MCA Annual General Meeting, May 31, 2002 during All-Ford Nationals MCA Happenings The club’s annual general meeting will be held in con- junction with Carlisle this year. The meeting will be Most bang held at the Radisson Penn-Harris hotel on the evening for your bucks of May 31. Exact time and place to be announced at the Everyone who has desired Carlisle showfield on Friday. to improve the performance of an XR has always wondered which is the “right” way to go. 2002 Ask 10 people and you will get 12 opinions. Everyone be- lieves they know the best way. I can speak from experience and by “wasting” a great deal of money by not understand- Screamin’ yellow zonker ing how to approach the sub- ject. Just about every often self-appointed “expert” gave me the scoop, nearly all of it What turned out to be wrong. wavy, cracked, chipped, full Based on experience, here’s of air bubbles, seams on what I’d recommend: happens them were poorly joined 1. Buy Corky Bell’s book together, and the arches “Maximum Boost” and under- needed to be cut and stand how to improve perform- when you ground to fit. We ance in a turbocharged fixed all of the engine. strip down imperfections 2. Aftermarket parts. Learn what aftermarket parts are in the fiber- available; get information from and start glass parts the manufacturers including which was dynamometer sheets. Make very time sure their product was the only over consuming. addition made to the test vehi- Then we cle otherwise you won’t know primed and how much improvement the wet sanded product was worth. them also. To 3. Big exhaust. Next, install a full 3-inch exhaust system, By Attila Nyiradi install the preferably in stainless steel Euro lights, we with a performance catalytic My started had to cut out converter. The difference as a $300 dent- the old head- between my Borla 2.5-inch ed up used and light brackets dual-exhaust system and the abused . and welded in full 3-inch literally was night When I handed the new ones, and day. over the money it which also need- 4. Intercooler. Next, get an was time for the ed some modifi- appropriate sized air-to-air intercooler not mounted in the fun to begin. First cations. engine compartment or behind we took the car up to The car was the radiator. As Corky Bell where I work to rip out that now finally ready points out, a small intercooler old tired engine. From there where it was needed. for paint. is not better than no intercool- we took the car up to our My intentions were to Originally the er. Make the connecting shop “Dreamin’ Xtreme” make it look like an original car was going to tubes as straight as possible where we first had to clean , or as close to it as be yellow but while and eliminate turns and con- out and then paint the whole possible. We started by weld- looking through the nectors wherever possible. engine compartment. After it ing up all the rivet holes for paint book for different 5. An improved boost con- troller would be next. was painted, we dropped the the cladding and shaved the color alternatives, one color 6. An air fuel meter to see if brand-new engine, including rear license plate lights by cut- caught my eye: citrus yellow. the car runs rich or lean. the full 3-inch exhaust, T3/T4 ting them out and welding in This was probably the most 7. A dyno test to determine hybrid turbo, ported intake a piece of sheet metal. obnoxious and brightest color how the car is running and if and exhaust manifolds, pol- Since we couldn’t get an welded up to accommodate in the whole book. it’s running rich or lean. It is ished all aluminum pieces, original Cosworth hood at the the fiberglass RS500 wing. The shell and fiberglass critical to ensure that the chromed pulleys and other time we had to go with fiber- The front bumper support had parts were then painted and engine is receiving enough miscellaneous parts. We fin- glass louvers. We cut holes in to be removed to make room readied for reassembly. fuel. By the way, dyno test ished bolting it all together, the hood for the louvers and for the RS500 front bumper. After the body was put back after every major change to determine if it was worth and with the engine finished, did the body work to to fix Then it was time for the together we moved on to the spending the money. moved on to the body work. any cracks and air bubbles body work to begin. We fixed bare interior. We started off 8. Sky’s the limit: Roller The car was stripped down they might have,. Then we all the dings, dents and weld- with new black carpet, redid cam, big-valve head, larger to the shell, including glued and molded the louvers ed any imperfections in the the headliner, painted the injectors, larger fuel pump, bumpers, cladding, interior, into the hood so there were body. After that the shell was dash and all other plastic mass air, EEC-tuner, etc. lights and so on. From there no seams. On to the hatch, all primed and wet sanded. pieces black. As for the seats I — Dave Weiner we took the car down to origi- of the original double spoiler The fiberglass pieces we got chose, Corbeau Targa RS rac- nal primer and bare metal mounting holes also had to be were hideous. They were ing seats in dark and light grey to match the original rear seats. Then we reuphol- stered the door panels with black material and with inserts to match the light grey in the seats. We didn’t want crank win- dows so we also installed power windows in the car as well. Keeping the 3-hour drive to Carlisle in mind we installed a Pioneer stereo Before: Hillsborough, head unit and new speakers N.J.’s Attila Nyiradi’s all around. early-model XR, right, Then we added a set of 17" before he began work. Enkei RS6 wheels with Approximately $10,000 Yokohama 40 series tires. later, his car is winning Over $10,000 dollars, we trophies at car shows. finally made it to the 2001 All-Ford Nationals in Carlisle. Citrus Yellow: Paint was sprayed by Steve Novak. Plans for 2002 Carlisle Nyiradi says he looked for the most obnoxious color We are installing Ford he could find. The engine Sapphire tail lights and High compartment is detailed Intensity Discharge head- with the same color. lights. We also will make custom door panels with molded in speakers. In addition, there will be insane engine work by PM (Phil Marshall) Motorsports including a custom intake, intercooler, blow-off valve and other goodies. We’ll also install a few engine dress-up pieces, bushings and some other pieces from Phil Dorsey at OPMD.

Super clean and one of a kind: You’ll find 17-inch Enkei RS9s shod with Yokohama 40-series rub- ber all around. Note that the cladding has been removed, the rivet holes filled, and a Cosworth RS500 wing plus Cosworth grill added. Fiberglass hood louvers exhaust all the hot air underhood generated by a much-breathed on engine by PM (Phil Marshall) Motorsports featuring a custom intake, 3-inch exhaust and inter- cooler. Miles of Merkurs: You won’t find anyplace with more Merkurs than the All-Ford Nationals at the Carlisle Fairgrounds in Carlisle, Pa. How to prepare for Carlisle

From the perspective of a imagine extra points being judge at two past Carlisle What is so special about Carlisle? awarded if anyone still had Merkur gatherings, here are their original inner fender some tips on how to prepare The All-Ford Nationals is one of the goals. They are not able to put personali- liners. Or even part of them. for the Saturday show-field largest car shows in the USA. It is of par- ties aside and celebrate their own marque. judging. ticular interest to Merkur people, since I remember what a Fairlane club official 9. Bring back the original Ford made our vehicles. said two years ago. “You,” he said, mean- black of things like door For low-key competitors Carlisle gives the Merkur community ing Merkurs, “have no right being here or handles and mirror sur- the opportunity to show the world and winning, Ford doesn’t make your car any- rounds, etc., by using a prod- 1. Wash the car. Or, if you that we are still a more.” I replied “Do they still make Fair- uct made for that purpose. have a long drive to Car- viable group of enthusiasts. lanes?” He never answered, just sputtered You can also use it on the lisle, bring your car-cleaning Unlike other Ford brands, notably and walked away. body cladding. materials. You’ll find a car Mustangs, T-Birds, Continentals, and oth- We hope that the Merkur community wash area upon entering the ers there has always been a special unity will never reach that stage. It would be a For all competitors fairgrounds. They provide when coming together at Carlisle. shame to lose the camaraderie that exists hoses, water, etc., you pro- Whether under the IMON banner or MCA where ever we get together. Carlisle is the Do the judges a favor: vide suds, cleaners, elbow banner the main thing to remember is special event that makes us the envy of leave the car unlocked, the grease, etc. that it’s about Merkurs — XRs and Scorps. the Ford world — let’s keep it that way. hood raised. You get points Many other Ford makes have fragmented —Dave Weiner deducted if the hood is 2. A good coat of wax at into different clubs with diverse views and Merkur Club of America closed and the judges can’t least helps protect your in- look into the interior. And vestment and makes the car make up a window poster a bit shinier. Any number of let it sit for a few minutes, mixture on underhood rub- with all the things you’ve brands are good ones; per- use a parts brush on the ber-type stuff (hoses, etc.) 5. Clean the windows. done to your car; this helps sonally, I use Meguiar’s. The stubborn areas, and spray off and on tires, shift boot, etc. I Clean both sides of the win- the judges also by helping important thing about wax is with water. Avoid high-pres- use leather cleaner and con- dow. Another tip: Roll the them decide which category to clean the car thoroughly sure sprays. Afterwards, wipe ditioner on the leather up- windows down just a smid- (stock or modified) to place beforehand. Do small areas down any visible problem holstery. Clean the floor mats geon and clean the last quar- the car in. They’ll be looking at a time, do it in the shade areas with more cleaner and with the same carpet sham- ter-inch of them (where they for things like upgraded on a cool car (that’s cool then start the engine and poo. Doing the floor mats roll up into the frame). brakes, 3-inch downpipe, temperature . . . all Merkurs warm it up until all the several times might be dual exhausts, intercoolers, are cool by nature!), and steam dissipates. called for. If you have a cloth Tips for serious entrants: etc. Yes, some of these things wipe off the wax after it’s interior, vacuum thoroughly are obvious but others aren’t. dried to a haze. Use clean 4. Clean the interior. Buy and use an upholstery clean- 6. Polish the headlights, Note special items like very soft clothes (old bath towels some carpet cleaner at auto- er. Wet a cloth lightly with turn signals, taillights with low or very high mileage, work well, so do old sweat- parts store. Follow directions your 50-50 mixture of vinyl plastic cleaner and polish. one-owner, four-wheel disc shirts). I’ve also had nice re- on the can. Your carpets will protectant and water and brakes, exhaust upgrades, sults by using one of those look better, smell better. wipe down the cloth sur- 7. Use a can of flat-black special gauges, upgraded cleaner “clays” before wax- Vacuum first. Use a small faces, then follow with a dry or semi-gloss black paint, tires/wheels, 426 Hemi, etc. ing. That clay really does paintbrush to clean air vents, cloth. I read this in a profes- paint the plastic cover that The judges also give points leave your car’s surface a lot around dials, gauges, etc. sional detailing book some- goes over the gas tank. for display: Mirrors under shinier, cleaner and slicker Wipe down all vinyl surfaces where. Also use the 50-50 the car, models displayed in (good for more top speed?). with a protectant. One pro- mixture to wipe down all the 8. Remove the wheels and the trunk, brochures/adver- fessional detailer suggests rubber door seals, etc. (or use spray the same paint on the tisements/ posters, etc. 3. Clean the engine com- using a 50-50 mixture of silicone spray applied first to inner fender liners (assum- partment. Warm the engine, vinyl protectant with water; a cloth, then to the rubber). ing you still have fender lin- If you have an original protect the distributor and this dulls the shine a bit and After applying the stuff, go ers). You’ll need to mask off electric antenna that still coil with plastic bags, spray makes the vinyl look, well, back over all of it with a dry the cladding/bodywork to works, you may win a prize on a quality engine cleaner, more natural. Use this same cloth and wipe it down. prevent overspray. I could automatically. : ) One Kwik Kanadian XR By Ian Glyn-Jones Ontario, Canada

• The paint is 2 months old. Color is ’75 Corvette Bright Blue Metallic in Sik- kens Base/Clear. Mono color w/maroon accent molding. • Engine is all-new. Per- formance built by Missis- sauga (Ontario, Canada) Engines. Modern Perfor- mance intercooler, Turbo Coupe VAM, EEC Tuner, ported intake & exhaust manifolds, MP big-valve head and roller cam, new turbo with Grand National compressor wheel, 42 lb. injectors, all new ignition parts. Full 3-inch exhaust sys- tem with mandrel-bent downpipe, cleaned and flowed injectors with an ad- justable fuel pressure regula- tor, Walbro in-tank pump, re- cently rebuilt turbo, a Hall- man boost controller, run strictly on synthetic fluids after break-in. • All-steel three-core radia- tor cooled by a 16-inch Hay- den electric fan • Brakes are all new with cross-drilled rotors, “Green Stuff” Kevlar pads, braided- steel flex lines. Upgraded to an 1988 brake booster and master cylinder. • Rear disc-brake conver- sion • Suspension is all new with Spax Sport springs, Spax struts and shocks, Powerflex polyurethane bushings, Cosworth front and rear sway bars, new ball A consistent blue theme: Looking beyond the obvious blue paint job, you’ll find Cosworth accents front and joints, front and rear strut rear, Euro lights, anodized (yes, in blue) strut tower brace, intercooler tubing and extremely well detailed inside tower braces. and out. Ian Glyn-Jones’ XR started out as a 1986 model but now has been fully modernized. New HD LUK clutch assembly and short shifter pod in center dash vent area. from BAT, T-5 conversion • Kenwood AM/FM/ Cas- • New CSA six-spoke 15x7 sette stereo with Kenwood rims w/custom center caps. amplifier and sub woofer, a • New Pacemark GT Uni- Sony 10-disc compact disc directional tires. in sizes changer. 205/50/15 front and • Was dyno tested at 225/50/15 in the rear. Carlisle with 211 HP at the • Full Cosworth RS500 rear wheels (250 at the fly- body kit from MC Rally of wheel) with 245 lbs/ft. of tor- the United Kingdom. que. Soon to be dyno’ed due • New Euro headlights and to some changes. (estimated fog lights with clear front to be approximately 270 hp and side signal lights. at the flywheel). • Mint Raven leather interi- • Car has been appraised or and dash with a white at $11,000 by Classic Car gauge overlay; three-gauge Appraisals in April 2001. How to install extra gauges By Richard Curtis Flashing- Step One: Buy the gauge lights panel (or gauges). I opted for AutoMeter water-tempera- Mounting ture and oil-pressure gauges hardware for about $110. You face the choice between mechanical Water-temp and electrical gauges. I chose sender electrical, which eliminates any coolant or oil lines into Gauges the driver’s compartment. Step Two: Read the direc- tions that came with the gauges. Then remove the “flashing lights” panel (two Oil-pressure Brass sender screws) that surrounds the adapters clock and car diagram. Photos by Richard Curtis How it looks finished: Installed in the dash, all you Step Three: Remove the What you’ll need: The water-temperature and oil-pres- lose by this mounting is the clock. The “flashing lights” clock (four screws), discon- sure gauges, senders for both, various adapters. still flash, the car diagram is still operational. nect the electrical connector and add the clock to your either to find a hole already backside of the lower intake the bracket into which the cools everything down to storehouse of extra parts. in the firewall, or you’ll have manifold, the infamous “pur- coolant hose is attached in 195). Step Four: Take the flash- to drill one through which ple-ring sensor” is where I order to make room for the Or, two, you can remove ing lights panel, turn it face you’ll run the electrical con- chose to install mine). new sender. I used the Tee the purple-ring sender from down on your workbench, nections to the gauge sen- anyhow to get the new sen- the lower intake manifold and cut a piece of plastic, ders. I used the hole through Installing the oil-pressure der high enough to avoid and install a 3/8” NPT brass aluminum or other material which the speedometer cable gauge sender contact with the EGR tube. tee ($3.50). Then you can slightly larger than the hole ran (on the firewall beneath Even then, it was a tight fit. install the purple-ring sender left by the clock. Glue or oth- the master cylinder). You’ll Step Nine: First, remove Once installed (make sure into one of the openings in erwise attach this panel to have to remove the rubber the EGR tube from the EGR everything is tight, or else: the tee and the new temper- the backside of the flashing grommet. Although you can valve (one large nut; I used a Oil Leak! Ask me how I ature sender into the other lights panel. Set aside to dry. reuse the grommet, there is 1” wrench) and then remove know this), simply connect opening. You’ll need a 3/8” Step Five: Once the glue a spare grommet included the EGR valve (two 13mm the wire to the top of the NPT “close nipple” ($1.20) to has set up, place the panel with each gauge. The grom- bolts). Remove a single new sender. Now your oil- mate the Tee to the lower face-down on your work- met protects the wires from 10mm screw that secures a pressure gauge works. I got intake. Hook up the wires bench and cut two 2” diame- being cut by the firewall bracket that holds a coolant about 65 pounds of oil pres- and now your new water- ter holes for the gauges metal and keeps any noxious hose that comes across the sure. Several Merkur owners temperature gauge will work using a hole saw (I’m assum- fumes from the driver’s com- rear of the valve cover. Then have confirmed this is nor- also. ing you bought 2 1/16-inch partment. remove the oil-pressure mal at cold idle. After the I bought the brass Tees, diameter gauges). Be careful Directions call for using switch (on driver’s side of engine is warmed, pressure plugs and close nipples at a to locate the holes exactly. 18-gauge wire. Cut a piece engine, at extreme rear of drops to about 50 lbs. local hardware store (about Measure twice, cut once. long enough to reach from the cylinder head). You’ll $11 worth). Step Six: Insert and secure the oil-pressure switch, need a special socket for this Connecting the water- Altogether, this project took gauges into the panel using through the firewall hole, ($5 at any auto-parts store). temperature gauge about six hours, and some of the hardware included with underneath the dash, to the I tried to install a 1/4” NPT that was just merely being the kit. gauge. brass tee ($3.50) that would Step Ten: You can do careful, taking my time and Fish the wire through the allow me to use both the either of two things. One, figuring out what to do (and Making connections firewall hole. I then fished it original oil-pressure switch you can disconnect the wire some of it was redoing some OVER the steering column and the new gauge (see running to the purple-ring of those things like trying to Step Seven: You’ll need to to the underside of the lower photo). Sadly, there is no sender and simply attach the get the oil-pressure brass Tee find a wire inside the “flash- dash. You can reach through room for this in any configu- new wire from the new installed so that I could also ing lights” hole that is hot the hole left by the “flashing ration (believe me, I tried gauge to the purple-ring use the original oil-pressure when the ignition is turned light” panel, and grab the them all). The space is just sender and reconnect the switch; sadly I couldn’t make on. I used the hot lead to the wire to complete fishing it to too tight between the cylin- original wire to the purple- that work). If I had known clock. I also used the ground the back of the gauge. Se- der head and the EGR tube ring sender. initially how to do this wire to the clock as a com- cure the wire leads at several (maybe if I had done this What happens is that your installation, the project might mon ground for the gauge places with nylon ty-wraps. while the engine was OUT original water-temperature have taken 2-3 hours instead. lights and the gauge Make secure connection to of the car, the outcome gauge will read extremely I hope this helps you grounds. Hook up the con- appropriate post on backside might have been different). low but your new gauge will install your gauges. Then nections per the diagram of the gauge. Run a ground The new gauge sender is read correctly (at least mine you’ll know more accurately included with the instruc- wire from the gauge ground so large that it contacts the did, showing around 180 what’s happening inside your tions. Test that the gauge to a known engine ground. EGR tube in such a way as degrees in normal highway engine and engine compart- lights come on when you Do the same thing with to prohibit installing the driving, rising to 210 for pro- ment. turn on the ignition. the wire from the coolant- EGR tube into the EGR longed stops, at which point Step Eight: You’ll need temp sensor (on driver’s side, valve. In fact, I had to trim the engine fan comes on and Scorpio collection: On the street in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Kuettel has owned 39 Scorpios, 10 XR4tis.

“This German-built Ford sedan who had no idea what he was buy- competes admirably with the BMW ing, yet found a key under the seat 500 series and the mid-range and drove it off! (not far, but that's Mercedes — that cost at least another story that has appeared else- $10,000 more. The front-engine, rear- 39 10 where). This time I was simply trying wheel drive model features European to prevent some other poor sucker ride, aerodynamic looks and great Magic numbers& for North suffering a similar fate. comfort. Price: $25,414 including It was hard on my conscience, but automatic transmission, leather seats, somewhat liberating and cleansing to moon roof and a trip computer. Max- Country Merkur collector gain access to my latest Scorpio, not imum dealer discount: at least 10%.” by lying on my back in the muddy lot and trying to reach up past the “The 10 Best the 60K warranty, for $7,900. radiator fan to pop the hood release, New-Car Values” Expecting a perfect car for that but rather to spectacularly blast out a Bottom Line magazine, price, I was not yet aware of the rear window with a hammer. June 15, 1989 lenience expected of a Scorpio owner. I let 11-year-old Drew have the first So the poor car spent most of it’s whacks, but he couldn’t even scratch By Paul Kuettel first month of my ownership at the the glass. It took me three tries, but Flyoverland, Minn. dealer as nit after nit was picked and the laminate finally succumbed in a the Ford warranty system was thor- shower of crystals. March 29, 2002: I just helped the oughly abused. Traffic citations, various repair towing guy slide my woebegone 39th The idle was not quite steady, it receipts and some personal mail Scorpio off his flatbed. Got it at the hesitated on cold mornings, it oozed gleaned from the shard-strewn interi- St. Paul Police Snowbird Auction for a bit from the front seal, the tranny or of “Scorpio No. 39 — Burgundy” $55, so now I have spent another $57 shifted too abruptly, a couple of dash just assumed its place in the newest for a two-mile trip to dump yet and switch lights were out, a door folder in the back of the drawer. another fluid-leaking eyesore in front speaker sounded scratchy, the coolant I wonder what became of Scorpio of my palatial inner-ring suburban How a man with 39 Scorpios temperature idiot light flickered, the No. 1? Sold it many years ago. ’50s rambler. looks at the world: Paul Kuettel, steering was notchy on center, the air For my latest $112 investment I So I suppose it is time to start the well known to the IMON mailing conditioning didn’t blow cold can at least replace the broken tail- story of my perverse decade of list. enough, the driver’s seat heater didn’t light lens on my current 5-speed Merkur addiction. work, and much, much more. daily driver. I’ll unscrew, cut, pry off It all started in 1992. By then, the Motor Trend magazines in 1983. I I have copies of many bitch letters anything else that comes off easily, last of the ’89 brass hats had disap- was driving a 1980 Fiesta Ghia at to the Dealer, the District and the and the same towing guy said it peared from the Lincoln- lots the time, and could better afford Home Office in my file cabinet, in would only cost me another $30 to and they were starting to come back three car magazine subscriptions the fat folder labeled “S1 — Bronze.” get rid of it next week. as 60K, end-of-warranty trade-ins. For than a Merkur. As a German No. 39, as an abandoned Anyone need anything? some reason there was an abundance Guy I was intrigued by the XR4ti, vehicle, didn’t come with a key, and of Scorpio demos and rental cars but was never much interested in some so-and-so locked the doors to Paul Kuettel is a self-described dumped in the Twin Cities of Minn- them, a personality defect that re- keep potential bidders discouraged. large, middle-aged Scorpio fan and esota. I remember them being adver- mains to this day. When the sneak Just to be sure of a low price, there computer consultant from Flyover- tised as late as Spring, 1991 for previews of the Scorpio started to was a fat guy going around showing land, i.e., St Paul, Minnesota. $18,995 and have since heard that appear in ’85, however, I began sali- looky-loos the “tibbie” key that Since 1992, he has owned 39 they were going for as little as $13- vating. would have to be cut just to get into Scorpios and 10 XR4Tis. He’s current- $14,000. By Fall ’92 I was ready to take the the car, let alone see if it runs. What ly down to 16 Scorpios (three of I had been interested in FoMoCo’s plunge. After losing out on a few, in a dink. which are 5-speeds) and two XR4Tis. Merkur experiment since the pre- the range of $8,000-$12,000 I finally In my defense, two weeks before I He has attended four of the past six views of the XR4ti started appearing purchased an ’89 Antique Bronze had just lost out on one at the same Carlisles and will be there again in in Car and Driver, Road &Track and Metallic beauty, with 59,785 miles on auction to a poor Somali immigrant this year. Northern Virginia Merkur Larsen gets the honors as Owners group the most dedicated member, again arriving all the way The temps couldn’t be from Martinsburg, W.Va. in much colder with a brisk his totally restored ’89 XR. wind under clear sunny Rob McDonald drove in skies greeted NOVAMOG for from Germantown, Md. in our March 10 meet at Six his recently purchased Rosso Flags, Md., to watch the Red ’87 XR, looking great Chesapeake Region of the and with the most excellent Porsche Club of America donuts. Damien Alexander, hold its spring autocross. ’86 XR, Richard Curtis, ’89 Earlier NOVAMOG meet at Dave Planakis’ shop: 10 Merkurs and their owners Five XRs showed up along XR and Rich Franco, ’89 XR. gathered on a sunny early-Spring Sunday morning to swap stories. with two members coming The parking lot of the out in their beater cars (Dan autocross was nearly a full Dunn and wife in his white blown car show in itself with gras, VWs, Subarus and even utes to complete the event at our website at ’97 Mustang GT and Eric every model Porsche makes a few Mustangs thrown in. NOVAMOG schedules a www. geocities.com/nova- Scuderi stylin’ in his late- represented along with a The course was longish with Gathering once a month. mog model Cadillac). Greg smattering of , Inte- most cars taking over 5 min- Check out the photos from

Northeast Ohio meet: Despite cold and rainy weather on April 21, 17 Merkurs and one XR4ti-2.3-powered Ford Ranger showed up at Papa O’s Pizza in Barberton, Ohio, according to Merkur owner Mike Oyler. At one point, he says, Scorpios actu- Steven DuChene at the Atlanta meet: A group of ally outnumbered XRs. Merkur owners from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri and Merkur owners recently gathered at a local SCCA Michigan were in attendance. Kevin Otanicar showed up with his ‘86 XR with only autocross event. There were three XR4tis and one 22,000+ miles Oyler says Otanicar’s XR looks fresh out of the dealership show- Scorpio in attendance. The group will be trying this room. The group is planning another Gathering in the fall. summer for a gathering at Ed’s Dyno shop.

Southern California Merkur Owners

A terrific group of Merkurs was seen at the Fabulous Fords Show on April 14, 2002 at Knotts Berry Farm in Los Angeles. The show is hosted on an annual basis and has over 600 Ford, Mercury and Lincoln cars arranged according to class across a large parking lot across from this major amuse- ment park. In addition, Ford Motor Company provides major displays on the SVT line, and usually celebrities are available for additional promotions. This year, Carrol Shelby was signing autographs and promot- ing his line of new Cobras. Before the car show, a number of Merkur own- ers met at a local restaurant to talk shop, see who had spent the most time preparing their Merkur, and having a quick breakfast before the show. At the show, there were about 11 XRs and one Scor- pio total this year, about the same as last year. We were listed under the “exotics” class, wedged Fabulous Fords Forever: among the Merkur owners at this Southern California show were among NASCAR, drag racers and Panteras. Allan Slocum, Ed McCaslin, J.P. Lorrain, Revere Jones and Steve Kummerfeldt. The Merks were in various stages of restoration, from Allan Slocum’s highly modified dark blue amount of engine compartment comparisons when the exit gates to watch the cars go by. Willow Springs XR racer to Ed McCaslin’s beauti- reviewing this car. After the show, the local SVO club hosted a get- fully detailed Rosso Red XR. But the highlight of One of the best thrills of the show is actually together at another local restaurant. Most of the the group was a real 1986 black Cosworth RS500. leaving the gates and roaring down the streets Merkur group met for one last time before dispers- The car was imported from Germany to a family with a Cobra on one side, a ’50s T-bird on your ing to the get beyond to start preparing for next in British Columbia, Canada, who hauled the car other side and a convertible Fairlane behind you. A years show! down to attend the show. There was a significant large number of spectators line the streets out of — Steve Kummerfeldt Jon Lofquist bought his first XR4Ti in their home in Bryon, Minn. is 1,000 tious with maintenance and has a folder November 1987 and, until an unfortu- miles, Jon has been three times and with every service record. After 40 nate incident with a deer five years ago, Carol twice. years in St. Paul, Minn., he moved to One-owner has been driving it since. His daily Jon’s uncle, Bill Boeck (right above), Rochester, Minn. and decided it was driver now is an ’89 Radiant Red XR just celebrated his 90th birthday in time to pass the car along to Jon (above Scorpio with Raven leather. The ’89 is in great early May. In 1988 he was shopping left), who is thrilled to add it to his condition with just over 100,000 miles. for a new car and had pretty much fig- family of Merks. stays in the His wife, Carol, drives her ’87 mono ured he’d buy a Taurus. Luckily, he Over the years Jon has also been for- Diamond White XR (at least in the took a Scorpio for a test drive and now tunate to meet with other Merkur own- summers) with 93,000 miles. They the Chestnut model with Raven leather ers at Fab Fords in Southern California family have stripped the original interior from interior sits in his driveway. Turns out, and Bay Area Merkur Owners in the Carol’s XR and replaced it with a beau- it was one of the first Scorpios in the Bay area. In addition, he hosted a tiful Raven leather interior with match- U.S. with a build date of February 1987, Minnesota Northstar Merkur gathering ing headliner. and has only 37,600 miles on the odo- on May 11. Although the trip to Carlisle from meter. Uncle Bill had been conscien-

Contacting MCA Merkur Club of America Membership application form Why you should belong to MCA: Board of directors The Merkur Club of America was First name MI Last name founded as a nationwide, independent Saul Rivkin, president association of owners and enthusiasts, [email protected] dedicated to the preservation and Street, Apt. No. enjoyment of the and Paul West XR4Ti. [email protected] City State or Province Postal (Zip) code Our goal is to provide Merkur owners with the opportunity to participate in Newsletter editor organized events throughout the year. Email Home phone Work phone Our schedule of events will include car Richard Curtis shows, autocross, track, rally (fun Referral: How did you rides), swap meets and social events. [email protected] hear of the Merkur Club 6032 Makely Drive of America? These events will be designed to pro- Fairfax Station, Va. 22039 mote camaraderie, family involvement Tick here if you do not Type of membership Complete form and Saul Rivkin and technical support to our members, want your name listed send with check or Merkur Club of America and to educate the general public on in the member directory [ ] Individual ($30) money order made 130 Pennhurst Road the unique styling and performance (accessible to members [ ] Family ($40) out to MCA: Spring City, Pa. 19475 qualitys of the Merkur marque. only): [ ]

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