WALKING FOR A CAUSE Four Mercedes-Benz Parramatta staff members took on a 50km trek through Sydney’s north shore as part of the Oxfam Trailwalker on 24-26 August. Bec McCormick, Jake Zarb, Jovan Radevski, and Molly Quirk took on the challenging trek, aiming to raise $2,000 in support of Oxfam’s work to eliminate poverty. The team juggled busy work and social calendars to train in anticipation for the event and emerged unscathed, but with slightly sore legs. “It was a lot of fun and the challenge brought us together as a team,” says Bec. “Jake has completed the event in the past and encouraged us to form a team and give it a go this year, and I am glad we did.” The Trailwalker event has two categories: 50km and 100km. This year, the Mercedes-Benz Parramatta team walked the shorter track and they plan to take on the full-length course in 2018. ThewalkersbeganattheBobbinHead picnic grounds, travelled through Ku- ring-gai Wildflower Gardens and into Garigal National Park. They passed through Davidson and walked on to Middle Harbour Creek, along Middle Harbour, and across the Flat Rock Beach. The event finished at Tania Park after the team traversed Ararat Reserve and the Engravings Track before crossing Burnt Bridge Creek to head onto The Spit. MEON NEHRYBECKI DEALER PRINCIPAL AND CO-OWNER CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND? I grew up around the motoring industry. My father, Henry, was a Lamborghini dealer for 30 years, and I got my start as an automotive technician with the family business. After that, I started as a salesman with Mercedes-Benz, where I later graduated to sales manager. I harboured an ambition to own my own dealership and the first step was learning how to run one, and that opportunity came at Mercedes-Benz Campbelltown, where I stayed for six years. I took up an offer from my current business partner, Greg Scott, to take a stake in Mercedes-Benz Parramatta and it has worked really well. When I think about where we are today, I pinch myself. WHAT IS IT ABOUT MERCEDES-BENZ CARS THAT SETS THEM APART FOR YOU? Mercedes-Benz is the benchmark, as the brand pulls together safety, comfort and performance like no other. Growing up around Lamborghinis, Maseratis and Ferraris, and then working on them as an automotive technician, has provided me a strong insight into what makes an exceptional vehicle. I firmly believe that Mercedes-Benz has the best cars on the market by a significant margin. WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? My family is my greatest inspiration – my wife Lee, and children Eliza, Mitchell and Patrick. They motivate me and they inspire me every day. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACHIEVE AT MERCEDES-BENZ PARRAMATTA? I am driven to make Mercedes-Benz Parramatta number one across the board, and that is in every business unit: service, parts, new cars, pre-owned and guest experience. There is an opportunity to provide an experience like no other here at Mercedes-Benz Parramatta. We have achieved significant growth in the past 10 years, and I aim to continue that growth. WHERE DID YOUR PASSION FOR MOTORSPORT DEVELOP? My father was a motorsport engineer with Lola in the UK and worked with Frank Matich here in Australia. We went to racetracks all over Australia during my youth, and Bathurst was the highlight. Those years left a lasting impression. CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE CLASSIC MERCEDES-AMG 190 E SEDAN THAT YOU ARE RESTORING? The car was one of a pair that started in the German DTM championship in 1986, after being part of the first race win at the new Nürburgring. Helmut Marko brought the cars to Australia supported by Bob Jane, where they competed with mixed success, including several times at Bathurst. The cars were in a barn in the United States for years, and I was tipped off to an online ad for their sale. Andrew Miedecke, who drove one of the cars at Bathurst, owns one, and I own the other. These cars are a very significant piece of history for Mercedes-AMG in Australia, and I am glad to be able to play a part in bringing them back here as assets for the brand, and for motorsport fans in this country. ON THE FLOOR 33