Model Ts race across central Montana

The participants in the Montana 500 Model T competition stopped at KFC in Havre Monday, part of the first-day run from Fort Benton to Havre to Chester and back.

As other customers and spectators came to the parking lot, they all stopped and marveled at the antique Model Ts, some nearly a century old.

That’s not unusual, said Mike Cuffe, president of the group that sponsors the prestigious competition.

“When you park at an A&W or something, it takes a pretty sad person not to smile when they see the cars lined up,” he said.

“Little kids love them the most,” he said.

Model Ts played an important part in American history — even world history — said Cuffe, who doubles as a state representative, a Republican from Eureka. Model Ts marked the beginning of the industrial revolution, and Henry Ford’s decision to mass produce them made them affordable to the middle class.

About 16 million were sold, he said. About 15 million were sold in the United States.

Large contingent drove through Havre

Twenty-two people took part in the competition, and several others came in the touring class — folks who enjoy the ride but can’t or don’t want to compete.

The competitors are timed for the many legs of their on-the-highway rides.

For instance, their time was marked down when they left Big Sandy, and they were clocked in as they came to the populated areas of Havre. As they left, the city limits, they were timed from there to when they arrived in Chester.

The vehicles take off at one-minute intervals so the highways won’t get clogged, he said.

“They average about 50 miles per hour,” said Cuffe.

There are rigorous safety inspections, he said, but that doesn’t stop some from breaking down along the way. Two didn’t make it from Big Sandy to Havre.

“And we’re just starting,” he said.

The other drivers good- naturedly rib those who end up on the side of the road, Cuffe said, but they go out of their way to help them.

Last time the group was in Havre, he said, one car broke down because of serious carburetor problems, he said. Other drivers stayed up until, 2 a.m. helping him get the car back on the road, Cuffe recalled.

All of the people on the tour said they had some kind of addiction to the Model T.

“I spend all year on this,” said Garrett Green of Orange in Orange County, Calif. “There’s not a day gone by that I don’t think about this.”

The Model Ts have a certain lure, said Tony Cerovski.

“They are probably the oldest common car that you can fix up and drive,” he said.

“I like them because they need constant maintenance,” he said. “They are one step above the horse.”

Commissioner was a driver

Many of the participants were from out of Montana or at least from other parts of Montana, but not the Model T driven by Mike Wendland of Rudyard, a Hill County commissioner.

It was a special Montana 500 for him.

His longtime Rudyard friend, the late Ray Warhank and his son owned the Model T and a host of other antique cars. Years after his death, his family will auction off Warhank’s collection on Saturday.

“We just thought this old Model T should go on one more ride in the Montana 500,” he said.

The best part of the ride is “the unique sense of camaraderie,” he said. People of different ages from different parts of the country take part in the festivities, he said. But lifelong friendships develop.

Two people from Calgary, Alberta, were towing their car to Fort Benton for this year’s competition. At Brady, the pickup broke down.

A local farmer stopped by to help out, but there was nothing they could do to get the pickup going.

Wendland said the farmer told them “You’re not going to get this going,” he said. “Take my pickup and tow your car to Fort Benton.

“Come back afterwards, and we’ll fix your pickup.”

“That’s Montana,” Cuffe said.

A big event

Cuffe said the Montana 500 is a major event in the world of Model Ts.

People from around the country keep up on the goings on.

Several years ago, an older man from Delaware came, accompanied by his three sons.

They took part and enjoyed the drive, but they didn’t show up to the final day picnic.

Come to find out, the man was seriously ill and was about to undergo major surgery. There was some question about whether he would survive.

“But he wanted to be in the Montana 500 before the surgery,” Cuffe said.

“That what this means to people,” he said.