What's your profession?

[johnk]

I'm the head bean counter for a nursing home chain. Nothing exciting to share but it affords me to play with my 280 and a few other toys.

[BaronYoungman]

Annnnnd what's the story behind the "1988 560sec  Japan "Yakuza Car"?"  Spent some time with them too didja?   

NO never Japan, car was confiscated by Japanese government and sold at auction, so I assume Yakuza car.  But I have met many "Facilitators" in many states and it was amazing some of them had cousins, son in laws etc that owned cigarette machine companies, fire protections companies, promotions or valet companies that they strongly advised we use...for our own good of course.

[MikeSimon]

I have a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Darmstadt, Germany university. I used to work for the company who manufactured the power steering pump for the W113, actually for most Mercedes cars since they used p/s in 1962. Transferred to the U.S. in 1988. Brought my 280SL with me. Retired from the industry since 2014. Working with 2 partners selling/buying/brokering vintage and collector cars and motorcycles.

[benzombie]

As for me, I'm a chemist working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.  I started out in polymer chemistry and worked for Kimberly-Clark Corporation for 17 years developing textiles, films, adhesives, and other raw materials for use in consumer products.  About 15 years ago I joined the CDC to work with mosquito control programs focused on malaria prevention, especially those using insecticide-treated bednets.  It makes for a nice balance of lab science and international travel. 

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Nearly 2 years again since the last post in this fine thread (if you joined us since August 2018 have a read then add your own story).

Time for another Bump ...

Dieter

[GM]

Thanks for the bump, Dieter - I didn't even know this topic existed.
I got my degree in physics from UCLA (but today I couldn't derive Maxwell's or Schroedinger's Equations with a gun to my head) and it's great to see so many technical/engineering folks here.
As a lifetime resident of Los Angeles and environs, I worked at Hughes for 23 years, first at the research labs, then in business development for the Space and Communications Group. Spent my last 5 years as one of the founding execs that built DIRECTV for the U.S. and then Latin America, then president of digital media for Sony. As a techie, I've been with startups, etc too.

[A-230]

Educated construction engineer, been working as procurement manager for construction of oil rigs to the north sea. Since the last three years converted to procurement manager for carbon capture projects, just now for a cement factory in Norway owned by Heideberg Cement.

[Pinder]

I work for Boeing in the Digital Services division. Education wise I graduated with a Bsc in Computer Science , 1987 Imperial College London. Windows SDK programmer initially, then many Programming jobs in the US and now Manager of Crew Hosting Services in NYC. Currently working from Home.

[jan lauwers]

Hi Guys,

I just came across this topic by coincidence. Quite interesting... so I'll add my story:   

As a youngster I wanted to become a pilot...spent a few years pursuing that dream... finally it did not happen. Simultaneously I studied topography.. i.e. geographical surveying and I did that as a job for a couple of years, until, out of the blue, I was offered a job as a trainee in chemicals trading in Paris. So, that marked the start of my commercial career in the chemical industry. I worked for 3 companies, always in commercial jobs, doing international sales and marketing of chemicals. Today at the age of 62, I run my own one man agency. I import 2 industrial raw materials, mainly for the glass industry. One product I import from Turkey, the other from South Korea. Being independent is wonderful, it allows me to spend one day per week to work on the restoration of my 280 SL. It is a full body off restoration and I bet that it will be on the road again next spring, 2021.
My adventures with oldtimers started with a Fiat 500 from 1973. My wife and I, we love Italy… She (we) fell in love with the baby car and bought one in 2007. That led to me starting evening class automechancs…which I did for 7 years. I always dreamt of a Pagoda, purely for its looks. As a kid I had one as a Dinky toy and already then, I knew that it was particularly elegant. In 2012, after some 3 years of searching, suddenly an affordable one crossed my path. I'll post pics here when it is ready! 

Happy New Year, gentlemen!

Jan

[Cees Klumper]

Very interesting professions, keep them coming!

[Duncan200]

Hello All,

After seeing this thread pop up as an unread post, I thought I’d better add my two cents.

My career started as an apprentice mechanic way back in 1991.

Since then I have worked for Mercedes as a tech, Nissan as a Service Manager, Bosch as their Diagnostic Equipment Training Manager and now I work for a small tool company called Snap-on as their Equipment Technical and Training Manager.

I’ve only recently joined this club, but I have owned my 113 for 3 years and I bought it as a Wedding Anniversary present for myself 😂.

I recently completed an extension to my garage to give myself enough room to start the restoration on “Annie” as we call her. It’s also great to have a 4 post hoist and some apparently really good tools to work on her.

Looking forward to seeking and contributing advice on here.

Cheers.

[Mike Hughes]

It seems that the segue from turning wrenches to being a service manager to diagnostic equipment training is a time honored tradition!  one of my British car club friends was a technician at a British Leyland dealership back in the 70's, they promoted him to service writer, then service manager.  He then went to work for Sun servicing equipment and training technicians.  I have seen Sun equipment on my Snap-On man's truck.  Of course these days a lot of diagnostic equipment that used to be just about as large and impressive looking as a rolling tool chest can fit in the palm of your hand!

As for my profession, I just retired in February after 40 years selling Lincoln's, first at a Lincoln Mercury dealership, and then at a Ford Lincoln dealership after the Mercury brand was discontinued in 2010.  The owner of the Lincoln Mercury dealership where I worked for 30 years and his wife had driven his and hers pagodas since the early 70's, and helped me to acquire my 230SL.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Happy Retirement Mike, may the sun always shine for you so you may enjoy top down fun in your Pagoda

Dieter

One chang you may find (that you will now in retirement) be more busy then ever! then you will always have your Pagoda to escape from all that,

Dieter

[Nicolas Aristodemou]

This is my story... so far....

I graduated as a Mechanical Engineer in the UK in the late 70s and then did an MSc and PhD in Energy Engineering. I work as an Engineering Consultant in Building Services, running my own Company since 1983.

I love all kinds of machines, love to fix and restore them. I have several classic cars and some modern ones. Also couple of classic motorbikes.

I am also a commercial pilot with an instrument rating and love to fly my twin engined plane.

Being close to retirement age I plan to devote more time to classic cars and their restoration.

[114015]

The owner of the Lincoln Mercury dealership where I worked for 30 years and his wife had driven his and hers pagodas since the early 70's, and helped me to acquire my 230SL

Mike..... !

Couldn't be any better here.
The long-term owner of a Lincoln dealership recommended to you (indirectly): 'Don't drive a Lincoln or Mercury, have a Mercedes. That's a choice ....!'
Do I read this correctly? 

All best,
Achim
(never had a Lincoln so far)

[Mike Hughes]

Hi Achim -

Not exactly.  Like me he suffered from a long term old car disease.  He still had the '31 Model A Ford roadster that he got when he returned from Korea in the early 50's, had played around with T-series M.G.s and then graduated to Pagodas.  He knew of my long term M.G. disease and that my wife and I had his and hers M.G.s since the 1980s.  After I had been working for him for 20 years he thought I should have a Pagoda some day, too! 

He sold his wife's White/Dark Red '69 280SL automatic shortly after I acquired my 230SL.  After 35 years of Pagoda ownership, he sold his Signal Red/Black 21K mile '69 280SL manual and found a 356 to play with.  When he passed away in 2019 the Model A and 356 were out in the garage, road ready.

[roymil]

I just stumbled on this thread.  Very interesting crew here!  I'm very thankful to you all for the help I've found here during Covid while I brought my pagoda back from its 25 year slumber.  I'm finally getting just enough experience to post some hopefully useful things myself, so I'll try to help out where I can.   

I'm yet another engineer (electrical) 40+ yrs on in his career.  I've worked all over the southwestern US, Singapore, Dresden ... but starting in Las Vegas, where my pagoda was delivered in '68 to my dad in trade for an almost new Mustang he made the mistake of buying (he hated the handling).  I've had good fortune to work on a variety of cool projects including atlas, shuttle, tomahawk, various satellites, microprocessors, solar, black stuff, and most recently the audio chips in the iphone you're holding right now.   All the high tech semiconductor work is fine and fun, but I still am constantly amazed by the incredibly elegant pagoda systems design work, all done without computers.  The best part is that I know for sure I will never have to come home to work on my pagoda and have to debug a firmware or silicon issue.  It has none! and that is so beautiful!       Best to all,  Mark

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

One entire year between posts ... and on average 20 to 25 New Members joining us here on this great site. If you are reading this now, don’t leave without sharing your story .... what ever it is it will be interesting

Dieter

[cfm65@me.com]

Hi Guys,
I joined our department of civil aviation as a cadet air traffic controller and started taking flying lessons at a local flying club.
By the time I completed my 3 year air traffic control course, I had also completed my commercial pilots licence with instructors rating.
40 years later, I retired from South African Airways as Senior Captain. I am privileged to have flown many aircraft types from Piper Cubs and Tiger Moths up to 747s
I bought my first 190SL at 25 and have owned and restored a few 190 Sls, Pagodas, Coupes and Cabrios as well a Piper Cub, Super Cub and a Tiger Moth.
Both our children became pilots. Our son flew executive jets all over the world and our daughter flew Airbus340 and the Boeing 777 and 747.
Chris

[AndrewB]

Hello All

I trained as an actuary in South Africa in the late 1980's and completed my qualification through the UK in 1993. I worked in the insurance industry in South Africa (mostly as a CFO, but also ran a business) and moved to the UK in 2008 with a large multinational company. After a few years as a Chief Risk Officer and Chief Actuary, I set off on my own with private equity backing and built up a business that was sold to another large multi national in 2016. I am now a non executive director in a number of financial services organisations and also an investor in a range of businesses.

During a career break in 2005 after selling a business, I completed my Commercial Pilot Licence and have been involved in a number of aviation businesses since then. I still fly in Europe and Africa, primarily for pleasure, although I also do some paid flying, since I have maintained my currency on my commercial licence, instrument rating and type ratings, flying mostly turbine aircraft.

I have always had an interest in matters mechanical. I drove an elderly Landrover for 8 months through Southern, Eastern and Central Africa in the early 1990's, where basic mechanical ability was crucial when rebuilding a broken gearbox and replacing the cylinder head gasket on separate occasions. Although I would not rate myself as having advanced mechanical abilities, I managed to keep going then, know enough to  appreciate the engineering in our wonderful Pagodas.

I enjoy being a member of this group to experience the level of support shown for anyone who needs assistance, and because I have learned so much from others. 

[Cees Klumper]

Andrew's update reminded me to also update my own 'cv'. I am now a Chief Compliance Officer of an international NGO that provides basic healthcare to people affected by man-made and natural disasters such as currently in Gaza where we operate a hospital with over 800 staff, and Ukraine. Prior to that I've been a Chief Risk Officer, Head of Internal Audit, partner with 2 of the Big Four audit firms, CFO, VP Internal Control, Controller and, my first job, data entry clerk in my hometown's unemployment benefits agency. All very paper based jobs.

Lots of engineers here! Keep 'em coming ladies and gentlemen!

[stickandrudderman]

It seems there's a lot of us aviators here!

[ejboyd5]

I'm a lawyer, was with US Department of Justice in DC, Chief of Criminal Division and US Attorney in Eastern District of New York. 28 years as a Criminal Court Judge in New York. Owned an engine machine shop, 44 years in fire department, served years as Fire Chief, now mostly providing emergency medical services while not playing with cars or writing technical articles about 300 SLs and Porsches.

[Garry]

Started out studying Commerce at Uni then at 28, joined the Royal Australian Air Force for a 25 year career specialising in explosives and rapid deployment with posts all over the world.
After retiring in 2001, I and another Ex Air Force friend started an Aeronautical Engineering company with a prime contract with Pilatus Aircraft to provide engineering design work to them and the RAAF and other nations military who were using the Pilatus PC9, PC 21 training aircraft as well as some commercial aircraft design work.
2019, just prior to COVID, Pilatus, thankfully, decided they needed my company more than I did and took it over along with its staff of 15 engineers and the associated support staff in total.  Then Covid hit, and i was a happily retired man.

[Sonnicol]

I’m in tech, working on software solutions for small businesses. It’s a mix of coding, problem-solving, and helping clients improve their workflows. It’s pretty rewarding to see how our work can make a real difference for these businesses.