Welcome to the Portland Section! From the Columbia River Gorge to the Oregon Coast, from Central and Southern Oregon, the Willamette Valley to Southwest Washington you’ll find our members making the most of their Mercedes-Benz automobiles. We encourage you to join us at an upcoming event!
Vice-President's Message
Rus has gone flyin'
Our section president Rus Eppler is on vacation, so this month it is the ’Vice President’s Message’. I want to take this opportunity to thank the section members who displayed their cars at the Forest Grove Concours on July 18th. Showing a car requires a huge time commitment, from cleaning and detailing the car, to arriving at Pacific University by 8AM and not leaving until 4:30PM. It’s a full weekend. In addition, the club display class is an opportunity for the Portland Section to recruit new members. We had several people approach us during the event who were interested in joining MBCA, and we gave away a trunk-load of Star magazines.
I want to thank the following Portland Section members who brought their cars out: Barry Corno, Bob Deming, Victor and Susan Wandtke, Ralph Inman, Jerry Sorenson, Ron Parker, Paul Hoge, Dr. Ben Brown, Lee and Heidi Musgrave, Mike Spicer, Ernie and Pat Brawley, Richard Gross, Ed and Viki Waite, Alan Ball, Dan Beard, and Mike and Pam Burback. Also, I thank Regional Director Stacy Rollins who brought Star Magazines and newsletters to pass out. Stacy joined me in my 250SL as we drove onto the Concours field on Sunday morning at 6:30AM. It is a real treat to see vintage cars gliding onto the greens at that hour.
If you were at the Concours you saw the incredible display of vintage and classic cars, including two very rare Mercedes-Benz. A 1937 540K Special Roadster was displayed by Portland Section member Jim Friswold, who recently completed the restoration. The Special Roadster is considered the ultimate 540K, with an awe-inspiring blend of size, performance and style. Only 26 540K Special Roadsters were built, making it one of the most sought-after collector cars today.
A 1908 Grand Prix Mercedes was displayed by Pat Gould for its owner George Wingard. This is the only surviving 1908 team car with original chassis, drivetrain and body panels. The racer has been featured at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK, the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, and took part in a recreation of the 1908 race in Dieppe, France. Pat enthusiastically shared stories about the car and answered questions throughout the day. It was a real treat to have this historic and important car as part of our club display class. In 2012, the Forest Grove Concours will honor Mercedes-Benz as its featured marque. We are already in the planning stages and hope to have a unique display. If you are interested in volunteering for the event, or know of any Mercedes classics we should invite, please contact me.
I encourage you to join the ‘Arrive and Drive’ to Montinore Estate Winery on August 21st. I participated in the Concours Vineyard and Lake tour, and Montinore was one of our destinations. The winery features tree-shaded grounds, a great tasting room, and plenty of space for a picnic. It’s a great destination for a drive and I hope to see you on August 21st. I know Greg Buechler has a interesting and scenic route planned, including a ferry crossing. Another cool event this month is the Seattle Show and Shine on Sunday Aug. 15th. The Seattle Section is inviting Portland Section members to a dinner on Saturday night. Contact Matthias Zacke for more information at (425) 868-3480.
Mike Spicer submitted an article in this newsletter about his favorite era of Mercedes-Benz, the cars of 1971. If you have seen Mike’s cars, you know he has a passion for the brand. Growing up his father had several Mercedes in the driveway, and those memories don't fade easily. Check out Mike’s article on page 10 of the newsletter!
I want to thank the following Portland Section members who brought their cars out: Barry Corno, Bob Deming, Victor and Susan Wandtke, Ralph Inman, Jerry Sorenson, Ron Parker, Paul Hoge, Dr. Ben Brown, Lee and Heidi Musgrave, Mike Spicer, Ernie and Pat Brawley, Richard Gross, Ed and Viki Waite, Alan Ball, Dan Beard, and Mike and Pam Burback. Also, I thank Regional Director Stacy Rollins who brought Star Magazines and newsletters to pass out. Stacy joined me in my 250SL as we drove onto the Concours field on Sunday morning at 6:30AM. It is a real treat to see vintage cars gliding onto the greens at that hour.
If you were at the Concours you saw the incredible display of vintage and classic cars, including two very rare Mercedes-Benz. A 1937 540K Special Roadster was displayed by Portland Section member Jim Friswold, who recently completed the restoration. The Special Roadster is considered the ultimate 540K, with an awe-inspiring blend of size, performance and style. Only 26 540K Special Roadsters were built, making it one of the most sought-after collector cars today.
A 1908 Grand Prix Mercedes was displayed by Pat Gould for its owner George Wingard. This is the only surviving 1908 team car with original chassis, drivetrain and body panels. The racer has been featured at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK, the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, and took part in a recreation of the 1908 race in Dieppe, France. Pat enthusiastically shared stories about the car and answered questions throughout the day. It was a real treat to have this historic and important car as part of our club display class. In 2012, the Forest Grove Concours will honor Mercedes-Benz as its featured marque. We are already in the planning stages and hope to have a unique display. If you are interested in volunteering for the event, or know of any Mercedes classics we should invite, please contact me.
I encourage you to join the ‘Arrive and Drive’ to Montinore Estate Winery on August 21st. I participated in the Concours Vineyard and Lake tour, and Montinore was one of our destinations. The winery features tree-shaded grounds, a great tasting room, and plenty of space for a picnic. It’s a great destination for a drive and I hope to see you on August 21st. I know Greg Buechler has a interesting and scenic route planned, including a ferry crossing. Another cool event this month is the Seattle Show and Shine on Sunday Aug. 15th. The Seattle Section is inviting Portland Section members to a dinner on Saturday night. Contact Matthias Zacke for more information at (425) 868-3480.
Mike Spicer submitted an article in this newsletter about his favorite era of Mercedes-Benz, the cars of 1971. If you have seen Mike’s cars, you know he has a passion for the brand. Growing up his father had several Mercedes in the driveway, and those memories don't fade easily. Check out Mike’s article on page 10 of the newsletter!
Allen Stephens
Vice-President
