December, 2005
2100 Walnut Street
Kansas City, MO 64108
Local Chapter of MAFCA and MARC
NEWS
‘A’
LETTER
Heart of America Model A Ford Club
“
Certificate of Merit” 2004
“
Best Newsletter
Honorable Mention” 2004
1
Winter Reflections
As I write this article, the temperature outside is nearly freezing and the residential streets have a glassy sheen as water is
in the beginning stages of turning to ice. The cold night air is filled with snowflakes, which drift down and then quickly
disappear when they hit the warm ground. Traffic slows down, just a bit, as people exercise a little more seasonal cau-
tion. In my daily travels I’ve heard people say, “Well…it looks like winter is here.” As fall ends and winter begins, my
thoughts take me back to our wonderful fall tour.
The weather on tour day was perfect. We simply could not have had a better day for the tour. The club attendance and
number of Model A’s participating in the tour was impressive. In addition, George Deel impeccably planned the tour
right down to the smallest detail.
I looked forward to this fall tour with great anticipation since knee surgery had me sidelined for much of the tour season.
However, I did have some concern about how my knees would hold up so I enlisted my son to drive. He was happy to
help out until he had the opportunity to go flying at the same time of the tour. Exercising a bit of caution, my only option
was driving my modern. Regardless of my handicap, I knew I’d take a ribbing when I pulled into the tour staging area.
Sure enough, I hardly dismounted when the vultures began to circle and by the looks on their faces they were moving in
for the kill. In the blink of an eye, a member moved forward from the pack and called my Toyota van a Japanese Shay.
However, I was not without a plan of retaliation. I quickly responded, with an exaggerated mood of surprise, “Van?
That’s funny. It sure looked like a Model A early this morning when it was dark and I left the garage.” I’m not sure they
bought my explanation. Yet, driving the van had a wonderful and unexpected benefit.
I took up position as “tail end Charlie” on the tour line. From this perspective, I saw something very wonderful happen.
When the Model A parade moved through town, I noticed how people stopped what they were doing to admire the cars.
They waved and smiled. Many people had a reflective look on their faces as if the cars had magically transported them
back perhaps to a simpler and happier time. I thought what a wonderful blessing and privilege it is to be a caretaker of
automotive history that inspires wonderful memories of times past.
As winter begins, I look forward to springtime when we will hit the road once again to live history and make memories.
Chris Launer
