Kerry A "tip of the hat" to you from north of the 49th parallel! Mel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jay King" <j_king@xxxxxxxxx> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, May 10, 2004 12:43 PM Subject: IML: > Hello list, > > I would consider it a personal favor if everyone would take a moment sometime today and turn towards Huntsville, Alabama just to give a nod of respect to Kerry Pinkerton. Kerry embodies the best qualities of this list, helpful, thoughtful, and wonderfully friendly. I bought my Imperial from him 15 months ago. > > My daughter finished her sophomore college exams Friday and I had planned to drive up to Sewanee, Tennessee (about 300 miles) to bring her home for Mother's Day. My '73 LeBaron (known as Silent Bob) was thoroughly checked out and ready for the trip, so son Jamie and I set out Saturday morning at 7:00--a lovely drive, a terrific car, and fresh R134a in the A/C system for when the temperature began to rise. > > We had some difficulty with overheating after about two hours on the interstate, but I expected that. (Has anyone tried "Water Wetter" or similar products in a 440?) > > After negotiating the interstate bypass through Huntsville, Silent Bob died in traffic, exhibiting symptoms of vapor lock, fuel pump failure, or out-of-gas. The gas gauge is inop so I carry a 2.5 gallon gas can in the trunk. Two gallons in the tank and a splash into the Edelbrock eliminated diagnoses (1) and (3), and being in a strange city on a Saturday, I called Kerry. He showed up in about 30 minutes with tools and a fuel pump from O'Reilley's and quickly changed out the pump with some help from Jamie. > > The car was still no-start, so Kerry checked the fuel pump pushrod and determined that it was worn. A few calls determined that no pushrod was available on Saturday afternoon, though just about any parts house could have one by Monday. Kerry then offered to trailer the car to his home and lend us a pickup truck to complete our mission. We gratefully accepted, and quicker than it takes to tell it, Kerry was back with the trailer and his son Chris driving his "spare" pickup. We loaded up Silent Bob, tossed our overnight bag into the truck, and motored on. > > Of course, when we arrived, daughter Lauren had not packed, so we spent the evening packing, moved her things that she planned to leave at Sewanee to a storage locker, and finally loaded up and drove home in Kerry's truck Sunday morning so Lauren's mom got to see her on Mother's Day. We will make a run next Sunday to return the pickup and bring Silent Bob home. Kerry called this morning to make sure we had gotten home safely and to say that he had gotten a pushrod and would be changing it out this week. > > It has not (yet) been my pleasure to spend much time with Kerry, but from our phone conversations and his honest assessment of Silent Bob when I purchased him, I know Kerry is a good guy and a straight shooter. His helpful response this weekend went far beyond the norm of "acquaintance-ship." He saved our bacon on a hot, difficult day, and I owe him a debt of gratitude. > > Thanks, Kerry! I hope you are never broken down on the side of the road in Meridian, Mississippi (or anywhere near), but if you should be, I would be honored and happy to return the favor! > > Jay King > Meridian, Mississippi > <a href=mailto:j_king@xxxxxxxxx>j_king@xxxxxxxxx</a> > > Honey Gold 1973 LeBaron 4DHT > > > ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- > This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please > reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be > shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the > Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm > ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm