Mercedes-Benz Club of America 

2022 Election

Final Vote Summary • October 18, 2022 

Director at Large

Drew Webb 1,563 33.61% 

Ernest Fancy 1,517 32.62% 

Charles Woods 1,571 33.78%

 4,651 Votes Total 

Regional Director • Eastern Region 

Diana Quinn 322 

Today is the first day of a new era at the Mercedes-Benz Club of America. It’s time to remake ourselves and change the perceptions of what people think of us. The club faces many challenges; our charge is to correct those perceptions.  

The MBCA has hired Kathryn “Katie” Carruth of Colorado Springs, Colorado  as the club's new executive director.  Ms. Carruth took over the reins of the club from fprmer director Mike Regennitter on December 19.  

 “Katie is the right leader for Mercedes-Benz Club of America,” said incoming club president Doug Geganto. “We believe her strong leadership experience will help focus the club and return us to profitability.”  

The second year of MBCA's Mercedes Freude (the joy of Mercedes) was held in beautiful Newport Beach, California this past October, based at the elegant Hyatt Regency Newport Beach 

The event is offered in partnership with the newly relocated Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, now in nearby Long Beach.  This year's Freude attendees were treated to a multi-day program packed with memorable events, and time with some of Stuttgart's most exquisite machinery. 

Being able to spend time with old and new friends helped make our Freude celebration an even more special week. 

A saying in the world of art and antiques is “If it was expensive and desirable in period, it will most likely be that way forever.” That’s generally true of the Mercedes-Benz C107 SLC coupes, sold in the United States 1973–1980. Today, these handsome pillarless coupes are desirable, but not that expensive. The SLC is steeped in racing heritage, has fine period style. and is a  very capable grand tourer that can eat up highway miles while delighting occupants. 

Did you ever drive a car you knew wasn’t good for you, but you just couldn’t keep your hands off it? A car so compelling you had to turn around and give it one more look, every single time? A vehicle you wanted to drive so much, you couldn’t wait to start it up the next day? Well, I give you the 2023 Mercedes-Benz G550. 

At the turn of the 20th century, there was absolutely no agreement among car manufacturers about how an automobile should operate. Each builder had their own ideas about how to make a vehicle go, turn, and stop. Steering might be by wheel, tiller, or even foot pedals. Throttles and brakes were similarly varied, with levers, pedals, valves, and all manner of odd configurations. Some of the ideas born during that era were pretty good, but most were not. 

My ultimate Mercedes adventure began with family friends in a small farming village near Tübingen, not far from Germany's Black Forest. The company was wonderful, and the crisp fall air invigorating, especially after having left my home in Arizona just days before. Nevertheless, I was chomping at the bit to get started on a most excellent adventure in a most excellent car, one that was “engineered like no other car in the world.”

There are times in life when great opportunities grow out of dark situations. This Mercedes-Benz car story is definitely an example proving that observation. 

However, before diving into the details, let me dial the wayback machine to the 1970s. I was just a pup, growing up in Southern California with a father who collected cars. My early years set me up for a lifetime of following in my Dad's footsteps.