Mike Minges
I’m a car guy. No really, I’m a serious car guy. I fell in love with sports cars when I bought a copy of Sports Car Graphic to read on the train from California to New York to see the World’s Fair back in ‘64. No more hot rods for me; I was hooked on Austin Healeys, Lancias, Porsches, etc. Anything that turned a twisty back road into an event and a memory. Fast forward to the early ’70s. I was freshly out of the army; I had two years of college and no marketable skills. I was in Wichita, KS and the opportunity to sell cars presented itself so I took a job at a tri agency. They sold Pontiac, Honda and Mercedes Benz. Not everyone could sell the Mercedes, but they liked my presentation and test drive on the Honda and after two years, they let me sell the Mercedes line. I was in love. It was all about engineering, presentation and the test drive. I still remember my Mercedes manager training me and before we went on the test drive, in his gentlemanly Oklahoma accent saying, “Now Mike, I don’t want you to kill anybody, but if you don’t scare the folks just a little, you’re just not doing your job.” Loud and clear, sir, loud and clear. I was hooked and knew one day I’d own a Mercedes convertible. My car series’ chassis is known as the R107. In 2014, I finally got one and I love it. I have owned four MGs, an Austin Healey, three Porsches, BMW 320i, etc. and never had I ever had so many people want to talk to me about the car I was driving. I’m so proud of the c when you can document. I’m a member of the national Mercedes club, but soon the local branch is just not my cup of schnapps. Besides, it’s totally focused in Scottsdale; too far. I would like to start a branch here and get recognition from the national club. I want to go to interesting places like Paola Soleri’s work shop, the start of the Copper State 1000, all the auctions, etc. I want to hear about other’s interest in Mercedes, out of the way restaurants, places of historical interest, etc. I want to see photographs of other people’s Mercedes. Basically, I just want to be around other car people. How about you? Contact me at [email protected].