Model T tour drives to Farmamerica

Local drivers were likely surprised to find themselves mingling with dozens of Model T Ford vehicles on Waseca County roads on July 24.  The Model T owners, on the other hand, had been planning on the drive for nearly two years.

 

Owatonna area resident Mark Cameron was the lead planner for the event. He explained the Model T Club International has more than 5,000 members spread all over the world. The organization holds an annual convention of sorts which focuses on allowing participants to do one of their favorite things: drive their vintage cars.

 

Toward that end, local groups can put together a proposal that includes about five days of activities to which participants can easily drive from a central location.

 

Cameron and other leaders of the 150-member Minnesota group, the “T-Totalers,” presented a proposal for consideration two years ago and were quickly accepted.

 

“We won because we had the best destinations,” he declared enthusiastically. 

 

Cameron was pleased with the response from international membership. He says more than 220 Model Ts accompanied by about 600 people of all ages registered for the Minnesota event. Most were staying at the Hilton Doubletree in Owatonna. Except perhaps for a few driven by local members, all the Model Ts were brought to Minnesota on trailers from as far away as California, Florida, and locations in Canada.

 

Among the destinations during the five days of touring, the longest drive included Minneopa Park in Mankato. Since the group takes roundabout routes in order to avoid being an impediment to traffic, that day included about 130 miles of driving. Another day had taken them to Zumbrota where they parked their cars and walked through the city’s iconic covered bridge, which is only open to foot traffic.

 

On Thursday, the group spent the morning and lunch hour at Farmamerica. After that they headed to the Faribault Woolen Mills. The morning drive brought them on county roads angling southwest out of Owatonna, through Otisco, then up to County Road 4, CR 9, and finally CR 2, which leads to Farmamerica.

 

“It was a pretty drive,” observed one participant who owns two Model Ts. “This is beautiful country.”

 

Another participant admitted Thursday morning’s rain had been a deterrent, since her Model T has no top. “We went back for the pickup,” she said. Cameron mentioned others braved the rain, knowing the forecast predicted it would stop.

 

At Farmamerica, Model T owners parked their cars and toured the various sites. With their fascination for vehicles and vehicle restoration, many found the blacksmith shop and the vintage tractors of interest.  In the meantime, many members of the public visited in order to see the nearly 200 versions of Model T vehicles parked in long lines on the grounds. As their scheduled time at the site wound down, vehicle owners treated visitors to a “pass and review,” a sort of parade around the grounds behind the interpretive center.

 

During a conversation with the Pioneer, Cameron revealed he owns five Model Ts. He went on to say nearly every club member owns at least two, and some own 10 or more.

 

“There’s something truly special about Model Ts,” he commented.

 

“People ask me why I would want to drive such an old vehicle,” he said. “But really it’s a matter of how can you not drive one?”

 

He went on to say owners drive their cars often during the warmer months of the year. “Model Ts are especially good at finding ice cream shops,” he stated lightheartedly. With a top speed of 40 mph and with so many of them open to the air, he said one of their chief charms is that, “Unlike in a regular car, when you see something you might like to slow down for and look at a little bit more closely, you’re not already past it.

 

“It’s a fantastic way to enjoy the day, appreciate nature, and share the company of your passengers.”

 

Cameron shared that the Ford company built 15 million Model T vehicles between 1908 and 1927. Over those years, he said Ford’s increasingly efficient use of production lines actually allowed the selling prices to drop.

 

Along with their own work finding and restoring Model T vehicles, Cameron claimed club members have a shared interest in helping others do the same. With so many made, he estimates that for every one that’s been restored, there are three to four vehicles parked in farm buildings and groves somewhere.

 

“There’s a tremendous support system for these vehicles,” he said. “If you know of one that’s out there possibly going to rust, contact us. We’ll either help you fix it, or help you find someone else who’ll do it.”

 

Anyone who wishes to contact the Minnesota T-Totalers, he said, should look at the organization’s Facebook page: T Totalers Model T Ford Club.