Submitted by utrias on 02-12-2012
Tech Session - Pot Luck Lunch - M-B Facility Tour and Vehicle “walk-around”) January 21, 2012… (by Sharon Utrias)
The MBCA-CGS held its first Tech Session of 2012 on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at the Jackson Automotive Mercedes-Benz Autohaus in Macon, GA. Jackson’s Mercedes-Benz of Macon let us use one of their 4 new heated wash-bays for the entire work-shop and also provided breakfast pastries and refreshments for attendees. We had 21 members attend the detailing workshop, luncheon, and dealer introductions. The instructor/director of this Cleaning and Detailing Workshop session was our very own CGS member, Tommy Couch. Tommy also provided the Detailing Guides that were offered to the first 8 registrants for the session.
At 9:30AM, our Section President introduced Tommy as a very active member of the CGS and the man who may change our minds about various techniques to employ on this often tedious task-of proper car cleaning and detailing. If you want your Mercedes to be show ready, or properly prepared for any Concours presentation, this was place to be that rainy morning.
Tommy began the workshop session by demonstrating the proper way to wash a vehicle. He explained that the body of the car isn’t always the dirtiest part so he started washing from the top and windows, then to the hood, front, back, and then the sides of the car in sequence. His knowledge of various techniques and materials were used on the Mercedes belonging to the CGS Treasurer, Trish Welch’s 2008 SLK280.
At each stage of the cleaning and detailing process Tommy explained the best practices and procedures and invited audience participation from the attendees. Several folks took part in the processes and the ladies also took up the challenge as well. They became involved in wheel cleaning, clay bar, polish preparation, application and buffing, then wax application and buffing—and not one mention of a broken finger nail! At the conclusion... Trish’s Mercedes was definitely “show ready”.
Tommy kept an ongoing dialog with the members not only with demonstrations but also his experiences with different products and in some cases, tools he often uses in cleaning and detailing. Working with these tools was also part of the workshop.
The Board of Directors of the MBCA-CGS and its Members sincerely thank Tommy for all his time and effort in preparing this seminar/workshop for us. His offering of his knowledge and expertise, answering questions, and helping with the hands on training that he graciously shared with us, should provide for seeing some pretty spectacular automobiles at our February Dine-Out. We are very fortunate to have Tommy Couch as one of our own. Thank You, Tommy. Now on to the rest of the days functions…..
After that “hands on” experience, we entered into the service bay area where tables and chairs were set up by David Morgan’s Jackson Autohaus sales staff for our attendee “pot luck” lunch. This was a new 2012 approach for the lunch, in that it was provided by the members themselves … and from the looks of things, the lunch was a success with several plates of leftovers and desserts making their way home for a tasty treat later that day …. after doing some vehicle cleaning perhaps.
After he and his staff shared their time having lunch with our group, Mr. Ken Grinstead, General Manager of Jackson Mercedes-Benz of Macon welcomed us to the newly expanded and refurbished facility and explained some of the exciting things Mercedes-Benz will be providing in their newer products.
Ken and his staff are always open and supportive of the MBCA-CGS and he personally has been one of our club’s constant guides and supporters. His offer to host this Tech Session was greatly appreciated and we could not find a more willing person to help us be successful. The refreshments, juices, coffee and pastries upon our arrival and drinks during the lunch, were such a nice gesture on behalf of Jackson and we all enjoyed that bit of their hospitality. As in the Mercedes tradition everything was first class.
Ken Ken also introduced the Parts Manager, David Austin and the Service Manager Rusty Suddeth who then gave us a tour of their respective areas with an explanation of some special discounts and services provided to Mercedes owners. David Austin provided us with a surprise of some wonderful raffle gifts after the luncheon and from the conversation I overheard, the gifts are always quite a hit…. Thank you, David Austin.
The tour ended with yet another highlight, a trip to view the new showroom and its treasures - models of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The Salesmen were knowledgeable and eager to show off and explain these wonderful automobiles but alas, the weather alarm went off and the salesmen had to rush out and protect the vehicles outside from the predicted three-inch hail and a threat of a tornado. Probably best that happened, otherwise, some MBCA-CGS members would have stayed until closing time. All in all we had a great time on a rainy Saturday.
