Just when you think you've seen it all, you open your eyes to the sight of 800 Model T Fords, all in one place! That's what happened to me in Richmond, Indiana early this week, when Model T owners from the US, Canada, Britain, Australia and several other countries gathered to honor the car's 100th anniversary. After a lengthy trip from the west coast via Toronto, Dayton, and Oxford, Ohio, I was weary and jet-lagged but one look at those magnificent vehicles fired up my enthusiasm.

We were officially welcomed at the Model T Museum in Richmond, which would have been interesting enough had those hundreds of other cars not been lined up outside. From there I had my very first ride in a Model T, driven by Bill McGuire of Richmond, Virginia, an environmental scientist who owns no less than four such vehicles. A typical Model T rides like an escalator with a few steps missing and the engine turns so slowly you can almost hear the individual cylinders firing but I enjoyed it immensely, appreciating the utter honesty of "the car that changed the world." I'll bring you more background and photos on this historic celebration in the days to come, so stay tuned.

[Photo: Philip Powell]