Summer is really here now. As this year has progressed, I wasn’t sure what we were going to see – or when we were going to see it. Even though I was wondering how we would move forward into the year, the Mercedes-Benz Club of America’s sections around the country had no problem with planning events for the year. Check out the events listing at the club website (www.MBCA.org) and in your section’s newsletter and website. There’s no shortage of innovative things to do.
We recently wrapped up StarFest® 2018. Having attended the entire event and participated in many of the programs, I’m here to tell you it was outstanding. The MBUSI factory tours were one of the most popular activities. Twenty-four separate tour groups were expertly guided by two MBCA members and a factory guide. Of special significance: The factory should have been closed due to a parts shortage caused by fire at a vendor facility. Jason Hoff, MBUSI president and CEO, kept the C-Class portion of the factory running so club members could tour the plant – maybe even see their next C-Class being built. The club is truly grateful to Jason and his team for their generosity.
This was only the beginning of what StarFest had to offer. There were self-guided rallies every day, emphasizing questions about the various stops rather than rigorous directions and timing. In total, these were some of the most highly attended driving tours ever: Strong attendance probably had to do with good planning and desirable destinations.
The judged concours and Silver Star Preservation displays had about 100 vehicles participating. While many of the concours vehicles were in the Street class, the Show class had quite a few entries, too. The concours was held at MBUSI’s Visitor Center. The center’s store held an MBCA member sale; needless to say, the store was always packed full of MBCA members.
StarFest attendees had the rare privilege of driving autobahn-speed laps on the 33-degree banked turns of Talladega Superspeedway, the steepest in the country. Safe Drivers/Safe Families classes, autocross and acceleration runs were also held at the speedway. In addition, drivers had an entire day at the Barber Motorsports Park. In addition to track driving classes for drivers was the performance-driving experience program, designed for the member who may have never been on a track but wanted to experience driving the track at speed on the correct line in complete safety with an experienced instructor.
When I began writing about my StarFest experience, I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to stop. There was so much to do. Maybe the most important of my comments here today has more to do with how this StarFest happened, rather than what happened. StarFest 2018 was hosted by the Alabama Section, co-chaired by Jim Roberts and Mason Beale. This was a multi-year project that required numerous section members – some from other sections – to make it happen: This was the first time most of the section’s members had produced an event like this. So, my sincerest “Thank-You” to Roberts, Beale, all Alabama Section members and the National Business Office, all of whom organized a stupendously fantastic StarFest.
In closing: When I pursued this position of MBCA leadership, membership health was tops on my platform. I’m pleased to report that we are making progress. We have appointed a Membership Chairman with a definitive responsibility. Masood Kahn is a member of the Central Oklahoma Section, where he distinguished himself in all matters of section leadership. We are examining the tools and resources that we currently have and identifying others that will allow us to develop a strategic plan for membership growth – now and into the future.
Looking forward to seeing you at future events.