MTFCA Forum

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The Winter Joshua Tree Wildcat Tour 2021

Some will tell you that we weren’t supposed to journey out of our garages last month but, oh boy, ...we sure were glad that we did. Here is a short recap of this unexpected experience.

Friday, January 15th, at the Palm Springs Visitors Bureau and Miracle Springs Spa Resort’s prompting, several of our MTFCA members and their Model Ts, (independently and unsanctioned by this club or any chapter), arrived at The Miracle Springs Spa in Desert Hot Springs California. A fully stocked bar was ready poolside for our Welcome Cocktails. We mumbled through our masks at safe distances as we got to know other unrestrained Model T-ers from Utah, Arizona, and Northern California. As fellowship advanced, our sunset melted into a cool desert night and many of us drifted into one of the 6 mineral hot spring pools. Our Ts slept protected, huddled together under the grand portico just outside the resort’s lobby.

A made to order breakfast, again poolside, greeted us on our first day of touring. It couldn’t have been a nicer day. Clear blue skies, 75 degrees, and a nurturing breeze. Our first 150 mile Joshua Tree National Monument day looped south through the Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge to Mecca California against the Salton Sea, then north through dramatic Box Canyon and into the Park’s south entrance. By noon we were at Jumbo Rocks picnic grounds nestled in and surrounded by massive five story tall boulders that looked as if they were collected in that one place by God himself. As we waited there for the trouble truck with our lunches this was the perfect spot to break out the Bloody Mary fixing and get better acquainted with those outside our Chapters. Three hours passed. The drinks, and their effect, had long been depleted. Still no trouble truck. So, with empty stomachs, we fired up and headed through the Park’s north gate and back to a second evening of sunset cocktails, hosted by the resort’s quirky owner, and the usual tall tails fueled by complimentary wine and Larry "Original" Smith’s bottle of Bulleit Whiskey. Mark, our rookie trouble truck driver who has until now never driven a Model T or pulled a trailer, showed up in time for us to eat that day’s sandwiches etc for dinner. He had returned to the resort directly with a broken “modernized” T behind him instead of continuing on route through the Park. The cars that retained what Henry Ford originally put in them made it without issue.

On Sunday, we were invited to the WarBirds Collection at the Palm Springs Air Museum for an exclusive VIP interactive tour led by two military pilots. Our cars were lined up around the cul de sac flanking the front entrance for all to admire. After probing every nook and cranny of their wonderful collection we were directed to bring our Ts around back and encouraged to "very carefully" position them among the historic airplanes for photographs. We couldn’t have been made to feel more welcome there. Then, after a covid-correct lunch on the lawn, we toured back to our hotel through Palm Springs’s most notable neighborhoods, including a slow pass at Liberachi’s and at Elvis’s desert retreats.

Our final day of touring, Monday, took us first to an unexpected destination. The owner of our sprawling resort hotel, who also owns a local cannabis processing factory and imports a cheaper alternative to Viagra from India, recently purchased Mary Pickford’s and Douglas Fairbank’s historic Bar B Ranch. He insisted that we visit its beautifully preserved stone house and charming guest buildings and learn what 1920s life was like there for this Hollywood couple and all their famous celebrity visitors. This was a real treat.

We eventually left this historic oasis for the challenging “Palms to Pines” back road, a slow, narrow, and twisty 5000 foot climb way up through the Santa Rosa Indian Reservation to the Paradise Valley Cafe. Our Ruckstell rear ends got us there for an outstanding waiter served lunch and our Rock Mountain external breaks got us back down, all the time enjoying spectacular panoramic views of the entire Coachella Valley.

It was, all in all, a great tour and turned out to be one of the most diverse and engaging Model T outings that I have ever been on. There were new Model T-ers to meet, old ones to get reacquainted with, beautiful and exciting destinations, perfect touring weather, and empty roads. We were not really supposed to venture out on this winter journey but, oh boy, we were sure glad we did.
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ok, I’ll bite... who is “us”? When did this happen?

Nice pics. I guess that I am out of the loop on mystery tours like this.

Keep crankin’
Eric

Original Smith is parked in my spot.

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Sunday at the Bar B, Mary Pickford's Ranch.

It was a fun 3 days. It appears we went 275 miles. I've never used my Ruckstell so much. BTW, that's me at the keyboard. No problems for me or my car. I didn't think highly of the National Park, but I don't care for the desert.

As a kid I didn't care for the desert, but I came to love it, including Joshua Tree. Having been there many times, I hope to do it in a Model T someday. Got to stop at Hadley's and get some figs.

The owner of the Miracle Springs Resort took a liking to our members, and rolled out the red carpet. He even took us to his newly acquired home nearby that used to belong to Mary Pickford, which is shown above. He even offered us a very reduced rate at his hotel if we cared to return after we left. My pickup was not clearly photographed, but is in the photos above if you look for it. I had zero problems on this tour.

John Warren - Looks like a fun tour! Beautiful pictures,...thanx for posting. We all needed a bit of sunshine and it's very welcome even if just in pictures.

Question - Just wondering what one has to do to be the "coolest driver?"

Original Smith - Sorry you had problems. What went wrong with your zero?

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The Man and the Machine
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Here, tool in hand, is our saintly trouble truck driver Mark. He rescued 5 drivers in 3 days.
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Joshua Tree has strange weather this time of year. Many years ago when our children were young (Oldest is now 61 and youngest 50) we went there in January and camped in a tent. As the sun set, it started getting cold and I filled the coffee pot with water, thinking it would have a crust of ice in the morning. Morning came it was frozen solid! We were in sleeping bags with all our clothes on even coats and wool hats and still cold. The tent had frost where our breath had been. Next morning about 9:00 we could go around with short sleeves! Hope all of you were warm and dry and enjoyed your tour.
Norm

I wore a flannel shirt in the mornings when it was still a bit cold, but was wearing a T shirt in the afternoons. Great tour and even better roads.

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POST TOUR SNOW STORM IN JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

Hey Norm,

Check out this link (below) that Casey O'Cain submitted. The snow fell shortly after we all returned to our warm homes.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/video/snow-fa ... k-75460114

The comments about Joshua Tree weather made me think of this photo of Mom in December, 1967. Yes, it does get chilly there.

Thanks Steven and Lee for hosting a great tour!

Unfortunately, I was only able to tour on Saturday.

I brought the '22 Ford touring my dad bought in 1939 for 10 bucks. I have never driven it that far in one day and it was a blast! The Mojave Desert is an amazing place and the weather couldn't have been nicer. I had to double back and help my nephew fix a flat on his '15 T , so I never saw the tour again till we got back to Desert Hot Springs. Here are a few photos from the journey.

Thanks to all who attended.

Pierre Dupuy

Here are a few more photos...

Try it again...

I think 'm getting the hang of this!

That T must either have some Super Brakes or a Heck of a Hot Engine to leave those burning rubber marks on the highway!! LOL Pretty Cool Shot!

The last photo above is typical of the scenery in Joshua Tree National Park. The first day of the tour, I logged 150 miles even. I don't think I've ever used my Ruckstell so much.

https://youtu.be/LHQiTyl7p4k

A little ride along! First attempt at this.

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Hello John,

Another "Rock Star" driver will be joining your prestigious club at the Malibu Hills Non-Tour Awards Lunch, Sunday March 14th. You as the past winner should be there to present this coveted honor like they do at The Masters in Augusta .

Smiles

I am hoping to be in that area at that time. Hahahaha would love to give that trophy out.

That is a great photo of your Mom Steve, I would have been 11.