{"id":1032,"date":"2018-09-12T18:07:38","date_gmt":"2018-09-13T02:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themontana500.wordpress.com\/?p=1032"},"modified":"2024-03-14T21:08:36","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T05:08:36","slug":"jan2017-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wyte.one\/index.php\/2018\/09\/12\/jan2017-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"Jan 2017 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Printer Version<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Montana 500 Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volume 57, Number 1                                         March\/April\/May\/June 2017<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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Above is Russel Hanna of Spokane, Washington. Currently massaging up his
Montana 500 Car for the 2017 Endurance Run.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Montana Cross Country \u201cT\u201d Association<\/strong>
A Schedule S nonprofit Montana Corporation
Founded in 1961<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background:
The Ford Model T was voted the \u201cCar of the Century\u201d which was an international award given to the world’s most influential car of the 20th century. The election process was overseen by the Global Automotive Elections
Foundation with a narrowed field of 200 cars. The winner, the Ford Model T, was announced at an awards gala on December 18, 1999 in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Montana Cross Country \u201cT\u201d Assn. is dedicated to rebuilding, refurbishing,
preserving, and proving stock Ford Model T\u2019s.
In some cases, members fully restore these cars to a \u201cnew car status\u201d in most every aspect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Assn. also allows the above Model T\u2019s that meet written safely requirements to be endurance tested at their annual runs. The Montana 500 is sort of a proving ground for the owner, engine builder, chassis builder, and
electrical systems builder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We highly recommend that you get yourself a Model T and join these endurance runs. Expect to have some old school (or new school) fun. It is a friendly helpful atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Membership Information:
Active Membership includes all the privileges of the Association including issues of the Montana 500 Newsletter. Annual dues are $10 and entitle the member one vote at meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Touring & Endurance class: $35.00\/Run
Members and those wanting to become
members should send a check to: Attn.
Treasurer, Janet Cerovski, 1004 Sioux Road, Helena, Montana. 59602<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Montana 500 Web Information:
http:\/\/www.montana500.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Executive Officers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President: Bill Mullins Spokane
Vice Pres: Tom Carnegie Spokane
Treasurer: Janet Cerovski Helena<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Directors and terms:
Bill Mullins 2017 – 2019  m00nmullins@yahoo.com<\/a>
Tom Carnegie 2017 – 2019  tacarn@yahoo.com<\/a>
Janet Cerovski 2017 – 2019  jcerovski@bresnan.net<\/a>
Brandon Langel 2016 – 2018  brandon@purewestmt.com<\/a>
Garrett Green – 2016 – 2018 27ford@att.net___<\/a>_
Tony Cerovski 2016 – 2018  tcerovski@bresnan.net<\/a>
Dennis Powers 2015 – 2017  dpowers110@msn.com<\/a>
Rick Carnegie 2015 – 2017  rccarnegie@comcast.net<\/a>
Mike Cuffe = 2015 – 2017 .  mcuffe@interbel.net<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meeting Secretary and Correspondence:
Jillian Robison
Correspondence and Newsletter:
Tony Cerovski
Direct all correspondence to:
MCCTA, 1004 Sioux Road, Helena, MT 59602 or inquiries to: Bill Mullins  m00nmullins@yahoo.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Past Presidents:
Years:  Name:  Event: Locat:
2015-2016 Tom Carnegie, WSS & Dillon
2013-2014 Mike Cuffe, Libby & Ft. Benton
011-2012 Mike Stormo, Butte & Conrad
2009-2010 Mike Robinson, LVG & FV>Bonner
2007-2008 Mark Hutchinson, Havre & Th Falls
2005-2006 Rick Carnegie, Lewistown & Dillon
2003-2004 Tom Carnegie, Bozeman & Eureka
001-2002 Tom Carnegie, Bozeman & Eureka
1999-2000 Simon Nickol, Missoula & Gt. Falls
1997-1998 Tony Cerovski, Lewistown x2
1995-1996 Tony Cerovski, Fairmont & Helena
1994 Terry Peters, Bozeman
1993 George Nickol, Helena <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The President’s Message<\/strong>
Bill Mullins President 2017-2018 m00nmullins@yahoo.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 500 will be held in Missoula Montana this year and the run will be here before we realize it. The base hotel is My Place. Some information is shown here and http:\/\/www.antiqueautoranch.com\/montana500 . Again this year we will be using most of Interstate 90 and some of the route may occur on side roads. The route should be finalized after pre driving this spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We hope to have a more in depth safety inspection list posted on the above web link. You can download it and use it to do an inspection of your car. It is also included in this newsletter, the last two pages. You will need to sign and bring this safety inspection form showing that you have it done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have a couple of new cars being built this year one in my shop belonging to Russell Hanna coming along good. I believe another car is being readied by Don MacLeod. Any others?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hope to have you all return this year for a great run assuming winter stops before June. A history note: The 1999 500 was run in Missoula and the winner was Sam Nickol with an average speed 45.9 mph. It will be interesting to see what this year will produce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have any question, you can email me at: m00nmullins@yahoo.com Bill Mullins<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Motel-Hotel Information:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: My Place Hotel
2951 Expo Parkway, Missoula, MT 59808
Reservations: Call (406)-926-1001
Rates: $107.93 per night. Quotes include tax.
7 nights in a row the rate is $98.31 per night.
Ask for rooms with the Montana 500 group.
How to get there. I-90 Exit 101 then North.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Map at the I-90 Exit 101 Interchange.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pencil Rendering for the 1996 Run<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Havre, Montana Artist Don Greytak<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The 2011 Montana 500<\/strong>
A short story
By Dennis Powers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For years, my main hobby had been vintage steam engines and prairie tractors. Most of these weighed in excess of 20,000 lbs., and a total restoration and rebuild would take two or three years. As a farmer and mechanic, I had the shop to work on these large machines, although our farm machinery always had first priority. The last tractor project I restored was a 30-60 Case tractor. It weighed 28,000 lbs., was a two cylinder with 10\u201d bores and a 12\u201d stroke. The flywheel alone weighed 1550 lbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I bought my first T, a 1920 runabout, thirty plus years ago, and drove it every summer. Minor repairs were needed, never anything major. In 2004 I acquired a depot hack pickup built on a 27 running gear. This started going along to steam shows to haul my needed tools. In 2007 another T came along. A friend wanted to sell his 27 touring with a bad engine. He had owned this T for forty years. All his kids had learned to drive in this T, but it had been in storage for 10 years. So the new project was rebuilding a Model T engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 27 engine was rebuilt with new babbitt, pistons, valves, trans bushings, etc. Nothing was balanced nor was any alignment checked. The engine ran well and after about several hundred miles I opened it up. A nice piece of flat county pavement several miles long was used for the \u201cspeed test\u201d. 47 MPH driving one way with 47.5 MPH going the other. Having no Idea what this speed meant, I thought that might be pretty good for a stock T.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had read stories from time to time over the years about the Montana 500 Endurance Run for only Model T\u2019s. The run was 500 miles long on Montana state roads, lasted several days, and<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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your times were measured by a stopwatch. The 500 sounded very interesting. So now it was time to do something about the Montana 500. In the fall of 2009 I emailed Tom Carnegie about my interest. He got right back with encouraging information about the 500. I\u2019ll never forget this quote, \u201cif you can build a model T that will run 50 MPH both directions, you will have a good time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dan Brown and I have been friends through the antique tractor hobby for twenty plus years. We had spent a lot of time together with our common interest. I wondered if Dan would also be interested in the 500, so I called him. After an explanation of the 500, he spent a few days thinking about the idea and called back. His suggestion was that I build the engine, and he would build the car.  If we only did this once, I would still have the engine and he the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So our plan is to get ready for the 2011 Montana 500. Dan\u2019s acquisition and rebuild of the car is a story in itself and he can tell that.So on to lots of research, then trying to build a fast Model T. Two former MT 500 enthusiasts were very helpful with suggestions and ideas. I bought two rusty \u201827 engines and thought T stuff didn\u2019t cost much. Took them apart and I didn\u2019t get much either. Finally a good \u201926-\u201927 block was found. So with the help of all my friends that babbitt, do machine work, balance, etc the engine and transmission took shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dan was still working on the car and I was anxious to run the engine to see how it would perform. I had a 26 roadster that was ready for restoration. It had a primer body and no fenders or upholstery. I pulled the original engine and installed my new Montana 500 engine. On the first road test I was impressed. You could actually feel some acceleration. Or was it just the straight pipe making me think I had a racer?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dan ran into some unexpected assembly problems building the body and we ended up installing the engine in his car 10 days before time to leave for Montana. The engine now had 300 miles on it and did run 62MPH downhill. A few more road tests and in June 2011 we were off to Conrad Mt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We arrived at the Super 8 on Friday and not a T was in sight. Saturday we ran 80 miles and everything was working fine. By Sunday the parking lot was full of T\u2019s and lots of folks we didn\u2019t know. Nan Robison, Mike Robison, and Mike Cuffe all introduced themselves, and I met and visited a bit with Tom Carnegie who had been most encouraging about trying the 500. More test runs and the gps said 52 MPH. Is that good? We didn\u2019t have a clue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday afternoon inspection was also a new experience. Our car passed except for a debate over the carburetor, Mike Robison saying it was legal and Garrett Green saying it was questionable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday morning finally rolled around and Dan and our T went out to line up. Our plan was Dan would drive the first day and I would drive the second. Little did we know then that there was to be no second day for us. From the Sunday night driver meeting we had a route to follow. Flagged out and our car is off in its first 500. The first stop was Cut Bank. At every stop we checked the oil in the top petcock and a few drops came out. The third stop at Browning Dan said the car had a funny smell. We pulled the transmission cover and  checked the bands.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Everything looked ok but it had a burnt smell. We did some band adjusting and off Dan went. The car had been running strong but that was about to end. On the way to Valier the engine was out of oil and turned to melted parts. Just not fun to have your T drive through Valier, past all the other T\u2019s, while on the trouble trailer.
Back at the parking lot we determined that the engine was not fixable. Several members did offer to help tear it down and offered a rod if we needed it, which was appreciated.So after months of preparation our first Montana 500 ended with three legs completed on Monday, 158 miles run and an engine out of oil. Tuesday morning the amateurs headed back to Iowa. On the way home I finally asked Dan, \u201cAre we going to do this again?\u201d His reply; \u201cI think we have some unfinished business in Montana. \u201dChapter 2 to come. We are off to Butte in 2012 with two cars and more trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2016 Trivia by Special Request<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2016 Leg Leaders. Top Average Speed.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leg # Name – MPH – From – To<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. M-Stormo 56.53 Dillon-Rocker
2. B-Mullins 56.10 Rocker-Belgrade
3. B-Mullins 56.61 Belgrade-Rocker
4. T-Carnegie 52.89 Rocker-Dillon
5. D-Powers 55.83 Dillon-DeerLodge
6. T-Carnegie 54.34 DeerLodge-Dillon
7. D-Powers 52.89 Dillon-Lima
8. N-Robison 58.12 Lima-Dillon
8.* DP and MS 57.57 2nd<\/sup> fastest tied<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Printer Version The Montana 500 Newsletter Volume 57, Number 1                                         March\/April\/May\/June 2017 Above is Russel Hanna of Spokane, Washington. Currently massaging up…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":7,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1032","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-newsletters","wpcat-5-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wyte.one\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1032","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wyte.one\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wyte.one\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyte.one\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyte.one\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1032"}],"version-history":[{"count":44,"href":"https:\/\/wyte.one\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1032\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13569,"href":"https:\/\/wyte.one\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1032\/revisions\/13569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wyte.one\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1032"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyte.one\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1032"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyte.one\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1032"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}