MTFCI 53rd National Tour
Johnson City, Tennessee
Click the first thumbnail to see larger photo.
Once the photo opens, place your mouse in the top right corner of the photo and click "next."
To go to the previous photo, place your mouse in the top left corner of the photo and click "previous."
Our MTFCI Trip to Johnson City, Tennessee
by Jennifer Lilleker
We have been lifetime members of the MTFCI for a few years; however, this was our first tour with the club. It won't be our last! We had a great time and met lots of new friends!
The scenery of upper Eastern Tennessee is spectacular and the friendliness of the people is heartwarming. The tour started on Sunday, June 19 in Johnson City, TN, about 1,000 miles from our home in Bryan/College Station, TX. We checked into the Holiday Inn and Convention Center, checked in for the tour, got our registration packet and headed to the parking lot.
Monday, July 20
Blountville / Bluff City / Bristol / Rocky Mount State Park
The tour started out a little damp, but coming from Texas, the change in weather and the green landscape was a welcome sight. We drove through the lush hills of eastern Tennessee to our morning break at Countryside Vineyards and Winery. As always, it was nice to see the cars all together. After a short stop we continued on to the beautiful Steele Creek Park, which overlooked the Tennessee River Valley where we had a Bar-B-Q picnic lunch. Then on to Bristol Motor Speedway and drag strip for some fun on the track.
Tuesday, July 21
Watauga / Piney Flats / Boone Lake
The day started out with a short jaunt over to the Johnson City Mall where all of the cars lined up by class and year for a little car show. Some car owners participated in a car judging event while the rest of us enjoyed looking at all the cars and socialized. After lunch we took off to the Rocky Mount historical site and the Cobb-Massengill House. The visitor's center opened to the public in 1962 and included a museum, movie and gift shop as well several restored log cabins around the farmstead. The living history part included live demonstrations by characters dressed in era fashion of the late 1700's. They demonstrated crafts, farming and gardening as well as the general lifestyle of the late 1700's. After ice cream and drinks we had a short drive back to the hotel for the Hillbilly Hoedown.
Wednesday, July 22
Jonesborough, TN / Davy Crockett's Birthplace / Awards Banquet and Fashion Show and Youth Auction
Brent Terry and his family did a wonderful job organizing this tour and we could tell by how exhausted we were that they had packed everything in that they could. Wednesday began with a short drive to Jonesborough, Tennessee's first town, founded in 1779. We were treated to a story telling session and some time to explore the downtown's many shops and cafes. Then we were off to Davy Crockett's birthplace and lunch. My favorite stop was the Walnut Ridge Llama Farm. I was so enthusiastic about the llamas that I forgot to take pictures. I'll just say there were really cute and I need one on my farm. Ross drug me away from there to get back to the hotel in time for the fashion show and youth auction. Tour participants dressed up in their finest vintage repro and original clothes for the rest of us to enjoy. Then items that were generously donated were auctioned off in a live auction to benefit the youth scholarship fund. Ross and I ended up with a few items and the whole event seemed very successful.
Thursday, July 23
Sycamore Shoals State Park / Roan Mountain State Park / Watauga Dam Lookout / Snap-on Tools Factory
Thursday we traveled to Sycamore Shoals State Park for our morning break. Tennessee's natural beauty is unsurpassed and really breath-taking. We were lucky to have great weather and temperatures the whole week so that we could enjoy the views. We stopped at Snap On Tools for a factory tour and a look at their restored 1923 Delivery Truck. After lunch at Roan Mountain we traveled through the farm lands where every once in a while we would pass a century farm, a farm that was still operating in the same family for over 100 years. Then we were on to Wilbur Dam, where we stretched our legs on a small walk to the look-out. We were back in at the hotel a bit earlier so that we all could rest and tinker on the cars.
Friday, July 24
Erwin / Embreeville / Cherokee National Forest
Our last day on tour began after a short ride with a stop to Mountain View Bulk Foods Store, an Amish/Mennonite run store that offers many home-made crafts and foods. After loading up on goodies we traveled on to Erwin for lunch. The route had a lot of miles to cover and a lot of turns and instructions in those miles, so we were glad for a break by lunch. The highlight of the day was the Hutchin's farm, which is home to the East Tennessee Antique Engine Associations Crank-up Show. This club has many prized engines ranging in size from small to very large. They had most of them going for our enjoyment. Needless to say it was loud and steamy. We finished up the tour with a wonderful banquet where they awarded the Stynoski award for the year. We said goodbye to our newly made friends and those others we won't see for a while and loaded our cars for home. The whole week was excellent and we can't wait to join this group in Rapid City, SD next year.
Click here to see more of our photos on our website at Lilleker Antique Auto Restorations.
