Dear Model T’ers Everywhere,

"In a theatre the other night a man sat in his seat long after everybody else had gone. An usher touched him on the shoulder and said, "The show is over, mister." That can’t be, was the reply, I haven’t heard a Ford joke yet!" (Funabout Fords by J.J. White, The Howell Co., 1915). (He certainly wasn’t at one of our meetings!)

Every once in a while I must do something that I would rather not – like work instead of going to a Model T meeting – well it occurred this month. Fortunately for everyone in our club we have many willing members that are always either willing to take charge or provide support and I knew that our Vice President "Smiling" Jack Mahaffey was and is such a man – so I had no compunction in turning over the wheel, spark and gas to Jack. The only thing is my bride said to me (from not a pear tree) was what are you going to write in the newsletter this month since you weren’t there? Well, a lot of thought and procrastination has gone into this, and as I look back an experience comes to mind.

My grandfather and I were traveling back from the ranch in Kissimme one late afternoon in the summer of 1961, I was 14, and as we drove through the metropolis of Taft (population around 125, probably – and that may be a stretch) sat a 1926 Model T Tudor Sedan – all black and glittery with only a wood frame for a wig (top). I yelled and screamed STOP PAPA! He jammed on the brakes and pulled over to the side of the road wondering and shouting WHAT’s Wrong! He was a little deaf – I had been a little loud and he was pushing on at about 71 at the time. SEE THAT MODEL T! I pointed and continued to shout, the For Sale sign in glorious red and black, I jumped out of the truck and to the back, Papa following wondering, grumbling, watching me in my glee. TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS you see! Papa loan me twenty dollars please. He always indulging his only grandson, relented so that I could buy that car that dreams are made of – at a divorce sale – "Either that car goes or I go!"

My father was a Model A Man who went with Papa and I the next day to pick up the joy of my life THE T! The man who owned my "Lightenin" wasn’t there that day, his wife said he couldn’t bare to see his Fliver go. My father looked and laughed at the old girl as he walked around her asking me "where is the gas pedal? Why does she have three pedals on the floor?" I was a wealth of un-knowledge that knew all of the answers – who had been hanging out with several Model T’ers since my 12th birthday and had fell in love with that "sophisticated kind of style" at Ormond Beach – the birthplace of speed – with brass and nickel colored ladies that drove me half wild.

We filled her up with gas and air – the tires were old, tired, and seemed to sort of bounce us along the road way as we started out for the suburbs of Conway in Orlando where we lived. The wife of the owner said "It’s got maypop tires, sure enough!" My father road shotgun as I drove MY FIRST MODEL T. The wind ran through my hair – she had no roof , she kept me warm – she ran hot, she brought tears to my eyes – her muffler leaked, she was effervescent – she boiled over, she marked her spot in life – she leaked oil, she sashayed down the road – dad said she wobbled and thought she was going to turn over, she made her self known – the horn got stuck!

My dad laughed as I drove smiling from ear to ear. He complained that he didn’t know why I wanted a Model T when there were lots of perfectly good Model A’s around that were – "normal cars." I didn’t want a "normal car" – I wanted a Model T. He complained about "Lightenin" all the way home. "How come you don’t have a gas pedal – like normal cars? How come you got to crank this thing by hand – it’s not like a normal car! How come there’s something a buzzing coming from that box on top of the engine – it don’t sound like a normal engine! How come you got three pedals instead of two – it’s not like a normal transmission, is it? How come you use the brake lever when you stop in traffic – that’s just not normal, is it? What’s that middle pedal for, I never see you use it, does it have any function or is this car just not normal? Can I drive it?"

I pulled over to the side – we were only about a mile from home. Went over all of the necessary and sufficient controls for the Ford Motor Car. I had diligently studied the texts many times since I was 12 – but never had driven a Model T – I didn’t explain that part. After all we had driven about 15 miles already with no problem. Looking back I think my father was perhaps more adventurous than I have ever given him credit for. He pushed down on the low gear pedal, released the brake and off we went, perhaps a little too much gas as he raced the engine and popped her into high gear – but she bumped, jumped and sprang along. As we neared a large intersection I started to try talk him down to a slower pace, he pushed on the brake, I asked him to retard the gas, he looked for the pedal, and pressed the brake more, I saw the stop sign – so did he – we both saw all of the traffic in the intersection – I yelled STOP – he jammed all three pedals to the floor – a loud KABOOMM! "Lightenin" or perhaps thunder filled the air – remember those maypop tires?

Dad would never ever drive "Lightenin the T" again, there were many offers, but he always murmured "that’s just not normal, there are lots of good A’s around!"

My dad always said that not everything that glitters is gold as he looked at the brass radiators that I have always admired so much. Gentlemen, I invite your attention to a well known Country Music song by the group Confederate Railroad and invite you to listen to a little song that warms my heart as I stare at "Dolly" my 16’ T, with her brass radiator, her red upholstery and red wheels as I listen to the song "Trashy Women"!

MAKE a grea"T" day!

Mike Story
President Model T Ford Club of Central Florida

TRADE: 1992 Mercury Capri Convertible (the cute one) for T Model or what have you. Richard Fortner 407-892-8580 or email RfordT20@aol.com

FOR SALE: 1922 Model T Touring and a 1920 Model T Express Wagon. Gary Lawing, 1717 N Oregon Cir, Tampa, FL 33612 phone 813-932-5248

FOR SALE: 1927 Model T Roadster in good condition at Maitland Tractor on U.S. Hwy 17-92, $8,500 call 407-834-7272.

COMING EVENTS:

April 7 - Monthly meeting 7 pm. Seminole County Library 215 N. Oxford Rd. Casselberry

April 24 – The 28th Annual Heritage Classic & Antique Car Show hosted by the Volusia Region AACA

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