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Sunday, September 25, 2011 : Twelfth Annual Picnic

Picture from the Imperial Party now online

NEW : Newsletter Winter 2010 online

President’s Message from Marc Hampton. May 31 2011

Spring has sprung here in Southern California, I know this because all my allergies are kicking in, and the heat is starting here in Palm Springs. This is the time of year in desert living where we put our Imperials away for a few months, old cars and high temps don’t go well with each other. The nice thing though about living in the desert south west is we get to play with our Imperials for about 9 months, where in the mid west and back east, the season for playing with the collectable is during the summer months, which can be about 3 to 4 months. So as I let my Imperial hibernate and get started on the plans for next years Statewide Meet, I want to invite all members to participate in the up coming years invents, which will be itemized here in this Presidents Message.

At this time I am thrilled to pass on the news about this years Statewide Meet, hosted by the Northern Cal Club, the (NOANC) in Pacific Grove. I drove my 64 Imperial and glad I did. The opportunity to drive my Imperial on the 17 mile drive was not only fun, but spectacular, the picnic lunch was fantastic and the hospitality night was full of camaraderie, good food and wine, making the entire day a pleasant one.
Saturday, show day, was an unexpected surprise, Dave Labhard was able to get a portion of Light House Ave, one of the main streets in Pacific Gove closed, and what a crowed of appreciative pedestrians who enjoyed our lovely Imperials. My thanks go out to Dave and the team that organized this lovely show for us. The awards dinner was spectacular, great food lots of great raffle items, and fun for all. At this point I would like to say something about the Imperial that won not only best of show, but peoples choice. THIS frame off restoration of a 61 LeBaron was done to the nines, all the gold trim on the Imperial LeBaron was 24 carat gold. Dan Caruth is one of the most incredible enthusiasts for this Marque, and totally deserved all the attention that LeBaron brought him and the awards it gathered. My thanks go out the Dan for bringing such a wonderful example of our beloved Imperials to Pacific Grove and for his infectious enthusiasm for this Marque. But now having said that, what a wonderful turn out of Imperials with HIGH quality restorations like John and Susan Swensson’s 55 red and white coupe and the fantastic 57 coupe owned by members of the SCIOI and last years best of show, Art and Rosin Robbins, as well as drivers like mine that looked like they are straight out of the show room. John and JR’s 56 Limousine was a great addition to the flock of bird hood ordainments gracing that main street Light House Ave, in Pacific Grove.

We are changing the location of the Annual Picnic in September, from Laguna Niguel to Temecula. This is an attempt to get us off the I-5 so as to meet up with less gridlock. There will be more info on this event in a flyer coming to you soon. And there will be another flyer out for our annual business meeting, to be held in Temecula as well.

Next years Statewide Meet will be held in Ventura, the host hotel is the Four Points Sheridan, room rates are set at $119 a night, comes with a full HOT breakfast and free parking. The hotel is right on the harbor where a host of restaurants and bars are with in walking distance. This event will be held the last weekend of April 2012 the 26 to the 30th and again, more info on this event is forth coming.
Marc Hampton

VERY SINCERELY, Marc Hampton, President SCIOI.