MAFCA's Natchez Trace Tour Video

New Photos

For all our friends making the drive down the Trace, please send me photos you want to post and I'll do my best to get them up. Email them to modelagarth@yahoo.com. I'll be updating the blog through April

PHOTOS

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The Push Home and After Thoughts

Day 9 (Thu 4/14)

Beginning Mileage: 91695

Ending Mileage: 91951

Total Mileage: 1690

The Final Leg - For me, it’s hard to accept that the Natchez Trace Tour is ending. For over two years I have wanted and campaigned for this tour and to see it end is both happy and sad. Our final push of 250 miles home was actually uneventful. The cars ran with no problem. The weather, while cloudy, kept the temperatures mild, though we did fight some gusty winds. We arrived home having driven 1,690 miles. Our average driving speed was 41 mph, which is a pleasant speed to enjoy the many sights on the Trace. My miles per gallon came in at 16.3 with a 2 barrel down draft carburetor.

The People – What can be said about Model A people? As a group, there is none better anywhere. Old and young, from the west or east, north or south, they unite to celebrate these small 80-year-old cars. For me, the great  enjoyment was gathering in the evening in hotel lobbies or restaurants, meeting with those I know well and those I met for the first time on the tour, hearing about the sights they enjoyed that day or the weather they avoided or didn’t. The two teams of ladies driving the trace was an inspiration to all, as well as it should be. After all, Henry marketed the Model A to women.

For some close friends, this was their first extended tour. To see their confidence in these little cars grow daily and the smile on their faces talking about the day’s events was priceless.

Any time you have over 400 people gather, there will always be a few that aren’t able to find joy. I had literally dozens and dozens come to me the last night expressing their gratitude and telling me how much fun they had. One well known and traveled Model A’r, told me this was among the best events he had been on. Yeah, there were a couple of mix-ups and mistakes, there always will be. But with the possible exception of a few, everyone had the time of their lives.

The Place – I have said for a number of years that the Natchez Trace Parkway is the perfect Model A highway. Yes, I know of many roads that are Super A Roads but I have never heard of any that are as long, gentle and beautiful. In talking to a friend who has attended dozens of national events, gone on many tours on the east coast, west coast, south and north, he confirmed this thought. For 450 miles, with gentle speeds, easy curves and hills, no semi trucks bearing down on you and no traffic signals or stop signs to get in the way, it was as if the Natchez Trace was designed for our little cars.

The Cars – 200 cars started in Franklin, Tennessee and, as best I can calculate, 193 ended in Natchez, Mississippi. For some of these cars it was the first tour of this magnitude. For others, it was the first time being driven since restoration (working the bugs out). We had phaetons, coupes, fordors, tudors, roadsters and even a fire truck. You name it we had it. Some were specially equipped for touring with overdrives, modern electronics and fuel systems; others were plain ol’ stock. It didn’t matter, after all they were Model A’s.

Some, including me, had some minor issues (the kind that make a tour like this challenging and fun) while others experienced no problems and a few had to pull out. In the end, it didn’t really matter because it was fun and exciting.

The Tour - To run 200 cars from over 30 states, 2 countries and well over 400 people was monumental. Some said it was illegal and the National Park Service wouldn’t permit it but they did. Others said the Trace couldn’t handle that many people as there weren’t the food, bathrooms and gas but there was. This was a fantastic event and David Black and Jill Sullins did an outstanding job administering and organizing the tour.   

I can’t wait to go to 2013! How about you?

Check back Monday as I will post additional pictures and for any having made the trip, please feel free to download any and if you have any you want to share, email them to me at modelagarth@yahoo.com and I will try and get them on the website.

On to Natchez

Day 8 (Wed 4/13)

Beginning Mileage: 91540

Ending Mileage: 91695

Total Mileage: 1428

Another PERFECT Model A day for the drive from Canton to Natchez.

We started the short drive to Natchez wanting to take our time and see as many sights as we could. With 200 Model A’s on the road, one would think you would see them everywhere but, in truth, we were so spread out you only saw a few and they seemed be the same cars you had seen throughout the tour. I think the reason for this is people with similar interests tended to stop at the same types of locations and sights.

Today brought two particular highlights, the Sunken Trace and Windsor Ruins. The Sunken Trace is a deeply eroded section of the Trace and is, in fact, on the cover of the NPS map provided to travelers. The interesting thing is the Sunken Trace actually splits into two parallel sections. As travelers walked the trace they eroded lower sections which soon became mud holes. Future travelers simply cut a new path which is evident here.

Windsor Ruins is the fascinating remains of an unbelievably large mansion built in 1861. Massive brick columns covered with cement supported the mansion and are all that remains of this 23-room, two-story living area with an above ground basement. After completing the construction, the owner died within weeks. The building survived the Civil War only to be destroyed by fire in 1890.

Sunken Trace

Windsor Ruins

The other amazing thing is how well the cars did. In our group there were very few problems. I had to clean the carburetor a few times as junk would get into the float valve. The worst thing to happen to our group was after making the 450 miles to the Nashville, Fred Thompson got within 20 miles of the return to Natchez and had some heating problems. I think he may have lost a head gasket.

Not My Turn

After spending some time inspecting the ruins, we made our short drive to Natchez where we cleaned up and attended the closing dinner. After dinner I was surprised to see so many people in the hotel lounge saying their goodbyes.

The OK Women

Colorado Cuties

A highlight for all was seeing two cars being driven by women from OK & CO. The advantage to a car full of women, they will ask for directions if they need them (but they didn't need any).

Good Times

Give Me a Microphone & I'm like the Energizer Bunny, Going on & on

Don’t forget to check out tomorrow’s closing blog.

Day 7 to Canton, MS

Day 7 (Tue 4/12)

Beginning Mileage: 91355

Ending Mileage: 91540

Total Mileage: 1273

What a PERFECT day it was it was!

Tupelo Automotive Museum

Our day started at the Tupelo Automotive Museum and what a museum it is. Like most car guys, I have visited many car museums around the land and this one ranks with the best. Over 120,000 square feet housed cars ranging from a Tucker to a Brush to a Saxon and the list goes on and on--cars that are usually not seen. But maybe the best sight was the almost 200 Model A’s in the parking lot. If you ever find yourself in the south, take the time to visit this museum. You won’t be sorry.

Firestone Columbus

Great Race (Leslie)

Rambling Rebel, O'l Miss

Our drive up the Trace was magnificent, sunny and in the low 70’s. You could not order a better day. I can’t begin to tell the beauty of this drive but, what the heck, I’ll give it a try. Plush green grass and trees, fresh with tender young leaves and everywhere you look you see color, bright red Indian paintbrush, violet colored lilacs, white dogwoods, bright yellow mustard. It’s simply spectacular.

For lunch I think 150 of the Model A’s pulled into historic French Camp and what a sight it was, to see so many A’s in a pasture in this historic setting-WOW! With seating for about 50, it seemed to take forever to get the food but it I did not hear much complaining as the food was terrific. The wait provided time to relax and visit with friends.

Further down the road we stopped at a bald cypress grove in a swamp. If you have never seen a true southern bayou you have definitely missed something amazing. The massive trees growing out of the water is very impressive.

Garth & Hugh Swap Carbs

I’m not positive but understand of the 200+ cars to start less than 5 have pulled out because of mechanical problems. We even have 2 cars being driven by 4 women. Hugh Smith and I changed my carburetor not once but twice. It seems my original on was letting bit tooooo much gas into the bowl.

The tour’s been great and, with the exception of a few minor issues which you really don’t hear much complaining about, I hope MAFCA continues to expand these tours as so many people who don’t go the conventions and awards banquets enjoy these opportunities. I strongly encourage you to consider the next national tour.