Hardcore enthusiasts
In Richmond, vehicles of all shapes, colors and conditions took center stage alongside members of the Ford family. Whether their Model Ts were carbon copies of the original model or customized, updated variants, the owners were all dedicated car enthusiasts. In fact, most of them own many similar vehicles. And there were owners of all ages, too - from a 17-year-old girl to a 70-year-old grandpa who drove his Model T all the way from California.
Dennis Gorder, from Wisconsin, is the proud owner of four entirely-restored Model Ts. Amazingly, he still drives them on a near-daily basis. One can be dismantled and reassembled almost in a flash. Gorder and his team use it to perform demonstrations during various auto events.
With the help of 5 or 6 spectators, the crew managed to fully assemble the 750 parts of the original Model T and even start the engine... in barely 25 minutes (two more than their all-time record).
"It's my car and I know it like the back of my hand," said Gorder. "I wanted to show everyone how simple yet durable it is, and that's the best possible way to do it."
Easy to drive? Hum...
Thanks to him, this journalist was able to sit behind the wheel of a Model T for the first time ever. I got to turn the key, press the choke, hit the lever to synchronize the ignition and put my foot on the button/pedal to make the engine come to life (fortunately there was an electric starter). By the way, this pristine 1926 car is powered by a 20-hp vertical four-cylinder.
Moving forward proved to be much harder, though. You have to reposition the ignition, gently push the lever on the steering wheel where the throttle is, firmly depress the clutch to engage the first gear and finally release the hand brake. The T then starts to pick up momentum. At this point, you can completely let go of the clutch and drop into second gear. Top speed is 75 km/h, which is more than enough given the hard 30-inch tires.
In Richmond, vehicles of all shapes, colors and conditions took center stage alongside members of the Ford family. Whether their Model Ts were carbon copies of the original model or customized, updated variants, the owners were all dedicated car enthusiasts. In fact, most of them own many similar vehicles. And there were owners of all ages, too - from a 17-year-old girl to a 70-year-old grandpa who drove his Model T all the way from California.
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Dennis Gorder, from Wisconsin, is the proud owner of four entirely-restored Model Ts. Amazingly, he still drives them on a near-daily basis. One can be dismantled and reassembled almost in a flash. Gorder and his team use it to perform demonstrations during various auto events.
With the help of 5 or 6 spectators, the crew managed to fully assemble the 750 parts of the original Model T and even start the engine... in barely 25 minutes (two more than their all-time record).
"It's my car and I know it like the back of my hand," said Gorder. "I wanted to show everyone how simple yet durable it is, and that's the best possible way to do it."
Easy to drive? Hum...
Thanks to him, this journalist was able to sit behind the wheel of a Model T for the first time ever. I got to turn the key, press the choke, hit the lever to synchronize the ignition and put my foot on the button/pedal to make the engine come to life (fortunately there was an electric starter). By the way, this pristine 1926 car is powered by a 20-hp vertical four-cylinder.
Moving forward proved to be much harder, though. You have to reposition the ignition, gently push the lever on the steering wheel where the throttle is, firmly depress the clutch to engage the first gear and finally release the hand brake. The T then starts to pick up momentum. At this point, you can completely let go of the clutch and drop into second gear. Top speed is 75 km/h, which is more than enough given the hard 30-inch tires.
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