MBCSA national gathering 2008

[s class]

The headline event for the Mercedes Benz club of South Africa is always the annual national gathering and AGM. This year was particularly special - being held in East London, home of the factory here. Two highlights of the GTG were the tour of the factory, and the 'session' in our cars at the local grand prix circuit.

Photographs were not allowed in the factory unfortunately.  It certainly was an amazing sight. 

Here's the results of the gymkhana, held on the Kart track next to the main East London grand prix circuit.

It was a lot of fun, and my time was considered pretty good for the size of car, on such a tight twisty track. Only beaten by the smaller quicker stuff. Check the vehicle that came last in the gymkhana - and yes, it was the real deal.



And, importantly, I beat the W124 E500, and the W201 190 16 valver.

[s class]

[nathan]

nice pics ryan,
how the hell did some of that crap beat the 500e?!
and the old pagoda with the 560? what is the deal there.

all praise the pre-update w140

[s class]

Well Nathan, as to some of the stuff that beat the 500e, remember these are blokes in their own cars, and some were more committed than others.  I was pretty happy with my run, and I don't think I could have improved it much. 

The 5.6 Pagoda has been fitted with a M117 560 motor and a full Haltech ecu and injection setup.  Very fast.  The times posted were not the greatest because it has traction problems and lots of tail happy spinning. 

[SELfor50]

Great pics mate...  Good to see the car's on the track!!  Well done with your times! 

How many laps did you do?

How many car's out there at a time?

And did you push the car very hard or only within 'comfortable' limits?  (Eg. Could you cook an egg on the bonnett, and brand cattle with the brake calipers?)

[s class]

SELfor50, it was all pretty gentlemanly stuff.  THough I will say this - in my W140 its VERY unusual for the temp to go above 82 degrees - even in traffic with the aircon on on a hot day - but after a few minutes action on the track it was up to 90 degrees  - on a fairly cool day.  All 4 tyres showed scrubbing round the shoulders onto the sidewalls 

[s class]

The fun ended a bit early, because that bloke in the W198 300SL was over enthusiastic and ended up tearing off one of the dry sump hoses on the kerbing - and then proceeded to dump 12 litres of oil along some of the critical bends.  He was lucky to stop the engine before it ran dry.  The oil on the track made it 'interesting' and the times were not bettered after that. 

[oscar]

Man that would've been fun.  Congrats on making the top10   

So many circle and stars I'd love to see a grid lined up with w116's.... then thrash em.

[s class]

The owner of the W198 it a truly wealthy man, and it was something to be seen (and heard) as he pushed it around the track.  Awesome.