Dear members, dear regional representatives, dear Unimog friends,

summer is in full swing and the Unimog is certainly in full swing too. Many events are now taking place, a small selection of which you will find here in the newsletter.

MEMBERSHIP ADMINISTRATION

Membership status

The highest assigned membership number is 12,895. We currently have 8,457 active members.

INFORMATION FROM THE BOARD

Digital ClubCard

From now on, the membership card will only be available in digital form. You can find instructions on how to create your membership card in the link below.

https://unimog-club-gaggenau.de/2023/05/05/die-digitale-clubkarte-des-ucg-ist-da/

It is important to note that this must also be downloaded again each year in digital form so that it remains up to date.

Unimog information system

Do you already know our UIS? Here you will find all service information and historical data on all Unimog model series from then until today. You can find this type history on our homepage and in the members’ area. You will need your Clubcard ID (on the back of your Clubcard) and a password. If you have never logged in before, you can request a new password from the office. Simply send an e-mail to info@unimog-club-gaggenau.de.

EVENTS ATTENDED

Friedrichshafen Trade Fair

The “Klassikwelt” trade fair took place in Friedrichshafen at the beginning of June.

We would like to thank all the helpers who supported us at this event.

Annual meeting Sand in Taufers

In mid-June, we were able to celebrate our big annual meeting in Italy. Our invitation was accepted by around 300 Unimog and MB-trac vehicles, some of which travelled long distances. The fire brigade from Sand in Taufers took care of the catering and infrastructure on site. The beautifully situated site with a view of Taufers Castle became a meeting point for all Unimog fans and even the rain and mud on Saturday evening could not stop anyone from celebrating the festival as it fell. Many thanks to all participants, the fire brigade and the tourist office for their excellent co-operation.

Photo: Klaus Lukas

Unimog and tractor meeting in Biberach

At the beginning of July, Gerhard Große invited his regional group to take part in the big Unimog and tractor meeting.

Photo: Klaus Lukas

Regional group Hochrhein/South Black Forest

The Hochrhein/Southern Black Forest regional group held its first Unimog meeting directly on the Feldberg from 12 to 14 July 2024. The Feldberg is the highest mountain in Baden-Württemberg and lies at 1,493 metres above sea level.

Photo: Klaus Lukas

100 years of Henne

Henne looks back on 100 years of company history. This was celebrated with a big anniversary. The UCG was there to congratulate.

Photo: Klaus Lukas

Globetrotter meeting

As every year, the Weltenbummler Treffen took place around the Unimog Museum at the end of July. Among other things, there were lectures and a rally vehicle exhibition. There were 130 Unimogs registered and the weather was perfect for the event.

UVC Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the UVC took place in Goch on the grounds of the historic Gräfenthal monastery from 9-11 August. With around 300 vehicles and over 600 participants, it was a very nice meeting in a pleasant atmosphere. The associated parts market outshone everything that had gone before with its range and size.

Photos: Rainer Hildebrandt

Meeting of the RG Franken Meeting

The first meeting of the RG Franconia was a great start to bring the Franconian region out of its slumber. This RG had been vacant for many years. But Martin Schneider, the new deputy regional representative, organised the first meeting in Waldfriedensee on 10 August.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Annual meeting Unimog Club Italia

The annual meeting is coming up in Italy. This will take place from 19-22 September 2024 in Lido di Camaiore (LU). Information and registration can be found here:

https://www.unimogclubitalia.it/

Outing with Lebenshilfe

As in previous years, the UCG would like to organise an outing for the residents of Gaggenau Lebenshilfe. The event will take place on 06.10.2024. We are planning to take the two club Unimogs and some private Unimogs to Lebenshilfe in Gaggenau/Ottenau to give the residents a short ride. So our question to you: does anyone have the time and inclination to be available as a driver, including Unimog, for this event? If so, please contact the office (info@unimog-club-gaggenau.de). The following procedure is planned:

10.30 hrs Meeting at the Unimog Museum

10.45 hrs Meeting at the Murg Valley Workshops (Pionierweg in Gaggenau/Ottenau)

11.00 hrs One or two trips with the Unimog

Duration approx. 30 – 60 min (depending on how many Unimogs come together).

Afterwards, sausages will be grilled on site. The event is scheduled to end at around 2:00/15:00 pm.

Beach spectacle Ijmuiden

The beach spectacle in the Netherlands will take place again from 12-13 October 2024. All information and registration can be found here

Unimogs and bigger – Unimogs and bigger (strandspektakelijmuiden.nl)

INFORMATION FROM THE REGIONAL GROUPS

RG Upper Bavaria

New elections were held in Bavaria. Hans-Joachim Meyer, who had already founded the RG, was appointed as the new/old deputy. His predecessor Fabian Duschl had resigned from office. We are delighted to see a familiar face again and would like to thank Fabian for his work for the association.

CLUB-SHOP

Summertime is T-shirt time. And so that you don’t have to do without the Unimog at the quarry pond or on holiday, there are T-shirts with the Unimog family tree on them. The cost is 26.90 euros plus postage.

https://unimog-club-gaggenau.de/produkt/t-shirt-mit-unimog-stammbaum/

SCHEDULE PREVIEW 2024

08.09.2024 Northern Black Forest annual meeting

19.-22/09/2024 Annual meeting Unimog Club Italia

06.10.2024 Excursion with the Lebenshilfe organisation

12.-13.10.2024 Beach spectacle Ijmuiden

13.10.2024 Regional group Mittlerer Neckar end of the year

Unimog parts market in Kuppenheim: 14 June 2025 in the morning in Kuppenheim

Our annual general meeting will take place as usual on 14 June 2025 in the afternoon at the Unimog Museum

UCG annual meeting 2025 will take place in 72587 Römerstein from 19-22 June 2025

The latest issue of the Unimog Club Gaggenau members’ magazine “Unimog Heft’l” is on its way to the members. Issue 123 is about, among other things

“The Unimog as a harvest helper”,

“Freedom of direction: MB-trac with Herold additional steering”,

“With the U 500 to the North Cape” and

“DLRG – major fundraising campaign”.

Become a member now and receive the magazine in German or English. More at www.unimog-club-gaggenau.de

Manfred Floruson the occasion of his 90th birthday in 2014 – Manfred Florus on the occasion of his 90th birthday in 2014. photo: Michael Wessel

Unimog pioneer Manfred Florus would have been 100 years old

By a stroke of luck, Manfred Florus passed by the former Boehringer brothers’ machine tool factory in 1949 after a disappointing job interview at the Württembergische Warenzentrale in Göppingen and read a sign: “Labour wanted for the UNIMOG!” – He later recalled: “I looked at the sign and thought: Boehringer was well known in Göppingen at the time and, with around 900 employees, was quite a large company – so what was wrong with stepping into the yard at least once? – Mr Dietrich and Mr Sturm welcomed me there, and I soon got to know their secretary, Mrs Fetzner. – Now everything happened very quickly. I was hired as a labourer for the assembly department and, as was customary at the time, I started work the very next day.” This was the start of a storybook career.

But let’s take a look further back:

Manfred Florus was born on 4 May 1924. After an agricultural apprenticeship with Graf von Rechberg near Göppingen, he studied agricultural engineering at the agricultural college in Hohenheim from 1947. It was there in 1948 that the young student saw a Unimog for the first time. He also recalled this in Volume 1 of “Stories about the Unimog”: “There was no question of love at first sight.

If someone had told me back then that I would dedicate my entire professional life to this vehicle, I would have laughed out loud.” This was probably also due to the fact that the plough deformed during the planned demonstration because it could not withstand the forces of the Unimog.”

His colleague Roland Feix, who had already helped assemble Unimog No. 23, recommended that he also switch to testing. And during the first field trials, Florus succeeded in selling a Unimog to several farmers. His talent was recognised and he was commissioned to carry out demonstrations in northern Germany and win over dealers for the Unimog. A huge success!

“Demonstrate, demonstrate and demonstrate again” continued to be Manfred Florus’ task when he moved with the Unimog and many colleagues from Göppingen to Gaggenau in 1951. He again succeeded in landing many large orders, especially abroad. in 1959, he became Head of Sales Promotion and finally Head of Unimog Export in 1966. In this role, he maintained very friendly contacts all over the world – even after his retirement in 1989. He was also highly valued as a consultant.

Florus was particularly proud of a gold medal he received on the occasion of the 1964 Olympic Games in Innsbruck, as many Unimog and Mercedes lorries saved the Winter Games with their snow transports under his direction in that snow-poor year.

Manfred Florus and his son Christof Florus, then Lord Mayor of Gaggenau, at the presentation of the Federal Cross of Merit to Stefan Schwaab (centre), Chairman of the Unimog Museum Association, in 2012 – Manfred Florus and his son Christof Florus, then Lord Mayor of Gaggenau, at the presentation of the Federal Cross of Merit to Stefan Schwaab, Chairman of the Unimog Museum Association, in 2012 – Photo: Michael Wessel

Read the whole article…

Exhibiting locked vehicles is now a thing of the past! Visitors will be able to experience and feel the vehicles on display.

This year, the 19 brand clubs present at Techno Classica will occupy an area of over 2,000 square metres. Directly at the entrance to Hall 1, the community area extends across the entire width of the hall.

About the Mercedes-Benz brand clubs

The German Mercedes-Benz brand clubs are 20 independent interest groups which, as brand representatives, are supported by the parent company in a variety of ways. Some clubs represent individual model series or models, while other clubs represent vehicle types from several model series in their development over the past decades. The clubs bundle their activities within the framework of joint trade fair appearances at the nationwide classic car fairs in order to utilise synergy effects and be recognisable as a community of the brand. With appearances on exhibition areas of up to 2,500 square metres, they are among the largest exhibitors at German classic and vintage car fairs.

Highlights of the brand clubs in Hall 1 at Techno Classica 2024

One highlight is the Driving Experience: here, visitors to the trade fair will have the opportunity to get into one of the 10 club vehicles available for this purpose and experience it directly and live in a 20-minute drive around the exhibition centre. From the large Unimog to the SL model series of the 1960s and the SLR McLaren, visitors will have the opportunity to experience their favourite car live from the passenger seat free of charge. Visitors can obtain their ticket authorisation at the stands of the R129-SL Club, SL-Pagoda Club, S-Class Club, W124 Club, VDH, Unimog Club and the SLR Club.

Another highlight awaiting visitors at Techno Classica 2024 is the drive-in cinema, a new feature presented by the SL Pagoda, R107, S-Class and W123 clubs. The drive-in cinema promises a unique atmosphere and offers visitors the opportunity to experience the clubs’ classic cars and the Mercedes-Benz brand up close. In the midst of a special backdrop, visitors can experience the fascination of the vehicles in a completely new light.

The Carrera track is not only a place for racing fun, but also a place of commitment for the AMG Club, the S-Class Club, the MVC and the MBMC. The entire brand club community is also involved in co-operation with the Children’s Heart Foundation. On the last day of the fair, we would like to proudly hand over the donations collected from the Carrera track, the Driving Experience and the other activities, as well as the money donated at the club counters, with a cheque to the Children’s Heart Foundation. The clubs will generously top up the amount collected to make a significant contribution.

The activities for the younger visitors are just as varied. In addition to the children’s colouring tables presented by the Unimog Club, the Unimog will also be bringing pedal Unimogs and setting up a parkour of pylons and obstacles. In addition, the G-Class Club offers a crawler course on which technically demanding, remote-controlled off-road vehicles can be driven through. Here, children have the opportunity to experience technical features such as the limited slip differentials live and feel like real off-road professionals.

Another highlight of Techno Classica 2024 is the interactive quiz presented by the AMG Club and the R129 Club. Here, visitors will have the opportunity to put their knowledge of the vehicles on display to the test. The AMG Club will be presenting two special vehicles: the “Rote Sau”, the first vehicle built by AMG, and the AMG GT Black Series, a performance model from the AMG brand. The R129 Club will also be bringing along an extraordinary vehicle: the “glass” SL, in which all technical functions are visible as the vehicle is completely transparent. These unique vehicles not only allow visitors to test their knowledge, but also to experience the technology and design of the vehicles up close.

PS: Most of the brand clubs are happy to open their doors and bonnets to visitors to the trade fair and thus provide special insights – just ask and get in!

Measures and implementation times

Dear members, dear regional representatives, dear Unimog friends,

the days are getting shorter and autumn has us fully in its grip. The pleasantly warm holiday season for the Unimog is over, but that doesn’t mean it has to go into winter quarters. There is still plenty to do for this all-purpose vehicle

MEMBERSHIP MANAGEMENT
Membership
As at 1 November, we had 8,380 members and the highest membership number issued was 12,546

Issues in English and German
The Club magazine has also been published in English since issue 119. If you would like a different language version in future, please send a message to the e-mail address mitgliederverwaltung@unimog-club-gaggenau.de so that this can be taken into account in future. It is not possible to receive both language versions automatically. However, the magazines can be purchased via the Club Shop

INFORMATION FROM THE BOARD
Stolen Unimog World sign
This photo was posted on Instragram on 29 October 2023. The road sign for our Unimog World was stolen from the Unimog Museum, the post was published at midday. The photo was taken from the S-Bahn 8 in the direction of Karlsruhe. Anyone who has noticed anything should please contact us

The photo shows the back. “Unimog-Welt” is written in large letters on the front

Digital ClubCard
The membership card is now also available in digital form. Instructions on how to create your card can be found in the link below. By the way: From 1 January 2025, membership cards will only be available in digital form

https://unimog-club-gaggenau.de/2023/05/05/die-digitale-clubkarte-des-ucg-ist-da/

It is important to note that this must also be downloaded repeatedly each year in digital form so that it remains up to date

DIE GESCHÄFTSSTELLE INFORMIERT
Aufenau annual meeting stickers
We still have some leftover “Aufenau 2023” stickers from this year’s annual meeting. You can order them in the club shop for 1.00 Euro plus shipping. We will donate the proceeds of this sale

Here is the link to the club shop

https://unimog-club-gaggenau.de/produkt/aufkleber-jahrestreffen-2023-aufenau/

Technical training U 406
There is still great demand for technical training courses. The first of a total of 7 fully booked training dates are currently running. Due to the high demand, an additional date has been generated and the total number of participants has been increased from 10 to 12

VISITED EVENTS
50 years of MB-trac
The MB-trac went into series production on 1 July 1973. Reason enough for the Unimog Museum to commemorate the origins, further development and finally the end of production of this Mercedes tractor in a special exhibition. This exhibition was opened in the museum on the last weekend of October and was duly celebrated with an anniversary party. The UCG was also on site with its club shop

Photo: Unimog Museum

Excursion with the Gaggenau Lebenshilfe organisation
Last year was the first and this year it was repeated. On 22 October, the UCG organised a Unimog excursion for people with disabilities. Driving through the Murg Valley and the Black Forest as a passenger was a dream come true. There were beaming faces and enthusiastic people everywhere…and they weren’t just the co-drivers!

CLUB-SHOP
New in the programme is the family tree T-shirt for 26.90 euros (plus shipping)

https://unimog-club-gaggenau.de/produkt/t-shirt-mit-unimog-stammbaum/

UNIMOG-MUSEUM
The Unimog Museum is looking for reinforcements. You can find the exact job advertisement here

https://www.unimog-museum.com/aktuelles/wir-suchen-einen-kfz-technikerin-oder-mechatronikerin-mit-erfahrung-fachrichtung-nutzfahrzeugtechnik/

FORECAST DATES 2024
02-04/02/2024 Bremen Classic Motorshow Bremen
03.-07/04/2024 Techno Classica Essen
25.-28.04.2024 Retro Classics Stuttgart
10.05.2024 RB Conference Museum
11.05.2024 Parts market (in the morning) Kuppenheim
11.05.2024 Members’ meeting (afternoon) Museum
07.-09.06.2024 Klassikwelt Bodensee Friedrichshafen
14.-16/06/2024 Annual meeting Sand in Taufers/South Tyrol

Dear members, dear regional representatives, dear Unimog friends,

we hope you had a good start into the new year. Together with all our members, officers, friends and supporters, we are looking forward to an interesting and varied year with the Unimog and MB-trac.

MEMBER MANAGEMENT

Membership status

Almost exactly two years to the day after the membership number 11,000, we were able to assign the membership number 12,000 at the end of December.

The member is a 42 year old Swiss from Tamins. He is currently restoring a 421 and was given his membership as a birthday present by a club member living in the same village.

With the addition of a member from Pakistan, the UCG is now represented in 49 countries.

Dues collection

At the end of February we will collect the contribution (45,00 Euro). If your account number has changed, please send a message to the office.

NEWS FROM THE REGIONAL GROUPS

Münsterland regional group

We are pleased to announce that the regional group has been re-staffed. Finn Schürmann and Madeleine Henkenjohann are heading it and have already successfully completed their first regional event in the form of a New Year’s reception. Further activities will follow.

Photos: David Endres

Regional Group Saar-Lor-Lux

After many years of voluntary work for the UCG, the regional representative Michael Weyrich handed over the office to his successor Florian Schorr. At the last regional representative meeting we had already said goodbye to Michael Weyrich personally. We would like to take this opportunity to thank him once again for his many years of commitment.

We wish all three “newcomers” a good start in the Unimog world of the UCG and look forward to the coming cooperation.

INFOS FROM THE OFFICE

Remaining places technique training U 411

We are again offering technical training courses at the Unimog Museum. If you are interested in the basic course for the U 411, please contact the office. There you will also receive the exact announcement with details about the course. There are still places available on the following dates:

09.-10.03.2023 (one place still available)

16.-17.03.2023 (still one place available)

EVENTS ATTENDED

Regional Representative Meeting

At the end of November, all functionaries met again for a regular exchange among themselves and with the Executive Board. This time, the one-day event took place in Dreieich near Frankfurt am Main.

Photo: Axel Otersen

Opening Unimog Museum

This event was celebrated for several days. On Thursday, the volunteers of the museum as well as the companies involved in the construction and their employees were invited. On Friday, guests from business and politics as well as sponsors and supporters were welcomed. The extended board of directors and their partners were also present that evening and were able to enjoy the first glimpses of the new Unimog Museum. On Saturday and Sunday the

Were open to all guests. In total, more than 1,200 visitors could be counted. There was something for everyone: music, children’s entertainment and guided tours! Or you could just enjoy the new exhibition.

If you were not able to be there, you are welcome to make up for it. As a UCG member, you receive free admission to the Unimog Museum upon presentation of your Club Card.

On Saturday morning, the museum was ceremoniously opened with the cutting of the red ribbon. The photo shows Hildegard Knoop, Christof Florus, Stefan Schwaab, Rainer Hildebrand (from left) and museum dog Steffi.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Stuttgart Trade Fair 23-26 February 2023

In February we will start with our trade fair appearances at the Retro Classics in Stuttgart. This year, the focus is on the series anniversary Unimog 406. New at the trade fair are the following activities: Ride-along in a Unimog, the photo box and the painting table for our younger visitors. Visit our booth in hall 7 at the Mercedes-Benz brand clubs.

Annual Meeting Aufenau 08 – 11 June 2023

Our annual meeting this year will take place in Aufenau. In the March issue`l you will find detailed information as well as the registration form. If you would like to register now and take advantage of the discounted fees, check our homepage under Events / UCG Annual Meeting. Here is the link:

https://unimog-club-gaggenau.de/category/ucg-news/jahrestreffen/ucg-news/jahrestreffen/

Parts market 15 May 2023

Do you still have a brake disc for sale? Or you are looking for a spare part for your vehicle. Already now you can register for the parts market. You can find all the info on our homepage under Events / UCG Parts Market. Here is the link:

UCG Parts Market – Unimog-Club Gaggenau e. V. (unimog-club-gaggenau.de)

General meeting 15 May 2023

Please make a note of this date already now. The meeting will take place at the Unimog Museum following the parts market. The invitation with agenda will be published in the Heft’l as well as on our homepage shortly.

CLUB-SHOP

Are you cold? How about something warm on your ears and in your cup? And all that with Unimog Club logo? Then our wool hats and mugs are something for you.

https://unimog-club-gaggenau.de/shop/

SCHEDULE PREVIEW 2023

23.-26.02.2023 Retro Classics Stuttgart

12.-16.04.2023 Techno Classica Essen

05.-07.05.2023 Motorworld Classic Bodensee Friedrichshafen

12.05.2023 RB-Conference Gaggenau

13.05.2023 Parts market (morning) in Kuppenheim

Members meeting (afternoon) in Gaggenau

08.-11.06.2023 UCG annual meeting in Aufenau

23.-25.06.2023 South Tyrolean Unimog meeting Speikboden, Sand in Taufers

30.06.-02.07.2023 UVC annual meeting in Bruchhausen-Vilsen

The German recognized Mercedes-Benz brand clubs are 20 independent communities of interest which receive material and non-material support from Mercedes-Benz as brand ambassadors. In addition to clubs that represent individual model series or model types, there are overarching clubs that represent the vehicle types of several model series. The clubs bundle their activities in some places, for example in the context of joint trade fair appearances at the nationwide classic car fairs, in order to exploit synergy effects and reduce individual expenses. To this end, the brand clubs have set themselves up professionally over the past few years and are designing presentations with a total area of up to 2,500 square meters.

As a joint area, the brand clubs will be occupying an area of just under 2,000 square meters this year. Directly at the entrance to Hall 7, the joint area extends across the entire width of the hall. The 19 brand clubs present (out of 20) will be spread across the entire area, which will once again house the gastronomic plaza in its center for catering stand personnel and visitors.

From this year 2023, the clubs will organize exciting measures to further increase the experience factor for visitors and offer exciting attractions for young and old. In addition to three jointly organized measures, the brand clubs also offer several individual measures. The measures are spread across the entire stand area and are visually advertised in a wide variety of forms.

Highlights of the MB brand clubs in Hall 7 at Retro Classics 2023

One highlight is the MBC Club Driving Experience, where trade fair visitors can climb into six club vehicles and experience them live and first-hand in a 20-minute round trip. Visitors to the trade fair can obtain ticket entitlement at the Unimog Club, MVC, W123 Club, W124 Club, S-Class Club and G-Class Club booths.

For all visitors who would like to give a hand themselves, three clubs offer the Pit-Stopp Challenge at the booth of the S-Class Club. Here, two volunteers compete against each other and against the stopwatch in a timed wheel change.

Personal memories of the show can be captured in the photo box on the stand area of the SLK Club. With the virtually embedded backgrounds, trade show visitors will find themselves directly in front of their dream car.

For all those who are interested in lectures with content, the MVC offers exciting impulses around the automobile and the development history of the last 130 years with its lecture corner. 4

As a highlight for the younger guests, there are children’s painting tables at the Unimog Club and a crawler course in the area of the G-Class Club.

And for those who would like to take a seat in a truly authentic vehicle, the Pagoda Club’s “Touch-Me Pagoda” gives them the opportunity to touch and experience a car without any inhibitions. PS: Most of the brand clubs are also happy to open their doors and hoods to trade fair visitors – just ask!

The Unimog Museum will also be present at the UCG booth as every year.

🎙️ First episode: CK Modellbau in conversation with Unimog Heft’l editor Axel Otersen

In the next issue of Unimog-Heft’l – the exclusive club magazine of the Unimog Club Gaggenau – there will be a detailed report about the current Unimog model U 406 Modell Forstumbau and the company CK-Modellbau (www.ck-modellbaushop.de). In advance, this podcast premiere as an appetizer for the upcoming release.

All episodes are available on the website, Spotify and Anchor.
More at http://unimog-club-gaggenau.de/podcast