Dom's
Adventure
The 2008 Centennial Model T-Party

Webster defines ODYSSEY as an extended wandering or journey. It would be fair to
say driving 1100 miles over 4 days from northern Virginia to Richmond, Indiana and
back in a vintage Model T Ford Touring car might just qualify as one. On Friday, July
18th the odyssey began with a crossing of the Potomac River aboard White’s Ferry
heading north to Frederick, MD for US Route 40 (The National Road) west.










A few long pulls up the hills of western Maryland and southern Pennsylvania slowed
the pace but Lizzie did well cruising between 40 and 42 mph down hill and on the
straight-aways. The old stone mile markers, the Y shaped bridge in Zanesville, OH
and “Madonna of the Trail” statues, honoring the women who braved the route to
western settlement; along this scenic byway added nicely to this historic 575-mile
adventure to Richmond. Not a single Model T was sighted driving or being towed until
reaching Indiana.

Registration at the Wayne County Fairgrounds was well organized. Sheriff Matt
Strittmatter had his personnel, lead by Chief Deputy Jeff Cappa, everywhere –
directing traffic (giving “T’s” the right-of-way), assisting with directions, and dignitary
protection for the Ford Family members. The volunteers could not have been more
friendly and helpful. I told several that I would have to take exception with Mr. Webster
because hospitality should be spelled H-o-o-s-i-e-r.

The community opened their 3 1/2 mile long Whitewater River Gorge nature trail with
80-foot high, 800-foot long single lane, walking path bridge to the T’s for a nice drive.
The Levi Coffin State Historic Underground Railroad site that is credited with freeing
more that 2000 slaves was just up Route 27 from an ole Amish bakery and store. It is
hard to say if the Centerville Methodist church pancake breakfasts were outdone by
the Amish.

There are 884 cars registered according to the official program. Ford Motor Company
had a large display including a tractor-trailer souvenirs shop on wheels, a replica of
the 1896 Quadricycle, 1909 Touring # 839, 999 race car. It is hard to believe that the
999 had an open rear end and steering handle instead of steering wheel. Times have
changed! The 5 millionth Model T, a 21 Coupe, was on display in the registration
building and the Henry Ford had several of the T-100s there to provide rides visitors.

There were people and Model T’s at the fairgrounds, in town, at gas stations, in
stores at the Model T Museum and everywhere you looked. I saw five of our DC area
chapter members in the crowds at the fairgrounds.

Just over 4-miles from the fairgrounds was the Model T Museum. A “T” firetruck,
snowmobile, dump truck, depot hack and all manner of cut-away parts were on
display. The gift shop was naturally very busy during the T-Party. An afternoon antique
airplane Fly-in was capped off with the flight of a replica of the Wright Brothers plane.










The weather could not have been better. It rained only one evening. The morning after
I came out to uncover my car. Next to me was a ’14 touring with the tarp collapsed into
the back seat-well filled to the tops of the doors with water. After talking with the
owner, accessing there was not damage to the car, I took their picture across from
their Model T pool and assisted with the careful, slow, opening of a door to drain the
T. Miraculously, there was no damage to the T or leakage from the tarp. Two
attendees from our hotel drove their speedsters all the way from southern California.












The return trip, southeast through Ohio, include a drive through at the Roberts
Covered Bridge, passing over a single lane steel bridge before riding over the
mountains of West Virginia, onto the Massanutten and the Shedandoah mountains in
Virginia. The 2-day return 540-mile trip was completed without a drop of rain.



















This adventure of over 1100-miles was a test for the 2009 New York to Seattle run
beginning on June 12th. I can hardly wait.