Fellow Imperialists,
With the apex of winter upon us here in
New England and our regionally infamous Mud Season so due in between, true
driving weather for Imperial owner's of the Northeast is a longing lust
of hit and run opportunities until after Memorial Day comes in earnest.
Those such as myself who are able to put the car down under roof
cover for the winter in anticipation of a smoother re-awakening come
spring are aroused to ride [as we all are actually] by these
few days where glimpses of warmer climes to come are fed by these days
which are crisp, clear and sunny--and only cold; with few
puddles or only finger-deep frozen remnants of storms now long passed,
with most salt washed away for the time being, and our cars,
our steel and pious human offerings which start so methodically
properly by their owner's knowing and caressing touch, I do believe, ache
for such a road ride as well.
I am fortunate and have covered storage
[unheated], and am very particular about the chemical make up of the various
potions used in with the mechanical fluids left in
various reservoirs/tanks of the '56 for hibernation purposes for ease of
start come spring, as well the mouse/air freshener/dehumidifier
components of her hibernation as related to the interior 'freshness factor
'come spring awakening and prior to her final draping for the winter
sleep. A single day of each winter month I dedicate to gently
starting each of my MoPar's, bringing them to full operating temperature,
as well as engaging the tranny and rolling them within the confines of their
long stalls. And those days are 'painful', as starting and not going
anywhere is humbling. But there are days when all common sense is tossed
and I feel the need to treat the car as it would have been treated upon her
assembly in '56 and then sold to a family who would use it as the daily
driver it was born to be, and that means used in winter.....and though I
take precautions and utmost care, I feel guilty as all heck taking her
out in any 'inclement' weather--this despite the bath/spray wax I have
planned for her upon completion of the ride--, but I do go and what a great
time, for after all, it is just a car, lololol
!
And this overwhelming urge usually
occurs at night when I am finished with whatever project I could
dream up to get me out there in the first place, and I notice how quiet it is
in the neighborhood and how crispy and dry it is out. My '56 starts
without a battery trickle charger and after sitting for months at a time
if I so let her. Last night was one of those starry, full moon
nights and Turq was baying to roam. So after warming her up and moving
the other cars around, I gently pulled her out into the light of
night, and with the heater cranking dutifully and mighty comfortably, I
set out for my ocean loop around Newburyport, Essex,
Rockport, Gloucester and southern New Hampshire beaches and she performed
flawlessly. No coughs when asking for it, and smooth power throughout
the sojourn.
Of course I set out about 7pm and return
about 10pm , and to assuage the ego we all purchased these lovelies for,
I stop at every convenience shop I can and am swamped with the usual
gawkier's, as well as those in awe that I would have her out in New England in
this type of weather. "It's a driver," I tell 'em, and though I
never make a habit of this winter cruising, the trip is always enough
to remind me of what shall come again in spring......the thumbs up
on the way home and the cars pulling over to give me all the extra room among
the snow banks encroaching on the roads is truly a form of redemption of
humanity for me.
Always Imperially,
Jack
1956 Imperial
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