We just got back from a tour of and around Yosemite. My wife Dolores handles the camera and I handle the driving, so i apologize for not knowing the exact year of the cars in the pictures. I didn't know at the time what she was photographing.
Norm
We got all the way to glacier point.
Picture of Half Dome
Yosemite Valley
We had about half Model T's and Half Model A's. I think there were 39 cars total. One was an old Chevrolet. Surprisingly one actually survived. It looked good too!
We stopped at several old car collections along the various routes we took for a week. All together we went about 800 miles in Model T's. Some roads were very rough and bumpy. I will need to either adjust the brakes or reline. Many steep hills, but nobody had a serious problem except one T which broke a spindle bolt. He had a very beautifully restored car body, but he hadn't gone over the front axle, so didn't know the condition before it happened.
Norm
A very early T
Rambler
Rear of Rambler
The weather this time of year was very dry and dependable, but the waterfalls were mostly dry. We also drove to the geographical center of California by official survey. There were other pictures, but these were the most spectacular.
Norm
Norm and Dolores at center of California
Love the oil spittoon under the Rambler.
Looks like a great tour you guys took. Didn't you feel the least bit bad doing that while I had to work? Ha, I hope not. Just kidding.
Norman, thanks for sharing the great pictures from your tour. Our national parks are a treasure and being able to tour them in a T in the company of others in antique cars would be wonderful.
Norman
Thanks for the photos.
When I was growing up in Southern California my parents took us to Yosemite every Summer for two weeks of camping.
The Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland come as close as you can get, but does not compare Yosemite.
Ron the Coilman
Norm
Thanks for sharing those great photos.
Yosemite has to be one of the most awesome places in the West.
Did you start from Alpine?
Was it a hub or progressive tour from where?
Norman ..
Nice photos! Nice of the world (well, at least a state), to revolve around you .. for a few minutes, anyway!
Norm-
Who owns that 1911 with the red body and black fenders?
-Keith
My little brother disappeared at Glacier Point. Mom was frantic, picturing him splattered on the rocks below. We found him back in the car, reading a comic book.
Steve there for a minute I thought we were going to hear they left your brother standing near the trash can. (Shades of Joe Dirt) I'm just messin' wit ya Steve...
Great pictures Norm. Kinda wishin' I could have been with you guys. I've only ever been to California twice and they were for company business in L.A. each time. We brought up Ansel Adams a couple weeks ago and I think I read Yosemite was one of his favorite parks. Maybe I'll get there someday. After all I'm only 62 years old. :-)
A great time to visit the valley is mid-June, when the waterfalls are thundering. Most years Tioga Pass is open by then, though occasionally it's snowed in until late July.
Everybody:
My Grandson just back from three weeks at Yosemite doing a clean up detail for the National Park Service. He works for Whiskeytown rec area and they were sent to the Park for a clean up, the Grandson was flown around the area and when a several spot fires (campgrounds size he and someone else had to put out the fire. As he said they were lucky to not have some big fires when the fires escape the fire pit. He has been there several times on the clean up detail ant this time he rec'd several Heli flights.
Steve has is the roof coming along?
Bill D
Just a few more pictures. The tour was a hub tour out of Oakhurst which is about 17 miles SW of the Yosemite South entrance and lasted six days.
We had two "rust buckets" on the tour, the touring drove up from LA a distance of about 300 miles....
This is my 1914 at the Center of California, let me down later in the day as the mixture closed and it overheated badly.
This is Globe Rock, over 7100 feet in elevation, set off the road and most missed seeing it. Quite a sight.
Thanks Tony
How did the "Widow Maker" run this time. It was knocking BAD on the "California Dreamin" tour and we had a hard time getting it timed. We kept him going though.
Looks like this was the tour organized by John and Judy Burrell from the Orange County T club?
I was unable to attend with my car committed to the "Genius" display at the LA County Fair.
Thanks for the great pictures and I can see you all had a great tour. For sure next time...
I would have gone, but the Southern California Model T Club forgot to check other clubs tour schedules, and I just happened to be on a HCCA tour the same week! I've been on that tour twice, and it is always a fun tour. Should you ever go to Oakhurst, go to El Cid for dinner. Mexican food doesn't get any better, not to mention their Margaritas! By the way, the Rambler belongs to Bobby Streiter of Oakhurst.
How often do you complete this tour? Could I rent one of the Model T's from the service and join the tour?
Thank you
This tour was organized by John and Judy Burrell. They are also members of the San Diego Club. We had people from Southern California Model T Club, Orange County Model T Club, San Diego Model T club, and Santa Clara. There were also Model A's and a couple of early V8's. Interestingly, the V8's broke down and only drove the first one or two days. Most of the Model T's went the whole tour. One only drove the first day due to band trouble, and another broke a spindle bolt the last day after driving 16 miles on a logging road, but was able to get it onto a trailer and no person or the car damaged except for the spindle bolt. There were a few flat tires, but they were fixed and the cars went on.
I'm sorry to say that I don't know the name of the owner of the red 1911. It was at the same location as the Rambler. One of the stops along the way. My wife handles the camera and I never know what pictures she has taken until after we get home!
One place we visited was a place where you can rent a Model T and tour Yosemite. I am surprised that they let people who have never driven a T rent them. After a short driving lesson, they are on their way. The owner said the only damage that has been done was a minor dent in a fender! His insurance must be very high.
Norm
The rental on those Ts is rather high per day also. Still, all in all, I think a good thing.
Been to long since I was in Yosemite in an antique.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Norm and Tony, any pictures of the Chevrolet or a few more of the rusty touring from L.A. ? Thanks!!
We did the "Rent a T" when we went to Yosemite last year. My first trip there. We had a GREAT time. I switched to the model A because of the traffic at the time, but the cars were a real hit with everyone in the park.
It was my first time dealing with a Ruckstell and getting the hang of that extra shifting to a bit of time. Also, my big wide feet kept killing the ignition switch! Something I'll have to deal with when I finish my '16 Touring.
Us in the '15 touring
For David,
Several folks have mentioned the issue of hitting the ignition key with their shoe when the drove a T with the metal coil box with the switch on the front. Several turned the ignition key upside down and found that was very helpful. Now the closest part of the key to their foot is at the center of the switch rather than at the lower left side of the switch.
For All,
Looks like a great time! Thank you for sharing the photos.
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
The red '11 touring belongs to Bobby Streiter. The car was restored back in the '50s by Carl Rosenthal, the brother of Walt Rosenthal.
Hap,
Thanks for the "trick" -- I hope I remember it when I get mine running!
Here's the A we switched to--I couldn't get it to load last night (dial-up is sooo much fun!)
The top is up because it was COLD--it snowed the day after we left!
T'
David D.
Yosemite Is a very special place. In the 1990's I took the trek up to the top of half dome. One of life's special thrills! Hard work but the views were worth the pain!
I've always thought a tour of the valley in a Model T would be the ultimate tour... lucky folks!