Vintage Model T Vehicles Travel Coast to Coast in 2019

The 2019 Ocean-to-Ocean Rerun team is gearing up for its annual cross-country road trip adventure, covering 4,000 miles in 11 states, in vintage Ford Model T vehicles which are 100 years old, or more.

The road trip begins June 15, 2019 in Tarrytown, NY, and ends 30 days later in Seattle.

Let’s hope all 35 vintage vehicles which start the race make it to the finish line.

The oldest Model T in the event is a 1909 model, the year the coast-to-coast road trip was held as America’s first transcontinental automobile race and endurance contest.

It’s no longer a race, but it certainly still is an endurance contest.

Members of the Ocean-to-Ocean team love automotive history, life in the slow lane and the open road.

They’ll be experiencing all three, since there is no heat or air conditioning in a vintage Model T, and many will be driving with their tops down to maintain a “running” speed of 40 miles an hour.

Unlike many auto collectors, this group drives their cars rather than allowing them to become expensive dust collectors.

Maintenance Challenges for Vintage Vehicles

Maintenance is also a huge concern for the Model T’s many of which are over a 100 years old with original wooden bodies.

Drivers will have more than just the local landscape to consider as they need to keep a keen eye on the many maintenance items that have to be addressed every day.

A Model T gas tank is located securely under the front seat and holds just 10 gallons, to cover 175 miles.

Oil levels, gas levels, tire pressure and water levels in the radiator must be checked regularly.

Changing tires means manually removing the tire and tube from the rim. It also has to be replaced with hand strength.

America’s First Transcontinental Auto Race in 1909

Their 2019 Ocean to Ocean Rerun is a re-enactment of America’s first transcontinental automobile race 110 years ago, the 1909 Ocean-to-Ocean Automobile Endurance Contest, which started in New York City on June 1, 1909 with the first competitor reaching Seattle 22 days later.

The first place prize was $2000, which is worth $55,288 in 2019.

“Henry Ford was true marketing guy who knew he had to prove the durability of his cars. This event created an ideal opportunity to show the Model T was affordable and more reliable than any of his competitor’s cars,” said Morris Dillow, one of the vintage road trip organizers.

“There were very few paved roads west of the Mississippi River in 1909. Competitors faced running out of gas, fires, getting lost, axle deep mud and even quicksand.

Ford heavily advertised the race results after Model T was first to cross the finish line after 23 days. As a result, it became the worlds’ best-selling car in the first half of the 20th century,” added Dillow.

2019 Ocean-to-Ocean Rerun Schedule:

June 15 – Start from Tarrytown, New York
June 16 – Poughkeepsie, New York
June 17 – Utica, New York
June 18 – Hamburg, New York
June 19 – Streetsboro, Ohio
June 20 -, 21st, 22nd, Detroit
June 23 – Mishawaka
June 24 – Bloomington, Il
June 25 – Hannibal, Mo
June 26 & 27 – Olathe, Kansas
June 28 – Abilene, Kansas
June 29 – Goodland, Kansas
June 30 – July 1st, Fort Morgan, Co
July 2 – Rawkins, Wy
July 3 – Rock Springs, Wy
July 4 – Montpelier, Id
July 5&6 – Pocatello, Id
July 7 – Twin Falls
July 8 – Onterio, Ok
July 9 – Pendleton, Ore
July 10 – Yakima, Wash
July 11 – Snoqualmie, Wash
July 12 &13 – Bellure and Seattle, Wash

The finish will be at Drumheller Fountain on July 13 in Seattle, Washington.

Thanks to the Abilene Convention & Visitors Board, one of the stops on the route, for alerting ecoXplorer to this great road trip.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as president of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA), the professional organization of automotive journalists and manufacturers.

Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.