P.O. Box 1000 Fortuna, California 95540.
Sunny July skies and temperatures in the 70s made the 1992
annual Fortuna Redwood Autorama, in Fortuna, California, a huge
success. This city-wide event offered something for everyone:
crafts, antiques, swap meet, car show, engine gas-up, antique
tractor and farm equipment show.
Over 300 custom, classics and antique cars were shown and
everyone in town shined up their own car to join in the spirit of
the weekend.
Even the gas engine and antique tractor buffs shined up their
machinery for the event. About 100 gas engines were on display,
lining Main Street in Fortuna. Exhibits came from throughout
California and Oregon. Early Day Gas Engine, Branch 9, of Grants
Pass, Oregon, and Branch 31 of Santa Rosa, California, participated
along with local enthusiasts. The display included a 12 HP
International engine, mounted on a truck, a 9 HP Waterloo Boy
pumping water, and various other engines pumping water and grinding
corn. Murphy Anderson, of Healdsburg, amused the crowd with his
miniature fire truck and high-wheeled bicycle, run by a Maytag
engine.
About 35 antique tractors and crawlers were displayed also. A
variety of models were representedJohn Deere, Case, International,
Allis Chalmers and more. Some of the highlights included Andrew
Wilson’s 1929 John Deere GP running a 3-wired, 1928 John Deere
hay press, and Laurence Hindley’s 1936 McCormick Deering 10-20
orchard tractor threshing wheat with Scott and Andrew Wilson’s
1930 McCormick Deering threshing machine. A newly restored Model A
Case combine was being pulled by an also newly restored Case S. You
never saw so much orange! Another highlight was the
‘almost’ restored 1918 International 8-16 acquired from
Dick Hamp, of San Jose, that Laurence Hindley is now working
on.
Our 1993 show will be held on July 24th and 25th, in Fortuna, at
the park, across from the Fortuna Depot Museum, which will
celebrate its 100th anniversary this summer. 1993 exhibits will
include more of the above, but will also include antique tractor
pulls and working draft horses. Even better yet, everything is free
to the spectators, and the exhibitors.
If you would like information about this show, you may call the
Fortuna Chamber of Commerce at (707) 725-3916, or write to: Fortuna
Redwood Autorama, P.O. Box 1000, Fortuna, California 95540.
