I'm always game! More so for Newport, not only is it a short/easy drive for me, its a freaken awsome town.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Newport is a beautiful spot and is rumored to have a number of fine drinking establishments, or so I'm told.

Hattie, as a sailing fan you would probably appreciate this. Back in '83 we were heading to Block Island on my parents wooden Chris Craft when it blew the transmission. We got towed into Newport and tied up at Bannister's Wharf. Which just happened to be during the America's Cup. We ended up getting stuck there for a week, between waiting for the mechanic to show up, remove the tranny, wait for parts, repair it and reinstall it. But what a great time to be stuck there. Even as a 13yo I was fascinated by all of the activity and there was a lot of it in port.

None of the 12M's were hauled out at Bannister's but they were all around us. After every practice sail, they would pull them out and scrub every inch and fine tune. Before they would haul it, they would bring these huge tarps out and surround the hull so as it came up out of the water they could conceal the hull design. IIRC that was the first year the teams started playing around with funky keel designs. I do remember the rumors swirling around town about the Aussie's design. They were pretty much up all night long working on those boats. I used to like sleeping out in the cockpit so I can remember being up most of the night just watching the shadows behind the tarps and the conversations, often in different languages. Many foreign profanities no doubt.

It was just a real cool atmosphere. I wish I were a few years older then so that I could have really appreciated it.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

To the three of you that contributed to the Pavilion fund, your money has been refunded thru Paypal. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Hope to see you all at the next Summer Newport GTG!

Ben

After work I was bored and researched it. Crappy day, needed to test the new Bosch wipers. Anyways, its not twelve mile drive, but 10 mile drive. Whatever Here is the website for some looks around the grounds. Its a great place just to drive, and lots of antique car show guys roll into here. It'd almost be cool to meet somewhere slightly further away at a set time (like the Stop and Shop on Bellevue, Ave) and cruise past all the cool old mansions, and take the 10 minute or so drive as time to admire some of the best sites in Newport, as well as time for pompous rich summer tourists to admire our clattering beasts. The website for the area, as well as parking is http://www.oceandrivenewport.com/ . Just throwing this out as an idea, as well as the date. I figure if weather is better, this would be an awesome place, and pretty central.

In regards to drinking establishments, there are many, and of many varieties. I really like the Newport Blues Cafe, live music all the time, but also a lot of coll Irish Pubs as well as some really really old colonial period pubs hidden around the city. It'd be cool to find a place where the drinks and food weren't too expensive, and grab a dinner before departing back home.

In any case we've got plenty of time to think about it. Maybe the Fall GTG could be during the Annual Newport Oktoberfest Festival, for those of us who like our grains in foamy liquid form?

Anyways, talk amongst yourselves

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http://www.betten.mercedescenter.com...n_banner_1.jpg
1976 300D
190,000 Miles
Colorado Beige

1975 300D
Parts Car
78,000 Miles
Rustbucket
Also Colorado Beige

1984 190D 2.2 (Dad's)
156,000 miles
Champagne Metallic Clearcoat

I agree that Newport would be an awesome place to meet. My only concern is that on any weekend between now and Labor Day, the entire south shore of Rhode Island, including and especially Newport, will be a complete cluster f&%$ and we will be sitting in traffic for hours. There are way too many tourists out there on weekends, all roads leading to the shore line tend to be completely congested. And I have a hard time seeing us rolling into the center of Newport with 15 or 20 MB's and trying to find parking to go to some awesome bar around there. As much as I love the coast, it might be better to meet somewhere inland.
Christian

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1974 240D, 125K mi, B100 now, SOLD
1980 300TD, 115K mi, 4-speed stick, roll-up windows, greasecar with two tank conversion (daily driver)
1985 300D, 220K miles, greasecar with two tank conversion, SOLD
1993 300D 2.5turbo, 158K miles, green/tan, B20-B50