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SPECIAL

Ford Territory

SPECIAL

Ford Territory

Vintage Fords Suit Aussies To a 'T'

Staff, Tuesday June 10, 2003.

Page 1 of 1

The four Model T Fords are part of the world's largest homecoming rally, culminating in more than 10,000 Ford vehicles arriving in Detroit on June 12.

Brisbane Vintage Car Club president Gavin Pocock and his wife Karen in a 1915 Runabout head up the Australian Model T party.

The other blue oval devotees joining them are George and Chris Schoenauer in a 1924 Roadster, Mervyn and Margaret Knoll in a 1925 Roadster and Bob Collett and Trish Hanlon in a 1926 Doctor's Coupe.

The Australians make up just fewer than 10 per cent of the 42 classic "Tin Lizzies" making the 5500 kilometre trek.

The Model T tour is the brainchild of Arizona Ford fan, Joss Sanderson.

"This all started while we were on the last day of another car tour with some friends two years ago," says Joss Sanderson. "In most car tours, we tend to stick to ourselves, but we talked about how fun it would be to do something for Ford Motor Company's centennial."

Joss posted his idea on an Internet message board, and within two days, 200 Ford classic car buffs had responded from across the United States, Australia, Germany and other parts of Europe.

Tracing historic back roads to avoid freeway hazards and to accommodate their cars' 60 km/h speed limits, this history-making caravan of classic Model T's will wind through nine Western and Midwestern states, traverse the Mojave Desert, climb through the Rocky Mountains, cross the Continental Divide, feature in a parade down Michigan Avenue in Dearborn on June 12 and finally land on the grounds of Ford World Headquarters to be on public display through to June 16.

All members of the Australian party are contributing to the following day-by-day updates of their coast-to-coast drive, which started in California:

Day 1 Sunday 25th May (167 miles)
After a nervous start and a frantic race around trying to fit the entire luggage in the quite small boots of our model T?s, it was ?Start your engines? and off to Lancaster City Park. Media sweeping the car park for a story from the 43 model T drivers and passengers that were in costume. Press from Detroit, California and local with film crew from Ford. After a short speech from the Mayor of Lancaster we all rolled out of the park with a Sheriff escort to the outskirts of town. First thing to work at is ? How do you read these instructions! All us Aussies stopped for fuel; and to change into shorts and tees ? this was our first mistake, as the rest of the tour passed us and we had no directional support. A few miles into our tour we hit high head winds, which stayed with us most of the day. Our local American host told us that that the high winds were the norm for the area and that the Aussie cars were not aerodynamic enough for challenge. George and I struggled with lack of power from our stock engines to keep to 40 mph.

Day 2 Monday 26th May (188 miles)
Early start again and very nervous at the prospect of traveling over the Sierra Mountains. A beautiful mild day, scenery of green valleys and gigantic snow capped mountains. After 45 miles of gradual climbing to 4,000 feet the serious climbing began. Over the next eight miles we climbed at a grade of 6 to 7.5 percent to an elevation of 7,220 feet at Westgard Pass. Road continues hilly for about 40 miles with valley floors averaging 4,500 feet. The views were magnificent and fresh and clean and a wide verity of spring wild flowers carpeting areas. All the Aussie T?s successfully negotiated the Sierra Mountain passes and we celebrated with a Caramello Koala.

Day 3 Tuesday 27th May (169 miles)
Everyone was up bright & early getting ready for the day. It was a lovely morning for a T Model run as usual. First stop was the garage to fill up with fuel. The US bowsers are really strange to use. There was a little bit of a hill climb but we finally reached the Salisbury Summit, elevation 6522 feet. The winds came out of nowhere and rattled the cars a bit. There are no rest stops out in the desert; no big trees only small shrubs. We came across roadworks which held us up for 20 minutes in the hot sun. Today saw our first problem. 145 miles from Tonopah, George may have broken a crankshaft and was picked up by the breakdown vehicle. Six miles from Ely, Gavin's Model T started running on 3 cylinders and he had to pull over and work on it. We all arrived safely. Let?s see what tomorrow brings.

Day 4 Wednesday 28th May (154 miles)
George left at 4:30am for Fort Collins. The rest of us got up, ready for 7:30 start. Today required no navigation just stay on Highway 6 to Delta. Yes we got to climb again today several passes, the highest being Connors Pass of 7722 feet. We took a small side trip to Baker (old Mormon town) and then climbed again for 11 miles to the Lehman caves. We missed the 11am tour but they arranged a short 30min tour that turned into an hour - the guide could talk! Merv & Marg enjoyed the views while the rest of us toured the very tight caves. Saw shields for the first time, but other than that it was the same as a semi-wet cave at home. After leaving the caves we headed for the border café on the Utah State line. Gavin & I ordered Burgers & Chips and got cold packet chips. We live and learn. We also discovered we gained one hour at the border so we ate at 3 pm. Long boring flat road into Delta ? very hot and Merv's car had some problems but we all made it in by 6:30 pm. It's light here until after 9 pm. Worked on the cars before a well-deserved rest.

Day 5 Thursday 29th May (157 miles)
Early start today. We are only here once so we are all keen to see the lot. Short 50 mile run to Nephi for morning tea followed by a 12 mile 10,400 foot climb over the mountains. After two stops over the 12 miles for cooling down we reached the top for a celebratory flag positioning at the summit. We had a photo shoot with many other model T?ers on the snow-covered field. A picturesque drive down the other side (after lunch) with fly fishing by the roadside. Unfortunately at the bottom we found ourselves crossing another desert floor with warm winds to Price. The Ford dealer offered to service our T?s for the price of the oil so we dropped the girls at the motel to wash and then returned to Ford for the service. Back to collect the girls and down to the main street for a dinner provided by the local Ford dealer. Price closed the main street for us and made us feel very welcome. George will be joining us again tomorrow night with his repaired T in time for Steam Boat Springs which will give us the full 43 model T?s back on the road.

For further information, please contact:
Ford Australia Communications
Phone: 03-9359 8491

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