From the Desk of the Executive Director
by Doug Truit
 
What the Meredes-Benz Clubs Are All About
 
MBCA National President Rodger Van Ness and I have just returned from the 2011 International Mercedes-Benz Clubs Presidents’ Meeting hosted by the Mercedes-Benz Museum. This meeting brings together representatives from various Mercedes-Benz clubs from around the world. Attendees came from Russia, New Zealand, Brazil, Iceland, and Iran, to name just a few club locations. It is a very interesting experience speaking and sharing ideas with these Club members from around the world. This year’s meeting was held in Berlin, Germany, to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Karl Benz’s most famous achievement – the invention of the car. Let me just say that Mercedes-Benz knows how to put on a car show. This event was held on the grounds of the old Tempelhof Airport in downtown Berlin, which is the airport that supported the Berlin Airlift in 1948 and 1949. The airport has been closed for several years, but the tarmac, hangers, and terminals are still used occasionally for events like this one.
 
The show was simply amazing. There were 1,600 Mercedes-Benz cars of all vintages; 400 Mercedes-Benz trucks, vans and buses; and 70,000 spectators. If this was not enough, the Museum brought out the Silver Arrows and raced them on a specially built track on the airport grounds. What a sight! 
 
I also recently attended a great Concours in Atlanta, Georgia, organized by the Peachtree Section. A great big thank you goes out to the event’s primary organizer, Section Vice President Anne Holdgrafer. She spent countless hours making this event a reality. Section President Daryl Williams, Chief Judge Jim Mitchell. and the volunteers did an outstanding job putting it together and running this event. There was great food, a jazz quartet, hundreds of people and of course cars. 61 Mercedes-Benz and 30 cars of various other marques. The weather cooperated and fun was had by all. Anne and the section contributed $3,000 for breast cancer research from the Concours income.
 
We also cannot forget to thank our gracious hosts, owners Johanna and Cathy Ellis, General Manager Bob Crolic, and Marketing Manager Paula Locke of Atlanta Classic Cars. Their help and support was essential in organizing the event. It is always enjoyable and rewarding seeing our members out having fun with each other and their cars.
 
The annual meeting of the MBCA membership is scheduled for Nov. 4-5. This year the meeting will be hosted by the International Stars Section in Dearborn, Michigan. Section President Pete Williams, Mike Salemi, and Adam Lumsden have been working hard putting this meet in together. I want to thank them for their efforts.  There are lots of things going on in and around the Club these days and we are looking forward to a productive and fruitful meeting. Please attend if you can. We would love to see you.
With the end of the year approaching, I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Let’s make 2012 a rewarding and productive year for all MBCA members.
                                 
Always wishing you the best,  Doug Truitt