The end is in sight

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2016: The end is in sight
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Dimock, Newfields NH, USA on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - 12:43 pm:

As I was driving to work this morning some idiot on the radio complained that people don’t know how to drive and said that we needed self driving or assisted driving cars.

I began thinking about Model Ts and realized that they will soon be extinct because people are lazy, Model Ts are too slow, people will not have the skills needed to drive them, and the government will outlaw them because they pollute the air.

Just look at the horse or horse and carriage. They take a lot of work, are slow, few people have the skills needed to drive them, and they pollute. Boy do they pollute!

The Model T is not far behind.

Most people don’t have a clue about adjusting the timing while underway, and God forbid that they have to make a decision between two speeds or plan ahead for a turn or stop. There is no go fast peddle and the brake handle does more than stop the vehicle from rolling when stopped.

You don’t just push a button and have them start or a gage to tell you it is time to stop for gas. Model Ts get in the way of people that are in a hurry on most roads and don’t have equipment to stop polluting the air.

Few have workable cup holders and places to plug in a cell phone or GPS. The snowflakes (pardon the political inference) don’t like the sharp edges of the design and can’t understand why there is no vanity mirror.

So enjoy driving your Model T while you can because the end is getting closer every day.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Govoni on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - 12:51 pm:

I try to do my part in pushing the end further away by involving my 11 year old daughter in the hobby of cars. She has been going to car shows before she could walk. Someday she's going to get a lot of nice cars to drive. This is our first T and she loves it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Will Copeland - West Melbourne Florida on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - 12:53 pm:

Fred, This why we need to introduce the Model T to are young people any chance we get. Be it at a gas station or in a Walmart parking lot.. Take them for rides, Show how easy and fun it is to own a Model T. For every 25 that snubs there nose at it ,One will develop a real interest in it. That's the one that will pass it down to the next


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freighter Jim on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - 12:54 pm:

Fred,

Can happen - never will in my opinion.

Some still want a motor vehicle they are actively engaged in operating when the drive.

Too many folks interested - that will not change.


Freighter Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - 12:57 pm:


As long as this is still legal, I think we're OK. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - 01:10 pm:

I firmly believe it's coming. Not quickly but it's coming. The self driving car just might be the beginning of the end. Even if it was perfected and introduced tomorrow it'll take years for them to totally take over the roads but the technology is coming for sure. How this will actually affect people driven vehicles remains to be seen and they will surely share the roads for many years but at some point way ahead restrictions on our type of cars will surely be law.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erik Johnson on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - 01:55 pm:

Would you rather see self-driving cars, or just a continuation of the current situation, drivers texting and talking on their cell phones and paying attention to everything else but driving?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Dugger on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - 02:20 pm:

To Erik: You mention Texting and and cell phones and not paying attention, well if the law enforcement could just writing tickets it probably put a bbbbbbiiiiiggggg bunch of money in the city's general fund or pay off a lot of the city's accrued debt.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By kep on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - 03:28 pm:

Why does the world have to cater to stupid people anyway? If people actually believed in evolution they'd remove the really over the top safety labels from things. Makes me think that all the people who harp on about "people are such evolved because electricity *hashtag stupid fad here*" but then whine to anyone & everyone that the world doesn't cater to stupid people enough, Simply don't understand what they are talking about. (Which they don't)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Schrope - Upland, IN on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - 09:36 pm:

If self driving cars are coming, what about pickup trucks. If they are self driving, how would they take me back in my woods to cut a load of firewood? What about driving out in a harvested corn field to fix a broken tile? What about going out on a frozen lake to go ice fishing? What about taking an uncharted back road in Alaska? What about switching which garage stall to park in?

A good friend says it right: It's technology for the sake of technology. Nothing more.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rich Bingham on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - 09:59 pm:

Fred, I have to take exception to your comments about the horse and buggy. If one considers horse manure a "pollutant", I think you'd agree it's preferable to be able to step around the pollution, as opposed to involuntarily breathing it !! ;-) Any road, automobile pollution is not a desirable amendment to soil, nor can it grow edible mushrooms.

Really, the Model T is not even in the running in comparison to the modern engines that precipitated the crisis of automotive pollution in the 1970's. With a cooler operating temperature, lower RPMs and an optimal fuel efficiency in spite of that, the Model T (and most prewar cars) are not glaring examples of pollution-producing machines.

I'm a horseman, I like horse and Model T comparisons. If we want to continue to drive our Model Ts, perhaps the answer is in directing some of the resources of Model T sympathetic automobile clubs and their extensive memberships toward an activism that can preserve the "trails" we ride. Something like the Blue Ribbon Coalition does to maintain the rights of motorized trail users on public lands, or Back Country Horsemen of America does to assist USFS, BLM, and other state and local agencies in clearing trails and ensuring public access.

Model Ts almost need a "trail system" . . . I don't live in a particularly populous or congested locale, but I damn sure give a fair amount of thought as to the routes I'll drive my Model T that will keep me out of heavy, fast traffic.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Lloid on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - 10:17 pm:

The model T s and most young people have nothing in common but if they were exposed somehow through their schools or good car people. That could help the hobby stay alive a little longer. Their are a fair number of younger members on this forum. I see kids with car interest around at shows and races. They will get their!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry Brancato, Burbank CA on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 - 12:20 am:

I think the farther down the road we get (pun intended) and the more removed people get from the land and the actual 3-D world and cars become sealed capsules that drive themselves and cater to their owners every whim, the more things like the Model T will generate interest in the minds of the "did-people-really-live-like-this" folks who will see it as a very cool bit of history that they can actually interact with. There may even be a "Human Lane" built into highways for people who want to actually do something with their hands in the real world. Besides, I believe we'll eventually sort out the cell phone, texting, distracted driving problems and come to a reasonable compromise between technology and humanity. Also, by then you'll probably be able to print out all the parts you'll need to construct a brand new T using your 3-D printer at home. With apologies of course to Lang's and Snyder's and Mac's and Chaffin's.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith, Lomita, California on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 - 10:07 am:

With that kind of an attitude, perhaps you have the wrong hobby?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Sutton on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 - 02:35 pm:

Larry, I am fully immersed into history and the auto hobby, but I also agree we are looking at a fight to keep our cars on the streets in the future. Once these driverless cars take hold, I think you will see a VERY dramatic drop in auto accidents and deaths. As a result of that, there will be a push to outlaw cars that can be controlled by humans. We'll be told it's too dangerous and that we can drive them all we want - just not on public streets or highways.

I have a degree in Safety Sciences and work as a safety manager for a explosives manufacturing and blasting company. Safety and liability are huge motivators for both private companies and government nowadays. I love cars trucks and motorcycles but I think someday the "normal" person may have to go to a place like Disneyworld to drive one themselves. And I sincerely hope I'm wrong.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Purgert on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 - 03:02 pm:

These posts are some of the most interesting ones on the forum. Since I am one of the "young, new guys" - I'm 26 - I can say there are some things that can be done to keep the hobby alive. I'm looking forward to many years of enjoyment!

The first is willing to be helpful to the younger people with things they don't know. I got involved in the local club and everyone has been extremely helpful. One of the guys sold me a head since mine was cracked for $10 and let me borrow all the tools to repair it since I didn't have those. I had only met him that day and just said to return the tools when I'm done. Amazing!

Next is keeping prices reasonable. From the time and effort I've put in so far, I'm fine with what the vendors and the classifieds sell things for. It seems that people are fairly aware of the prices of things, but if you can take a small hit to help someone out, it may be worth it. Only you can answer that. Personally, my car had to sit in the garage for a few years with minimal work on it for this reason. I have plenty of friends that would love to be able to join in on the hobby, but can't afford it right now.

There are plenty of other reasons, but just give anyone interested the time of day to share a story. We really do appreciate it.

I would think that people that are my age are not going to have the interest in making the time and finances work. Give it a few years and I am sure when they have that kind of opportunity they'll take it.

Just my thoughts on the subject. I don't think this hobby is going anywhere anytime soon.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dallas landers on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 - 08:28 pm:

Andrew
I think your right about that. My son really wants a T but with two young girls and starting his own business he is a little strapped. He is finding that he doesn't run his business but it runs him. I learned that lesson long ago. The people have to make it so we can drive our cars through education and our voting power.
Drive safe and often


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Lloid on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 - 11:25 pm:

Andrew, you sound like one of the young people that has the T bug and you will carry that torch and maybe infect others along the way with the T-virus. It would hurt my feelings if you get a model A too!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jonathan Delancey on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 - 11:30 pm:

Try and get insurance for a young person to drive a T!! Can't do it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Burger in Spokane on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 02:31 am:

Not sure why this is a constant theme of concern on this forum.
The end will come sooner for all of us than it will for the cars.

And for this, I will defer to the Serenity Prayer:

God, grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know
the difference.

I will leave it to those who come behind me to worry themselves
about driving old cars after I am doing the dirt nap thing.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Woolf on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 08:44 am:

Jonathan,

I got insurance through Hagerty for my oldest daughter when she was 18 (14 years ago) so that she could drive our Model A. My youngest daughter (27) is now driving our Model T and I still use Hagerty.

Dan


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Purgert on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 09:15 pm:

Dallas -

Hopefully your son will find a way to get a T. Mine kind of fell into my lap and I ran with it (more of a slow jog!). I'm sure he will find a way to get one! And I put mine away this past Sunday. It already feels like it has been too long - not sure how I am going to make the rest of the winter for another drive!

Tim -

My girlfriend claims that I am addicted to it. I politely correct her with the word "passionate," but I don't even believe it. Hopefully I can get my hands on another T! I would like to get an open car, preferably a truck. I think that would be so neat to putts around in. Of course, another T won't be for another few years at the least (unless I hit the lottery or someone feels like donating theirs my way!)

Jonathan -

I went with Hagerty for my insurance. I have everything in my name and it is a few hundred dollars a year. They said it will go down when I hit 30, but it's still better than regular car insurance!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Lynn on Saturday, November 19, 2016 - 02:48 pm:

Great to have new guys coming in, wish we could get more into T's. Constant problem for sure. Glad so many enjoy them and continue to help get the young one's into the hobby.


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