’Elegance Activities/Tours for non-driving registrants Awards Banquet

Welcome Reception

Pittsburgh Marriott North

(formerly BeaveRun) 3-mile sports car course.

Club of America National Event. It features

• Event Registration

• Event Registration

North and newly built South track of the Pitt

100 Cranberry Woods Drive

724-772-3700

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Butler’s C & D Body Shop

5747 KesslerMerriam, Kansas 66203

Tel: (913) 262-9109Fax: (913 262-2828

Web: www.butlerbody.com

Dr. Chris Depcik and the group inside the main work room.

Dr. Chris Depcik talks about a lightweight Diesel hybrid frame the students use in their work.

Solar panels (and lightning rods) cover the roof of the building.

A project students did that converted this VW Beetle to electric drive.

Dr. Depcik shows the group around the outside workshop, which includes a welding table, and elements of a bio desiel production.

Street Brewery to enjoy a late lunch. We want to thank Ron for arranging the tour and for his generous contribution to the Engineering program. Also much thanks to Chris, who took time out from grading finals to be with us on a Sunday afternoon.

May Sunday Drive, continued from Page 3

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May First Saturday BreakfastOur First Saturday Breakfast in May was dedicated to our members, to have more time to socialize and catch up with each other. With no scheduled speaker, members were able to enjoy breakfast and chat with each other. There was a good turnout on Saturday morning and it was great to talk with so

many of you. This also provided the opportunity for members to speak to board members about what activities they would like to see from the club. The First Saturday Breakfast is always followed by the monthly board meeting, where the officers do the work needed to plan the events all our members enjoy. The board meeting is open to all members, and the board would encourage anyone who is interested to stay and attend the board meeting.

Joyce and Dudley Smith, Kent and Peggy Bevan, Joe Weinrich and others share the round table.

President Kevin Arburn welcomes everyone and makes a few announcements.

Balian Harns spends some time hanging out with his dad, Ian Harns (above). Tom Lawrence, Bob Del Popolo and Larry Ebner share a table (right).

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Immerse yourself in the latest technical information, insightsand advice delivered by leading Mercedes-Benz experts.

Share your passion and connect with other Mercedes-Benzenthusiasts from around the world.

See more than 200 spectacular vehicles and experience theheritage of Mercedes-Benz, this year’s featured marque, atthe Ault Park Concours d’Elegance.

Explore and experience Cincinnati’s rich German history,including German-style breweries, architecture and theworld-famous Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.

This year’s host hotel is the DoubleTree by Hilton at the Cincinnati Airport.For more information, including event registration, hotel reservations anda link to join the online StarTech Facebook community, visit the website: http://startech2015.mbca.org

To request StarTech registration information via postal mail, please call David Hagood at 513-404-8183. More Than a Car Club. We’re a Community.sm

MBCA’s Premier 2015 Event June 12-14, 2015

This year’s speaker line-up is excellent!Get updates and register today at http://startech2015.mbca.org

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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...

Refinishing Straightening

Remanufacturing

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

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

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Club to Display Cars at Kansas City Automotive Museum

The Kansas City Automotive Museum located in Olathe, KS has invited our club to place a display of six to eight cars in their museum during the month of November this year. The board is looking for a selection of cars that best rep-resent the Mercedes-Benz brand and our club. If you have a car you would be willing to loan during November, please contact a board member and let them know. Your car does not have to be the perfect example of its class! We want to display a variety of cars, and share our enthusiasm for our cars with our community. If you haven’t been to the museum, check it out! They have a great display of cars which changes regularly and a lot of Kansas City automo-tive history.

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

Monthly,

Third Monday6:30 PM

Willkommen New Members !

What activities would you like to do with your Benz friends in 2015? Contact a board member and let

them know.

Matthew Boveri, Shawnee, KSWayne Defreece, Kansas City, MO

Charles Fisher, Lawrence, KSMichael Gawlak, Independence, MO

Arnold Parks, Jefferson City, MOMohammad Sajid, Baxter Springs, KS

Lance Stafford, Shawnee, KSMerrill Watt, Gladstone, MO

DefensiveDrivingandAutocrossEvent

Saturday August 8th, 2015

The Kansas City Section will once again host its annual Defensive Driving and Autocross (DD/AX) event at the Precision Driving Center, located at the Metropolitan Community College’s Blue River Campus in Independence, MO. This facility provides a large area dedicated to driving instruction, featuring a wet skid pad, a large tarmac and an urban road course. This is a regional event cosponsored by MBCA, and is open to all MBCA members in the region. However, you do not need to be a MBCA member to attend.

As in the past, this event will be free to attend for licensed drivers age 20 and under. While we do emphasize teaching young drivers these skills, everyone should consider attend-ing. Even if you have many years of driving experience, this is and opportunity to practice, in a safe controlled manner, those skills that could save a life in an emergency situation. So even if you’ve attended in the past, remember practice, practice, practice!

The day will be divided into a classroom session, followed by hands on driving on the course with a qualified instructor, and in the afternoon the autocross sessions. The autocross event is a timed course

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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.

MBCA|KC Logo ShopOur 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. 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.” Head over to our website, www.kcmbca.org and click on Logo Shop.

NTB National Tire & Battery is offering a discount for KCMBCA members. Offer is only available at the 119th & Metcalf store. The new contact name at the 7333 West 119th St. 66213 store is Corey Ross - Manager 913.338.5030. Mention account number 9136608439 and your club membership to the salesman/service writ-er.

NTB Offers Discount to KC-MBCA Members

of tight turns designed to test your abilities, it is NOT a race! All students who complete the course will receive a certificate. This certificate can be used to obtain a discount with many insurance companies. You are not required to participate in the autocross to receive your de-fensive driving certificate.

You will have the opportunity to purchase a catered lunch during the event, and a light continental breakfast and cof-fee will be served during registration at the start of the day. More details about start times, and cost will be published as the event gets closer. Be sure to check our website, www.kcmbca.org and our email list for more updates.

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15% off service for MBCA members

Breakfastisat9AMthefirstSaturdayof each month. Paradise Diner,

5501 W 135th St.Overland Park, Ks.

Smart phone users, scan this QR code to view our website instantly on your phone.

For the latest list of events,

visit our Web site at: www.kcmbca.org

What activities would you like to do with your Benz friends in 2015? Contact a board member and let them know.

Upcoming Breakfast SpeakersSpeakers are being lined up for upcoming breakfast meetings.

Check kcmbca.org for the latest information.

FIRST-CLASS MAILU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSHAWNEE MISSION, KS

PERMIT NO. 11319403 Hayes Dr.Overland Park, KS 66212

JuneJune 6 Breakfast Meeting 9:00am Paradise Diner, 5501 W 135th St. Overland Park, KS

Guest Speaker: Stonegate MotorplexJune 7 First Sunday Drive - Clinton, MO - See page 1 for special detailsJune 15 Spaßnacht 6:30pm RC’s 330 E 135th St. Kansas City, MO

JulyJuly 4 Breakfast Meeting 9:00am Paradise Diner, 5501 W 135th St. Overland Park, KS

Guest Speaker: Kevin Arburn, Motorsports PhotographyJuly 5 First Sunday Drive - TBAJuly 20 Spaßnacht 6:30pm Casa Agave, 1340 Village West Pkwy, Kansas City, KS

AugustAug 1 Breakfast Meeting 9:00am Paradise Diner, 5501 W 135th St. Overland Park, KS

Guest Speaker: Defensive Driving and Autocross OverviewAug 2 First Sunday Drive - Hillsdale BBQAug 8 Defensive Driving / Autocross eventAug 17 Spaßnacht 6:30pm - Chappel’s, 323 Armour Rd. Kansas City MO.

SeptemberSep 5 Breakfast Meeting 9:00am Paradise Diner, 5501 W 135th St. Overland Park, KS

Guest Speaker: TBASep 6 First Sunday Drive - Smith Rallye and PicnicSep 21 Spaßnacht 6:30pm - Macaroni Grill, 9292 Metcalf Ave. Overland Park, KS