Coming up in April is the South African MB owners club meet. I'm hoping to attend - I know Greg might too. Any other South Africans interested?
Since I will be encumbered by wife, baby and pram, I can't go on the 450SL - so its between the W116 and the W140 - I guess it will come down to which ever one is runninng at that time.
Ryan
I am in and I need to give the 116 a run and any way my wife says the 116 is more comfotable than the 123. At the risk of shooting my self in the foot - Ryan, why not bring the 140, as it is a little different than the usual 140s you get here?
Any Aussies up for a South African holiday in April? It is bound to be a cheap holiday when AU$ 1 will get you around 7 Rand!! 26 - 29 April is the Mercedes Club of South Africa's National Gathering. There is an exciting programme on and it is always a lot of fun.
Greg
THis is the south african MB club's flagship event of the year. This year its in Bloemfontein, right in the middle of South Africa. We will all be driving in from our various parts of the country. As I have not yet been to one before, Greg is probably better qualified to describe the typical activities.
Ryan
Hopefully it will not only be a wonderful event for all attending but you will be able to recruit others to our forum :)
Well you see if I had a W116.ORG badge on my car, it could start a discussion..... ;)
The programme is as follows:
Thursday 26 April
14h00 Registration
16h00 Depart to view car collection of Fanie du Preez
18h30 Welcoming cocktail party
Friday 27 April
08h30 Photo session of the cars
09h30 Depart on a tour of the City of Bloemfontein
After lunch Gymkhana
Late afternoon Sheep barbecue
Saturday 28 April
09h30 Visit various car collections
Lunch Finger lunch at the local Mercedes dealership
15h00 Annual General Meeting
19h00 Gala closing function
I know someone is going to ask me about the gymkhana!! It is the same as a horse gymkhana, but in stead of the horses, we use Mercedes!!
Greg
Yeah,you guys have fun with the GTG :'(
Maybe me and 500eguy can have one too
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/nutz4benz/smile/cricket.gif)
Fly Maui LA, LA New York, New York Cape Town, or is there an easier way?
I think GTG is Get-To-Gether.
Greg has been very considerate wording it "sheep barbecue" for all you non-South Africans. Here its a SPITBRAAI. Nothing to do with expectorating. Usually accompanied by "klippies en coke". klippies is slang for local low cost brandy.
Ryan
Let us know when you want to come!! I think you will also be impressed at the complement of Mercedes we have here too.
Greg
Quote from: s class on 20 February 2007, 01:21 AM
This year its in Bloemfontein, right in the middle of South Africa.
Ryan
For Ryan it is only a 4 hour drive. For me, it is a 10 hour drive!! So I will have an extra 6 hours of enjoyment behind the wheel of the 116!! LOL
That is the way I look at it too! :)
Greg, I have registered and paid up for the GTG so its official - I will be there with baby, pram and wife.
Ryan
I am going to pay today. Where are you staying?
Today is the last day you can arrange to utilise the block booked rates through Hermien. I suggest you contact her immediately if you want to stay in the 'approved' accomodation. Villa Favourita is already fullu booked, as of last week they had some space left at Bain's. I decided that looked a little too rustic and rudimentary for my coping with my 1 year old, so I have elected to find my own accomodation at a BnB.
I will shortly be making my booking here : http://www.portfoliocollection.com/go/bloemstantia/ (http://www.portfoliocollection.com/go/bloemstantia/)
Ryan
I booked a while ago at Villa Favourita, So I am just going to pay today. We will have to take a few good photos to show these Aussies what they are missing!!!
Hold thumbs guys - looks like the 116 may be ready for the trip!!
painted and reassembled in time? Wow that's fast!. Great stuff. Did you organise and i-pod connection for gregette?
Got the FM transmitter and am using an MP3 player for the moment. Guess what I can look forward to? :-* :-*
Hey you blokes party just like we dO what are we missing out on The bbq'd SHEEP SOUNDS GOOD BUT I'M NOT TO KEEN ON EATING FINGERS(SORRY YOU ASKED FOR IT) What about some Elephant "T' BONES we have big appetites us Aussies you know. Or casserole of marinated Zebra.Come on guys you must have something exotic .This reminds me of the guy trying to sell me Cuban Cigars (rolled on the thighs of nubile willing young maidens) for your indulgence Sir!
So what can you impress us with I mean your talking to guys who regularly eat their coat of arms (that wool really sticks in my craw) ;D
ROB
South African's eat sheep in a gastronomic manner, unlike some Australian's who eat their sheep in another manner ;D ;D ;D
Surely Greg your getting confused with Kiwi's they are the sheep people we are Cattle country.
Real Beefy nothing sheepish about us and we certainly don't share.
You mean What do you call a sheep tied to a post in AUCKLAND?
Answer,
AN AMUSEMENT ARCADE.
We listen to our sheep and respect them.
(http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/2161/a492thumb24fbae9uc3.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
Exactly Oscar why are people so unkind.
I love me sheep
just like jccp loves his badgers.
Beastiality is there no end to this mans talents.
Robgee, you are a BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD man!!
Thanks Greg i love U too.
BC, do they grow rooibos in NZ? We grow it by the ton here! You want some?
Dear Greg,
I understand it grows only in SA but of course the 'Lady Detective' series has made rooibos tea famous here. I'm sure you drink lots of it on your drives? ;D
No, the main point of my post was I believe we should be more polite about NZers and then hopefully they will join the list. It would be wonderful to see more active members here and I would not like to think that we frighten people away.
NZers - you are welcome. Ignore the sheep jokes. ;D ;D ;D
Regards,
BC
One week to go and counting - Greg which car are you taking? Both my 116 and 140 will be in a serviceable condition, and I haven't decided which yet. Probably the 140, unless we decide to make it a 116 supporters effort.
Ryan
Ryan, I am keen to go in the 116 or I will consider the 123, but the 116 will be more comfortable!!
Are you leaving Thursday morning? I am going to drive in convoy with some other guys and we are going to leave on Wednesday morning.
I can only get away on Thursday afternoon and travel, um, quickly.
Would have loved to join you guys, and put the SE through her paces, but it's a bit short notice. Seeing I only got the car yesterday... ;)
Take plenty pics, OK! :)
Will do. We have to show the Aussies what we can do!!
Well we're back from our fun and games in Bloemmies. I'll be posting pictures soon. There were lots of treats to be seen, 300SE coupes, finnie 300SE long sedans, W111 cabrios, 6.3 with central divider, stretched W114, new CL63 AMGbiturbo V12.
The hooligans among us also took part in the gymkhana with great enthusuasm. We say the CL63 AMG doing burnouts and donuts, likewise a very tidy 6.3. I was just praying the 6.3 wouldn't break a diff or something.
PS greg's 116 is SUPERB.
I am back too and had a great time!! Thanks for the complement Ryan!
Ryan, I can't find any pics in the gallery? >:(
The King of Lesotho, HRH Moshoeshoe, came to visit us at our gathering!!
(http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4741/resizeofimg3861xdl7.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
These 3 cars were all owned by the Lesotho Royal garage and are now owned by 3 separate Mercedes club members in South Africa. All have black paint and red leather interiors. The 600 (with divider) still has the official Lesotho Royal coat of arms as a number plate. The other 2 cars are a 300SEL 6.3, with rare divider and a factory streached 230.6 114 with jump seats!
Des, you might want to post this on the M100 forum.
Greg
Hey Greg so what does the present royal fleet consist of. :'(
Google seems to be of no use!!
Robgee, One of the car collections we visited had a lot of 108's and SOUTH AFRICAN MUSCLE CARS.
Among them were :
Perana V8 Granada
Perana V8 Capri
Perana V6 Capri
Sierra XR8
Alfa GTV3.0
Delicous.
Greg, I haven't had time to sort out the pics - I have been standing at licensing bascially since I saw you. Aargh.
Greg what are the legalities of posting photos, particularly of the private collections? Is it OK?
Ryan
These guys are easy going and don't have a problem. None of them said no taking pictures or posting them.
Do you guys know Graham Van Heerden?
I stumbled across this ponton site yesterday and wondered whether he attended with some of his collection.
http://www.mbzponton.org/pax058/people/priebe/africa.htm (http://www.mbzponton.org/pax058/people/priebe/africa.htm)
Yes, Graham was at the meeting this weekend. I'm not sure which car was his though.
He is the President of the Mercedes Club of South Africa and his car is the stretch 114, the car on "your" left of the photo above.
Hey Grant I look forward to the pics.
Rob.
I promise to upload what I have tomorrow. We had a gymkhana with the cars, which is an obstacle course set up with cones. The car that gets around in the fastest time is the winner. I only have a pic of a 6.3 on the gymkhana track! I have no pics of the 600, my 280SE or the stretch 114 on the track as I was in the cars at the time!! I have asked for these pics, but here is the 6.3 for the mean time:
(http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/5784/miniimg3962zr0.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
Note the dust and smoke from the tyres!!
S Class also has no pics of the gymkhana because he had flat batteries.