Following a successful National Board Meeting in beautiful downtown Sacramento, the StarTech Registration Desk opened, staffed by knowledgeable and helpful local members doing a great job to make the StarTech participants feel right at home, right away. The spacious vendor area, conveniently situated across from the Registration Desk was the ‘Home Base’ for StarTech’s Welcome Reception and informative Vendor Display/Trade Show area.
Mercedes-Benz Classic USA had an impressive collection of exquisite model cars, informative literature and a stunning black 540K Cabriolet B, with royal provenance, in original condition as when it was donated to the Mercedes-Benz Museum in 
Stuttgart in 1960 (and fewer than 860 miles indicated!).
Pictured next to this fabulous piece of automotive art and history was a friendly face familiar to many Portland Section members, Alex Smith. In the photograph, Drew Smith and Group 3 EuroParts Sales Manager Alex Smith are standing by the 540K and just in front of the extensive Group 3 EuroParts trade show booth, featuring Mercedes-Benz maintenance and repair parts, model cars, and accessory items imported directly from Germany.
It seems that a considerable number of Portland Section members journeyed south to Sacramento just to take in the informative presentations and purchase items from the tremendous Group 3 Europarts Sales display. Some StarTech participants had sent their orders by either FAX (503) 788-7022) or e-mail- info@Group3EuroParts.com to avoid loosing any valuable time to the throngs anxious to snap up yet another bargain from Group 3 Europarts Sales Manager, Alex Smith, who can be additionally reached by voice at (503) 788-1928.
Additionally, one of the highlights of this year’s StarTech was an opportunity to actually get behind the wheel of what amounts to a real ‘car of the future,’ the NECAR. This Fuel Cell powered car’s emissions amount to little more than water. It is very quite as the only mechanical sound is created from an air compressor needed to increase the fuel cells’ efficiency. This is very impressive technology.
