[W126 Coupe] Del Val Invtl RALLYE REPORT AND PHOTO SHOW

[190 Girl]

Gentlemen of the SEC:

I am privileged to share with all of you worldwide the engaging saga of the Delaware Valley Invitational Rallye Party held Saturday, June 24, 2006 in Chester, New Jersey.  

SEC...............Something  Extraordinary in Chester, for sure.

The magic started in late winter when we voted and agreed on line for a mutual date for the Delaware Valley area SEC drivers and related areas to gather for our semi-annual fun meet, the last organized event having been nearly 2 years ago in 2004.  Markus Meyer of PA, a long established Member, encouraged me to go forth and nudge the area drivers out of hibernation to RSVP for an early summer date, so Ellen, aka Legs, sprinted to action as Rallye Mistress requesting the pleasure of all Coupe Drivers from FLA to New England, to commit to attend her Invitational Party Rallye in New Jersey to savor the pleasure of MB Coupes and see the Garden State.  The broadcast was well received and to the bitter end, we shook down 15 MBz Coupes Men and their fine Ladies to take the challenge.

I went on line frequently with updates "Legs Calling!" and that seemed to do the trick to stir our Del Val Men into action.  "We are yours for attention!" they responded and once the details were released, one by one, we got confirmations of attendance.  An email was sent across the Daily List for special party shirts, custom embroidered polos which were to remain undercover, top secret, until party day unveiling, and my computer jumped from Chester to Canada to California with orders sight unseen even from those not attending in person, just wishful thinking.  45 shirts were sold!

An email was sent day prior "Better Than Christmas Eve."  But just like Santa and his elves working furiously at the North Pole, so were we.  The Labor Crew that made this event extraordinary silently behind the scenes deserves much mention and thanks, and herewith I acknowledge those very special individuals.  My husband, Fred Perry, who is long distance and my constant supporter, never once doubted my ambitions with this project nor my requests, sacrificed a day off from work to go out of state to pick up my parents, Bill and Eleanor Ruck, who are my second shadow in Handyman and Culinary Aide, both of which were extremely important skills for the DVIR party plans.  My dear friend Sean Conner, W126 Driver of Desert Storm sedan, spent 2 of his precious weekends with me plotting out the 80 mile Rallye Course months in advance, and prepared a Devious MBz Quiz and burned a special music CD called the "Ellenvitational" so we could party in style.  Without these individuals, the DVIR could not proceed in the fast lane.

Nobody makes the weather.  June 24th it was, rain or shine, folks were warned.  TV Weather reports indicated we were about to enter a five day rain/possible flood pattern, but the plans, reservations, food purchases, etc were underway so we could not turn back.  DVIR Guests were told to report at 1 PM sharp no matter what!  During setup Dad Ruck looked up at the sky after building a plywood shelter for the Coleman Generator which protects our power source from rain, and declared "We're gonna party no matter what!". Go Dad, go, and thankfully we all agreed, and no more than one small shower fell during our outing that hardly spoiled anything at hand.

The first to arrive was Rocky Miranti in his sleek black Coupe. Hot red pinstripe bodyside. Somebody has to start the party right , and it was our lowest mileage car at 25K!  Barely a hug was dispensed when here comes Markus and Nancy Meyer in their signature Cabernet Coupe, tailed by Axel Wulff in a sharp white 560, who travelled together out of PA.  Following that I could barely keep up as our Rallye Crew rolled in one by one on time..........Next was Malcolm and Kathy Lee out of MASS in an eye catching teal coupe anxious for festivities, followed by my color twin, Tony and Maxine Heywood of Rhode Island.  They'd motored south to NJ through some fierce rains but nothing could stop their journey to The House of Benz StarBarn, and oh, what hugs!  Each guest was well received and then turned around into outgoing formation for the 2 PM Rallye course.  Sneaking in was Mark Sluscavage, a MB USA employee in his beloved 040 300SE and his Lady Michelle Gallego, along with Roger Septoff of The Big Apple, New York City, who joined our fest just days prior but surprised us with his passion, and his Seat Cover of Carlos Varela, a cutting edge young New York City professional photographer who would capture our special  Rallye magic on film all day. Sean motored in next with Ellen Hayden, a NYC highline catering manager, followed by his wife Kristin with her friend Dawn, as we promised all of our solo Coupes Men a Lady Seat Cover for the Rallye, guaranteed, so we all could share the driving course fun.  Neighborhood friends Kris and Bob Varzal, dual Mercedes owners, joined us as Seat Cover extras.  Long distance Guest Bill Gallagher from VA deserves special mention.  Although he arrived in a five speed BMW sedan, he is seriously shopping for a SEC and will soon be "one of us".  His enthusiasm for knowledge was enviable.  Local Coupes Man Bruce Tranter from Southern NJ joined us in his fine light blue 420SEL ComoMobile collector car, with his lovely Lady Linda.  Nick Ford of NJ, having just sold his W126 in favor of a W124, but who wouldn't miss the festivities for the world, arrived in style in his Smoke Silver 400E, trailed by Sheila Hopkins in her classic LWB W126 from NJ, as these 2 friends would drive together in their quest for Rallye Champs.  Very well intended and signed up but no show last minute due to personal constraints were Paul Niessen of FLA, and Bruce Mendel of PA.  Well, there goes the Gator Burgers, folks............

Rallye SendOff Time!  With Star Cruiser in the lead, my 91 560SEC Anthracite over Lt Grey led 12 cars through the hills and dales of rural New Jersey with Fred at the wheel and me with my Rallye Notes on my lap, each one of us watching the side view mirrors eagle eyed depending on topographical curvature of the landscape in favor, to ensure each Coupe had complied and gone through intersections safely.  Several times "Alien SUV's" broke into our slow moving conga line, likely wondering, "Fancy this! All the cars look alike!" , but that was our private secret and we sought to purge the outcast efficiently to insure our purity in the line up.  Drivers and Navigators had to screen the scenic turf at hand top to bottom, yard to skyline level, searching and recording answers to the Rallye Questions from Lawn Detritus to Aerial Weathervanes.  Well, it would help baseline if you knew what "Detritus" was!  The Rallye motored on lazily with many hard downshift spiral curves necessitating pulling the gearshift down to Low as we helixed past Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run Farm down to the Musconetcong River in 18th century New Hampton  NJ, where time hasn't changed a thing.  Rallye drivers were asked to guess an answer rather than miss a point or two, which explained why Kris Varzal driving with Bill Gallagher, said "What do Guys have that You Don't?".  She politely answered "Sense of Direction" when the answer really was "Guys have GAS!". Rocky was driving with Carlos, and Question 30 stated, There is a Bathroom Here, and those two pen, Geez, I NEED a Porta JOHN!!!!  (Did we serve too much lemonade beforehand?  )  Axel, driving with Ellen No. 2 and Dawn, answer "What's on the Trellis?"  as "NOTHING!" (Universal Answer.) Question 28 asked "What Gets Big in 5 Minutes?" and warned the Guys NOT to look for an answer in their pants, and the answers provided are not printable here!  Those were discussed at the cocktail hour, no pun intended.

A favorite part of this Rallye is the Merrill Creek private reservoir in Montana, New Jersey. Yes, there is such a place, alternately named the Markus Meyer Memorial Distributor Failure Park.  Here, in 2004 as the sun was waning and the Park Ranger departing, Markus' distributor fried to a crisp more than calamari disabling him completely as large Black Bears began to roam the the parklands behind locked gates.  Understandably, Markus buzzed down his one-touch window at this site upon pulling in for the group photo shoot, drolly stated "I don't think I like this place with the bears." Well, the bears did us one better this time.  Upon arrival, a most innocent young fox trotted out of the woods, pranced around for a few spins, executed a puppy like belly scratch roll maneuver, then engaged in chasing the SEC Girls around the parking lot with full glee startling the daylights out of them.  The more the Girls ran, the more the fox chased them around, thinking it a magnificent game!  Not sure if he was rabid or just park tame, we did manage a group shot and back into the coupes to finish the Rallye and head for the last Leg home, no pun intended.

At this point, Markus and Nancy, having a bit of experience in our area, laid onto the gas pedal and shot out onto I-78 East like a Bat out of Hell and lead the troops back to the Party Scene in a cabernet streak of lightening.  Fred nudged Star Cruiser's gas pedal up to 90K to catch them, my ponytail was flapping in the breezy draft, and instantly, a shiny, fast, hot Coupe was on our tail back door.  It was Tony and Maxine opening up the 560 to full potential shadowing us like a ballet dancer with full agression letting it throttle after those 3 hours of driving 40 mph looking for landmarks, letting it rip with full glee and passion shrugging off every care in the world as they piloted the wicked Coupe homeward.  The three of us burned the NJ tarmac to searing degrees until OOPS a NJ trooper was watching the median about 5 miles from our exit. You never saw 3 Coupes pull over and slow down so fast in your life to save face, but grinning with pleasure and salivating for our cocktail hour upcoming, we glanced in our rear views, saw a steady stream of flashy conga coupes behind us with headlights sparkling like diamond jewels, and using the buddy system, each followed the other home up the House of Benz StarBarn drive. I think I still have burn marks in the gravel from the returning cars!
The HOB SB is a very special place.  We transformed it into a majestic Coupes ClubHouse with cozy Oriental rugs, real chinaware and glassware, antique seating, and candle lanterns with the Legs CD music background in the foreground while the rear area had a display of Legs' toys for viewing pleasure, on the floor and aerially in the rafters with barn automotive artwork.  Not only a place for dreams, but where good friends of the SEC shared much laughter, banter, and serious engine talk .  Those of us who had given of our personal schedules to share our passion, so we did, joyfully.  My parents, who don't even own a Mercedes let alone a 560, said the party guests had so much in common and so much respect for each other, it was an incredible gathering of intelligence.  David Veith and his wife Donna, in a pristine sans non other smoke silver 560 SEC of NJ, joined us for dinner.  Mom Ruck and Legs put on their best German home cooking for the crowd pulling out all stops while Nick Ford tended grill in a custom apron made by his wife special for the event--you need to see the photos to explain this! Need I tell you the devastating calorie laden desserts the Coupe Ladies prepared?  Nothing like home cooking, Guys.
After dinner we danced a bit...........folks, Malcolm's new name is Hot Legs.  What a way to cap an evening after Coupe Camaraderie !  Following are our Del Val Invitational Rallye Winners:

FIRST PLACE:  Markus & Nancy Meyer  
SECOND PLC:  Mark Sluscavage & Michelle Gallego
THIRD PLACE: Malcolm & Kathy Lee
FOURTH PLC:  Nick Ford and Sheila Reusch
FIFTH PLACE:  Bruce Tranter and Linda

QUIZ WINNERS:  Tony and Maxine Heywood

Congratulations to all of our Winners, and hard working Seat Covers!!!!  You are all winners in my mind!!!
I wish to thank every person who attended for making our event festive.....Sheila for her 040 brownies and friendship, Nick for Grill Skill, Kathy and Malcolm for their mile wide smiles (see photo!), Rocky for his cheer, Axel and Markus for PA Power, Roger NYC You are the best!, Tony and Maxine Go!, Mark and Michelle I Love you Both!, Bill Gallagher Catch the Spirit!, Dave and Donna, go NJ!, Axel, Hot Engine!, Ellen No. 2 Miss You!, Dawn, Visit again!, Sean and Kris--100% Thanks; Mom and Dad, Love You!; Bruce/Linda Wish you the best....and the Shirt Men.....Thank You!!!!!

Now, awaited...........the photos!  

Log onto http://www.cavaweddings.com

Hit Links.
Hit Events.
You need the Password.
Small Wonder........it's    "legs"   Make sure to use lowercase.

Please email Carlos and thank him if you enjoy the slide show.  Please order a print or two!   Thanks to him we can all share the love of SEC's . Please email Legs if you need clarification of any photos.  

Love and thanks to our DVIR Party Guests,

Ellen/Legs/Star Cruiser





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