• Rapid City Tour from banner 213 July 25 - 11:26 pm

We are anxiously awaiting pictures and updates from the tour!!

We had an accident. I don't have all the facts, but as I see it and have heard about it...Near the top of a fairly long hill, the red Touring was trying for Ruckstell low (or he had some kind of drive line failure) and wound up in neutral. He started rolling backward (I had to dodge him) and could not stop. I did not see anything else. He did flip his car and the two passengers got hurt and are in the Sturgis, hospital.

This is a well organized tour through some beautiful country. Pictures will follow.

I saw the car and it did not have a Ruckstel. What it had was an overdrive lash up that got stuck in neutral. The Ford.emergency brakes failed to hold the car and it rolled back down the hill and then rolledy over. I have pictures and will post the later.

The good news is there were no fatalities in the accident, but the wife did suffer some head injuries and broken pelvic.

Mark

There are a lot of us around the country who have friends on that tour. Is anyone going to post any details such as.... for instance.... who had the accident and what the latest news is. It has been mentioned in passing on both forums, leaving us all wondering.

According to the tour newsletter, here's the accounting of the accident:

" Yesterday (Tuesday) the Martins (Doris and Jim) were involved in an accident as you all know. The Furstnow's are the source of the info i'm giving to all 0f you." "The accident happend on an upgrade when Jim tried to downshift his Nash Metropolitan transmission and put it into neutral instead. the car started going backwards and he had no brakes. The wheel started whipping back and forth and the car rolled over."

"Doris is still in the hospital although she was expected to be released today (that was yesterday). She had a cracked pelvis, some stitches, and other bruises. Both are in good spirits and we are all grateful that they weren't hurt worse."

This all the info that I have ...attached are some pictures of the car. If you're not a believer of safety glass, then you should be after seeing these pictures.

Thanks, Mark

Mark Williams
MTFCI 2nd Vice President

What about other tour pictures? There have been no posts with pictures, no news about anything except the accident??? What about events - fashion show, youth auction, judging? This is all very strange??

WHEN YOU ARE ON AN ORGANIZED TOUR, THEY HAVE EVERY MINUTE FULL, sorry didn't realize caps were locked, anyway you are busy from sun-up till late nite, and then you are under T's helping others get going for the next day, you don't really have time to send back photos etc, till its over with, I've made many MTFCA tours and they too are very busy

Gee, since I have been on 7 MTFCI annual tours and the co-chairperson of 3 of them, I am very aware of what happens on a tour before, during and after. It has always been a practice that pictures and updates have been posted all week long. Just wondering!!!

Members,

The Internet access here at the host hotel is dismal at best. It took me over 30 minutes just to post the one picture of the wrecked car! We I return home next week I will begin posting pictures from the tour taken from various sources.

Thanks, Mark

I have a bunch of random pics that I'll try to post when I get them downloaded- I have probably 30 pics and not quite sure how to get them all in there. I was there when we flipped the car back over- glad they're doing well- like all T folks they're delightful people
g

I'm putting some of my photos up on my Picasa account. I'll try and post a link in a few moments.

GREAT TOUR !!!!!! A LOT OF FUN!!!!

Try this link

http://picasawe b.google.com/bs olak87/2010Sout hDakotaTour?fea t=directlink

Great pictures Bob, thanks for posting. The tour was a true test of equipment. Great scenery and even better in a Model T.

Great scenery, great people! A wonderful week! We enjoyed finally meeting some of the people we've been talking to. The tour committee did a great job! Thanks!!

Great tour, wonderful folks and lots of good driving.

I'm just curious about the long distance award and what the requirments are to qualify? As I understand the car that won this year had a V8 60 in it.

There were 3 long distance awards this year:
One for longest distance driven in a T (which was indeed won by a '26 coupe with a V8-60 under the hood); one for longest distance trailered which I believe came from Florida; and longest distance an individual travelled (she came from Spain).

While the V8 may have shortened the drive time, the suspension and consequently the ride can't be much better. It's the kidneys that actually receive the award in my mind, having won this award once myself in a stock flivver.

Warren,

I had a opportunity to look at this v8 powered T, and none of the running gear was model T. Engine, transmission, drive shaft, rear end, wheels, radius rods, etc came from a model A or later vehicle. I seriously challenge the fact that this car is considered a Model T for this or any award...this car is nothing more than a rat rod. Driving a car that can drive 50 -55 MPH all day long is not the same as driving a true model T, in my opinion. At least model T speedsters have model T running gear! We definitely need to tighten up the definition of what a model T is for these awards.

Mark

In my opinion you should have a period correct MODEL T to get an award of this nature. I could have a Model T body on a 2010 running gear and win a long distance award is not fair for the other person who drove a stock Model T slightly less distance. I just hope in the future that there is some rules to qualify for this award.

It's not like the winner got a check for $1000. It's just a fun thing.

Still, I hear what you're saying.

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quote:

We definitely need to tighten up the definition of what a model T is for these awards.

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I don't understand how the MTFCI rules work but if it showed up at a MTFCA tour it is not supposed to be able to tour because you have to have a T block, only in a few instances did an A engine'd T get to run because the wife was wheel chair bound

John, as last year's tour chair, I can tell you that it really is up to the 'tour host' as to what is accepted on the tour. On my tour, I allowed several Model A along with an early EMF, a '31 Plymouth and a couple of modern vehicles to come along.

This year there were about half-a-dozen Model A participating along with several modern cars carrying elderly passengers. I know that in several situations on my tour, if it had not been for allowing the modern vehicle with A/C to participate, the elderly folks who have been active in touring over the past decades would not be able to come along. I realize it is difficult to determine what type of vehicle is allowed to participate and what is not, but sometimes the people in charge just need to overlook certain things.

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Many thanks to the MTFCI and host club for a wonderful week. Sheryl and Cheryl, their spouses and their club put on a very nice event which my wife and I enjoyed very much. We'd do it again in a heartbeat.

The vehicle that is in question was carrying a wheelchair. Perhaps a class such as the EV8 club has called "touring class" consisting of cars with period modifications but not acceptable in the judging would be something to consider.

This particular car was not involved in judging and, although beautifully done, would not have received a judging award due to its power train.

The "longest driven" thing is an informal recognition, done at the closing banquet, buy process of elimination, (e.g. who has driven over 300 miles? Over 400 miles? Etc.).

Brent,

I agree fully with your statement, "...sometimes the people in charge just need to overlook certain things".

In our chapter we have at least one couple who helped to make a our group the wonderful association of friends that it is today. Touring in a Model T is very hard for them anymore and so they drive their modern car to most events. I could not begin to imagine banning them from "Model T" events due their condition.

I realize nobody is really suggesting that. I'm just saying that your acknowledging those who have contributed to the hobby by giving them a break when they needed one was a noble act. I hope that kind of attitude can continue.

Any news on Howard G who became sick before the ending banquet?

Howard Gustavson has returned
home and is now feeling fine.

Mark