MTFCA Forum

I know many of us have allowed youngsters of all ages sit in our cars for photographs. While we talk about how to restore or care for our old cars we also talk about how to treat our fans and onlookers. There are plenty of cars too nice to let kids crawl over or get their sticky hands on. I thought some of mine were those for a time. Yet I remember getting to sit in an American La France leather seat at the age of 6. A ride in a Mercer at 35. Stanley and White Steamers have shaped my appreciation of magic old cars can bring.
What could be a better way to promote the hobby than to give a kid that thrill? In an age of predators we do have to be careful. I make sure parents are around before allowing youngsters access. Here are a few photos of delights I have seen and helped happen. Perhaps others have pictures to show.

Of course we can’t always know who is really enjoying the ride and who will have a lasting memory. Those in back seats are not noticed while we are distracted by driving and safe loading and unloading. We do hear form riders years after. One fellow called me after his mother passed away to mention how much his mother enjoyed a 95th Birthday ride that I had been a little reluctant to give. The Yellowstone bus allows me to give many rides at a time. One anniversary event at the WY museum entailed 96 miles one day of trips around the block at 7 to 10 passengers each trip. It might have been 600 folks or so. Yes, my rear fenders have suffered many shoe scrapes over the years but seems to be worth it to me.
One football celebrity (they tell me) was a little reluctant to take a ride. An hour later he asked for another. A couple insisted on lifting their motionless daughter from a wheelchair into the seat between them. She seemed to be protesting the ordeal but it was their decision. Not knowing anything about her ailment I couldn’t imagine her even knowing where she was. As they wheeled her back to the parking lot she looked back with a blank stare and raised her hand in a wave. It was touching.
We gave a surprise party for a fellow club member just after I built my Speedster. It turned out he had to work overtime and we waited 2 hours for him to get home. Everyone wanted a ride so several dozen rides around the block. One lady mentioned years later that she hadn’t gotten a ride. Her husband had built a Speedster in the interim. I’m sure her encouragement was part of why.
Just some simple reminders that an easy trip could mean a great deal to some people.
Rich

Absolutely, Rich. I've given many short rides to people, especially kids. Allowed many folks to sit in it for pictures, etc. That's the best thing we can do with these old junk Fords.

One of the features of the Canyonlands Tour we went on in 2009 was a stop in Colorado City, AZ. The local kids had been told when we would be there and they were all gathered in the park in the center of town for Model T rides. Fun!

Several years ago they were having a summer school type event in a nearby village and ask our local car club if we could bring some cars to show on a day that they were discussing industrialization. Well I think that about 15 cars showed up anything from a Sears auto buggy to a very nice 59 Cadillac. The kids seemed to enjoy looking at the cars but everyone said don't touch, now my car is no beauty queen so I said hop in and try it out I opened both doors and had a parade going through I let them pull on the levers and push the pedals and the horn of course they loved it. I gave them one warning " Don't try this on any of the other cars the owners might not appreciate it."

Another time I was at a garage sale and the daughter (about my age) of the woman that was having the sale got to talking to me about my roadster and I asked if she would like a ride she of course accepted so off we went she had a ball. About a year later they had another sale and the mother said she was disappointed that she did not get to go for a ride last year could I possibly give her one. Well you know the answer to that one, while we were driving she asked the year and when told 1926 she said that was the same year she was born. I don't know who got more out of that ride her or I. Jim

Yes, I try to remember to impress upon the youngsters that you can't get in or touch most cars unless the owner gives you permission. Some are a little aggressive at honking the bulb horn or ratcheting the spark and gas levers back and forth. I ask them not to work the controls and explain things are delicate. A few owners get miffed that we allow some of this. I hate to see children shrieked at for getting too close but we each make our own choices.
Thanks for being generous.
Rich

Since acquiring my latest T I haven't had much opportunity to interact with it and lots of people. Our grandsons think a trip to the feed store is a lot of fun. Rich, I laugh to think how we were told "Don't touch !!" (Mr. S was a helpful mentor in spite of that)

I was at the gas station in the summer time with the RPU. I came out and this couple was standing by the truck and the lady was leaning inside going on and on about the truck to her husband. The burlap seat covers the wood floors and such. I stood by her for a couple minutes and when she steped back, all the while going on to her husband about the truck I reached for the door and she stopped and looked at me and asked if it was mine.
I said yes and answered the normal questions. When finished she said I wish I had a truck like that.
I asked if she wanted a ride. She thought I was kidding. I said I was in no hurry if she had time. Well her husband took her purse and away we went. That lady smiled and waved like the queen in a parade. Every car or person we passed got a wave. After a short trip I dropped her of to her husband and she never stopped telling him details as I drove off.
Made both our day.

I do not know how many of you are aware of the Jimmy Walker award. This is given to a young driver who drives one leg of a tour at the annual MTFCI tour. It is one way of getting kids interested in Model T's. Thank you John Regan for coming up with the award.

Although it was my son that was with me, if another young man was there and his parent asked me to let him drive, there is a chance I would say yes. They do not have to drive fast. Just go one leg of the days route. I taught my son how to drive in a parking lot across the street and then off we went. It only took 20 minutes for him to get the basics.

Thank about it. Other clubs could have an award similar to this. Does not have to be on a tour.

That is a great thing to do. We have let the grandkids drive a few times in a lot that is vacant on Sundays. Most of them have had an opportunity to crank too.
These guys found us at a coffee stop on a tour. It is as much fun for me as is is for them.

Found this little hoodlum out terrorizing the streets with his mother in tow. He was bursting at the seams
with excitement over the old truck, so I told him to climb up inside. I was quite amazed at how close to
accurate he was in explaining to his mother how the pedals and levers worked. I don't think he was a day
over four years old !

If we could only bottle that enthusiasm and sell it.

I think most of us often get questions about the cars when we stop. Many times I have the folks, especially the kids, get in the car to have their picture taken. Sometimes this leads to somebody going for as ride.
Vinny's dad told me his ride around the fairgrounds was all he talked about for a couple of weeks.

I was giving rides during our town celebration, I had a platform set up for easy entrance to walk right in. An old couple got in and said it was there wedding anniversary that day and said when they got married they had a ride in the rumble seat of a Model A. I asked how long they had been married expecting an answer of about 50 years. His answer was ONE year. They made my day.