Not Fond of IMOA

[frdwrnch]

I just recieved my info packet for the IMOA and have seen a couple of posts about merging MM.Net with them. Personally, I am not fond of this idea and want to share my experiences over the past year regarding this group.
Last April as I was making arrangements to go to Dearborn MI. for the Ford 100th Anniversary Celebration I contacted Jerry..., the president of IMOA to inquire about sharing hotel and show area w/them in my new Marauder. I was advised that I would have to join the IMOA in order to do so. This did not settle well w/me because it did not express the spirit of comaradarie that we share on this site. As a result I did not participate.
Last fall I entered my MM with the local IMOA group at the September Autofair at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC.. Not only were we excluded from judging and awards without explanation, the show coodinator did not introduce himself or show any appreciation for our participation (there were 5 mm's in attendance). As a result I don't plan on showing with them this Spring.
This site is a wonderful resource. It expresses good and bad points of purchase, service and ownership of these vehicles. The common thread is regardless of this, just about every one loves this vehicle. I want to share with others who can appreciate this. I don't think the majority of IMOA members can relate to us. I know I'm being negative but I feel compelled to share this experience and opinion with you guys so you can be informed.

[teamrope]

I am also in a local car club that puts on 2 shows a year, and members of the club are not eligible to have their cars judged. The reason we do our show this way, is because we have been to other shows in our area, that the host clubs cars get all the trophies.

IMOA requires that you be a member to even get in the show, a different approach to the problem of non-club members not getting the trophies.

From what I understand, to be judged, you have to have classic Mercury, meaning over a certain age. I can understand to that. Due to the rarity of our cars, perhaps if enough of us join the club we can persuade them to change.

[frdwrnch]

Please don't misunderstand me. It's not about getting trophies. I'm sitting in a room full of them right now. It's about attitudes. I was not made to feel welcome or wanted.

[Hack Goby]

The Motor City gang is getting together tomorrow to talk about this and getting our club started.I just want to hang with the guys like I always do.But if you guys join the Merc club does that put the Crown Vic guys on the outside looking in?:depress: :bigcry: :alone:

[greyghost]

This group has more pizzaz than most other organized clubs. If this group merges with the IMOA it will probably fall apart in a year as it will take a back seat to the other members that have been in the IMOA for years and have a 1930 or 40 something Mercury and doesn't want some new fangled doowop invaiding their territory. I have been involved with different clubs for over 50 yrs and I would be willng to bet money this will happen. As long as the car is in production I feel their should be a Marauder Club and that we have our own events coordinated with others but, we should not be a subsidary of their organization. I know it looks easy to merge with an organization already established but, are their goals our goals??

I went to the metro Atlanta breakfast today and had a great time. Thanks to all that attended. Yes the Turbo car was impressive. I didn't ride in it but I didn't see it going any faster than our S/C cars that have a built bottom end. There will always be the discussion about Turbo vs Blower and they both have pros and cons.

Anyway the breakfast was unique we even had Crown Vic guys and an Impala SS. The conversation was on performance both power and handling with a little polishing and look nice thrown in.

I look forward to the next MMMA (Mercury Marauder Metro Atlanta) breakfast next month.





I am also in a local ar club that puts on 2 shows a year, and members of the club are not eligible to have their cars judged. The reason we do our show this way, is because we have been to other shows in our area, that the host clubs cars get all the trophies.

IMOA requires that you be a member to even get in the show, a different approach to the problem of non-club members not getting the trophies.

From what I understand, to be judged, you have to have classic Mercury, meaning over a certain age. I can understand to that. Due to the rarity of our cars, perhaps if enough of us join the club we can persuade them to change.

[merc406]

I missed any thread that mentioned we may merge :baaa: and would think we already have quite a following here that would make one hell of a club, I made mention of us being made into a club yesterday. :beer: I know of a few forum's that are run nice, but they don't get together like the people of Marauderville did last year. :rock:
I don't know anything much of IMOA except what is on their website, I didn't think they had much going on.

[MM03MOK]

From what I understand, to be judged, you have to have classic Mercury, meaning over a certain age. I can understand to that. Due to the rarity of our cars, perhaps if enough of us join the club we can persuade them to change.Where do I begin......this is not a merger of MM.Net and IMOA. Each has its place and they are not mutually exclusive. We now have the best of both worlds: a great website, thanks to Logan, great info shared and great friends; and a Mercury-recognized organization that benefits us for sanctioned Marauder OR Mercury meets, among other things.

Please understand that there's lots going on behind the scenes to make sure IMOA understands our needs. In fact, one of our Members has been named to the Board of Directors of IMOA. I'll let him make that announcement. We will not get lost or overshadowed.

Thank you all for sharing your concerns. Some others might have had the same thoughts..... We're all still on a learning curve. Rest assured, this will all work out to our benefit!

From "Clubbin" with the IMOA -01-07-2004, 04:54 PM

IMOA gives us structure and support as needed. It gives us the opportunity to share this wonderful car with other Mercury enthusiasts. We're already meeting as groups of Marauder owners around the country. We'd be doing the same thing if we only belonged to IMOA.

As Marauder owners, we represent a chapter in Mercury history not yet documented and QuickSilver is a perfect way to share our experiences. We have our own identity within IMOA. While IMOA has a message board, little pertains to our cars at the moment, but we can change that, to help educate other Mercury owners.

I'm not at all suggesting we abandon MM.Net. MM.Net will always be our means of cyber communication and our cyber Home. MM.Net brought us all together and can only get better. We can still have our own dash plaques for IMOA@Indy.

Whatever the label, we're Marauder/Panther owners and enthusiasts that have made friends across the country and across the borders. The more opportunities we create to meet one another, the better it gets!!<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->From "Clubbin" with the IMOA - 01-08-2004, 03:20 AM

Listen up, y'all...Joining the IMOA holds us back from nothing and improves everything we have here at the MM.net right now.

The IMOA has also had to make some changes in their structure to accomodate/assimillate us "new Marauder" owners that come on board with them.

Rules they live by were written to shape, form and build a Mercury Owner's club that fit their needs 10 years ago.

We did not exist then, and even when we first appeared on their radar a year ago, they knew not what to make of us. Are we truley genuine Mercury owners? Or, are we just dressed up/disguised police cruisers? Cheap town car left-overs? It has not been any more clear to them, as it is to us. If you think your selling dealer has been confused, just you wait.

Meanwhile, Jerry Robbin is their founding father, and much like our respected Logan here, Jerry speaks for the IMOA at large. Jerry Robbin promises us full membership, all "classic" restrictions are removed, or, adapted to meet our needs. Full membership benefits are 35 bucks away, with one exception.

No one in the IMOA knows how to judge our cars. If we participate in the IMOA's International Show on July 31, '04, we will have to agree/appoint/select our own judges. Other than this, we are full IMOA members, and their paperwork will get eventually be updated, corrected and repaired, as we continue to be IMOA members.

This "new Marauder" element establishes a new "chapter" in IMOA history, and IMOA structure too. The way I see it, everything we have going for us here at the MM.Net continues in forward growth without a hitch, it can only get better, yes?

We have our own web site now, which is better that the IMOA site, and we have welcomed older Mercury models from day one. We may see new members here, after we meet them in Indy and this is good, yes?

[FordNut]

I have mixed feelings. I don't particularly like the idea of having to join IMOA in order to participate in MM II. I would like to see the classic Mercs at their show but don't believe our cars really fit in with them.

Sort of like '55-'57 Chevy and '65-'70 Mustang drivers don't really fit in the "Street Rod" scene (which is restricted to pre-'49 cars, so my Dad's '49 Caddy was not even allowed to participate). But they're still great cars.

The Marauders fit in with the Mustang crowd because they have a common powertrain and because the 'stangs are both old & new, stock & mod, any ford-powered vehicles are accepted by most folks. Many of the mods that are applicable to late Mustangs will also work on the Marauder, so vendors at the Mustang events will probably have something useful for us.

But, things change. When I first contacted FFW shortly after getting my Marauder, they were very negative about anything non-Mustang. That attitude changed dramatically as time went by, to the point we had MM I in conjunction with their Ennis FFW meet. Maybe the attitudes at IMOA will change too.

[Murader03]

Let me put my spin on this. I was a member of 2 different clubs during the time I owned my 2 Cobra's. One club was most strictly performance bound, the other more your every day driver kinda club, I'm still a member of one although I no longer own the Cobra. The other club required ownership, and as soon as the Cobra was gone, the membership terminated at renewal. Once a member of the other, as long as my dues are paid, always a member. They both have/had thier own car shows with the trophies and stuff. I wasn't in to the show bit with all the judging. I don't have the time to keep my MM in like new condition. It's a daily driver, 5-6 days a week. I can participate in any of the events put on the club I have remained in, regardless of the brand of car I own. Again, I could care less about the trophies. It's about people, and sharing a common bond with others, "CARS", "People", "Performance", "PEOPLE"!, you get the picture! I'm sure we can all find a common goal here, to promote the fellowship of automobiles. After all, that's what brought us altogether here on this site. If we can't comingle with the IMOA, then we just go on our merry way. If we want to be a part of the Indy meet, well, I've spent money on other things less important than being at INDY with our group. If I don't like the group after the years up, then I just won't renew. It's not unusual for a club to require membership to take part in their events, so be it. I want to meet others MM owners, both old and new and the price of admission is reasonable to meet others with a shared common interest! :rock::rock:

[Marauderman]

Well, I too have mixed fellings about this whole thing.
My first reaction was NO-- don't want my MM associated with OLDER/CLASSIC Mercurys--for it is not one of them!!!

Then as I heard and read some of our members post both hear and in person, I keep switching back and forth--pro--then con--etc.,-
Overall though, it boils down to the price of tank of gas for a year to see just what it brings to us and for us to be members of an "outside" club.. and that is how I'll probably look at it--for I too am gonna be leary until after the MM II meet. So that being said, I have a suggestion:

I , maybe others as well, do not know the specific instructions we should do with our "package" per sa... have heard several different instructions--so
could those instructions be placed/posted on the front main menu for the initial duration of this so called sign-up ---as to what to do and by when and where to send what to whom...and what to hold off doing and calling till such and such as been completed..........my .02 ...Tom

[CRUZTAKER]

When I first heard that Bristol wasn't set in stone, and the IMOA meet in Indy was a choice....and leading the vote, I posted the following, and was quickly squared away:

The poll is running.......and swifty's on the roll...

We all need to remember this is the National MM meet.....it should be at a venue where we will actually make a statement.

In all respect to the IMOA, how exactly do we fit in there besides owning a mercury? I've seen their shows, what are we gonna do?
....I see it now...a '52 monarch, an '03 MM, a '55 montclair, an '03 MM, a '65 colony....etc. and so on. Exactly how do we compete? As far as judging and awards, we don't classify as restored collectibles...hell, our cars are brand new! Maybe, I say maybe, there will be an '03 class....oh joy.

Scenario:

INDY: Coffee, rocking chairs, blue hairs, nappy time, bathroom visits, sitting parked in a grassy field, old cars that haven't run a quarter mile in a quarter century, metamusal, nappy time, bathroom visits, more coffee.....

BRISTOL: Beer, racing seats, lack of sleep, tech visits, more beer, time trials, turning heads, lack of sleep, awesome quarter mile times, more beer, more turning heads, eating mustangs, winning notoriety, and asphalt baby!!!......

I find it hard to believe that the largest contingent of supercharged MM's in the country would rather 'park' their cars in a grass field with a bunch of collectibles over showing the nation of fast fords what we can really do.

So what's it gonna be? :sleepy: OR :banana:

I came to reality, and decided not to make any judgements, and go with the team, ie. MM.NET.

Therefore, when I saw this post, I read carefully, and see that there are others out there with questionable feelings, apparently 'in the closet'. I commend you for voicing your opinion.

My feelings are (at this time), I will not make ANY judgements until I see, and participate in MV-II, and moreover, see how their members treat us.

Everyone who knows me, knows me, and if something goes awry, I'll let them know know...in person, while it's happening.

Let's hope it all goes well, if not for the sake of MY sanity, for the hundreds of MMN folks that are gonna come. :rock:

[uwsacf]

We sorta went thru something like this with the ISSCA national Impala SS club not to long ago...

While we partner with the older Impalas which are more like our 94-96 vehicles... and they have their own club...as does IMOA....

We allow anyone with like iron in our clubs -

this includes Caprices, Roadmasters, Cadillacs and early vintages Impala SSs.

However, we keep our own identity and separateness as a 94-96 B-Body Impala SS club because of our uniqueness and the camaraderie we all enjoy....

Something we will be faced with in the near future as Ford comes out with the 500 and it's variations is - do you allow them in???

GM approached ISSCA this summer with them offering limited support to our Club in exchange for our endorsement of the new Wimpala SS!!!

Their big offer was to put our literature in the glove box of each new Wimpala SS sold...

hmmm, mighty generous of them, don't you think...????

We sorta felt that since they abandoned us as owners - like yourselves - of large rwd American muscle - we surely wouldn't endorse such a blasphemy that GM is calling the NEW Impala...

After much discussion by the membership - we declined... both their help - and the endorsement...

We do however, allow the Wimpala SS membership to local clubs as they choose to do.

Lately, we are partnering our monthly meetings with the ImpalaSS, the CV crowd - and have invited the local MM owners....

I think we have more in common together - than we ever will with the Wimpala or perhaps the 500 fwd...

Just thought I would offer this as another angle to consider..

[greyghost]

We sorta felt that since they abandoned us as owners - like yourselves - of large rwd American muscle - we surely wouldn't endorse such a blasphemy that GM is calling the NEW Impala...

After much discussion by the membership - we declined... both their help - and the endorsement...

We do however, allow the Wimpala SS membership to local clubs as they choose to do.

Lately, we are partnering our monthly meetings with the ImpalaSS, the CV crowd - and have invited the local MM owners....

I think we have more in common together - than we ever will with the Wimpala or perhaps the 500 fwd...

Just thought I would offer this as another angle to consider..

Well put and it sure has echoing sounds that could happen to us.

[Logan]

WOAH! Hold the presses gents! This site is most certainly NOT merging with anyone. No one's sent me a check to buy my interests from this site, so please, let's not start something where there's nothing thanks.

Regarding Marauderville II, Yes, we'll be there at indy in conjunction with the IMOA because it's a natural fit and should be a great time. The IMOA is committed to changing it's tune regarding the 03 and up Marauder owners and I support that idea, I think it's great.

But, IMOA will never have any influence over how I manage this site and just because Marauderville II will be in conjunction with them in July, doesn't mean we won't be doing Marauderville III back on FFW turf.

In short, don't worry about it, I'm not insane, it's all good and you can trust we'll be sure everyone has a good time, at a reasonable cost.

As for Joining the IMOA to attend Marauderville II, ummm That's ridiculous. At FFW you had to pay $30+ to get into FFW, so what's the difference, except that at Marauderville II, you'll be joining a large car club and receiving a cool magazine!

I don't get it.

Don't diss the IMOA until you've been and gone from Marauderville II and have had some personal experience with how it's going to be run.

I'm locking this thread because it's absolutely ridiculous to think I would consciously wreck what's been created here...