A Message from the President

My plan for this year is have more driving time. The board of directors and other members recently met to discuss the first half of the year. The plan is to have at least one road trip a month in addition to the monthly meeting. The road trip will be on a day other than a Sunday for those that would rather enjoy club activities on other than a Sunday.

My plan also provides for inclusiveness. I am actively seeking volunteers to organize our road trips. So if you have a burning desire to drive to a remote location to look at stuff, eat or just drive, please give me a call, email me or write me with your thoughts and commitment to the road show. If you have ideas of places to go and people to see but do not want to organize it, that's ok to, but the most important thing is to hear from each of you as to what you want your club to be doing.

I am looking forward to a fun year and meeting with all of our members even the ones whose names appear on our membership lists but who have not participated in recent years.

Lets go driving !

Marc

Ford's 100th Anniversary Party and Rt. 66 Cruise

It's official. We are going to wrap our Rt. 66 cruise in with our trip to Dearborn for Ford's anniversary. We've been from Tulsa out to Holbrook, AZ. In June, we'll head back to Tulsa, get on Rt. 66, and take it to Chicago. From Chicago, we'll head on over to Dearborn. Make plans to attend. Rt. 66 in a T-Bird is a wonderful experience. Our hotel of choice in the Dearborn/Detroit area is the Red Roof Inn-Dearborn. Phone 313-278-9732 or reserve online at www.redroof.com. The dates for the anniversary party are June 12-16, 2003. More Rt. 66 details will be forthcoming. It's about 500 miles from Houston to Tulsa, about 700 miles from Tulsa to Chicago, and about 300 miles from Chicago over to Dearborn. We're thinking about leaving Houston on Saturday, June 7, 2003, for our big trip. Dennis Baetz is working on the details even as we speak!

January Meeting

The January meeting will be held at Logan's Roadhouse, 2200 Hwy 6 South, about 2 blocks north of Westheimer, on the west side of the road. Their phone number is 281-679-7053. I'm pretty sure of the address, although I have been accused of providing erroneous information lately. Whether it's ignorance or apathy, I don't know and I don't care. The eating will begin at 1:00pm, and the meeting will begin at 2:00pm. As this will be the first meeting for our new president, let's have a big crowd. Logan's is the place that has the peanuts that you can throw on the floor. Don't try this at home. I'm sure President Markel will share with us the cruises and other fun events in store for the Classic Thunderbirds of Houston for 2003. Hope to see you there.

Salado Weekend

Salado weekend driving tour

March 14 – 16, 2003

This years driving tour will be to the Burnett, TX area again. This year we will be doing a tour of Longhorn Caverns at Longhorn Caverns State Park. Lunch options after the tour will be open, with a plan for most to continue on to Llano for lunch at Coopers BBQ. Llano is about 30 miles from the State Park. Coopers is a ‘first come, first served’ place, so no reservations are accepted.

The Caverns have an $8.00 fee for a 1 ½ hour guided tour. Parking is free and there is a large parking lot. There is a souvenir shop and small restaurant in the tour headquarters building.

I plan to have a different driving route this year for the run to the Park and the return trip is open. This will give anyone an opportunity to check out the local antique stores in the area during the return trip. I will have maps of the driving route available in the hospitality room.

The plans for the hospitality room are developing and the dinner Saturday night will be at the Stagecoach Inn.

A golf tournament is planned for Friday if anyone is interested. Contact Robert Goodwin if you wish to be in the golf tournament. 972-424-0311.

George Lang (george.lang@verizon.com)

2003 Salado Tour Master

Big ‘D’ Little Birds

Ford's 100th Anniversary Celebration--Dearborn, June 12-16, 2003

Frequently Asked Questions about Ford Motor Company's 100th Anniversary Celebration

Do I need to register in advance to attend the 100th Anniversary Celebration?
We are expecting tens of thousands of Ford Motor Company enthusiasts to join in our celebration. We encourage everyone to purchase tickets <https://fordcentennialreg.com/orderform/app/menu_welcome/index.cfm> in advance so that we can accommodate all of our guests.

Will I be able to display my collector's car on the grounds of the Henry Ford II World Center during the 100th Anniversary Celebration?
The display of thousands of classic and collector Ford Motor Company vehicles will be one of the highlights of the 100th Anniversary Celebration. An independent panel of automotive experts will select vehicles for display at Ford Motor Company's 100th Anniversary Celebration. Vehicles selected for display purposes will be of historical significance and/or reflect classic themes representative of Ford Motor Company's product lines (Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Volvo, and Land Rover). Once you have purchased tickets <https://fordcentennialreg.com/orderform/app/menu_welcome/index.cfm> you will be provided with a Vehicle Display Application.

What is the schedule of events for the 100th Anniversary celebration?
The celebration is scheduled for Thursday, June 12, through Monday, June 16, 2003. While many of the details are not yet available, we can share two confirmed events.

Thursday, June 12, is Ford Racing Fan Appreciation Day. You'll have a chance to meet many of your Ford racing heroes, including drivers from NASCAR Winston Cup, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck.

On Monday, June 16, if you're a Ford Motor Company shareholder, you will be invited to attend the company's 47th annual meeting of shareholders, and the first shareholders' meeting of the company's second century.

Check this website often for updates on the event schedule, or register <https://fordcentennialreg.com/orderform/app/menu_welcome/index.cfm> to receive email notifications of when the site is updated.

Will there be entertainment during the celebration? Who will be performing?
Plans for an outdoor theatre are underway. The theatre will feature live entertainment including: Motown, jazz, rock and country artists (talent to be announced later). Check this website often for event updates, or register <https://fordcentennialreg.com/orderform/app/menu_welcome/index.cfm> to receive email notifications of when the site is updated.

What other Ford-related activities are available in the Dearborn area?
Within a mile of the Henry Ford II World Center are Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Estate. Both Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Estate are offering discounted admission through the registration site.

Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village is the nation's largest indoor/outdoor history museum. For information on this world-renowned attraction, visit http://www.hfmgv.org.

The Henry Ford Estate is the former home of Henry Ford and his wife Clara, who lived there from 1915 until their deaths in 1947 and 1950. For more information on this National Historic Landmark on the campus of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, visit http://www.henryfordestate.com.

What hotels are available in the Dearborn/Detroit area?
We have compiled a list of hotels <Hotels> in the Metro Detroit and surrounding areas. Please note, this listing is a guideline and is not complete. Ford Motor Company does not endorse nor support the hotels. Ford Motor Company is not responsible for rates or the conditions of the hotels.

I am (or my group is) planning to travel to attend the Ford Motor Company 100th Anniversary Celebration. Will Ford provide any monetary assistance?
Due to the number of individuals and groups that plan to attend the event, Ford Motor Company is not able to reimburse individuals or groups for travel or travel-related expenses.

If you didn't find the answer to your question, send us a note <mailto:100years@ford.com>.

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Jan 1	Gary Fuller
Jan 1	David Nugent
Jan 2	Jock Collins
Jan 5	Roger & Patty Penney
Jan 8	Jean Davis
Jan 12	Mary Jackson
Jan 14	Ervin & Lora Platte
Jan 15	Hank Luschen
Jan 16	Drake Hiller
Jan 16	Sarah Leander
Jan 18	Wayne & Janice Clark
Jan 21	Bill McAuliffe
Jan 25	Eddie & Anita Matsu
Feb 1	Wayne Clark
Feb 5	Marc Markel
Feb 5	Rick Virnig
Feb 6	Janice Clark
Feb 10	Alan & Cathy Raymond
Feb 13	Deanna Barnes
Feb 13	Ron & Carol Swofford
Feb 15	Ray Holtzapple & Mary Dee Neal
Feb 19	Kelsey Skiba
Feb 21	Don Baird
Feb 21	Bill & Carolyn Jones
Feb 22	Jim Pfeffer
Feb 23	Wyndham Smith
Feb 25	Greg Rich

Officers, Board Members, Committee Chairs

Click on blue link for e-mail address.

President	Marc Markel	713-728-8899
VP	Geary Ashby	713-527-9897
Secretary	Mimi Markel	713-728-8899
Treasurer	Louise Bickford	281-373-0700

Board
Dave Barnes		281-476-0334
Al Eisenberg		713-665-3993
Hugh Jackson		713-613-4383
Jeff Skiba		713-661-5792

Committees
Cruises
CTCI	Hank Luschen	281-852-3664
Gifts	Bob Vickers	713-665-3665
Hospitality	Alice Vickers	713-665-3665
Parades	Dave Barnes	281-476-0334
Phone	Linda Anderson	281-339-2362
Phone	Carol Swofford	281-333-3606
Website	Jeff Skiba	713-661-5792
We cruise on CB Channel 16
Internet Home is www.ctoh.org

Tail Lights

A blonde calls her boyfriend and says, "Please come over here and help me... I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can't figure out how to get it started."

Her boyfriend asks, "What is it supposed to be when it's finished?"

The blonde says, "According to the picture on the box, it's a tiger."

Her boyfriend decides to go over and help with the puzzle. She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table. He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, then turns to her and says,

"First of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a tiger." He held her hand and said,

"Second, I'd advise you to relax. Let's have a cup of coffee, then ..........." he sighed,

"Let's put all these Frosted Flakes back in the box."