ROUND THE BENZ Newsletter of the Pikes Peak Section

Transcription

1 February 2018 Welcome New Members! Steve Caruthers Walter Leitmayr ROUND THE BENZ Newsletter of the Pikes Peak Section February Breakfast & Fun Run Saturday, 17 February :00 a.m. PIKES PEAK HISTORICAL STREET RAILWAY FOUNDATION Inside this issue: Forney Fun Run 3 Bowling By Benz 4 PP Observatory 4 Earth Day Rally 5 DIY Tech Session 5 Der Marktplatz 6 Click 6 SilverStars&Golden Aspens 7 Pot Luck Recap 8 Land-Speed Record 9?? of the Month 10 V-6 Out 10 We ve got a real treat for the Pikes Peak Section at our breakfast on Saturday, 17 February. John Haney, of the Pikes Peak Historical Street Railway Foundation, will speak to us about their plan to restore and operate electric trolleys in Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs. Breakfast at the Egg & I Restaurant in Citadel Crossing starts at 9:00 a.m. and John will begin his presentation at 10:00 a.m. The Pikes Peak Historical Streetcar Railway Foundation is currently working on a proposed trolley route that will start at UCCS on the north end and run south past Penrose Hospital, the Old North End and Colorado College to the downtown area. Nevada, Tejon, and Weber Streets are possibilities for the final route. The foundation plans to use historic and vintage streetcars for this project; they currently own 18 streetcars and 2 electric trolley buses, which are under restoration. This trolley route will follow in the footsteps of the Colorado Springs Interurban Railway, an electric trolley system that operated in Colorado Springs from 1902 to This system served Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City, Manitou Springs, Ivywild, Broadmoor, and Roswell over 38 miles of track with 56 motor cats and 13 trail cars. We will visit the museum to see the story of street cars in our city, tour the restoration shop, and take a streetcar ride along 500 feet of track. Museum admission is $5 ($4 for seniors). A late lunch will follow the museum visit. Please contact Steve Dierks, at (719) or steve.dierks@gmail.com for more details.

2 Section Officers: President: Steve Dierks Vice-President: Andrew Nelson Secretary: Judy Bennett Treasurer: Julie Nelson Directors: Karen Absher Wendy Adams Charlie Bennett net, Mary Bixler Stan Bixler Joyce Blutt Glenn Hamill Pete Kulzer Henry Russell Sylvia Russell Webmaster: Robert Boren Regional Director: Michael Davison View From the Peak by Steve Dierks January was the first time that we added a speaker to our monthly breakfast agenda. Thanks to Henry Russell, we enjoyed a presentation from the Office of Emergency Management. The presenter shared information that is important to everyone in El Paso County. John Haney will join us for the upcoming Section breakfast gathering on Saturday February 17 th. John is a founding member of the Pikes Peak Historical Street Railway Foundation. He has also invited us to visit the Pikes Peak Historical Street Railway Museum after breakfast. This will certainly be an informative and enjoyable opportunity for everyone. I hope to see you there. February is also lovers month. It s time to forget about that pesky Punxsutawney groundhog and to focus on the important things in life. I encourage everyone to do something with that special person in your life. It s also a good time to show a little love to that special car. Mid-winter is the time that tire pressures drop, batteries fail, windshield wiper blades streak and windshield washer fluids run low. When you check those tire pressures, don t forget the spare. There will be monthly Pikes Peak Section events during 2018, but the highlight of the year will be the Silver Stars and Golden Aspens driving event in the fall. The event is an MBCA National Special Event that begins in Estes Park on September 25 and includes a driving tour of the Colorado Rockies during the height of the aspen color change. There are more details in the newsletter and on page 85 of the current STAR Magazine. Registration is now live on the mbca.org website. Just go to There is nationwide enthusiasm for this event and hotel rooms are already being claimed. There will be more information during the coming year and you may be asked to help along the way. This is going to be terrific year to be a member of the Pikes Peak Section of MBCA. We re just getting started. Let the Silver Stars roll, Steve Round the Benz is published monthly by the Pikes Peak Section of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America (MBCA). Articles and ideas are the opinions of the writers and no authentication is implied as to the validity of the information contained herein. Explicit permission to republish any article with proper attribution is given to all sections of MNCA. Articles for publication consideration should be mailed to Pikes Peak Section, MBCA, Attn: Editor, 4335 Penhurst Place, Colorado Spring, CO or, whenever possible, ed to: bennett912@ comcast.net. Deadline for receipt is the 18 th of the month prior to the month of issue. Please support our advertisers. They help to make this publication possible 2

3 March Breakfast & Fun Run Saturday, 17 March :00 a.m. Join us for breakfast on Saturday, 17 March at the Egg & I Restaurant at Platte & Academy. Clark Absher will be on hand to tell us about the Veteran Motor Car Club of America (VMCCA) and the future of the Abbey Car Show in Canon City. Then we ll be off to the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver. The Forney is a one-of-a-kind collection of over 600 artifacts relating to historical transportation. It began 60 years ago with a single 1921 Kissel, but soon expanded to include vehicles of all kinds. Today it includes not just vehicles, but also buggies, motorcycles, steam locomotives, aircraft, carriages, rail equipment, fire apparatus, public transportation, sleighs, bicycles, toys & diecast models, vintage apparel and much, much more! The Forney is a one-of-akind collection of over 600 artifacts. Collection highlights include: Union Pacific 'Big Boy' Steam Locomotive #4005, Amelia Earhart's 1923 Kissel 'Gold Bug', Forney Locomotive, Colorado & Southern Caboose, 1923 Hispano-Suiza, Indian Motorcycle Collection, Denver & Rio Grande Dining Car, Stutz Fire Engine, 1888 Denver Cable Car, 1923 Case Steam Tractor, 1817 Draisenne Bicycle, 500 Piece Matchbox Collection, and more! On Display Now Using dining car menus and china, and railroadiana such as timetables, The Forney provides a glimpse into what travel was like on the famous railroads of that now-vanished era, before the consolidation of passenger service into Amtrak in Admission is $11, $9 for seniors, $5 for kids (5-12) and parking is free. We will have lunch at a suitably transportation-themed restaurant close by. Contact Steve Dierks at (719) or drop him a note at steve.dierks@gmail.com, if you have any questions. 3

4 1511 Chiles Ave, Fort Carson Meet in the parking lot outside the main gate at 3:15 Bowling Bingo - Bowling Poker $10 per person includes shoes, ball & 3 games Bowling shirts and skills are optional Snack bar at the alley has a variety of snacks pizza, hot dogs, sandwiches, chips, etc. Cocktails available (no host) Dinner at The Hatch Cover following RSVP to Judy Bennett bennett912@comcast.net

5 Preview of Coming Attractions Pikes Peak Observatory 21 April 2018 Did you know there s going to be an observatory on the top of Pikes Peak? Well, that s the plan. It will be 3.3 ft in diameter and optimized for remote operation. Come on out for breakfast in April and learn all about the details from the National Space Science and Technology Institute speaker. Stay tuned for more details in next month s Round the Benz. Earth Day Rally 21 April 2018 Following the Observatory talk, Rallymeister Andrew has another treat in store for us. We will celebrate Mother Earth Day 2018 a day early on Saturday, 21 April. Earth Day typically celebrates clean air, land, and water; the theme of Earth Day this year is plastics. Who knows what the theme of Andrew s Earth Day Rally will be. Any guesses, anyone? Come on out for breakfast on the 21 st and find out. It s sure to be chock full of puns, twists and turns (automotively and intellectually), and just plain fun. Details will be coming up in future issues. Quote of the Month: The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it. ~Dudley Moore D-I-Y Tech Session 22 April 2018 Dave Williamson will host our first Do-It-Yourself Tech Session of 2018 on Sunday, 22 April 2018 at 10:00 a.m. You can shed your star car of those winter tires; change the oil, the brakes or the spark plugs; give your beauty a tune-up; or just polish her up a little. These are all jobs our members have performed in the past at significant savings from having the pros do it. The cost remains $10 for the use of the service bay and Dave will have a service tech on hand to give advice or lend a helping hand. Do yourself a favor and sign up for this one. : Mile High Section Events For more information, visit the MHS website at Historic Colorado Museum Date: 10 Feb :00 a.m. Location: 1200 Broadway, Denver Cost : $12 per person ($10 seniors) Contact: Bob Mashburn; ; Bob_Mashburn78@yahoo.com 5

6 Der Marktplatz Wanted: C36 or C43 sedan. 300 SEL 6.3 sedan. Call Pete at or For Sale: SL. Black, 120,000 miles. Runs great; must see. Call Greg at , For Sale: SL, 53K miles, automatic, red. Needs transmission work or a new one. $26,000. Contact Walter, Click This, just in from the latest edition of the MBCA e-newsletter, Click, a quick wrap-up of news, discounts, and special events: The 2018 Germany trips are set! StarFest 2018: May 14-21, Visit Starfest2018.com for more information and the schedule. Starfest 2018 is the flagship national event for Mercedes-Benz Club of America. So, what could be a more fitting location than the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Factory's Brand Immersion Center? Combining elegance, fun, history, and motorsports Germany Trips: The 2018 Germany trips are set! These member-only trips provide direct and personal access to Mercedes-Benz facilities and museums and many amazing European landmarks. Don't wait any longer, as space is limited and already filling up. Summer Stuttgart, Germany Trip: June 18-24, 2018 Summer Stuttgart, Germany Trip: July 16-22, 2018 Fall Stuttgart, Germany Trip: Sept , 2018 Do not book your flight until your trip is confirmed. To learn more, call trip Leiter and past national MBCA president Jim O'Sullivan at (843) or him at osullivanj55@gmail.com. 6

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8 Pot Luck Recap The Pikes Peak Section turned out in force on a beautiful January evening to enjoy good food, great camaraderie, and a fabulous auction at our annual Pot Luck Dinner. We had more than 40 folks to feed, and our outstanding chefs rose to the occasion with wonderful dishes ranging from authentic sauerbraten (thanks, Margaret!) to lasagna, to baked ham-meatloaf-meatballs, to chili, to badabing bread and lots more. Lindsay Williamson of FaerieTales Bakehouse came through for us again with her signature Pikes Peak Section cake red velvet this time yum! It was accompanied by home-made cookies and chocolate trifle for dessert. a rousing success once again. Of course, Mercedes-Benz of Colorado Springs did yeoman duty by providing the wine, water, and soft drinks as well as the tables, chairs, and coverings. Logan Bennett provided enthusiastic background music on his saxophone. Dave and Glenn did an awesome job of putting this evening together. MB-CS is unparalleled as a MBCA partner and supporter. Then, Glenn pulled out all the stops for the highlight of the evening the M-B gear auction. He auctioned caps, shirts purse, hangers, and mugs to vigorous, hilarious, and competitive bidding. All of the proceeds ($300+) were generously donated to our Section to support our activities. If you weren t able to make it this year, be sure to put the date for next year s Pot Luck on your 2019 calendar. This one was an evening to remember. Check out all the pictures on Facebook at MBCA Pikes Peak Section. The Cake! The Food! The Line! 8

9 Mercedes-Benz Land-Speed Record Falls By Sean Szymkowski Mercedes-Benz isn't too upset over the fact that the Koenigsegg Agera RS has broken its 8- decade-long title for the fastest land-speed vehicle on a public road. Actually, the German automaker is pretty darn proud over the fact it took 80 years for someone else to oust it. pretty proud over the fact it took 80 years for someone to oust it. What are we going on about? On January 28, 1938, racing driver Rudolf Caracciola drove a specially modified Mercedes-Benz W125 grand prix racer on a stretch of German Autobahn near Frankfurt and clocked an average top speed of mph for more than a kilometer. The feat is extraordinary even in the present, but downright insane for Sadly, a shadow was cast on this success by the fatal accident of a competitor, Auto Union racing driver Bernd Rosemeyer, on the same day. The W125 accomplished the record with a 5.6-liter V-12 with 765 horsepower and featured a handful of novel engineering specs. For example, the engine used an ice-cooling system rather than ambient air. Engineers cooled the massive engine with 11 pounds of ice and 12.6 gallons of water. It also helped keep the drag coefficient as low as possible. Designers and engineers also tweaked the exterior design to boast rounder shapes and sharp tapers to keep crosswinds at bay at high speeds and also reduce axle lift. The covered wheel arches only add to the futuristic look of the land-speed record car. Koenigsegg's Agera RS with its 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 with 1,341 hp was finally enough to take the mighty Merc down. Koenigsegg broke the record last November on a closed 12-mile section of Highway 160 just outside of Pahrump, Nevada. Even though Mercedes is out a record, 80 years is one hell of a run. The W125 used in the land-speed record run proudly sits in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany these days. 9

10 Mercedes Question of the Month Question: What year did Karl Benz invent the world s first car? Answer: a b c d Answer to Last Month s Question: d. Italy V-6 Engines Out In-Line 6s In By Sean Szymkowski...the brand will phase out its V-6 engine. Mercedes-Benz V-6 engines are not long for this world, but it's not all bad news. Ola Källenius, head of Mercedes research and development, confirmed the brand will phase out its V-6 engine, but it means a return of the inline-6. The strategy behind new inline-6s and the V-6's retirement surrounds a shift to more inline-4 powered vehicles. The inline-6 and inline-4 are natural partners, just like the V-8 and V-6 engine were for decades, the R&D chief said. Källenius said Mercedes-Benz's inline-4 and 6 engines "are branches of the same tree," and they can be built on the same production line. The silky smooth operation of the 6 is but a cherry on top, he added. The German luxury brand showed its first inline-6 engine, dubbed the M256, displacing 3.0- liters in The engine features a 48-volt mild-hybrid system with an integrated starter generator. The unit replaces the standard starter and generator with a single more powerful unit placed between the engine and transmission sans belts. The design also helps overcome one of the inline-6's downsides: its overall length. The ISG can also add a 20 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque boost during high-load situations, and Mercedes-Benz proclaimed it will offer V-8-like performance with 6-cylinder efficiencies. Although the brand is all-in on inline-6 engines, the change won't happen overnight. There are no plans to place the engine in the C-Class, but the United States market will see the engine in a new E53, CLS450, and CLS53. But the best may be yet to come. Last year, Mercedes-AMG announced it too has an inline-6 based on the M256 in the works. We can't wait to see how much power that engine will produce and in what vehicles it will be used. 10

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12 Round the Benz Editor 4335 Penhurst Pl Colorado Springs, CO Return Service Requested To: Happy Valentine s Day 6 February 2018 Board Meeting 6:00 p.m. Steve Dierks Calendar of Upcoming Events 31 March 2018 Bowling By Benz Judy Bennett On the Web at: org MBCA Pikes Peak Section 17 February 2018 Breakfast 9:00 a.m. Streetcar Fun Run Steve Dierks March 2018 Board Meeting 6:00 p.m. Steve Dierks March 2018 Breakfast 9:00 a.m. Forney Fun Run Steve Dierks April 2018 Board Meeting 6:00 p.m. Steve Dierks April 2018 Breakfast 9:00 a.m. Pikes Peak Observatory & Earth Day Rally Andrew Nelson April 2018 Do-It-Yourself Tech Session Dave Williamson The Pikes Peak Section Board of Directors meets on the first Tuesday of each month at Mercedes-Benz of Colorado Springs, 730 Automotive Drive. Meetings start at 6:00 p.m. All Section members are welcome and encouraged to attend 12