The Fat Okie

1929 Duesenberg at the Masonic Temple in Guthrie, OK, 2015.

Just when I think it’s going to be a boring week, I get word over the weekend that the American Automobile Association’s Glidden Automobile Tour is in town.  It is being hosted by the Okie Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America all around the metro area August 30- September 4, 2015.  Today I went to the stop in Guthrie, OK at the Masonic Temple and being a car nut, it was totally worth the trip.

The cars featured are all pre-1943 and still in running order, they do have to drive to their destinations.  I passed a few around town while running some errands, so I knew I was going to be in for a treat.  The cars started arriving in Guthrie around 11a.m., most were still getting there when I showed up.  Do you know how cool it is to have an old Ford following you through the streets of downtown Guthrie?  I just stood on the corner and appreciated the rolling works of art as they arrived.  There is just a sound with these old cars that you can’t recreate with a newer vehicle.  And since some of these cars had hand controls for the gas, it was fun to see how smoothly the owners operated controls.

There were of course the usual Fords- Model A and Ts, some sweet Chevrolets, a few Buicks, and a couple Cadillacs.  But I like the different stuff, the cars you don’t always see.  My favorite was the show stopper 1929 Duesenberg (shown above).  There is nothing in the world I like better than Duesenbergs and have appreciated many in museums, so to have this one drive up to the show was just the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.  There was a beautiful butter yellow 1937 Cord convertible, a red 1913 White speedster, a 1914 Dodge Brothers touring car, a 1931 Oakland, and a 1914 Chandler.  I got to talk to the owner of a 1938 Chrysler Royal Convertible Coupe, it had been a barn in Texas until 1963 when it was restored to original.

The gold 1938 Chrysler Royal, Guthrie, OK, 2015.

The best part about the rolling car show is that it’s in town for 3 more days.  On September 2, 2015, the cars will be displayed downtown Oklahoma City on Broadway in what’s known as Automobile Alley (Broadway between NW 4th and NW 13th, more on the name some other day) between 10a.m.- 2p.m.  Then on September 3, 2015, they are traveling to Chickasha, OK to be displayed at the Grady County Fairgrounds from 11:30a.m.- 1p.m.  Last day to see them will be on Friday, September 4, 2015, when the cars go to the University of Oklahoma and are on display at the Lloyd Noble Center from 10a.m.- 2p.m.

Like I said it is totally worth a visit even if you’re not a car person.  You will see automotive brands that don’t exist any longer.  And for a little history, this is the first time the tour has been in Oklahoma City since June 24, 1910.  Yeah, you read that right 105 years ago.  The American Automobile Association started these endurance races in 1904 by Charles Glidden to promote the use of the automobile.  The races continued until 1913 when they stopped because they were too popular.  In 1946 the tours were restarted and continue to this day.

A Plymouth with a Packard, Guthrie, OK, 2015

An Auburn with a Dodge Brothers, Guthrie, OK, 2015.