How do you think he does it?

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Tiger Tim
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How do you think he does it?

Post by Tiger Tim » Mon Aug 05, 2019 10:33 pm

A dog drives a Model T pickup starting around 3:30
https://youtu.be/8krNQ8BkM3I

I have an idea of how I would do it but I’m curious how it’s really done.

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Will_Vanderburg
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Re: How do you think he does it?

Post by Will_Vanderburg » Mon Aug 05, 2019 10:56 pm

In one shot the older man has his thumb around the steering wheel.
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Steve Jelf
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Re: How do you think he does it?

Post by Steve Jelf » Mon Aug 05, 2019 11:16 pm

Most of the time the passenger maintains "hands off". I'm thinking foot controls. I've always thought it would be fun to rig up a touring with the controls hidden in the back seat and a dog trained to sit in front by himself and "drive".
The inevitable often happens.
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Erik Johnson
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Re: How do you think he does it?

Post by Erik Johnson » Mon Aug 05, 2019 11:34 pm

Driving a Model T from the passenger side is an old trick.

Putting a dog in the driver's seat while doing the above is another old trick. Bill Williamson, the Model T owner in the video, appeared years ago on "Real People" doing the same trick with a different dog.

Frankly, you don't even need a dog:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4OZHee0F50

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRo_9vgo1dQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esulCFNyrRs

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Re: How do you think he does it?

Post by KWTownsend » Tue Aug 06, 2019 12:28 am

I can remember seeing Bill and his dog many years ago when we had a MTFCA meeting in Nevada.
Bill was reading the newspaper while the dog was driving!

That was a long time ago. I'm sure it is a different dog!

: ^ )


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Re: How do you think he does it?

Post by old_charley » Tue Aug 06, 2019 2:02 am

As I recall from meeting him in 2001, Bill had three dogs over the years. All named Buddy, I believe. He would sit in the T at just enough of an angle to reach the pedals while Buddy was "driving" and hold the bottom of the steering wheel with his left hand. He had Buddy trained to turn and look back when backing up the T. Unrelated to the Model T, when Bill asked Buddy what he thought of politicians, Buddy would trot to a bush and lift his leg.


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Tiger Tim
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Re: How do you think he does it?

Post by Tiger Tim » Tue Aug 06, 2019 9:25 am

Steve Jelf wrote:
Mon Aug 05, 2019 11:16 pm
Most of the time the passenger maintains "hands off". I'm thinking foot controls. I've always thought it would be fun to rig up a touring with the controls hidden in the back seat and a dog trained to sit in front by himself and "drive".
I’ve thought about doing the same, I think the Shriners or some other such group had rear-driven Ts for a clown act in parades. It would be interesting to see how they converted their cars.

If Budd driving the car is as simple as Bill sitting a little sideways I’ll have to get practicing (and I guess install a foot feed?). Between my long legs and huge dogs this ought to work...

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