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.