Tin Lizzies at the NM State Fair (Sept. 12, 2021)

By Mark Wing (unless otherwise noted)

Mark Dominguez, our Club’s Vice President, coordinated our participation in this year’s New Mexico State Fair. As we had in 2019, we met early in the morning in a secure staging area near the fairgrounds. At 7:55 AM, we made the short trek and parked our cars and trucks on the fairgrounds main street. We had a total of 12 Model T’s there, including a pickup truck, coupes, touring cars, a Tudor, a truck, and two firetrucks. Our car manufacturing dates ranged from 1911 to 1927.

Due, in part, to the requirement that all fair attendees needed to show proof of vaccination, attendance at this year’s New Mexico State Fair was estimated to be less than half of a normal year. In some respects, this made the show more enjoyable as there were far fewer people to contend with to see exhibits or when waiting in food lines.

The day was warm and spent our time talking to interested visitors about our cars, resting in the shade, and checking out the State Fair exhibits. In the afternoon, three young New Mexico State Police were tasked with selecting their favorite Model T on display. They chose the Wing’s 1911 Model T touring car that was making its debut at a Tin Lizzie event as well as a first showing at the New Mexico State Fair. This car was acquired around a year ago in a trade for a 1946 MGTC with a British car collector in Ohio.

At 3 PM, it was time to leave the fair and we got a grand police escort out of the fairgrounds. It was a relaxing and low-key show this year. Thank you to Craig with the New Mexico State Fair and to Mark Dominguez for coordinating our club’s participation!