Passion Road: The Mercedes Benz Enthusiast
A Stargazer is Born
by Edward Tsang
It all started innocently enough. Weekend trips in the W123 with lolo, listening to his stories, looking at the sights, inhaling the signature scent of the Mercedes Benz interior, and later stopping for ice cream, the magical ride ending all too soon as you reach home.
Photo by Pao Montenegro
Or it could be being driven to school in a W124 by dad everyday, fighting with your siblings over who gets to sit up front, with dad resolving the argument by letting you take turns in the front seat. As bubbly as you were in the morning, you're just as tired at the end of a long day of studying and playing, and you are quickly lulled to sleep by the gentle caress of the MB Tex seats and cocooned by the quiet interior, slumbering so deeply that your dad had to carry you into the house many a time.
It could be those long weekend drives with the family, the family Benz piled with people and luggage, and yet carrying everyone and everything into points unknown without the slightest drama, through sleet and hail, and hardly even breaking into sweat. Or in a moment of carpe diem, pointing the car towards the nearest expressway and heading out into the wild blue (or green) yonder, fully confident in your MB's abilities to take you there and back.
Photo by Bong Testa
It could be a chance encounter with a classic Star car, an encounter so momentous that the resultant vacuum leaves a gaping hole in your heart, a hole in the shape of the Three Pointed Star. And the ensuing boundless joy from finally acquiring that classic Mercedes Benz that you've had your eye on for as long as you can remember, a culmination of a lifetime's pining.
Photo by John Macapal
We all have those moments. We all remember those moments, as they are forever seared into our subconscious, a freeze frame of a moving moment, a time capsule of nostalgic proportions forever etched into the anterooms of our hearts. Our memories with Mercedes Benz is something that we will always hold with us, as well as something that always holds us in return.
An Eye for Beauty
The Mercedes Benz enthusiast has an eye for beauty in all its forms. Any Mercedes Benz is an enchanting sight, be it the elegant simplicity of the W114 Stricht Acht to the alluring yet muscular stance of the R230 SL; from the rotund charms of the W120 Ponton to the eye-popping yet effortless aggression of the SLR 722. The design philosophy of Mercedes Benz then and now still evokes endless fascination, a function of the dynamic symbiosis of tradition and technology, of form and function. Distinctive and yet easily identifiable, the Mercedes Benz DNA is weaved into every line, curve, and crease of the cars past and present.
Photo by Tippee Yaptinchay
The enthusiast appreciates that a Star car is timeless, its iconic design carrying it with timeless elegance, confident poise, quiet dignity and beguiling grace, a source of endless Fascination for Stargazers. One enduring legacy of the Mercedes Benz design philosophy is that despite each MB model being a product of its own time, every MB is the icon of its generation. And beyond that, every MB stands the test of time, never losing its allure nor its relevance.
A Head for Knowledge and A Hand for the Fellow Enthusiast
The Mercedes Benz enthusiast is an active seeker of knowledge. They strive to know all they can about their beloved Marque, not only for self education but to share this knowledge with fellow enthusiasts as well, and to contribute to the profundity of the collective MB wisdom so as to benefit everyone and just not themselves. There is no single monopoly on knowledge, and nowhere is this more evident than in the Mercedes Benz forums, where everyone has something to contribute.
Browsing through the MBCP site, as well as the many forums dedicated to Mercedes Benz, we see the many devotees of the different MB models contributing their share to this knowledge pool, whether through published literature, work experience, or sheer DIY spirit. New initiates to the Marque have no fear of being at a loss for information and guidance, since the more knowledgeable members are always there to extend a helping hand, sometimes even literally. It is not surprising, but only in keeping with the true spirit of being an enthusiast. The world of the Mercedes Benz enthusiast is one of lasting friendships and enduring passion, truly a Fellowship of the Three Pointed Star.
Photo by dieselbirdie
A Faithful Heart
Every relationship between a Mercedes Benz and its driver is unique, and yet similar. It is an inexplicable bond kept strong with a faithfulness that defies rationalization. Moreover, the real enthusiast is not only a Mercedes Benz driver for life, but in many occasions this faithfulness becomes a familial trait, extending beyond the generations, including the Mercedes Benz vehicles being handed down from one generation to the next, much like the treasured heirlooms that they are.
This faithfulness is made manifest in many forms. It can be seen in the initial search for that special, specific, yet seemingly elusive MB to fill the hole in the enthusiast's heart, adamantly refusing to settle for anything but what their heart pines for. It could be as simple as giving the car an affectionate pat after returning from a journey, or something as tragic as walking away unscathed from a horrific crash that ends the car's life, whereby the car fulfills its ultimate raison d'etre.
Photo by Jon Marc Obag
It is dragging home a rustbucket, much to the chagrin of certain family members, sometimes not realizing the enormity of the work involved because yes, they have found the Benz of their dreams. It is helping a friend restore the family MB, despite the hurdles thrown by the need for parts and information. It does not matter, because “it's a labor of love.” And in retrospect that is all that matters.
Photo by dieselbirdie
Oftentimes it demands an inordinate amount of patience and relentless perseverance in tending to the needs of our MBs, may it be our daily drivers, Sunday cars, or that special project car that have inspired us for the longest time. It is dedicating quality time and precious resources to the perfection of a driveable dream, knowing full well that such a project can and will exact its toll not only in the pecuniary sense, but in the form of copious amounts of blood, sweat, and tears.
Photo by Calvin Millado
But through it all the enthusiast remains relentless, knowing full well what needs to be done and pursues it with dogged determination without fearing the paradox of perfection. Truly a labor of love.
Photo by Alfie Salvador
It is driving the car across the country back and forth, and lovingly cleaning it after the long exhausting trip, despite being cosseted within the comfortable confines of their MB. Full detail too.
Photo by Patrick Ian Garcia
It is the nerve wracking wait while the car is with the mechanic, anxiously awaiting a verdict on what ails her. It is being covered up to the elbows in grease, helping a fellow enthusiast fix their precious charge. And later, it is the utter joy of fixing the problem and bringing the car back to its purring, mechanical best.
It is the milestone of handing over the MB keys to the next generation, signifying the passage of an age and heralding the arrival of the next custodians for the family heirloom in the form of an Mercedes Benz.
Indeed, the bond between the driver and their Mercedes Benz is ineffable, inexplicable, incorrigible; a life-long love affair borne out of an endless, unabashed, and restless fascination. After all, nothing will make a driver more faithful to a car, than a car that is faithful to its driver.
The MBCP: Passion Central
The Mercedes Benz Club of the Philippines is undoubtedly the True North to which all Mercedes enthusiasts in the country gravitate toward, a polestar for all enthusiasts to gather and celebrate their passion for all things MB. It is much more than a mere watering hole; since just as we all are Ambassadors of the Marque, the MBCP is the de facto embassy for the Mercedes Benz brand in the Philippines, where the flag of the Three Pointed Star proudly waves. This truly is the home of a league of extraordinary individuals.
Photo by Louie Ramos
The Club takes great pride in the quality of its membership and the presentation of their cars, but without the accompanying arrogance that is sometimes disappointingly evident in organizations of this caliber. Their affection for their MBs and the Club stems from what to them Mercedes Benz is and is not; it is a tangible affirmation of the values they hold dear as embodied by the MB philosophy, of integrity and honesty, of industry and loyalty, of joyful camaraderie and real friendship, of strong familial ties and an inspiring sense of history and tradition.
It is not about one upmanship, nor is it maliciously denigrating other individuals and brands; au contraire, the MB enthusiasts are not one-marque people, because being so would run counter to the true spirit of being an automotive enthusiast. They are just as passionate about other marques, from Alfas to Fords and Jaguars, from Jensens to Lotus, from Nash to to Mitsubishis, and from Toyotas to Zimmerman. Their hearts hold the entire automotive world dear, with the singular exception of the Three Pointed Star, which is found in that special anteroom in the innermost chamber of their hearts, and hoisted upon the highest altar of automotive fascination. They love all cars, but their hearts beat for Mercedes Benz. And as real enthusiasts, they come from the entire spectrum of human endeavor, across the boundaries of race and gender, of occupation and economics, bereft of any stratification and status except that of being a fellow Mercedes Benz enthusiast.
Photo by Tipee Yaptinchay
The story of Mercedes Benz is a story of passion and history, of integrity and industry, of innovation and excellence. It is as much a journey through the advancement of automotive technology and history as pioneered by Mercedes Benz, as it is an emotional experience through the generations of iconic cars, so much so that the enthusiasts actively seek to understand, preserve, and weave the thread of the Mercedes Benz heritage and tradition into the fabric of their daily lives through the ownership, care, and restoration of their MBs, as well as the continued fellowship with other admirers of the Three Pointed Star. And through the MBCP, life with the Three Pointed Star has never been a more rewarding and relevant journey and experience. Truly a Marque and a Club unlike any other. Mabuhay po ang MBCP!
Photo by Mike Hular
Jekyll and Hyde
