Albemarle Area Chapter of the Model T Ford Club International Annual Tour

On Saturday, April 22, 2023, the Albemarle Area Chapter of the Model T Ford Club International (MTFCI) toured the Perquimans and Chowan County northern back roads for its annual Spring Tour.

The Chapter is one of the MTFCIs over 100 chapters worldwide and covers eastern North Carolina up into southeastern Virginia and west past Greenville.

Participants for this tour came from Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Moyock, Winterville, Hobbsville, and the local area. We also welcome Model A Ford participants, as many participants have both a Model T and A.

The tour left Hertford and went north above Center Hill and back down to Edenton for lunch at the “The Herringbone “, the newest restaurant on the waterfront, occupying the historic 1890s Edenton Ice Company building adjacent to the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse.

After lunch, participants were treated to a fascinating demonstration of the tire retreading process at the Colony Tire Retreading Facility. The staff at the facility gave a thorough presentation of all the steps involved in the retreading process, which was particularly impressive given the facility’s daily volume of deliveries from some 40 outlets.  

With the tour winding down and the skies starting to look ominous, the vintage convoy journeyed by the Burnt Mill Road route to the Bethel Volunteer Fire Department building. The group ended the tour with the Chapter’s traditional “End with Ice Cream “ celebration and farewells until the next time.

For further information on Model T activities, contact Bron Prokuski at bronprokuski@mediacombb.net, who contributed this article and information.

Some facts about the iconic Model T:

• The Ford Model T, produced between 1908 and 1927, was one of the most popular cars in history, with over 15 million manufactured at the Michigan plants. The car’s affordable price and ease of maintenance made it accessible to the masses and helped to transform America’s transportation landscape. Production reached a rate of 9,000 to 10,000 cars a day, only surpassed by the Volkswagen Beetle in 1972. Cars were also manufactured in Britain, Ireland, Denmark, and Canada.
• A four-cylinder engine, making 20 horsepower from 177 cubic inches that could run on gasoline, kerosene, or ethanol – up to 20 mpg, with a max speed of 45. No balanced crankshaft, and with a magneto flywheel.  Electric starting offered as optional in 1918, then standard.
• The T has a reverse gear, a low-speed gear, and a direct drive. Braking is on the transmission, and the brakes on the rear wheels are service/parking/emergency brakes only
• A typical annual MTFCI Annual Tour will draw over 300 Model T’s for several days of touring.  The 2023 Tour will be in Baraboo, Wisconsin.