April was a very busy month for CKMARC
Our two April events for spring were well planned trips designed and prepared for our club by Carl Goodwin. The first Saturday in April found our group anxious to feast our eyes on those first dazzling colors of spring. Our drive through Kentucky's beautiful horse country was a sunny cool day that new blossoms and new colts both love. We even saw a few snow birds returning from their southern homes, including Katy and Raymond Tudor. The Bwanazon Farm owned by the Whitaker family and located off tree-lined Paris Pike was our first destination. White fences, extremely well-maintained barns and grounds, curious foals and friendly farm employees were the expected encounters but this farm has a special secret. Mr. Whitaker also has a huge stable of antique cars and invited our club to view his private collection. The landscaping of blooming cherry and pear trees was a great chance to get that perfect spring Model A shot. Our lunch stop was in the nearby town of Paris where several choices awaited us. Most restaurants had a horse theme with jockey silks and photos of past race winners to remind patrons that they are definitely in thoroughbred country. The trip was still not over as Carl had planned a scenic country drive for those members who wanted a full Model A day experience.
Our spring overnight tour took us to the banks of the Ohio River. Covered bridges and Model A's go together like peanut butter and jelly and a true antique car fan can never pass up the opportunity to take his auto's snapshot with yet another great example of American craftsmanship. Sometimes the spouse is even allowed to be in the photo. The club had such an encounter at the Johnson Creek Bridge near Blue Lick in Nicholas County. By noon everyone was ready for a great meal and the club once again found themselves at tables overlooking the spring swollen Ohio river at Moyer's Winery and Restaurant. The day was also filled with touring the Amish stores at Wheat Ridge near Unity, Ky. offering a wide range of products from furniture to bakery items. Lots of scenic back country roads are always included in a Goodwin tour and spring is the perfect time to explore. The evening meal came with free entertainment from prom couples in all their finery to the numerous Amish buggies carrying couples out for a Saturday night . No Model A weekend would be complete without ice cream and of course Carl can always find the really good places. The best part of all Model A travel is the ability to make new friends who share your enthusiasm for the hobby. What better way to ensure this than to have a few breakdowns. Ron Looney and a few club members had that opportunity when they called upon Kurt Simon and Jim Dean from the Hillsboro, Ohio area when they were in need of a part to get Ron's car back on the road. Herman Butler provided the transportation and within a couple of hours they had returned with the part and additional tools to make the repair. This time allotment also included a tour of Jim's antique cars. What a wonderful nationwide network to belong to when you can find friends always willing to help out another Model A fan on the road. Ron said the evening ended with a parking lot fix with several people laying hands on the affected parts and he was back in service before 10:00 pm. Nine Model A guys watching and two repairing is a beautiful thing. Thanks again to Carl and Ramona for an unforgettable weekend.

Beware the spread of Model A Fever
Most men are afflicted throughout their life with occasional bouts of gear headedness. The symptoms begin in childhood with an inclination toward toys with wheels and advances with age to go carts, mini bikes, motorcycles and eventually all types of motorized vehicles. Usually this disorder is benign and can often be controlled with a nice riding mower.
Recently a good friend, Charles Brummett, succumbed to the most advanced form, Model A Fever. His wife, Mary Rose, was the first to notice his head spinning around each time an old Ford puttered down the road. She also found several copies of Old Cars Weekly next to the re cliner. Eventually he located a fine 1930 Sport Coupe and couldn't rest until it was his. There's a picture of it on the right side of the opposite page.
Everyone thought a few trips to Dairy Queen and a parade or two and he would be back to normal, but that wasn't the case. With just a few local tours to master double clutching he was off on a 1700 mile tour over the Appalachians, through the Carolinas and Georgia on to Florida. Fortunately Mary Rose was able to go along to remind him when the spark and fuel mixture needed adjustment to prevent the backfiring from scaring other motorists.
Charles has now reached the point where he often doesn't make it to work on time because he spent the morning wading through a farmer's field trying to locate a rusty old Model A he's heard about. The regulars at his barber shop notice the conversation has shifted from Tubby Smith and the Wildcats to the finer points of timing a Model A distributor.
Fortunately for the Brummett family there is hope. Although the fever will likely continue, if they attend the monthly CKMARC events Charles will begin to appear normal, at least when compared with the rest of the group. Some comfort should be taken that it isn't knuckle headedness, at this time there is no support group for that.