Regional Group 4 Members’ attend Black Bart Tour
The four Fords, a ’36 Phaeton, a ’34 pick-up, a ’36 coupe, and a ’51 Lincoln Lido left the old Quonset hangar in West Roseville and headed for Jackson, Amador County. The vintage Fords ran cool and strong at 60 mph in a steady rain on Friday, April 25, 2003.
When we rolled into Jackson, at the Best Western, the cars glistened in the rain as if they were just painted. We were well received by other Ford lovers who had just checked in. Even though I did not know the greeters, I could feel the camaraderie. This was going to be fun. Throughout the afternoon and evening about 60 flatheads filled the reserved parking lot of the 23rd Annual Blackbart Tour.
This was my first time on the tour and hopefully not my last. It was everything you would want it to be. There were lots of grand cars, lots of friendly people, lots of great expectations and no disappointments.
After the exhilarating drive to Jackson, we were treated to a hospitality gathering with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks. I met an interesting fellow named Tom from Danville, a member of the Golden Gate Club, who grew up in Oakland. Gene Hall must have ran around with him.
After the cocktail hour, seven of us pilled into the Lido for an Italian dinner at Teresa’s, an historic Gold rush home with old charm ambience on some back street of Jackson.
Saturday morning the sun was out, the sky was royal blue with billowy clouds and the temperature was mild. The weekend weather turned out to be perfect despite Friday’s rain. We left the Best Western in three groups at staggered starts. Our first stop was Bill Moshier’s garage and home. He had more old car parts than Bruce Woodward could haul away at a swap meet.
After some coffee and cookies at Moshier’s we caravanned to Sutter Creek for a VIP tour of the Knight’s Foundry. We returned to Jackson for a hot lunch and ice cream on Jackson’s Museum grounds and had a car photo taken for a souvenir plaque. This was a very nick token and memento.
Saturday afternoon we were on our own for antique shopping, resting, or checking out the Antique Truck Show at Kirkland Ranch near Plymouth.
That evening everyone gathered for a banquet dinner with comedic emcees and a mother of all raffles.
Sunday was another full day. At 10:00 a.m. a line of 20-30 of Henry’s best serpentine through the lesser traveled back roads of Amador county revealing windmills, lakes and reservoirs, wild flowers, stone fences and heritage ranches until we arrived at the Costa Ranch house and Adobe General Store built in 1851. Here we had a barbeque lunch and toured the Victorian ranch home featured in Country Life in 1986.
Following the barbeque, the ‘36 Phaeton, ‘34 pick-up and ‘36 coupe left Angel’s Camp, Calaveras County for a leisurely drive home savoring the weekend’s memories.
The Black Bart Tour, hosted by the Central Valley Club, out of Fresno attracts other regional club members from all over Northern California. I met people from Reno, Napa, Bay Area, and Bakersfield. Our former member’s and tour director Stu and Susie Slaughter were also there, busily helping with some of the details. They now live near Fresno.
The 36 Phaeton was driven by Alan and Carol Egelseer, friends of the March’s but well acquainted with many folks on the tour. They came all the way from their winter home in Chandler, Arizona. The 34 pick-up was driven by Jan and Virginia Sizemore. They are from Newcastle and Dave’s business partner. Of course Dave and Dee March were driving their baby Lincoln.
For the future I highly recommend any member who wishes to expand their horizons, make new friends with like interests, and loves to drive their vintage Ford to attend the Black Bart Tour. It was a blast!