Anyone going to EuroTuner Fest This Weekend?

Guido, Mark Stetson, Daesun, Craig?

We'll be there w/ my buddies CLK55! Hope to see ya there!

Best regards
-fad

Sounds interesting. Do you have any more info about the event? Will you be attending both days?

__________________
1994 E500

I'll be there both days and more info is at EuroTunerfest.com

or willowsprings.com (I believe)

>Euro Tuner Car Show
>High Performance Driving School- w/ track time
>Hot Laps around Willow Springs
>Time Trials
>TCRA Racing

Bring your MB's! Last year had MB,Porsche,BMW,VW, and other hot tuned euro vehicles etc. etc. Kleeman was there last year and Michelin one of the sponsors this year.

hope many of our S Cal members can make it and we'll hook up!
-fad

You California folks get all the 'good' shows...

-fad, is your friends CLK55 Kleemannized?

I'm going to be in the Midwest for my mom's 91st birthday. D***! I really would have liked to have gone. I need some driving instruction. It has been 20+ years since I owned anything like my 500E ( a 62 GT/E Ferrari), and my high-speed driving skills are rusty.
Fad, have a great time!
Tom

HI Tom and El Presidente- thanks for the responses.

El P: the CLK isn't Kleeman'ized to my knowledge....but I've driven it (lowered w/ H&R's and 1 bump pads)>>>> and it's a very strong example of a CLK55 no doubt. In fact, it takes real skills and disclipline not to get into trouble with it!

Tom- happy B-day to your mom wishing many happy returns...it would have been specacular if you could make it- - especially since the High Perf Driving School is only $275USD! (a total bargain compared to any other out there- - with 2 days of instruction w/ track time!)

Hope to see/ meet a few fellow mercedesshop people there! I'll stop by introduce myself to as many MB'rs as I can!

best regards!
-fad

PS- Daesun, come out to Willow Springs and we can do a couple of hot laps in your E500...only $10 per 20 minute session and no racing/track experience is required!!!! I'll gladly ride shotgun and provide a few pointers for enjoying the Willow track.

Have a great time

California is just too far for a long weekend from my area. But, I am tempted at hitting the Texas Shindig in November. It would be a fun road trip from Georgia to Texas and back....(grins)....like 'Smokey and The Bandit"

-fad, any tips on avoiding speeding tickets on an interstate run? I recall reading some threads on benzsport about a recent run from No. Cal to So. Cal with several MB's in tow...and 'breaking in' the new V1 at the same time

Steve

HI Steve- no problemo- - gots lots of tips on avoiding the law enforcement types on the open highways...yes did a totally mad CannonBall Run from N Cal to S Cal last June and was successful in avoiding any violations/ accidents/ fatalities/ incidents

It takes lots of energy, concentration, and skills to keep these in mind and employ these techniques in harmony, simultaneously:

>prior to: pull up the speed trap websites and research for know speedtraps- - needless to say the research info must be employed when on the road...

>ask the mercedssshop/ car club locals on line or here for more speedtrap current/ special speed enforcement programs that they are aware of in their area to give ya a head's-up (post routing/ freeway IDs and ~times you'll be blasting through)

>look into the highway patrol/ state police web-sites to obtain info on current speed/ traffic enforcement campaigns in the areas you will be touching/ you can also usually view the latest details on tickets/ violations issued

>log into the state website to discover any highway/freeway construction projects touching your route- - chances are that there will reduced speed in these areas and have speed enforcement (including the weekends)

>know if there are any race tracks around the areas where you will route your trip,,, speed/ traffic enforcment will definitely be monitoring freeway highway posted limits and reckless drivers

>V1- or some type of radar locator and pay attention to all signals- - closely check out everywhere when the beeps start alerting you

>every 4 seconds you should be glancing at your rear view mirror and ID'ing vehicles to ensure non are police/sheriff/marshall/highway patrol/ law enforcement

>be aware of all enforcement vehciles types: Camaros, Mustang, Crow Vics, etc.- - and look for them (each 4 secs in the rear view mirror and constantly through the front windshield)

>look up each freeway on ramp for cruisers waiting to shoot radar and swoop on to the freeway and shut you down like a mouse to a hawk

>look to the freeway medians also- - they often park there and shoot radar- - then radio ahead to have you pulled over, the radar car will come up and issue the ticket/ violation

>look out for motorcycle enforcement

>make sure you don't pass an enforcment vehicle hiding behind a semi/ 16 wheel rig/ big road sign

>try not to weave around the highway or imploy a jerky style of lane changes- - easy to spot speeder of this type from behind or afront

>try not to be the lead car of a fast running group, let a "rabbit" lead and flush out enforcement (I usually follow about 10-15 seconds behind to allow sufficient coast time to scrub off speed...somethimes its wiser to position last in a carvan)

>visually check out every on-ramp and over-pass- enforcement can estimate speed from opposite an over-pass and then radio ahead to bring you down....observation from opposite areas of over-passes are tough to check out when you're in the thick of it

>be aware of enforcement areas with planes that will radio down to awaiting cruisers...when driving look to the sky too for enforcment

>access the areas while you are driving- - if there are too many blind spots / hiding places for the fuzz that you are not able to visually check out. . .slow down...you'll likely be speeding in spurts vs. keeping the pedal down all the time...although this uses more fuel- - it reduces the risk of being shut down due to the blind spots

>you may wish to tune into an AM traffic station for addl info or have a CB/ police band radio to listen into possible enforcment presence on your route

>try to keep the stereo/ passenger distractions to NIL if possible- - you will need all the concentration you can muster over an extended period of time to keep track of all the techniques/ info/ data/ incoming radar bleeps/ car gauges/ other traffic/ sky patrols, etc. etc. etc.

>ensure you have adequate rest and some food and drink in the car to keep you stimulated (avoid eating and drinking during high speed runs- too distracting)

>ensure your vehicle is 110% tech ready if you're going to speed (you may need the best chance to runnnnnnn away from an oncoming cruiser- not really recc'd but I know folks that do so reguarly w/ success)

>dress comfortable and keep the temp at a bit lesser range- - not too comfortable in order to keep you alert

>remove any and all obstructions from the car's windows

>if you're speeding at night, in certain areas it pays off to pay extra special attention to the left and right shoulders of the freeway- - for animals! they are drawn to the moving headlights

>you'll need to get a eye-ball / review pattern set up in your head on scanning the highest/ most likely enforcment area while you are driving....you may be able to set up a pattern in your head, but in changes as road conditions change as well

...there's lots more that can be done to reduce the risks in high speed driving (including taking a high perf driving course), and I'm sure we'll get more posts to help...but these have kept me safe and un-ticketed for quite a while...

good luck and best regards- - I do not condone reckless high speed operation of a vehicle under any circumstances- - for those whom lack appropriate skills and appropraite sound decision making- - -develop your skills on the track properly and keep us all safe (safer)

-fad

That is a mighty tempting offer. I've been dying to get on the track, even for a lead/follow session. My brakes are a little worn, do you think that will be a problem? Also, which session should I sign up for (or should I do all three)?

__________________
1994 E500

-fad,

I really appreciate the great information. Very detailed and good advice

I'm still 'learning' to use the V1 I got about a month ago. So far, my familiarity with it is limited to city use. I'm looking forward to trying it on a nice highway trip.

Thanks again!

Steve

No problemo Steve/

Daesun-

I'd suggest taking care of the brakes 1st- - have Guido or Southbay or an independent do pads if you can't do them yourself before the event...

heck, if you can't get them done, we can do some easy hot laps and if your brakes are at least 50%>>>it will be OK

if you pick up the parts: pads, official mb pad sticky stuff, and a can of high quality spray brake cleaner>>> I'll help ya do them at Willow Springs first thing in the morning...no problemo---remember to bring the tools needed too: mallet, couple of punches that will push the retaining pins out, or a couple of decent nails that will fit, a couple of straight edge screw drivers, and a couple of channel lock plyers and we're good to go>> probably take about an hour to do pads all around...no worries about working on the car since there is always folks track prepping the cars driven to the track before the event

if you re interested in doing the track school,,,definitely have your brakes taken care of before SAT! (no time once you're there! and TCRA-types will probably have to inspect the car before its on the track

if you want to do the car show, I'll help ya detail the car also- - just bring your products of choice...

for sure, sign up for a Nurinbriggggg session (cheap! for 20 minutes on the track)- that's the lead follow session, I'll be happy to ride shot gun and offer tips

the high perf driving school is well worth the $$$ too if you can get a helmut/ gloves/ and car ready!

let me know,
-fad