Photos and story by Mark Wing

Members of the Flagstaff chapter of the Model T Ford Club of America, the (Canyon Country Model T Club), and the International Model T club, were in town to tour the Albuquerque area.  Dana Marchand is the daughter of prominent Model T enthusiasts Russ and Kathy Furstnow of Flagstaff, AZ.  Russ is a board member of the International Model T club and a knowledgable Model T judge. In fact, the Furstnow’s cars, such as their 1913 Model T touring “Brooke” recently won “Best in Class” at the 2012 Santa Fe Concorso, as well as the prestigious Stynoski Award at the 54th annual tour in Rapid City, SD.

Dana, her husband Tony, and their daughters Sydney, Morgan, and Kinsey recently moved to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque and they organized this tour for their family and friends.  Among the participants on the tour were the Marchand Family; Russell and Ashlee Furstnow (Russ and Kathy’s son, Dana’s brother); Russell and Ashlee’s children Jordon, Laurel, and Aubrey; and Dick and Joyce Erfert (Flag, AZ).

The Marchand’s were driving a recently acquired 1927 Model T Tudor, Russ and Kathy Furstnow were driving a very sharp 1915 runabout, Russell/Ashlee and family were driving their nicely restored 1921 touring car, and the Erferts were driving a modern Audi.

Six Model T’s from the Tin Lizzies of Albuquerque joined the Flagstaff Model T’ers at the UNM football stadium parking lot at 9:30 AM.  The first stop was a brief visit to Albuquerque’s Old Town.  Located in Albuquerque’s historical district, this area was founded in 1706 by New Mexico Governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdez.  It’s now an area known for it’s adobe buildings, restaurants, gift shops, and historical plaza.  It also includes Albuquerque’s oldest building, the San Felipe de Neri Church, built in 1793.  The visit to Old Town was brief as dark clouds were forming and rain was expected.

Tin Lizzies at the UNM parking lot. Kirk, Mark, Bob, and Larry Russ and Kathy’s sharp 1915 runabout Tony and Dana’s 1927 Model T Tudor Russell and Ashlee’s 1921 Model T touring Marilyn and Paul Duncan with Kathy Furstnow Sharon Dominguez (foreground) On the Plaza Larry, Russell, Russ, Kirk, and Mark Lorna and Larry Azevedo with their 1921 Faultless Raceabout Bob and Robbi Ross Kathy and Russ Furstnow in their 1915 Model T runabout. Ashlee and Russell Furstnow in their 1921 Model T touring car.

From Old Town, it was on to the Petroglyph National Monument.  Old Town is on Albuquerque’s Central Avenue and the route was to continue westward on Central and turn north on Coors Blvd.  All of these streets are heavily traveled and the Tin Lizzies received a lot of hand waves and honks along the way!  The Petroglyph National Monument was created to protect one of the largest collections of symbols carved on the volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago.  While we were at the Petroglyphs, it began to sprinkle so the the visit was brief.  It was lunchtime so the next stop was the Flying Star restaurant in Corrales (northeast of the petroglyph site).

The Flying Star was a nice place to enjoy a bite to eat and talk with our new friends from Flagstaff.  After lunch, the Tin Lizzie of Albuquerque members departed for home.  Mark Wing led the Canyon Country Model T Club members to Rio Grande Blvd., one of the most scenic and Model T friendly streets in the city.  From here, the Flagstaff club members were going to visit the National Atomic Museum of Nuclear Science and History on Eubank Blvd. near Kirtland AFB.

Driving from Old Town to the Petroglyph National Monument Robbi and Bob Ross in their 1926 roadster Menacing clouds as we approach the Petroglyph site Driving around the Petroglyph site At the Petroglyph parking lot The Peterson’s 1927 touring car and the Marchand’s 1927 Model T Tudor Russell (left), Russ and Dick raising the runabout top. Kathy and Robbi Exploring the petroglyphs An example of rock carving Russ and Kathy (with grandchildren) lunching with Larry and Lorna The Marchand and Furstnow families Joyce and Dick Erfert with Kirk in the center

The Tin Lizzies of Albuquerque wish to thank Tony and Dana Marchand for including us in their tour plans.  We had a great time meeting everyone and participating in this day tour!  We hope that we can tour with the Canyon Country Model T Club in the future!