Ford Motorsports Enthusiasts

FME TECH TEAM - PROJECT #1

Project #1 Model T 9000 mile re-enactment August 2004

Project Leader: Theresa Young
Project Manager: Theresa Young
Send inquiries to: teamfme@teamfme.com

Project #1 Model T 9000 mile re-enactment (T.B.D.)
This story needs to be re-told. A whole new generation needs to learn about it, just as pockets of the nation did, back in 1934, when it all happened. A pair of High School Graduates named Brian "Dib" Fewer and Tod Snedeker worked for a year, fresh out of high school, to save every penny and dime they could. They got the urge to take a little trip across country, back in the era of the Great Depression, when most of the Nation was out of work, and looking for a job. They started from 'Dib's house, Aug, 3rd and with a send off by the neighbor hood, and a larder full of homebaked goods to see them on their way, lit off on an incredible journey of 3 months duration, covering over 9,000 miles of roadway, tracks, and paths returning on Nov. 4th. (Remember, there were not that many "highways", or much in the way of pavement back then. Some government work programs came along and rectified that, as a result of the Depression, but that is another story.)

Their vehicle of choice was a restored 1921 Model "T" that got nicknamed by their schoolmates, "Mike". This story of "Model "T" Mike" was chronicled in a book, written by author Yvonne Ellingson and published in 1990, by Fred Pruett called "From Sea to Sea in a Model T ". It's a wonderful testament to the boys and that Model T. The FME Tech Team was invited to get involved in a re-enactment of that journey on Wed 3/5/2003 2:46 PM. We did what we could, at that time, and an awareness was made, not only in SE MI, but in pockets around the globe. The re-enactment was postponed on Mon 5/19/2003 4:44 PM by the gentleman in Chicago, that originally approached us.
There is hope that this project will some day be picked up again, and followed thru, and the Tech Team has been asked to stand by and be ready when we get the call. As a side note, although Tod Snedeker was alive and interviewed for the book along with his partner, he soon afterwards did pass away. Brian "Dib" Fewer is alive and still living in the same San Francisco home he left from, that joyous day in 1934. He knows we are involved and appreciates our FMEnthusiasm very much. The author, Yvonne Ellingson and publisher, Fred Pruett have been working together on a paperback re-issue of the book, as well as preparing for the sequel, should "Model "T" Mike take another journey.
The coloring book art you see posted here was prepared by FME member, Nancy N. Young for possible use as the front and back covers to a coloring book that could have accompanied the trip, and been used as a "handout" for children, and for PR purposes at Dealerships across the path of the re-enactment. If you want to be kept appraised of the further development of this project, send contact information to the FME Tech Team Project #1 Manager: Theresa A. Young tyoung7@ford.com 734-523-5437.

Front Cover

Back Cover