Two 103-year-old icons met up Wednesday morning in downtown Mineola.

Todd Touchberry, with support from family and friends, is driving his 1920 Model T Ford across the country to raise funds and awareness for hydrocephalus, a brain condition that his 22-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, was born with.

He pulled off Broad St. onto N. Johnson St. to make a minor engine repair and parked near the Historic Select Theater, which also dates to 1920.

Touchberry and the crew, including wife Jennifer, pulled out of his hometown, Sumter, S.C. on Friday, Nov. 17 to make their way to San Diego. Also along are Jennifer’s friend Jasmine Steele, mechanic Patrick Lewis and support-vehicle driver Philip Gebler.

The goal was to break the cross-country record for a Model T of 14, days, after five days they had made it to Marshall, about one-third of the journey.

While the repairs were made, the crew dined on some Cowburners barbecue and Bryan’s cheesecakes and took in a little of downtown Mineola.

After one trip to an automotive store and another to the hardware store, they were back on the road headed west on Hwy. 80 to Grand Saline (where they picked up salt samples), with plans to stop for the night in the Dallas area.

Todd noted one of his bucket list items is to eat a steak dinner in Dallas.

Hydrocephalus is a chronic, neurological condition caused by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within cavities of the brain called ventricles, resulting in pressure on the brain.

So far Elizabeth has required 19 surgeries to address the issues it can cause, such as headaches that don’t respond to typical medications.

Todd’s goal is to raise $10 per mile for hydrocephalus research, or $30,000.

Wednesday was the coldest morning thus far on the journey, and Todd said he would likely invest in warmer head gear.

City marketing Director Owen Tiner gifted him a Mineola sesquicentennial cap and other mementoes from the city’s 150th anniversary celebration.

The Model T is a pickup that was converted from a car. Such conversions were common during the World War Two years as pickups were allowed more gasoline supplies than cars during wartime rationing.

It is open air, with only a windshield for protection. There is no heater, though heat from the engine offers some relief.

They also added some make-shift doors to help reduce some of the air flow.

Latches are planned, but duct tape was doing the job thus far.

The Model T’s top speed is advertised as 35, though some modifications have allowed them to run a little over 40 – and 50 on a good downhill run.

Their reduced speed has got them a few dirty looks from passersby, Jennifer said.

That was especially true when crossing the Mississippi River when the only option was to take to the interstate for a few miles.

They plan to remain on secondary roads as much as possible, leaving the Metroplex on US 180 toward Weatherford.

Their support trailer has room for the Model T should the trip through Dallas become too problematic.

It also holds a spare engine, transmission, wheels, tools and other items, as well as enough spaces for everyone to sleep should other accommodations not pan out.

They chose Thanksgiving week because it reduced the number of days that otherwise would have had to be taken off.

They are connecting with Model T clubs along the way and welcoming them to come along on  part of the journey.

Jennifer admitted that when Todd first proposed the idea she was skeptical, to say the least.

They just acquired the Model T and another one a year ago, so they are relatively new to America’s first major mass-produced motor vehicle that made cross-country travel accessible to the masses.

Todd and Jennifer’s adventure can be followed on Todd Touchberry’s Facebook page including daily updates and live broadcasts.

As of Monday they were in Buckeye, Ariz., about 320 miles from their destination.