Travel along with us to the World Combined MAFCA/MARC meet in Dallas!

Saturday June 14

Well, things did not get off to a stellar star!  We left home at 3:30 a.m. just as planned for the 40 mile drive to meet up with the rest of the travelers in Apache Junction.  It was cool and pleasant as we hummed along the freeway at 60 mph meeting up with the Deedon’s about 5 miles from destination.  Franks engine dies as we exit the freeway.  Rope towed the last 200 yards to the restaurant and look things over.  Engine appears to be seized so as we greet the other folks the tow truck is called.  We waved goodbye to all the smiling happy travelers with a tear in our eyes.  The tow truck soon arrived, took us home and we were back on the road soon in air conditioned comfort. Boring!!.  As luck would we arrived in Deming NM about 30 minutes behind the Model A’s, well in time for Happy Hour. All travelers present or accounted for: Gemmell’s, Guthries, La Brash’s, Willis’, Ripleys, Reese’s, Deedon’s, Dave Chance, Patti & Sam, Brits, Brian, John along with Brian’s granddaughter and John’s daughter, Kiwi’s Derek & Judy & Don. Three moderns and 9 Model A’s.  Bob’s Model A was not running well but a little sediment bowl and carburetor maintenance seems to clear things up.  We did find out that Deming was famous, the town water tower was shown in the first 20 minutes of the latest Indiana Jones movie.  Dinner featured an Italian Restaurant in an abandon 1920’s bank building complete with the open vault and a singing waiter.

Sunday June 15

It’s off to Carlsbad, not much to see in southern New Mexico, some folks left early to beat the heat (right…) Moderns and the 3 A/C equipped Model A’s were not quite as anxious.  And, as expected it turned out to be a nice warm day.  108F when we reached Carlsbad about 3 p.m. warming up a bit later.  After a reduced early happy hour folks scattered a bit for dinner and most turned in early.  Tomorrow the plan is for a new head gasket for Les Deedon and a cavern tour for the rest of us before hitting the road for Ft Stockton Texas.

Monday June 16

As planned Les, Jack Ripley and Kiwi Don replaced a head gasket at 5:00 a.m. when it was a bit cooler.  Days are bumping 110 so we just try to stay cool after a days drive.  This morning we visited Carlsbad Caverns, very impressive, very cool 1000 feet below and a really nice stop.  Trip to Ft Stockton was a little rough on the travelers, very hot with the intermittent typical West Texas Dust Storm.  Everyone was glad to arrive at our nicest Best Western stop so far.  The Mahaceks had a suite so the cool drinks and snacks happy hour was extended a bit.  Big steak dinners for most at the local steak house and an early turn it.  My internet connections have been spotty and very slow at best so if I can get a good hookup in the next couple days I’ll get this posted.  Tomorrow we are off to Del Rio Texas, not too far today about 185 miles but some are planning a 5:00 a.m. departure.

Tuesday June 17

We departed early for a short 4 hour driving day and the weather was cool and pleasant for the first 2 hours, then warmed a bit and we started experience an increase in humidity.

Afternoon in Del Rio hot and humid but somehow when visiting the oldest winery in Texas under giant trees and surrounded by flowers it doesn’t seem too bad.  Tonight after obligatory happy hour we plan to sample our first “Real” Texas BBQ.

Wednesday June 18

Today many of us had a later departure as we wanted to visit the Alamo Village, a western movie set, including a recreation of the Alamo, 7 miles North of Brackettville.  Surely you have all heard of Brackettville.  Over 50 westerns have been made here and the recreated western town came complete with several town characters.  Very interesting memorabilia from various movie sets and entertainment by the townies.  Miss Kitty ran the saloon and we were entertained by several famous old western songs, and of course a shootout on

Main St

.  Our group of about 15 were the only people in town so naturally we received all the attention.  Our short stop turned out to be more like two hours but it was fun.

After a short ‘electronic to standard’ distributor conversion seminar it was off to San Antonio and the famous Riverwalk. Lots of people and traffic something we hadn’t really missed in our previous travels. Folks kind of scattered, many toured the Alamo took the riverboat tour or just hung out.  Many nice restaurants on the Riverwalk, so there was something for everyone. Oh, I forgot to mention, on the way to San Antonio we stopped a few antique stores and Dave purchaced a set of horns from a Texas Longhorn that he could not get into his car.  Gemmell’s to the rescue again the 6’8” horns fit in the Lexus ski storage spot.

Thursday June 19

Nice not to have to move today our Hotel is very nice and there are lots of thing to see within walking distance.  Temperatures are on the hot and muggy side but if you go slow, stay in the shade and sip cool drinks it’s not bad.

Gemmell’s and Guthries journeyed to Luling about 60 miles east to visit Model A friend Al Allison and his great collection of Model A’s and Model A stuff.  Nice quiet little town with lots of green and big trees. Luling, the capitol of the Watermelon Thump and seed spitting contest also has a world renowned BBQ place.  It was absolutely delicious, best we ever had, messy as you only eat with the fingers, another memorable experience.

Tomorrow it’s Fredericksburg a German settlement in the Hill Country.

Friday June 20

A short hop to Fredericksburg left plenty of time to attend the monthly flee market where antiques and cowboy art were plentiful and very interesting.  Lunch at a nice German restaurant set us up to wander main street.  Fredericksburg C of C must have had a great marketing person on their staff, as the city allows several stores among the tourist shops to sell beer to go and enjoy as you walk the street.  Several gentlemen on the benches remarked that this was the only place they enjoyed taking their wives to shop.  Worked for me and Janice enjoyed escaping the constant reminder to “lets go”.  Dinner in another German restaurant fixed us up and we all turned in for an early departure to Dallas.

Saturday June 21

A rather long drive and negotiating 40 miles of traffic made us glad to finally arrive in Addison to the very nice Intercontinental Hotel as early arrivals we enjoyed watching the hundreds of happy Model A travelers arrive for the next two days. As is always the case it takes a long time to negotiate the hotel lobby as we must stop to talk to all our Model A friends from around the country that we only see at meet and tour time. Several people thought we must be stuck in San Antonio since I had not updated the website since then. 



 

Sunday June 22

We enjoyed the hill climb (flat) and greeting many more new friends before doing our  washing at a local Laundromat and generally getting the lay of the land.  MARCA members Jack Ripley and Dennis Cling enjoyed the hill, once again Jack received a first place using his special secret….he was the only one in his class.

Monday June 23

The fun begins with outdoor and indoor swap meets and the beginning seminars.  Since we are such busy bodies and spend very little time in our really nice hotel room this may be the last update for a few days.  But rest assured, we will be having fun and getting to know some more nice Model A people.  And it you want more friends just sign up for the next regional or national meet, they are great.  Oh and I need to mention we have been in Texas long enough to reacquaint ourselves with the local accents and color so we really are in the swing of things.

Tuesday June 24

Today we bussed to the Book Repository that housed the JFK museum.  We saw lots of memorabilia, the location of the shot fired by Lee Harvey Oswald, the grassy knoll and the route traveled that fateful day.  Very moving photos and videos brought back painful memories.  The museum is very well done.

 

Wednesday June 25

Our bus trip today took us to the famous Ft Worth stockyards, location of restored buildings, a museum and lots of places to eat.  The stockyards was at one time a huge complex where millions of cattle from around Texas gathered to take the train to camp for their summer vacation.  It now features a cattle drive each day where a few well fed and cared for Longhorn Cattle saunter down main  street for a tourist “Cattle Drive”

 

Thursday June 26

Off to the races, the grand tour departed in waves along various routes to the Texas Motor Speedway a round trip journey of about 100 miles.  Probably 400 Model A’s took to the track for 3 laps around the 1 ½ mile oval.  Janice and Frank (with no Model A) hitched a ride with Rey & Norma Reese in their air conditioned S/W and took to the track.  Rey was able to stick about half way up the incline on the highly banked turns at about 65 miles an hour.  Lots of fun but we ran out of laps about the time we passed the pace car and had to duck into the pits just like the big boys.

 

Friday June 27

Mostly seminars today, some very interesting the wrap-up of the indoor swap meet and SIG meetings. The Cling’s, Allan’s and Guthrie’s all had indoor swap spaces and reported quite a bit of productive traffic.  Sammy’s space provided a good hangout and meeting places during the meet.  The ladies took off on the shopping tour to Sam Moon Wholesale Shops, Kim Eddy, tour guide showed the ladies massive Texas Earrings.

 

The farewell banquet was very well done for somewhere near 1000 of my best friends.  We were proud to hear the announcement of our winners, Jack Ripley 1st place in his hillclimb class, Patti Jones 2nd place in modified car judging, and Christine LaBrash 1st place in the fashion competition.  After a long but enjoyable evening it was off to bed for an early Saturday morning departure.  Jack Ripley pulled an original Mullins trailer that Brian Bignell bought at the swap meet.

 

Saturday June 28

An uneventful trip to Snyder Texas ended with the discovery of and nice Automobile Memorabilia Store, era gas pumps, signs and lots of beautifully restored examples had our group enthralled.  Especially Dave Chance and Samuel Guthrie who helped contribute to the proprietors’ next vacation. 

 

Sunday June 29

Good drive across New Mexico with a lunch stop in Roswell and a visit to the International UFO Museum and Research Center. On display were photos and articles of the numerous times the Earth has been visited by visitors from outer space.  You must visit this museum it you want to know about the Great Conspiracy to cover up the UFO mysteries.  Nightfall found us in high, cool Ruidoso New Mexico, a surprise town high in the pines.  The lowest temperatures experience on the entire trip.

 

Monday June 30

After a nice cool drive at high altitude we made our way to Show Low for the evening.  MARCA members, Mike and Diana Martinez and Bob and Penny Bixby hosted our group for a lovely evening BBQ at the new Martinez home.  Situated on several acres  containing two creeks and ponds the location was a perfect setting for the final leg of the trip.

 

Tuesday July 1

Well we made it.  Great trip right up until the time we approached the valley on a nice warm day.  Record temps in the 110F range, but it was good to get home.