World’s Oldest Rally Navigator

By Pete Vack

Ninety-five-year-old Frank Shaffer recently placed third in the Fools Rush in Rally in Central Virginia, navigating in the same 1958 Mercedes Benz 190 sedan that he had purchased in Germany when new, and currently owned by Mercedes enthusiast and driver in the event, Chip Hughes.

Now if that’s not a record, it’s close to it. And if not a record, then a damn good story in any case. And if not a good story, then at least an inspiration for the rest of us. Here’s how it happened.

Hughes knew the 1st annual Fool Rush In Rally rally was coming up. He was a long time supporter of the Central Virginia Section of the Mercedes Benz Club of America sponsoring the event. He thought it might be nice to get one of his cars ready and run the rally.

There was only one really good choice, a 1958 classic ponton-bodied four door Mercedes. Not fast but comfortable and weatherproof.

He gave it a thorough inspection. The car had won a first prize after Chip had it painted and freshened up: it still had its factory clutch after 193, 000 KM! Although it paled in comparison to the 230SL and 1938 170 Roadster in his shop, it was still a classic Mercedes.

Chip thought for a moment. He needed a navigator. What about Frank? Seemed like a good choice. Frank had been a member of the Mercedes club for as long as he could remember and had owned one great Mercedes after another since he gave up driving sports cars. Course Frank and cars went back further than that, as did his family. In fact, Frank’s great uncle Doctor Carlos Booth had a car constructed to his design at the dawn of the automobile in the late 19th century. Frank’s motorized adventures began after WWII on a BSA motorcycle, using it for trips to the Watkins Glen Grand Prixs during the street years. Then onto MGs and Volkswagens and by 1958, now working overseas for Sears (you do remember Sears, don’t you?) Frank was ready to take a step up and bought a beautiful 190 Mercedes Benz four door sedan in Germany. The car he ordered, a diesel, was not in at the dealer when he arrived in Frankfurt. He thought about an Alfa or Appia instead, but the dealer said he could have a gas model and $2500 would cover it. He bought it and headed south to Italy.

Frank eventually sold his 190, and a few years later it ended up with Chip Hughes. A two owner Mercedes was always a rare catch. Chip met Frank at a local car show, where Frank was able to identify the 190 as his old one, and noted that it didn’t have the original, non sealed beam headlights. Frank had the originals and gave them to Chip. They’ve been friends ever since. The ex-Shaffer 190 was ready for the rally and Frank would be the perfect navigator. He called Frank and they made arrangements to meet at the New Kent courthouse the day of the rally. True to the marque, Frank would arrive in his 2005 Mercedes 240.

As Frank settled into the 190’s passenger’s seat, he dropped his pen, and as he reached down to get it he noticed the carpet. The original mat was still in place and it brought back memories of that trip to Italy in the then-new car. There was a hole in the mat, made by his wife’s high heels as she instinctively would ‘hit the brakes’ when Frank was driving in Italy. “We’d go through these small towns and the locals would see us and yell, “ Bella Macchina!” Cars in Sicily were were still a novelty back then…the local Doctor may have one but no one else.” And of course since there was very little traffic, one might drive a bit faster then. Hence the heel marks in the floormat.

There was no problem following the rally directions, it was not a TSD but turns were marked in miles, ‘Turn left in 2.8 miles’ which was fine for a normal car but Frank’s old Mercedes was in kilometers only. Chip said he used an app on his smartphone to convert kilometers to miles for the TDS section. Frank relates, “It was accurate to about a tenth, so not too bad. Rally was not timed with checkpoints. Went perfect…we missed the color of a house and didn’t put the name of the church. Came in third though.”

How does Frank do it? Not sure, but when we tried to call him to nail down a few details, there was a long message on his recorder. “I can’t come to the phone right now, as I’m on the road with Colleen, headed for Ohio for a few weeks. I’ll probably take the train back and do a walk on the Mall in D.C. Will return your call later.”