The Webster Dictionary defines Smorgasbord as "a luncheon
or supper buffet offering a variety of foods and dishes or an
often large heterogeneous mixture". Well, the tour on Saturday,
August 15 offered neither a buffet nor large heterogeneous (whatever
that means) mixture, but it did bring the tour participants to
three interesting places.
The first stop was Gary and Jolene Knoth's garden railroad display
in Morgan Hill. This miniature railroad was anything but miniature.
It would most likely not fit in most of our back yards. The raised
bed took up more square footage than our house with numerous
tracks, realistic buildings, bridges, a storage and control room
(made from a Tuff Shed building) real live trees and plants,
waterfall and stream. The Knoth's grandson was the chief engineer
putting the large locomotives and cars through their paces.
The second stop was the Santa Clara County Model Aircraft Skypark.
On this particular day the Skypark was hosting an electric airplane
meet, hence no gas powered model airplanes. What an assortment
of model airplanes. There were World War II bombers, fighters,
commercial jets, gliders and many other aircrafts. We were entertained
watching many of these planes being put through maneuvers. It
was a real treat to see the B17 bomber fly as well as a Boeing
757. The B17 builder modeled the airplane after the one his dad
flew. The highlight of the day was a photo op of the Model T
Club member's vintage autos on the runway along with the model
airplanes.
After lunch, we drove to the John Deere tractor collection of
Frank Busch. Frank has been collecting vintage John Deere tractors
and crawlers for some time and he has restored many of them to
new condition. We should say that here is where the group split
in two. Most of the women headed for a shady spot at Frank's
house. Looking at old or restored tractors and crawlers did not
turn them on. Of course, all the guys and a few of the women
took pleasure in seeing restored John Deere tractors dating back
to the 1920s and 30s. Frank even has a working thresher.
The tour group consisted of 14 Model Ts, 1 Model A, 1 Maxwell,
1 Studebaker and 2 moderns.
No respectable tour would conclude without an ice cream stop
and this was a respectable tour. So, six antique autos and their
occupants stopped at one of our favorite ice cream shops on our
way home.
Thank you all for participating in this tour.
Allan Greenberg
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