Vice Pres., 3429 S.M-52, Owosso, Michigan 48867
It has been the best of times and it’s been the worst of
times. This kind of sums up the last 20 years of the Mid-Michigan
Old Gas Tractor Association. The last few years have been the best
of times. We have come into our own.
It is hard to believe the club is 20 years old. I was a
sophomore in high school and worked with the original members to
put on the first show on the Lawrence Hoak farm west of Oakley,
Michigan in August of 1974.
1993 was a banner year. The gate was up, the exhibitors were up
and the weather was great.
The club paid off the 20 acre show grounds last year and the 20
acre parking lot is to be paid off this year.
In 1993, tractors and equipment, starting with the letter B,
were featured at the show, mainly Bakers.
Probably the world’s largest assembly of Baker gas tractors
since the factory closed during World War II, was put together: an
even dozen.
The oldest Baker gas tractor owned by Bill and Jim Ware of
Morrice, was at its first show after many years of hard work.
Originally used on a sawmill, this tractor, sat for 40 years in
Southern Michigan. Information from the Baker factory in Swanton,
indicates the tractor (s/n G-267) was the seventh tractor built,
and was sold to Henry Knittel of Berlin Heights, Ohio on June 18,
1926.
Charles Curtis of Chelsea, Michigan, had his 25-50 Baker
Wisconsin engine tractor at the show, serial #2884. Clinton
Manville and his son had his serial #28122 Wisconsin Baker tuned up
and running well. Over half of the known Wisconsin Bakers were
there. Thanks to the guys for letting me have them.
During our show the 3rd full weekend of August, there is a
pancake breakfast waiting for you. The line gets longer every year,
so get there early. Dinners are served at the club cookhouse and
are good homemade food. Another tradition that has grown is the
Sunday chicken Bar-B-Q dinner. We built our own Bar-B-Q pit this
year to handle the demand for Sunday dinners. Jerry and Ann Gengler
and crew have done a good job with this project. Don’t miss
it.
Bean soup was sold by members and our $800.00 was donated by the
club to the D.A.R.E. drug awareness program.
This year the club will be raffling off a 1947 John Deere M
tractor completely restored by club members. Second prize is one
week’s vacation at Sandy Oaks Park at Houghton Lake, Michigan.
Tickets are $1.00 each. You can buy them from any club member.
The first members were Lawrence Hoak, Walt Ritenburg, George
Valentine, Tap Errietts, Don McNaughton, Bob White and Clayton
Doty. With this small group we have grown to a club of many members
and one of the best tractor shows in Michigan. There has been much
hard work and dedication. For three days in August we have the best
of everything: good food, good times, good friends. What more could
you ask for? Hope to see you there!
