Pebble Beach Faux Pas

I guess I need to write a column on this stuff for our sister magazine, Classic Motorsports, but I will share this with you guys first. I am always nervous out here representing at Monterey and Pebble Beach. Those of you who know me, know I am much more comfortable in a junk yard, than at the Rolex dinner. So last night, I am talking to long time friend and GRM supporter, and west coast Ford P.R. guy, John Clinard. He is standing and talking to another guy as well and I nonchalantly ask this guy, if he too is a Ford Guy. He quickly retorts, “no, I am a Chevy guy... what do you think!?“ John Clinard looks over at me and says, “Tim, I would like you to meet Edsel Ford" After much embarrassment, I end up talking to Edsel and his son, Henry Ford III for half an hour. Hard to believe these guys can be so down to earth.

Lmao! Sounds about right! Ain't you got one of them fancy assistants that tell you who people are at your swanky events!

In reply to Tim Suddard:

No reason to be embarrassed, Tim. It's not like EF2 is the most recognizable face in the room even if he thinks he is.

I'm looking forward to another great write-up and pics of the weekend, too.

Yeah, my fancy assistant last night was Joe Gearin. He can pilot a mean BMW 640, around 17 Mile drive, after I had one too many Scotches at the freakin incredible Mercedes party too.

Good story.
I looked up H. Ford III, this guy?

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090821/carnews/908219996
I am glad to see in this old story from 2009 that they made him spend at least one summer actually selling cars and meeting customers. I think they should also make him spend time in the service/warranty/repair dept.

Imagine being this guy and that much exposure to extreme wealth. I would be hard to be humble.

There was a great story in Autoweek last month about Edsel hiring a guy to buy vintage signs for him at a collector's auction.

It is better to remain silent about junk cars and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt " Fred Sanford"

In reply to Tim Suddard:
I expect better of the publisher of the two preeminent automotive publications in North America. Next year suggest they all wear those stick on name badges, "Hi, my name is Edsel Ford" would have saved you from this shame.

Now you have a story you can tell for the REST OF YOUR LIFE.

Xceler8x wrote: Now you have a story you can tell for the REST OF YOUR LIFE.

Because no one will let him live it down? :D

Haha I probably would have done the same thing. Don't feel bad about offending someone who got offended purely because you didn't know who they were.

You started a magazine from Ground Zero and built it into a success.

He inherited a job.

Game over.

shadetree30 wrote: You started a magazine from Ground Zero and built it into a success. He inherited a job. Game over.

LMAO win!

you should have said, "sorry i didn't recognize you, You're not nearly as ugly as all the other Edsels I've seen"

Without missing a beat you should have said something like,

"Edsel? Heck, I have one of those. Ya'know, sometimes when I let off the gas at highway speeds the engine....why is that? Whats wrong?"

Edsel Ford should be ashamed for not recognizing you.

lightweight, man up and go show your junk at the pool! what you did was a Ford paux maybe?

If you find your self on 17mile drive, drive it the opposite direction they give you on the map.

Lots less traffic.

JRW 1621. Yup, that is the guy. Talked to him at length as well. He was a school teacher for a while and is now at Ford working in SoCal.

Do Not mention the Tiger counter balance weight deal

GameboyRMH wrote: Haha I probably would have done the same thing. Don't feel bad about offending someone who got offended purely because you didn't know who they were.

This.

I probably would have responded that I assumed he was one those Bob Costas who drive slow rusty British crap from the '50's so being a Chevy guy was classier than expected.

Did you tell him you own an Edsel?

dabird wrote: you should have said, "sorry i didn't recognize you, You're not nearly as ugly as all the other Edsels I've seen"

Thanks. I now have to clean my monitor.

Moral of this story? EF III needs a better PR person. It also sounds like he could use a sense of humor transplant.