Hidden Valley Commutator Newsletter of the Hidden Valley Model T Club, December 2016 The Hidden Valley Commutator is the newsletter of the Hidden Valley Model T Club. The newsletter is published monthly and distributed on-line to all connected members. The 2016 thru 2017 members of the HVMTC Board of Directors are: President Mac MacPherson Vice Pres Phil Ewing Upcoming Events December 7th - HVMTC Meeting at Charlies - Dinner at 6pm, meeting at 7pm January 15, 2017 - Temecula HCCA tour to which we are invited. February 18. 2017 tentative tour to the Batisquitos Lagoon Tours Stephanie Terrell Treasurer Diane McPherson Secretary Karen Pepe Editor Tony Bowker Hidden Valley Model T Club PO Box 462314 Escondido, CA 92046-2314 Editors Notes I would just like to thank everyone who has sent Heather flowers, prayers and best wishes. She really appreciates everything but is so weak that it is beyond her to thank everyone personally at this time. Finally I would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year TonyB December 2016 Hidden Valley Model T Club Commutator Page 1
Minutes for HVMTC General Meeting November 2, 2016 Held at Charlies, Escondido Attendees: Diane MacPherson, John & Karen Pepe, Dale & Eleanor Stanfield, Virgil & Sharon White, Vic & Stephanie Terrell, Richard & Twink Bumann, Craig & Barbara French, Ken & Merleen Magers, Lou Schweizer, Phil & Kimba Ewing and guest David Jerrell (20) Start Time: 7:00 p.m. President Mac MacPherson was in Las Vegas, Phil led the meeting. Lou led the Pledge of Allegiance Vice President s Report: Phil arrived in time to start the meeting, whew! Treasurer s Report: Diane reported we had $1,243.95 in the bank New business: No Mac, No Tony. Our thoughts are with Heather, who had a slight setback today. Secretary s report: Minutes were approved Tour Chair: Stephanie brought up the Christmas lights tour, but due to lack of interest that may not happen. We are discussing a Christmas party/dinner. The 7 th of December is the date of our meeting here, we could make it a party here, wear festive clothes and bring a Christmas ornament to exchange! Old business: The tour to the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum was attended by five to seven of our cars. Richard & Twink tried twice to go, once in their T, which decided to be a T and not go willingly, then home to their A, which also did not want to go. The T is up and running now, thanks to a fixed coil. The San Diego Speedster run out of Jacumba had 6 of our members in attendance, Tony, John & Karen, Ann Tunnel, Greg & Cathy Rising. John was happy being placed next to last because he had the fastest split time which meant a lot of penalty points but a fast car. November 19 th, - We will be going to the Nethercutt Museum and the Petersen Museum. Diane updated all of us regarding tours and transportation. So far 20 have signed up, the bus holds 47. The tour cost including the bus will be $30 per person and to go in the vault at the Peterson Museum will cost an additional $20 per person. Both are located in Sylmar, CA. The bus will pick us up at the Performing Arts at 7a.m. from Escondido. Bring lunch or snacks, there will be a toilet on the bus. January 15 th is the date of the HCCA Temecula tour, beginning at the corner of I-15 and Hwy 76 at the new park and ride at 9a.m. February 18 th tentative tour to the Batisquitos Lagoon. Tours for 2017 one possible tour, we need to speak with Les Van Nordheim for a private tour in Rainbow Fallbrook to someone who is a collector of motorcycles. Les offered previously to get in touch with him. The meeting was adjourned at 7:21. Respectfully submitted, Karen December 2016 Hidden Valley Model T Club Commutator Page 2
HVMTC Bus tour to the Nethercutt and Petersen Museums At a recent meeting Mac suggested that we have a "T less" tour to the Nethercutt Museum, later suggesting we include a trip to the Petersen as part of the same trip. The idea was welcomed by most members and Mac selected November 19 as the tour date. Prior to 7 am on the appointed date, some thirty members and friends were milling around a huge bus in the parking lot of the Performing Arts Center in Escondido. Diane, who handled all the reservations, completed all the paperwork and then we were away... The trip to the Nethercutt in Sylmar was uneventful and we drifted into the Museum before 10am. The Museum is in two buildings one on the North side of the street and the other on the South. After looking briefly around the North side, we were instructed to meeting the basement of the South side. Here we were introduced to our Docent for the tour, He outlined the objectives of the Museum, which is defined as Functional Elegance. Ever car in the collection is beautifully restored to as close as possible to how it left the factory, every road car is licensed and insured to run on the public highways. They claim the cars are not over restored but I really doubt they were ever this well prepared from the factory... Following a look around the basement, we moved to the First floor. December 2016 Hidden Valley Model T Club Commutator Page 3
This was the epitome of elegance. Each car was absolutely stunning, set in a setting of huge marble pillars and a marble floor. The current highlight of the display is the $20,000 Duisenberg. I had to touch it and was chastised by the docent, but it really is quite stunning. There was also the first car restored by Nethercutt, a DuPont which he found in a used cart lot in 1955 and after the restoration, they drove it to Pebble Beach and won Best of the Show award. We then moved to the second floor which is filled with hood ornaments, antique furniture and a view of the cars below. Finally we moved to the third floor which has musical instruments round three sides with the center being occupied by the 400+ pipe organ. This has been tastefully modified to be self playing, indeed it records all notes played. Thus when played back, you get the exact tone and touch by the original organist. All to soon we were herded back down the stairs and across the street to the other collection. By now time was running out and I just had time to look along the Rolls-Royce row before boarding the bus to head out to the Petersen. The Petersen Auto Museum is quite different front the Nethercutt, excellent but in a different manner. The display is divided into two parts, the upper floor s which are generally theme based and the basement which is just overflowing with cars, many of which have well recorded provenance. It was not possible in the time constraint to do both the basement and upper floors, so I looked at the themes. The third floor was "Cars for a Purpose', often cars designed and modified for movies or show cars. Interestingly there were two model Ts, a rather nice 1915 Roadster and another roadster which was set up for kids of all ages to sit in and get the feel of driving in the teens and 1920s. December 2016 Hidden Valley Model T Club Commutator Page 4
My personal favorite was the Body Coddingham yellow coupe (below right). The purity of line is just beautiful. He obviously had problems with the front fenders, so he just removed them and the result is almost design perfection. The Mercer (above left) is of interest as it forms the basis for which most Model T Speedsters try to emulate. December 2016 Hidden Valley Model T Club Commutator Page 5
The second floor was called the Silver Floor as most of the cars were painted silver. As might be expected the majority were of German manufacture, with the Mercedes 1954 GP (above left) being pride of place. It is reported that this car is insured for $100,000,000. The ground floor was largely devoted to Bugatti, both the cars and the three generation of designers. Such a talented family. There were a couple of oddities, all the Bugatti's had flat glass windscreens and mostly the are left hand drive. I suppose they could not find a curved glass supplier and the right hand drive is most suited to normal counter clockwise race tracks for which most were designed. Some of the party took the tour of the basement, however taking pictures with personal cameras is not allowed for security reasons, so I have included a few from the Petersen Museum web site. December 2016 Hidden Valley Model T Club Commutator Page 6
All too soon it was time to board the bus and head back to Escondido, I suppose the trip home was uneventful, I don't know, as I slept most of the way.. The picture were supplied by yours truly, Jim Porter and Karen Pepe. Everybody seemed to have a great time and finally I wish to thank Mac and Diane for the effort organizing this wonder trip. ` TonyB December 2016 Hidden Valley Model T Club Commutator Page 7
For Sale 1914 Body registered as a 1913 Model T Touring car 1913 engine and transmission, the car in very good condition. Spare 1918 engine, all machine work done, All parts there to rebuild Spare transmission rebuilt by Larry Blair. Lots of spare parts. Asking $14,000 obo 760-519-1527 FOR SALE: Set of Large Drum Rocky Mountain Brakes. Virtually new. $500 (h) 480-258-3135 (c) 480-250-9544 or email to drdld1000@gmail.com December 2016 Hidden Valley Model T Club Commutator Page 8