Scarier in daylight

Conejo Model A Club gathered at Crystal and Scott Dool's home for the scariest of Halloween parties.... Adults in costume in broad daylight.  Many thanks to the Dools for making it a grand affair.  Is this a new "we do it every year" party??  

New members Scott Cramolini & friend Alyssa ( hunter and the hunted); Art & Dee Minazzoli (Hershey Kiss & Raggedy Ann) OLD member Carol ( Devil or Angel) and guest Frank Lussier ( wizard of ALL)  Wiinners of costume awards.  Please note our gold medals

Kissy Art, Al Koch & friend Janet.  Al wore his usual Saturday morning attire.

Happy looking dudes.  Phil Landry ( spaceman) Tom Yendez with sacramental glass of wine, ( all religions covered) and Dave( half out of costume - Grim Reaper)

All problems of the world resolved!!

 Pumpkins carved to perfection!

Ghosty affair - Crystal Dool

Toothless!

 AND THE WINNER IS

Poppin Crazy - by Dee Arthur

P.S.  Dee's scarey eyeball appetizers also very creative

Donna and Phil Landry flew in from outer space.

Very HOT couple

First Lady Mary, Mr. Stones ( who will never see this picture) and Kay who helped keep religious theme going with Tom Yendez.

 

 

Good time had by all!! See you next year???

Its all about me!!! ( Sort pf)

After two days of cornfields and more cornfields, we transitioned to higher ground with views of cattle and an occasional aroma of a dairy farm.  My the aroma does carry aways. 

My birthday found us heading on to North Platte, NE with a variety of sights along the way. 
Who knew but now you all will.

 Do you know who this is?

This is a way station....   where Pony Express riders changed horses.

This one is located in Gothenberg, NE.  Men as young as 12 were riders,

they were tough just like folks who go across country in a Model A.

Pony express was only in existence for about 15 months, but

it cut time for letters from months to days between SF and St. Louis..

Each night the 20 Model A cars ( 40 folks) arrive at our hotels

( very nice nice to boot).

We gather at 6pm for a drivers meeting, another phrase for wine and beer.

Since this was my birthday, Dave had arranged for

Opolo wine to be shipped to the hotel

and we bought some cheese, crackers etc for a special evening. 

Lots of fun new friends.

Then a few continued the birthday celebration at a local restuarant in North Platte.

I may have to get the recipe for the salmon I had.

Please note the young man standing at end of table.

Justin was our team mascot and a delight the entire trip.

And for a perfect evening, Charlie from the Conejo Model A Club

serenaded me with Happy Birthday and more.  it was a memorable day.

The entire restaurant became part of my birthday. 

Charlie, took over for the paid piano player who didn't seem to mind.

The trip is also an eating excursion.  We have had great and not so...

Charlie and I start working an hour or so out to decide where

and when we should stop for our next meal.  

The picture above is at a truck stop, Charlie was a little hungry

and ordered a HALF ORDER of biscuits and gravy. As you can see

it was the size of a meat platter.  I had a blueberry muffin.

Remember vacation calories/fat don't count.

We arrived in Golden, CO the day after my birthday and had

a great dinner in old downtown Golden with John Solomon.

Non Model A folks may want to skip the rest of this

Any idea what/where this is? 

 Building looks nice in picture than reality.

It is where many of the Model A folks have sent lots of money.

This sign is very small in a tiny window.  Yes it is

Bert's Model A Center in Denver.

Though closed on Sundays, they opened up special

for us for Sunday Services.

The wheels aisle.

Brake or clutch pedal aisle.

 ( who can tell the difference)

Please note the ladder, ( the newest thing in the place)

for access to the higher level inventory. 

An unbelievable, gigantice warehouse.

They also own a BBQ wagon,  Dave has arranged for this

to be delivered to his Kiwanis Club.  The license plate reads BBQ.

Yes we were close to the last to leave the Sunday Services.

Charlie bought something and so did Dave. 

I don't know or care what.

The scenery changed shortly outside or Denver. 

 More on this tomorrow.



It's the "humes" Honey.

It is Hot...  How hot?  According to the lovely TV weather girl it is 98degrees but feels like 113 due to humidity. I have felt 113 and trust me this is hotter.  Some you  Model Aers remember my 120 degree thermometer story,  well it is so hot here that the ink in my ball point pen melted out the bottom.

Today we arrived in Gretna, just south of Omaha!!  Grueling drive.  Sadly not only heat but the sky is a shade of grey due to the smoke from Colorado fires. 
But a few final stories of the MAFCA meet.

PARADE OF PARADES

 

On our next to last evening of the Model A convention, 160 Model A Cars lined up in Ishpeming and led by the 20 millionth Model A paraded thru the towns of Ispeming, Neguanee, and other small towns to throngs of local residents lining the streets, smiling waving, sharing beers and having a great time.  Small towns are the best!

Following the parade we were treated to a pig roast!

and a concert by the local community band. 

Not the high school band as evidenced by the AARP cards

carried by the majorettes.  Still great fun.

Now on to St. Ignace ( pronounced in the UP Ignes)

Just in case seeing 300 Model A cars weren't enough ...

As we left Marquette, we dropped down to St. Ignace and the first day

of the Great American Race.  Oh joy 80 plus more cars to see.

The venue was great at the Marina looking over

to Mackinac Island ( pronounced Mackinaw)

Then on to Gaylord, MI..  If you ever get there be sure to eat at the

Sugarbowl and stop in the Chocolat Haus next door for

 chocolate covered potato chips and bacon ( chocolate covered). 

Now on to South Bend

Now I know what you are thinking... that Carol is a saint.
Look she even went to the Studebake museum in South Bend, IN.

I went for the PIZZA, oh yuks who serves pizza without beer.

The very gracious and fun friends in the Hoosier A's

Did you know the Studebaker plant was in South Bend? 

Did you know they started making wheelbarrow, then wagons

then carriages, up to cars and even fire trucks.

this was my favorite. 

While in South Bend we did visit Notre Dame campus

and had lunch at "The Legends".

Now on to Gilmore....  for guess what....

A car museum under construction............ 

MAFFI is building a Model A museum to  house

one or more of every Model A, plus a research library

containing original drawings and specifications.

AND look another parade but sadly  no cars.

Oh be still my beating heart, a parade of antique tractors.

( Is there a status above sainthood?)

Seriously, the museums at Gillmore are worth the trip. 

Packards, Cadillacs, every antique/classic car imaginable.

Leaving Dearborn, and driving thru south side of Chicago to Moline

Traffic was harrowing though the picture is sideways,

please note Little Red truck sticking its nose between

two very large, very fast semi trucks. 

They passed us constantly on both sides.

I now have a story to top the drive to Orange County.

We chose to get off the Interstate and find a local road.

And stared at this for the next two days so far.  More tomorrow
through Nebraska to North Platte.  For the non-farmers, this is
a cornfield.  They are on both sides for as far as you can see.
Charlie gives detailed descriptions of their status at each gas stop.

Could be a short blog tomorrow.

FINALLY MAFCA CONVENTION

For those that haven't received my emails of dispair re: dilema of not being able to send emails thru WiFi hook-ups, I also couldn't get onto the correct blog to post new blogs.  Patience being a virtue and knowing how virtuous I am, it took several attempts but I finally have done it.  Just hope I can do it again. 

So due to time and millions of pictures I will even further condense this dialog.  For those interested a 6 session detailed lecture series will be offered upon return to Thousand Oaks.  ( Model A Club has no choice it will be the program at many future meetings.

ARRIVED AT MAFCA CONVENTION

Welcomed by Ishpeming, Marquette, Neqaunee etc

Cut outs of various Model A  models were hung about town.

No matter where we went the folks were welcoming and curious.

 Even police escorts !!!

                          Things we've seen

 Ford Bungalow home

Ford bought up most of the upper Peninsula to obtain

the source for timber and iron ore to manufacture his cars.

Today we call it vertical integration.  He mastered it.

This home was used by the Ford Family when in the area. 

Imagine sitting in the white rockers on the porch and

looking out at a beautiful lake.Today it is privately owned.

 Available to rent by the week - sleeps 16, some "bungalow".

         

        Steam Fire Engine

(sorry Dan I didn't note the year, 1900?)

Located in small town of Lake Michigamme

     

 The Steam Fire engine was first pulled by horses

(very large strong ones) till town purchased or Ford

gave them this 1928 Model AA truck.  This truck is totally

unrestored ( duh for the non collectors )  Sold by the town

for money many years ago along with an the Steam engine for $1000.

Bought back on E-bay a few years ago for $180,000.

Gigantic water pump used ore mining

Iron Mountain, Ford replaced all the mining operations

in the area with modern plants, built power plants, etc. 

modernized the area and the economy.  Eventually

most all closed down.

WWII Glider plane

Google "gliders during WWII" for the full story of their use. 

Due to Ford efficiency, he underbid all others by

$10,000 each plane for the contract.  Built at $25,000each.

Used behind the lines, they were a one time use plane.

Things with Ford name 

Can anyone tell how Kingsford briquets came about?

Kingsford was Henry's cousin.  Apparently inherited the

"waste not, want not" gene and suggested they use the

left over burned wood chunks and sell them as

charcoal briquets.  (Kingsford Briquets)

Henry may have been an egomaniac also.  He put his name on

everything used.  This is silver ware from UP supervisors cafeteria.

But even the everyday workers cafeteria used monogramed

plates, bowls and flatware.

  We met the VP who today protects and authorizes

the use of Ford logo.

Ford Football team for kids ( note the ages)

no he did not make the football

A man way ahead of his time. 

 For my Rotarian friends !!! I did my make-up and traded banners.

AND for the Kiwanis... at the top of a hill in Neguanee, a hundred years ago,

The Kiwanis built the world's highest man-made wood ski jump.

They still hold one event a year.  ( anyone want to try)

see below

 Dave, John LaVoy , editor of Model A Times and

 organizer of our driving to and from MI.

Plus Justin, John's delightful10 year old grandson.

I think they are discussing who is going to climb up the ski jump.

ENOUGH for the day,  time for a snack or wine.



Day - Lost Count - I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack

So much has happened since last blog that I'll have to portion it out over next several days.  You are spared any accounts of my class reunion "what happens in Shadyside stays in Shadyside.  We will remain focused on the Model A drive, sans Carol.  And oh by the way it was my 50th reunion not 59th as stated in last blog.  Thanks Pat Paulucci for pointing out the error of my ways.

Entering Rapid City Regional Airport at breakneck speed

 to drop ( literally) me off at the curb to catch my flight to Ohio.

My men had spotted an air museum next door to the airport at

 Ellis AFB

B-29

 B-52

 B-57  ( Captain Larry's airplane)

Rapid City break down - So much for sightseeing to

Mt. Rushmore or Crazy Horse.

 The repair begins of a broken right steering arm .

 Super specialist consultants

with liquid refreshments to sustain themselves.

 Look closely - 

 Model A car folks can you spot the problem?

Non-car folks that upper round bar should connect

over to the wheel - Best just to go straight and

don't turn anywhere or the left one may look the same.

Not a good thing.

 The little devil that broke !! Seems small and cute.

Perhaps it should have a longer stem.

Next Day!!  Drive to Mitchell, SD

                                      

 And my honey in front of the Mitchell Corn Palace!

Appears to be a bit down sized from its glory days in 1921.

(Oops just reread this I mean the Palace not Dave.)

Now an activity center dedicated to youth.

 But Cornelius Corn is a happy greeting.

( perhaps my daughter could tell me how to rotate

this picture?  I rotated in the picture file but it

turns around on the blog???  

 Just turn your computer on its side.

 The REAL Cornelius Corn

Corney mail box. 

Dave ordered one for our Nebraska corn farmer friend.

Okay, guys enough for the day.  I must prepare for the

Ishpeming parade and Pig Roast.  What does one wear

to a pig roast?   Perhaps they'll have a lovely Syrah or

Pinot Noir to complement the pig.