Story and photos by Mark Wing e-mail link

On Saturday morning the tour members assembled at the Safari Motel for the short drive to La Tiendita (2nd and Main Streets), an antique and collectables business in downtown Tucumcari.  We were invited to breakfast by Carlos and Neva Romero, the owners of La Tiendita.  The Romeros were well prepared for our arrival with breakfast burritos, pastries, juice, and coffee.  Also present were Patsy Gresham (Chamber of Commerce Executive Director) and her daughter.  The Romero’s also provided a gift basket drawing for our group!

Stan and Betty share a hug! Pre-tour meeting on Saturday Tour cars on Main St. Models T’s in front of the antique store Larry and Lorna Azevedo (Orlando in the background) Tom and Kathy Miles being served by Neva Romero Larry and Lorna being served by Neva Romero View inside La Tiendita (a former bank) Patsy Gresham (Chamber of Commerce) and E.J. Dennis Orlando thanking Carlos and Neva Romero Carlos and Neva Romero (owners of La Tiendita and our breakfast hosts) Richard Talley (owner of the Safari Motel) and Vern Harvey Will Taylor in his 1926 Model T touring car Mack McDougal in his very sharp 1930 Model A Billy Griffin and Jerry Harris Vickie Harris in her Model A pickup Betty and Michael Housholder

After saying our goodbyes to Carlos, Neva, and the other generous folks who hosted the breakfast, it was time to make a 35 mile drive to the San Jon, NM Community Center.  San Jon is a small community of approximately 300 residents just off of Interstate 40 due east of Tucumcari.  Our visit to San Jon was at the request of Kristin Taylor who had asked Orlando if the Tin Lizzies could make an appearance.  We were unprepared for the fantastic greeting we received from the friendly folks at San Jon.  They made homemade donuts and coffee for us.  The donuts couldn’t have been fresher as they were being made while we were there!  We visited with the residents and provided short rides in our Model T’s.  The kids were especially enthusiastic and got to ride in a variety of different Model T’s!  We thanked the residents of San Jon for their fantastic hospitality and Kristin thanked us for coming to their community.

Driving to San Jon, NM Orlando explaining our brief stop to the Harris’ View of the rock formations from the bridge View from the bridge Will Taylor resuming the tour Our arrival at the San Jon Community Center Crowds beginning to assemble Mack McDougal viewing the Azevedo’s speedsters Cooking the donuts in the kitchen Glazing the fresh donuts! Kristin Taylor serving refreshments to Billy Griffin Refreshment table at the community center Kids ready for a ride in a Model T! Will Taylor providing rides Vern Willan and his excited passengers! Lorna providing rides in her 1915 speedster San Jon residents having a grand time in the Gauna’s depot hack Just back from the ride Mark Dominguez giving rides in his 1926 Model T touring car Orlando provided rides too! San Jon residents with Stan’s 1917 depot hack Larry’s speedster was a very popular car this day! Gerald White (1922 Model T runabout owner and San Jon resident) riding with Lorna Kristin Taylor thanking the Tin Lizzies for coming to San Jon

From the San Jon, we drove eastward 14.4 miles to Russell’s Travel Center, on an I-40 frontage road in Glenrio, NM (very near the Texas border).  Not only is this travel center a place to rest and tank up, it has a sizable cafe and a car and memorabilia museum!  Most of the cars are 1950’s vintage including a 1958 Chevy Impala convertible 348 Tri-Power, a 1955 Crown Victoria Starliner, 1955 and 1959 Corvettes, and even a 1927 Model T!  We were given a warm greeting in the parking lot and provided our own car show to the visitors to the Travel Center.

Russell’s Travel Center Janice and Stan brought a young friend from San Jon Our cars on display Greetings from the folks at the Travel Center These guys were on their own tour with their Harley’s! Susan, Janice, Kathy, and Tom in the lobby Entering the museum A fantastic 1955 Corvette 265 What a memorabilia collection! Julie and Russell Dilts Mark and Sharon Dominguez Linda and Jeff Stan Gauna A view of the collection Vern Willan and Yoda! 1927 Model T roadster Dining in the cafe Stan and Janice with their new friend! The Willan’s and Ortega’s touring cars ready to depart Ann and David Merewether in their 1917 pickup Fran Gurule was riding in the 1915 “Lorna Special” Laura Kammerer and Marilyn Duncan Melody and Orlando Ortega Susan Wing in her 1924 Model T coupe with Michael in the background Will Taylor’s 1926 Model T touring car Betty Housholder in her 1921 coupe

From Russell’s Travel Center, many tour members stopped off at Danny and Linda Ellis’ car restoration workshop and storage facility on Route 66.  The Ellis’ generously provided cookies and drinks.  In addition to the interesting collection of cars in their yard, they also had a the remains of at least 2 Model T’s that captured the interest of the Tin Lizzies!  One of the chassis had an after-market shock absorber so rare that Larry had never seen one before!  Thank you to the Ellis’ for their generosity and hospitality!

Driving back from Russell’s Travel Center The Ellis’ 1928 Studebaker The “seen better days” Model T Parts Model T parts from different years A “shark nose” Graham Paige Dave Ferro, our host Danny Ellis, and Michael Housholder Danny Ellis and Orlando Ortega Admiring Danny’s collection of auto memorabilia Laura, Danny, Billy, and Mary Jo E.J. and Jerry A great collection of memorabilia Relaxing at the Ellis’ Looking over the Model T parts Some of the parts are circa 1915 We were given a musical serenade! Our hosts Linda and Danny Ellis Ethan and Larry ready to depart in Larry’s 1925 speedster

Link to Tucumcari Tour – Thurs (May 1, 2014)

Link to Tucumcari Tour – Fri (May 2, 2014)

Link to Tucumcari Tour –  Sat PM & Sun (May 3 & 4, 2014)