Hidden Valley Commutator

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Dorcas Eaton
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The 2012 thru 2013 members of the HVMTC Board of Directors are: President Doug Lested Tours Stephanie Terrell Treasurer Diane McPherson Secretary Tony Bowker Web Editor Tony Bowker Upcoming Events

Food and drink will be provided there is no need to bring anything. RSVP to Stephanie Terrell required Stephanie.Terrell88@gmail.

1 Newsletter of the Hidden Valley Model T Club, May 2014 The Hidden Valley Commutator is the newsletter of the Hidden Valley Model T Club. The newsletter is published monthly and distributed online to all connected members. The 2012 thru 2013 members of the HVMTC Board of Directors are: President Doug Lested Tours Stephanie Terrell Treasurer Diane McPherson Secretary Tony Bowker Web Editor Tony Bowker Upcoming Events Saturday 10 May - HVMTC Tour to Doug and Neta Anderson s House with Installation Barbecue Lunch Assembly Time: 9:30 Departure Time: 10:00 Depart Location: California Center for the Arts, Escondido Food and drink will be provided there is no need to bring anything. RSVP to Stephanie Terrell required Stephanie.Terrell88@gmail.com Saturday 17 May - San Diego Heritage Museum Deep Pit Barbecue noon till 2:30 with free meal for Model T drivers. Call Warren ( ) for info. Wednesday 4 June - Dinner at Charlie's starting at 6 pm Saturday 7 June - MTFCSD Tour to Alpine - Meet at 9am at Histerical Auto Works in Santee Saturday 21 June - HVMTC Tour to Antique Engine & Gas Museum.. Meet at 9 am at Performing Arts Center with a 9:30 departure. Saturday 28 June - OCMTFC Swap Meet at El Dorado High School. See flyer later in this newsletter Wednesday 2 July - Dinner at Charlie's starting at 6 pm Sunday to Friday July - MTFCA 2014 National Tour at out of the Four Seasons Hotel in the Kearney Mesa area of San Diego. May 2014 Page 1 Hidden Valley Model T Club Commutator

2 Minutes for HVMTC General Meeting at Charlie's Restaurant April 2 nd, 2014 Meeting opened at 7:00 by President Doug Lested. Members attending included Mac & Diane MacPherson, Anne Tunnell, Dale & Eleanor Stanfield, John & Karen Pepe, Tony Bowker, Virgil & Sharon White, Lou Schweiger, Warren Raps, Merleen & Ken Magers, Doug & Neta Anderson, Henry Keener, Jim Ottaviani, John Chapman, Bob Anderson, Scot Uran, Richard & Twink Bumann, Bob Millen, Vic & Stephanie Terrell, Phil & Kimba Ewing & Doug Lested. John lead the Pledge Doug welcomed everyone and commented that it was a large turnout. There were no visitors. He explained that elections for the Board will be held later in the evening. Diane assured the members that we have sufficient funds to continue, with a detailed report available to members. Stephanie spoke about the upcoming tour to Doug & Neta Anderson's Ranch, after a discussion it was agreed that the club funds will provide all the necessary fixing for the BBQ lunch. Doug Lested will lead the tour as Doug Anderson will be cooking. Later Doug will lead us on a short local tour including a 3 mile dirt road. Doug requested an RSVP so they can estimate the amount of food required. Warren mentioned the deep pit BBQ at the SD Heritage Museum, one free meal to all Model T drivers. There being no comments on the March Minutes, Warren proposed and Anne seconded approval of the Minutes, motion was unanimously approved. Tony then spoke about the Sierra Vista tour, which had 26 cars and 58 people. Warren commented that he enjoyed the description and pictures in the April newsletter. Mac spoke of his adventures at the Chickasha Swap Meet, the Grand Canyon and the subsequent trip to LA for an Auto Museum Conference. Doug then spoke about the election of officers. Warren proposed that the current slate of officers be retained for This was seconded by Doug Anderson and was passed by unanimously approved. The officers for will be: President - Doug Lested Vice Pres/Tour Chair - Stephanie Terrell Treasurer - Diane MacPherson Secretary - Tony Bowker Past President - Mac MacPherson Diane will arrange to have the bank signature cards to reflect these officers. Mac held the Opportunity drawing and Doug won $43. Being no further business, Doug closed the meeting at 8:10pm. Respectfully submitted Tony Bowker, Secretary May 2014 Hidden Valley Model T Club Commutator Page 2

Tour to The Flower Fields This was special.

The turnout was stupendous, with over 30 Model As and Ts rattling from San Marcos to The Flower Fields a on a beautiful crisp Saturday morning.

The group from Escondido included Tony & Heather Bowker, Greg & Cathy Rising, Dale & Elenor Standfield, Vic & Stephanie Terrell, Doug Lested, John & Karen Pepe and Phil & Kimba Ewing

Some of the A's came from Hemit, quite a drive.

3 Tour to The Flower Fields This was special... Thanks to John Freeze, the Palomar Model A club were invited to display cars at The Flower Fields in Encinitas and other local clubs were invited to come along. The turnout was stupendous, with over 30 Model As and Ts rattling from San Marcos to The Flower Fields a on a beautiful crisp Saturday morning. I counted nine Model Ts, seven assembled in Escondido and two more joined us in Encinitas, one of the best turnouts for many months. The group from Escondido included Tony & Heather Bowker, Greg & Cathy Rising, Dale & Elenor Standfield, Vic & Stephanie Terrell, Doug Lested, John & Karen Pepe and Phil & Kimba Ewing all in Model Ts and Ken & Marge Magers in a Ford V8 Business Coupe. Joining us in Encinitas was Richard & Twink Bauman and Warren Raps & Henry Keener, both in Ts. Some of the A's came from Hemit, quite a drive. After assembling in a reserved parking lot at The Flower Fields, we were lead in convoy style and parked on one of paths amidst 500 acres of ranunculus, quite a sight. Apparently they are grown from seed and after flowering the roots are harvested, then sold all over the world. The pictures say it all, difficult to imaging 500 acres of flowers. The group starting in Escondido Greg's '27 & Doug's '22 in the parking area Tony's 14 and & Dale's 22 in the parking area Phil's Rust Bucket and Johns 26 Pickup in the parking area May 2014 Hidden Valley Model T Club Commutator Page 3

4 Rich explaining something about his radiator Tony's 14 with the flower fields behind Twink & Heather Greg testing blocks for the MTFCA 2014 National Tour 500 acres of ranunculus from the east 500 acres of ranunculus from the west It was a great tour, Dale had a minor problem after lunch, but it was soon resolved and everyone had a great time. Wonderful day out, thanks Doug & Ray Tony May 2014 Hidden Valley Model T Club Commutator Page 4

I ran across this on the MTFCA 2014 Forum, enjoy. Across America in a Model T - at age 17 CYNTHIA MARTIN Special to The Globe and Mail Published Saturday, Jan.

5 I ran across this on the MTFCA 2014 Forum, enjoy. Across America in a Model T - at age 17 CYNTHIA MARTIN Special to The Globe and Mail Published Saturday, Jan , 6:00 AM EST Last updated Saturday, Jan , 6:53 AM EST Road trips are common for the Matthews. During a 27,000-kilometre tour in a Westfalia camper, serendipity drove past via Banff s Model T rally. Noting his wistfulness when he reminisced about a 1957 trip, Beth conceded: Maybe it s time you get one. In the summer of 1956, in sleepy St. Louis, John Matthews, then 16 and his father drove home a 1923 Model T that they had purchased for $200, dismantled it and then performed a rebuild. He drove to school sitting atop the gas tank, attracting suitable attention and, by the following summer, Matthews and three friends John Dawson, Norman Luttbeg and Reed Webb had acquired a running board luggage rack, spare tire, cook stove, sleeping bags and tents. It was July, 1957 and California was in their sights. Our parents let us go because they didn t think we d get more than 20 miles away, Matthews said. From St. Louis, across Iowa, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, northwest to the Oregon coast, then south to Del Mar, Calif., they drove that Model T 6,600 kilometres likely longer than almost any trip taken in the 1920s. Through towns and without interstate highways a venture not unlike John Steinbeck s Travels with Charley: In Search of America there were few transport trucks bearing down, and the maximum speed was 60 km/h. Matthews said they talked to hundreds of strangers, mostly old timers, who took an interest in the car. After the first few encounters, Matthews said they d roll their eyes seeing oldsters approach, but at this more sentimental stage of my life I know what those guys were feeling with their dreamy looks, running their hands over the fenders. There were numerous mechanical fixes along the way, such as the sudden engine rattle forcing a tow to a shop, where the owner knew they d thrown a rod. Matthews said he borrowed a car to visit a farmer rumored to have one in Yankton, N.D. A Model T connecting rod hung like a trophy on his barn wall, Matthews recalled. Two dollars later, it was his and we returned to see the [shop] owner sitting down to a birthday dinner. But he had it fixed by 11 p.m., wanting no payment, sending us off with the tip to substitute the Babbitt bearing with bacon rind or leather. May 2014 Hidden Valley Model T Club Commutator Page 5

6 Some grades were too steep, so three of them would run behind, sometimes pushing the Model T a sight, as well as aggravating, to drivers behind us. Matthews thought they could put off changing transmission bands until southern California, but he was proved wrong. We started down a hill, let it coast to 90 km/h and I tried to brake. Nothing, even when I pressed both brake and reverse pedals, he said. Speed climbed, the car shimmied, the stoplight at the bottom of the hill was red and we were going too fast to jump. Just before the intersection, the light turned green and we shot though, coasting up the hill to its other side. Police routinely stopped them out of curiosity and, in late August, near San Jose, Calif., they were waved over by two men in suits driving a black Ford. They had FBI written all over them, said Matthews. They were from Ford Motor Company inviting us to the factory, to have pictures taken, be interviewed and treated to lunch, then a grand surprise.. Being four hungry teenagers low on cash, they didn t hesitate. They took us onto the factory floor, for the rare treat for outsiders the Edsel production line. Matthews said the four were silenced by the car s design, and were immediately worried for its survival when they saw a worker trying to make a door close by slamming hinges with a sledge hammer. The now-legendary lemon made its public debut just weeks later. After arriving in Del Mar, they drove the T back up to San Francisco for Matthews uncle to sell, and the return trip back home was by bus. Would he do it again, if the opportunity arose? In a heartbeat. Special to The Globe and Mail Fifty-five years later, Matthews found his first love in Prince Edward Island; Canadian-made with its distinctive fourth door by the driver. It cost him $12,000 and he removed the modern ignition to reinstall original wiring. Matthews has inquired about those who have taken long T trips, finding most had support vehicles. Although I was 17, the trip changed my life, said Matthews, a retired palaeontologist. I came to appreciate older people more and believe in the kindness of strangers. Editor Notes At a recent meeting of the Model T Ford Club of San Diego it was brought up that members of that club are invited to all the HVMTC meetings and tours. The MTFCSD too would like to reciprocate and all members of the HVMTC are invited to all meetings and tours of the MTFCSD. To help this interchange, editors of both clubs will add the dates of each other events to their respective newsletters. Hopefully this will help increase the turnout on the events of both clubs. Any thoughts on the new picture on page one? Tony Bowker May 2014 Hidden Valley Model T Club Commutator Page 6

For Sale 1926 Model T roaster pickup. All original with total correct, frame-off restoration. Ruckstell 2 speed rear end. Trophy winner and ready to show or tour. $15,000.

7 For Sale 1926 Model T roaster pickup. All original with total correct, frame-off restoration. Ruckstell 2 speed rear end. Trophy winner and ready to show or tour. $15, Ford Model T Coupe all original. Needs final assembly. All parts have been powder coated, chromed or new. Engine and trans assembly complete and in car. All work professionally done. Have $36K in receipts. Asking $10,000.. Don Swanson 249 South Highway 101 #507 Solana Beach, CA Phone: Pickup and stuff for sale 1924 T roadster pickup, 12v system with alternator and distributor. Ruckstell, 26/27 wire wheels with spare, very good top and leather seat. Very good touring car. Wood bed w/cover. Spare running engine. Adjustable lifters, High compression head, external oiler, fuse panel, Rocky Mountain brakes, turn signals, running board tool box and fuel cans. Side curtains. $12,750 obo. Very large collection of parts including 26/27 engine (taken apart), alternators, starters, generators, bearings, etc. Value of this is over $9,500, but will take $7,400 obo. A partial list of the parts is available and is growing as I discover more parts. Everything is located in San Marcos, CA. Dell ound dellpound@gmail.com Wanted II am looking for a Rear Axle complete with brake assemblies and hubs for wire wheels. Drums are optional. Radius rods and torque tube are not needed. No Ruckstell axles. It has to be in good condition and restorable. Doug Lested Home: Cell: dlested@roadrunner.com May 2014 Hidden Valley Model T Club Commutator Page 7

San Diego Needs You The MTFCA National Tour in San Diego is fast approaching. The dates are July 13-18 and we still have room for reservations.

Museum Warm sandy beaches and much more. The base hotel is centrally located and our best hostess is running the hospitality room.

8 San Diego Needs You The MTFCA National Tour in San Diego is fast approaching. The dates are July and we still have room for reservations. Ten years ago we ran this tour mostly in the backcountry, but now it s time to show off the sights of America s Finest City : Hotel Del Coronado Old Town Point Loma Lighthouse Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum Warm sandy beaches and much more. The base hotel is centrally located and our best hostess is running the hospitality room. Come and enjoy San Diego friendliness and join us for banquets and try for door prizes. If you ve been here before, come again and experience our city from a Model T. It s even better that way! Contacts: Registration: Kirt Simpson (619) Saddle Ridge Road Lakeside, CA Tony Bowker at tonybowker@aol.com May 2014 Hidden Valley Model T Club Commutator Page 8

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Hidden Valley Commutator. Upcoming Events

Hidden Valley Commutator. Upcoming Events Newsletter of the Hidden Valley Model T Club, June 2014 The Hidden Valley Commutator is the newsletter of the Hidden Valley Model T Club. The newsletter is published monthly and distributed online to all