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The Imperial Effect: In 1980 while attending the WPC
National Meet held in the Seattle area, we managed to get a ride in a
gorgeous 1931 Imperial Dual-Cowl Convertible Sedan proudly
owned, driven and entered by Mr. and Mrs. Ken Durham from Milton-Freewater,
Oregon.
As we exited the parking area, Mr. Durham mentioned that
during the course of his ownership there had been 15 accidents in the wake of
the great machine as people looked.
Within seconds I saw two motorcycle officers spot the
Imperial--start up their motorcycles--then lurch forward together while crashing
into each other--Mr. D calmly said, "like that"--Subsequently the officers
extricated themselves and soon were along side, calling out that they would
escort us anywhere we were bound....upon receiving permission, one took position
ahead and the other astern and off we rolled in a convoy for several minutes of
Imperial presence.....a great memory, indeed!
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 3:21
PM
Subject: Re: IML: Gawker's vs.
Admirer's
Imperialists,
..............I believe Imperialist in no way implies
Elitist, and also certainly no one enjoys the attention more than ANY
car enthusiast who owns a vintage vehicle of any make or model and
receives glory for it..... and a true admirer understands the
etiquette these cars require....."peeved" is being there to
watch them dishonor a car via "gawk" and coming back to find hand prints,
drool, dings in irreplaceable stainless steel side moulding's and bodywork as
drivers open adjacent car doors with no respect despite how far off
in the parking lot you go (in fact someone is usually waiting for me
there to ask questions) , scratches (from "belt buckles and rings" or "nearly
being run off the road by the gawker who then speeds away in embarrassment" as
another member put it), or even 6'8" "admirer's" leaning their 300+ pound
carcass on your masterpiece while they tell you their story
about "the one that got away" and forever crease what was a perfect body
line.....owning cars of special effort and heritage such as ours does not
require us to "owe" anyone else anything in terms of
explanation, expectation or invitation......if one is "peeved" at not
seeing them at car shows, my suggestion is you put your
body, soul, time and monies (and eBay/Hemmings search) into an
Imperial and clean up after an "admirers" once over.....attention or
questions are not discouraged, in fact they are quite usually
appreciated.......and lastly, True Imperialists never hide, we
are MUCH too proud, you just need to look harder.....
ybshore
56 Imperial Sedan
55 NY'er Deluxe Sedan
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