download - Mercedes Benz Club of South Africa

Volume 24
Feb / Mar 2009
no. 1
P.O. Box 2443
Durbanville • 7551
Tel: (021) 975 9019
Cell: 082 920 0501
2009 is already steaming ahead, but I hope the year will
holdAGM many pleasant surprises for all of us. Last year
certainly expired in style, with some stunning events organized
by the various regions. On a personal note, I really enjoyed the
Western Cape year-end function at Okkie's beautiful venue. The
event as a true reflection of the typical Cape ambience and style!
GEORGE SHOW
This has come and gone, and the club absolutely
dominated the scene as usual! The support
from club members was fantastic. A big thank
you to members who drove a long way to
attend. Here I must mention our vice-
president, Steve. He drove all the way to
the show and back from Brakpan with his
220S coupé - in one weekend an in
record time. As always, his enthusiasm
and positive spirit was contagious.
Dankie, Steve! Also to Waldo, Kobus
and Johan (and their helpers) a big
thank you for all the arrangements.
Apart from the big tent, Waldo arranged
for a very enjoyable evening at a
r e s t a u r a n t f o r m e m b e r s . F o r a
modestamount, a very tasty buffet
meal - inGerman style - was offered. This was the
perfect opportunity for members to mingle socially.
E-mail: president@mercedesbenzclub.co.za
Website: http://www.mercedesbenzclub.co.za
The committee also made use of the opportunity to
arrange for a meeting which took place at Waldo's
home, and he treated us to a braai afterwards. A
very constructive meeting was held, with
theobvious emphasis on the upcoming
National Gathering.
AGM
MAKE YOUR
NATIONAL
GATHERING
RESERVATION
NOW!
official newsletter of the mercedes-benz
club of south africa
PJ Ryan and his 219 went on an African Expedition. Read about this epic trip inside
FROM THE DESK...
If you have not done so yet, please register for our National Gathering and
AGM right away. The registration details were mailed together with your club
dues renewal notice. Please read the instructions carefully, and remember to
pay your dues and AGM moneys separately.
Please do your utmost to attend this fantastic event in George.
Our club certainly spoils our members during this weekend,
and this year is no exception. The emphasis this year is not
only on the cars, but the members too. We will have
more time to interact with other members.
MBSA
Most of us are sorely aware of the difficult financial times
all of us are experiencing. Our main sponsor, Mercedes-
Benz South Africa, is certainly not exempt from this
either. However, it has been confirmed to me that we will
continue to enjoy their financial support for 2009! We are
very grateful for this - which enables us to continue with
producing the Benz Lens and subsidizing the cost of the
AGM weekend. Thanks, MBSA!
WELCOME, MAX!
Maxim Erdmann has taken over the reigns of the Northern Region from
Johan Swanepoel. Welcome aboard! We are expecting big and wonderful
things from you! The Northern Region remains our flagship region, and you
thus have quite a responsibility on your hands. Johan, 'n baie groot dankie
a a n j o u v i r j o u d i e n s a a n d i e k l u b d a a r i n d i e
Noorde oor die jare. Jy het leiding gebied op 'n stadium toe dit “rof” gegaan
het. Deur jou en jou span se toedoen het die klub nie net die storm oorleef
Page 3 Page 4 Page 6 Page 17
Club News Northern Region Pistion Ring
From the mail box
Year end function Continental Car Day
...continued on p2
IN THIS ISSUE
page 1

page 2
Dear readers
We are well in to the first
quarter of 2009 and the
year-end break seems nothing
but a distant memory. Firstly,
there have been a number of
upheavals and uncertainty with the
current economic global crisis,
however, our passion and commitment
for our brand and products remain
stronger than ever.
We started the year with the introduction of our
S500 L. Based on the ongoing success of the
current S600 L and the S65 AMG L, we decided to
expand our long-wheelbase offering to include the
S500 L. Internationally, the S-Class has always been
the backbone of our product line-up and the longwheel
base version is ideally suited for chauffeur driven
individuals.
We recently introduced a further model to the B-Class
model line-up, the B200 naturally aspirated 4-cylinder
version. The B-Class has evolved into the blueprint for a
new species of car and harmonises the benefits of various
vehicle concepts: the four-door model boasts the dynamic
design of a sporty saloon, the exterior dimensions of a
compact car, the spaciousness of an estate, the versatility of a
mini MPV and the trademark safety of a Mercedes-Benz.
Earlier this month Great Britain saw the coldest days in
nie, maar sterker en beter anderkant uitgekom. Geniet dit om
nou minder druk te beleef, maar ons glo jy gaan steeds aktief
bly in die klub.
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to quite a few new members! Please contact the
regional chairman nearest to you and become an
active member. Also please register on our forum. You will
have so much to gain, you won't believe it! Our club offers
incredible value for money. In fact, if you only
attend the AGM weekend, you will have received
back more in direct subsidies than what you paid for
your dues - now beat that!
NEW EDITOR
I am very pleased to announce that a club
member has “volunteered” to become the
editor of this publication from the next issue.
This being my last attempt at providing
members with interesting material, I
thank everyone who supported me in
the past. Please continue to support
our magazine! Look forward to an
interesting issue next time.
Graham
centuries, across the globe in Australia, they saw the hottest days in centuries
and here at home we have seen the wettest of days. The environment is
certainly showing the effects of global warming. Globally over the past few
years we have been developing a large number of solutions to make our
vehicles cleaner and reduce their impact on the natural enviroment . These
proven innovations all fall under our umbrella concept of TrueBlueSolutions,
for further information, we encourage you to visit our
website:= www.mercedes-benz.co.za/truebluesolutions
To this end our latest model offering has been the introduction of the C180
KOMPRESSOR BlueEFFICIENCY. Falling under the BlueEFFICIENCY arm of
TrueBlueSolutions, this model concept looks at the vehicle as a complete
system and provides a complete package of optimised measures, resulting in
greater efficiency through innovation and technology.
The C180 KOMPRESSOR model is one of the forerunners in our C-Class range
and by introducing the BlueEFFICIENCY variant we are not only making the
vehicle more attractive by giving our customers the benefit of lower fuel
consumption and less emissions, but we are also reducing the impact on our
environment significantly.
We are encouraged to note a number of exciting activities of the clubs around
Southern Africa. The dedication of the organizers and participants are
commendable. The success of these events is clearly seen by the interesting
articles in this issue and we thank you all for keeping us abreast of your
activities.
Kind regards
Eckart Mayer
Divisional Manager, Mercedes-Benz Cars
A Word from Mercedes-Benz
It feels like ages since the previous edition was mailed out, so hopefullyI
will be forgiven for a small white lie published in it. Due to a large
volume of time-sensitive material which had to go into this edition, we
had to take a rain cheque on the regular production models article, as
well as “under the bonnet”. Hopefully this will re-appear next time.
Hopefully? Yes, because the new editor will be taking over from me, and
it is his prerogative then! Many of you will know Grant Viljoen, our very
own Classic Racing driver. Grant has thankfully offered to take over the
editing of the Benz Lens from me. Grant, welcome on board and we're
looking forward to some exciting things from you! Please continue to
support Grant with material for publication. I have really enjoyed
putting this newsletter together over the years, and I thank everyone
for supporting me in the past.
Graham

2-DOOR DAY AT MANDELA SQUARE: A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE
2-DOOR DAY AT MANDELA Calendar SQUARE: of Events A ONCE / Club IN A News LIFETIME EXPERIENCE
NORTHERN REGION
IN MEMORY OF DIETER FURRUTTER
It with a heavy heart that I have to inform you of the passing of our friend and
fellow enthusiast Dieter Furrutter. He was tragically murdered on the
afternoon of 19th January 2009. Our condolences go out to his wife Rose
Marie and children Marco and Linda at this very difficult time. Dieter
joined us on the Broederstroom Bash and I was fortunate enough to have
had a lengthy conversation with h i m . H e w i l l b e s o r e l y m i s s e d
a t c l u b e v e n t s . Rest In Peace my friend!!
(Maxim Erdmann)
22 MARCH LUNCH AT ARMORER'S PLACE
PLEASE NOTE THE DATE CHANGE IN YOUR
DIARIES
This is done at special request of members who attended last year and at the
insistence of those who could not attend. Commonly known as the
'Armourers Restaurant' this venue has become well known amongst the fun-
seekers, who enjoy good food with a wide selection of Wines, Beers and
Schnapps (over 100!) in the cordial and swinging atmosphere of
Germany's Beer-halls. Their 'Frühschoppen' Lunches are particularly
popular. They offer an à-la-carte menu from light meals right up to Eisbein,
to suit all tastes. You will experience a lot of light-hearted entertainment for
the whole family - so please bring your best humour along.
From the N12 take the Atlas Road exit and turn South. At the second robot
turn left into Lakefield Road (continuation of North Rand Road) and you will
find Lakefield Square a few hundred meters further on your left. There is
private Parking behind the centre on the Upper Level.
Please let ERSNT DE MEYNIER know asap or meynier@iafrica.com by latest
20 February 2008 at 11H00, whether you will be joining us so that we can
advise the Restaurant.
On a personal note:
I have it on good authority that this is a day not to be missed, so I am the first
to confirm my attendance for this year's function. The 'Frühschoppen' (early
tankard) was traditionally served by country Inns in the Alpine region,
starting at the time church closed, when people would walk across the square
into the inn (Gasthaus) and enjoy a couple of beers before lunch. (You can't
eat on an empty stomach). That's how our Frühschoppen works also - you
first have a couple of drinks, place your order and then sing-along and be
merry until the food arrives. Obviously the merryness continues afterwards
as well.
17 MARCH NOGGIN AT THE WANDERERS CLUB
THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH
This is purely a social event for all (partners included) come and enjoy a
drink and a chat with fellow members and enthusiasts, we will try
to secure a guest speaker for the evening. This is an opportunity to
meet the newly constituted committee and exchange ideas, tips and
secrets. The Club has full dining facilities and you are entitled to enjoy a
dinner there.
There is no need to book - just come and enjoy from 19H00, we look
forward to seeing you!!
On a personal note:
We have been able to secure the Wanderers as the new home for the
Northern Region. Your Mercedes- Benz Club card allows you access to
all the general areas of the club and use of the general facilities at the
clubhouse, so you can now proudly take family and friends to any of the
great facilities, namely the Centercourt Restaurant, the Long Bar and
The Whiskey Lounge, so come and see what it is all about.
5 APRIL ANGELA'S PICNIC
Delta Park - This is a wonderful family day, so bring your
camping chairs, picnic basket and something cool to drink and spend a
leisurely day in the quiet park environment. There is no charge, but a
donation to CANSA will be taken at the entry. All contributions will be
appreciated. Be early - it can be a nightmare to be stuck behind an
overheating Model A (then again, it's not a Mercedes)
On a personal note:
It is a great day to see all the marques of cars out there, and to just relax
with good friends and have a picnic with refreshments at hand.
30 APRIL - 3 MAY NATIONAL GATHERING - GEORGE
Our national gathering will be in George in the Southern Cape for 2009.
By attending you will get more value than the cost of the yearly
subscription to the Mercedes-Benz Club. This IS the highlight of our
Club's calendar, so book these dates in your diary NOW. We will be
looking at the option of a convoy and will let yo have the details closer
to the time…
On a personal note:
If you have never attended the National Gathering before, you have not
been taking advantage of being a member of the Mercedes-Benz Club of
South Africa. This is an event for young and old, with a little bit for
everyone. It is GREAT fun and nice to put a face to the name of members
around the country. DON'T MISS THIS ONE, it's fantastic!!
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All the ingredients
t o e n s u r e a
successful year end
function for the Northern
Region were present: Grand
Central Motors gave us a great
sponsorship, we put together a fun
programme for the members, the day
was bright and hot and last but not least,
our members once again gave us great
support.
The event was well marketed, with the forum on
the website leading the way. It was decided to use
this event as a special celebration of the 40th
commemoration of the W114/115 series and this also
helped to get the members psyched up.
The day had several highlights. More than 140 people
attended. Our host designed and printed special
certificates for those who attended. Thys Willemse went
to a lot of trouble to find a suitable venue, handle the
bookings and work out a great route schedule (which did not
prevent the Swanepoels from taking a wrong turn) and our
sponsor provided us with prizes to be handed out. Clive
Winterstein left no stone unturned to find and prepare special
awards to PJ Ryan and Suzette for participating in an Africa trip
with their 219 Ponton and to Grant Viljoen for his efforts in
historic racing. Last but not least, Maxim Erdmann also
donated several specially numbered bottles of wine as prizes.
Colin Kean invited and brought along a couple of celebrities to add
some lustre to the day.
Let us not forget the Klerksdorp guys who pitched in a convoy of
no less than 6 R129's - a grand entrance indeed!
This event once again was proof to why the region is so
successful - we have progressed to the point where members
are involved in planning and putting activities together, where
inputs from our members are encouraged and welcomed
and where we sincerely appreciate the efforts of others.
As has become the custom, our Vice-President Steve
Rademeyer lead the election process of the Regional
Chairman for the new year. I decided to step down after
five years. There were 2 nominations, namely Adrian
Ludik and Maxim Erdmann and after a transparent
voting process, Maxim Erdmann was elected as the new
Chairman of the region, and also as member of the
Club's central committee.
We wish him and Jannine all of the best. I look
forward to seeing new ideas and initiatives
taking our region to even higher levels of
activity. helm of the Northen region, I have
decided to step down to make space for
new and young blood.
The change in our club's
leadership 5 years ago
p r e s e n t e d u s w i t h
many challenges. One
NORTHERN REGION
2008 YEAR END FUNCTION
by Johan Swanepoel
o f t h e s e w a s t h e f a c t t h a t t h e t h e n G a u t e n g
region was left without an established infrastructure - the power moved
down the South in a big way. It also had the very unfortunate effect
that some of the experienced members of the club became less active
and less supportive. I decided at that stage that I would accept the
challenge and see if we could get the region going again.
It was tough. The first event I arranged was attended by 20 people. I
wanted to give up and just let go. But with the support of people such
as Ernst de Meynier (who did not hesitate to add the support of his
W107 group), Thys Willemse, Basil Chassoulas (yes, he is still around),
Adrian Ludik and later on Steve Rademeyer, we got a regional
committee started and slowly but surely the momentum started to pick
up.
I have always tried to retain the traditional events which our
experienced members knew, such as Angela's picnic, POMC Cars in the
Park and the Concours (despite the debates). But I also tried to bring
new events into the programme, such as the Gerotek day, our runs to
Parys and Cullinan, a trip to the SAB world of Beer, etc.
I also tried to be as inclusive as possible and with Ernst's support, this
helped to transform many of our events - the annual MIDMAS trip is a
good example of that.
Credit should also be given to Graham, our President. He not only gave
me the freedom to do what I though would work best, he actively
engaged Mercedes-Benz and got their commitment to support the club.
This is a feat which should not be underestimated. At the same time I
managed to start getting support from some of our local dealerships
and this put us in a much stronger position then ever before.
The National Gathering of 2005 was the final launching pad which lead
to the rise of the region. I personally believe that we raised the bar at
that event. We had great support from all the regions and the gala
event at Gold Reef City set a challenge to all other regions - a challenge
which was met admirably by even the smaller regions, such as the
Eastern Cape last year.
I am proud to report that:
• the Northern region offers a minimum of 15 events for its
members every year
• the Northern region often have more than 120 people
attending events
• the Northen region is now the most dominant club at the
annual POMC show
• we have excellent relationships with at least 3 dealers, giving
us active support, as well as with the Mercedes-Benz
Dynamic Driving Centre at Zwartkops
• we have managed to bring members from as far as
Polokwane, Nelspruit, and Klerksdorp together under one
umbrella
• we have managed to foster a spirit of being inclusive rather
than exclusive, envolving interest groups such as the
W107's, real racers like Grant, and aspiring racers (the 190E
brigade, Donnerwetter, etc) also…

But there is a lot of room for improvement - we have not used the club's
website as efficiently as we should have, we have not grown our membership
aggressively, there is room for a greater variety of events, etc. And this is
why I decided not to make myself available again. I think it is time for new
blood, new events, new ways of doing things, and new ways of stimulating
our members.
And I have no doubt that Maxim is up to the task!
In closing, I want to thank all the members for their support. I have phoned
many a person with a request to assist and I have never been turned down.
It was great to get constructive feedback from members. It was great to get
a nod of approval sometimes, or to get an email thanking me for my work.
This is what made it worth my while!
Thank you to the Club for the gifts handed to my wife and I at our year end
function! We appreciate the token of appreciation
I also want to thank my wife, Derah, for her support and her words of
encouragement. She was my right hand in these 5 years.
BROEDERSTROOM BASH
By Maxim Erdmann
On 18 January, we had opportunity to attend this years 'Country Run'
which culminated in the Broederstroom Bash. Kindly sponsored by
Constantia Kloof Mercedes-Benz, Pat Whitehed from the dealership put
together a 66,4km route schedule through some of the most pretty area
around these parts.
People started to arrive around 9 o'clock to welcoming coffee, tea and
juices. To stilll the hunger, finger sandwiches, croissants, muffins,
crackers and fruit were out for all to indulge in. Registration was quick and
painless, with each driver receiving a 'Party Pack' for the car which
contained a Mercedes-Benz cooler bag, key ring, the latest Mercedes
Magazine, two bottles of Mercedes-Benz mineral water (I also couldn't
believe it) and a pen. Pat started off proceedings with a driver's and
navigator's briefing in which the inner workings of the schedule were
explained, and all were reminded to drive safely. The last part of the
instruction sheet stated '7. The judges decision is final. Any protest must
be in written on cheese cloth and delivered on foot to Northern Angola'.
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The drivers were
handed route schedules
from a starting point at the
dealership and cars were
released at 20 second intervals.
The route took us out of the hustle
and bustle of Jozie and into the
Magalies mountains and the terrific
scenery of the Cradle of Human Kind. The
route schedule asked many questions on the
way about landmarks and other questions were
out of the Mercedes Magazine. The 64 odd
kilometers flew past all too quickly, and we were at
the venue in a flash. Many were astounded at the
scenery at the venue and the Blessbok and Zebra that
could be seen. The venue looked terrific thanks to the
efforts of my wife Janine (thanks my babe!!). We started
off the prize giving and I decided to hand out the booby
prize first to Iain Hampton, a new member, who answered
the questions without consulting the Mercedes Magazine,
for example;
1. When were the first Mercedes-Benz vehicles dispatched
from the East London Plant?
a. When They were completed!
2. What is the Torque of the ML 500?
a. German!
3. Where do you find a Diesotto Engine?
a. In a Diesotto car!
4. What is modeled on the fluid dynamics of a Fish?
a. A submarine!
5. What is the Spirit of the Wilderness?
a. Captain Morgan!
There were a total of 19 questions that had to be answered
and 4 contestants got all 19 answers, however there can be
only 1 winner, so with spelling and all other details
checked, the winner of the Grand Prize was Anthony
Ritchie. Tony won a Dynamic Driving Experience at
Zwatrkops raceway valued at almost R3,000.00. The 3
other contestants did not go empty handed though,
with a choice of prizes from tog bags, kit bags, golf
umbrellas and peak-caps. In fact all the
contestants that had 16 or more questions
correct received a prize, which totalled 27
prizes that contestants chose from. Pat
Whitehead was asked to come up and say
a few words on behalf of the
dealership, and reiterated the
dealers' commitment to these
kind of outings due to the
enthusiasm shown by
Mercede-Benz Club
members. The lucky
draw was also left
f o r P a t t o
draw, from tickets that were handed out at the venue. Lucky number
117 was drawn and Izak Louw too walked away with the fantastic
Dynamic Driving Experience prize, congratulations Izak.
I asked the ladies that were either with or associated to the dealership,
so there would be no biased decisions, to go and do a 'Ladies Choice' of
all the vehicles on display and the results were astounding. Their third
choice was the ever beautiful 220S Ponton of Fred Swanepoel, second
was the stunning 230S Fintail of PJ Ryan who came through from
Witbank for the day, and without a shadow of a doubt the winner being
the amazing 220S Coupe Ponton of Steve Rademeyer. However, the
surprises did not end here, a little later in the afternoon, Pat Whithead
came to me and told me to inform the Dynamic Driving Course winners
that they must please include thier spouses/partners. What a wonderful
surprise, thank you Constantia Kloof.
Once proceedings had come to an end, a superb 4 course buffet
luncheon was served which started with a soup, then various starters, a
fantastic carvery with curries and pastas on the menu, ending in an
impressive dessert table with coffee for those who did not have a sweet
tooth. I forwarded many compliments to Amanzingwe Lodge (Were the
Leopard Drinks) based on their hospitality, venue and food. It was
fantastic, we will go back!!Many people stayed until late afternoon and
made a leisurely drive back to their homes.
I could go on about all the stunning cars that were there on the day, but I
could go on for another 10 paragraphs. I do however have to comment
on two very special cars that surprised us for the day, the 450SL driven
by Keith Burford and 300SEL 6.3 driven by Hein Lorentz. Both cars are
owned by Hein, and are candy for the eye. Hein, who is dealer principal
at the Lifestyle Center in Pretoria has given his commitment to
attending more club outings and to a function of some sort at his
dealership. Thank you Hein for attending, and yes we will be in contact
for something special at your dealership. Special days sponsored by
guys like Mercedes-Benz Constantia Kloof are really appreciated by us
and enjoyed by all who attended, thank you Constantia Kloof.
Three new members joined on the day. Leon Botha from Witbank and
Louis Da Silva from Rant-en-Dal (Jhb) and Ian Hampton from Lyme Park
(Jhb), welcome to you and you families, and we hope you will enjoy all
the facilities and functions that are put on offer.

CENTRAL REGION
Op Sondag 7 Desember 2008 het die sentralestreek vir oulaas bymekaar
gekom om die jaar vaarwel toe te roep! Die Vrystaatse Botaniese tuine was
die regte agtergrond om lekker te eet en Ster praatjies te geniet! Sowat 12
lede en hul gesinne het hul motors blinkgevryf en die dag saam met ons kom
geniet. Spesiale dank aan Koot van Kimberley en Jacques van Bultfontein wat
deurgery het vir die funksie.
KZN REGION
A motoring adventure
A long car journey, towing a trailer with a Classic Mercedes-Benz on
it, incorporating a Race Meeting, a Mercedes Benz Club Committee Meeting
and a couple of Classic Car Shows, has to be good reason to get out of bed
earlier than usual.
The alarm went off at 04:00am and I awoke to a wet and chilly Thursday
morning in Pietermaritzburg. Anna-Lee (not exactly a morning person)
crawled out of bed too, ready for another adventure. Washed and
breakfasted, we left home and drove the 15km's to my workshop where our
trusty Toyota Hilux 4x4, was awaiting our arrival already hooked up to the car
trailer with Strawberries and Cream loaded and secure. By 06:00am we
were on the N3 heading towards Johannesburg, with food and drinks for the
trip, and of course Anna-Lee's travel blanket, which is essential even on a hot
trip ! Women, shall we say are somewhat different ! Warm and comfortable
in the cab with the pouring rain and cold outside, we proceeded. Anna-Lee
was awake now because she started talking to me as we settled into the 5 to 6
hour journey to Krugersdorp.
Strawberries and Cream, our 1961 W111 220SE Coupe was being taken
to Johannesburg to have its bodywork repaired and a coat of cream paint
applied to the top and a coat of strawberry below. The car had been
stripped to its naked body shell, but with bonnet, boot, doors and fenders
attached, just for the trip, having first visited the sandblaster in order to
reveal all the rusty bits.
The car was on its way to the father and son team of Swannie and Deon
Swanepoel, who are car restorers and normally only work on their own
vehicles. However, a deal came to fruition some time ago and as they
restore to a very high standard and as I am currently busy with my 300SE
race car, the Coupe was to be farmed out to them in order to speed up it's
restoration (see the forum on the website for more information on that
story). About half an hour out of Pietermaritzburg, we had to stop in a
queue of trucks and cars. A superlink truck had crossed the barrier and
jacknifed across the north bound carriageway, spreading its load of
washing power all over the highway.
Almost 3 hours later, we were finally on our way through the rain and soap
and diesel on the road, with police, tow trucks and rubber neckers adding
to the confusion! The rest of the trip was uneventful and we finally arrived
at Swannie and Dion's workshop to find them ready to receive
Strawberries and Cream, which was quickly unloaded by their right hand
men while we looked around the body shop and the chassis and engine
department. They have a great set-up and their finished products
(mostly 1958 and 1959 Chev's) speak volumes for their excellent
workmanship. We left the trailer in their yard for the weekend. After
dinner, bedtime was welcomed.
I was up at 06:00am on Friday and soon headed to Pretoria to assist
Grant Viljoen with the preparation of his race car “Finny”. Assist is hardly
the word, because all that was required was a wash! Well, “we” washed
Finny and the tow car, which off course was Grants 6.9, while “I” looked
around the workshop and at the other cars, a 6.3, 220S, 300SE, Citroen
DS and his dad's Austin A70 Hereford, currently being restored. I was
soon following Grant's 6.9 towing the race car with an A frame. What a
great sight! Lots of interest from passers by and motorists alike, many of
whom slowed down to view the cars. As we neared the racetrack at
Zwarkops, we came upon a stranded race car by the side of the road,
with a sad looking young man, standing by it's side. We stopped to loffer
assistance. The car had lost its clutch action, so needed to be towed
home, which fortunately was relatively nearby. Grant went ahead to the
race track and I hooked up with Collin Richie's immaculate road going
race Mini,
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behind the Hilux and
towed him carefully
home. He began to work
on the car almost before I was
out of the gate and fortunately
managed to get back to the track
later that day.
My good deed for the day done, and with
time marching on, I decided that it was time
to head for O.R. Tambo airport, rather than go
back to practise day at Zwartkops, for what
would have been little more than an hour. My
flight took me to George for the Club Committee
Meeting. I was met by Okkie Potgieter, who had
driven up from Somerset West in his Toyota Land
Cruiser, towing the best 190SL I have seen in a long
time.
We proceeded to the site of the George Show, where we
carefully unloaded and parked his beautiful car. With no
time to really look at the few cars that were already there, we
continued onto our guest lodge where we were met by
President Graham and the various other committee members.
We quickly booked into our rooms and were soon on our way
again. This timeat Waldo Scribante's home, what a welcome
and super evening we all had there! His cars are nothing short
of amazing. From his 1913 Benz to his 560SEC, and
Fintails everywhere including not one but two W111 station
wagons currently being restored. I was in my element and did
not want to come out of his garage, however, we came for the
committee meeting, so duty called !
After a very productive meeting in Waldo's cosy club house, we
adjourned for a braai in the gardens of his charming old home
(and another look at his cars!). A lovely meal with superb wine
flowing and great hospitality was over all too soon. We finally
headed back to the lodge for a few hours sleep. It was
06:00am when Okkie and I were on our way to the George
Show for an hour or so to look at some of the gorgeous cars
already streaming into the fields of the school. Then back for
breakfast at the Lodge, check out and then Okkie took me
back to the airport for my return flight to Johannesburg.
Okkie and I had a great time talking about cars and
looking, but too short as usual…..
A couple of hours rest on the plane came as a welcome
break in what was now and hectic schedule. In
Johannesburg, I found my car and was quickly on my
way to Zwarkops for the main race day. What a
surprise to find Grant with some of our forum
friends who came to support him, Wayne, Izak,
Thys and I were delighted to witness a great
day's racing. With Grant excelling himself in
Finny. Finny of course performed
faultlessly. It is truly a lovely sight to see
the Fintail roaring around the track as
if on rails, with Alfa's, Cortina's
and Lancias , following behind.
When a Lotus Cortina did try
to overtake, it was obvious
that there was no way
that it could take the corner like Finny, even if it had not blown up it's motor in
the attempt! As soon as the last race was over, I was away to pick up Anna-
Lee, who had been spending time with her family, and onto the Coca Cola
Dome to watch the Top Gear MPH show, scheduled to start at 20:00pm. We
saw the MPH show last year and I must say that I found it disappointing this
year. The new car show outside the theatre was so full of people that we
decided to wind our way home to bed.
Sunday morning was bright and sunny and by 07:00am we were once again
on the road, this time to Magaliesburg, to the Lovers Rock Vintage and Classic
Car Show. Some interesting cars and time to catch up with old friends was
enjoyed, but we had to load up the empty trailer in Krugersdorp and be back
in Pietermaritzburg by 06:00pm so we were soon on our way back.A smooth
and uneventful trip home and an early night to bed, rounded off the busy
weekend.
Life is a daring adventure or it is nothing……so live it!
KZN REGION NEWS
With the Christmas festivities now over, and most of us back to work after the
holidays, we would like to report on the following.
First KZN Region Meeting : 1 November 2008
A group of enthusiasts met on Saturday, 1 November 2008, at our new
meeting place, the Golden Horse Casino in Pietermaritzburg. The purpose of
the meeting was to plan the 2009 calendar of events.
It was a very successful meeting and members enjoyed the very comfortable
venue, food and camaraderie. A copy of the minutes of the meeting was
emailed to all KZN members and a copy has been posted on the Club's
website at www.mercedesbenzclub.co.za After the meeting, Chris Carlisle-
Kitz and Jaco van der Walt went to Chris' workshop and had a very pleasant
couple of hours looking at cars and sharing technical information, particularly
about the W113 Pagoda.
You will in future find sms information regarding meetings and events on your
cell phone. Our special thanks to Carl Joubert de Villiers from Boat World, for
sponsoring the initial airtime of R500,00 to get us going.
Our main form of communication is by email - you can reach us on
kzn@mercedesbenzclub.co.za. We invite all KZN members to contribute to
the newsletter. Items of interest to other members are as follows:
1. Stories about your cars, their histories are always interesting.
2. Are you restoring a car ? Tell us about it.
3. Spares and Cars for Sale
4. Motor Events you have attended. Tell us about them.
Please make every effort to write a story for us, as it adds so much to the
enjoyment of the newsletter. Furthermore, interesting articles will appear in
the KZN section of the Benz Lens Magazine. We would particularly like to
have a ladies section in the newsletter.
W111 Racing Cars
On the weekend of 10 & 11 January 2009, Grant Viljoen, from the Northern
Region, spent the weekend in Pietermaritzburg with Chris and Anna-Lee.

KZN REGION EASTERN CAPE REGION
An impromptu braai was organised, to which Erald Hohls, Jaco van der Walt,
Errol Kobus and his wife Ann were invited. Many of you will know that
Grant races a W111 230S Fintail (much modified) in the historic racing
scene. Errol Kobus raced a W111 220SE Fintail in the early 1960's and Chris
is building a 300SE Fintail race car, so you can imagine what a fabulous
afternoon it was ! A great story about Errol and his racing cars appears on
Grant Viljoen's website: www.myfinnyracer.com. The site is most
interesting and already it has had extremely favourable reviews from
Club members and Mercedes Enthusiasts alike.
This little know part of Mercedes-Benz history is well worth reading.
Errol Kobus: 220SE Race Car
Grant Viljoen's 230S Race Car
Pietermaritzburg Cars in the Park: 17 May 2009
A friendly reminder of the upcoming Pietermaritzburg Cars in the Park
2009. We will once again have a Mercedes-Benz Club section and look
forward to seeing as many members as possible at our premier event of
the year.
Chris Carlisle-Kitz
Chairman: KZN Region
Eastern Cape Calender: Jan - Jun 2009
19 March: Social East London.
18 April: Breakfast Run to Kei Mouth.
1 May: Nationals Southern Cape.
13 June: Wizards on Wheels Show East London.
EASTERN CAPE NEWS
On Tuesday 16 December 2008 some members from East London drove
down to Port Elizabeth to meet up with members from that area. The
meeting place was Toys 'n Teas, a newly opened coffee shop and toy
museum in Newton Park. We enjoyed a lovely breakfast together served
by owner Emile Burger and his wife.
Their collection of toys and tins is quite outstanding and must rate as one
of the best in South Africa. Amongst the huge collection they have large
collections of Dinkey's and Corgi's still with their matching boxes, and
many beautiful tin plate models as well. It is well worth a visit if you are a
motoring enthusiast and ever find yourself in P.E. The meeting was a great
s u c c e s s w h e r e o l d f r i e n d s h i p s w e r e r e n e w e d a n d
new ones made. It was agreed that because the Eastern Cape is so
spread out, once or twice a year members from East London and P.E.
regions would meet for a Breakfast Run in Port Alfred. We would like to
make this a permanent feature on our calendar in the future and will
announce the inaugural run soon.
Members from East London and Port Elizabeth area who met in P.E.
recently: (from L. to R.): Colin Meyer (E.L.), Colin Ferreira (St Francis
Bay), Norman Hickel (E.L.), Pieter Moolman (E.L.), Craig Pannell (P.E.),
Jan Vosloo (Jeffrey's Bay), (In Front) Andrew Hugo (P.E.)
page 9

page 10
SOUTHERN
CAPE REGION
SUIDKAAPSTREEK
AFSLUITINGSFUNKSIE/
CONCOURS
Op Sondag , 7 Desember 2008 was dit
die Afsluitingsfunksie en "Concours" van die
Suidkaapstreek in die tuin van Waldo en René Scribante op
George. Dit was 'n heerlike dag van somerson. Soos
gebruiklik was dit weer 'n skaapbraai met die heerlikste
bykosse wat deur Jannie Meyer en sy vrou voorberei is. Die
motors wat oral op die grasperke geparkeer was het baie
mooi vertoon. Die lede het onder die groot skaduboom
gekuier en ek glo dat almal dit baie aangenaam gevind
het. Nadat die beoordelaars die motors sorgvuldig geinspekteer
het, is George en Nadia Botha se 1956 Ponton 190 as
die wenner aangewys. Hierdie motor is in 'n puik toestand en
het slegs 75000 myl (120000 km) afgelê. Die oorspronklike
diensboekies is nog in die motor. In die tweede plek was Kobus en
Metta Lessing met 'n pragtige 1964 220S Vlerkie. Die motor het
slegs 56000 myl (90000) km. afgelê en is ook in 'n puik toestand.
Die manne en vroue het lekker tussen Waldo se pragtige
versameling gekuier. Ons dank aan Waldo en René vir hulle
gasvryheid.
George Botha ontvang trofee 1ste plek
Kobus Lessing ontvang trofee
2de plek
WESTERN CAPE REGION
WESTERN CAPE YEAR END FUNCTION
– 6 DECEMBER 2008
A nice Cape summer day, clear skies, and extremely hot. As
we approached Somerset West, every now and then, you would pass or
be passed by a beautiful Mercedes- Benz, gleaming from top to bottom,
obviously on it's way to the same destination, Okkie Potgieter's
magnificent Land and Zeezicht Estate. On arrival, the cars were
separated into two groups. The concourse cars lined up in front of
Okkie's Museum, the rest were parked on lovely lawns in the shade of
giant old oak trees.
Then the buzzing began. Cars were dusted off, cold drinks appeared,
tables under the huge shaded patio started filling up and the vibe was all
smiles and broad-chested “Star” owners. Even Mother Christmas
(Wilma Groenewald) arrived in full gear (Yes, that is FULL gear). Five
judges were working their way through the stunning line-up and by
lunchtime produced the following winners.
Oldest Car & Best Ponton: Ken Rappaport 1958 Ponton 219, Best
Fintail: Riaan van Eeden 230S, Best 107: Henk Wynjeterp 450 SLC,
Best 108: Dirk van der Westhuizen 280 SE, Best 111: Okkie Potgieter
250 SE Coupe, Best W114/W115: Ryno Wilson, Best 190SL: Bill
Tolken, Best Pagoda: Okkie Potgieter 280SL, Best 123
Sedan/Coupe: Dirk van der Westhuizen
The Main Overall Awards were:
Best Cabriolet: Dave Lyons 300SL
Best Sedan/Coupe: Pieter Venter 560 SEL
Ladies Choice: Dennis Porter 300 Dora
Chairman's Choice: Peter Hallwachs 500SL
Most Interesting Club addition: Ryno Gouws, ex Fire Chief's 220S
Ponton
President's Choice: Deon & Dee Groenewald's show stopping 107 & 108
Rally Replica cars.
Lunch was served on a shaded patio under huge Oak trees and
members were chatting and enjoying good wines until late in the
afternoon. Thank you very much to Okkie & Barbara, as well as their
staff and all the helpers. This was an enormous function to coordinate
and we all appreciate the effort tremendously. Not to wish time away,
but I can't wait for next year's function!
Dirk van der Westhuizen

WESTERN CAPE REGION
The setting was magnificent
Graham presenting Dirk and Cathy v/d Westhuizen
with an award for arranging the best outing of 2008
Dr Peter Hallwachs with his award
Graham, Okkie Potgieter and Greg de Klerk.
Okkie won the club champion award.
Pieter Venter got 1st prize for the best hardtop coupe / sedan
HOUT BAY CAR SHOW: CLASSICS IN
THE BAY
Our club took part in the recent Hout Bay car show, and the beautiful
mountain backdrop provided for spectacular scenery.
Although not one of the biggest, it certainly is one of the prettiest venues
for a car show in South Africa.
(pics by Hans Matter)
page 11

page 12
GEORGE SHOW : A PICTORIAL

GEORGE SHOW : A PICTORIAL
page 13

page 14
We three kings of
orient are, we Three
Kings we travel so far,
hills and mountains, fields
and fountains , following
yonder Star. Star of wonder,
Star of Light, Star of royal beauty
bright. Westward leading, still
proceeding following yonder star.
“Cars-in the Park” Witbank has come and
gone, almost like a mortgage slave's salary
cheque. The memories of this epic adventure
will long remain in the memory banks, it will be
passed from father to son, and the story will be
retold at countless campfires. Like the Flying
Dutchman from the Cape, this journey will become
legendary. Mention CITP Witbank to anyone and they will
remember the mad man from the Cape.
As with all journeys,
careful planning was
p a ra m o u n t . T h I
s entailed preparation
to a high degree. One
needs to remember that
the vehicle is almost 30
years old, and has been
allowed to age, with very
little being done to let it
happen gracefully, in fact
it has aged with the same
respect that a hungry
Bulldog shows to a bowl
of Jungle Oats.
Add to the mix that the
car has a rear wheel
bearing that should
have been replaced,
round about the time
that Mandela was being
sworn in. Rust spots all over the body, one has to be careful
when jacking the car up and pick your spot very carefully,
because you may just do one of the passengers and injury.
Choice of fuel for such a trip is also very important and it
was decided, after 5 minutes of serious soul searching,
to use the Steers Extra Light. The reason being that they
only fry chips in the oil. Steers have a moratorium on
staff clipping their nails while watching the chips
getting fried. No artificial flavourants are allowed,
and that includes hair samples. They also change
their oil regularly, and do not wait for it to climb
out of the fryer overnight and disappear into
the nearest sewer. Calculating that at least
350 litres would be needed I set about the
task of getting the boot packed with 20l
containers of Zulu Gold. 170 litres in
the boot. Another 80 in the Tank
and 40l on the back seat and
the promise of some more
stock in the north.
FOLLOW THAT STAR
By Zulu
Tools,filters, prayers and a big box of courage and the journey began.
04:00 Friday and I was off, following that Star, going north. Most of
Cape Town was still in Never Never land, while we picked our way
towards the N1, the main artery between the Heart and the Soul of the
country. Eating up the hills and mountains, the kilometres flying by,
Stellenbosch, Paarl and Worcester. The open Karoo lay ahead. Set the
foot control to the relaxed pace of 120Km/h and wait for the tank to run
dry.
A few calls from concerned club members made the tedious drive so
much shorter. Road works were an absolute pain in the left lung.
Excruciatingly long stops of 35 minutes at a time, with nothing else to
do but watch the lifeless Karroo Bushes grow. At one of these stops,
Blommie let it be known that he wanted a filter change. Out with the old,
in with the new, while curious onlookers whispered behind
cupped hands to each other. Pointing nervously. Ready to jump back at
the slightest sign of danger, wow, he's got a big filter. Wonder why he
needs such a big filter? Not wanting to let everyone know their
serious technical deficiency, they made up their own explanations, not
wanting to admit they had just
seen the impossible, they
just smiled and waved.
Nodding their heads in mock
understanding and making
friendly gestures. They knew
the van that carries the men
with thick spectacles and long
white coats, would shortly be
around to collect me as sure as
Bob is going to win the next
election.
Then it was off again, speedily
heading for Colesburg ,
roughly the half way mark.
Refuelling was as easy as
taking a bite of a chip roll, 80
litres of the finest Steers Light
in the tank. Press on press on,
feeling like Thomas the Tank
Engine, just following that Star,
Northwards, Northwards. Bloemfontein came and went. Ventersburg
came up. We were not sure if this is the town that ET came from, and so
decided to give it a miss, as far as stopping was concerned. Didn't want
any cops on horses sniffing round the car. Just knew they would not
understand. Troll gates Troll gates 123, dang, paying good cash to drive
these roads, they should be paying me, didn't even drop a single piece
of sulphur on their precious roads. Finally the City of Tswane, then
the mighty stadium of Loftus, fortunately wasn't going there, but
drove past it none the less. PROOOOOOvince I shouted out the
window, just to let them know who is “da Baas”.
Saturday, well rested and refreshed, not that it was needed, 1500Km in
a Mercedes is more comfortable than 3 kays in a Hilux… Blommie by this
stage needed a good wash, and a bit of the polish. All the road dust
was washed away, and the shiny stuff made him look much younger
than his 27 years, in fact looked more like a ten year old. All bright and
shiny, ready to show off…
Sunday, the day. Witbank calling. Up the Road and down the hills, they
even wanted to take some pics, those silly men in their orange suits. Not

a chance. Getting closer, the excitement was really getting tangible, almost
like going on a first date, and then it was left and left again and there
wewere, the purpose of our trip. Blommie standing on the fringe of the
show, and then the fun and games began.
Open the bonnet, everyone looking, staring. Disbelief!! Amazement!! “You
drove all this way on fish OIL?” “How much per litre?” “How many Km have
you done already?” “What does it cost?” “Can we hear the engine?” “Did you
think this out all on your own?” “Is that the Jungle Juice in the bottle?”
“What is the secret?” “You must be conning us!!” “How much for the
conversion?”
People were looking under the bonnet, the seats, and the boot. Somewhere
he is hiding a diesel tank, this is just not possible. Witbank was never going
to be the same again. The air had been flavoured with the sweetest smells
of Steers Extra light. How many times I had to repeat my self I could not say.
But suffice to say, Blommie made an impression. This “Chipped Mercedes”
was a great success.
Time had moved along and as the sun was drawing long shadows over the
grounds, the mommies and daddies resting tired bodies, toddlers sleeping
on the ground like Mexicans at siesta time, cars being started and revved in
appreciation, it was time to head back home.
"Veni, Vidi, Vici". Heading a tired driver back to the Jakaranda Capital,
Blommie started to eat the miles again. Stop at the local Steers. Burger for
the boy and 20litres for the tank. This menu item was not even in print yet, it
is so new.
Pretoria reached, now 1700 Km into the trip and the last leg lay ahead. Cape
Town. Packed all the kit and hit the road. Once again it was up to cruising
speed and watch the miles slip by, effortlessly rolling up the road and
packing it away. Like a victorious army heading South, mission
accomplished. Bravo Zulu.
Again to the accompaniment of concerned Mercedes Club members, the
road became a mere walk in the park. Bloemfontein, City of Roses, had a
definite new aroma, Something Fishy I suspect! Time to take a little
slumber, a little sleep, a little folding of the hands to rest and after 8 hours I
was back at my best.
At 3 Sisters, Blommie's tummy made a growl, I am hungry buddy, I need a
meal. “I am running low on fuel,” I said, “can I please get 20 Liters of your
old oil” “Will it work?” “I wouldn't be asking if it didn't”. Shame, the madness
of the Cape hadn't reached that far into the Karroo. I suspect an operation
would be required to reset the man's jaw, when he saw the oil disappear into
the tank. It was the last few miles, the last few hours.
Then we saw the Table, prepared for our return. A spot of rain to clean the
car and we fried back into Town. Happy to be home, all safe and sound,
ready for another round. Well done Blommie, you did me proud, that road
will never be the same again.
Total Km traveled 3172. Liters used 340. Cost of fuel R310 Rate of use
9,33Km/l
(It was virtually impossible to edit Zulu's style of writing, so it appears as we
received it. – ed.)
Noseweek was alerted to certain disgusting mal practices taking place in
the Western Cape amongst prominent Mercedes-Benz Classic car
enthusiasts Graham van Heerden, Jannie Gildenhuys and Leonard
Schneider
Following investigation by our Noseweek correspondent, the culprits were
caught red handed, in Kuilsriver, in a prestigious residential suburb when
Graham van Heerden was poking his nose into the carburetor barrels of an
Italian model believed to be named “Fiat”. This model is believed to be
connected to the highly suspicious Italian Jew, Mr. Leonard Schneider. Our
Noseweek correspondent, realizing the unbelievable disloyalty displayed
to the Mercedes-Benz brand, witnessed a gust of wind, slam the bonnet,
closing on the head of the culprit, causing severe bone injury and
lacerations in the face,
from the Italian.
It was decided not to
alert brand officials,
as the culprit had
admitted to his act of
automotive adultery,
with the Italian
model, and laid down
an affidavit in the
presence of “pomp
specialist ” Jannie
G i l d e n h u y s , a
w i t n e s s t o t h e
disgusting incident.
The accused vowed
never to pay any
gestures of aid to Italian
models of any age ever again, as he was still contracted to German models
at the time. He enjoys the respect of about 500 Mercedes members who
would never forgive him for flirting over the boarders of Europe with other
models.
The accused is now recovering at his luxury home in Durbanville, from
chronic “fiatgitis” fever and severe facial remodeling and his physician, Dr.
Teresa van Heerden was not available for comment. It was learned from a
reliable source that very little sympathy was displayed from close friends
and family, and it would take some time for this act of indecency to be
swept under the carpets of the many Mercedes classics. Prominent
members were warned
to keep their eyes off
the sleek lines of
other models, and to
keep their own
models well oiled
and greased for a
lasting passion and
c o n t i n u o u s
p l e a s u r a b l e
experience.
Viva Mercedes-Benz!
Sorry Graham, this
web report was
worthy of publishing,
forgive us! Jannie
and Okkie
page 15

page 16
While I was in LA I
h a d t h e g r e a t
opportunity to visit a
hero of mine and see his
private collection of cars. Jay
Leno is not just a true petrol head
he is also a
very smart
and kind guy.
His cars stretch
f r o m t h e 5
Duesenbergs that he
o w n s t h r o u g h t o
moderns E 55 a n d
Porsche Carrera GT to
some tank engined and
rocket engined cars. He owns
probably more than 200
motorcycles also. His latest
project is a 300 SEL 6.3 - high
mileage but surprisingly tidy
inside. His website is truly amazing
and he features his cars and stories on
s o m e o f t h e m t h e r e .
http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/
Rumour has it in USA that after he
ends his hosting of the Tonight Show
next year he will become the host of
the TOP GEAR USA show - I think an
awesome idea and to think a real petrol
head with actual car knowledge and not
just opinion…..I think it will be a great
success.
After his visit and a live broadcast of his
show I also visited Peterson Auto
M u s e u m i n D o w n t o w n L A
www.petersen.org . Hollywood is like
down town Randburg and at best
overrated and disappointing. It is just
so run down and abandoned that it is
hard to think why we would all think
of it as a glamorous place. Boksburg
and Benoni have nicer CBD's -
anyway the Peterson had a floor of
Vault cars with the most stunning
and HUGE 1925 Rolls Phantom 1
- rebodied by Jonkhere in
1935. It is truly an art work
and mind blowing to see. A
few Bugatti's (one new and
3 old) as well as a NEW
FORD GT side by side
with the original
1960's GT 40 made for
a memorable pic. On my way out I stopped
at Irvine to visit Mercedes Classic
Centre USA www.mbusa.com
and was
stunned by the quality of cars on
offer. They had a 1980 450 SEL
6.9 with only 251 miles since
new….for an eye watering
price of $175 000 (neg).
AMERICA 2008 –
WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!! PART TWO
Also various Gullwings , Pontons and W123's , W124's and W126's.-
even a 300 SL Racer and a SLR Cabrio registered “BLITZ”
My next stop was San Diego and the Miramar Navy Airshow where the
P51 Mustang and the F 14,15,18----all of them flew including the F22
RAPTOR - a 77 000 Pound Thurst with no weight
and speed from 60 mph to MACH 2+ amazing
aircraft….and a few in between. Law and
order with military precision and the
largest peaceful crowd I have ever
experienced at any event ever. Just
something to behold. No litter and great
comraderie and patriotism. My next visit in
the mid USA to St Louis was less car oriented
but I did get to visit the Kemp Auto Museum
www.kempautomuseum.org - 35 Mercedes
and 7, 356 Porsches - all beautiful.
My next stop was Hershey and meeting up
with Jannie Gildenhuys and Theo Claassen -
we then drove to Reading and met up
with Graham who had to go and prepare the
state for our arrival. Kobus Harris and his son
Johan who lives in Savannah also made it to
the Hershey meeting and we had a few days of
car overload and great great fun as friends.
We saw and heard Otto Langeveldt and his
son in- law a few times - trading,
organizing and buying stuff as he seemed to
have $'s burning holes in his pockets…..he
also saved 30% vs the prices now by buying
then. Jannie and Theo also carried what
they couldn't get into Otto's famous container
Hershey has been running for 55 years as a
swop meet and draws a USA wide following.
All cars are US cars and very few German ,
Italian or English cars are present. The spares
and information for vehicles also relate more to
the US cars. However anything you could think
of from the original or repro ownersbook to
the bonnet , key or bumper , lights or
alternators are available there. 4 days would
cover it if your bank manager is fit and able.
We couldn't cover 50% in 3 days. We did get
“stuck” in the Kruse auction where
unbelievable bargains were to be bought.
Cars were getting around 30% of known
value- if that much -and with the Rand at R8 it
was buying time. We were all at times relieved
that Theo did not register as I think he and
Jannie would have bought a car or two just
because they were well priced high
caliber cars. Of course the world changed a
little since then. Good cars will always find good
homes and are a good bet for the future investment wise as always. As
George Shipway always says “you cant pay to much ….just pay too
soon……”
When the Hershey days came to an end, we headed for STAR MOTORS in
New York state with Stu Hammel and Graham. This is a Mercedes-Benz
restoration facility par excellence, and they specialize in the rebuild of
the M100 air suspension components. The beauty of fall with the trees in
all shades of brown, red, orange and green made for spectacular
scenery.

FROM THE MAILBOX
PASSIONATE ABOUT THE MERCEDES-BENZ BRAND
From a very young age I was fascinated and obsessed with Mercedes-Benz. I
enjoyed getting to know all the latest models and in the collecting all sorts of
memorabilia, sales and marketing literature of both passenger cars
and commercial vehicles and any information about Mercedes-Benz in
general. Of particular interest was, the Mercedes-Benz active and passive
1966 W110 230S manual
1968 W110 200Manual
safety systems, which Mercedes-Benz engineered into their products.
It had been a dream for a long time to own a Mercedes-Benz collector
vehicle and a few years ago, I was fortunate to have found a black 1959
190a Ponton, which I purchased from Akker van der Merwe in George.
The car was well known in the Mercedes-Benz Club and was fondly
referred to as “Oom Ben”. It was in fair original condition, but needed
some mechanical work, some painting and a general clean-up, most of
which I have done. This is a great car and I enjoy driving it regularly.
The bug has now bitten, good and solid, and I have in the mean time
purchased another two cars. I have a 1966 W110 230S manual with full
owner history. The car was originally purchased in Springs but spent
most of its life in Estcourt KZN. The last couple of years the car was
unfortunately kept in Durban where it developed a lot of rust. I have
stripped it and am in the process of rebuilding it completely. It is
currently grey with red leather interior and I will be changing the colour
to mid blue with ivory top.
Chris Carlise-Kitz, chairman of the KZN Club, has stripped and rebuilt a
number of “fintails” and in sharing his wealth of experience, has been a
great help with my project and giving much needed advice. My other car
is a 1968 W110 200 manual, ivory with red MB Tex, one of the last to
come out of CDA in East London. This car has done approx 47000miles
from new and was owned by Linda Abbott of Ladysmith for 40 years, to
the day. All documentation has been preserved, the original
factory documentation, offer to purchase, invoice, receipt, the service
books complete with a R6.00 free service coupon, tools and all keys etc.
There is almost no rust on the car, however there were numerous minor
dents on the doors, fenders and boot, which had been covered with tin
aerosol spray paint, and I decided to have it cleaned up. The interior is in
excellent condition and mechanically the car is outstanding
having passed COR with only a few items requiring attention. The
chrome work is in good order and this is a great original car. I also have a
1964 W110 190, which is in bad shape but is ideal as a donor car.
I have collected some 400 model cars over the years, most of which are
on display. Having been involved in the Mercedes-Benz organization for
more than 25 years, gave me an opportunity to get closer to the brand.
My brother, Arnold who has been involved in the Mercedes-Benz
organization for many years as well, is just as passionate about the
brand. He has a wealth of experience in Mercedes-Benz parts and we
share a lot of information related to collector vehicles and Mercedes-
Benz products in general. Arnold is also an MBCSA member and has a
great collection of model cars and memorabilia. I am very proud to be
associated with the Mercedes-Benz Club as it gives me an opportunity
to live-out my passion. We have a great team looking after the KZN
region and I am pleased to be involved locally and
in growing the club membership and organizing events associated with
the club.
Regards
Erald Hohls
page 17

page 18
T h e A f r i c a n
Odyssey 2008 was
an adventure trip
f o r c l a s s i c c a r s
travelling from South Africa
up to the Equator in Kenya.
The event was organised by
Classic Car Events following the
success of the 2006, first ever, event.
The start took place on 12 September
2008 from Johannesburg and we
reached the Equator on 30 September, 18
days later.
Three days were spent in Nairobi preparing for
and participating in the 38th Schweppes Africa
Concours d'Elegance at the Nairobi Racecourse.
After Naro Moru and the Equator, we toured back
south taking in sights not visited during the
northbound journey. Two MGAs from overseas opted
to join in on our southbound tour.
PARTICIPANTS (11 starters and 9 finishers)
SA Mercedes Benz 219 1959 PJ & Suzette “Rybo”
SA Jaguar 420 G 1960 Roger & Lorraine Pearce
SA Peugeot 404 1977 Les, Marlene & Cameron McLeod
SA Morris 1957 Isis Peter, & Shasta Swann
SA Ford Cortina 1962 Aileen & Smiley Swann
SA Porsche 1960 356 Clive & Cal Winterstein
SA Mini 1970 MK3 Eric Ackroyd
SA VW Beetle 1974 Glen & Hilde Parker
SA Porsche 356 1958 Andreas & Paulie Koch
Malaysia 1957 MGA PY & HY Wong
Australia 1961 MGA David & Laurel Godwin
Our Wheels … “The Old Lady”
A 1958 Mercedes Benz 219; owned from new by the Ryan
family, originally imported into Rhodesia. Current owner PJ
Ryan.
The African Odyssey Driven
Day 1: Friday 12 September 2008 Departing from
Carnival City, Gauteng for Maputo via Swaziland's Goba
Border (601 kms)
11 cars started from Carnival City at 07h30 on 12
September for an eventful Day One!
Great enthusiasm and positive vibes prevailed
despite the miserable weather. We drove in
'guti', (to coin a Zimbabwean phrase - low
cloud and drizzle) from Ermelo on the N17
all the way into Swaziland. The winding
narrow road through the
mountains and the Bhunya Forest
was wet and slippery wreaking
havoc on the silver Porsche
356A coupe. Almost
written off having
rolled, it lay in a ditch off the side of the road.
THE AFRICAN ODYSSEY
By Suzett Bouwer
As we came around the corner and saw this, the realities of this enormous
adventure hit us like a blow to the head! The alternate route via Swaziland,
through Manzini on to Siteki and then the Goba border into Mozambique was
a better-than-good call. Formalities were a breeze at this comparatively
quiet border. We had to buy insurance and our expensive Carnet du Passage,
obtained from the AA in Kyalami, was not accepted here.
Mozambique's Meticais currency had somehow changes with 000's removed
Zimbabwe-style from the new notes. This made the toll fee a trite confusing
to pay, in fact to be honest, we have no idea how much we paid! Arrival in
Maputo at rush hour was an experience to say the least. Very few 'normal'

oad courtesies apply, stop, drive, hoot, two lanes become four,
anythinggoes, how ever and wherever you want! The trash on the sidewalks
had simply increased since out last visit four years ago.
Costa Do Sol's prawns were consumed in great quantities with lots of 'green'
wine to make the piri piri go down.
Summary of arrivals in Maputo: Out of 11 starters 8 cars arrived! Following
the scrambled silver Porsche in Swaziland, the two MGAs (Australian &
Malaysian) stayed over in Manzini. The Malaysian MGA's diff oil apparently
ran out and it consequently 'ground' to a halt. Steve Pickering, the Old
Lady's rescuer on Day “0”, drove down to Manzini with a replacement diff and
they were back on the road by 11h30 on Day Two chasing us to Barra.
Day 2: Saturday 13 September 2008
Maputo to Barra Lodge, Inhambane (525 kms)
As we had to headed west back through Maputo, Day 2 began at 06h00,
setting off with packed lunches to avoid the hustle and bustle of the Saturday
morning markets being built up. Driving north on the EN1 to Manicha and
Xai-Xai, we were alerted to be aware of unscrupulous cops and to rigidly obey
the speed limits outside towns and villages.
The road after Xai-Xai was pretty awful for about 90 kms but we had been
warned. It was not so much the depth of the potholes but that the tar that
was very broken up in places causing oncoming traffic in the same
predicament coming head-on and ducking off at the last split second. The
journey to Inhambane was generally very scenic with coconut palm groves
fringing both sides of the road and intermittent glimpses of azure clear bays
washing up on bright white sand.
The Old Lady flew like a hippo in full flight even overtaking the Porsche on a
downhill run, much to their surprise! The Jag (QE III), Porsche & The Old
Lady arrived at Barra Lodge in good time for piri-piri chicken and more green
wine at the beach restaurant.
Not far behind, we were followed in by the VW Beetle and Peugeot 404. The
Mini trundled in at 17h00, the Morris & Cortina limped in at 19h00 having had
to undertake clutch and two tyre repairs. The two foreign MGAs were
making good time all the way from Manzini, Swaziland, in one day!
Day 3: Sunday 14 September 2008Barra to Vilanculos (325 kms)
The route plan noted that “the day may look short but will be slow” About
178kms from Vilanculos and north of Maxixe, the road deteriorated again and
was truly as awful. Initially, filled-in potholes on the tar surface that made
the road so bumpy, it was challenging keeping the car on the road.
Unbelievably, it got worse and the bumps changed to potholes so that driving
beside the “road” became preferable!
We crossed the Tropic of Capricorn ON Day 3, near Malova, between
Morrumbene and Massinga, mid-morning! The potholes changed to craters
all adding up to a 350 km stretch that took 4½ hours to navigate. The
excitement was not over yet! The road to the Archipelago Resort 7kms
south of Vilanculos, was softer than a sand pit and only possible if speedy
pace was maintained to plough through it. The Mini ran a-ground on
a middle-mannetjie and sat firm with her wheels spinning - again the
Porsche came to the rescue and towed her out.
The Porsche, not surprisingly, had to have few adjustments to the clutch on
arrival.Good food, cold 2M beer and accommodation in three-bedroom selfcatering
casitas with sea views but unfortunately black clouds of hungry
mosquitoes! (to be continued)
FROM THE MAILBOX
After seeing an advert on the back page of the August/September issue
of The Benz Lenz, I contacted the advertiser Chris Viljoen, who happens
to be a MBCSA member and he e-mailed me some pictures of his 1973
W114 220 that was up for sale. When I saw the pics, I could hardly
believe my eyes, because this Merc looked exactly like my first
Mercedes (mine was a 230.6), which I bought way back in 1984 from
the then Head of the Windhoek Fire Dept and I just had to have it! The
color was also burgundy with white interior just like mine was then and
the sight of this car just brought back so many fond memories.
I called Chris and told him, that I am buying the car and after
transferring the funds into his account and although he was from
Mpumalanga, he agreed to bring the car as far as O.T Airport and I flew
to JHB. I was met by Chris and his spouse Petro (see attached pic). After
a few cups of cappuccino, I was introduced to my “old lady” and we
immediately hit the road back to CPT. We had a safe and uneventful
journey and arrived in Cape Town on Sunday after an overnight stay in
Kimberley, so it once again shows, that it pays to advertise in The Benz
Lenz !
Kind regards,
Pat Jansen
page 19

page 20
CLASSIFIED ADS
graham van heerden
President and Benz Lens Editor
T: (h) (021) 976 2934
T: (w) (021) 975 9019
F: (021) 975 9999 • Cell: 082 920 0501
E-mail: president@mercedesbenzclub.co.za
P.O. Box 2443, Durbanville, 7551
waldo scribante
Chairman: Southern Cape
Membership Secretary
T: 044 8707 809 (H) 044 803 5011 (W)
F: (044) 803 5012 • Cell: 082 802 3280
E-mail:
membership@mercedesbenzclub.co.za
P.O. Box 999, George, 6530
Maxim Erdmann
Chairman: Northern Region
T: (w) (011) 781 5205
F: 086 666 5205 • Cell: 083 649 6969
E-mail: gauteng@mercedesbenzclub.co.za
PO Box 3551, Pinegowrie, 2123
pieter moolman
Chairman: Eastern Cape
T: (h) (043) 721 3045
Cell: 083 780 4727
E-mail: plmoolman@absamail.co.za
10 Buchholtz Straat, Vincent,
Oos Londen, 5247
PLEASE NOTE: The placement of ads is a service rendered to our members. Neither the editor nor the committee accepts any liability pertaining to condition or
ownership of goods advertised. It remains the responsibility of the reader to investigate these issues before closing any transaction.
DISCLAIMER: The Mercedes-Benz Club of South Africa, although an authorized user of the Mercedes-Benz Trademarks, is an independent organisation and
the views expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily those Mercedes Benz SA, Daimler AG or the Mercedes-Benz Museum GmbH.* Opinions
expressed are those of the individual contributors and should not be interpreted as official club policy. While great care has been exercised in the
compilation of the material published, members are advised to personally verify information, statements and claims before committing themselves to
acts on transactions.
* Mercedes-Benz Museum GmbH is a Daimler Company.
mercedes-benz club of
south africa
The only officially recognised Mercedes-Benz Club in Africa
Member of the SA Marque Club Association
steve rademeyer
Vice President
T: (h) (011) 742 2222
T: (w) (011) 740 7474
F: (011) 740 9057
Cell: 082 887 5201
E-mail: benns@iafrica.com
Okkie Potgieter
Chairman: Western Cape
T: +27 21 852 7035
F: +27 21 852 5293 / 852 7040
Cell: 082 440 2019
E-mail: maoliosa@westacre.co.za
15 Verster Avenue, Land-en-
Zeezicht,Somerset West 7130
George Padley
webmaster
T: 0861 112 118 (work)
F: 086 684 8768
Cell: 083 539 5916
E-mail:
theo claassen
Treasurer
T: (h) (021) 852 5928
T: (w) (021) 854 7301
F: (021) 853 8911 • Cell: 082 654 7300
E-mail: tclaassen@rolagrp.co.za
P.O. Box 119, Strand
Chris Kühn
Chairman: Central Region
T: (w) (051) 430 4739 F: (051) 447 4709
Cell: 082 779 0451
E-mail: chris@sandwichshop.co.za
P.O. Box 100988 , Brandhof , 9324
Dirk van der
Westhuizen
Secretary
T: (h) (021) 982 1142
T: (w) (021) 982 1141
Cell: 083 2848 557
E-mail: secretary@mercedesbenzclub.co.za
P.O. Box 3221, Durbanville, 7551
Chris Carlisle-Kitz
Chairman: KZN
Club approved 1) Pieter Meiring 2) Glenrand MIB (Mandy Barrett) 3) Indwe Brokers (Thelma Krugel)
Insurance brokers: Cell: 082 557 0100 Tel: (011) 293 2511 Tel: (021) 914 0752
Life Members: Sir Stirling Moss Steve Rademeyer Philip Kannemeyer
Ettienne Geel Ria Geel
190 Ponton for sale. Assembly not complete. Body assembled restored by
professionals. Colour: Ivory. Engine rebuilt and installed. New wiring
harness fitted. Upholstery very good condition. No hood lining. Enough
bright work, windows, bacalite frames rubber beadings & spares. Spare
engine included. Offers R25 000-00. Bill Nortier Mobile 083 700
2929
E430 Avantgarde A/T 1999. Kms 95000. Gun metal silver grey.
Upholstery grey. C D Shuttle. 4 new tyres. Fitted Tracker anti-theft. This
is a collectors car not in daily use in immaculate condition and accident
free. R144 000-00. Both cars are in Benoni. Pictures on request. Bill
Nortier Mobile 083 700 2929
220 SEb Fintail sedan for sale. Had the car for 5 years, but we moved
and the garage is too small for the car. Installed a new battery. The
fuel tank leaks when the car is full, The fuel gauge doesn't work,
The speedo stopped working. R20 000.00 Car is in JHB. Gerbrand
Nel g@cannonballbunny.com
FOR SALE:
1990.560 SEC. Full house, sunroof. Automatic. Black with
grey interior. 228 000km's. Very good condition. Owner
deceased - sold by the widow. R 98 000 neg. Please
call Doreen on 011 788 6060.
T: (033) 347 3000
Cell: 082 966 3463
E-mail: kzn@mercedesbenzclub.co.za
webmaster@mercedesbenzclub.co.za P.O. Box 2353, Pietermaritzburg, 3200
2001 SL500 last of old shape. Silver with grey leather, all in immaculate condition. Soft top
is still perfect. Mileage is 103000km. Although this is high I can assure any interested party
that these kilo's have all been done on the open road. There has been no accident damage or
mechanical problems to date. All servicing has been done through Mercedes. Tyres are
Michelin and are perfect. All extras ie. Bose sound, Xenon lights, rain sensor windscreen
wipers came out as standard. No modifications or additions have been fitted. ( Sorry it has a
blue tooth kit.) The price I would like to get for the car is R 275 000.00 ono. Contact details
via Email:- jpc@cnsisp.co.za or Jack on cell no 082 892 0583.
I have 10 Windscreens for W113 Mercedes Benz Pagoda model available @ R2500.00 per
windscreen. All interested can phone Les Conchar on 083 654 8147 or Neville Conchar on 083
728 3387
Pagoda conversion kit for a California model. Converts car to soft top version. 99%
complete. R45000. Contact Otto Langeveldt. 0833034777
1993 W201 2.0 190E te koop. Wit met grys bekleedsel. Met PWS en boekies. 200000km.
R65000. Skakel Tiaan Snyman 051-4362295 of 0828884488
W115 220 1970 Automaties te koop. Baie goeie toestand. Skakel 022-7840043 saans.