Dear Model T’ers Everywhere, May 12, 2003

Jack and Susie Whitt are planning a little 85-90 mile trip for us all on their "Yalaha – Lake and Sumter County Tour" scheduled for May 31st. We will leave from the Whitt’s home (8023 Whitt Lane, Yalaha, FL 34797, phone 352-324-3868) around 9:30 a.m. There will be plenty of room to park cars and trailers. They said to ignore the NO TRESPASSING signs as you come down the drive. We will be traveling through Howey-in-the Hills, Yalaha, Okahumpka, Center Hill, Tuscanooga, Mascotte, (where we will be stopping for a buffet lunch at the Rainbow Restaurant, cost will be around $6 – drink included). After lunch we will go through Groveland, Minneola, Surgarloaf Mountain (the highest point in all of Florida – can you make it up the hill in high?!) – near Ferndale, Astatula, and Lake Jem. If we still have time we will continue to Mt. Dora and Tavares before returning to Yalaha. Call or email Whittyalaha@aol.com so that the Whitts can let the restaurant know how many people to expect. More complete directions will be given out on the day of the tour. Sounds like a rooTin TooTin good "T" Time!

"A man who had been in a Ford for the first time had this to say: We started out all right, but after a few minutes my friend seemed uneasy and fumbled around a great deal. Finally he stopped the car, exclaiming: "The engine is missing!" By George! Said I, that is wonderful! "What is wonderful? Sezze." Why, this little Ford going a half mile without an engine!" (Funabout Fords, by J.J. White, The Howell Co., 1915)

Mike Bartlett presided at our meeting held on May 7th – Mike Story, our president, was working late with the Osceola Children’s Home and about seven of his boys, and Jack Mahaffey, our VP and Marquise were down in Brazil visiting with his sister who is very ill – please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers. Mike Bartlett did a great job with the meeting, as always, and didn’t even run out of gas! We had about 30 folks at the meeting and one new member.

Richard and Carol reported on the recent tour they sponsored in St. Cloud and the great participation. Mike Bartlett reported on his "fancy new fuel filter" that provided him with every 100 yard pit stops throughout the tour. Richard didn’t mention to me his fan belt experiences!

Richard Fortner gave us a little something different for his monthly tinkering tip, and in light of Mother’s Day he said "The inventor of the windshield wiper was a woman. Her name was Mary Anderson, and she came up with the idea in 1902 after noticing that a street-car motorman had to keep his window open on a wet day to see the road. In 1903 she was awarded a 17-year patent for a hand-operated wiper that moved in a fan pattern. In spite of the practicality of her idea, some time went by before windshield wipers became popular. "Automatic" fold-down wipers were first featured on some cars in 1910, but it was not until 1916 that mechanical windshield wipers became standard equipment on American cars. Mary died in 1953 at the age of 87."

It was brought to my attention that the following folks’ page was left out of the latest membership roster – so please pen them in (sorry folks) –

William and Mary Rachwal Gene & Marilyn Roy Ed B. Sargent

1978 NW Palmetto Terr. 81 South Edgemon P.O. Box 125

Stuart, FL 34994 Winter Springs, FL 32708 Dade City, FL 33526

772-692-0124 407-327-0740 352-567-2001

Cars: 1912 Touring Cars: 1924 Roadster Cars: 1922 Roadster

1914 Touring 1924 Coupe

1926 Coupe

1928 Model A Truck

If anyone else is missing off of the list please let us know as soon as possible. Don’t want anyone missing out on the "T"errific fun.

Gayle Smith gave a nice demonstration of the Hitch Eye to put "eyes in the back of your head" – a very handy new mirror arrangement that can be quickly installed on the back of your car or truck to give you a bird’s eye view of just exactly where your trailer hitch is at in relationship to your trailer when you are backing up by yourself to put on the trailer. A very nifty gadget for $44, and if you need more information please email Gayle and Barbara at E.Smith2279@aol.com or give them a call at 352-728-8146 or 352-409-7069.

Mike Bartlett and several of our members gave a report on the 27th Volusia Regional AACA car show that was held at New Smyrna Beach Airport on April 26th and what a great time they all had.

hed at 407-366-5616 or email at tcporl@bellsouth.net to sign up.

MAKE a grea"T" day!

Mike Story, President, 407-678-5477, email: mjstory@quixnet.net

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