Being relatively new to the Model T hobby, I have attended my first Model T Texas T Party in Tyler and thoroughly enjoyed the tour. This was the first major tour where I have driven my 1916 touring car and she preformed extremely well. I had planned on driving with the top down; however, the rain that came our way changed my plans. Driving the car with the top down lets you experience the trip at another level. You see everything and are at one with the road. My wife Patsy loves to take pictures of scenery as we travel, and with the car top down, she is able to get some really great shots. We also took our little Yorkie dog, Rhett, and he, too, had a blast; however, he did not care for 18 wheelers and motorcycles. Seems they are a little too loud for his comfort.

The attention to detail that was given in planning and organizing this tour was quite evident. Jennifer and Ross Lilleker had every possible angle covered. The tour route was planned out with every imaginable driving condition possible. A little city, lots of winding paved country roads, some gravel, lots of hills, and even swamp driving if you got off the road. All of these conditions were part of the driving tour route. The East Texas scenery was outstanding. Unlike your modern day car, this tour required you to actually "drive" your car. Preparing for the hill climb and preparing for the descend kept the driver of the car tuned to the upcoming road conditions.