The date of September 3, 2023 is boldly outlined in the agenda. It is a day to look forward to. A day that is colored by one of the permanent values within the classics agenda. Star Cars & Coffee in Surhuisterveen - the party for and by Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts - blows away any intention to visit Wheels at the Palace on Soestdijk. And once again it becomes clear why the choice for the Star Event in the east of Friesland was the right one for me.
Klaas de Poel and his crew are organizing the event for the 13th time. Once again we managed to entice hundreds of owners of a car with the noble star on the hood to come to Surhuisterveen. But to achieve this, more water must flow through the Neckar than before. Simply put: there are more restrictions than usual, more bureaucratic hurdles have to be overcome. At the same time, you know that you will succeed, and that all the conditions for another great Star Event have been set in stone.
Because that is a certainty that will once again shine in all its glory on September 3, 2023. The party starts at 13.00:XNUMX PM. There are various stands with fast food and drinks, miniatures and other car-related items. And Henk Mulder - Mercedes man through and through - entertains, he welcomes every visitor, even those who come with a brand other than Mercedes. A special spot at the back of the large grass area has been reserved for them, partly because of road works.
Of course, the Mercedes-Benz offering is numerous and diverse. Modern AMG examples, millennium Benzes and genuine classics enter the site with their owners in all shapes and sizes. The site where Asmes Douwes calmly directs the proud owners. In this way, a beautiful and varied Star Ensemble develops within a setting in which croquette sandwiches, beers, cokes and fries help determine the character. No preferred dress codes, sky-high entrance prices, parking costs and very expensive luxury burgers. A few extra cents for a catering snack, the opportunity to buy a sponsored t-shirt as a sponsor: that characterizes the atmosphere that goes so well with the noble, but always intrinsically down-to-earth Mercedes-Benz character.
So they come from far and wide, the proud Benz fans. Often with incredibly beautiful specimens, young and old, old and new, competition or used. Just a few highlights. I don't even have to mention the Pagoda, what a beauty it remains. A beautiful W109 (300 SEL 3.5) captivates, the well-known Dora attracts a lot of interest, an AMG GT shows what Mercedes-Benz is still capable of. And the EVO 2 (from Benz Collector Sneek) on the pavilion: guys, what a charming performance 190 that is. Very beautiful is the W116 (280 SEL), detailed down to the last detail, an incredibly beautiful masterpiece once delivered by Klaas de Poel from the time when the S-Class - more than any other car type - called the shots. That's what you looked at as a kid in the backseat when your old man guided the modest car down the German Autobahn. Today he goes hand in hand with beautiful youngtimers, newcomers, classics and everything that has to do with Mercedes-Benz.
The owners, the organizers, the visitors: they also move figuratively hand in hand across the site. Because what was good remained. The appreciation for each other's Benz, each other's car, for the star ensemble that goes so beautifully with that typical approachable atmosphere: those ingredients are so pleasant to experience year in and year out. The event, which also includes a Lady of the day and a Best of Show, officially ends at 16.00 p.m. Officially indeed, because it goes on until about six o'clock. No one has to leave, and there remains a nice group of people who get along well with each other.
Once again, the hat goes off to the organization. It's the hat that made Star Cars & Coffee my Wheels of the Palace. Without disdain, respectful, friendly, pleasant, accessible. And running smoothly. This also made me feel at home again among the people and the stars, who told me why Mercedes-Benz and the world around it are so close to my heart. In Surhuisterveen this came out - again - in full glory.
