current-magazine

Mercedes-Benz Club of NSW 

EDITION 241 

SPRING 2015 

Star Torque 

Years of the 190 SL 

MB CLUB: Concours d’Elegance 2015 

AMG GTS: First drive 

The Best or Nothing

About Mercedes-Benz Club of NSW 

Dear readers, 

Here is some background on our 

Club, which is a not for profit 

organisation run by enthusiasts 

for enthusiasts of Mercedes-Benz 

vehicles. 

Our Mercedes-Benz Club of NSW 

was founded on January 29th 1972 

at East Linfield by a group of nine 

Mercedes-Benz car enthusiasts 

sharing a common interest in this 

wonderful marque. The Mercedes- 

Benz Club of NSW was officially 

incorporated under the NSW 

Associations Act in 1990. 

The first Club event was a picnic 

held on a Sunday, 6th February 1972. 

Today, our membership is over 

400 and we have grown to include 

drive days, social events, tours, 

technical workshops, cocktail 

functions, dealer events and our 

prestige annual Concours D’elegance 

in September. 

Our membership includes 

owners and admirers of all types of 

Mercedes-Benz vehicles, from the 

earliest vintage models circa 1915, 

through all the classic vehicles in 

the 1940s right up to today’s high 

performance Mercedes-AMG cars. 

As well as running our own NSW 

based Mercedes-Benz events, the 

Club is involved with the other 

Mercedes-Benz Clubs right across 

Australia, holding exciting interstate 

tours and events for members. 

The Mercedes-Benz Club National 

Rally is held in a host capital city 

every two years, where interstate 

Club members gather for a week of 

Mercedes-Benz social, car events, 

tours and car displays. 

Details for the Mercedes-Benz 

Clubs 2016 National Rally are in this 

issue along with the entry form, so 

please join us for this great event. 

The Mercedes-Benz Club of NSW 

is a member of the Mercedes-Benz 

Club Management, established to 

promote and assist Mercedes-Benz 

Clubs around the world. 

Our website is mbcnsw.org.au, 

showing all recent and upcoming 

events, as well as postings and 

feedback on facebook.com/ 

mercedes.nswclub. 

Our members and Executive 

Committee have created a friendly, 

knowledgeable and entertaining 

Club to become part of and enjoy 

together with your Mercedes-Benz. 

We welcome new members and 

guests to our Club and to seeing our 

existing members throughout the 

year at various fun events and social 

functions. Please join us. 

Yours sincerely 

President Vince Thompson 

The Mercedes-Benz Club of NSW 

www.mbcnsw.org.au 

1

CONTENTS 

SPRING 2015 

28 

6 

1 About Mercedes-Benz Club of NSW 

20 Is the S500 L the perfect Mercedes-Benz? 

4 The Presidents report 

23 Mercedes-Benz Clubs National Rally 2016 

6 The 190 SL turns 60 

24 National Rally 2016 entry form 

10 The 190 SL in Australia 

25 Calendar of Events 

12 AMG GTS: First drive 

28 Shannons Eastern Creek Classic 

19 The S-Class Cabriolet 

30 SGA bowling night 

Mercedes-Benz Club of NSW Inc. Reg No. Y111 66-02. ABN 43 684 976 470. PO Box 100 Kenthurst NSW 2156. tel: 0449 883 633. website: www. 

mbcnsw.org.au / website manager: Bill Dawes webmaster@mbcnsw.org.au / facebook: facebook.com/mercedes.nswclub / email: enquiries@mbcnsw.org.au 

/ editor Dennis Dinse editor@mbcnsw.org.au design & pre-press A.King / print Beeprint Pty Ltd / adversing adversing@mbcnsw.org.au 

2

CONTENTS 

EDITION 241 

10 

34 

12 

19 

31 AutoSalon d’Elegance tech day 

33 Success for Mercedes-Benz in 

Wroclaw Poland Rally 

34 Concours d’Elegance 2015 gallery 

41 Mercedes-Benz Sydney cocktail party 

43 Australian premiere of the new 

Mercedes-Benz GLC 

45 Peter Warren sponsors Club 

46 Motor Mart 

47 Editorial license & new members 

48 Executive committee & team 

49 Conditional Registration scheme 

50 Star Torque magazine 

51 Membership form 

52 Membership fees 

Mercedes-Benz Club (NSW) Inc. is a not-for-profit organisaon & member of the Mercedes-Benz Club Management. STAR TORQUE is our Club magazine 

published quarterly for members, enthusiasts, local & overseas Clubs, Mercedes-Benz dealers & interested customers & associated businesses. “Mercedes- 

Benz” & three-pointed star in a circle authorised for use by Mercedes-Benz Club (NSW) Inc. All copyright and trademarks & tradenames are the property of 

their respecve owners, including sourced media from Daimler AG. 

Please visit www.mercedes-benz.com.au to find your nearest passenger vehicle dealership. 

3

The Presidents report 

Membership & new members 

Welcome to any new members who 

may have joined recently, I hope you 

are enjoying being part of the Club. 

The membership renewal date was 

adjusted to July 1st this year, so 

if you still have not renewed your 

membership, please contact Bill 

Greenville and remedy immediately. 

If you have Historic Plates and you 

have not renewed your membership, 

please be aware that your vehicle IS 

NOT covered under the Conditional 

Registration Scheme and you 

will need to contact Ben De Boer 

immediately to remedy this. 

Star Torque magazine 

My thanks goes to both Dennis 

Dinse and A.King for putting this 

superb magazine together. For some 

time it looked the magazine would 

not survive the sparse number of 

volunteers coming forward until they 

saved the day! 

Website 

With Star Torque magazine 

being revamped, the website will 

be upgraded to achieve similar 

professional continuity. Webmaster 

Bill Dawes, A.King and I have been 

discussing content and display ideas, 

which we will be rolled out soon. 

Annual General Meeting 

Time flies and it is nearly that 

time already! I ask members to 

kindly volunteer some time to help 

administer our MBCNSW next year, 

where the AGM in November is the 

ideal time and place to do this! 

1886-2016 Mercedes-Benz 130th 

Anniversary 

I will soon be inviting members 

to register their intentions to join a 

very special event next year, as we 

commemorate the 130th anniversary 

of Mercedes-Benz, with a drive across 

the Harbour Bridge! 

130 Mercedes-Benz vehicles both 

classic and new will take part in this 

unique and photogenic event! 

When the event details are 

published, it will be the first 130 

members to register who will be 

included in this unique and historic 

event for Mercedes-Benz in Sydney. 

Concours d’Elegance 2015 

This year we celebrate 60 years of 

the 190 SL and have a record number 

Mercedes-Benz 190 SL is 60 this year and the stars of our Concours d’Elegance. 

4

of them at this years event. I am 

preparing my R107 for Concours and 

seeking 100 points for originality, 

but as the big day gets closer I feel I 

may have left it a little late…… 

After the Concours, I set off for 

Stuttgart to the annual International 

Presidents Meeting, certainly one of 

the highlights of my year. 

I return just in time for the 

Presentation Dinner and this year’s 

theme is ‘A twist of Halloween’, so 

make sure you get your tickets from 

Evian Delfabbro in time and dress up! 

Events 

Congratulations to Evian Delfabbro 

(our new Social Director) and Kathy 

Assarapin, who successfully put 

together this year’s wonderful 

Cocktail Party at Mercedes-Benz 

Sydney, more than doubling the 

attendees from the previous style 

event we held. 

The catering and multitude of other 

arrangements made for such a great 

Club night, which went as smooth 

as silk and they have planned a 

fabulous Presentation Dinner too at 

Le Montage. Be sure to get tickets 

to that special night to see who won 

their class in the Concours d’Elegance 

2015! 

Over the last couple of months I 

have been welcomed to the regular 

committee meetings the events team 

hold, as they plan events for the 

remainder of the year and lay down 

the calendar of events for the first 

quarter of next year. 

Remember, of course, that these 

guys (and their better halves!) are 

responsible for our Concours and the 

National Rally in March, with a huge 

workload and great responsibility. 

My thanks and amazement at their 

continued success goes to each and 

every one of them! 

John Assarapin will step down from 

the Events Directors role around 

the time of the AGM and must be 

congratulated on the results he has 

achieved during his reign. 

I always enjoy working with John, 

his hearty enthusiasm, great forward 

thinking, new ideas and wonderful 

attitude are priceless. His contact and 

communication with our members is 

first class and surely selecting the 

Hydro Majestic for High Tea this 

year is perhaps just one of the many 

highlights of his good work. 

If you have any suggestions 

regarding a Club event, please see 

any of the events team with your 

ideas. Meanwhile, I look forward to 

meeting many of you at these events 

in the near future. 

National Rally 2016 

National Rally President Simon 

Strauss informs me the National Rally 

is well on course, with grille badges 

and calendars already delivered. 

We both drove to Victoria, ACT 

and Queensland to present to the 

respective states Mercedes-Benz 

Clubs, and the 2016 National Club 

Rally registrations are pouring in. 

However, as the tours are filling 

up quickly, it seems that MBCNSW 

members may miss out, as some are 

not registering their preferences for 

which aspects of the Rally they will 

join us on. 

I encourage you to embrace the Rally, 

sign up now and beat the December 

deadline to avoid disappointment 

and missing out on some great Rally 

events, especially the harbour cruise 

on The Starship - which is surely one 

not to miss! 

Pebble Beach Tour 2016 

As next year shapes up to be one of 

our best, I start to realise the benefits 

of being a member of our Club. 

Opportunities are presented to us 

through the thought, efforts and 

enterprise of others, which perhaps 

do not arise to non-members. 

Certainly the National Rally is one 

such event and my endeavours to get 

the Club to the Holy Grail of Concours 

d’Elegance, otherwise known as 

Pebble Beach is another. 

Over the years, I have seen 

hundreds of TV shows, videos and 

Youtube links about it, so to see this 

come to fruition, mainly thanks to 

tour director Frank Cavasinni, is 

pleasantly rewarding. 

This amazing tour is individually 

tailored to suit your needs and your 

budget. There are no tour buses 

leaving at ridiculous times to visit 

somewhere for ten minutes before 

boarding again for the next stop! 

All the events are laid out from the 

Tuesday to Sunday and like Frank, 

you can take in Laguna Seca, Carmel 

by the Sea and every other show 

leading up to the big finale, OR you 

can just take in whatever shows or 

auction takes your fancy and just 

soak up the atmosphere, it is entirely 

your call. 

Accommodation is being booked 

now, so if you are interested please 

contact me soon! Happy motoring. 

President 

Vince Thompson 

5

T 190 SL

Open for joie de vivre, 

elegance, and departure to 

new destinations: the eagerly 

awaited Mercedes-Benz 190 

SL (W 121) was launched in 1955. The 

two-seater Cabriolet technologically 

based on the upper mid-size category 

brought joy and colour to everyday life 

during the years of the economic miracle. 

Internationally the 190 SL set standards 

for a culture of comfortable travel with 

style and sporty elegance. Together with 

its “elder sibling”, the 300 SL, it paved the 

way for the successful Mercedes-Benz SL 

tradition – culminating in the current R 

231. Today the W121 is a classic car that 

fetches exceptionally good prices. 

Experts in the industry and the 

general public alike had been 

dreaming of this car since the 

appearance of a prototype version at 

the International Motor Sports Show 

in New York in February 1954. 

GOT IT 60 

The timeless Mercedes-Benz 190 SL 

The Mercedes-Benz 190 SL then 

appeared in its finished form in 

March 1955 at the 25th International 

Motor Show in Geneva where it met 

with a resounding response. German 

weekly newspaper “Die Zeit”, for 

example, raved about the “Mercedes- 

Benz 190 SL with its irresistibly 

beautiful lines”. The impetus for 

developing the Roadster came from 

the US-American Mercedes-Benz 

importer Maximilian Edwin Hoffman. 

The 190 SL, which went into main 

production in May 1955, was an opentop, 

two-seater car for comfortable and 

stylish travel. Karl Wilfert and Walter 

Häcker designed its body with sporty 

lines and in a style reminiscent of 

the 300 SL “Gullwing” (W 198) super 

sports car. Whereas the Gullwing 

Coupé was based on a complex space 

frame, the 190 SL Cabriolet had the 

shortened floor assembly of the 180 

Saloon model (W 120) with selfsupporting 

chassis-body structure. 

The 190 SL was powered by the newly 

developed M 121, a 77 kW (105 hp) 

1.9-litre four-cylinder engine with an 

overhead camshaft. 

The Mercedes-Benz 190 SL stood 

for the feeling of being alive in the 

“Swinging Fifties”, for a colourful 

joie de vivre and lightness – as also 

shown by the car’s appearances in 

light-hearted German films of the 

time such as “Die Zwillinge vom 

Zillertal” (The Zillertal Twins, 1957) 

and “Solange noch die Rosen blühn” 

(As Long As The Roses Are In Bloom, 

1956). 

However, the 190 SL primarily 

became the dream car of the 1950s 

against the economic backdrop 

of the starting recovery and the 

strengthening of individual mobility: 

never before had so many people had 

the opportunity to realise the dream 

of having their own car. 

In this sense, the 190 SL dream 

car came at just the right time. The 

Stuttgart brand’s open-top two-seater 

7

190 SL 

Karl Wilfert and Walter Häcker designed the 190 SL body 

8

set new standards for comfortable 

travel with a sporty note by delivering 

a refreshingly new take on the “Gran 

Turismo” idea. So 60 years ago, 

the W 121 also laid the foundations 

for the excellent tradition of the 

Mercedes-Benz SL model series as 

sporty, open-top, two-seater touring 

cars that combined the highest 

standards of refinement with good 

everyday practicality – right up to the 

current SL-Class model series R 231. 

photo Womens Weekly 

Even though the 190 SL was not 

based on motor racing technology 

like its “elder sibling” the 300 

SL, it still likewise cut a sporty 

figure. This applied especially to 

the briefly available racing version 

with windowless aluminium doors, 

a smaller windscreen and other 

modifications. 

The bumpers and soft top on this 

variant could be removed for races. 

Notable successes for the vehicle 

by Daimler AG 

included the class victory achieved 

by Douglas Steane at the 1956 Macau 

Grand Prix. 

The strengths of the 190 SL made 

it an attractive ambassador for the 

new Mercedes-Benz model series of 

the 1950s all over the world: almost 

80 per cent of all W 121 production 

(a total of 25,881 vehicles were 

produced between 1955 and 1963) 

went for export. The USA was the 

most important market – almost 40 

per cent of all 190 SL models were 

sold in the USA. 

Today this automotive icon of the 

economic miracle years is one of the 

more valuable classic cars: according 

to the data gathered by Historic 

Automobile Group International 

(HAGI), the 190 SL has increased in 

value by an average of around ten per 

cent per year since 1980 and even by 

over eleven per cent per year since 

2004. 

The Roadster occupies a similarly 

prominent position in the leading 

group in the HAGI Mercedes-Benz 

Classic Index (MBCI). 

This appreciation shown by 

collectors all over the world is 

further testament to the unabated 

excitement generated by the dream 

car which made its debut in 1955 – 

some 60 years ago! 

9

The 190 SL in Australia 

by S.strauss 

Back in 1961, the median 

Australian house price was 

$4,000 and a Mercedes- 

Benz 190 SL Roadster, 

without the hard top, was selling for 

$3,334.19. 

So the 190 SL was marketed and 

sold as an exceptional vehicle and by 

way of comparison, the median house 

price in Australia today is $600K 

plus. 

Based on the Mercedes-Benz 

export figures, rather than data card 

analysis, it appears only 843 right 

hand drive190 SLs were produced, 

far fewer than the revered 300 SL 

Gullwing with 1,400 units. 

147 of the 190 SLs were imported 

into Australia from the factory over 

it’s eight year life, the first arriving 

in 1956, a year after it’s first sale to 

the USA. 

MBCNSW has twenty six 190 SL’s 

recorded as members’ cars and there 

have been another thirteen “spotted” 

around the state over the last few 

years. 

Thirty nine cars seems an 

extraordinary number given their 

rarity, but at least five were imported 

privately (two LHD conversions 

and three from the UK) and another 

three cars at least have come from 

interstate. 

The survival rate for 190 SLs around 

the world is thought to exceed 50%. 

In Australia this figure is probably 

more like 90% due, no doubt, to a 

combination of their high perceived 

value and relatively good preservation 

conditions - our own California effect. 

years on, what of today’s 

60 owners of 190 SLs? 

Well, in the Club we’re a mixed 

bunch with ages ranging from 35 

to 80+ (and note that one Victorian 

coming to the National Rally next 

year in her 190 SL is 91!). 

For those who have acquired their 

cars in more recent times (the last 

30 years!), it seems the common 

motivation is an appreciation of the 

classic beauty of this car. 

“So if they’re so beautiful and still 

contemporary, where are all the 

20-somethings?” you may ask. 

This is where money comes into 

it and one also wonders about the 

“culture” of the Gen Y’s. 

Today, the dollars needed to acquire 

a 190 SL is a minimum of $100,000 

for something complete and running, 

up to $150,000 plus for something fit 

to drive and enjoy. 

Immaculately restored cars in the 

US are topping USD 300,000, where 

10

the rate of appreciation is touted as 

‘the fastest’ in the classic car market. 

Note that these are LHD cars only, 

of which there were nearly 25,000 

produced, sold mostly to the USA. 

Increasing the difficulty of 

acquiring one is the slow turnover 

of cars because 190 SL owners keep 

their cars an estimated 20 years 

on average (the frequency of RHD 

advertisements versus number of 

cars) – so they are not easy to come 

by – and, of course, a 60 year old 

car typically needs some hands on 

knowledge that the Gen Y’s generally 

eschew. 

Simon’s 1057MX (MX = Middlesex) 

is a 1962 car, first registered in the 

UK, then imported here. It started out 

blue and has been resprayed twice 

in its life to be the bright red it is 

today. Being British, rust was always 

a challenge and the car looks to have 

had four major panels replaced at 

different times. The fourth owner 

was BBC drive time commentator, 

Chris Evans. It came to Sydney in 

2008 after being “accidently” bought 

T 190 SL 

I F 

A 

C 

USA 

through a low-ball proxy bid at a Coys 

auction, held at Lords Cricket ground. 

Bought sight unseen, it wasn’t quite 

in the “Concours” description it was 

hailed as being. The car has been 

slowly “improved” over the last seven 

years with the Delortto carburettors 

converted back to Solex, the Pioneer 

radio back to Blaupunkt and a number 

of other “sins of the past” corrected. 

The car has travelled 30,000 

miles since 2008, including 

many fault-free trips to Tasmania, 

Melbourne, Canberra, Tea Gardens, 

Newcastle and the Hunter Valley at 

different times. 

Gotta love German engineering! 

190 SL export numbers for RHD vehicles out of 25,881 produced. 

Country 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 Total 

Great Britain 9 32 61 62 77 150 107 53 11 562 

Japan 2 4 7 20 26 30 25 7 11 132 

South Africa 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 3 

New Zealand 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 4 1 9 

Australia 0 3 9 16 46 35 12 21 5 147 

TOTAL 853 

Mercedes-Benz Club NSW 1978 with our 190 SLs outside the Sydney Opera House 

11

AMG GT S : F 

O 

n a sunny Thursday in 

August, I blasted up the 

coast to G-Brothers at Mona 

Vale in my Brabus K8 (SL55 base), 

top down of course, listening to the 

music of it’s supercharged V8 pop 

and burble at low speeds, up to a roar 

as my foot goes down, wondering 

what the new Mercedes-AMG GTS is 

like? 

With a feeling of great anticipation 

I drew up in their forecourt at 

lunchtime, having been invited to 

drive the new Mercedes-AMG GTS 

around Church Point for a while. 

Well, it went like this. 

I was greeted by Richard Lewis, a 

great sales guy in performance cars, 

who ushered me in to the dealership 

where we had a brief discussion and 

then went upstairs to their AMG 

section. 

This is where I was told that 

G-Brothers are one of five Australian 

Mercedes-Benz dealers to carry 

AMGs with a factory allocation. As 

we walked along, there in front of me 

was a sinister car looking more like 

a glossy Batmobile than a Mercedes- 

Benz. 

Now I have to confess to being an 

AMG fan and a total revhead, having 

been driven very fast in a Mercedes- 

Benz SLR McLaren, driving an SL55 

AMG in anger under race supervision 

at Mercedes-Benz World test track & 

obstacle facility in Surrey, UK and 

more recently by an F2 driver there 

in the SLS - all breathtakingly fast. 

So, what is the capability of the new 

AMG GTS going to be in comparison to 

the previous top of the line Mercedes- 

Benz rockets? What about turbo lag? 

Idid’nt need to worry. 

This is the AMG GTS with the 

Edition 1 package on board, so all the 

telltale signs of a great car are there. 

The mean stance is from alloy 

performance rims with the pack on 

low profile Michelin 265/35R 19 inch 

tyres at the front and 295/30R 20 

inch on the rear. The ‘attitude’ comes 

from aero extras, including a carbon 

fibre front apron, front flics and fixed 

rear spoiler. 

Stopping power comes from 

the optional AMG ceramic high 

performance composite brake 

12

system, with 402mm rotors on the front and 360mm on 

the back, all internally ventilated and perforated making 

them 40% lighter than conventional ones. 

Add to this precision braking under very high loads, top 

deceleration values and long service life. 

Popping the hood exposes the front mid-engine, like the 

SLS, but more compact and slightly more sinister with the 

new twin turbos nesting in the Vee of the engine on top. 

Amazingly, the total weight of this 4.0 litre, V8, biturbo 

lump is only 209kg. 

Turbos are now the ’in’ thing thanks to EU emission 

regulations and this configuration allows them to be 

optimised for perfect inflow and airflow conditions, 

resulting in great performance and less carbons. 

So this remarkable engine is capable of 510 hp at 6,250 

rpm with 650 Nm of torque at 4,750 rpm, electronically 

limited to a top speed of 310 kmh and 100 kmh in only 

3.8 seconds! 

Here is the full specificaon: 

• Cylinder arrangement V8 

• Cylinder angle 90° 

• Valves per cylinder 4 

• Displacement 3982 cc 

• Bore x stroke 83.0 x 92.0 mm 

• Cylinder spacing 90 mm 

• Compression rao 10.5 : 1 

• Output 510 hp at 6250 rpm 

• Output per litre 128 hp/litre 

• Max. torque 650 Nm at 1750 – 4750 rpm 

• Torque per litre 163.2 Nm/litre 

• Maximum engine speed 7200 rpm 

• Maximum charge pressure 1.2 bar 

• 0-100 kmh 3.8 seconds 

• Top speed 310 kmh limited 

• Peak pressure 130 bar 

• Engine weight (dry) 209 kg 

• Emissions standard Euro 6 

13

The cylinder heads and injector surfaces are hardened 

by Mercedes-Benz Nanoslide technology, proven in the 

previous AMG V8 and current AMG F1 cars. Direct 

injection pushes fuel into the cylinders at up to 2,900 psi 

and the turbos rev to 186,000 rpm, with electric blow-off 

valves to push 2.3 times more oxygen into the cylinders 

than a normally aspirated engine does. 

Fuel consumption varies from 9.5 to 12.5 litres per 100 

km, with a 65 litre tank, a kerb weight of around 1,600 

kg and the luggage capacity is a usable 350 litres, plus it 

accommodates the inevitable set of golf clubs. 

The GTS with the Edition 1 includes the Black Diamond 

interior package, with performance seats in nappa leather 

and DINAMICA - a wear resistant soft suede from the 

feel, red seat belts (very groovy) and a very ergonomic 

performance steering wheel in DINAMICA with red 

stitching that is also found across the dashboard, console 

and seats, all very cool. 

The centre console (is huge and supposedly shaped like 

a Vee for V8) has the starter button, Comfort/Sport/Sport 

+ and Race mode selector, traction control, suspension, 

etc., and an exhaust loudness button, where I fully expect 

everyone to use the loud settings at all times through 

those cavernous exhausts exiting the carbon fibre ports. 

The driving position is comfortable once you have 

negotiated the very high sills (as high as the top of the 

seat, so ladies with short skirts beware!) and plonked 

yourself down, electronically adjusting the seat to suit. 

The mouse and large LCD screen provide all the other 

settings one could want or ever need to fiddle with. The 

interior feels robust, secure, comfortable and classy with 

an array of vents to suit every need. 

The attention to detail from the stitching to the buttons, 

trim, lighting and dials is all top notch. 

So here we go, push the start button and the car 

snarls in to action with a delightful crackle from 

the exhaust, settling into a deep resonant rumble, which 

is hugely satisfying to listen to. 

No mechanical parking brake levers anymore, this 

is fully digital, slip the selector into drive and we move 

forward down the ramp and through the forecourt to the 

road. 

For this foray, Sport + is selected as we ease out being 

14

careful not to scrape the low chin spoiler. 

Both windows are down, comfortable light filters through 

the tinted sunroof and we sit for a moment enjoying the 

sound of this wonderful car idling. 

Then all hell breaks loose. 

Sport + is more of a warp drive that Captain Kirk would 

approve of, as the car hunkers down and launches itself 

cheetah like with astounding grip very, very fast. Things 

whizz by and we hit a magic number a few seconds later, 

having been pushed firmly back into our seats. 

The exhaust note rises from a keen rumble straining to 

be let loose at the start escalating up to a high decibel, 

crackling crescendo as we hit our target speed! 

Manic laughter ensues, as this really is a 100% genuine 

AMG grin machine from front to back, while somewhere 

in the depths of my mind I can surely hear Clarkson 

yelling POWER! 

We navigate to a park for some photos, all the while 

blipping the accelerator just to see, hear and feel how this 

machine responds and it doesn’t disappoint. 

The car in the flesh is a visual feast to behold. I held a 

preconception that the rear looked a bit Porsche like, but 

when you see the body curves blend together with perfect 

panel gaps in a great new design, this is of no further 

concern. It is a very attractive car from all angles, whilst 

conveying a real sense of purpose, attitude, agility and 

raw power. 

My turn now. 

I pour myself into the drivers seat and set up the 

driving position. As I reach to indicate, I hit the cruise 

control, which for some reason has been placed (oddly to 

me) below the indicator stalk. 

No matter. Flick the e-brake off, select drive and feel the 

wheel turn along with the flappy paddles. Ease it out on 

to the road and off we go, sedately at first, as I feel like a 

lion tamer getting to know a new lion. 

A clear bit of road becomes available, so knowing what 

Mercedes-AMGs can do, I start having some fun, first 

testing the steering, which is adaptive and pin sharp, then 

the acceleration. 

The seven speed gearbox is really something. In auto 

mode the gear changes are in the blink of an eye and of 

course you can manually override this with the flappy 

15

Less wear. Optimal performance. 

The new high-performance engine oil from Mercedes-AMG. 

Mercedes-AMG High-Performance 0W-40 Engine Oil is specially developed for the demanding 

requirements of Mercedes-AMG engines, to guarantee optimal performance even under the 

most extreme operating conditions. Contact your authorised Mercedes-Benz dealership to 

find out more. www.mercedes-benz.com.au/oil

y A.King 

paddles, which seemed as fast, while holding the revs 

longer. The car powers forward through tight bends with 

no loss of grip at all, along with the howling wail of the 

race car exhaust blasting along in unison. Wow. 

Apparently, the Getrag gearbox unit from the SLS is now 

properly sorted from legacy gear change problems and 

coupled with a carbon fibre prop shaft to the engine works 

with a perfect 53:47% weight distribution to great effect. 

The GTS has a shorter wheelbase than the SLS, making 

the car more controllable and the bonnet is not snooker 

table size either, making it an easier proposition to handle 

and maneuver quickly. 

So let’s slip it into Race mode. 

Suspension stiffens, the exhaust note changes and 

the gear shifts are brutally immediate as is the throttle 

response. The beast is unleashed as 510 hp is let loose. 

It’s difficult to describe the next part as I could be piloting 

an F1 car for all intensive purposes. As fast as you think 

it, the car responds - instantly and most important - 

controllably. 

It is not trying to kill you, the opposite in fact, it works 

with whatever your intent to deliver the course, vector, 

acceleration, grip and response needed to complete the 

driving task. 

The ceramic brakes are fantastic, stopping the car on a 

dime, every time with no fade. 

The turbos exhibit no detectable lag coupling with 

instant engine response and are occasionally evident 

as a whine above the astounding exhaust concerto that 

crackles, snarls and roars as we power along. 

The sophisticated suspension and chassis are robustly 

engineered to handle racing and everything in between. 

The ride in the GTS is firm considering the big rims, 

performance tyres and chassis, but not uncomfortable. 

As we were not on a race track, the upper limits of the 

AMG GTS remain unexplored, however, I believe this 

machine to be capable of really great things with a talented 

and fearless driver at the wheel. 

To see the car being put through it’s paces around 

Laguna Seca in California, go to Youtube and search for 

“Chris Harris AMG GTS”. Simply amazing viewing. 

Comparing the Mercedes-AMG GTS to the Mercedes- 

AMG SLS is not the right thing to do. That said, people 

will want to know that the GTS is: lighter, smaller, as fast, 

more economic, cheaper, nimbler, more controllable and 

simply enormous fun. 

The Mercedes-AMG GT/GTS is not the SLS replacement. 

The Mercedes-AMG GT/GTS is the new AMG supercar 

in every sense of the word and thank you Lord (and G- 

Brothers) for letting me loose in one. 

NOTE: This actual vehicle will be available at Peter 

Warren Automotive Mercedes-Benz between October 7th 

and 12th during business hours - on 02 9828 8002. 

17

Arrive safely. 

Drive away even safer. 

When braking counts. 

Continental Tyres now available from authorised Mercedes-Benz dealerships. 

18www.continental-tyres.com.au

T S-C C 

by Daimler AG 

Coveted dream car of the 

1960s meets star of the 

2015 International Motor 

Show in Frankfurt: the new 

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet is 

following in the tradition of the opentop 

S-Class (model series 111 and 

112) from the period 1961 to 1971. 

Unmistakeable, exclusive design, 

fine materials with maximum highclass 

appeal in the interior and stateof-the-art 

technology in the S-Class 

characterise the concept behind both 

Cabriolets. “After 44 years we can 

again offer friends of our company 

an open variant of the S Class. The 

new S-Class Cabriolet symbolises our 

passion for individual and timelessly 

exclusive mobility, which we share 

with our customers”, remarks Ola 

Källenius, Board Member of Daimler 

AG, Mercedes-Benz Cars Sales. 

With the new S-Class Cabriolet 

Mercedes-Benz is setting itself 

the standard of building the most 

comfortable cabriolet in the world. 

When it comes to climate comfort the 

enhanced automatic wind protection 

system AIRCAP, the AIRSCARF necklevel 

heating system, the heated 

armrests, the seat heating also in 

the rear plus the intelligent fully 

automatic climate control ensure that 

this is indeed the case. 

The new S-Class Cabriolet is 

carrying the long and successful 

tradition of Mercedes-Benz luxurysegment 

Cabriolets into the future. 

Even back in the 1920s the luxury 

cabriolets from Stuttgart combined 

the freedom of open-top motoring with 

the comfort and safety of a Mercedes- 

Benz Saloon. From the start of postwar 

production, the top models from 

Mercedes-Benz were also available in 

the particularly exclusive variant as a 

Cabriolet. These included the 170 S 

(W 136) from 1949, the 220 (W 187) 

from 1951 and the 300 S (W 188) 

from 1952. 

After the “Ponton” Cabriolets 220 

S (W 180) and 220 SE (W 128) built 

from 1956 to 1960, in 1961 the 220 

SE Cabriolet of the model series W 

111 was launched, a particularly 

elegant, open-top four-seater, whose 

design is still considered timeless to 

this day. In this ten-year production 

period Mercedes-Benz offered five 

different models in these model 

series: the 220 SE, 250 SE, 300 SE (W 

112), 280 SE and, as a late top model, 

the eight-cylinder 280 SE 3.5 – in total 

7,013 units of these five Cabriolets 

were manufactured in Sindelfingen. 

For the time being there was no 

open-top luxury-segment car in the 

Mercedes-Benz model range to follow 

this generation: rather, it is the new 

SL from model series 107, which 

cultivated the tradition of open-top 

motoring in the Stuttgart brand’s cars 

– as a two-seater. 

The Cabriolets from Mercedes- 

Benz are today amongst the most 

sought-after classic cars – and the 

prices have developed accordingly. 

Examples of this are the Cabriolets 

from model series 111 whose values 

are cited by the renowned American 

Hagerty Insurance’s price guide. In 

its estimation a 280 SE 3.5 from the 

final year of construction, 1971, in 

good condition today has a value of 

around US$290,000 - ten years ago 

the figure was some US$115,000. 

But that is by no means the pinnacle: 

for instance, a specimen of this model 

in excellent condition was auctioned 

last August by RM Auctions for 

US$429,000. 

19

I S500 L 

M -B? 

My thanks go to David 

McCarthy and Matthew 

Pasiopoulos, Public 

Relations & Product 

Communications, Mercedes-Benz 

Cars, Mercedes-Benz Australia/ 

Pacific Pty Ltd, for supplying the 

magnificent S500 L (Long wheelbase) 

for me to review, whilst sampling 

the rolling hills of the beautiful 

countryside outside Melbourne. 

This awesome looking and 

fearsomely handsome car has a 

presence like no other on the road, 

probably due to its heritage, but 

mostly to its stance. The imposing 

four door long wheelbase sedan has 

beautifully contoured lines with 

excellent all round vision. 

On picking up from Mercedes-Benz 

Airport Express Tullamarine, I took 

the opportunity to photograph the 

S500L while it was sitting on the 

tarmac. 

This has to be one of the largest 

vehicles I have had the pleasure 

of driving, but I have to hastily 

add that when ensconced in the 

luxurious cockpit there is no feeling 

of uneasiness, you are immediately at 

home with a sense of calm the interior 

gives you. 

One aspect I particularly enjoy 

about driving late model Mercedes- 

Benz is the familiarity that exists 

within different models. I currently 

drive a 2010 E-Class, but entering the 

address of Victorian Club President 

- Brian Billing into the sat nav 

and being directed to his doorstep 

one hour away was absolutely no 

problem as many of the functions are 

replicated from model to model. 

This is not to say that I did not enjoy 

the extra long video screen integrated 

into the superb looking dash 

surrounded by beautifully polished 

wood, all simply stunning! 

The beautifully constructed interior 

is a combination of old world charm 

and cutting edge technology, as shown 

with the smooth analogue clock on 

the dash fascia, highly polished wood 

and the exquisite attention to detail 

in the stitching. The multi function/ 

multi movement seats are as soft as 

you would like for a long journey, 

yet firm enough to support you in all 

the right places when cornering or 

enjoying winding country lanes. 

Running on 18 inch run flat tyres, 

the ride is smooth and reassuring. 

The independent suspension irons 

out any unwanted potholes with ease! 

On this car and many of the new 

20

y V.Thompson 

E A D 

models, we find the gear selector is 

a column mounted (right hand side) 

stalk, which I admit both Brian and I 

reached for on one or two occasions! 

The Burmeister sound system 

offers one of the best range of sounds 

available for automobiles today, with 

infinite adjustments in the system 

to suit your own style and the large 

range of media available is, well, like 

the rest of the car, impressive! 

The vast array of accessories 

available on this model is staggering, 

certainly too many to list here. Suffice 

to say there is plenty to read up on in 

the thick ‘how to’ manual supplied, 

while Brian and I had fun testing the 

Distronic and Lane Assist functions. 

Underneath the bonnet the massive 

V8 engine moves this two tonne 

vehicle with consummate ease. While 

these limousines are ideally built for 

cruising the autobahns of Europe, 

they still get away smartly from any 

set of traffic lights! 

After a blissful drive I handed 

Brian the keys, as I knew his local 

knowledge of the surrounding areas 

would get us off the motorways and 

into the beautiful countryside. He did 

not disappoint me as we headed to the 

Mornington Peninsula via East Link 

and Peninsula Link, visited Arthurs 

Seat and went via Main Ridge to 

Boneo, then along the back roads to 

Sorrento where we stopped for lunch. 

We travelled back along the edge of 

the bay via Point Nepean Road, The 

Esplanade and the Nepean Highway 

to Frankston returning Brian home 

via East Link, before I headed for the 

airport. 

S500 L specificaon 

Internal model series 

W222 

Model variant number 222082 

Restricon code 0-806 Model Year 2016 

Arrangement/no. of cylinders 

V8 

Transmission 

Automac 

Total displacement cc 4.663 

Rated output kW [hp] at rpm 

1335 [455]/5.250-5.500 

Rated torque (Nm at rpm) 700/1.800 - 3.500 

Acceleraon 0-100 km/h seconds 4.8 

Top speed km/h 250 

Tyres/wheels, front 

245/50 R18 

Tyres/wheels, rear 

245/50 R18 

Fuel 

Premium unleaded 

Fuel consumpon, urban 13.0-12.1 l/100 km 

Fuel consumpon,extra-urban 7.2-6.4 l/100 km 

Fuel consumpon, combined 9.1-8.5l/100km 

CO2 emissions combined g/km 213-199 

Tank capacity/reserve L 80/8.0 

Kerb weight/payload kg 1.995/700 

Perm. gross vehicle weight kg 2.695 

21

Special service and prices to Mercedes-Benz car club members. 

Sales•Service•Repairs 

Book now! 9621 6488 

Full workshop facilities • BRbrakes@iftelecom.com.au • 176 Sunnyholt Rd, Blacktown 

Reservoir 

Smash 

Repairs 

For great deals on 

club car restoration work 

CALL 9831 4480 

All insurance & private work. Email: rres6922@bigpond.net.au Fax: 9671 2850 

Unit 35-36/11 Romford Road, Blacktown, 2148 Lic No. 022224

Mercedes-Benz Clubs National Rally 2016 

You are invited to be in the Mercedes-Benz Clubs of Australia 2016 National Rally 

Celebrating 40 years of the National Rally 

This is an open Invitation from the 2016 National 

Rally President and President of the MBCNSW to all. 

The Mercedes-Benz Club of NSW is proud to host the 

2016 National Rally. We extend a warm invitation to all 

members of Australian and overseas Clubs to join in on 

the exciting schedule of events and to enjoy our warm 

hospitality. 

Commencing at 2pm Friday, 11 March 2016 registration 

begins at the beach side Novotel hotel in Brighton- 

Le-Sands. A welcome Cocktail Party from 5pm that 

evening will be followed on Saturday by a morning drive 

through the beautiful Royal National Park and across the 

spectacular Seacliff Bridge for a day touring the scenic 

Kiama township, including a boutique winery visit. 

Sunday will see a day of activity on foot in the heart of 

Sydney city culminating in dinner on the harbour as the 

sun sets leaving a stunning show of city lights on our 

world famous icons, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the 

Sydney Opera House. 

Monday takes us to the famed Bradman Oval at Bowral 

for a “game of cricket” on the hallowed turf. 

Registration is now open. Show your interest by 

completing the registration and payment form. We look 

forward to welcoming you ALL soon. 

Sydney, Australia 11th – 14th March 2016 

FULL ACCOMMODATION & EVENTS PACKAGE 

• 4.5 star accommodaon Friday, Saturday and Sunday 

nights with secure, undercover parking 

• Full breakfast each morning with all Accommodaon 

packages 

• Cocktail Party with drinks and a Harbour Cruise dinner 

• Transport to and from Sydney CBD for a tour of the 

Opera House, the Rocks and Harbour Cruise 

• Commemorave Rally Kit of gis including grill badge, 

discount vouchers, rally informaon and instrucons 

• Accommodaon packages include all excursions 

For program and more information please visit: 

www.mbcnsw.org.au/nationalrally2016 

Email: rally2016@mbcnsw.org.au 

Payment policy & cancellation: 

Payment of the Deposit and Full Payment before 1 December 2015 assures 

your participation in the 2016 National Rally. Early bird discounts apply 

to packages paid in full before 1 September 2015. Full Payment must be 

completed by 1 December otherwise any deposit is forfeited. All selections 

will be honoured on a first come first serve basis. No warranty is made that a 

particular selection will be available. Note that both Day 3 tours are walking 

tours of up to 90 minutes if you are able, you must opt in as indicated. 

There is no liability to refund any monies paid. Certain payments or part 

payments may be refunded if selections are oversubscribed at the sole 

discretion of the 2016 National Rally Committee. 

Vince Thompson - President MBCNSW 

Simon Strauss - National Rally President 

If a payment has been received and a refund is requested, the 2016 National 

Rally Committee will consider the reasons for the request and may make an 

ex-gratia refund at its sole discretion. 

23

National Rally 2016 entry form 

Participants 

Surname: 

GivenName: 

PartnerSurname: 

GivenName: 

EmailAddress: 

PostalAddress: 

State: Post/Zipcode: Country: 

Homephonenumber: 

Mobile/Cellphonenumber: 

HomeMBClub: 

MembershipNo.: 

YourMBDetails(yourfavouriteifyouhave>one): Year: Model: 

RegistrationNumber: Type: Colour: 

Ifyouarebringinga4doorvehiclewouldyoubewillingtocarryextrapassengers? 

YesNoN/A 

Ifyouarenotbringingavehicle,doyourequiretransportduringyourstay? 

YesNoN/A 

Doyourequirewheelchairaccessoradisabilityfriendlyroom? 

YesNo 

Foodallergiesorspecialdietaryrequirements?(If'Yes',wewillcontactyou) 

YesNo 

ParticipationPackages 

Price(AUD): xQty: =Total: 

PackagesandDay3touroptions 

SingleandCouplespackagesincludeallexcursionactivitiesandoneRallyKit. 

Singlepersonpackagewithaccommodation $1,360.00 

ChooseyourDay3activities/tours: 

Freetime/marketsAM:TheRocks(historic)PM:OperaHouse 

Couplespackagewithaccommodation $1,800.00 

Indicate1or2peopleforeachDay3activity/touroption: 

Pleaseindicateyourbedchoice: 


TwinDouble 

 

Guaranteeanoceanviewroom $120.00 

 

Singlepersonpackage(noaccommodation) $680.00 

ChooseyourDay3activities/tours: 


 

Couplespackage(noaccommodation) $1,060.00 

Indicate1or2peopleforeachDay3activity/touroption: 


 

AdditionalRallyKit(includinggrillbadge)Eachpackageincludes1RallyKit $100.00 

Excursions(alreadyincludedinpackages) 

 

ChoosefromtheseexcursionsONLYifyouhaveNOTselectedapackageabove 

Day1CocktailPartyNovotelwithdrinkspackage $100.00 

Day2Kiamalunch $40.00 

Day2ParkingatNovotel&citytransfers $80.00 

Day3ParkingatNovotel&citytransfers 

$80.00 

 

Day3ToursTheRocks(limited)andOperaHouse 

Day3Harbourcruise,dinner&drinkspackage(Paymentbefore30/9/15) 

$35.00 

$160.00 

Day4Bowrallunch $45.00 

Totals:Earlybirddiscountsapplytopackagespaidinfullbefore1/9/15.FullPaymentmustbecompletedby1/12/15 

EarlybirddiscountforaSinglepersonpackage $50.00 

EarlybirddiscountforaCouplespackage $75.00 

 

FULLPAYMENTAMOUNT(totalofPackagesorExcursionslessDiscount): 

DEPOSITAMOUNT(onlyrequiredforPackages): $400.00 

IhavereadtheCancellation&PaymentPolicy.SIGNED:…….…………………………………………………................. 

PAYMENTS for Mercedes-Benz Clubs Naonal Rally 2016 

1. Cheques payable to: Mercedes-Benz Naonal Rally 

2. Direct Credit: BSB 012 217 Acc No: 2926 65345 Mercedes-Benz Naonal Rally 

Ref: Rally (and your name) 

3. Credit Card for the sum of: AUD_______________ VISA OR MASTERCARD 

Card Number: _______ _______ _______ ________ Name:_______________________________ 

Card Expiry: _____/_____ 

Cardholder signature:_______________________________ 

4. Send completed form (plus any cheques in AUD) to: Mercedes-Benz Club 2016 Rally, c/o Simon Strauss, 

90 Boundary Rd, Wahroonga, NSW, 2076 OR please scan and email to: rally2016@mbcnsw,org.au 

 

 

24

Calendar of Events 

Wednesday 7 - 13 October 2015 

AMG GTS at Mercedes-Benz 

Peter Warren Automotive 

Our Club sponsor Mercedes-Benz 

Peter Warren has the new Mercedes- 

AMG GTS at their dealership during 

this me - featured in this issue! Get 

along to have your hair blown back 

with this amazing machine, plus see 

their great range of vehicles in their 

luxury showroom. 

Time: Open 7 days 

Locaon: 13 Hume Hwy, Warwick 

Farm, 2170. Phone: 02 9828 8002 

Contact: Kurt Marlowe 

www.mbpeterwarrenautomotive. 

com.au 

Sunday 11 October 2015 

Machines & Macchiatos at 

Le Montage 

Enjoy a great array of Vintage, 

Classics, Customs, Hot Rods, Exocs & 

Motorcycles with coffee and snacks. 

Held on the second Sunday monthly. 

Time: 8 to 10.00am. 

Locaon: Le Montage car park, 38 

Frazer St, Lilyfield, 2040. 


Supercar d’Elegance Cars & 

Coffee 

Enjoy a great spectacle of supercars 

and hypercars run by Sam Movizio, 

along with morning coffee and snacks. 

Held on the third Sunday monthly. 





Richmond Polo Day 

Sydney Polo Club, 100 Ridges Lane 

Richmond, 2753. 

MBCNSW and other Car Clubs can 

enjoy the polo finals. Open the boot 

of your Mercedes-Benz, enjoy some 

champagne & a picnic with polo. 

hp://www.nswpolo.com.au 

events@mbcnsw.org.au 

Saturday 24 October 2015 

Tech Day at Kass Smash Repairs 

Club members are welcome at this 

tech day demonstraon of the skills 

required for effecvely repairing and 

restoring classic vehicles. 

Time: 10.00am. 

Locaon: 30 Edinburgh Rd, 

Marrickville, 2204. 

Events Director John Assarapin 

Phone: 0418 785 815 aer 5pm. 

Saturday 31 October 2015 

MBCNSW Presentation Dinner 

Halloween Theme 

Our annual black e Club presentaon 

dinner. Celebrate another great 

year of Club life with a three 

course meal, find out the Concours 

d’Elegance class winners and enjoy 

all the entertainment with friends at 

Halloween! 

Drinks and canapes at 7:00pm. 

BOOKING essenal - NO ckets at door 

Tickets $100 pp members & partners 

$120 for non-members. 

RSVP & payment by 21 October. 

Time: 7.00pm to midnight. 

Locaon: Le Montage Funcon Centre, 

38 Frazer St, Lilyfield, 2040. 


Phone: 0418 785 815 aer 5pm. 

Sunday 1 November 2015 

Cars ‘n Coffee 

St Ives showground 

The North Shore Sporng Car Club 

has taken over from Cavallinos Cars ‘n 

Coffee event to host this spectacle. 

Any vehicles can turn up and enjoy a 

great car show with plenty of room 

for Supercars, Classics, Muscle, Rods 

& Customs. Coffee & snacks available. 

Display cars pay a $5 donaon to the 

Youth off the Streets charity. 

Held on the first Sunday monthly. 


Locaon: St Ives Showground, 

450 Mona Vale Road, Saint Ives, 2075 

hp://nsscc.com.au/ 

Saturday 7 November 2015 


Coffee 

Enjoy a great spectacle of supercars 

and hypercars run by Sam Movizio, 

with coffee and the Growers Market. 

Held on the first Saturday monthly. 


Locaon: Doltone House, 26-32 Pirrama 

Rd, Pyrmont, 2009, by Star City Casino. 

Wednesday 4 November 2015 

MBCNSW Annual General 

Meeting 

Our big annual meeng. Members are 

asked to support the Club however 

the can, enjoy Mercedes-Benz related 

stories & chat aerwards. 

Time: 8.00pm. 

Locaon: Barnwell Park Golf Club, 

551 Lyons Road West, Five Dock, 2046. 

secretary@mbcnsw.org.au 

Saturday 7 November 2015 

The Topless Drive 

Great weather, sunroof or top down. 

The Club convoy will drive to Stanwell 

Tops, then the old highway to dinner 

at a pub circa 1880 around 6.00pm. 

Time: 4.00pm. 

Locaon: Hazelhurst Gallery car park, 

782 Kingsway, Gymea, 2227. 


Phone: 0418 785 815 aer 5pm. 


Machines & Macchiatos at 

Le Montage 

Held on the second Sunday monthly.. 






Coffee 

Held on the third Sunday monthly. 




Sunday 6 December 2015 

The MBCNSW Christmas Picnic. 

Celebrate the fesve season and good 

weather with friends and the Club at 

the last event of this year on our social 

calendar. Bring your own picnic and 

enjoy this great locaon with us. 

Time: 11.00am onwards. 

Locaon: Casuarina Point, Lane Cove 

Naonal Park, Lady Game Drive, 

Chatswood West, 2067. 

(Park entry fees apply) 


Phone: 0418 785 815 aer 5pm. 

25

A Daimler Brand 

MER2393 

26 

43-47 O’Riordan Street Alexand

Experience Passion at 

Mercedes-Benz Sydney. 

Proudly supporting the passion and enthusiasm 

of the Mercedes-Benz Club of NSW. 

Mercedes-Benz Sydney, in Alexandria, delivers the ultimate Mercedes-Benz experience. Boasting an 

18,000 square metre footprint over three levels and home to the largest selection of New and Pre-Owned 

Mercedes-Benz vehicles in NSW; Mercedes-Benz Sydney is the ultimate destination to experience: 

- A dedicated AMG showroom displaying a range of high-performance AMG models. 

- State-of-the-art workshop facilities with 38 work bays equipped with the latest diagnostic 

technology and equipment. 

- Luxurious guest conveniences including multiple lounge areas and dedicated Finance 

and Insurance centre. 

Our team of Star Guild award-winning Sales Executives and Business Managers will help you find 

a Mercedes-Benz to suit you and a Mercedes-Benz Financial Services package to put you in the 

driver’s seat. 

For more information visit: www.mbsydney.com.au or call 02 9697 7777 to arrange a test-drive. 

ria NSW 2015 Ph. 02 9697 7777 

27 

LMCT 12572

Shannons Eastern Creek Classic 

1 

1. 1936 MB 500K 2. SL 500 & 280 C 3. Jaguars 4. 1911 Renault 5. 1956 Cadillac 

2 

3 

4 

5 

1800 

 

A 

sunny Sunday, more 

car Clubs than you can 

poke a stick at and the 

most amazing gathering 

of over 1,800 classic and vintage cars 

from the turn of the last century! 

All makes and marques were 

represented in this unique display 

hosted by Shannons as one of their 

premiere annual events, where even 

more amazing was to see them in 

drive as a convoy around Sydney 

Motorpsort park. 

The MBCNSW had a prime spot near 

the track entry, with a great turnout 

of vehicles. Our 45 Club members, 

parked their cars around 9.30am. 

Soon dusters are out, as are picnic 

tables and chairs for some, while 

others prefered to go and explore the 

expansive classic car displays. 

This year our Club display included 

a wide range of Mercedes-Benz from 

the 1950s to the present day. The 

popular and iconic R107s abounded, 

Geoff Giles, George Timothy, Vince 

150 

 

Thompson and Mike Fleming brought 

their respective cars. Michael 

Malik had his W116 6.9 there, Bill 

Greenville brought his R129 with 

John and Albert in their 114 coupés. 

However, all these paled when 

compared to the very special and 

rare red 1936 500 SSK replica, which 

proved very popular with the crowds! 

The Shannons Eastern Creek Classic 

car event is getting bigger each year, 

and it highlights anniversaries of 

various brands, marques and specific 

models. 

There is a great showground 

atmosphere at the track, with doubledecker 

bus rides, fire engines, 

queues for food and drinks, plus a 

rock band playing in the pit garage 

competing against all the growling 

V8 performance engines. 

This year celebrated fifty years of 

the Mini Deluxe, the Mini Cooper S 

and Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, as 

well as the HD Holden. 

All these classic vehicles gleamed 

28

6 7 8 by J.Assarapin & A.King 

6. 1930 Cadillac V16 7. MBCNSW heads to track 8. MBCNSW display at infield 

in the sunshine, punctuated by V8s 

roaring from sixties muscle cars to 

amazing sounds from vintage engines, 

including a 1930 V16 Cadillac, fully 

restored at a cost of $1M plus! 

American cars from the thirties to 

the seventies were well represented, 

from Mustangs, Camaros, Model T’s 

and Thunderbirds to the enormous 

‘Chrome Caddys’ of the fifties. 

The 1956 Cadillac has large chrome 

bullets at the front, which are 

affectionately known as ‘Dagmars’, 

apparently after a popular, curvy 

actress of the 1950s. 

Where else can you see 1938 

Packards, 1955 Chevrolet Belair 

convertibles as well as many 

Australian cars of the fifties to the 

eighties, such as Falcon XP hardtops, 

Valiant’s and even a few HQ Monaros. 

Not to be outdone, the British 

marques were there with Minis, 

Rolls Royces, Jaguars, Austins and a 

sprinkling of Aston Martins. 

Shannons Eastern Creek Classic 

is a very special car event, where 

a Renault looks interesting and a 

Chevy looks exclusive. You have 

to be there to see what this is all 

about, so If you haven’t been..... 

DO NOT miss next year! 

9 10 

9. Vintage buses 

10. Mustangs 

11. Packed club display area 

12. Ford GT40 

13. Thunderbirds 

14. Vintage fire truck 

15. Plymouth Fury 

12 

11 

13 

14 15 

29

SGA bowling night 

by N.Harris SGA Director 

This is our third consecutive 

year for the Sydney German 

Autofest bowling night and 

our members were hyped up 

for the challenge. 

Manhattan Superbowl at Mascot 

was the venue for an 8.00pm start 

with participants arriving by 7.30pm 

to socialise over a drink. 

The premises has a sixties theme, 

which looks great with sofas 

mimicking the boot of a Chevy, plus 

lots of memorabilia around, making 

the atmosphere very welcome. 

MBCNSW was well attended with 

eighteen members of all ages. 

The Porsche Club was headed up 

by the ever popular Paul Muras, who 

had six Porsche Club members on 

his team, BMW had President Bob 

Williams making sure their social 

team had a good time. 

With six lanes booked, we took aim 

at the pins and off we went. The music 

was fantastic with the local DJ playing 

requests and the ladies team started 

dancing in the aisles, with most of us 

joining in. 

Some of us who had not played since 

last year got better as the wine flowed. 

Others were just good, with many 

different bowling styles on show. 

The final tally counting thousands 

of pins was added up by George from 

Manhattan Superbowl to ensure 

integrity. The Porsche Club had won 

by three single pins on average. 

Eros achieved the highest individual 

points and Evian Delfabbro won 

overall from the ladies, so the 

MBCNSW won the fun part of the 

night. 

It was a great evening and we look 

forward to next year’s challenge! 

Precise Workmanship. Genuine Quality. 

Authorised Auto Body Repairers 

Artarmon 

LSR Auto Body 

41 Hotham Parade, Artarmon 2064 

Tel: 02 9439 8366 

Email: staff@lsrautobody.com.au 

www.mblsrautobody.com.au 

Parramatta 

Parramatta Smash Repairs 

607 Church Steet, North Parramatta 2151 

Tel: 02 9630 7200 

Email: parrasr@bigpond.net.au 

www.parramattasmashrepairs.com.au 

Alexandria 

Perfect Auto Body Pty Ltd 

22 O’Riordan Street, Alexandria 2015 

Tel: 02 9699 3000 

Email: reception@perfectautobody.com.au 

www.mbperfectautobody.com.au 

Caringbah 

Miranda Auto Body 

64 Captain Cook Drive, Caringbah 2229 

Tel: 02 9525 8673 

Email: admin@mirandaautobody.com.au 

www.mirandaautobody.com.au 

Five Dock 

Pat Coles Autobody 

129 Parramatta Road, Five Dock 2046 

Tel: 02 9745 4444 

Email: chris@patcolesautobody.com 

www.mbpatcoles.com.au 

30

AutoSalon d’Elegance tech day 

This is the 15th year stalwart 

member Sam Movizio has opened 

the doors of his Auto Spa at Auburn 

in Sydney to the members of the 

MBCNSW. 

Sam is the Chairman of the 

Australian Concours d’Elegance 

and provides an informative day as 

he leads the workshop and reveals 

the secrets to preparing a vehicle to 

Concours level. 

AutoSalon d’Elegance is dedicated to 

bringing vehicles back to showroom 

condition, rejuvenating them with 

aesthetic advanced technology. 

Saturday 25th July was a perfect 

sunny day to have our beautiful 

Mercedes-Benz cars out on the road 

for the world to admire! I had my 

560SEC out for this event to do what 

it does best.... cruise! Arriving a bit 

earlier than I did last year, Sam had 

already opened the doors of his Auto 

Spa and was putting the final touches 

to preparations. 

A good number of members had 

already gathered and we were all 

welcomed by Sam. Several members 

continued doing what they do best, 

mingling, talking and looking at each 

others cars. Food and refreshments 

were prepared by Sam’s wife Vicki 

and daughter Lauron. Thank you 

ladies for a fantastic job, arranging 

an impressive tasty lunch for our 

members, with plenty of coffee, tea 

and soft drinks to wet ones whistle, 

which was most appreciated. 

Sam opened the proceedings, 

inviting the members to fill their 

plates and enjoy lunch, after which 

he then ran through the many areas 

of a car that need to be addressed in 

preparing for a Concours, in other 

words how to clean your Mercedes- 

Benz within an inch of it’s life for 

judging! 

This year, it was hands on for 

our members, who were handed 

the buffing machine under expert 

supervision of Sam, Keith and other 

skilled staff. Everyone got the feel and 

gained some on-the-job experience at 

buffing paint to a beautiful smooth 

lustre. 

We had a tour of his expanding 

premises and were shown many 

expensive cars in different stages 

of dismantle, as well as damaged 

by S.Robertson 

cars waiting to be repaired. These 

included a number of Mercedes-Benz 

and a Lamborghini with extensive 

front end damage. Sam explained 

some of the pitfalls and tricks of the 

trade when inspecting and preparing 

estimates for repairing such damaged 

cars. 

We were shown his workshops 

and two new paint boothes, where 

the ducco is made as good as new. 

I am sure, as other members would 

attest, it was another informative and 

enjoyable afternoon there, but was 

soon time to head home. 

If you have not attended Sam’s 

instructional afternoons before, 

please make the effort next time Sam 

opens his heart and his Auto Spa 

doors to the members of our Club. 

There were easily thirty members 

who attended the day and on behalf 

of the executive and members of the 

MBCNSW, I would like to extend a big 

thank you to Sam, his Wife Vicki and 

daughter Lauron for making us feel 

so welcome and feeding us so well. It 

was great, so to coin a movie phrase, 

“I’ll be back”! 

31

1 

1. Hanspeter Karches and Bernd Regensburger 

driving their Unimog U 100 L. First in the 

Small Truck Cross Country class. 

2. Krzysztof Ostaszewski, Lukasz Piasecki, 

Slawomir Papaj and their Mercedes-Benz 

Zetros were the winners in the Big Truck 

Extreme class. 

2 

3. German-Dutch team of Alfred Wemhoff 

and navigator Simon Meintema emerged 

victorious driving Wemhoff’s 1987 Unimog 

from model series 437. 

The Wroclaw Poland Rally, 

also known as the “Dakar 

Rally of the North”, is an 

international, licencefree 

and cross-border marathon 

rally. For the participants in the 

various commercial vehicle, car, 

side-by-side (SSV), motorcycle and 

quad categories, the eight days of 

unadulterated motor racing for the 

most part embody the last real big 

adventure and often take them to the 

limits of their capabilities. 

The off-road rally was first run in 

1995 and back then counted just 60 

vehicles at the start – 35 cars, 20 

motorcycles and five trucks. Today, 

the Wroclaw Poland Rally is an 

internationally established event and 

one of the largest, toughest and most 

demanding competitions among the 

licence-free off-road rallies in Europe. 

Three amateur teams from Germany 

and Poland were victorious driving 

Unimog and Zetros trucks in the 

“Small Truck Extreme”, “Big Truck 

Extreme” and “Small Truck Cross 

Country” categories. 

When it comes to offering equipment 

for extreme situations, Mercedes- 

Benz has been considered a specialist 

for decades. Where robustness, 

performance and reliability count 

the Unimog and Zetros convince on 

and off the road. Now the two offroad 

specialists demonstrated their 

advantages once again. 

The three amateur teams whipped 

the attending crowd into a frenzy 

with Mercedes-Benz vehicles at this 

year’s Wroclaw Poland extreme offroad 

rally: after eight nerve-racking 

days at the absolute limit, rally 

driver Alfred Wemhoff from the 

German Westmünsterland region 

and his Dutch navigator Simon 

Meintema emerged victorious driving 

Wemhoff’s newly built rally Unimog 

from the Unimog model series 437 in 

the category “Small Truck Extreme”, 

approved for trucks with a gross 

vehicle weight (GVW) of less than 7.5 

tonnes. 

Polish rally specialists Krzysztof 

Ostaszewski, Lukasz Piasecki and 

Slawomir Papaj were also able to 

score a major success driving a 

Mercedes-Benz Zetros truck. After 

a tiring race, they too were able to 

climb the top spot of the podium in 

the “Big Truck Extreme” category for 

trucks with a GVW of more than 7.5 

tonnes. 

32

S M-B 

W P R 

3 by Daimler AG 

First to cross the finish line was the 

Unimog U 100 L of Hanspeter Karches 

and co-driver Bernd Regensburger in 

the fast “Small Truck Cross Country” 

category. This typical rally raid 

category dispenses with fording deep 

water holes and having to carry a 

mandatory winch as is required in 

the other categories. 

Instead, precise navigation and 

high speeds complete with hard sand 

tracks and several racing kilometres 

are crucial – and this year these were 

realized perfectly by the Karches/ 

Regensburger team. 

This year, the gruelling off-road 

marathon took participants from 

Hohenmoelsen near Leipzig in 

Germany to Drawsko Pomorskie in 

Poland. The 127 rally teams from 

15 countries entered in the rally 

successfully battled breathtaking 

fords, deep mud holes, spectacular 

steep hills and sand tracks with dust 

trails metres high over the course 

of eight days and a distance of more 

than 1500 kilometres. 

The rally winners and the champions 

of the other categories also precisely 

navigated and mastered the obstaclestrewn 

stages on the premises of the 

brown coal surface mine in Profen, the 

difficult night stage on the swampy 

military training area in Biedrusko 

and the ride over the sandy tracks on 

the Polish military compound in the 

forests of Borne Sulinowo. 

Alfred Wemhoff was particularly 

delighted about his win. The owner of 

family-owned Wemhoff GmbH & Co. 

KG Company, which buys and sells 

silo and tipper vehicles in Legden in 

the German Münsterland region, has 

already taken on the exertions of the 

Wroclaw Poland Rally for the seventh 

time. 

This year he crossed the finish 

line for the first time as the winner 

after a nett driving time of 29 hours 

– driving a 1987 Unimog converted 

from a U 1700 and U 2450 model. He 

finished more than three hours ahead 

of the second-place vehicle. 

He proudly calls a roll cage, special 

shock absorbers, bucket seats, 

modified approach and departure 

angles, winch, about 330 horsepower, 

a high-speed transmission for speeds 

up to about 125 km/h and, last but 

not least, off-road driving skills, vast 

experience and steady driving with 

good navigation his personal secrets 

to success. 

33

1 

8 

1. 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500 SSK replica 

2. Front detail of the SSK replica 

3. 1972 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 

4. 600 Grosser Mercedes-Benz 

5. 190 SL interior 

6. 1976 Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC 

7. 1938 Type 170V Mercedes-Benz 

8. Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC 

7 

6 

5 

34 

Full image gallery of the 2015 Concours d’Elegance is at www.mbcnsw.org.au

Concours d’Elegance 2015 gallery 

images by C.Rankin & A.King 

4 

2 

3 

Full story of the 2015 Concours d’Elegance in the next issue of Star Torque 

35

9 

1 

8 

1. Record Club number of 190 SLs line up 

2. Row of Mercedes-Benz 190 SLs 

3. C63 AMG and Mercedes-Benz CLKs 

4. Mercedes-Benz 450 SLs 

5. Fully restored black 190 SL 

6. Kurt from Peter Warren with the new GLE 

7. Line up of Mercedes-Benz SEs 

8. Interior of Mercedes-Benz 450 SL 

9. The Mercedes-Benz SL Pagoda line up 

7 

6 

5 

36 




4 

2 

3 


37

9 

1 

8 

1. Mercedes-Benz 450 SL 

2. Mercedes-Benz hearse 

3. 220 SE Cabriolet in line up of SEs 

4. 190 SL, SL 500 & Brabus K8 

5. Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 

6. 1963 modified 300 SE with Grosser 6.3L V8 

7. Unrestored Mercedes-Benz 190 SL 

8. Line up of Mercedes-Benz SEs 

9. 1958 Mercedes-Benz Adenauer 

7 

6 

5 

38 




4 

2 

3 


39

GLASS 

GLASS 

AND MOORE GLASS! 

Thousands of Windscreens and glasses 

Also Rear Glasses Late Models 

For All models—Imported or Local 

Classic and Collectables 

All autoglass parts supplied and installed. 

Presige and restoration model specialists 

(Since 1964) 

RALPH MOORE AUTO GLASS P/L 

6 JOHN STREET 

MASCOT N.S.W. 2020 

Phone; (02) 9667 1933 

(02) 9669 1628 

Fax; (02) 9669 6605 

ISD Code (61-2) 

email: autoglass@bigpond.com 

www.ralphmoore.citysearch.com.au 

40

Mercedes-Benz Sydney cocktail party 

by Club reporter 

photos C.Rankin 

Over one hundred members 

and guests enjoyed a 

very pleasant evening at 

Mercedes-Benz Sydney, as 

they once again hosted our annual 

Club cocktail party on their AMG 

floor. 

Club member Mark Hertz displayed 

his stunning, Concours winning 

1972 W108 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 

along with Horst Schuster’s fabulous 

Mercedes-AMG SLS. 

Long serving member Scott 

Robertson created a historic sight by 

lining up his W126 SEC next to the 

latest two door saloon, the awesome 

Mercedes-AMG S63! 

Sir Victor Nash, currently busy 

reviving the motoring sector of the 

Royal Automobile Club, spent time 

talking about future events with our 

Club president Vince Thompson. 

Vince and our new Club social 

director Evian Delfabbro performed 

‘meet and greet’ duties, before 

officially opening the party with 

words of thanks to those who had 

contributed so much toward the 

evening. 

The MBCNSW is lucky to have 

such supportive members as Kathy 

Assarapin and Evian, who both have 

great experience in organising events 

outside our Club. Kathy used caterers 

‘Feast’ for previous functions, so they 

were engaged for a second time after 

such a good response last year. 

President Vince Thompson donated 

items bought from the Mercedes-Benz 

Museum in Stuttgart as raffle prizes, 

so the winner was delighted with 

their Mercedes-Benz watch! He also 

presented Collette Campbell with her 

twenty year membership badge. 

Good conversation, laughter and 

cool music from the jazz band all 

came together to make for a very 

enjoyable and entertaining evening. 

Our thanks goes to Mercedes-Benz 

Sydney for supplying such a great 

venue and to Evian, Kathy and the 

organisers for making a great night! 

41

PRECISION 

BODYREPAIRS

A 

 

 

M - 

B GLC 

by MB AP 

Mercedes-Benz 

Fashion 

Festival 

Sydney 

Marking the Australian premiere of the 

new Mercedes-Benz GLC, the appearance 

with Coco Rocha is the first in Australia 

with the vehicle, which goes on sale later 

this year. 

CEO Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific, Horst von 

Sanden said, 

“We are excited that fashion goers will be the first 

in Australia to see the all new Mercedes-Benz GLC, a 

new addition to our local range, which goes on sale in 

December this year”. 

“The demands on cars and fashion are similar, with a 

focus on both innovation and design. The new GLC is 

not only pleasing to look at, but also carries the latest 

technology currently on offer from Mercedes-Benz.” 

After the vehicles first Australian appearance 

with Coco Rocha, the Mercedes-Benz GLC will be on 

display at Sydney Town Hall during the Mercedes- 

Benz Fashion Festival Sydney, offering festival goers 

the first opportunity to touch and feel one of the most 

anticipated vehicles to hit the Australian market in 

2015. 

43

Contact Simon Foster at: 

The Toymaker 

Ph: (02) 9938 5153 

Email: thetoymaker@aapt.net.au 

Address: 1/16 Sydnenham Rd Brookvale NSW, 2100 

Hamilton Funerals 

A family owned funeral service 

Hamilton Funerals is a boutique 

family business owned and operated by 

Adam and Michael Flanagan. We aim to 

fulfil the needs of our clients in the most 

dignified, professional yet personal way. 

BEE 

sure your print job 

is the best it can be 

BEE Printmail 

Specialists in printing and mailing 

club magazines and newsletters 

Why go out in a ford? 

North Shore Eastern Suburbs Nth Beaches 

9489 2228 9326 9707 9907 4888 

29 Redleaf Avenue Wahroonga 2076 

www.hamiltonfunerals.com.au 

Offset Printing 

Digital Printing 

Design 

Prepress 

Mailing 

Distribution 

Eco-friendly Technology 

49 Herbert Street 

Artarmon NSW 2064 

9437 6917 

beeprint@printd.com.au 

44

Peter Warren sponsors Club 

The Mercedes-Benz Club of NSW welcomes 

the Peter Warren Automotive Mercedes-Benz 

dealership at Warwick Farm as one of our 

official and major Club sponsors. 

We look forward to working with the executive team 

there to build a mutually beneficial relationship together 

in support of the Mercedes-Benz brand, our Club and 

to new ownership of these fine vehicles to our Club 

members and customers residing within the local area of 

this magnificent dealership. 

We sincerely thank Peter Warren Mercedes-Benz in 

supporting the Club at our annual Concours d’Elegance, 

on Sunday September 27, where Club members and fans 

experienced the new Mercedes-Benz GLE (inset). We 

look forward to more events together in the near future. 

Peter Warren Automotive Mercedes-Benz 

13 Hume Hwy, Warwick Farm, 2170. Ph: 02 9828 8002 

www.mbpeterwarren.com.au 

by Club reporter & MBPWA 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mercedes-Benz Club NSW Inc’s 

Annual Presentation Dinner 

Halloween’s Night 

31 October 2015 

7.00pm - Midnight 

Pre-school & 

Long Day Care 

 

 

 

Le Montage 

38 Frazer St, Lilyfield NSW 2040 

Canapés & pre-dinner drinks on arrival 

Three course sit-down dinner 

Concoours presentation, Raffle, 

Prizes, Entertainment, Dancing & 

Awesome Automobiles 

Black Tie 

with a twist of Halloween 

45

Motor Mart 

1975 Mercedes-Benz - Model: 230.4 

Price: $16,000.00 ono 

Colour: Cream/tan int 

Type: Sedan 4 Door 

Reg: 04/16 

Distance: 67,000 Kms 

We have had this beauful 

car since new. First me 

offered for sale from the 

family estate. The car is 

in excellent condion and 

has been serviced regularly with full log book history. The 

car is in original condion and without a doubt would win 

pride of ownership. Addional photos available. Phone 

Franco dal Santo: 9583 2357 

Mercedes-Benz Spare Parts 

Rock Island Contractors 

Assorted w123 parts. 

Damien Ignacz 

Assorted w115 parts. 

9652 2172 

w126 starter. $60. 

0414 402 504 

w126 thermo fan. $25. 

w126 ABS controller. $100. 

w126 vacuum pump $50. 

w126 master cylinder $50. 

w126 fuel pump $100. 

w126 windscreen wipers $50. 

w115 tail lights $50. 

w115 headlights $100. 

w123 instrument clusters $100. 

w123 blinker stalks $100. 

w123 Diesel injector pumps. 

w123 complete 230 E for wrecking 

w123 complete 300 D‘s for wrecking. 

w109 front suspension bushes new.$200. 

w109 RH quarter window with mech. $100. 

w109 rear tail lights complete .$150. 

w109 misc. parts. 

W126 front bumper average condion.$50. 

Asssorted 14 inch hub caps.$10ea. 

1970 280 SE complete engine, good cond. $400. 

MBCNSW members can list their vehicle or parts in Motormart free of charge. 

Non-members $25 payable to the MBCNSW treasurer prior to lisng 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 

 

46

Editorial license & new members 

Hello readers and welcome to our ‘new look’ edition of 

Star Torque. On behalf of the Club, I extend a warm 

welcome to our new members shown here and we look 

forward to seeing them at Club meetings and events soon. 

By the time you read this article, you will have noticed some dynamic 

changes to the magazine. This new layout has been created by an 

enthusiastic volunteer A.King - a seasoned designer with fresh ideas to 

generate a professional new identity for this magazine. 

Our first impression is that this new layout and improved look will 

usher in the next level for Star Torque and a new era for Club members, 

readers, advertisers and our sponsors. 

The print run for this issue is increased to cover higher circulation, as 

we are placing copies of the magazine in to Mercedes-Benz dealerships 

as coffee table reading for their customers of new vehicles. 

The MBCNSW will be actively marketing the magazine to Mercedes- 

Benz dealerships for additional sponsorship and advertising revenue, 

while increasing our overall membership figures. Other strategies for 

increasing exposure of Star Torque are also underway and we will be 

upgrading the website in line with our new look soon too. 

Our new Club sponsor, Peter Warren Automotive Mercedes-Benz has 

several dealerships including Liverpool, Morrisons Chatswood and 

Macintosh of Mosman. 

Club members interested in a new Mercedes-Benz at Peter Warren 

should mention their Club membership to the salesperson for favourable 

treatment and due recognition of the Club. 

On a personal note, I have been working away recently so will keep 

my report brief. I am still performing the role of editor, as our new 

layout person is of great assistance to me with new ideas and effectively 

co-editing Star Torque with myself and input from our president Vince 

Thompson and the executive committee. 

This is what our Club needs. New people with new ideas. We are “all” 

volunteers and with your help, in any form, to assist in running the Club 

will be greatly appreciated. The AGM on Wednesday 4th November is a 

great place to attend and volunteer some time for the Club. 

Please let us know what you think of this issue of Star Torque, as we 

would like to hear your comments and feedback. As always, if you have 

an article or story that is Mercedes-Benz related, an interesting piece 

about your car, or anything else you may feel may benefit our readers, 

please submit it to me. All the information required for submitting 

articles to the Club is on page 48 under Star Torque magazine. 

Again my appreciation to everyone who assisted me and the Club in 

getting this new look edition of Star Torque together. 

Dennis Dinse Editor 

editor@mbcnsw.org.au 


New Members July to October 2015 

Dino Bertini 

CL500 1997 and CL500 1998 

Stephen & Pamela Carvin 

280SE 1978 & A200 2009 

Noel Christie-David 

220SE Converble 1964 

Jim Fanning 

E320 W211 2004 & 300SE W126 1989 

Ashley Filkin 

C300 2014 

Richard Hamer 

300SEL 6.3 1972 

Gary Jones & Susan Schiller 

190SL 1962 

Thomas Joseph 

280SL 1970 & C63 2009 

Michael & Deborah Mannion 

C300 2010 & E240 2003 

Bryan Mattes 

230E W123 1982 & 250S W114 1974 

Rod & Melissa Matthews 

S500L 2010 

Andrew Mierisch 

280SE 1970 

Jackson Piene & John Kass 

E63 2010 

Andrew Pulsford 

Binz Metraton Otheos Drea 12 2012 & 2015 

Corey Rankin & Vivian Wong 

A180 2014 

Tomislav Raokovic 

450SEL 1977 

Barbara Ritchie 

W126 1986 

Gothemberg & Lilian Roque 

C180 Compressor 2005 

Ron Searle 

600 1972, 300 6.3 1972, 300 3.5 1972, 300 

6.3 1971, 300 6.3 1970, 300SE 6.3 coupe 

1964 & 230SL 1966 

Peter Sullivan 

350SL 1971 & C63AMG 2013 

Philip Tarrant 

500SL 1991 & 300SE 1989 

Joseph Thomas 

280SL 1970 & C63 2009 

Peter van Dyke 

SL350 2009 & 450SEL 6.9 1979 

Iain & Cathy Viles 

R107 1980 & R129 1991 

47

Executive committee & team 

President 

Vince Thompson (EC) 

0411 773 440 

president@mbcnsw.org.au 

Secretary 

Ken Pitman (EC) 

0457 521 015 

secretary@mbcnsw.org.au 

Treasurer 

Geoff Giles 

0416 883 903 

treasurer@mbcnsw.org.au 

Vice President 

Mike Fleming (EC) 

9894 4504 

mike.fleming@mbcnsw.org.au 

Vice President 

Ben de Boer (EC) 

9894 0661 & 0418 471 637 

ben.de.boer@mbcnsw.org.au 

Membership Secretary 

Bill Greenville 

membership@mbcnsw.org.au 

Editor 

Dennis Dinse (*acng) 

0417 477 060 

editor@mbcnsw.org.au 

Website Manager 

Bill Dawes 

0419 431 531 

webmaster@mbnsw.org.au 

Execuve Member 

Jenny Fleming (EC) 

9894 4504 

jenny.fleming@mbcnsw.org.au 

Public Officer 

Lionel Smith 

9654 9607 

Auditor 

Paul Nelson 

9629 3241 

The Execuve posions of the Club 

are elected by the common vote of 

the members at the Annual General 

Meeng, held on the first Wednesday of 

November each year, unless adversed 

otherwise. 

The Execuve members are elected 

to control and manage the affairs of 

the Club. The Public Officer and the 

Auditor are appointed by the Execuve. 

The responsibilies for each of the Club 

Execuves, and those of both the Public 

Officer and the Auditor, can be found in 

the Club Constuon. 

Any quesons you might have for any 

posion not listed on this page should 

be directed to an Execuve member 

who shall pass the queson on to the 

appropriate person. 

Mercedes-Benz 

Club of NSW 

est. 1972 

Execuve & Events Director 

John Assarapin (EC) 

0418 785 815 

events@mbcnsw.org.au 

Social Director 

Evian Delfabbro 

social@mbcnsw.org.au 

Naonal Rally Director 2016 

Simon Strauss 

simon.strauss@mbcnsw.org.au 

Condional Registraon Scheme 

Registrars 

Ben de Boer Grant Karsten 

9894 0661 8845 4905 

0418 471 637 0418 457 997 

Model Advisor Director 

Ben de Boer (EC) 

9894 0661 & 0418 471 637 

New Members Liaison Officer 

Harry Hanzen 

0429 797 825 

Concours Director 

Luke Veros 

0414 079 458 

concours@mbcnsw.org.au 

Club Shop 

Andrew & Janelle Khoury 

0410 300 535 

merchandise@mbcnsw.org.au 

Raffle Coordinators 

Mike Fleming & Ray Wheeler 

9894 4504 (Mike) 

mike.fleming@mbcnsw.org.au 

Librarian 

Dennis Dinse (EC) 

0417 477 060 

library@mbcnsw.org 

Adversing Manager 

A.King (acng) 

adversing@mbcnsw.org.au 

48

Conditional Registration scheme 

As most members will be aware, 

the MBCNSW runs a Conditional 

Registration System with the Road & 

Maritime Services (RMS). 

The Historic Plate System introduced 

by the RMS allows for conditional 

registration of historic vehicles over 

30 years old to be driven within car 

Clubs across NSW. 

When your RMS registration 

form arrives, complete and send 

with a SAE to: Mr Ben de Boer, 

MBCNSW Registrar, 11 Empire Bay 

Drive, Daley’s Point, 2257. Your 

Membership details will be verified 

as current and the form will be 

signed, stamped and returned to you. 

Other registrars are Greg 

Drakopoulos 0407 626 64 and Grant 

Karsten 0418 457 997, who can also 

sign and stamp your declaration. 

Registration 

The RMS forms require 

countersigning by the Mercedes-Benz 

Club of NSW Inc. to verify current 

membership and authenticity of 

your vehicle. Completed forms with 

the pink slip and payment for your 

registration need to be made to RMS. 

Compliance 

The RMS requires a Certificate 

of Approved Operations, issued at 

registration to be carried at all times 

in the vehicle. Document your Club 

runs and events to prove legitimate 

vehicle usage under this scheme. 

Membership 

Current membership is required to 

comply with these RMS requirements. 

If your membership lapses, the 

conditional registration will be 

rescinded and/or renewal refused. 

Your vehicle will NOT be registered 

for driving on public roads and your 

insurances for Compulsory and/or 

Third party and personal use in these 

circumstances become VOID 

Club Conditions 

All historic plated cars 

must aend at least three 

events or meengs per 

calendar year, including the 

Concours d’Elegance. 

The Mercedes-Benz Club 

of NSW has over 120 

vehicles registered, with too 

few aending events. 

This contravenes the scheme 

as Historic plated cars must 

be used and displayed. Your 

historic plate registraon may 

not be be renewed if this Club 

requirement is not met. 

Mercedes-Benz Club 

of NSW 

Quality Apparel 

Make a statement any me of 

the year with these stylish jackets, 

shirts and cap showing you belong 

to the Mercedes-Benz Club of NSW. 

All items have the Club logo. For 

full range & availability please email 

Baseball style cap $15 

merchandise@mbcnsw.org.au. 

Polo shirt $40 

So shell jacket $90 

Parka $100 

49

Star Torque magazine 


EDITION 241 

Star Torque 

MB CLUB: Concours d’Elegance 2015 

Years of the 190 SL 

The Best or Nothing 

AMG GTS: First drive 

SPRING 2015 

Publicaon: 

Quarterly in March, June, September 

& December 

Editorial deadlines: 

5th January, 15th April, 15th July & 

15th October 

Adversing deadline: 

Booked and artwork supplied by 1st of 

month preceding publicaon 

Editor: Dennis Dinse 

Editorial Team: Ken Pitman, Shane Steele, 

Rena Nikola, A.King. 

Submissions: 

Arcles & contribuons welcome from all for 

the magazine. The MBCNSW has the right to 

edit & publish any submied material. 

Text files: 

Plain text only - NO images. 

Image files: 

Hi-res only above 3000 x 2000 pixels. 

Technical arcles: 

Should be reviewed by an informed source 

for any errors or omissions. 

Contribuons: 

All text documents to the Editor by e-mail. 

Images emailed OR uploaded to dropbox 

and the download link shared. 

Adversements: 

We ask Club members to support the adver- 

sers who support the Club. The MBCNSW 

makes no warranes and accepts no liability 

or responsibility for any work, or subsequent 

claims arising from any dispute between a 

Club member and an adverser. Members 

with complaints should contact the relevant 

government authority. 

Copyright: 

The MBCNSW promotes knowledge, 

preservaon and enjoyment of Mercedes- 

Benz vehicles. We give other official 

Mercedes-Benz Clubs free access to art 

material in this magazine. However, please 

recognise that adversements and certain 

arcles, primarily those from commercial 

publicaons and other Clubs may be 

copyrighted. Permission to use copyrighted 

material rests with the user. 

Disclaimer: 

Opinions, ideas and suggesons in this 

publicaon are those of the author and 

not necessarily those of the Execuve 

or the Editorial Team. Due care and 

diligence is taken in the preparaon of 

this magazine. The Mercedes-Benz Club 

NSW Inc. (MBCNSW) is not responsible or 

liable for any mistake, misprint, omission 

or typographical error. The publisher prints 

adversements, but gives no warranty and 

makes no representaon as to the truth, 

the accuracy of any statement or advice 

contained in the text of any adversement. 

The MBCNSW reserves the right to refuse 

any adversement for any reason that it 

considers appropriate. 

Star Torque magazine circulation & demographics available upon request to advertising@mbcnsw.org.au 

Mercedes Benz Club of NSW site: www.mbcnsw.org.au averages over 37,200 hits per month. 

50

Membership form 


Incorporated with limited liability ABN 43 684 976 470 

Membership Application 

and Renewal form 

Membership details: New Member Renewal & membership number: 

Please send completed form 

with any cheques to: 

Membership Secretary 

Mercedes-Benz Club 

of NSW Inc. 

PO Box 155, 

St Ives, NSW, 2075. 

See over for fees & opons 

> 

Member: 

Title First name Last name 

Number 

Street address 

Address: 

Suburb/town State Postcode Country 

Phone: 

Home 

Mobile 

Additional 

Email: 

Primary 

Secondary 

Associate: 

Title First name Last name 

Relationship (optional) 

Occupation: 

Member (optional) 

Associate (optional) 

Compliance with Club constitution 

I/we agree to comply with all Club rules under the 

current constitution. I/we understand that failure to 

comply may lead to membership being cancelled. 

Member signature: 

Associate signature: 

Date: 

Date: 

/ / 

/ / 

Australian Mercedes-Benz Club discount 

If you hold membership of another Mercedes-Benz Club in Australia, there is no joing fee ($50.00) for the Mercedes- 

Benz Club of NSW, by proving this to us with a photocopy of your membership card lodged with this form. 

Details of your Mercedes-Benz Vehicle(s). 

Year Model Reg Body colour Interior colour 





51

Membership fees 


Membership fee schedule 

The Mercedes-Benz Club of NSW has an annual membership renewal date of July 1. 

Club fees are based on the financial year from June 30 to July 1. Part year new 

memberships are calculated from the schedule of pro-rata rates shown. 

New membership joining fee: $50.00 Annual membership fee: $85.00 

Pro rata annual membership fee schedule for new members 

July 1: $85.00 

October: $64.00 

January: $43.00 

*April: $106.00 

August: $78.00 

November: $57.00 

February: $35.00 

*May: $99.00 

September: $71.00 

December: $50.00 

March: $28.00 

*June: $92.00 

*New membership applicants joining in the remaining three months of the financial year (April, May, 

June) are required to pay to June 30 of the following financial year by the Club administration. 

Joining fee (if applicable): 

$50.00 

New membership payment schedule 

Pro rata membership fee: 

$85.00 

Total payable 

$ 

Club payments 

Membership payments can be made: 

1. At a general Club meeting to the treasurer 

with cash, credit card, or cheque. 

2. Via mail with credit card or cheque, NO cash 

to the address on the membership form. 

3. By direct deposit (EFT) to the Club account: 

Account name: Mercedes-Benz Club (NSW) Inc 

BSB: 012 006 Account Number: 2081 54818 

Ref: MUST include name & membership number 

Payment type: Cheque Visa Mastercard EFT Cash Money order 

Card number: __ __ __ __ /__ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ 

Expiry date: __ __ / __ __ 

Cardholder name: Amount payable: $ Date: 

Cardholder signature: OR CCV (for web payments) 

Please do not send cash via mail. Return this fee schedule & membership form with any payments to: 

Membership Secretary, Mercedes-Benz Club (NSW) Inc, 

PO BOX 155, St Ives, NSW, 2075. 

Membership forms are available from our website: www.mbcnsw.org.au/membership.php 

Email enquiries to: membership@mbcnsw.org.au 

The Mercedes-Benz Club of NSW thanks exisiting members for their support and welcomes new members. 

52

The all new GLE Coupé and new GLE. 

Make the best of every ground. Introducing two SUVs made to be followed. The all new GLE Coupé is a bold 

new concept for Mercedes-Benz, combining the authority of an SUV with the heart and soul of a sports car. 

While the GLE boasts cutting-edge intelligence, supreme safety and some serious power that really lets you 

take control, both on and off the road. Find out more from Peter Warren Automotive. 

mbpeterwarren.com.au. 

Peter Warren Automotive Cnr Hume Highway & Todman Road, Warwick Farm 2170. Tel: 02 9828 8002 website: mbpeterwarren.com.au Open 7 days 

DL5411

Auto Salon d’Elegance 

 

 

 

www.autosalondelegance.com.au

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