The Orange County Model T Ford Club, along with other Model T clubs in Southern California, hosted the MTFCA Mid-Winter Gala and 50th Annual Meeting in Garden Grove, California (very near Disneyland).  Attending from the Tin Lizzies of Albuquerque were Tom and Kathy Miles, Bernice Young traveling with Joe Fellin (Arizona), Larry and Lorna Azevedo (Larry had recently been elected to join the MTFCA Board of Directors), Fran Gurule, Betty Housholder, Mark and Susan Wing, and a new member from Las Cruces, Tom MacGugan.

Friday (27th) started with arrival and check-in at the Embassy Suites hotel.  There was an optional tour where local MTFCA chapter members brought their Model Ts and other vintage cars to provide rides for the members from out of town to visit the Stanley Ranch Museum (a Garden Grove Historical Society site), and Bob Babcock’s RWB Party Props business (located in a 1909 building of 72,000 sq. ft. on the National Historical Register).  After visiting these two interesting places, we went to Old Town Orange – famous for its antique stores and numerous dining options.

The evening festivities included a welcome reception with opening comments, a “MTFCA Jeopardy” game, and door prizes.

Embassy Suites Hotel in Garden Grove, CA Bernice and Lorna admiring “Minnie Mouse” Model Ts and other cars ready to go to the Stanley Ranch 1909 Overland Chris Brancaccio Mark Wing, “Humble” Howard Genrich, Jay Klehfoth, and Joe Fellin Bill Harris’ 1915 touring car Bill Harris providing tour instructions Lorna Azevedo, John Craig, Karen Redding , and Beth Vaughn Driving to the Stanley Ranch Stanley Ranch The restored ranch house An American Lafrance fire engine A recreation of the first Garden Grove Firehouse Leaving the Stanley Ranch At the prop house Big animals for rent! Objects for any occasion! Mummies! Ghouls and ghosts! Lorna with her driver “Fabulous Phyllis” Betty and Fran at the hospitality room Betty and Lorna Bernice playing “MTFCA Jeopardy”

Saturday (28th) began with a trip to the Lyons Air Museum adjacent to the runway at the John Wayne Airport in Orange County.  In this thirty thousand square foot hanger (opened in 2009), is a display of William Lyons collection of historic aircraft and automobiles.  Planes included a B-17 Flying Fortress, A-2B Invader, North American B-25, and a DC-3 which saw service on D-day.  Cars included a 1923 Model T runabout and a 1939 Mercedes Benz German Staff car that once carried Adolf Hitler.

Tom and Cathy Miles on the bus Lyon Air Museum Lorna and Larry Fran 1923 Model T Our tour guide Artwork on the side of a plane The museum Hitler staff car Mark with a Helms Bakery truck Tail gun

After the Lyons Air Museum, the tour bus took the group to Randy Ema’s Garage.  Randy Ema is the world’s authority on Duesenbergs.  In fact, Randy has restored several of Duesenbergs in the Jay Leno collection.  Randy’s collection includes 28,000 original shop drawings and includes original patterns.  Although he specializes in Duesenbergs, he restores other marques at his shop.

On Saturday evening was the big Gala, with Wizard of Oz skits, acknowledgement of the MTFCA founders and past Rosenthal award winners.  The Tin Lizzies of Albuquerque is fortunate to have two Rosenthal Award winners in Tom Miles and Larry Azevedo!

Lorna and Larry The MTFCA dinner Susan and Mark Tom and Cathy Former MTFCA Presidents Joe Fellin and Jay Klehfoth Larry (Joe’s nephew), Bernice, and Jay The Azevedos and Genrich’s Tom and Cathy Fran and Dorlyne

Sunday concluded the MTFCA 50th Annual Meeting with a breakfast and an open session with the Board of Directors.

Thank you Mark Mahoney, the Orange County Model T Ford Club, and the other contributors to this enjoyable event!