I'm a member of MBCA, I've been in it since Feb or March 2005. The Houston section is not terribly active as other sections are, but after attending my first board meeting, I think things may turn. They like to do dinners at nice restaurants and meeting halls, and many things that really aren't car oriented (cooking classes), but they like it, and I think they're open for a little change. I'm going to try to help them out, first by getting them to participate in the Centerville GTGs I hold in the summer (they really WANT to come to that one). They're also going to be going go-karting next weekend, so that's something car related and fun. They have tech sessions, but I doubt they are hands on like the sessions held in Ft. Worth (their tech sessions get free use of a lift at a local dealer), and autocrosses twice a year (one board member pointed out his former section used to have 9 autocrosses a year), so we're not nonexistent like the Austin chapter has become, but we're not as active as other sections or other local car clubs for that matter. I like meeting other MB owners though. Many of them are older, retired individuals, but they're quite friendly. Many aren't DIYers like us, I'd say most of them own garage queens and newer models that aren't DIY friendly. But one member sent me a heads-up note in my issue of the local newsletter about a W123 at the pick-a-part that I might want to check out that had some good parts on it. That was pretty thoughtful, gearheads looking out for one another. Your section is what you make it to be. I've found that if you want change, you need to start attending board meetings, and the outings they go on. Make yourself known. Make it worth your membership fee.

__________________
'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.