Does this close-knit group ever discuss the prospect of holding some sort of gathering? Granted, there are many distant states (and countries) represented here, but an annual meeting seems in order, especially if it were held here in Texas. :) :)

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Matt
------
Grey/black '84 300D, 194K

Sounds good to me, I would even go for Texas since I'm in Louisiana. :) :) :) :) :) :)

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Keith Schuster
99 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic
97 Dodge Ram
83 300D
auto\hydraulic mechanic 20 yrs

I'm in and it doesn't even have to be in Texas, as long as it doesn't collide with something unmovable in my schedule.'

See ya then,
Larry

WE, the owners of MercedesShop, have discussed this. Any input is welcome.

Also, with the new shop being built, we WILL be inviting EVERYONE OFF OF THE FORUM to the GRAND OPENING!

------------------
Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
1991 GMC Syclone
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

Since this IS dealing with automotive, it seems fitting that it should be held in the MOTOR CITY i.e. Detroit. I should be able to provide accomodations for at least 2 members...er, Larry Delor you get one I guess. Well I can at least accomodate 1 other member - (Benzmac, my wife is a therapeutic masseuse for your ailing back!)

We can all go see a Tiger baseball game. The tickets will be dirt cheap since the Tigers Suck!

Just a thought.



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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

Frankie,

If that's what determines baseball ticket prices, the tickets will be cheaper in the Dallas area. The Texas Rangers are the best Minor League team in the Majors.

Donnie,

Isn't the shop opening in the Spring? If I can swing it, springtime would be a nice time for the Atlanta area. Atlanta would be the natural choice for a get together since we wouldn't have this great community if it weren't for Donnie, Bill and the great folks from Atlanta that have put this site together.

Everyone,

A few local chapter get together wouldn't be bad either.

Larry

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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

[This message has been edited by LarryBible (edited 08-10-2000).]

I could attend a Grand Opening in Atlanta.

I will be in Detroit for an automotive conference this year, but I always feel like I'm in a foreign country when in Detroit; all they drive are AM cars.

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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician

If anyone is around Baltimore, perhaps we could get together once a month for breakfast/tech-tips?

I would go for one on the east coast. Atlanta is only 8 hr drive, and we could meet in Gainsville and wagon train up to Atlanta.

Perhaps organize a series or more locally centralized meetings that tour/rally/caravan to the grand opening in ATL? Grand opening aside there is plenty of accomidations, activities/nightlife, etc in ATL for people to make a trip out of it. The rabids could even descend upon Road Atlanta, Atlanta Motor Speedway, and of course...Commerce Dragway.

Just an idea...Lee

I'm all up for the Atlanta location! Now with a 500E, I'll probably be a regular with benzmac keeping that thing in prime tune. The way I put on miles, it should be due for another major service by spring. We'll let (make) Donnie give us a demonstration of servicing a W124!

tv

Atlanta sounds great! It's only 8hrs away for me also!

I'll drive one and tow the other... Donnie and the gang can tune 'em both :D :D :D

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William
76 240D (W115) - 550K miles
78 300D (W123) - 200K+ miles

I'll be there at the Store :D Just give me a date ahead of time. Spring is looking good for a drive down on the 95. Never been to Atlanta but hey first time for everything.

yal
88 230E (W124)

Since Lee mentioned the dragway there, I have an idea. We could have a diesel Benz drag racing event. The concession stands would love us. The spectators could watch the cars "launch" then go to the concession stands, get their refreshments, then make it back to their seats before the end of the run <g>.

Is there a date set for the grand opening yet?

Have a great day,
Larry

Thanks, Larry, for one of the best laughs we (my wife and I) have had for weeks.

Sounds as if a "gathering" may become a reality.

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Ted
1979 240D
160,000 miles

Ted,

Is Meridian in the Northern part of Mississippi, if so, you could fall in with the Texas caravan when we come through on I20. You know you'll have to see us coming so you can pick up enough speed to fall in with us. We will not stop because of the ten minutes it'll take to get back up to highway speed.

See ya' then,
Larry

i think atlanta is a good place hey im between maitland andand gains ville there is always a way.

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Dan Younes
---------------
1985 euro 500sel 220k
1981 300sd 278k sold
1979 240d 298k sold
1983 300sd 272k sold
1989 chrysler 2.2l Turbo
Leabaron 130k
1989 Dodge Carvan Se 285k
1996 C220(hopefully soon)

Seems the concensus is for Atlanta. I'm up for that! Must put on new v-belts first...

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Matt
------
Grey/black '84 300D, 194K

I would drive to Atlanta for the opening if Donnie would check out my car before I drove back, but I imagine there will be a LOOOONG lineup waiting for his attention. Might just fly back for the occasion, though! Give us a date when you get close to the opening!
Makakio and Brian16v - I may be heading up to Gustine for the Portugese Festa and parade in September, and possibly to Cambell after that - any interest in meeting up? (I don't have a date yet, last minute planning as usual.

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JCE
87 300E, 65k miles
Smoke Silver

Larry,
Actually, I'm in Madison, a northeast suburb of Jackson. I-20 runs about 20 miles south of my home. Guess it would be appropriate to join a caravan of Texans since I am a native Texan. Sounds like a lot of fun.

Now if my car will just make it.........



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Ted
1979 240D
160,000 miles

Bill,

Do you suppose they photographed the car on flat ground and then tilted the picture? :D


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Ted
1979 240D
160,000 miles

Atlanta sounds great, just let us know a date. My wife and I need an excuse to haul the Harley and do some riding in north Georgia. Hey Lee can I order a trailer hitch from the parts shop for my 300D.

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Keith Schuster
99 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic
97 Dodge Ram
83 300D
auto\hydraulic mechanic 20 yrs

[This message has been edited by shoe (edited 08-10-2000).]

Donnie and I are shooting for a late March / early April grand opening for MB Autowerks. Spring in Atlanta should be nice.
It would really be GREAT to meet several of the Shop Forum members and give a tour of our new shop.
Right now we are in the land clearing and dirt moving phase. Everything takes longer and costs more than you ever dreamed!

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

Hotlanta in springtime! I can smell the pecans already! I'm all for it. Watchin' a Braves game is always better'n the Tigers.

Stevebfl, let me know when you'll be in the Detroit area next time and maybe we can get together. I'll buy you a drink (or dinner if you prefer).

email me: babycake@home.com

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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

Matt, Larry, and all,

Great idea, Matt, on an annual meet. Atlanta IS beautiful in the spring (lived in Woodstock 8 yrs), and Larry--great idea about local chapter get togethers!

I think Texas needs to have a chapter meet and have a 240D run (plod?) off to assure that the looser leads. That way we could plan the departure time, so the caravan originating in Texas can arrive as a group in time for the opening. Otherwise the last car may arrive just in time to see Benzmac retire.

Seriously, how about a Texas meet some time between now and then?

Roger
Currently:
75 240D
86 560SL
And three Chrysler division products too boring to mention

Hmmm, Atlanta eh? I loove Atlanta! We have relatives in Buckhead so I'll have a place to stay, and you know, I've been thinking the 250SE is going to need a nice long trip sometime soon!

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Rgds,
Aaron Greenberg
MB technician
Precision Motorcars, Cincinnati, Ohio
'67 250SE Cabriolet
'77 450SL
'80 300SD
'85 380SE
'86 420SEL
'89 420SEL
'93 300E 2.8
'74 Jensen Interceptor Mk.III
'81 DeLorean DMC12
'84 BMW 745i Turbo

Aaron,

Buckhead sounds like the evening part of the trip to me. Then you can tell me all about the C,S,N & Y Concert.

Roger,

A Texas get together sounds great to me, but for me it'll have to be October or later, I'll be back from Europe September 23 with a lot of things to catch up on I'm sure.

Too bad there's no water in the Guadalupe, I love tubing down the river.

Everybody have a great day,
Larry

Hey Larry let me know about the texas get together. I havent seen any other Louisiana folks in this forum (feel kinda lonely), so I will just try and team up with you Texans if yall can stand having a coonass around. I have family there anyway. Some south of Houston and some around Dallas. Email me when yall have firmer details. rschust@home.com

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Keith Schuster
99 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic
97 Dodge Ram
83 300D
auto\hydraulic mechanic 20 yrs

Keith,

Those Texans still out to be darned nice to you. The bayou and the coonass are the two chief reasons the Yankee invasions of Texas never happened during the War.

Laissez les bon temps roulez!


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John J. Meadows
'85 190E 2.3L 99k mi.
'83 300D Turbo 268k mi. (sold to Mom and Dad for a song)

1L - TCW Law School, U. of Richmond

Maybe the fact that there was hardly any one in Texas other than Indians and Mexicans until the 1880's had something to do with that. The migration to Texas didn't really happen until the railroad boom of the 1880's. Before that, Texas was extremely sparsely populated.

Larry

The spring looks nice for a drive down ole 95. Just hope the gathering is held during spring break..


Terrified of Virginia State Troopers....
:eek: :eek:

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Agron
1989 300E
Monotoned Smoke Silver
97 Style Replica E420 Rims 205/55/16
Euro Headlights
Clear Corners
20% Tint
12" Sub-enclosure

OK Larry, I'm in for that Diesel drag event. Only problem is that everyone will be at the concession stand and nobody will see me win it! :D Maybe I can get the nitrous kit done before then in case any other E300's show up. :rolleyes:

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Rick Miley
99 E300 TurboDiesel
00 Jetta TDI

Rick,

Don't clear off the mantle for the trophy just yet. There will be a four cylinder class, a five cylinder class, a turbo five cylinder class, and turbo six cylinder class. The turbo six cylinder class, will be drinks only, no hotdogs.<g>

See ya' there,
Larry

Larry,

Whadaya mean "there's no water in the Guadalupe"?

I spent a couple years in Austin and had some great memories tubing down there with cooler in tow next to my tube.

Hey, if we get together in Texas we could hit the great German restaurants in New Braunfels!



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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

Count me in! I live in Metro Atlanta, but would not mind going some place else! I,m planning on going to the Grand Opening htis coming spring!

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Deezel
87 300TD, 160,000 miles
72 280SEL 4.5, 250,000 miles

I don't know if I can make it. Atlanta is at least a 6 hour ride. Can my little SEL make it that far? I'm not sure that Mercedes are made to run that long? :D

Can ma 300 squeeze in the Diesel race, only 175 ponies under the hood? :D




------------------
'89 420 SEL
'90 300 SEL
'84 300 SD (sold it)

Although central Ohio would be one of the best places to hold a gathering :) , I guess Atlanta can do (Atlanta is pretty nice in the Spring) me know a date when you get things together and I'll try to plan a little drive in my coupe down the coast and make a weekend/week out of it.

Garrick
'85 300CD-T

Larry: Might be interested in that little Diesel drag event hehe...

:D If we will be having diesel drags,Linda and I will try to come. Diesel drags can't be any slower then the VW bettle drags that I saw at Maple Grove. ;)

If there is a diesel drag, can we use Schumacher style starts :D :D

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Darko Vusir
1994 C220

I'll come in the new Barbus diesl and beat everyone 0-60 in 7.1. Even those 300E's. Or I could just come in the 300D.
Sounds like fun.

Whats kind of start was that.

------------------
-1999 ML320
-1995 E320
-1994 E420 (lowered 1.5 in useing Eibach)
-1980 300D
-Had 1985 300TD Wagon (for over 10 yrs)
-Had 1993 190E 2.3

fz500sel,

There is CURRENTLY no water in the Guadalupe. There is a terrible drought going on there right now. You never know what the river will be like from one year to the next.

Yes the German food in New Braunfels would be appropriate for a get together.

Larry

Atlanta works for me, only 8 hrs. away for me. How about all of you others???


Filling up with diesel right now!


Sept is best :O)

Jay,

A decent VW Beetle, old style or new, will outrun a 240D or 300D in a drag race. Normally aspirated Benz diesels are slow, but they're like the energizer bunny.

See you at the diesel drags,

Texans (and surrounding state neighbors),

Deezel has a thread going in the Vintage Mercedes forum about his bringing his newly acquired 280SEL 4.5 back from California. I have asked him to post on this thread when he expects to be coming through Texas. This may be the excuse we're looking for to set a time for the Texas get together.

We will see what time and what route he will take. For all we know he may go North of Texas, but let's see what he says.

If that doesn't work, someone will have to suggest a date, time and location. I will be leaving the country labor day and will be gone three weeks. I would like to make it to the gathering if possible, but don't hold it up on my account. Let's keep this thread going until it results in a get together.

Have a great day,
------------------
Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

[This message has been edited by LarryBible (edited 08-14-2000).]

Hi all,
There IS water in the Guadalupe! It's the Blanco and Frio that are dry. Water is low and slow, actually ideal for the younger kids. A friend's daughter owns one of the tubing companys and says business is good. Come on over, the water is cool and safe.

Any time is good for me for a get together in Texas. Sept thru Nov is good weather. New Braunfels would be great! See www.nbcham.org

What about the Wurstfest there Nov 3-12?
www.wurstfest.com/

Or cruise the hauptstrasse in Fredericksburg in the beautiful German region of the Texas Hill country? see http://www.fredericksburg-texas.com/
with Octoberfest Oct 6-8?
Roger


[This message has been edited by Roger (edited 08-16-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Roger (edited 08-16-2000).]

One more vote for Atlanta... and if possible at Road Atlanta.

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GParker
'99 E430

Atlanta would be kind of a long haul from Tucson but definately doable! Besides I used to live in Plano so I could pit there and hit warp factor 7 to Atlanta! Nurse wheel me to the gameroom!

Dave Browning
89 190E 2.6

I don't know what could be arranged at Road Atlanta or ATL Motor Speedway but I know for certain that every fri pm and sat am/day you can run at the Commerce dragstrip for a minimal charge. If we could gather enough cones/entrants a autoX course might also be doable at some parking lots that spring to mind....

Lee

If we're going to meet in Atlanta can we rent the tack at Road Atlanta? That would be a blast!


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Jason Priest
1986 420SEL

Isn't it customary for them to have FREE EATS at grand openings? :D

That FOR SURE will ensure that the grand opening will be attended by all!! :)



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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TXBill:
I was thinking that with all the diesels planning to come to Atlanta I sure hope the pavement at the new Shop will be blacktop and not pristine new white virgin concrete. Maybe I will take a cab from the hotel to come to this 'gathering/Grand Opening'!
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

We will have BLACKTOP!

...as WmHarlow so succinctly put it:

"Mercedes do not leak oil.... They mark their territory!"


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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC