Country-crossing Model Ts to steam through the Valley

YAKIMA, Wash. -- A little less than a month ago, more than 50 Model T Fords and their support vehicles left New York for a cross-country car rally that should roll through the Yakima Valley this week.

The trip celebrates the 100th anniversary of the New York to Seattle Ocean to Ocean Endurance Race, the first-ever cross-country car race. The Model Ts -- one from each state and one each from South Africa, England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany and Canada -- will attempt to follow as closely as possible the original route of the race, which means rumbling down plenty of back roads.

Wednesday, the Model Ts will pass through Prosser, Sunnyside and Yakima via the Yakima Valley Highway. The caravan will proceed to Ellensburg on Thursday morning along Yakima River Canyon Road.

In Ellensburg, there will be a short parade through downtown starting around 11 a.m. Following the parade, the Model Ts will be on display for two hours in Kleinberg Park in front of the Northern Pacific train depot at 606 W. Third Ave. There will be box lunches for sale, music by the Kittitas Valley Fiddlers and old-fashioned games.

The classic car road trip then continues on back roads to Cle Elum and up to Snoqualmie Pass, where Kittitas and King counties are hosting a variety of activities, including live music, a barbecue dinner and an outdoor movie showing.

Info: Kittitas County Historical Museum at 509-925-3778.

EDITOR'S NOTE: An incorrect phone number for the Kittitas County Historical Museum was in an earlier version of this story.