Dear Model T’ers Everywhere,

"Santa Claus was prowling through the house in the middle of the night and stubbed his toe against a baby carriage in the hall. "Darn Fords," he muttered, "they get in everywhere!" (Funabout Fords by J.J. White, The Howell Co., 1915).

25 of us came to our Model T Christmas Party at Barney’s Steak and Seafood with great appetites and enthusiasm. We awarded two really pretty clocks from the 2003 Model T Ford Club International meet – one to Richard & Carol Fortner for Richard’s Tinkering Tips that he has graciously supplied and surprised us with each month at our meetings (– and especially for letting us use his credit card for ordering parts!); and we also awarded a clock to Joe and Nancy Kaiser for the great web site they have put together for us at www.MTFCCF.COM and keeping it updated – don’t forget to send them some pictures to add to the website – and a great big THANK YOU to them for setting up our Christmas party again this year! Vince and Gay Leffler also supplied many party favors that were auctioned off by none other than our very shy and reticent Wally-Mobile Schneider – to know him is to love him – especially if he gives you a ride in one of those smooth running T’s. We also are all looking forward to our up and coming Second Annual Model T Car Show and Swap Meet at the end of February sponsored by Mike Bartlett.

On Friday, January 2nd, 2004, Vince & Gay Leffler are sponsoring our tour to St. Augustine. We will meet at 9:30 a.m. and leave at 10 a.m. at their farm at 964 State Road 415, New Smyrna Beach – about half way between Osteen and Samsula on SR 415 in the Lake Ashby area). Vince & Gail have plenty of room for you to park your tow vehicles at the farm and will be providing a breakfast of biscuits and gravy or jelly with coffee and juice beginning at 8:30 a.m.

We will be staying at the Monterey Inn in St. Augustine, phone 904-824-4482, for Friday and Saturday nights – you may call anytime to make your reservations. Two stops are planned on the way up the intracoastal route in Ormond Beach and at Cracker Barrel in Palm Coast for lunch and refueling. Our ETA in St. Augustine is 4 p.m. The group dinner Friday evening will be at the Columbia Restaurant, and Vince & Gay will make our reservations that evening – superb dinning experience! Saturday we will be touring St. Augustine, and for those interested, a group tour can be put together with Old Town Trolley – need 20 people to get a discount, you can sign up the morning of our departure. Other information will be available for those wanting to forgo the Trolley Tour and do a day trip in their T. The group dinner that evening will be at Harry’s Restaurant. Sunday we will depart St. Augustine at 10 a.m., and are planning to travel down the coastal route of A1A on our return – both coming and going routes depending upon the weather. We expect to return back to the farm around 4 p.m. Driving distance will be about 85-95 miles each way. If you have any questions please call or email Vince & Gay Leffler at 407-322-2322 or Glef2322@aol.com.

Our club officer elections and next meeting is scheduled for January 8th … so, if you would like to run for an office, work on a project, help in some area, share your expertise and enthusiasm, plan a training/maintenance session at a meeting, step up to the "T" and "T" off for the hobby!

Mike Bartlett said everything is coming along nicely for our 2nd Annual Model T Car Show and Swap Meet that will be held at J. Blanchard Park on February 28th from about 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. – ALL Model T’ers from any club are invited – if you know someone that has a Model T invite them – Orange County Park Service is very enthusiastic and supportive and will be printing the flyers and providing the awards, and vendors for refreshments – call or write to Mike at 407-366-5616 or TCPORL@Bellsouth.net for more information.

MAKE a grea"T" day! Mike Story, President

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:

January 2-4 – St. Augustine tour

January 8th – Monthly meeting & elections 7 p.m. Seminole Library 215 N. Oxford Rd, Casselberry

January 15-18: Florida Flywheelers Swap Meet, Ft. Meade, FL – see www.florida flywheelers.org

Copyright© 2003 -Modet T Ford Club of Central Florida - All Rights Reserved