January 20, 2003

Dear Model T’ers Everywhere,

At our last meeting on January 8th we had 28 folks that participated in electing our new officers for 2003: Mike Story, President; Jack Mahaffey, Vice President; Marquise Patton, Secretary; and Wanda Johnson, Treasurer. All of our officers from 2002: Mike Story, President, Jack Mahaffey, Vice President, Marquise Patton, Secretary, and Angie Schneider, Treasurer -- were thanked by the membership for the hard work they had contributed in 2002. Mike Story was presented with a genuine Ford Model T Coil that had an engraved plate that said "The President That Put SPARK In Our Club" – he thanks all of our members for their participation and adding all of the rest of the coils to our coil box that really makes this club run! My thanks to Angie for keeping care of the "juice" that keeps our club afloat, Marquise for keeping track of where we have been and where we are going, and Jack for keeping the "engine" running! Its been a good year and we look forward to an even better 2003.

Each member of our club helped to stuff goodie bags for our car show and volunteered to help in one way or another for the show. I would also be remiss if I didn’t thank Wanda Johnson, our Social Director, and all of the ladies who each meeting provide us with scrumptious snacks – You are all belles of our T’s that adorn each event and each car!

Presentation was also made to our Driver of the Year for 2002 – our very own Jimmy Centrella, III, who drove his 1914 T Speedster, and made all of those Model A guys envious – even if he was late for the competition – late for the meeting, late for …. You have Eastern Standard Time, Eastern Daylight Time, and we have Centrella Time! Way to go Jimmy!

Richard Fortner presented two tips for his January Vintage Ford Gleanings:

When you’re drilling in an area where you must catch the chips, wrap a magnet in terry cloth and place it as close as possible to the drill tip.
When you have the head off, put the number one cylinder on compression at TDC (Top Dead Center). Using a front pan bolt, make and attach a sheet metal finger just back of the pulley, and file a tiny notch in the back of the pulley to match.
"In a large garage a man wagered with the owner that he could name any machine merely by the sound of the engine. An attendant was instructed to crank the different machines, the boastful one was blindfolded, and the test began."

"Overland," he called for the first one.

"Correct," said the owner; "try the next one."

"Studebaker."

"Right-o! Crank another."

Just then a load of coal was shot into the alley from a wagon.

"Ford," said the guesser. (Funabout Fords, by J.J. White, The Howell Co., 1915)

Yes sir, you can always tell it’s a T from the sound that she makes, and we certainly heard a lot of beautiful Model T music this last weekend at our very first Model T Car Show and Swap meet held right here on a very cold (for us 31 degree) Saturday morning. Never the less – Mike Bartlett reported "Our Central Florida T Club held it's first show this past Saturday, in Orlando. I'm proud to say we had nothing but compliments from the participants and the public. Everyone had a great time. Twenty eight T's entered the show. Present were two 09's, two 11's, one 12, one 13 and twenty two later year cars. Dan Treace traveled from Jacksonville, and many came over from the Bay area (Tampa/Clearwater). We can't thank those that made the trip enough, without that participation there is no show. There were some really generous and nice donated prizes raffled and auctioned, of which 1/2 the income will be given to a local charity. Our president cooked up some hot dogs, and the ladies made about 4 1/2 tons of various cookies. All there had a nice day. Thanks again to all that attended. Regards, Mike"

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