Local Club Wants To Share History

By Maria Morrison

For the past eight years, the Dairyland Tin Lizzies Model T club has been at AirVenture, offering rides in their Model Ts. The group operates out of southeastern Wisconsin and is here to share the unique experience of driving around in a Model T.

The Tin Lizzies, founded in 2001, have more than 50 members. The only requirement is that members be a part of the national Model T association and that they have a Ford Model T from 1909-1927. The club will often go to national and regional events, including the one in Branson, Missouri, where they were the week preceding AirVenture.

I drove around with Bob Wirth in his 1914 Model T. He also owns a Model T from 1909, the first year of construction. Built in the first year of Henry Ford's assembly line, Wirth's 1914 Model T is now over 100 years old. Wirth bought the car when his son was ten in 1972, and now his son does all the mechanic work. These cars require daily maintenance, and owners can't just buy spare parts off of Amazon. Belonging to a club helps owners find other opinions, mechanical support, and possibly spare parts.

Driving a Model is difficult for anyone, "especially if they drive a stick," says Wirth. Model Ts have three pedals on the floor and two levers on the steering wheel. From right to left, on the floor, there is the High/Low gear selector, reverse, and brake. The steering has the accelerator on the right and the spark advance on the left.

Rides are 15 minutes long and take participants from the Ford tent to Warbirds and back again. Someone over 18 must sign a waiver for anyone getting in a car, but rides are open to all ages. The Model Ts will be operating Monday through Friday, 10:00-12:00 and 13:00-15:00.

(Staff image)

FMI: http://clubs.hemmings.com/dairylandtinlizzies