Driving long distances in vintage automobiles is always a thrill and an experience. Our trip from the east coast of Virginia to the 190SL Group Convention in Leadville Colorado was no exception. As usual, everything was inspected, lubricated and checked so that the cars were fully prepared for the trip. Likewise, tools and a multitude of spare parts were carefully loaded into the nooks, crannies and voids of the trunk cavity in case all of our careful preparations were not sufficient. With the cars fully stuffed, Robby Ackerman, Jim Villers and our wives headed west with renewed spirits early Monday morning.

Everything was fine the first day as the engines purred smoothly over the Allegany mountains and down to the Ohio valley, past Louisville to the home of one of Susan's relatives for the night. We were up early the next morning to head west. We speed past the Gateway Arch in St Louis and onto the expanses of Missouri. Then our first indication that we might be pushing these old cars a little hard, Jim's car blew a front tire at speed. The steel belted thread separated from the tire, damaging the front fender and making a very ugly thumping noise until the car was safely steered onto the shoulder of the Interstate highway. This was a minor delay as a spare tire was quickly mounted and two new tires were purchased and installed in the next city.

Off again, heading for Wichita, we made good time until during a brief fueling pause, Robby discovered coolant had saturated his engine compartment. The source of the leak was quickly traced to a two-inch long hose between the thermostat housing and the intake manifold. Out came the repair kits and several layers of "radiator hose tape" surrounded the hole and large hose clamps held the tape snug. We were off again for home of one of Robby's relative. At a brief burger stop, Robby mentioned that his car was running a little rough and erratic. We pushed on and arrived at our nightly stop shortly after dark. Early the next morning, the thermostat housing was removed and a new hose installed. The engine, however, wouldn't start and the starter didn't crank the engine consistently. With a little troubleshooting, it was obvious that the primary ignition system was not working. The hot coolant had apparently shorted out the breaker less electronic ignition and fried the coil. Robby, however, was prepared for this contingency with a spare points distributor and a spare coil. With the engine cranking coming in shorter and shorter durations, the engine sprang to life, the timing was set and we were ready to head out for Leadville.

We made it about forty-five minutes down the road when the engine in Pea Soup died. This time the conditions were more difficult; the starter would hardly crank the engine and the spark appeared very weak. At the side of the interstate in a hundred degree heat, we called 1-800-FOR MERCEDES for a tow. After a brief stop at an auto parts store to try another coil, it was off the local Mercedes dealership for major "consolation". It was decided that the starter had to be fixed before trouble shooting of the ignition problem could begin. Beginning at 3:30 in the afternoon, the mechanic removed the starter and with great difficulty, removed it by sliding it through the small space between the fender and the frame rail, along side of the exhaust pipe. At 5:30, with starter in hand, we headed to the best starter rebuild shop in town. There we found three old car guys, surrounded by "junk" alternators and starters, who were happy to stay late to help a couple of fellow car guys in distress. They quickly determined the problem was with the Bendix drive of the starter; and they didn't have a replacement. Through searching through their pile of "good stuff", they found an equivalent Bendix drive on an old Volkswagen starter. The drive was swapped, the starter was reassembled and everything was tested. We headed back the to the Mercedes dealership and left the "rebuilt" starter next to Pea Soup so that the mechanic would have it when he began work at 7:00 AM. The starter was back in Pea Soup by 9:00 AM and trouble shooting of the ignition system began. After several false starts, it was determined that the drive "key" on this distributor was 180 degrees off of the "key" on the other distributor. With the "key" correctly installed, Pea Soup came to life again and we were on the road to Leadville by eleven o'clock.

With short duration gas stops and the benefit of an hour gain in crossing time zones, we arrived in Leadville at 8:00 PM local time, just in time for our scheduled commitment to attend the 190SL Group board meeting.

Our pride in our preparations, resourcefulness, and effort to pull our cars through adversity were dashed when the Merle Wogleman Award was presented to another, partly because "Merle would never have sought help from a dealership". Merle was a long time member of the 190SL Group who drove only 190SL's all of his life. He was also a legend for always finding a way to get his cars home. The Merle Wogleman Award is awarded annually to the club member that best represents the spirit of Merle in the overcoming of adversity while driving a 190SL.

It is hard to describe Robby's distraught feelings after being told in the presentation of the Merle Wogleman Award that his actions did not did not merit recognition and that he did not have the true spirit of the great 190SL driving mechanics of the past.

During the drive home following the back roads tour, in one of the hottest places immanagable, Robby staged a massive clutch failure. The clutch failure was complete; it was impossible for the car to move forward or backward under its own power. While Robby desired to push or pull the car with a flimsy strap, reason prevailed and an old fashioned tow truck to deposit the car at the nearest available hotel, about 20 miles in over 100 degree heat. In maintaining the spirit, the tow truck was not air-conditioned.

After arrival, dinner and a night's sleep, the investigation of the difficulty was begun in a logical and sequential manner. On the blacktop of the Holliday Inn parking lot, the clutch linkage appeared normal and the flex disk was solid. Parts were removed until only the transmission remained. The rear flange of the transmission could be rotated with the transmission in or out of gear. Undaunted, Robby pushed forward and pulled the transmission to revel a clutch disk, which had been separated from its hub.

On the phone, Robby ordered the three items he needed: a new clutch disk, a rubber seal for the flex disk and a clutch alignment tool (we will have one next time) for delivery next day (Friday) by 10:00. As luck would have it, we received the alignment tool and the seal but not the clutch disk. Another clutch disk was ordered for Saturday delivery and we spent our time staying out of the sun and heat.

Saturday and 9:00, the clutch disk arrived and the installation began. With great effort, we lifted the transmission into place but it wouldn't slide home. After significant wiggling pulling and pushing, we got some long bolts into the top holes and could pull the transmission into position. Turning the engine and it finally slid home. Everything else was just work in the hot parking lot with Betty reading her magazine and Susan doing her knitting in folding chairs next to the car. They really were full participants in the effort, providing water and McDonalds burgers and shakes as the work continued. With everything done and checked; the clutch was tested. It didn't release. We then removed and reset the clutch linkage arm one spline so that the pedal would push the release bearing in further. Again no joy.

The options were again reviewed: fix it again in Great Bend, drive it to Wichita to the dealership or get a U-Haul to tow it home. At 3:00 in the afternoon, Robby's initial thoughts were to take it to Wichita. With time moving on, Betty and Jim decided to head east. They made it as far as a St Louis Hampton Inn.

To Jim's surprise, the next morning, he found Pea Soup in the hotel parking lot. Robby had decided that Merle would never have "wimped out" and to demonstrate that he that he satisfied all of the qualifications for the Wogleman award, he had driven 500 miles without a clutch. Just to prove that that this was no fluke and that he truly possessed the "spirit of Merle", he headed off for a one-day drive home of 970 miles without a working clutch.

As a member of the 190SL Group and a past recipient of the Merle Wogleman award, I certify that the above is a true recollection of the facts. I, of course, reminded Robby that this year's award had already been presented and that these efforts were merely practice for next year's convention.

Everyone arrived home safely and on time.

__________________
Jim Villers
190SL, 230SL 5-speed, 95 E320 Wagon, 01 E320 Wagon, MGB, Boxster 'S', 190SL "Barn Find"

Jim, great story! How in the world did he get it to start in 4th gear? Also, just so others know, Robby had an unusual streak of bad luck this year. He's put several hundred km on the car, including a trip from Virginia to Alaska (Barrow, I think in far north Alaska). Unfortunately, my wife read this story as well. She's not convinced that driving our 190SL to the meets is an "Adventure"!

__________________
Bill Streep
San Antonio
'57 190SL (toy)
'08 S5500 (mine)
'09 CLK550 (wife's)
'06 SLK350 (daughter's)
'11 GLK350 (daughter's)
'03 CLK310 (spare)

What a story! You guys sure are troopers! I took my car out onto the interstate this weekend towards my parents house in the suburbs. It drove beautifully, and hopefully next year, I'll be joining you guys wherever the next meet is. how was the convertion itself? Where is next years convention going to be?

__________________
Hemant

'57 190SL
'86 560SEC AMG

Thanks for sharing that story with us!
All you need is a few pictures and it would be Car and Driver material.

__________________
Bill Wood - Retired Webmaster
My Personal Website
1998 Mercedes E430
2010 Toyota Sequoia
My Photo Albums

Quite a tale. I especially liked the part about driving all the way home without a clutch. I can relate. Lost my hydraulic clutch between Denver and Vail Summit (in a snow storm), made it from the Summit to Sunny So. Cal without benefit of a clutch. Speed shifting all the way and having to shut off the engine at stop lights to engage 1st when we hit a town.

Can't the drive home earn SOME points for next year's award??????

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.