I'd love to go. :) Could I take I -95 Coming from N.Y all the way down? If so I seriously might go, would we set up a tent Benz city ? :)

Almost Alex
 

95 south to Florence, SC, 20 west to Atlanta.

Mike,

The world police and fire games sounds great! It should be on TV. I've gotten such a bad opinion of the coke snorting, wife beating, "role model" professional athletes, it would be great to have real role models competing on TV for a change.

Georgia or bust,

Florida Weighs In
 

Sorry folks, I've been away for a few days and just now catching up. I'm definitely in for this gathering. Larry Delor - are you there? I'm on your way up I-75 and so is Steve Brotherton. If Donnie & Bill's place is too busy (and it sounds like it will be), then we can stop at Steve's for an inspection and oil change.

Is there anyone willing to go down to Georgia with me from N.Y? How long would we stay down there. It would be lots of FUNNNNNNN!!!!!

Larry Delor brought up an interesting point. If this turns out to be pretty big attendance, will 10 technicians be enough to handle the crowd? I am sure that there will at least need to be some oil changes, and in Atlanta in June, maybe the occasional evaporator core. ;) Plus, a lot of people may want Donnie to give his personal attention to their car at a time when he is likely to be very busy, to say the least. Maybe we need to think about ways of setting up appointments in advance, and raffling off one complete vehicle checkout from Donnie. (This should suitably impress his 10 new technicians as to his technical expertise.) Maybe a poll about expected services needs?

As for code words, I am tempted to say we could use "Sherman" for all the Yankees planning to march on GA, but that would probably offend local sensibilities. No offense - little known fact: Calif tried to declare for the South (by a margin as close as the last presidential race), but was occupied by the North at the very start of the war to "protect" the gold mines. The first CA volunteers heading for the South were surrounded by Yankee Regulars in southern CA out by Mike Tangas' neck of the woods, disarmed, and placed in POW camps, causing an influx of even more Yankee regulars to occupy the state. There are even the remains of a Yankee run POW camp in Long Beach, allegedly haunted!

BTW, if there are any mistakes in this posting that I didn't catch, it is because I am trying out DragonWare voice recognition software instead of the keyboard. You know your a couch potato when you are too damn lazy to even push keys!


[Edited by JCE on 01-12-2001 at 11:15 AM]

For the DIY crowd, simply pack lighter on the clothes, leave room for your ramps, tool box, oil and other sundries. I'm sure Donnie et al will be able to obtain enough empty 55 gallon drums for recycling purposes (depending on the size of the planned storage tank), plus ensure they have sufficient stock of necessary filters on hand. All the DIYers can change oil & filters to their hearts content freeing up the technicians for those who don't DIY. Might even be a record in there for most gallons of oil changed in a specific time period (sorry Larry, no over night oil draining allowed).

JCE - only error that jumps out at me is in the last line. "Your" should be you're.



[Edited by MikeTangas on 01-12-2001 at 11:48 AM]

Official Airline of the Mercedesshop
 

I know this is an automotive site, but for all you west coast people, Delta is THE airline in Atlanta, and any patronage you can provide might mean a few more pennies in my pocket towards a newer Benz!

Beware of Mike Tangas's TDY, he didn't mention the huge assortment of guns and several tons of ammo he carried for last year (I am not kidding!!!). Make sure your suspension is in good shape!

I live 1.5 hours south and west of the new shop and hope to be there with my wife and both of our MB cars.

Deezel:
If I wind up having to fly back, I will certainly fly Delta. That is, IF I can get a ride in the supercharged AMG CLK32 you plan to buy with your share of the standby baggage class ticket I would purchase :D .

COUNT ME IN!!
 

Can't wait! Now you'll all have to venture to Cleveland when I open up my MB garage in the next couple of years! Hmm, what to drive down for Donnie's opening? Well of course the 250SE Cabrio. Top down the whole way!!

Rick,
 

that sounds like a feasable idea! All I have to do now, is talk someone into taking my place at work. About 10 hours or so to get to Atlanta? I am about an hour south (south Sarasota) of Tampa.
Is this going to be a weeklong event or a weekend event, or what? Or maybe till the last non-local Benz leaves the shop? :D
-Larry

Aaron,

I vote for the Cabrio, that is unless you feel rebellious and bring the BMW. Of course, the BMW would probably draw rocks, keys and spray paint. That would give you some fill in work for the body shop side of your new facility when you open up.

I will, if at all possible, make it to your grand opening, IF, there's at least 300 Watts of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young in the shop, AND I get a top down ride in the Cabrio on a nice day. I'm not interested in visiting the "mistake on the lake" (just kidding, I like Cleveland, I used to do some work in Highland Heights) if it's January.

Have a nice weekend,

I vote for Buffalo Springfield (Stills and Crosby) in the Jensen (MoPars best sound)!

Oh my gosh, thanks Larry for pointing it out. I guess I better walk I sure don't want anyone messin with my 540i.

I would sure rather drive it than the wife's ML320. I got it, I'll park at the airport and take a cab.

Although I have made relatively few postings to this board, I have been reading it for months and I almost feel obligated to attend. However, driving the 280SEL is not an option, and the 300SD will likely need a rebuilt or newer used engine to make the long voyage (I live in Denver). If I can somehow piece together the money for some engine work, you can guarantee that I will be there. And I will likely have lots of little repairs to be completed. Good luck!