Report of our second Memorial Day parade

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Report of our second Memorial Day parade
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Dimock, Newfields NH, USA on Saturday, May 26, 2012 - 05:02 pm:

We did it again.

I took the T and “my” girls (wife, daughter and two grand children) to our town’s Memorial Day parade again this year.
It was the second parade it has been in since it went into storage in 1964.
We learned a few things last year that made this year less stressful.

I made sure there was 60 PSI in the tires, the oil was dripping out of the second petcock, it had gas, water covered the fins and lubed the chassis.


I had the high gear block” in place (it stops the brake handle from going all the way forward) and rerouted the gas line to stop vapor lock.
Additionally, over the past year I used oxalic acid to clean the motor and radiator so it cooled better.

The T showed that it was ready to go by giving me a free start in the garage! :-)

The parade committee let me follow the VFW near the front of the parade so I could shut off the motor when they stopped at the town Veteran’s Memorial.
They placed a wreath, and dipped the flag while a bagpipe group played America the Beautiful and God Bless America.
We carried a small spray bottle of water just incase the T over heated.

The T got warm and we used the bottle when we stopped but probably didn’t need it because the Moto Meter gage dropped below the circle during the stop.
People cheered when I cranked it to re-start.

We got lots of smiles and applause.
Many people took our picture. –
OK they took pictures of the car and we were just in the way. :-)
The older folks and kids showed the most excitement.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Halpin on Saturday, May 26, 2012 - 08:07 pm:

Good for you Fred.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Saturday, May 26, 2012 - 09:15 pm:

Sounds like fun. We are planning to be in the July 4 parade and have as a passenger the "honorary" Mayor of Alpine with his wife.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Dimock, Newfields NH, USA on Saturday, May 26, 2012 - 09:34 pm:

Norm

The trick to doing a parade is to lag behind and then lock in low gear and catch up so you don't have to drag the low band. I was able to spend a lot of time rolling once I got going.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Leming on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 - 11:08 am:

Fred, one of my dads old tricks for overheating on a hot parade day - Mom made him a pillow case in red white and blue. We lined it with a burlap bag. You can fill that with crushed or cubed ice and lay it around the neck of the radiator and hood area. Just a pillow case about one half the size of a full one, shaped in a "U" shape - they work wonders, and if you have room which we always did you can carry a small cooler of ice and a second one so you can switch out if need be. They dont melt all that fast, and they keep em cool!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Dimock, Newfields NH, USA on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 - 01:13 pm:

John -- Great idea!
I am amazed at the little tricks our dad's did to help us have fun in the T.

Much of it is lost on the -If it dosen't work perfectly, throw it away and get another one - current generation


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