Скачать или смотреть USA: PEARSONVILLE: WORLD'S LARGEST COLLECTION OF HUBCAPS

(19 May 1996) English/Nat

Although Pearsonville in the California desert is barely a speck in the landscape, it has its very own claim to fame.

The town's founder is the proud owner of the world's largest hubcap collection.

140-thousand shiny metal caps have made Pearsonville "The Hubcap Capital of the World".

Once upon a time, it was a place for golddiggers out to make a fortune.

But in today's Pearsonville, all that glitters is not gold.

Lucy Pearson, the 70-year-old founder of the little town in the Mojave Desert, has dedicated her life to collecting and preserving hubcaps.

SOUNDBITE:
"Some people say which one do you like better and I really don't know because I like all of them. I wash this one up and I say I sure do like that one and then pretty soon I wash another one up and like that too, so I really don't know which one I like best."
SUPER CAPTION: Lucy Pearson, Founder of the World's Hub Cap Capital

It is a rather unusual hobby, but for Lucy, dogged determination has paid off.

When her husband suffered a stroke, years of hubcap collecting helped to pay the bills.
Like every passionate collector, Lucy hates to part with her treasures.

But recently, she made 350 US dollars by selling a cherished pair of Rolls Royce hubcaps.

She comforts herself in the knowledge that they went to good owners.

And then, there's the flourishing T-shirt business.

Her entire family pitches in to support her passion.

SOUNDBITE:
"At Christmas time I get this great big box, I automatically know what is in it: a big box of hub caps from the kids... They bring them to me, they go to yard sales and bring them
to me. I enjoy that, I think its neat."
SUPER CAPTION: Lucy Pearson, Founder of the World's Hubcap Capital

Pearsonville is so small that map officials have ruled it too insignificant to even remain on the map.

But Lucy and other residents feel their town deserves better.

Lobbying efforts are under way to recognise the "Hubcap Capital" for its unique contribution to the automotive world.

While a layman might consider the collection a curiosity at best, some of Lucy's caps are real gems to the knowledgeable eye.

People travel from afar in search of just the right cap - and more often than not they are not disappointed.

Some of these hubcaps have not been produced for decades and are almost impossible to find anywhere else.

Lucy has no plans to retire.

SOUNDBITE:
"My son built this great big building to put hub caps in and he said 'mum, if you ever get old we'll just get you a wheelchair and you can just tootle round....' so that will be alright. The kids are backing me all the way."
SUPER CAPTION: Lucy Pearson, Founder of the World's Hub Cap Capital

This precious metal cannot be stored away in a safe.

But there is lots of room in the Mojave Desert and the Pearson family's home is surrounded by hubcaps.

And whether its on or off the map, as long as Lucy Pearson is around, Pearsonville will remain a very important place - at least to some.

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