I had the privilege of housing overnight a very well traveled 1915 Touring in my garage. This 1915 and it owners, Dirk and Trudy Retger of Holland, have traveled from Peking, China to Paris, France. They have traveled from Holland to Johannesburg, driven the length of the Rocky Mountains, East across Canada, and from Detroit to my garage in Bluffton, Ohio. I felt honored to host this couple and their Model T at a Northwest Ohio Model T Club meeting.
With over 20,000 miles on this car, over some roads that are not, at best good cow paths, I am bewildered how most T owners are afraid to drive their cars 20, 50 or a hundred miles over fear that the car might not make it. Afraid that it might be too hard on the car. Yes this 1915 has been prepared for a treacherous, grueling travels, but it can do it. We don't have to worry about finding fuel, or running into elephants as a road hazard, we just need to have more faith in the Model T.
Derk and his faithful Model T left NW Ohio today enroute to Houston, Texas. May they travel safe. You can learn more at their web site: www.ModelTworldtour.org
Jack Putnam:
You are fortunate to have been able to have housed the Retgers. I agree with you about the brave soles who are scared to really get out and drive their Ts any where
Part of the route from North America to South America is by sea because there's still no road. That's quite a trip they're making.
Jack,
That is great that you were able to host them and have the speak at the monthly meeting of the Model T Ford Club of Northwest Ohio. It is a great that they are raising support to help children have a better opportunity. And of course many of us really appreciate the vehicle they are using to help with the fund raising.
It appears they are not going in a straight line to Houston but a little to the south east. Do you know the next few stops or cities they are headed through? I looked on their web site, and from the world globe I think they may be coming down towards Charlotte NC but turning back west before they reach Charlotte. Then it looks like they are headed towards Atlanta but I cannot quite make out the names of the cities. There probably is a better map on their site, but when I looked I did not locate it.
And as you mentioned, a good running T can be reliable for long trips so we shouldn't be afraid to take them for a tour etc.
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
Tell us more about the car. How original is it? Does it still have a mag and coils? Thermosyphon cooling? Splash lubrication? Gravity flow fuel system?
Hap: The next defined stop on the Retgers tour is in Chattanooga, Tenn this Sunday at Cooker Tire. They will wonder in the south before going to Houston in May.
Hal: The car has been modified to provide reliability in harsh conditions. Suspension has been strengthened, ruckstell and Lane warford transmission, A crank and oil pump on the engine,pressurized mains, Z head,NH carb,Truefire ignition with AC! (fails in desert heat), gravity flow fuel with extra tanks.
I wish I had taken a picture of the engine compartment. I don't remember all the details, but I do recall that it has an alternator.
it has a dual exhaust and a high volume intake manifold.
Rick
Thanks, Jack. Of course I was hoping it would have more original features to show living proof of the T's reliability. Oh well.
As a quick side note, their last name is Regter, not Retger. The "g" is pronounced with the harsh throat-clearing sound that the Germans spell "ch." (Someone once said that Dutch isn't a language, it's a throat disease... )
They need to come to Moultrie Ga Swap meet Nov 22-24. Dan
Sorry Dick, you are right, my spell check does not speak Dutch.
Jack -- thanks.
Hal -- there are some good build photos of the car on their web site at: http://www.tfordworldtour.org/the-model-t/ and then click on the "Model T" on the left side of the page. It takes a little while to load but lots of photos -- just click on the arrow of the area you want to know more about.
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
Hap,
In addition to the build photos on the link you can move your mouse around on the first image and the white arrow image and view a full 360 horizontal and 360 vertical of the shop. It is a great shop with lots of interesting things.
It is a great project and the support of orphan children of the world is a worthy cause. However the heavily modified T and especially the support vehicle and staff take some of the challenge out of it for me.
Jim
Jack, when I got my first smartphone, one of the first things I did was turn off the automatic spelling correction feature. To some friends and family members, I text in Dutch and the automatic correction kept messing up what I was trying to say...
My that is a well engineered Model T. Oil pressure, A rods, 1.5 inch bearings, juice brakes, tubular shocks, it's more modern than my 1967 VW bug. Great touring car.
Dick, my wife never mentioned my speaking as a throat disease. kind regards, kees
I was in Lexington KY this morning and looked up and saw the big world tour sign on the 14, and the chase vehicle. The driver was in a hurry and I did not get a photo of any of it. Imagine my surprise to see these folks when I had no idea they were in the area. Wish I had been more alert!
Funny, Received an e-mail pasted below form Mr. Tom evening. Yesterday the tour vehicles never came to Lexington. They drove from Paris to Winchester and Irvine and via McKee to London, were we found a nice place to sleep.
The e-mail I received from Tom Moorehead is as follows:
My name is Tom Moorehead and I live in Louisville.
I am sorry I have never met you but we will be conducting a tour next June and it will probably be run out of near Lexington, with no exact city yet determined.
My question is do you have any places around you, other than the Horse park or distilleries that might like as a point of interest? We are always looking for fun and unusual places to tour to and thought you may have some input. And of course we would like for you to come and play with us when we are in town. Any suggestions would be appreciated. (My suggestions would not be appreciated)
I also saw the world tour driver in Lexington yesterday but was unable to flag him down for a visit.
Thanks
Tom
From: [User]tmooreheadf
[74.129.73.143]
Something is not right and I love that DELETE key.
Thursday on my way home from work I saw them in the parking lot of Gaslight Auto Parts. I stopped got to say hello and meet them seemed like very nice people. I feel very lucky to just happen by at the right time.