Reservations are a must and your request needs to be mailed to John Tuck no later than Feb. 16th to allow sufficient time for him to mail your show & dinner tickets to you.

The continued generosity of Mercedes-Benz of North Olmsted makes this event possible–so please thank them for their support!

Complete event and registration information is available in both Word & PDF formats below.

Questions?  Contact John Tuck at (216) 408-8454 or john.tuck1@gmail.com

Auto_show_2012_word

Auto_show_2012_pdf

A Four-Day Metric Mille

Dates – 8/5/12 through 8/9/12

 The Ohio Backroads Adventure is a 2012 Great Lakes Regional event presented by the Western Reserve Section | Mercedes Benz Club of America.  This is a four-day driving tour that will go through east-central and southeast Ohio featuring the “roads less traveled.”

While our dinners and event stops will require being time-certain, participants will tour at their own pace and on their own schedule.  Spend as much time or as little time as you desire at the various stops along the way.

Our stops will be interesting and not always seen by the everyday tourist.  A husband-wife team developed this tour for you.  Don and Carol Velcio’s varied interests were used to balance the roads and the stops to satisfy everyone in your group.

The tour is not a rally, a race, or a speed contest of any kind.  Everyone should observe all legal limits and their own personal limits as well.

Readers of Car and Driver magazine have read about the editors’ well-loved but secret roads through Ohio’s Appalachian mountain foothills.  On this tour, you’ll drive many of our well-loved roads.  Be warned – some roads will seem like never-ending ups and downs curving right and left.  These are drivers’ roads.  This isn’t going to be a cruise control snore down the interstate.  (You’ll love it).

Participants will make their own hotel reservations at our suggested spots or any other of their own choosing.  Blocks of rooms are being held for us thirty days prior to the event.  Book early!  Generous discounts are being extended to us from the normal rack rates.

Sunday night, 8/5/12 – Kickoff buffet dinner (included in your entry fee) with cash bar, Parma, OH – Das Schnitzel Haus.

Monday 8/6/12, Day 1–Head out of Cleveland to Cambridge, Ohio.  160 miles.  We will see:

• Berlin, OH in the heart of Ohio’s world-famous Amish country – lots of shopping opportunities.
• Hershberger Bakery and Farm, Charm, OH – definitely worth your time to stop, shop, snack, and visit the petting zoo.
• Roscoe Village, Coshocton – Ohio and Erie Canal history and lunch opportunity.
• Lodging at the Comfort Inn (a gold medal winner), Cambridge, OH.
• Dinner on your own or with your friends in Cambridge.

Tuesday 8/7/12, Day 2–Cambridge to The Wilds back to Cambridge.  140 miles.  “If Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” is our theme today.  We will see:

• Dresden, Ohio contains shopping opportunities galore.  It was Longaberger’s premier location before the construction of the Longaberger Homestead.
• The Longaberger Homestead is known to every basket collector and basket maker.  Shopping and more are available to make everyone in your party happy.  Lunch opportunities in the Restaurant or the Barn.

• Cross the unique “Y-Bridge” in Zanesville.  You’ll briefly be on the early nineteenth century National Road.

• Take a long drive out into the heart of strip mine country.  See the Miner’s Memorial complete with the “Big Muskie” bucket.  Definitely worth a visit.
• Enjoy The Wilds “Sunset Safari Tour” and buffet dinner (included in your entry fee).  The Wilds is one of the largest and most innovative wildlife conservation centers in the world.  Twilight is a magical time of day to experience The Wilds.
• Return to our lodging at the Comfort Inn in Cambridge (about 25 miles from The Wilds).

Wednesday 8/8/12, Day 3– Cambridge to Marietta.  150 miles.

This is a true driver’s day!  These incredible backroads compare favorably to the most enjoyable and scenic mountain-style and canyon-style roads found in North America.  Drive a series of seemingly never-ending ups, downs, rights, and lefts.  You will exercise your driving skills and concentration.  The reward is enjoyment and satisfaction.  You don’t need race tracks if you can drive on roads like these – and you can have fun at or below the speed limit.

• See the Switzerland of Ohio section of the state.  Driving the recommended roads, you will understand why this part of Ohio is so named.  You may be looking for Heidi, the von Trapp family, or an alpenhorn.
• Parts of the Switzerland of Ohio roads are more gentle mountain-style roads.  They drive like the Smoky Mountains or the Black Forest High Road.
• Kiedaisch Point Park is a remote, obscure, and hard to find Monroe County Park.  On a bluff 500 feet high, you overlook the Ohio River.  It reminds us of an Upper Mississippi River view.  Beautiful.
• Twelve miles of the suggested route through the Switzerland of Ohio are on a mountain-style road that makes the others seem level and straight.  Drive with care.  Your smile will hurt.
• See three covered bridges on the way to Marietta.  This is on a canyon-style road.  And look for the Mail Pouch barn along the way.
• Lodging at the historic Lafayette Hotel in Marietta at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers.
• Have dinner on your own or with your friends in Marietta.
• We’ll complete our day with a Sunset Dessert Cruise on the Valley Gem sternwheeler (included in your entry fee).

Thursday 8/9/12, Day 4– Marietta to Columbus.  160 miles.  Enjoy a bit of natural beauty in the Hocking Hills.  Stretch your legs on two short hikes in the park.

• The Hocking Hills State Park is an Ohio treasure.  Take the short hikes at Old Man’s Cave and Conkle’s Hollow.
• Continue your adventure by driving to Columbus, Ohio’s German Village.
• We’ll conclude our trip with an early buffet dinner at Schmidt’s Restaurant und Sausage Haus (included in your entry fee) with cash bar.
• You can start back home after saying “goodbye” to your new friends, or stay at your lodging choice.

Registration Information:

The registration form and lodging information sheet are available below in both pdf and word formats:

Full_Tour_registration_pdf_v2

Day_Tripper_Registration_pdf_v2

Lodging_info_sheet

Lodging_info_sheet_word

Questions:    Call Don Velcio, work, 440-886-1660 or email,   velcio@aol.com

Our annual Holiday Party will be held on Saturday, January 7th, 2012 at The Melting Pot of Lyndhurst in Legacy Village (24741 Cedar Rd., Lyndhurst 44124).  Festivities begin at 7:00 p.m. with plenty of time to mingle while enjoying a variety of cheese fondue appetizers and a holiday drink from the cash bar.  The real fun begins with the interactive dining experience featuring steak, chicken, seafood, and vegetables that you prepare in a variety of fondue sauces.  After a brief presentation of awards and member recognition, the evening will finish with The Melting Pot’s legendary chocolate fondues.

There will be a special reserved parking area for our party behind the building near the entryway to the escalators. Use that entrance and go to the second level either by escalator or elevator. We have a maximum seating capacity of 60 participants so sign up early. We will hold onto your checks as a waiting list but will return them if we are unable to accommodate your reservation. We will notify you if we cannot get you in. We hope you will join us for this fun evening!

To make your reservation, mail a check payable to MBCA Western Reserve Section for $50 per person to John Morrison, 7783 Diagonal Rd. Kent OH 44240. Please enclose the reservation form below or use the one that was enclosed in your mailed invitation.——————————————————————————————————————————-

Names:________________________________________________

Phone:____________________________

Are you allergic to seafood? _______           Vegetarian? _______

Email:________________________________________________

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President–Steve Dierks, Pikes Peak Section

Vice Pres–Greg Magnus, Central Virgina Section

Secretary–Mary Alice Cozza, Western Reserve Section (re-elected)

Treasurer–Laura Simonds, San Francisco Bay Section (re-elected)

Congratulations to all and best wishes for a great year serving MBCA!

The Western Reserve Section annual election of board members and officers was held at our October meeting.  Please welcome Jim Tullis and Rod Thompson as enthusiastic new members to our board. The board members elected the following officers:  President—Bill VerDuin; Vice President/Secretary—John Tuck; and Treasurer—John Morrison.  A complete list of board members can be found here .

In national election news, section members Mary Alice Cozza was re-elected and Terry Kiwala was elected to serve on the national board as Directors at Large. Our section is well-represented at the national level—in addition to Mary Alice and Terry, Josie Lesler is a Director at Large, Frank Cozza is our Regional Director, and Pete Lesler is the Past President ex-officio.  Thanks to all the section and national board members and officers for volunteering their time and efforts to help to make a better MBCA for all of us to enjoy!

ENJOY YOUR BENZ while driving on specially-selected roads through charming small towns, Amish communities, beautiful farmland, and rolling wooded trails of the world-famous Amish Country area of central Ohio. 

TAKE A WAGON RIDE and FEED THE ANIMALS at The Farm at Walnut Creek near Sugarcreek, Ohio.  We’ll take a horse-drawn wagon tour through the farm that features hundreds of animals from around the world.  You can feed the animals from the wagon.  Be sure to bring your cameras.  Adults, children, and grandchildren will love it.

ENJOY DINING WITH YOUR MBCA FRIENDS at The Amish Door Village in Wilmot, Ohio.  Their homemade food will be served family style and includes their famous broasted chicken, roast beef, ham, real mashed potatoes, dressing (stuffing), corn, gravy, tossed salad, homemade dinner rolls, beverage, and a slice of their homemade pie.

WE’LL GET HAMMERED on the drive back as we stop at Lehman’s Hardware and General Store in Kidron (near Dalton), Ohio.  When you step into their 1840′s era barn, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back 100 years in time.  This should really appeal to the vintage car crowd!  At Lehman’s, being old-fashioned is always in fashion.  Museum-quality antiques and thousands of products you thought they quit making years ago abound.

The event cost including lunch is $35 per person ($25 for children 4-10). Pre-registration is essential due to space limitations for lunch, so don’t delay–register now!

Complete registration information is available here:  Fall_Tour_2011

We will meet at 2:30 in Lake View Cemetery, just east of downtown Cleveland. From the entrance to the cemetery at 12316 Euclid, Cleveland 44106, follow signs to the Garfield Monument and parking area.

Our tour will start at the Garfield Monument where a docent will meet us and bring history alive, as we learn about the Cleveland natives that helped create the first automobiles and the automobile industry. We will see Wade Chapel and the Garfield Monument (inside and out), both outstanding examples of turn of the century architecture. We will also see the beautiful grounds of the Lakeview Cemetery. Lake View Cemetery is known as Cleveland’s “Outdoor Museum and Arboretum.”  It’s Cleveland’s historical, horticultural, architectural, sculptural and geological gem. The magnificent collection of trees, shrubs and plants make for an exceptional green space in an urban area. This “green space” provides a wonderful refuge for birds and small animals, as well as a showplace of extraordinary architectural and sculptural treasures. To learn more, click here. 

Among the automotive pioneers we will “meet”:

• John D. Rockefeller became the first billionaire in the United States by founding the Standard Oil Company of Ohio.
• Alexander Winton demonstrated the safety and dependability of his cars by driving one from Cleveland to New York in 1899, decades before even gravel roads were available.
• Walter C. Baker built electric cars advertised as “The Most Elegant Automobile Made”
• We’ll also visit the grave of President James A. Garfield

Note: The tour is expected to last about two hours and portions will include walking on uneven terrain. Please come with open minds and questions for the docents.

We will then drive “down the hill” into Little Italy for a luscious dinner at Washington Place (2203 Cornell Road, Cleveland, OH 44106) where we will have complimentary onsite valet parking.  We will order off the menu and pay individually for dinner.

Advanced registration and prepayments of $15 per person are required and must be received by September 18.

Complete registration information is available here:  Lake_View_Cemetery_Tour_2011

 The 6th annual Oktoberfest Car Show is Saturday, Sept. 3rd, Rain or Shine. Car show participants receive free entry to the Oktoberfest, two souvenir mugs and are also eligible for lots of prizes. This is a fun event that has grown in size and scope every year. 6 new restaurants have been added this year and the entertainment options have been expanded.

New this year–The Oktoberfest Car Show is also the site of the NEO Smarties smart car convention and display featuring a display of 40 smart cars, a special hospitality tent, and representatives from MBUSA in attendance at the show. Let’s take advantage of the opportunity to show MBUSA the high level of interest in the Mercedes-Benz brand in Northeast Ohio by bringing out our cars to fill the display field–what a sight 100 Mercedes-Benz and smart cars would be!

Complete event information is available here  and the registration form is available here .  Pre-registration is not vital, but it will help the organizers plan the parking area for our vehicles.

The Mercedes-Benz of Bedford Classic Car Repair Center (18122 Rockside Rd., Bedford, OH 44146) will be our hosts for our annual Old Car Fun Day & Car Show from 10 a.m.- 2p.m. on Saturday, August 20th.  The event is open to any year and model of Mercedes-Benz, with a focus on cars of the 1950s-80s.  MBCA members will have an exclusive parking area to display their cars in our non-judged car show.  M-B of Bedford will have experienced, factory-trained technicians available to answer your questions and have graciously made service lifts available to give us a chance to get an up-close look at our vintage Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Does your Mercedes-Benz have over 155,000 miles (250,000km) on the odometer?  If so, it qualifies for  special High-Mileage Award recognition from MBUSA. The process to obtain the award is simple.  Just download and complete the owner and vehicle sections in the high mileage award application and bring it along with your vehicle to the event.  Owners are required to document the mileage–either with the 6-digit odometer on newer cars, or by documenting ownership history, service records, etc. on older models. No mechanical inspection is required and the car can be in any condition from restoration project to concours winner.  After you mail the validated application, you will receive an award certificate, portfolio, and grille badge directly from Mercedes-Benz.

Not an enthusiast or owner of  an older Mercedes-Benz?  No problem–there will also be a great selection of current models for you to experience! The Old Car Fun Day is designed to be just that–FUN!!  Meet other Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts, admire all the cars, talk about cars, learn about cars, and enjoy a great lunch too!

There is no fee for this event–everything is compliments of Mercedes-Benz of Bedford.  As a courtesy to our hosts, please RSVP no later than August 15th  to April Jones at (440) 439-0100 or  by email  April.Jones@penskeautomotive.com .

Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix July 23-24

The Pittsburgh section is hosting their always-popular Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Car Show for the Mercedes-Benz Club of America on Saturday, July 23 in Schenley Park. The show this year will feature judging in Show Class, Street Class and a non-judged Display Class .

A special award for the best “Black Mercedes” will be given this year in memory of our good friend and club director, John Rodgers.  John always set a stand­ard for keeping his black cars perfect and we are pleased to honor him with this award.

This is a haven for car lovers with thousands of cars of all makes and models on display with the added attraction of watching vintage cars racing through Schenley Park and great food too. There will be a display-only car show and more racing to watch on Sunday July 24.

For more details, contact Dave Fabyonic, visit the Pittsburgh Section website or download the PVGP_Registration_Form

Mercedes-Benz 125th Anniversary Celebration July 30-31

The International Stars section (Detroit area) will be our hosts for a two-day Special National Event celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Mercedes-Benz.  This once-in-a-lifetime event is being jointly sponsored by Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and MBCA.  Activities start on Saturday July 30 with defensive driving and autocross. If you have never participated in an autocross, this is the time to have the most fun you’ve ever had with your car. The day will conclude with dinner and awards.

Sunday July 31 features the Concours d’Elegance of America at St. Johns (formerly known as The Meadow Brook Concours) . This invitation-only concours has become the Pebble Beach of the midwest, and as part of the 125th anniversary celebration, you will have access to special Mercedes-Benz only parking. Among the featured cars this year is the 190SL prototype featured on the cover of the November/December 2010  issue of The Star.

Detailed information and registration forms are available here and also in the BenzScene_125th Anniversary Newsletter

Central Ohio Autocross Saturday August 13

Are you a veteran autocrosser looking for a great place to run? Or a newbie who experienced their first autocross at Gemuetlichkeit 2011? If you want another great opportunity to polish your skill, the Central Ohio autocross is the place to do it!

Registration and tech inspection is from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. and is limited to the first 40 cars and is open to any make or model.

Registration is $10 for club members, $20 for guests

Mandatory driver’s meeting at 10:00 AM

First car off will be just after the driver’s meeting; we should be done around 4 PM

Coffee, juice, doughnuts supplied in the early AM; a Dan’s Deli trailer will be on-site for lunch.

Need more info?  Contact Rodd Masteller  at centralohiombca@gmail.com

No classes or trophies. It’s just a fun day racing cool cars with your friends in an attempt to beat that evil electronic timer!

As you can see, there is no shortage of activities for us to enjoy this summer.  Whether your interest is in driving your car, meeting other Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts, eating good food, or just looking at cars, there is an activity for everyone to enjoy.  A special thank-you goes out to our neighboring sections–Pittsburgh, International Stars, and Central Ohio–for their hard work in organizing these great events.

After brunch, we’ll convoy a short distance to the home of Frank and Mary Alice Cozza, for an ice cream social.  Bring your swim wear for a dip in the pool.The attire and atmosphere are both very casual.  Bring the kids/grandkids.  Boat rides, door prizes, ice cream, car talk and good fun.

Special member recognition–Anniversary pins will be awarded to members who are celebrating their 5th, 10th, 15th , or 20th year as a club member.  Also, special recognition will be given to new members who joined in 2010 or 2011.  If you haven’t attended a section event, this is a great one to make your first event!

SOMETHING NEW THIS YEAR: We are encouraging members to bring something you would like to sell or a collection you would like to display (please bring a card table or blanket to display items on the grass)

Meet us at 9:15 AM at the Home Depot parking lot in Streetsboro (9585 Ohio 14,Streetsboro, OH 44241; 1/2 mile east of Turnpike exit 187) to join our caravan to the tavern or drive directly to the Spread Eagle Tavern (10150 Plymouth St., Hanoverton, OH 44423).

Fred Martin Mercedes-Benz will bring some of the newest offerings of our favorite marque for your review.   Our thanks to Fred Martin Mercedes-Benz for their continued generous sponsorship of this most popular event.

Register by mail by July 5th:     spread_eagle_tavern_2011

Register Online by July 5th and pay by either PayPal or credit card on our products page here.

Questions? Contact Frank or Mary Alice  fcozza@neo.rr.com  or (330) 222-1106