June 24, 2007

By J.J. Harrier

Frontiersman

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman

Road trips are America's number one stress escape plan. For some, it's also an excuse to meet up with friends and take a trip worth remembering.

Members of The National Model “A” Touring Club pulled into the Alaska Museum of Transportation and Industry Friday to not only check their oil, but also check out the classic car collection the museum has on display.

The Club's six classic Model “A” Fords, in almost perfect condition, coasted into Anchorage earlier in the week, driven by car collectors and restorers from Arizona, California, Oklahoma and Texas.

Their mission? To encourage club membership and to acquire, restore, preserve and exhibit the Model “A” Ford. Members agree that their classic cars should be used and not be an object that finds it's resting home in the garage.

Richard Boultinghouse and his Texas Model “A” started out this year's road trip by driving to Oklahoma to pair up with his Model “A” buddies friends. They then rallied on to Bellingham, Washington and with even more classic car trippers, the group took a ferry to Haines, drove into Anchorage for a quick car show and then stopped later in Wasilla to site see at the museum.

The cars will next be on display this weekend in downtown Talkeetna before Boultinghouse and his touring club move onto Fairbanks, with four cars then continuing up to Prudhoe Bay.

“My odometer is just about to change over to 3,000 miles,” said Boultinghouse.

“I changed the oil just once and greased it yesterday, so we're good to go.”

After Prudhoe, All six vehicles will travel to Tok, moving east to Canada and then stopping in Calgary.

Planning for the trip took months but Boultinghouse said the whole trip is worth every mile.

“We have a blast and get to see the sites along the way. It's wonderful,” he said.

In their seventh year, The National Model “A” Touring Club have over 180 members and have travelled to Europe and Canada with the average price tag each year running members $14,000 each. The three-week tour price includes hotel accommodations, meals, airfare, car insurance and some entertainment along the way. The cost of fuel is not included.