By Dixie Brunner
"We want to thank everyone in the town," said Gary Hays, president of the Canyon Country Model T Club, of Flagstaff, Arizona. He said Kanab had been a wonderful place to host their third tour of the area. The 67 member club has sponsored summer tours based in the Kanab area in 1995, 2002 and again this year, and have always been thrilled with the response and experience.
Canyon Country, which operates under the under the larger organization of the Model T Ford Club of America, toured Bryce Canyon National Park, Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Pipe Springs National Monument, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Zion National Park, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon during the past week.
The different groups host drives through their own regions, and invite other members of Model T clubs nationwide to attend. Participants stayed in Kanab six days, and needless to say, 'fueled' the local economy for a time. There were 202 cars, 441 participants, and 730 miles driven around this area! What began with a picnic in the city park on Sunday; ended Friday with a final dinner and awards night at the Kanab High School auditorium.
Group tour coordinator Russ Furstnow said he and wife Kathy were wowed by local residents' appreciation, as well as Kane County Travel Council Director Kay Giles' help in pulling the event together. He said from the donation for the Sunday ice cream social from Kane County Travel, to the generosity of local businesses and kindness of local citizens, the tour organizers have been wowed by the area's hospitality.
"We have a lot of fun together," said Furstnow, of the Model T Tour participants. "People enjoy each other and visit about their common interest in the old cars. It's a very good social thing.