Star Cars and Coffee. The return of shining stars in Surhuisterveen

The event has been on the agenda for some time now. And on September 11, the time has come. It is a joy to drive back to Klaas de Poel's stables three years after the last Star Cars & Coffee edition. The meeting for and by Mercedes-Benz fans has been alive online for ages, people are looking forward to it. I notice that experience immediately after my arrival. Visitors drive their Mercedes-Benz back and forth, they are smoothly directed to the site. Star Cars & Coffee has started, a wonderful afternoon is ahead.

The terrain fills up early after the start of the event for and by Mercedes fans. With every Mercedes-Benz driving towards the large field you hear that the child in the ever enthusiastic Henk Mulder wakes up. Henk knows a lot about Mercedes-Benz models, and regardless of model, condition or trim, he shows his love for the brand and his respect for the owners. And respect, everyone has that for each other's car.

A Mercedes is a Mercedes for everyone in Surhuisterveen. Regardless of condition, year of manufacture or type. Every owner cherishes his or her car in his or her own way, and the mutual appreciation for this is sincere. It is not the first time that I have the brand within the Mercedes world. But valuing each other is a quality that I enjoy every time. And that fits so well with the no-nonsense mentality that the organization exudes.

The diversity of the cars that the Mercedes-Benz driving visitors bring to Surhuisterveen is remarkable and as usual. The first post-war Mercedes-Benz 170 D (with a long-stroke engine, listen up people) arrives hand in hand with the latest E-Class, so to speak. And on the central square you will find beautiful old, brand new and very expensive work by Mercedes-Benz. For example, a 250 S from the W108 series stands next to the AMG-GT 4. These examples are only a fraction of the private collection, which belongs to a Benz collector.

There are friends and acquaintances, all Mercedes-Benz people who form a uniform uniform with many other visitors. Some stay in Surhuisterveen all day, others stay for a short time. There is something in Monza, so not everyone stays all afternoon. But the fact that despite the GP of Italy they still make time to drive to Surhuisterveen says a lot about the strength of Star Cars and Coffee.
Meanwhile, Asmes and I stroll around the hall. Take a look at Klaas's beautiful collection. You know what you will find, and yet again you do not know what you see. One example is even more beautiful than the other, and the collection's common denominator is impeccable condition.

Then we go outside again. The afternoon is drawing to a close, the grounds are opening up again, most visitors are on their way home. Yet it is still very pleasant. I talk to Klaas for a while, and briefly with his wife Epke. We agree that I will come again soon, it is always fun at Klaas de Poel. At that time I had already approached father and son Gebbink. They came with the car that I also found three years ago - during the previous edition -: the 280 Mercedes-Benz 1970 SL Automatic with original Dutch registration. Then he wore the hardtop (with ski carriers), now that his father and son Gebbink have come to Surhuisterveen topless. The beauty of the car - owned by Gebbink senior for thirty years - is undisputed. And the Pagoda is also my dream car. Next year the Pagoda will be XNUMX years old. Then you already know: we are going to do something with it.

Then it really is time to go. I will be in Surhuisterveen longer than planned, and actually I know that in advance. It fits an event that is old-fashioned good again on Sunday 11 September. And that means: quality, unpretentiousness and hospitality. And last but not least: respect for each other's property and each other's ideas. The crew thanks me for coming. But it is better to thank Klaas and his people. They will never shout it from the rooftops themselves, but they can once again look back on a fantastic and excellent running edition of Star Cars & Coffee. And it is not without reason that this has been an event for years that every enthusiast with a Mercedes heart should put in the agenda in bold letters. Anyone who was there on September 11 knows why.