Pagoda Club of Minnesota!

[mdsalemi]

Back in January, I received a call from a Ken Garelick of St. Paul, Minnesota, wanting to buy a copy of Pagoda Style.  Of course, I obliged.  I had not heard of Ken before, but he may lurk here from time to time, though I don't think he is a member of this group.  Ken indicated that there is a "small group" of Pagoda owners in Minnesota that get together from time to time.

Well, lo and behold, in today's mail comes a 16-page, full color magazine in the manner of Pagoda World!  It appears to be put together by Ken for this club in Minnesota.  I don't think Ken's day job is magazine publisher or graphic designer, but that's merely descriptive not critical; this is a high quality "fanzine" as it were. An incredibly well done labor of love.  I was surprised to receive this--wasn't expecting it--and astounded at the quality.  There are articles on a past Autumn Leaf tour in October; the upcoming Minnesota Walleye 1000 vintage car rally,  Each issue of this magazine, called "Pack Update" features one owner who shares their story with the editor.  This latest issue was #16, and featured an article on Don & Fay Stephenson of Menominee, WI and their 1971 280 SL.  Three new members joined since the last Pack Update.  There were reviews of the Mercedes-Benz Classic issue on the 40th anniversary of the Pagoda in 2003; the well known Gold Portfolio; the Hemmings Sports & Exotic #74 from October, (an article I reviewed for their editor); as well as Pagoda Style, and the W113 Buyer's Guide that appeared in The Star.  You read that right; it was issue #16 so this has been going on for some time.

I had NO IDEA this kind of Pagoda passion was alive and well in the land of 10,000 lakes.  Well done, Ken.  Minnesota members here, have you joined THAT group too?  Sounds like some nice schmmozing and social opportunities...

[Cees Klumper]

I remember having traded emails with Ken in a distant past and now recall that he had taken this initiative. Ken at least for a while was active in this group as well. Would be great if we could see a sample of their magazine somehow?

[RonB]

Ken put in countless hours in addation to be CEO of major mfg.company.
He has done a remarkble job of organizing the Pagoda group of 23 strong
and growing.
Ron

[mdsalemi]

I remember having traded emails with Ken in a distant past and now recall that he had taken this initiative. Ken at least for a while was active in this group as well. Would be great if we could see a sample of their magazine somehow?

I'll ask Ken about sending somehow a PDF.  It sounded like this copy I received was the last one to be printed conventionally, due to printing cost and postage...

[Tomnistuff]

That is a truly inspiring story.  Minnesota, like Québec City (180 miles East Northeast of Montreal, Québec Province, Canada and about 400 miles due north of Boston), is probably not the epicenter of Pagoda world activity.  I've not seen another one anywhere around Québec City, although I heard that one was restored in the city last year, we have lots of newer Mercedes owners in the city, and we have a very lucrative Mercedes dealership here.  The nearest MBCA branch is 250 miles away.  I'm going to try to find the one that was restored.  I've got a lead.

I wonder if it's possible to draw hidden Pagoda owners out of the closet by starting a club with only two cars.  I would be very, very interested to hear Ken's story of how they got started and built what sounds like such a great club.

The Pagoda SL Group is great, but it still gets a little lonely up here in the great white North.

Tom Kizer