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July, 2007

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 M erit” 2006

“

A ward of

Continuing Excellence” 2006

MODEL ‘A’ MEMORIES

I don’t know about you, but for me hearing stories of Model A memories is a lot of fun. Recently a club mem-

ber shared an interesting story about returning from a tour. The tour group stopped at a small town restaurant. By

chance, a local woman was having lunch as the group arrived. Seeing the cars this woman immediately asked the

waitress to put her salad in the refrigerator while she went home to get her camera. The woman returned and was

not bashful about asking for a ride. The club member obliged agreeing to give her a ride around the small town

square. During this short period of time, the woman talked non-stop about her Model A experiences some of

which involved amorous and obviously emotional moments in a rumble seat. Our club member doubted the au-

thenticity of her stories because the rumble seat is a rather restrictive environment. However, when the club

member shared this story, I remembered a rumble seat memory of my own, even though I was never in a rumble

seat. Let me explain.

When I was six or seven, my mom and I stood looking out a window as a young man picked up his girlfriend

who lived across the street from us. My mom was quick to notice the young man did not open the car door for

his girlfriend. I didn’t think this was any big deal but mom thought otherwise. “Son, you always open the door

for a lady!” By the tone of her voice, my mom was very serious about showing respect to women. As I was mak-

ing a mental note of this command, my mom continued. “Oh, by the way, don’t ever let me catch you in a rum-

ble seat!” The scowl on her face told me she was very committed about what she said, and there was no room for

negotiation, even thought I had no clue what a rumble seat was. I quickly agreed to her command. However, in

later years I wonder how she knew what went on in a rumble seat.

Some years ago I had two dear women friends who were in their retirement years. They knew my interest in the

Model A hobby, and so they would often share precious automotive memories. I thought it would be fun to give

them a ride. They thought this was a great way to relive some of those memories. A few days later I picked them

up. The precious memories quickly faded into the difficult reality of trying to get them in the back seat of a

Briggs built, 1930 four-door sedan where the back doors are narrower than the front. Soon enough, my dear

friends were comfortably seated in the back seat. I fired the engine and we began our journey. However, instead

of being greeted with lively discussion and laughter, a mood of silence quickly filled the car. We arrived back

and began the process of getting them out of the back seat. Once out of the car, and into the glorious freedom of

the outdoors, my two friends confessed the ride was a bit uncomfortable and not at all what they remembered

from the days of their youth.

The 2007 touring and events season is in full swing. These events provide us a wonderful opportunity fellow-

ship, and to kick back and share wonderful Model A memories.

Chris Launer, President