How did you learn to read?  Were the first words you knew “stroke engine,” “hydraulics,” or  “tire treads?” Likely not, but for Upper School science department chair Mr. Billy McGuire ’85, this was the case.  When he was young, Mr. McGuire was transfixed by his uncle’s antique 1926 Ford Model T.  The man wagered that one day the child could have the car on the condition that a young Mr. McGuire could successfully disassemble and reassemble it. To do this, however, he would need to consult the driver’s manual. And, to do that, he would of course need to learn how to read.  

     Despite being a mechanically challenging task for a first grader, Mr. McGuire saw it through and earned himself the Model T that he has now owned for over 48 years. But, this car is not collecting dust in a garage. Just this past summer Mr. McGuire drove it to Cadillac, Michigan to join an annual gathering of a few hundred Model T owners. He has also trekked not one, but two cross-country trips all the way to California.

     As an antique vehicle, the Model T is consequently very different from the standard car in many ways.  First, its top speed is around 45 miles per hour, which means that Mr. McGuire was required to stay off highways and utilize lesser known trails and backroads.  However, offroading comes naturally to the model, as its unique frame allows the car to flex and absorb the impact from rocks, bumpy roads and flood waters alike. Next, the time involved is much more substantial, as the journey takes a total of 30 days to complete. These two factors provide for a whole new experience on the road. The extra time necessitates extensive planning and scheduling of the routes, making it more involved than a standard interstate road trip.      In the words of Mr. Mcguire when he’s taking the scenic route, “there’s no air conditioning, no stereo, you’re just out there experiencing America just as America.” When traveling, most people will be confined to the near identical forests of the highway and never get to see the countryside of Ohio, the fields of Nebraska or the deserts of Oregon. The restrictions that the Model T provides allow for a more accurate view of America that only small towns and the countryside can otherwise show.

     So, while you may not be able to purchase a vintage Ford automobile for yourself, the next time you’re on a road trip consider taking the scenic route over the ones curated for tourists. If Mr. McGuire’s experiences attest to anything, it is that there is beauty in the road less traveled.