On the way home from WY, I thought I'd visit Speedy Bill's, but, this time of year they only offer one tour a week at 2:00 Friday! Went to the Pioneer Museum in Minden, NE. It was 2:30 on a Sunday and no visitors and they closed at 4:30. Looked in the local phone book for Rob Heyen and didn't find him, so, we paid our admission and went in. As we started, I saw 2 of the electric handicapped carts there for rent. I got them both and my wife and I proceeded on a whirlwind tour of the 26 buildings. I don't think I've ever seen a better or larger collection of cars. Thoroughly enjoyed it and got to see what I wanted to see. More time would have been nice, but, I still am glad I went. If you ever get in that area, I suggest you go the 13 miles from the Interstate and see it--even if you have to do the "microwave" version as I did.
Mike Black;
You are right Minden is great, I drove my Center "Door out to Minden from Akron, Colorado 574 miles. I was with some other Ts. Any one going to Minden finds that they CAN NOT see all of the pioneer village in one day, but should plan two days. Is the Model K Roadster still there?
Rob Heyen is in Milford, which is quite a ways from Minden, probably about 125 miles or more. Milford is just west of Lincoln.
The K is still there. Dave, I also enjoyed my visit with you last week. I guess my CRS kicked in and confused Milford with Minden.
Mike,
Sorry to have missed you. We (Milford) is about twenty miles west of Lincoln. Also, if your ever through again (and for anyone passing through Nebraska on I-80) there is a new museum just northwest of Pioneer Village, on the east side of Kearney Nebraska. Of course the "Arch" over the interstate at Kearney is another good museum to visit.
The Model K you saw is an interesting car. It began life as a 1906 touring car, and at some point became a racer/speedster. According to Don Mates (well known Model K expert) it is the oldest intact original K chassis is the U.S., around engine number 250 (K number 2 exists and is in Australia)
Hope you had a good trip,
Rob
Does that K in the Harold Warp Museum in Minden, NE have wire wheels? In the 1950s there was a 1906 K in Long Beach, CA that had been made into a speedster. Since it had wire wheels, it did not use original K hub caps. I bought one of the hub caps which I still Have. I have been at the Warp museum several times, but do not remember the K.
Darrel,
The "K racer" at Pioneer Village has wood wheels (I believe Firestone demountables). This is a photo of the Pioneer Village car, probably in the 50s or 60s. The chassis is the shorter wheelbase 1906 K with matching engine number (#26X). The racer body is well done, and there other non Ford parts on the car.
Would you please post a pic of your hubcap, and any other info on the racer/speedster you saw?
The "racer" above with the name of a previous owner. The date of the car was mistakenly changed at some point when someone assumed this K was a 1907/08 K Roadster.
There is one reference to a 1906 Model K runabout made in a New York newspaper. It says a well known sports figure, Hayward Shannon, owned a Ford roadster in 1906. It's possible this is that car, although there is another K roadster still existing that appears similar to the 07/08 K, but built on a shorter wheelbase 1906 chassis.
Traditional 1907 K Roadster. This car had just won a silver cup on a New Jersey 24 hour endurance run:
Hub Cap
also here Wills in his K.
1961 owners of a K as listed by AACA and HCCA.
1906 #9 motor #22 RD Walter H Deitchman
1907 #253 TR WM HARRAH
1906 #276 RD Forrester Stoey
and then E B McCormack as a SPD
1906 #922 RD Roy Merrill
1907 #946 2P HENRY FORD MUSEUM
1907 #892 TR name not listed
1907 #952 RD Karl Sinner
Darrel,
Three of the Ks on your list do not show up on the list I have that was put together in the 1980s. I suspect a few cars are "tucked away" and will show at some point. Currently I know and stay in touch with seven of the 23-26 known Model K owners. Three of the known Model Ks I'm aware of tour on a regular basis. Thank you for posting your info,
Rob
Some photos of the Pioneer Village Model K.
One of the engine.