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Running
Lights
November
2008
The Future
of MotorIoway Tours
The chart tells the
tale . . . with each passing year there's been a drop in the
number of participating tour vehicles. We're not certain what
the reasons are. While we know some think the tours are "pricey",
we have not raised the 1000 fee since 1997 and never adjusted
the 500. We've responded to various suggestions, such as our
Door County, Wisconsin tour last year; and we've rotated the
routes around the state. Frankly, it may be time to put the tours
on hold and take a breather. The response to the 2009 MotorIoway
500 will tell the tale.
MotorIoway Participating
Vehicles
Year MI1000 MI500 #
Total
1996 156 --
1997 169 --
1998 177 --
1999 190 --
2000 241 --
2001 179 36 215
2002 204 55 259
2003 168 77 245
2004 141 92 233
2005 126 91 217
2006 105 70 175
2007 128 61 189
2008
84 62 146
When we conceived the MotorIoway concept, we made a commitment
to making it a quality experience. From the Route Guide to Running
Lights, from License Plates to Lanyards, we made a point of "going
first class", with our products and souvenirs.
Yes, we are still having fun, but
we've reached a point where the income just barely covers the
expenses. When we started in '96 we thought of it as a one time
venture. Due to your interest we continued the program with the
idea of making it profitable. We have not lost money, but, the
"profit" side has been slim.
So all this is to say, we're going
to make some changes. For 2009 we will continue with the MotorIoway
500, but park the 1000 for at least a year. We may bring it back
in 2010, or it may be modified into something else.
This will also be your last mailed
issue of Running Lights. Printing and postage run about $1200
per issue, so henceforth we will rely on our website, www.motormemories.com
to keep you up to date.
Although, this isn't a request
for comments we are open to ideas and thoughts for the future.
A Unique
Tour Next August
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is one the oldest automotive
events in the world. This annual event commemorates the Emancipation
Run of 14 November 1896 which celebrated the passing into law
of the Locomotives on the Highway Act, which raised the speed
limit for "light locomotives" from 4 mph to 14 mph
and abolished the requirement for these vehicles to be preceded
by a man on foot. A red flag was symbolically destroyed at the
start of the first Emancipation Run by Lord Winchilsea.
Over 30 pioneer motorists set off
from London on the 1896 Run to endure the 60 miles of rough roads
to the seaside resort, but only 14 of the starters actually made
the journey. And some evidence exists that one car was taken
by rail and covered with mud before crossing the finishing line!
The next run was staged in 1927 as a re-enactment of the 1896
Run and has taken place every November thereafter with the exception
of the war years.
Not a race but an endurance of
man and machine, the annual event today attracts some 500 automobiles
with an eligibility criteria that requires the cars to be of
four or three wheel design and certified that their build took
place prior to 1 January 1905. Pat Brooks of Marshalltown drove
a restored 1903 Oldsmobile in the event several years ago.
In honor of this event two Minnesota
towns have established their own North American version, the
New Brighton to New London Antique Car Run. Held in August, this
version is limited to 1916 and older vehicles. We're going next
year and you can either ride in a motorcoach, or drive your own
vehicle; your vintage vehicle or your daily driver. Here's the
schedule and the details:
24th
Antique Car Run
New Brighton to New London
MotorIoway Tour
Thursday, August 6
Depart: noon from the Willis Auto Campus in western Des Moines
Arrive 5 p.m. Comfort Inn, Willmar, Minnesota
Friday, August 7
Depart: Comfort Inn 9 a.m.
Arrive: New London 9:30 brunch, parade, and steak fry
Depart New London 8 p.m. for return to Comfort Inn
Saturday, August 8 (start of the Run)
Depart: Comfort Inn 9:00 a.m.
Arrive: New London 9:30 a.m. breakfast
Depart: New London 10 a.m.
Arrive: Buffalo (midway lunch stop and car show)
Depart: Buffalo 1:30 p.m.
Arrive: Willis Auto Campus, Des Moines 5:30 p.m.
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Wine and Song
MotorIoway
500 * June 3 6, 2009
Wednesday, June 3
Gathering Day in Council Bluffs
· (Those arriving early can visit the Union Pacific Railroad
Museum and/or the Historic General Dodge House)
· 5 7 pm ShineTime (location TBA), overnight
Thursday, June 4
· Morning Drivers' meeting at the motel, then to Omaha
for tours on your own of the Henry Doorly Zoo, Joslyn Art Museum
or Durham Western Heritage Museum.
· To Shenandoah - a lunch salute to the Everly Brothers
and optional side tour to Nebraska City, NB and Arbor Lodge State
Historical Park/Arboretum and Arbor Day Farm
· Plattsmouth, NB PM Pit Stop (location TBA)
· Omaha - Old Market in historic downtown Omaha or tour
other historic sites
· 6 8 pm Western Trails Center -Buffalo BBQ
Friday, June 5
· Morning Drivers' meeting at the motel
· Thurman - Sugar Clay Winery-AM pit stop (tentative)
· Clarinda - lunch with the sounds of Glenn Miller)
· PM pit stop (TBA)
· Red Oak - overnight at the Red Coach Inn & Super
8 Motel
· 5 7 pm ShineTime (location TBA)
Saturday, June 6
· Morning Drivers' meeting at the motel
· AM pit stop (TBA)
· Farewell Lunch (TBA)
To Registration use
the application
form to register
for our tours.
Our
Registration fees and policies remain
unchanged from last year, except that 1984. vehicles now become
eligible to participate. The routes for both tours have been
tentatively set, and we're already working with the communities.
The West
Country of England plus London
In 2004, John escorted a group to western England, guests of
members of a 900-year old church in a quaint, but well maintained
hamlet nestled between Bath and the Cotswolds. To foster the
building's ongoing restoration they host an American group every
other year. We're planning a return visit next May.
Dates are May 14-27 and there's
space for 24 people with 12 spots already spoken for. The itinerary
is truly unique, starting with a long weekend in London, then
off to 8 days of special activities including:
- barge cruise on the Kennet
& Avon canal
- steam train dinner ride
through the Mendip Hills
- vintage car touring in
the Cotswolds
- the National Motor Museum
and Beaulieu Abbey
- Bath and an evening of
theatre
- dinner on the SS Great
Britain, launched in 1843
- Buckler's Hard, a picturesque
18th century village
- the Fleet Air Arm Museum
including an interior tour of Concorde 002
- the Portsmouth Naval Dockyard
with a launch tour to view the Royal Navy ships and HMS Victory,
Nelson's flagship at the battle of Trafalgar
With the currently excellent
exchange rate we anticipate pricing will be approximately $2200
plus airfare.
John can send you complete details;
contact him at jwsltd@msn.com or 319/431-0520.
With Sympathy
We lost two MotorIoway veterans over the past couple of months.
Jack Morrison of Columbus Junction, who drove a red '57 Bel-Air
with wife Dorothy, passed away on August 24 and Bev Klosterman,
of Ashton, died Sunday, Sept. 28. She and husband Earl drove
the yellow VW Super Beetle on almost every tour. Our sympathies
to their spouses and families.
Greg and Amy Garman
have a 1972 Dodge Challenger R/T with a 440 six-pack for sale.
$40k in it, looking for $28k. The car has around 104,000 miles
with 4,000 of them on an engine rebuild done by Horn Automotive.
I've seen it and it's cherry! Anyone among the MotorIoway brethren
may call Greg or Amy at their office (319) 854-6744 for
more information. They're honest people.
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