2007 Texas to Colorado Model T Tour
June 20th thru July 4th, 2007
joining the "Search
for the Mohigans Tour”
and the Model T
Club of Northern Colorado.
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Today’s the day! The first day
of our two-week Model T Tour of the mountains of Colorado.
The five cars were all lined up in the pasture in front
of Texas Model A&T Parts around 7:00AM, eager and ready to
get on the road for our trip to Colorado. Along for the
ride are the following brave souls: Ross Lilleker of
Bryan and Luke Cordes of Houston in a 1927 Model T Touring with
Ross’s dogs, Bailey and Emma; Bruce and Barbara Lilleker
of Chesterfield, England in a 1915 Model T Touring; Austen and
Nicky Bromley of London, England in a 1915 Model T Touring; Ben
and Nancy Hardeman in a 1926 Model T Pickup with their dog,
Marian Rose; and Martin Thomen of San Marcos, Texas, in a 1926
Model T Touring name Izzie. Martin is towing a
“Toby” trailer that he built himself and named for
his father.
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It was a little threatening but no rain yet
when we pulled out. The rain started within minutes
although it wasn’t too bad when we merged onto Highway
21, less than five miles from the shop. We hadn’t
gotten out of the county when Ross called to tell us that he
had been hit from behind. We pulled a U-turn as soon as
it was safe and rushed back to see the blue Touring where it
landed after a full 360 turn and slid down an embankment.
It was a frightening sight and car parts and their
belongings were scattered all over the road and hillside.
Before those of you who know him start
calling, Ross and his friend, Luke Cordes, are doing okay.
They are trying to get a car running so they can get back
on the road so please don’t call them. They will
both be a little sore but were checked out by doctors and have
no broken bones. They are both stiff and sore and have
very sore necks. The guy who hit them was simply not
paying attention. We don’t know what he was doing
but, obviously, not looking ahead. And, of course,
apparently uninsured.
After the car was hoisted up onto the
wrecker and Ross and Luke went back to town, the rest of us
went on our way. The rain was coming down more heavily
and it actually got a little chilly, an unusual thing
for June in Texas.
The cars ran well until just north of
Temple. Ben and I had stayed with Ross but the others had
gone on ahead. We caught up with them just before noon
but, unfortunately, they were on the side of the road.
Something bad had happened to the transmission in
Austen’s car. It wasn’t noon yet and we had
lost two cars. We called the shop and Luke (yes, the same
Luke as above) and another friend, Blake Williams, hitched up
our flat-bed trailer
and set out to retrieve Austen and Nicky.
After making sure that they had what they
needed and that Blake and Luke knew where to find them, we
started up again. And, now we were down to three.
With all these delays, lunch was hot dogs
at a convenience store. We had driven out of the rain
and, when we stopped for a stretch break an hour or so later,
we thought we were back on track. But when we started up
again, Martin’s car wouldn’t start. The guys
pushed it to get it going but discovered that the battery
wasn’t getting a charge. This time we sent Bruce
and Barbara on ahead and tried to find a place to charge the
battery and determine what was wrong with the alternator.
At a small mechanic’s garage in Comanche, Texas,
Ben realized that the problem wasn’t the alternator but a
wiring issue. New wiring (thank God for NAPA) and we were
on our way again.
By the time we arrived in Abilene, our
destination for today, it was hot and we were all tired.
But the three of us made it here together. The
other two cars made it home and all the people are safe.
Austen’s car problems turned out to be a broken flange in
the central shaft of the transmission. They are planning
to fix Austen’s car,
check out another of our Model T’s to
see if it is trip-ready, and set out again on Friday (with cars
on a trailer). They may catch up with or pass us along
the way.
It has been an amazing first day. It
could have been a lot better but it could have been just a
whole lot worse. We’re grateful that Ross and Luke
and the two dogs weren’t seriously injured.
We’re pleased that the problems with Austen’s
car are fixable. Those of us here in Abilene are looking
forward to a good night sleep and a good day tomorrow.
Happy Birthday
to our good friend and Model T camping companion Greg Stewart today!
We wish you were with us on our trip this year again, but
we are glad you will be able to go on another Model T camping
tour next week in western New York state.
