Author Topic: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"  (Read 11373 times)

ja17

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Congratulations  Gael (GGR), I just received my January/February Issue of "The Star Magazine".  I was excited to see that one of our members GGR was featured with a six page article on his two creations, a 5.6 liter pagoda and his 5.0 liter W111 coupe.  I had the pleasure of driving both during his visits to Blacklick. He has done a remarkable job on both.
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

GGR

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2015, 10:48:33 »
Thanks Joe.

I was contacted by Gary Anderson, the Editor,  as he was interested in featuring an article on both my trips across the US, one with my Coupe in 2009, and the other one with my Pagoda in 2013. I sent him a draft which he nicely edited and added pictures from both trips.

Both occasions were a blast and I can't wait doing it again, may be next summer.

MBCA members are currently getting their copy of the Magazine in their mailbox. They can also read the Magazine online here: http://www.mbca.org/star/january-february-2015

For the others, attached below is a draft version of the article.

« Last Edit: January 10, 2015, 19:52:38 by GGR »

Peter van Es

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2015, 12:39:38 »
Great article, great cars! Thanks for sharing!
1970 280SL. System Admin of the site. Please do not mail or PM me questions on Pagoda's... I'm not likely to know the answer.  Please post on the forum instead!

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2015, 14:18:35 »
Congratulations Gael, I cannot wait till my STAR copy arrives in my mail box. I know how much fun it is to take a trip across the USA I've done it in my former 1987 Benz and in 2009 in my Z4 great memories are made of this. I hope to do it some day in my 280SL :) perhaps with a few other members, or at least one as a navigator :)
DD 2011 SL 63 AMG and my 69 Pagoda 280 SL

andyburns

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2015, 15:16:08 »
Great article Gael.  What an awesome adventure.  Really loved all the photos.  I also really love the coupe.  Would love to add one to my collection one day.  Beautiful looking cars.  Thanks for sharing.
Andy Burns, Auckland New Zealand
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GGR

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #5 on: January 06, 2015, 15:56:49 »
Thanks!

Andy, if you like the Coupes now is the time to get one as their prices have started picking up! Below are more pictures of my Coupe taken during that 2009 coast to coast trip:


GGR

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2015, 15:59:48 »
More pictures of the Coupe:

GGR

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #7 on: January 06, 2015, 16:01:22 »
Last ones of the Coupe:

GGR

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #8 on: January 06, 2015, 16:10:58 »
Some pictures of the Pagoda, taken during the 2013 trip:

GGR

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #9 on: January 06, 2015, 16:13:25 »
And finally, a picture of my wife's Fintail, mentioned at the end of the article. It will hopefully be part of a next adventure across the country:
« Last Edit: January 06, 2015, 16:33:50 by GGR »

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #10 on: January 06, 2015, 17:03:24 »
Thanks for sharing Gael!!! :) Great shots all around.
DD 2011 SL 63 AMG and my 69 Pagoda 280 SL

Panzer82

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #11 on: January 06, 2015, 17:18:59 »
Great stuff... these cross country trips are THE BEST. I spent 6 months on just two lane roads in an air cooled VW Vanagon Westfalia in 2000, did all of Route 66 among other things... Nice photo of your coupe at the "Hackberry General Store" in Hackberry, AZ... that's one of the most typical looking places along the Route... old signs, etc. I made a website journal entry each night and hooked up my laptop to a cellular modem... long before the days of blogs and wi fi, I had to create a new web page and upload photos for each day. My digital camera was really expensive at the time... 1.2 mega pixels! I also took a 40 year old Asahi Pentax and shot many, many rolls of black and white film. One of the best trips of my life, in this country anyway.

I did a trip from Albequerque, NM back to Minneapolis about a year and a half ago too, in a 450SLC 5.0... that was a much 'faster' trip than in my 67HP Volkswwagen van 14 years earlier... the 5.0 SLC was right at home at about 90mph across the desert.

What about a cross country trip for sl113.org members... create a route, and dates... and people join up for as long as they'd like between the start point and end point? THAT could be great... some people go the whole way, others part way, however much your time and budget might allow?

kampala

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #12 on: January 06, 2015, 18:42:41 »
Gael,

félicitations!

Great article and an even better advertisement for route 66.  Fantastic photos --- especially of the coupe.  Excellent to see all your work presented in the Star.

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Aslam

wwheeler

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #13 on: January 06, 2015, 21:06:22 »
Congrats Gael! As a coupe owner, I can't wait to get my Star magazine. I especially can't wait to see your engine mods. I am not sure I have the guts to do something like that.
Wallace
Texas
'68 280SE W111 coupe
'60 220SE W128 coupe
'70 Plymouth Roadrunner 440+6

GGR

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #14 on: January 06, 2015, 21:31:05 »
Thanks!

Panzer, great idea about a cross country trip for sl113.org members! Rolf-Dieter would certainly be part of the adventure, given his comment earlier! Next Pagoda University could be the occasion for it.

Do you have a link for your webpage bout your trip with the Vanagon?

btw, the engine I have in my Coupe is about of a 450SLC 5.0 like yours. It is an early 5025cc version. Engine # 52. The spare engine I have for my wife's Fintail is also out of a 450SLC 5.0, also an early 5025cc version. I initially got it as a spare for my Coupe. I am posting below two pictures of Cadillac Ranch, to echo the one you posted!

Wallace, the article does not cover the mods I did on my Coupe. You will get more about it here:  
http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=14796.msg101224#msg101224
« Last Edit: January 06, 2015, 22:38:53 by GGR »

Flyair

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #15 on: January 06, 2015, 21:42:29 »
felicitations et merci

you are blessed to have your wife sharing your passion. With the fintail it may become a nice addiction too :)
Stan
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mdsalemi

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #16 on: January 06, 2015, 22:38:25 »
 :)
« Last Edit: January 09, 2015, 13:16:37 by mdsalemi »
Michael Salemi
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stickandrudderman

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #17 on: January 06, 2015, 22:45:56 »
Great story, especially that your wife obviously enjoys it too.

GGR

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #18 on: January 06, 2015, 22:49:03 »
Yes, my wife enjoys road trips too. But she wants her Fintail to be more comfort oriented than my Coupe and my Pagoda!
« Last Edit: January 10, 2015, 19:50:10 by GGR »

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #19 on: January 07, 2015, 00:12:11 »
Mike, I joined last year for three years, best investment for a magazine I ever did :)

Yes I do so hope Joe will host another University gathering now that he has a new shop in place. I might even leave my car with him over the 2015 - 2016 winter to play with and fix a few items on my ToDo list. Stuff I don't like to touch. Joe and his Dad helped me out BIG time when in Williamsburg, VA my soft top refused to return into it's storage compartment. Joe and his Dad knew exactely what to do. When Joe looked at my engine bay he said "Ah you removed your A/C unit would you like your alternator mounted correctly again?" Yes Joe has sharp eyes and that be one job on my list to be done ... another is a nasty transmission leak that needs to be corrected (I hate to leave oil spots in my friends driveways). ~grin~

Joe needs to give us a date ... I need to plan well ahead ... please Joe think about it :)
DD 2011 SL 63 AMG and my 69 Pagoda 280 SL

Nirmal

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Re: Congratulations GGR ! Six page article in "The Star Magazine"
« Reply #20 on: January 07, 2015, 13:57:53 »
Congratulations Gael!

Great article. Had fun reading it.

Cheers

Nirmal
Dubai