I am still confused by the operation of the clutch?
At last, something we agree on.
Back in 2003, we went over to Mum & Dad's for his 79th birthday. Dad was like an excited little school kid, with
ants-in-his-pants. Mum said something along the lines of, "Well tell 'em what you bought yourself for your birthday, you silly old fool".
Dad blurted out, "I bought a Model T, I'm driving it to Perth".
This was something that had been talked about for years when he was reminiscing (something old blokes do, often) about a trip he took with his Mum & Dad back in the early 30's. So we all went out to the garage, and here it was:
The T was restored by Old Milton. Milton was a neighbour of Mum & Dad, even though Milton was younger that Dad, he was "Old" because he had retired, whereas Dad still worked 10 hour days, five days a week managing his own business.
I couldn't let Dad drive the T to Perth by himself (Mum, "I'm not going with the silly old fool"), so planning started. The first thing Dad organised was a visit from some members of the Model T Club. These gents politely told Dad, "The only way that will make it to Perth is on a truck". But they put us in touch with Alan from SA who has a T (he actually had around 20 of 'em) that would perfect for Perth.
With Alan organised, support vehicles organised, support Team organised, the business PR machine oiled, we set off from Swan Hill (the start of the 1930 trip) on a Sunday morning in Spring 2003, 11 days later we arrived in Perth.
Alan's T and the T Team at Swan Hill Pioneer Village:
Civic welcome in Adelaide:
A side road near Horricks Pass:
Madura Pass (the old one):
Dad at the old telegraph station at Eucla:
Regional TV interview at Port Augusta:
Civic reception in Perth:
The trip home:
Driving the T? Yep, it was a shocker. Alan's was right hand drive, I suppose the pedal arrangement was as per the video, but the fact is, I don't remember.
What I do remember though is the T Trip, and I probably won't forget it.
