Sarah Newberg - My Model T Diaries: The Good, Bad and the Funny

Present Day

March 2017

My Dads last car show. Granite Falls Show N Shine 2013.

The last two years have flown by since my first book The Model T in Me was published. I never thought I would be sitting here finishing up my second book about Model Ts and my adventures. I have met so many people around the world whether at car shows, or people who have read my book that I have inspired or touched one way or another. This is the reason why I drive and write about these wonderful cars. We need to keep this hobby going for the younger generation to appreciate.

My Great Uncle Ray Garners Automobile Shop in Los Angeles, California.

One person who bought my first book asked if he could send me my book to sign for his fifteen-year-old daughter. He is hoping one day she will carry on the Model T hobby. Looking back when I was fifteen years old, I never thought I would be so passionate about these cars and driving them every chance I get! My dad always had enough passion for my whole entire family. I look back now and wish I would have had the passion I have today when my dad was still alive. If I could go back in time I would have taken my first Model T lesson from him more seriously and I would have gone on tours with him and started driving Ts sooner. But I didnt and I cant go back and change history. What is important now is that I am doing it and keeping my dads legacy. He would be proud to know that I am not only honoring his memory, but I enjoy it as much as he did.

Picture taken by my Grandfather, Lawrence Garner, SR in Lima, Peru 1918-1920.

In the last couple of years, I have also found more pictures of my grandfather, Lawrence Garner, SR in all different models of cars. He was a car guy too. I share these photos with you in my book. Who doesnt like looking at old pictures? I think old cars were always in my blood. Unfortunately it took my fathers death for me to really appreciate and love them.

I believe this is a 1917 Hudson. My Grandfather is sitting on the spare tire. Lima, Peru

I hope this book entertains you, makes you laugh and smile. Getting behind the wheel of a Model T just makes me happy. I dont know if there will be another T book after this one, but if I touch at least one person I have done my job.

The Model T Winter Blues

January 2015

Left: Betsy, my 1927 Model T Touring. Right: Molly, my 1923 Model T Roadster.

The weather has been very cold and rainy this winter. I hate getting up in the morning and going outside to defrost my Jeep. My Jeep used to be parked in my garage until I inherited two wonderful Model Ts after my dad passed away in August of 2013.

Me behind the wheel of Betsy when she was being restored. Picture was taken in 1980 when I was five years old.

My two Model Ts, a 1927 Touring that I call Betsy and my 1923 Roadster Molly. Right now Im sitting behind the wheel of Molly while she is idling. I try to keep her running during these long winter months that I dont get to drive her, so I hop in her and start her engine every now and then so I can just hear her engine purring.

Before and after pictures of Betsy my 1927 Model T Touring.

My 1927 touring Betsy hasnt been started in a while and she wont start. She is a little more stubborn. When we do get her started its going to take a while. Betsy was my dads pride and joy and he restored her from the rust up. She came to us in 1978 in the back of my dads truck trailer in a bunch of rusty old pieces.

My mom found some old pictures the other day going through one of my dads old bedrooms. One of the pictures I have never seen before. Im sitting on an old beat up seat cushion behind the wheel of what is a frame of Betsy. I look to be around five years old. All my dad had on her is the chassis, wheels, and her engine he rebuilt. This picture brings back some great memories. My dad used to give me and my cousins rides around the property. We sat on the wood floor with no body and he drove us all around our property. These are some of the best memories I have in those early days when Betsy was being rebuilt.

I never could have imagined thirty-five years later I would be driving not only one Model T, but two Model T Fords! It wasnt an easy road to get where I am now. There were a lot of lessons I had to learn, and driving a Model T isnt easy. It definitely takes practice and skill. I learned the hard way on how to reverse a Model T by going through a garage door. That story is in my first book The Model T in Me. I can say now Im a much better driver, and I have almost mastered the reverse pedal.

March 21, 2015

There has been a lot going on in my personal life. Im not old enough to retire yet (Im only thirty-nine) and while most members in my Model T club are retired enjoying the good life, and in good life I mean they can go on all the Model T tours and events that I miss out on because I have to work. Sigh

The bank I work for just went through some major changes. They recently closed twenty plus branches. Everyone in the world now is using the internet. My kids would die if they didnt have a cellphone stuck to their ear. There isnt enough foot traffic in banks to keep these huge branches open. Everybody has direct deposit, or doing mobile check deposits and paying their bills online. Im one of the fortunate ones who gets to stay employed at my branch. There are four branches they have closed in the vicinity that will be merging into our branch as one. We are having our grand reopening day where we have invited customers to come meet our new staff at the new branch. I suggest to management maybe I should bring my two Ts. I know the older generation would appreciate them and, like all old cars, it will bring a smile on peoples faces. They agree that would be a fantastic idea, and now all we need is the weather to cooperate.

The morning of the grand reopening, I have a bit of anxiety. I havent driven my T in about five months. Anyone who has driven a Model T knows how difficult these vehicles can be to drive. It takes a while to get used to the gas being on your steering wheel and having a reverse pedal. My husband, Jeromie will be driving Betsy (I havent driven her since I took her through the garage door last April) and I will be driving my roadster Molly. It will be a great grand reopening with both my Ts there. I bet it wont even feel like a work day to me. Jeromie and my son Tyler arent too excited that they get to spend their Saturday babysitting the Ts at my work, but if they want me to be happy they wont complain.