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MODEL A RESTORERS CLUB OF SAN DIEGO INC. 

 

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          Our parade script as read by our hosted communities: The Model “A” Restorers Club of San Diego has been in existence for over fifty years with a membership of over ninety families.  The clubs primary objective is to preserve and enjoy the Ford Model “A”.  Five million of these cars were built between 1928-1931 and over 250,000 Model “A”s are still on the road.  Their owners proudly display their beautiful restorations on tours throughout San Diego County and in over twenty-five public events.  Rumble seats, running boards, and their “ah-ooo-gah” horns make the Model “A” a distinctive part of automotive history.  

                                                                         Upcoming Parades 

     2010 Parades:  (dates listed are tentative)

            Crown Hills Parade in Alpine July 3rd

            Scripps Ranch Parade July 4th

            Mira Mesa Parade July 4th

            Descanso Parade July 10

            Pine Valley Parade July 31

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PICTURES FROM PAST PARADES

June 19th was the Monte Vista Village car display.  We met at Anna’s restaurant in Lemon Grove before going to Monte Vista Village. Monte Vista provided a great lunch and a welcome donation for the club. 

Those in the north county headed out from Keith’s for the Arbors.   We were greeted by the Dixieland band, and very enthusiastic residence.  They served us a lovely bunch and also made a donation to the club.

La Mesa Parade on June 5th, we met at Coco’s on Lake Murray Blvd. and were at the staging area in plenty of time, but wound up near the end of the parade. Some of the early floats were back before we even left.

The Kensington Parade was on May 31st, Memorial Day. We met at the IHOP in Mission Valley, where I led the group up Texas street, then promptly took a wrong turn, drove in a circle and finally stopped and asked Carol Weckman who was driving behind me if I was going in the right direction. Carol gave me a look, and said, yes. ( Before we left the IHOP, Carol said we should go up Fairmont not Texas St., She was right). 

Tierrasanta Parade:  We met at Carl’s Jr. on Clairemont Mesa Blvd just west of the 15 freeway.  Eight cars made the show.  Patty could not make it to this Parade so she arraigned for the husband of a woman she works with, who happens to live in the area, to come by and ride with me. Most parades don’t allow anything to be handed out of the cars for fear that some child will get hurt. The Tierrasanta Parade will allow candy to be handed out to the kids, but not thrown.  My passenger “Wally” thought it would be fun to shout at the kids along the parade route  “ hey, do you kids  want some candy?” when the kids hollered back “yes” he then replied “ we don’t have any” . So if we are not invited back next year, it’s my fault for not controlling my passenger.  

        

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Allied Gardens Parade:  Allied Gardens was the first on Saturday May 8th. A good turn out with six cars showing up.  No one wanted to stay for the Car Show after the parade but Gene mentioned that he needed a pit stop on the way home so why don’t the east county cars all travel together and stop at a restaurant.  Gene said the club used to stop for lunch after parades all the time, why not now?  D Z Akins was picked as a good stop on the road going east. Gene, Bill, Paul and Patty had a great big lunch, with a couple of take home boxes needed for the second half of the large sandwiches.  

   

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Lakeside Parade:  The Lakeside Western Days Parade was our only Parade for April. We left the El Cajon Target parking lot at 8:15am. I say WE, because I did not have to drive the parade route as the only car this time. There were ten Model A’s participating. We did have to wait for a while for the Parade to start and for our Division to move, but the time went quickly. A few went for a walk, and some stood around and got to know each other better. Tom Allingham was there with his parents, they helped Patty pass the time by doing some great comedy routines.

Joan Minnick led the Parade in her Woody, Don was driving dignitaries in the front of the Parade and then he came around and caught up with us at the end.

    

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Ocean Beach Kite Festival and Parade Saturday March 6th 2010 :

For a week prior to the parade the weather report was predicting heavy rain for Saturday March 6th. I called everyone on the list and no one wanted to take a chance and get their car wet.   We also had the unfortunate loss of Sue Kotas that week and her memorial services were to be Saturday at 11 am, with a gathering for lunch after the services.  I decided to drive my Model A to Sue’s Memorial Services and if the weather was good I would go on to the Parade afterword and maybe, just maybe, others would go along with me and I could lead the parade after all.   The gathering for lunch was to be at the Butcher Shop Restaurant. On to the Butcher shop Patty and I went. I figured we could eat quickly and then still make it to the parade. I hurriedly ate only one helping of a delicious buffet, when I usually go back for seconds, and thirds, filling my pockets with rolls to eat later.

At about a quarter after one, and after trying unsuccessfully to talk Rich and Jo Beth Steltzer into driving their Model A to the Parade with me, Patty and I hurriedly drove the freeways to Ocean Beach. To be sure we got there in time we put the intersection of Ebers St. and Newport Ave. into the GPS. We arrived at the intersection soon and told the traffic attendant we were there to be in the Parade, she moved the safety cones and said “go down this street”  we proceed onto a deserted  Newport Ave. looking for the parade staging area. We saw a couple of men with Kiwanis shirts, and pulled to the curb nearby one of them. I looked at my watch; it was twenty minutes to two. No problem I thought, the Parade starts at two, but where is everyone.

At about that time, a 1914 Model T pulled up beside me, a new Volkswagen bug pulled in front of the Model T, in front of the Volkswagen a couple of guys jumped out of a pickup truck holding large flags, the guy in the Kiwanis shirt came over and said “follow the Model T”, a large group of kids holding all kinds of kites came out of a school yard gate behind me, the music started, and the Parade began. It was now one forty five.

I pulled in behind the Model T, eighteen minutes later we were at Abbott St. and the kids all ran for the beach with their kites, the Parade was over.  All I could think of was, I should have stayed at the Butcher Shop and gone back for seconds.  Parade mileage goes to:   1. Paul & Patty Winchester  

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The request for cars at the 1st and Maple Street Bridge reopening, was for 1931 year cars. At the last minute I decided I wanted to go anyway, even though I have a 1928 car. I figured a 1928 car could have been there in 1931 and I doubted that anyone outside of the club would know the difference between a ‘28 and a ‘31 anyway.   While standing around in the mist waiting for the show to begin, I learned that Walter and Roxy Faust lived in the area when they first got married, and Roxy said her Dad worked on the bridge when it was built in 1931. Walter spent some time looking over the side of the bridge for a stray practice bomb that fell off of a WWII airplane and was stuck in a tree in the canyon for years, we could not find it. The show began as several City Councilmen and dignitaries patted themselves on the back and took all the credit for the bridge, including the letup in the rain while they were talking. The cameramen were putting their cameras away when we drove over the bridge in the old cars, so there is little or no recognition of us having ever been there other than a couple of oil spots on the new pavement. Like a dog, we mark our territory, the bridge….. belongs to us.   Walter suggested we continue the Bridge Reopening Celebration a little farther down the street at the Hob Nob Hill restaurant, where we had a great breakfast, before heading off in our separate directions.  

   

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Dec. 5, 2008, Saturday, Toyland Parade and Band Competition.  A small group of us met at IHOP 2169 Fenton Pkwy, Mission Valley (Costco shopping center off Friars Rd.) at 7:00 am for breakfast.  They left at 8:00 for our staging in North Park, the parade started at 9:30 am with a festive holiday theme of Christmas.  I heard one of the disappointments of the parade were many cars were towed away because parking on the parade route. 

Dec. 5, 2008, Saturday, Ocean Beach Holiday Parade.  The group met at Toys-R-Us 1240 W. Morena Blvd. at 3:00 left at 3:15 for a parade start at 5:15 in Ocean Beach.  Getting there in time to decorate with lights is always been exciting as other participants are getting ready for the evening event.  This parade is one of my favorites as everyone is in a very festive mode in the evening and OB does get into the party mode celebrating the spirit of Christmas. 

October 4 Alpine Parade:  The group started from the Target parking lot and left for Alpine.  I had asked Dave Sohr to lead this parade as I made another trip back to Hawaii to take care of  family business.  The new parade day (Sunday afternoon) did throw a curve for attendee’s and parade participants as most people are home watching the Chargers lose another one!  What I heard of the parade, it was still a success when our Model A’s made their appearance.  Everyone enjoys watching old cars cruise by with their ah-ooo-gah horns. 

       

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Poway Parade: This year a new group “Poway Transmissions” sponsored the parade, because the community organizers decided the event was to costly with liability as the main expense in organizing the Poway Parade.  They had only eight weeks to plan the parade in conjunction with a car show after the parade which turned out to be a great success.  Our group started the morning with breakfast at Keith’s, caravanned to our staging area with several other car clubs and where we met Bud Swartwood in his chaps and riding with a motorcycle club.  I told him that he was a traitor to trade in his “A” for a motorcycle, but I forgave him as he was enjoying both hobbies.   After the parade I joined the “Motor Madness” car show also sponsored by Poway Transmissions which was a fundraiser.  I met another model A’er Ray Miller in a recently restored coupe, told him about our club and hopefully he will join.

       

       

 

Pine Valley Parade: This was a small but mighty group that braved the hills to get to Pine Valley.

     

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July 12th, Saturday, Descanso Parade, we met at the Target parking lot with ten cars, Descanso is a little home town community with entries of tractors, horse drawn carriages, and many equestrian groups.  Their new parade coordinator was a little disorganized but found our position in the parade.  After the parade we decided to tour the back way home down the Viejas Grade which is a gravel road.  I know all the cars got a good cleaning when they came home.  Mileage will go to Reen & Sue, Paul & Patty Winchester, Ron & Joyce Peterson, Bud & Judy Swartwood with their two grandkids from France- Noah & Torri

       

   

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4th of July Parades: Scripps Ranch Parade, we met at Keiths Restaurant, some went to breakfast and a few just met in the parking lot.  We caravanned up to Scripps Ranch where we were directed to our old staging area.  Scripps Ranch’s parade route goes through their neighborhood where all spectators are excited about the fourth and are truly proud to be Americans!  We had fifteen cars that were decorated with red, white and blue! and great group representing our club.  Valarie had both her “A’s” with the second car driven by her son, I guess she will get “bonus miles”!   Mira Mesa Parade, after the conclusion of Scripps parade, ten cars caravanned on down to Mira Mesa for our second parade.  Mira Mesa has a new parade coordinator so staging was easier for the line-up.  After the usual long wait, we proceeded into our second parade through Mira Mesa.   Crown Valley Parade, Since we were on the other end of town, I asked Dave Sohr to lead the Crown Valley Parade. The group met at Gentain & Victoria Park Terrace.  It was your typical 4th of July parade with everyone in a celebrating mood.  

    

                            Scripps Ranch Parade                                                                      Mira Mesa Parade

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