Thank You Dr.Benz and Shelly Caron

[iceberg]

Hi Guys,

I want to share with all you fellow enthusiasts the events of the last week of September, when once again I was in the presence of greatness…yes we are talking about our very own Dr. Benz and Shelly (Dan’s wife).  I am sorry that I have not been able to write sooner well with interviewing for a new job and then recently being away to Montreal.  So, the main Character of my story are Dr. Benz, Shelly, and my 1963 230SL.  My SL, as you all may have known was in the care of the good Doctor.  I was supposed to go pick her up and bring her back to Toronto.  2 days before I was supposed to be in Sarnia where the Benz Barn is, Dan called me and told me that Sheila and he were driving back from there vacation and would be passing through Toronto and if I needed a ride, they would be happy to take me to Sarnia with them.  I, ofcourse, quickly jumped to accept the kind offer.  I knew that this would be the perfect opportunity to pick the Doctor’s brain.  The next 2 day I prepared my questions and went over all that I could possible ask the Doctor.  On Saturday morning, I met Dan and Shelly at the hotel where they were staying.  Sheila, kindly offered to let me ride up front with the Dan so that we could talk all about Mercedes.  I was beginning to see what a treat this ride was going to be.  Right out of the city limits we stopped for breakfast where Sheila and Dan treated me to an amazing Breakfast.  The journey begins...After breakfast we embarked on our journey to Sarnia, some 2 ½ hours away.  We spoke about everything, from cars to how Dan and Shelly met to there passion for old Mercedes.  Dan told me everything I wanted to know about SLs…jealous?  Well you should be because it was truly amazing to pick Dan’s brains and find out new things about my car.  Needless to say that the drive was beautiful with the fall foliage, great conversation and it was so good to see how in love Dan and Shelly are. A couple truly made for each other.

Soon we came to our destination and once again I had to chance to step into my beautiful 230 SL.  I reacquainted my self to her as I could tell she was a different car altogether.  Dan has worked wonders with my car.  I can not even begin to explain how much I enjoy riding in her.  This is truly an early Christmas gift.  Dan and Shelly thank you so much for everything.  It was so much fun riding with you both and I look forward to happy times when we shall be together again.
Regards,
Hassan

[Benz Dr.]

Quite a few people get her name worng but that's OK - we know who you're talking about.

 What Hassan didn't tell you is that he forgot his wallet and it was lucky that we stopped for brunch not far out of Toronto. His very attractive sister brought it out to us and the wait was short.

Maybe some of you will want to come out to my birthday party on Dec. 11th which wil be held in the old red brick school house we own built in 1889. This building is right across the road from my house. There's plenty of B&B's or motels within 10 minuets drive.
 Yup, it's the big 50.

Dan and Shelley Caron

Daniel G Caron

[mdsalemi]

...and that my friends is why he is [affectionately?] known as "The Good Doctor"  He did great things for my car as well.  May all of you get a chance to meet him someday.  Perhaps we can persuade him to come to next year's tech session!


Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[Benz Dr.]

As it turns out Mike, I should have taken you up on your kind offer to go to Star Fest. It was not a pleasant weekend here and the ''incident'' that happened pretty much ruined my whole summer. If I had the Rocket finished I would have taken it.

It's pretty hard to leave here sometimes with farm work that has to be done. I'm getting away from full restorations which should free up some time. Why don't you all just come to my place?





Daniel G Caron

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by Benz Dr.

As it turns out Mike, I should have taken you up on your kind offer to go to Star Fest. It was not a pleasant weekend here and the ''incident'' that happened pretty much ruined my whole summer. If I had the Rocket finished I would have taken it.

It's pretty hard to leave here sometimes with farm work that has to be done. I'm getting away from full restorations which should free up some time. Why don't you all just come to my place?

Daniel G Caron

Well Dan, I've already been to your place twice...but I think you mean the "Tech Session".  Perhaps for 2006 you can offer to formally host this event, or as a member of the board of this club you can create an event and host it.  I'll be there.

Here's a brief history of that tech session--back in 2001 when the Yahoo web site started by Rodd was getting off the ground so to speak, in "conversing" with fellow members we discovered that there is a group of them--not surprisingly--in Ohio.  I suggested that we all meet some time; we were going to meet kind of "half-way" between Columbus and Detroit, which is the Toledo area.  Rodd didn't want to drive far as he does not have seat belts.  Somehow word got around, and Joe Alexander offered to host a meeting which morphed into the first Tech Session in 2002.  At that time I couldn't even make the first event!  Everyone apparently enjoyed the event and Joe offered to host it again in 2003, which became a larger event, preceded by Cees Klumper getting engine rebuild assistance with Joe at his place.  I attended that one, as did Richard Madison, Doug Kim, John Olsen, Bob Geco and other well known members of the W113 club that hosts this site.  There were many members from all over the country in attendance, and about 8 113's that drove in as well as other MB cars.  The event was not held in 2004 because Starfest was hosted by the local Ohio chapter and that kept Joe and others in the area quite busy.  2005's has already been scheduled for late July.

In 2005 we also have Gemultekeit (spelling?) hosted by our own International Stars Section (metro Detroit/SW Ontario), and this is one of the few "National" MBCA events, like Starfest. I hope to be involved with this event and have been attending the meetings to organize it.  If any 113 owners show up, I will certainly host an event myself much as Rodd will be hosting a social event for next year's Tech Session.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[Benz Dr.]

No. That would have been Star Fest where you showed your car. More fun than staying home I'm sure.

 I've offered to hold different events and have done so in the past. Always a different event and at different times of the year.
Here's a few examples:
Petrolia oil field tour from the 1850's.
St. Clair River boat criuse.
Wheels Motor Inn, car rally, War of 1812 Battle of the Thames.
Car shows, bon fire, live entertainment ( mostly by people who stayed to long )hay ride. Drive along the St. Clair river to Sarnia's  ''Chemical Valley ''
Several 190SL Group meets over the past few years.

Daniel G Caron