"Clubs and Associations" listing on MBUSA web-site

[Mike Hughes]

The Mercedes-Benz USA web-site has links to several clubs on their "Clubs and Associations" page.  Of course there is the Mercedes-Benz Club of America, but also listed are the Gullwing Group International, the 190SL Group, and the M-100 Group.  I think we have achieved enough stature in the Mercedes Community by now that we rate recognition with a listing there as well.  Is there any move afoot to make this a reality?

[hauser]

The three groups mentioned here are "International"  groups.  I believe the only Pagoda group which is recognized by MB is the German group.

[Peter van Es]

I think Cees ought to chime in here... I know he's had a number of discussions over the years (including some as recent as last december, 2008) where we tried to get formal status for our group. MB is actually reducing the number of groups it recognises at this time, limiting it to (I believe) one per country (with the exception of really huge countries, like Germany and the US perhaps) and one per type (but then with worldwide appeal).

In the Netherlands there are two groups vying for MB official status, and that's a fight. When Cees last spoke to MB about the Pagoda SL Group they referred him to the Dutch MB group... when Cees tried to explain that we were a truly international group MB stopped responding and played dumb... funnily enough, we were approached by MB because they liked our Technical Manual so much (based on the Wiki) that they wanted to COPY stuff from it to their Wiki, about to be set-up.

Anyway, unless Cees gives a different version of the story, my personal expectation of official recognition is very low.

Peter

[JamesL]

Trade Wiki for recognition!

[Cees Klumper]

You have it right Peter.

When we first established ourselves back in 2002, one of the founding board members, Peter Reuhl (also a founding board member and longtime president of the recognized German Pagoda Club), and myself visited Mercedes in Stuttgart to introduce the Group and talk about gaining recognition. Back then, we were just starting out so my expectation of actually gaining official recognition was not too high and I was not mistaken.

Then, a month or two ago at the suggestion of Naj (our long-time member and active contributor living in London) who spoke with someone from MB about our group, I contacted MB again to enquire about the requirements for gaining recognition and offered to come discuss this in Stuttgart once again. The response was not encouraging, but no reasons or conditions for recognition were given, unfortunately.

I don't think we need the formal recognition to be able to be effective in providing the best services to our members, but it would be nice to have it anyway.

The way we have grown over the past 5 years since inception, we are probably already one of the larger Mercedes clubs worldwide. Gaining recognition is just a matter of time in my personal opinion. We should just concentrate on our core objective: enhancing the pleasures of Pagoda ownership for members worldwide, and recognition will be one of the natural outcomes.

[hauser]

funnily enough, we were approached by MB because they liked our Technical Manual so much (based on the Wiki) that they wanted to COPY stuff from it to their Wiki, about to be set-up.

Could it be that we may have a member from MB in our group?  Aren't certain areas of the manual only available to full members?

[Peter van Es]

Only small parts... most of it is available to everyone!

Peter

[abe280SL]

We aint getting no luv bro...its okay this is a nicer family.
abe

[Naj ✝︎]

Could it be that we may have a member from MB in our group?  Aren't certain areas of the manual only available to full members?

Guilty!
I was the one who showed Thilo Wessel of Daimler.de our wiki. It was on the back of some discussions with the MB UK Club Technical director where linking of English Technical Articles of the MB UK Club with the Daimler english wiki (still under development) were discussed.

naj

[Douglas]

As things stand today, I would caution people that this may be one of those "be careful what you wish for" situations. The group is undeniably thriving as-is, while official recognition from Daimler-Benz and adherence to their rules could actually limit the group from acting in its own best interests down the road.

[abe280SL]

Good point Douglas...and we have all the love we need on this site.
abe

[ja17]

Hello,

Pete Lesler, a long time member of our group and a contributing speaker at every PUB since the beginnning is currently the National Presedent of the Mercedes-Benz Cllub of America.  
Pete will be at PUB again this summer.  
In addition Frank Cozza, Regional Director of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America also is a member and supporter of our Group.

Since the 190SL Group, the M100 Group, and the Gullwing Group were all spawned and based in the USA, I would suspect that Daimler-Benz is a little bias toward the German W113  enthusiasts, which is understandable. Eventually we will be hard to ignore.