San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-24
| $1,000 SEE
FORD REUNION
At SPEEDWAY
Nearly 1000 Cars in En-.
closure When Races
Start.
BIG STREET PARADE
$1,000 in Prizes Distribu.
ted BY Local Ford
Dealers.
BIG STREET PARADE

New Fords. old Fords, middle-aged
Fords and Fords with rattles that
could be heard for blocks fairly
packed the Speedway Sunday after
noon on the occasion of the first an
nual reunion of Ford owners OF
Bexar county, held by the authorized
Ford dealers of the city under the
auspices of the San Antonio Light.
1t was estimated by police officials
that close to 1000 cars were in the
Speedway enclosure. nearly $500 Of
which were Fords. Attendance was
estimated at from $4,000 to 10000.
the majority of whom were Ford
owners and their families. A total
of 5000 in prizes was distributed.
Preceding events at the Speedway
big street parade and caravan,
headed by Grand Marshal William
G. Tobin. and a brass band and ac-
companied by a police escort. moved
through the downtown district and
out to the Speedway. This parade
was restricted entirely to Fords and
it was estimated at least 1000 Ford
cars were in line. The route followed
was from Avenue + TO Houston,
Houston to North Flores, North
Flores to Commerce, Commerce TO
South Alamo, thence ? to South
Flores and on out to the Speedway
on the Pleasanton road. Many Ford
owners had gone ahead of the parade
and were found parked at the Speed
way when the main caravan Of fllv-
vers arrived.
CnIookers Cheer Fords.
Ford owners assembled for the big
parade at . o'clock on Avenue h and
interesting streets. At 2:15 tue
twelve piece band which had been
engaged by the Ford dealers struck
up lively air which was the signal
for starting. With motorcycle police
leading the way, the caravan of Ford
owners moved toward Houston street.
Following closely behind the police
was a Ford truck carrying the band
and Immediately behind the band
truck was Ford touring car carry
ing William G. Tobin, grand marshal
and representatives of the Service De-
partment of The San Antonio Light.
The official car was followed by
Fords belonging to the various au-
thorized dealers. Next came the
prize entrants, including the fattest
woman. oldest Ford, FOrds with old
est drivers, etc. The spruced-up
Fords attracted unusual attention.
As the big caravan of flivvers pro-
ceeded down Houston and up Com
merce thousands of pedestrians who
lined the sidewalks cheered. Some
of these onlookers could not confine
their enthusiasm and there were many
excaImations such as "Oh! Look at
that Ford all dolled up Say, pipe
the big fat lady, will yuh." MY
sakes goodness. look at that old
Ford, about to fall TO pieces; must
have been made before Columbus dis
covered America"
Despite the unusually large number
of cars in line, the parade traversed
the downtown district without so
much as n single mishap. The Ford
owners good-naturedly stood all the
little discomforts incident to such an
event and all arrived at the park in
a good humor and remained in this
= mood throughout the afternoon.
Races Prove Exciting.
A tire changing race was the first
event on the program. This race
proved extremely exciting and the
thousands cheered as the winner
crossed the line.
The next event on the program
was a race open to all types of Fords,
regardless of equipment and engine
arrangement. This race proved just
as thrilling as the first and the APP
plause was deafening as the winner
was tagged in.
The last race, that open to Ford
stock cars only, was marked by an
accident when a Ford racer occupied
BY Richard Dobbyn and Tom Strand
overturned, pinning the occupants
underneath. Both were rushed TO the
Robert E. Green Memorial hospital
where they received emergency treat
ment. Neither is believed TO have
suffered serious injury.
Following the races, judging of the
Oldest Ford. Ford carrying latest
woman, Ford with oldest driver, etc.
began. In several classes there were
MS many as one dozen entrants, and
the judging committee headed by Por-
ter Loring found its task not an easy
one. One man, aged. &C. had come
to the reunion confidently expecting
to carry off first prize for Oldest
driver of a Ford car. But he was
sadly disappointed when a man 81
years old appeared on the scene driv-
ing his flivver with the ease of 20
year-old youth. A Ford of the vint-
age of 1908 took first prize for the
oldest Ford. Nearly dozen ancient
flivvers we're entered for this prize
and the old cars gave the big audience
a good laugh.
Many Ford owners evidently went
. 10 much expense in decorating their
! cars for the most spruced-up Ford
prize. One such owner admitted he