MERCEDES-BENZ CLUB OF AMERICA - Hudson Mohawk Section Newsletter

President’s Message

Wow!!! Where did 2009 go? Seems like we just got started and now the year is growing toward an end and the Holidays. We have just completed our election of the Board of Directors. One new Board member was elected. One new Director and all incumbents were seated. Frank Cappabianca chose not to run again. Elected to his seat was Don Finelli. Don is Deputy Director of Advocates for Children of New York State (CASA), a long time Mercedes-Benz enthusiast and permanent fixture around Lime Rock Race Track. Please join me in welcoming Don. We all feel very confident he will do an outstanding job in supporting the MBCA and it’s members.

The Board met on Thursday November 19, 2009 (earlier date due to the Thanksgiving holiday) at the Holiday Inn Turf on Wolf Road in Colonie. The meeting began promptly at 6:30 PM. At this month’s meeting the Board of Directors elected the new Executive Committee who will serve the next two years. Please remember that all meetings are open to all members and we welcome your attendance and input at our monthly get togethers. We will also begin plans for the 2010 Calendar of Events. If you have any suggestions or would like to work on an upcoming event, please let us know. Our next Newsletter will recap all of 2009 and begin announcing our 2010 schedule. Please share/update your e-mail address so we can keep our list current. Have a safe and happy
holiday season.

Ron Tanner

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

R. G. Huber - Port Jervis, NY
Vinod and Renu Kallianpur - Schenectady, NY
Steven and Doreen Kamen - Saratoga Springs, NY
Brian Lee and Pat Carson - Saratoga Springs, NY
John and Suzanne Nelson - Rensselaer, NY
Tom and Mary Quandt - Saratoga Springs, NY
Carl and Caroline Wirth - Slingerlands, NY

FALL FOLIAGE TOUR 2009

The second annual Fall Foliage Tour started out on a rather grey day and finished in the sunlight of a beautiful fall day. Beginning at the parking lot of the very generous Cabinet Designers in Kingston a group of 16 old and new Mercedes headed west. First we circled the bridge over the Ashokan Reservoir to get a different look at this beautiful body of water.

Next we stopped at the dam in the middle of the reservoir where most took pictures of the reflection of fall colors bouncing off the still surface of the lake. We all made it to Emerson Resort and Spa where some had a snack to eat while other climbed inside the “Worlds Largest Kaleidoscope” quite a treat. Now heading northwest we started our climb up the Catskill Mountains.

Our route took past beautiful farms, tiny graveyards and expertly crafted stone walls. Many switchbacks and tricky curves made this an ideal route to test the ability of these great cars. By now some were lost but a sizeable group did make it to the old stone church for more photos across the valley, little did we know we would soon be coming down the mountains which we could see ahead of us.

As we entered the seasonally closed Route 16 some took advantage of driving into the Platte Cove Community, a commune of dedicated people who support themselves by making sophisticated injected plastic components for medical equipment. The instructions said “when the yellow road stripes end you will be on a section closed in the winter, use extreme care”. This turned out to be an understatement. This road barely passable for two cars is steep and lots of curves and very few if any guard rails. I boiled the brake fluid in my 1967 250SL and had to make my way down using the hand brake and low gear.There are cars missing but I am sure they will catch up at some point. Those arriving early spent time in historic Woodstock. Then on to the Land and Sea Grill in Saugerties where we all enjoyed a nice meal and were able to share the events of the day.

Surprisingly everyone made it and a good time was had by all. Next year we are planning a three day two night foliage tour, we will need volunteers to help with this event. If you would like to help with the planning or if you would like more details about the event please contact Ron Tanner. This event will take place in the Adirondacks, if you live in these beautiful mountains or are very familiar with them and could help us plan routes please let us know.

Ron Tanner, President