Dear Model T’ers Everywhere,

"A party driving on a boulevard saw a Ford turned upside down and examination showed no reason for this unusual position. A little farther they met with another with its wheels in the air. Just then a Ford swung onto the boulevard from a side street. It seemed to slow down as it hit the pavement and finally stopped, turned over and died. The party drove up to the disconsolate Ford driver, who was sitting on the curb with his head in his hands. "What is the matter with the Fords? We passed two in the same shape a little way back." "Why," replied the Ford man, "some darn fool has sprinkled insect powder all along the boulevard!" (Funabout Fords by J.J. White, The Howell Co., 1915). (This must have happened here in Florida … la cook-a-racha … la cook-a-racha …)

In those famous words of the one and only country and western singer Willie Nelson …. "On, the Road Again, Just Can’t Wait To Get On the Road Again, My Friend …" We’re going on another little ROAD TRIP!!!! Jack and Suzie Whitt are once again hosting a Rootin Tootin T Trip on May 8th – and of course we are inviting the Fun T Club Too. Don’t forget folks, you must belong to Model T Ford Club International to participate (drive your car) on a tour with us – it covers our insurance for events – you must still have your own individual auto insurance. The tour will start from Jack and Suzie’s at about 9:30 a.m, 8023 Whitt Lane, Yalaha, FL 34797 phone 352-324-3868 or email at whittyalaha@aol.com. We will be traveling about 60 miles each way, first to our own Okahumpka, then on to lively Lake Panasoffkee, to our pals in Pedro, seeing the belles of Belleview and ending up in old Ocklawaha of course. We plan to be at Gator Joe’s Restaurant by about 11:30 a.m. for lunch. Gator Joe’s is on Lake Weir and world famous for Gator Tails – for those of you that don’t know, that’s the thing those folks from Ocala talk all about all of the time, football games and the one that got away. HISTORICAL NOTE: Ocklawaha is where Ma Barker and her boys had their shoot out with the FBI back in the 1930’s (It’s a good thing they weren’t driving a T – I sure wouldn’t want to patch up all those holes!) After lunch we plan on going to the Austin Carriage Museum on Marion County Road in Lady Lake – if you have a computer check it out at www.austincarriagemuseum.com . The cost for a group of 12 or more is $8 per person – the tour will last 1 ½ to 2 hours –Jack and Susie highly recommend it. After the tour we will be going to an ice cream parlor on our way back to Yalaha We will be finalizing all of the information and details of the tour at our next month’s meeting on May 5th.

Speaking of meetings, at our last meeting, Jack Mahaffey, our Vice President, and our Parliamentarian on the board of The Model T Ford Club International, brought us some tickets for an opportunity to win a 1923 Model T Speedster for $50 each. This is the car that our Youth and a local chapter of the MTFCI have built from the ground up – it is a Red Boat-tail Speedster, totally restored, rebuilt motor, transmission, rear-end and new cream white wire wheels. All proceeds for this raffle will go to the MTFCI Foundation Youth Scholarship Fund. Our club bought two tickets (and several of our members did also). Jack said there was only going to be 200 tickets sold and the winner of the Speedster will be announced at the MTFCI 48th Annual Tour Youth Auction, Thursday evening July 22, 2004 in Merrimac, Wisconsin -- sooo, Smilin Jack, just bring it on back from the tour!

About half of our membership have at one time or another asked if we could find some other night to meet during the week other than Wednesdays – we have located a new facility. Mike and Judie Story have approached their condominium association and have asked to use their clubhouse. Your board has looked at the facility and believe it will meet our needs – so the next question which will be voted on at the next meeting is what day of the week do you want to have your meeting: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday?

Did you know that we have just about every video tape that was every produced by the Model T Ford Club of America about how to make repairs to your T? These are in VHS format, free to any club member for a month of use, just come to a meeting and check it out from Richard Fortner who brings us a great Tinkering Tip each month at the meeting. Last month he showed us an ingenious device that he had made to straighten those exhaust manifolds that give us a "bit" of a problem – WELL DONE Richard!

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:

May 5 - Monthly meeting 7 pm. Seminole County Library 215 N. Oxford Rd. Casselberry

May 8 - Our tour to Ocklawaha with Jack and Susie Whitt – Please let them know if you are coming.

July 18-23 – The Model T Ford Club International 48th Annual Tour, Wisconsin Byways, contact Sheryl Stier 847-669-3848, Don Krull 309-344-2515, and Register with Linda Eden 815-436-5489.

Copyright© 2004 -Modet T Ford Club of Central Florida - All Rights Reserved