Imperial Events
2000 Imperial
Gatherings
Southern California Imperial Owners General Business Meeting - December 10, 2000 The SCIO had a great event on December 10 at "THE BARN" restaurant & saloon, 14982 Red Hill Ave., Tustin CA 92780 (714-259-0115, on the corner of Red Hill & Edinger). Members were on-site before 9:30 am, under the trees at this "authentically old" facility, right on a very active Amtrak line. This was the viewing place for our Imperials and our Imperial owners were out with the cars for nearly two hours before we headed inside for the "$13.95 all you can eat" champagne brunch. The food was very good and very varied! Those who were there included Dick and Juanita Kretchmer ('62 Imperial), Nannette Clark ('92 Imperial), Dave and Billie Doty, Bob Schmitt and Dawn Saunders ('66 LeBaron), John Lloyd, Irv Axelrod ('63 Imperial), Jay Weinert ('56 Imperial), Brad McDonald ('64 Imperial), June Reinhardt and guest Tony Medyn ('55 Imperial), David Cichelli ('54 Imperial), and Denis and Martha Lardner. After brunch, we had our business meeting, during which all current club officers were re-elected. We discussed the club merchandise, the upcoming Statewide meet and the next SCIO event - likely to be a tour of the J.B. Nethercutt Collection, (San Sylmar car museums) in February. Our newsletter, Volume 1, No. 4, was mailed to all members and SCIO supporters (90+) on November 8. The on-line version is on this web site also. It includes new classified ads and photos. Southern California: Imperial Tour to Riverside - November 12, 2000 John Brauniger sent a report: "I didn't feel very well this morning so I got on the road late and missed the March Museum stop. Anything interesting to report from those who went? Glad most of you were able to make the trip to the Butler Brothers yard, including at least three who drove their Imperials (Norm, Dick, Alison). The weather turned out perfect. Took the full tour of the yard and had an interesting discussion regarding the difficulties of staying in the junk yard business with zoning and environmental regulations and suburban sprawl. Picked up a couple of (hopefully airtight) 15" Imperial wheels and a trim piece." And Dave Doty (SCIO president) also sent a note: "Today we went to March AFB and right into the cockpit of a B-52 bomber, plus all the other planes and attractions. Then off to L&R for a kind of a self guided tour of what was left of a couple hand fulls of Imperials and a few miscellaneous Mopars. Well, I sure had a good time! I talked to Dennis Lardner, Ted Huntzinger & Susan, John Brauninger, Allison Ikeler & her family, Dick Benjamin and Norm Silverman. I believe that was all! By the way, if you need a spare 413, 440 or 354 Hemi I believe L&R has one already pulled." And the original announcement from John Brauninger: I've set up a tour of the L&R yard for next Sunday,
November 12 at 1PM. You will get a chance to meet the Lawrence and Rodney
Butler, get acquainted with their operation, walk the yard, check out the
cars and the parts, etc. If you need a part, you might want to call ahead
so they can have it ready for pick up: the number is 909-940-9281. They
are located at 5008 Patterson Ave, Perris CA. That's east of the 215
freeway (exit Oleander) just south of March Air Force Base. From Oleander,
go North on Patterson about a 1/4 mile or thereabouts to the yard (it's on
the left side if you are heading North). Chrysler & Imperial Fall Tour, October 13-15, 2000 The Northern &
Imperial Owners of Sacramento Valley clubs, with the DeSoto Owners and the
California Chrysler Products clubs, will have a "Chrysler &
Imperial Fall Tour", along the Northern Sierra Highway 49-89-20, a
"Scenic Loop Tour". This will be October 13 - 15. Contact either
of these Imperial clubs for more information. Talon Meet, Fort Worth, Texas - October 7, 2000 Travis reported: Packard & Imperial Meet in Anniston, AL - October 7, 2000 Kerry
Pinkerton has a report and photos on the
Imperial Club web site. In part: I have posted pictures of last year's event online. The deadline for rooms is September 15th. My wife and I will be there with either our 1968 LeBaron
or our 1964 Crown, on Friday (late), Saturday and Sunday. I hope a few
other Imperial owners will not miss this opportunity get their cars out
and meet with some like-minded car collectors. You can also contact Jeff
Carrothers at Jeff@parkdev.com if you have any questions." Southern California Imperial Picnic, Laguna Niguel Regional Park - September 30, 2000 The Southern California Imperial Owners Inc. (SCIO) had a fall picnic on Saturday, September 30, 2000. It was at Laguna Niguel Regional Park, on La Paz Road just a few miles south of Interstate 5. 14 Imperials and their owners, passengers and guests graced the park. We got started at 10 a.m. and, as promised, kept the charcoal going until 2 p.m.! Our reserved pavilion had grills, water & electricity (!) and there was great parking for our cars. The SCIO provided charcoal, condiments and three "surprise" desserts. One informal "tech session" was conducted by Dick Benjamin, as he diagnosed an air leak on Gary Low's '68 carburetor. Everyone had shined up their Imperial, packed favorite picnic makings and shared stories for a great Imperial event! Details and a map were in the current SCIO Newsletter (Volume 1, No. 3), mailed to members in mid-August. This issue included photos from our Vista event in June and a full roster of all members (the roster does not appear in the "on-line" version). The newsletter is also accepting want ads from SCIO members. Placement is free! If you are not a member, your ad of 25 words or less will be accepted on a space available basis for a small fee. Contact the editor. The SCIO membership count is now 79; we believe this is now the largest paid-member Imperial Club. Join an Imperial Club to support these great cars! New members and Imperial fans are always welcome! Southern California Imperial Event, Vista - June 25, 2000 The Southern California Imperial Owners Inc. (SCIO) had a nice event on June 25, 2000 at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, 2040 N. Santa Fe Ave., Vista, CA (Phone: 760-941-1791). Full announcement details are on page 3 of the SCIO May Newsletter (Volume 1, No. 2). This on-line version now includes photos from our SCIO March event at the Palm Springs Air Museum and the Robert Pond car collection. 2nd Annual Midwest Imperial - June 10-11, 2000The Imperial Club has a report from Mike Trettin and photos of the Midwest Imperial meet. This was the announcement:
17th Annual Imperial Statewide Meet, 2000 The location for the 2000 meet was Modesto, CA, original home of George Lucas and "American Graffiti". This annual meet is traditionally held on the first weekend of May, and this year the dates were May 5 - 7. The Imperial car show was May 6 and the host club was Imperial Owners Association of Sacramento Valley. Here is an early report!The events included an Imperial caravan to the Hershey Chocolate Visitor Center and Factory in Oakdale, a poolside reception on Friday, the Imperial car show and Awards Banquet on Saturday, Sunday morning brunch and another Imperial caravan to the Hilmar Cheese Factory. Join one of the California clubs listed below to receive detailed reports AND support these groups which put this great event on every year! Hope to see you all next year in Solvang! 4th Southern Imperial Meet - May 20, 2000 Elijah Scott (escott@mail.gcsu.edu) announced this year's Southern IML Meet in Atlanta, Saturday, 20 May 2000. It was to be the fourth meet that has been organized in Atlanta. The meet is NOT be a formal or judged show, but rather a gathering of Imperials, their owners, and anyone (with or without an Imperial!) who enjoys these cars! All Imperials were welcome to share experiences, information, knowledge, and the general enjoyment of the Imperial experience. This meet was a GREAT chance to meet fellow IML'ers and the cars that you read about each day. Elijah's announcement of the availability of videos (and the meet) is here. First Annual Pacific North West Imperial Gathering in Florence, Oregon - May 20, 2000 This was the announcement for this event:
Southern California Imperial Palm Springs Event - March 25, 2000 The Southern California Imperial Owners, Inc. gathering on March 25, 2000, including a meeting and tour to Mr. Robert Pond's car collection, was absolutely great! We had a bunch of Imperials in the Museum driveway and nearly 40 club members and guests.The event started at the Palm Springs Air Museum. After guided tours of the aircraft and displays, we enjoyed a picnic lunch in the hangar "food court" and a short business meeting. We caravanned to visit the large private car collection of Mr. Pond at his "Pond de Rose" estate. About 10 Imperials met at the Air Museum at 11 a.m. Here is further information. More details and photos are in the SCIO June 2000 newsletter. The February 2000 newsletter of the Southern California Imperial Owners, Inc. includes news of this event and our newly-revised by-laws, which are to be approved at this meeting. See the section below for information about joining the SCIO club. 1999 Imperial Gatherings The Southern California
Imperial Owners, Inc. had a great meet on December 5, 1999 at the Los
Angeles Maritime Museum, San Pedro. I counted 15 Imperials in the
parking lot at one point, so thanks to all for making the drive and
sharing your car and stories with all of us. There will be more reports on
the meet later, but one story about a "cosmic coincidence"
deserves breaking-news status. On May 1, 1999, Visalia, California was the site of the statewide Imperial owners meet , where you could have seen the largest gathering of Imperials in the known universe this year! Two other Imperial meets were held on this day also. A report on the May 1 Nebraska and Southern meets (Atlanta), and reports and details of the California meet (and an old entry form), are at:
Last update: 1/10/2001 Send e-mail to me at: |