nov15newsletter

Welcome new members!

Inside this issue:

View From the Peak 2

2015 Holiday Party 3

Top-Down Drive 4

2016 Potluck Dinner 4

MHS Events 5

PPS Shirts 6

New MB F-1 Engine 6 Der Marktplatz 7

Click 7

P3 POI Update 8

Fall Rally Recap 8

Taos Wkend Recap 9

GLC Coupe 10

Russell Mattson

Newsletter of the PIKES PEAK SECTION

NOVEMBER 2015

‘ROUND THE BENZ

November Fun RunSaturday, 21 November 2015

9:00 a.m.The November monthly breakfast is on for Saturday, 21 November at the Egg & I Restaurant at Citadel Crossing. There is currently no organized “Fun Run” on the agenda. All that means is that after gather-ing for camaraderie and a hearty break-fast, we will decide, spur-of-the-moment-wise, where we want to drive.

Weather permit-ting, we could drive out east to collect Points of Inter-est (POIs) for our Paved Peaks and Passes passports. It could be a drive

to Tweed’s in Woodland Park to check out the latest and greatest holiday decora-tions. It could be a tour of local brew pubs. The possibilities are endless.

If you’ve got an idea for a fun run, please let Andrew know or just come to breakfast and pitch your idea. We’re up for anything - and you know, we sure like to drive our cars.

Do-It-Yourself Tech SessionSunday, 22 November 2015

10:00 a.m.The seasons, they are a-changing. Yes, the days are getting shorter and the leaves have started start falling. It won’t be long before the precipitation changes from rain to sleet. Time to start thinking about winter driving. Depressing, isn’t it?

Don’t despair, help is at hand for our self-starting members. Plan to attend the Fall Do-It-Yourself Tech Session at Mercedes-Benz of Colorado Springs, 933 Automotive Drive on Sunday, 22 November. You can check your battery, top off fluids, replace windshield wipers, change your oil, or do anything you can think of to get your Star car ready for

winter weather.

We’ll start off at 10:00 in the service bays. As usual, Dave Williamson will have his techs on hand to offer advice and lend a hand, if necessary. Call him at 719-575-7976 to reserve your bay and lift. Cost is only $10. Your Star car will thank you!

Sign up for the Holiday Party today!

Elbert POITweed’s at Christmas

View From the Peak by Andrew NelsonSection OfficersPresident:Andrew [email protected]

Vice President:Judy [email protected]

Secretary:Mary [email protected]

Treasurer:Julie [email protected]

Directors:Stan [email protected]

Glenn [email protected]

Dan [email protected]

Henry [email protected] Sylvia [email protected]

Ken [email protected]

Dave [email protected]

Webmaster:Robert [email protected]

Editor:Judy [email protected]

Regional Director:Charlie [email protected]

‘Round the BENZ is published monthly by the Pikes Peak Section of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America (MBCA), Inc. Articles and ideas are the opinions of the writers and no authentication is implied as to the validity of any infor-mation contained therein. Explicit permission to republish any article with proper attribution is given to all sections of MBCA, Inc. Articles for publication consideration should be mailed to Pikes Peak Section, MBCA, Attn: Editor, 4335 Penhurst Place, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 or, whenever possible, emailed to: [email protected]. Deadline for receipt is the 18th of the month prior to the month of issue.

Pikes Peak Section members are encouraged to support the advertisers in our newsletter. They help to make this publication possible.

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Many thanks to Dave and Ligia Car-penter for planning last month’s “Enchanted Weekend” Rocky Mountain Regional event trip to Taos, NM.

From the scenic drive down to Taos, to the accommodations at the historic La Fonda de Taos Hotel on the plaza, it was a truly enchanting experience. The exceptionally scenic 83-mile drive on the Enchanted Circle Byway, with rally ques-tions along the way, ended at the award-winning Black Mesa Winery for a tour and exclusive wine tasting. Dave and Ligia did a great job putting this together and we appreciate all their hard work.

This month we’re headed back to the road again, weather permitting, for a “fun run” after our monthly breakfast on Saturday, 21 November. This drive will harken back to the origins of the fun run - spontaneous, unplanned, just-get-out-and-drive type of event. Come out to The Egg & I for breakfast and find out where we’re headed.

Now that fall is upon us, it’s time to think about winter and getting your star car ready for the El Niño effect and the heavy snowfalls that could potentially accompany it. If you need to do any servicing and you are a “hands-on” driver, please join us at 10:00 on Sun-day, November 22 at Mercedes-Benz of Colorado Springs for our Fall DIY Tech

Session. The cost is only $10 to reserve a bay and a lift, so please RSVP to Dave Williamson.

With December right around the corner, it isn’t too soon to start thinking about our Section’s annual Holiday Party. It will be held again this year at the El Paso Club in Colorado Springs. Reservations are going fast, so please fill out the reserva-tion form on page 3 and mail it in for this gala December 13 event.

It has been my privilege to serve as the president of the Pikes Peak Section for the last several years. I was honored again to be re-elected for another term at last month’s section elections. We still have an opening on the board of direc-tors. If you would be interested in serving on the board, please join us on Tuesday, 3 November at 6:00 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz of Colorado Springs. Our No-vember meeting is our annual planning session for 2016 events. If you would like to have a say in the direction of the Sec-tion and have some fun ideas for 2016 events, we’d love to see you there.

A quick update on Formula 1 results. Last month was the United States Grand Prix and Mercedes was back to its win-ning ways after rain-delayed qualifying in Austin, TX. Team Mercedes has won 13 of the 16 races to date and Hamilton and Rosberg finished this race 1 - 2 for the 7th time, demonstrating once again the dominance of the Mercedes AMG racing team. Congratulations to Hamilton for clinching his third driver’s championship!

As always, drive safe, and I will see you down the road.

Andrew

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Save the date! Sun-day, December 13 is when we kick off the holiday season in style with our annual Holiday Party at the El Paso Club in Colorado Springs. We’re hard at work to make this a memorable evening for our members.

As has become our custom, the evening will be a nostalgic nod to the elegance of the past when guys and dolls dressed “to the nines” and enjoyed an evening of conversa-tion, dining, and fun. So go dig out your cum-merbunds and bow ties and your sparkly jack-ets and heels. It’s time to dress up, people!

We’ve changed up the menu a little this year - after 5 years, it was time, right? The entree choices are now prime rib, filet with grilled shrimp, or chicken cordon bleu. There is also a vegetarian option available upon request.

Dessert options include cherry cobbler, devilish chocolate cake, or eggnog bread pudding, all with ice cream. The cost is still

a very reasonable $59 per person.

Fill out the reservation form, located below, and send it in today - seating is limited. Or you can give Judy Bennett a call at 719-576-9737 to get on the guest list.

2015 Holiday Party - 13 December 2015

“...a nostalgic

nod to the

elegance of the

past.”

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“...expectations

of a gustatory

extravaganza.”

“...it’s time for

the Top Down

Lights Drive.”

Top-Down Lights Drive - 19 December 2015

The lights will be bright on the night of 19 December (we hope!) - that’s the night when we gather to put our tops down and turn up our heaters. Bundle up, Pikes Peak Section, because it’s time for the Top Down Lights Drive. We’re still figur-ing out the logistics like the route and the

starting and ending points. But those are mere details. The main event is the drive, and that will be great! Sign up and give us your phone number and email address and we’ll make sure you have all the details.

If you would like to attend, we ask you contribute a small dish - cookies or dessert or something more substan-tial, such as meatballs are always good. We will be charging $10 per car to cover the cost of beverages and other hospitality costs. To sign up, please call Steve or Barb Dierks at 719-593-9557 or email him at [email protected]

2016 Potluck Dinner - 31 January 2016

One of the highlights of our annual Sec-tion schedule of events is always our Pot-luck Dinner. This year, we’re holding it on Sunday, January 31, 2016. That’s the week before Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco. And it gives you plenty of time to attend both our Potluck and the game - we’re hoping, of course, that the Broncos will be one of the teams playing!

So, everyone, break out your favorite dishes to share. We will all bring hearty

appetites and expectations of a gustatory extravaganza! Main dishes such as casse-roles and crockpots, salads, and desserts are on the list of things to bring.

Give Dave Williamson a call at 575-7976 to let him know you are coming and what you will be bringing. We’ll have a surprise raffle and we will be awarding our Paved Peaks & Passes traveling gnome, the Platinum Posterior Award, to some lucky traveler. Don’t miss this fun-filled evening.

The Best or Nothing!

Highlights from 2015

Good friends, good food Platinum Posterior Award winners Auctioneers Jaydn & Glenn

PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS!

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Steinway and MercedesDate: 1:00 p.m., 7 November 2015Location: 155 W. Hampden AveCost: $5.00 per personContact: Lou Rogers, 303-550-6543; [email protected]

Holiday PartyDate: 5 December 2015Location: Mt Vernon Country ClubCost: TBDContact: Max Townsend, 303-770-1128, [email protected]

Mile High Section EventsFor more information, visit the MHS website at http://www.milehighmbca.org

Top-Down Lights Drive - 19 December 2015

2016 Potluck Dinner - 31 January 2016

2016 Schedule - TBA

STAY TUNED!

Tne 2016 planning meeting for the Pikes Peak Section will be held on Tuesday, 3 November, 6:00 p.m., at Mercedes-Benz of Colorado Springs. We’re actively searching

for new events to put on our calendar, so if you’ve got an idea for a drive, please plan to attend the meeting.

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Pikes Peak Section ShirtsTime to show your MBCA spirit, Pikes Peak Section. We’ve found some new shirts that look spectacular - light blue for the ladies and darker blue for the gents.

Your choice of cotton pique or polyester. For more details, please contact Judy Ben-nett at [email protected] or 719-576-9737. The order form is below.

AMG turbocharged 4-cylinder engine

F-1 Engine for AMGMercedes-AMG has just upgraded the turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in its compact cars to deliver 375 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, but for further upgrades the official Mercedes tuner will turn to an all-new engine—one developed

by the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One team.

Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers said the current engine had reached its limit and that for a replacement, Mercedes-AMG will turn to the F1

team, specifically the Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains division respon-sible for the power units used by several teams this season.

Mercedes-AMG is reportedly turning to the

F1 team because of its experience with small, lightweight, high-output engines and the sophisticated energy recovery systems being used this season. It’s not clear what form of technology transfer will happen but one possibility that can be ruled out is an electric-aided turbocharger, where an electric motor is used to spool the turbo at low revs.

Moers explained that the technology, often referred to as E-Boost, would require an up-graded electrical system and extra batteries and may not make much financial sense at present. As previously reported, Mercedes-AMG already uses E-Boost technology in motorsport but will only add it to its fleet of road cars if the customer can afford it.

In his interview with Motoring, Moers also revealed that Mercedes-AMG had ruled out diesel engines and another all-electric car (the first was the SLS AMG Electric Drive) due to a lack of demand. Instead, he sees hybrid power as being the next frontier for the Affalterbach-based squad.

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Der MarktplatzE350 Michelin X-ICE Studless Winter Tires 245/40R 18. Set of 4; purchased new last winter and used for less than 1k miles. Tread depth is 10/32d

(New is 10.5/32). The E350 is going to Arizona and will not need winter tires. New was over $800, will sell for $400. Call Bob Lyle 719 209-8207

Wanted. C36 or C43 sedan. 300SEL 6.3 sedan. Call Pete at 719-599-7100 or email [email protected]

Running Board Trade. I have a 2012 ML 350 that needs running boards. I’m looking for someone with a 3rd generation ML who has running boards but re-ally wants rocker panel covers. Let’s trade. It’s not a

hard job to do and we’ll each save over $1000. Contact Dave Carpenter at 719-532-0257 or [email protected]

Roof Box Cargo Carrier. Price reduced! $300 cash only or make an offer. Con-tact John or Hilda at 548-8322 or [email protected]

2000 SL-500 hardtop (black and perfect) with storage stand for $1,000. Plus I’m interested in purchasing a ‘04/’05 SL-500, Black on Black or Black on Gray, the usual stuff - perfect and low mileage for around $20,000 - $25,000. Call Rick Palmer 597-5241.

Mercedes CD Changer – 6 disk, $80, 002 820 5989, with frame-holder and velcro cover. Call Har-vey at 331-1212.

This just in from the latest edition of the MBCA e-newsletter, Click, a quick wrap-up of news, discounts & special events:

2015 National Board Meeting. Saturday November 14th, 2015. The MBCA 2015 National Board Meeting will take place in Burlington, MA at the Boston Burlington Marriott Hotel. Committee meetings will be held on Friday November 13th. Members are welcome to attend.

Announcing StarFest® 2016! Wednesday Au-gust 3rd- Saturday August 6th, 2016. The Minute-man Section invites you to New England for 2016 StarFest®! StarFest® 2016 will take place in Con-necticut’s “Quiet Corner” with lush Green Valleys

and picturesque Hilltop Farms, it’s also know as the Antique Capital of Connecticut. From the seashore near the host hotel, to the lush greenery near the host track, the two linked by a short trip on I-395. Spectacular scenery and iconic New England towns await your discovery. Registra-tion for StarFest® is open now. For more information, visit MBCA.org.

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Phase II of our Paved Peaks & Passes driving program will soon come to a close for the year as winter weather is on its way. However, our teams are still making progress with their passports, as fall brings some beautiful driving weather.

Our teams have fanned out across south-ern Colorado in search of the elusive, but interesting, points of interest. So far, we’ve bagged 319 points - and we’ve got 6 teams

eligible for their POI patch, with 2 more closing in on that magic “40.”

Folks have had a great time driving this summer and are actually vying for the Plati-num Posterior Award.

We’re having a blast and would love for you to join the drive. Please contact Judy Ben-nett at [email protected], or give her a call at 719-576-9737.

La Veta Pass - LeCatoPinon - KerbsRaton Pass - LeCato

Fall Rally Recap

The Pikes Peak Section’s Fall Rally was a rousing success on Saturday, 17 Octo-ber. It was a beautiful sunny day for a drive on twisty mountain roads. Sixteen Section members gathered for breakfast before heading out on one of our president’s most imaginative and challenging rallies yet.

We tooled around downtown looking for “fall” clues; we visited the Firefighters Memorial and said hello to Humpty Dumpty while trying to avoid the Waldo Waldo runners. Next it was on to Old Colorado City where we discovered Eve’s Revolution and Nikolai Tesla, ending up at the Manitou POI. We visited Chipeta Park

and Green Mountain Falls, before head-ing up Hwy 24 and Hwy 67 to Deckers. A little ways up Hwy 285, we turned onto Pleasant Park Road for a trip down a newly discovered byway. We saw a fallen cabin, the Boehner tanning salon, and Delilah’s target namesake. Finally we wended our way back home, com-pleting our exhilarating day with some Southern Hospitality.

Rally winners were Tom Croak and Joyce Blutt. Judy and Charlie Bennett came in second, and third place went to Clark and Karen Absher (rallyers eggstraordinaire!). Finally, Mary and Stan Bixler came in fourth. Rallymeisters Andrew and Julie Nelson pulled off their usual tour de force, ensuring that everyone had a great day on the road.

Paved Peaks & Passes, Phase II

Rallymeisters Andrew & Julie

Karen & Clark Absher Mary & Stan Bixler

Lunch @ Southern Hospitality

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Enchanted Weekend Recap On 9-11 October, the Pikes Peak Section took 36 friends, new and old, to Taos, NM for a beautiful weekend of driving, sightsee-ing, shopping, and wine tasting. The week-end showcased typical Mercedes weather with gorgeous blue New Mexico skies and cool fall temperatures - perfect for a driving get-away.

This was a much-needed opportunity for many to enjoy fall colors on the Enchanted Circle scenic byway. We caravanned down to Taos, enjoying lunch at Val’s Place (high-ly recommend) in Manassa, CO, home of the Manassa Mauler, Jack Dempsey.

Upon arriving at our hotel, the historic and quirky La Fonda de Taos, we relaxed and regrouped for a hospitality evening that only the Pikes Peak Section can provide, followed by a Mexican dinner (what else?)at Bella’s.

The following day, with maps and directions

in hand, we set out individually to discover the sights of the Enchanted Circle, ending up at the Black Mesa Winery in Velarde, NM. We circled Wheeler Peak, the highest point in NM, and spent time at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Museum in Angel Fire. We saw big horn sheep, horses, and beautiful fall colors on our byway journey.

From there it was back to the Taos Plaza and dinner at The Gorge before re-mingling again at the hotel and discovering the win-ners of the Enchanted Circle Rally - Henry & Sylvia Russell placed 3rd, Steve & Barb Dierks came in 2nd, and Tom Croak & Joyce Blutt were the winners.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and we thank our hosts and organizers, Dave and Ligia Carpenter, for a job very well done. Check out all the pictures on Face-book at “MBCA Pikes Peak Section.”

Cars at the Black Mesa

Our group in ManassaTour at the Black Mesa Winery

Learning about the grapes-

Our hosts Ligia & Dave

“...weekend

of driving,

sightseeing,

shopping &

wine tasting.”

Tasting at the winery

At the Vietnam Memorial

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Mercedes was the first carmaker to coupe all things. It turned the E-Class sedan into the CLS--something they call a four-door coupe, confusing as that might sound. But when it came to SUVs, Mer-cedes was beaten to the punch by BMW. And maybe that was a good thing, because for every coupe-like SUV BMW sold, there were failures.

Now, Mercedes-Benz is trying to claim some of that coupe-y, off-road turf with its own slope-roofed SUV. Does the new 2016 GLE Coupe do pretty--and do off-road--better than the BMW X6?

Let’s start with the obvious--the whole “coupe” thing is marketing speak for a better-looking SUV. The GLE Coupe has four real doors--five if you count the hatch-

back. But it also has a rakish profile with a fast-back rear, that wears its new body bet-ter than the X6. There’s body clad-ding to imply

off-road capability, too, but let’s face it, the chances of this machine hitting the Rubi-con are pretty low.

Inside, the GLE Coupe will feel familiar if you’ve been in the most recent GLE, which is the renamed, updated M-Class. There’s a freestanding infotainment screen here and Mercedes’ COMAND infotainment controller. The mix of old and new can feel a little cobbled together: the GLE Coupe doesn’t get the round vents or upgraded climate controls that other new Mercedes vehicles have adopted.

Front seat space is fine, but it’s the rear seat we should talk about. It’s a mixed bag. It’s easy to step into, and leg room is fine, but six-footers, you’ll want to sit up front. The rear seats do fold down to provide a long, wide, and perfectly flat cargo floor.

Can you say ski weekend?

Under the hood buyers will have two engine options: the base engine is a twin-turbo V-6 rated at 362 horsepower. It’s connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Want more? There’s an AMG model with a twin-turbo V-8 pumping out 577 horsepower, connected to a seven-speed automatic transmission. No matter the engine, power is sent to all four wheels via Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel-drive sys-tem.

Stick to the pavement and the GLE Coupe does everything right. Combining an air suspension and an adjustable damper system was pure genius. Nice work, Mer-cedes. The setup works flawlessly, and the driving modes such as Individual, Comfort, Slippery, Sport, and Sport+ allows you to dial in the powertrain response, steering, and suspension how you like it.

All that said, there’s no way around mass. The GLEs feel portly, but, no more, truth-fully, than the X6. After playing with all the settings on some backroads and choppy surfaces, we like the Sport setting in terms of steering, it just feels more settled and comfortable.

The GLE Coupe hasn’t been crash tested yet, but, the M-Class on which it’s based has done well in the past. It also factors in lots of safety technology--everything from adaptive cruise control to attention assist, which lights a coffee cup on the dash when it senses you’re about to fall asleep. It’s like the thought balloon of our lives.

Priced from $61,500, the GLE Coupe comes well equipped with a power tail-gate, all-wheel drive, an air suspension, and Magic Vision Control, which is a really complicated windshield washer system that won’t splash the liquid, oh, and totally serious on the name Magic Vision Control.

So what’s the bottom line with the 2016 Mercedes GLE Coupe? Well, we think some well-off empty nesters are going to fall in love with GLE Coupe’s charms.

Mercedes GLC Coupe by Joel Feder

“...first

carmaker

to coupe all

things.”

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3 November 2015Board Meeting - 6:00 p.m.Andrew Nelson 719-634-7522

21 November 2015Monthly Breakfast & Fun Run - 9:00 a.m.Julie Nelson 719-634-7522

1 December 2015Board Meeting - 6:00 p.m.Andrew Nelson 719-634-7522

13 December 2015Holiday Party - 5:00 p.m.Judy Bennett 719-576-9737

19 December 2015Top-Down Lights Drive - 6:00 p.m.Steve Dierks 719-593-9557

5 January 2016Board Meeting - 6:00 p.m.Andrew Nelson 719-634-7522

16 January 2016Monthly Breakfast & Fun Run - 9:00 a.m.Andrew Nelson 719-634-7522

31 January 2016Annual Pot Luck Dinner - 6:00 p.m.Dave Williamson 719-575-7976

Calendar of Upcoming Events

The Pikes Peak Section Board of Directors meets 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.

Return Service Requested

On the Web at www.mbca.org/pikes_

peak/

To:

‘ROUND THE BENZ

‘Round the BenzEditor

4335 Penhurst Place

Colorado Springs, CO 80906

MBCA Pikes Peak Section

Happy Thanksgiving

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