President’s Message 2025

June 2025

To all the Members,

As my son, Alex, was getting into cars I realized that having the car was just a small part of the hobby and I soon came to realize that the tools and the garage were equally important. I was, and still am, clearly deficient in both those areas and now, as a Model T owner, I realize that there is a new need to support the hobby-the trailer!

Naturally, I’m woefully deficient in that category as well. I have successfully gotten my Model T on and off a rented U-Haul trailer twice now, and the last time I did it with at least some measure of confidence. I don’t have the right straps and haven’t quite figured out how to keep my floorboards and other bits and pieces in place while I trailer the car, but I’m learning.

I’ve heard from multiple club members that one of the best programs they have seen was put on by Vic and included details on how to properly tie down a Model T. Regrettably, I missed that program, but the beauty of the club is that I’m still benefiting because other club members are mentoring me and providing all the tips and tricks Vic conveyed in that program.

As mentioned in the last meeting, we don’t have any programs planned for the summer and, with the heat, I suspect there will be less enthusiasm to get out and drive for the next few months. This may be a great opportunity for club members to consider old programs that they particularly enjoyed, particularly technical ones, that could be reworked and presented again. This may mean some of the older members team up with newer members to build a program or maybe there is something that would be better to organize into a tech session. Maybe it is a garage tour or some other way to get a few of us together for a few hours of knowledge transfer.

There is so much to learn. Pat and I reflected the other day on how much we don’t know about these cars and how neither of us wants to be on the side of the road troubleshooting a repair with our limited knowledge!

Glen Gillman,
President

May 2025

To all the Members,

“I made the mistake of reading the MTFCA forum right before bed and before the first time I trailered a Model T.”, is how I had planned to start this month’s message but that led to more thoughts and before long I had plenty to relay about my first time as a driver in a tour (if it really counts).

I know Bob is looking for newsletter content and I figured I’d wait and write up a more substantial piece about my experience. Needless to say, I had a great time, couldn’t have done it without the encouragement of the club, and I am eagerly waiting for a chance to do it again.

And there’s the question, when’s the next drive?

My son, Alex, is due to be promoted to Sargeant but we’re on military time which seems to mean unclear timelines, late decisions, and general confusion. The trip has been delayed twice but I’m hopeful it will happen in early July. That means I’ll likely be out of town from mid-June to early July.

I’ll probably fly back on July 4 and will probably miss all the parades the members are involved in. I think I recall multiple parades being considered – Martindale, Westlake, and maybe Smithville. I think this month’s meeting would be a great time to visit some of those plans and see how we might turn them into meetups or drives.

Maybe that is the next opportunity for a drive, but I’m hopeful maybe we can squeeze something in before then. Joe has a lot of options in his area and his garage makes for a fine launching point for a drive. Other thoughts I had were maybe a trip to Plum for a drive or, closer to home, there are number of small local car shows that might make or a nice destination for a drive.

This might be our last chance to get something planned before we all start thinking about the summer heat and how it makes it a little harder to enjoy a drive in a Model T.

Glen Gillman,
President

April 2025

To all the Members,

Here a I am enjoying what I expect to be the last cool day before September, maybe October, and desperately trying to work out a sensible message before the deadline Bob has given me!

My first thought is about oil. It’s everywhere now that I got a Model T. My collection of
cardboard is dwindling and all of it is serving admirably as an absorbent because the single drip tray I own is not sufficient. A few weeks ago, I judiciously sprayed the little, very black dots of oil that the coated the driveway, but I have since given up. An impossible task. Similarly, I am much more thoughtful about where I park the car and will not park it in Oma’s driveway in the future as it belched out a pretty sizeable glob the other weekend when I dropped by!

I guess my second thought is also about oil. I had no idea how many oil varieties there are now and how little 30 weight oil is available. I did get it ultimately and in combination with my Model T Lubrication Chart I set about lubricating my car. Now those of you who have been around Model T’s for so long probably don’t understand just how bizarre all of that was. It started with the two brass petcocks to determine the correct level instead of a dipstick. Then it was on to the oil cups, which highlighted the need for an oil can, but more interestingly highlighted why the little, very black dots were widely distributed on my driveway. I filled the cups and oil immediately dropped onto the ground! Finally, I wrapped up with the miracle that is the grease cup. That really is a simple, beautiful, and amazing solution and, after filling those, I feel more comfortable that those areas got greased than the zerk on my aftermarket fan!

I am driving the car short distances around town but did not have the courage to take it to the Model T Olympics in Kingsbury last weekend. The event was a lot of fun to watch, and I regret not bringing my car as driving on the grass looked like a lot of fun. There was a good turnout at the event, the weather was good, and Wayne let my good friend, Luke, drive his Commercial Hack!

This weekend we have the opportunity to enjoy ice cream together at George’s Museum and the first weekend of May is the Spring Fly-In. I’m hopeful we can get a good group together in Martindale that morning to make the drive to Kingsbury, where I will win the truck raffle, we all get to enjoy the cars, planes and people, and then make our way back to Joe’s Garage.

I’m suddenly at a loss for words and will simply close this message by asking that all of you to pause for a moment and think of Carlton Carl and the good he brought to this world and to each of our lives.

Glen Gillman,
President

March 2025

To all the Members,

“Shutting off the gas is the first step to stopping.”
Well, that statement seems simple enough but, in practice, it was quickly lost in decades of old habits (slipping the clutch) and the myriad distractions that come from driving a Model T!

Last Sunday I completed the purchase of a 1922 Model T Touring Car. I purchased it from a club member and he, along with some other club members, helped get the car running, hauled it to my house, and gave me some quick driving lessons. It was a long process with many memorable moments and finally, there it was-in my driveway.

The last thing Randy said before he left was, “Well, I sort of feel like I’m abandoning you.” I sort of felt the same but, after he drove off, I started reading more about driving the car (the forums started making more sense) and soon enough I was outside messing with the car and before I knew it, I was out on the road all by my lonesome. Well not exactly. There were all those folks waving…like everyone! But more importantly, I knew I was part of the Cen Tex Tin Lizzies, and the members had set me up perfectly to take this drive and, if I made a mistake or needed help, they would be there to help me get back on the road. Thank you all for your encouragement and support in this adventure.

Needless to say, I had my mind on things other than club business over the past month and you’ll have to forgive me for not meeting the goals I had set for myself but, at the same time, getting that car on the road again is the ultimate goal of the club!
Next week, I hope to follow up on the discussions we had last month. Some of them have to do with club business but the bulk of it I hope will be about the upcoming events. Please consider your interest and needs in attending any of the SA Model T Club events they have planned and consider if you want to sponsor a short tour somewhere special or a tech session for our club before things turn hot.

Glen Gilman,

President

February 2025

To all the Members,

I believe it was the first of February and I was driving back to South Austin from a work function in Pflugerville when I noticed a lot of interesting cars on the toll road. Quite a few old cars, a few convertibles, and all of them being driven by someone that was clearly having a good time! That’s when I realized that folks were getting their cars ready for the spring drives and car shows.

Incidentally, around the same time the first information about the Texas T Party was released and I realized we had an opportunity to start planning for that event. I’d like to challenge the club to consider what we can do to get as many of our members there as possible. We all have our own unique challenges but perhaps we can work through some of those and get folks to the tour that couldn’t get there on their own. Some folks will certainly have a car at the tour and perhaps we can see about filling any empty seats. Others may not feel comfortable trailering a car but I bet we can find a partner to help with that. Others may not be able to make the whole tour and maybe we can find a way to get them there for a short drive. I am one of those in need and will be looking to help (or get help) so I can properly enjoy my first Texas T Party, however that looks. I’d like to visit about that this month.

Of course that event will not be until the Fall and I saw something else this Spring that teased my interest. Potato Race, Backseat Driver, Teeter Totter, and Bean Bag Toss probably mean something to many of you that have been in the club for some time but the names are new to me and the descriptions were enough to further pique my interest and cement my desire to attend the Kingsbury Fly-in on March 29, 2025. I’ll go alone but I’d rather go see some of you old pros on the course so I can cheer you on. Let’s visit about this as well.

There’s also a tailgate swap meet planned which I think would be great chance for all of us to clear out some of those old parts, and Gary, I’ll offer to help your load a trailer!

Glen Gilman,

President

January 2025

To all the Members,

I had the great pleasure of spending the first of the year with my son, Alex, and family in Europe. Alex clearly enjoys driving in Europe and those of us in the back seat could hardly have been considered passengers…it took significant effort to remain upright and in your seat! Similarly, Alex enjoys unique vehicles, and his mildly customized Mercedes E Class generated attention everywhere we went to include a stop by the German Border Police.

As we move through the new year, I’m excited to be a part of the Cen-Tex Tin Lizzies Club and having the opportunity to continue sharing inspiring vehicles with friends and family.

Since the Christmas Party there have been some changes in the leadership of the Cen-Tex Tin Lizzies Club. Britanie has had to resign as the elected President but has assured me and the outgoing President that her energy and enthusiasm has not waned and that we can still expect her to contribute to the mission of the club. I have accepted the position of President and Richard Walker will remain as the newly elected Secretary. We will work with the Nominating Committee to identify individuals that may be interested in filling the vacant Vice President position.

I am excited to work with the club membership in the new year. I encourage you to review the club Mission Statement and come to the January Meeting prepared to discuss goals and objectives for the next year that will help us realize that mission. This is a social club and, as such, it functions best if we all share our experiences, skills, and interests and will we be looking for individuals to assist with programs, tours, outreach (newsletter and website) and all the other things that make this club successful. Please consider what specifically you are interested in doing and be ready to sign up.

Glen Gillman,
President