Under a mild, overcast autumn sky, the steady rumble of vintage tractors rolled out of Winnsboro City Park on Friday, Oct. 30, as members of several Texas tractor clubs set out on a scenic trail ride along East Texas back roads bound for Ma's Cafe in Leesburg. 

The convoy included 10 tractors and a custom covered wagon-style trailer built to carry passengers along for the slow-paced trip. Organized on short notice, the outing came together less than a week earlier simply for the enjoyment of driving vintage tractors. 

While many of the participants were members of the Lake Country Antique Tractor Association, this was not an official association event. Instead, it was a gathering of tractor enthusiasts from several clubs, including residents of Quinlan, Rockwall and Royse City. 

"It wasn’t for any special purpose. We just decided it was time to have some fun," Mike Banks said. 

The idea came the previous Saturday at a social gathering when Gordon McCosh asked, "Don't you think it's time for another tractor trail ride?" 

A few minutes later, the group approached McCosh with another question: "How does Friday sound?" 

McCosh drove his 1963 John Deere 3010 diesel tractor all the way from Rockwall for Friday's event. 

Banks' daughter, Alicia Banks Moore, stepped in to coordinate logistics and promote the ride on social media. Moore also took the driver's seat of the tractor towing the covered wagon carrying friends and family. 

Richard Williams brought his restored 1953 Ford Golden Jubilee, a model built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ford Motor Co. Williams and the late Johnny Rice of Alba spent months restoring the tractor in 2015. 

"It was called the Jubilee because 1953 was the 50th anniversary of Ford. It has three transmissions and 12 forward gears," Williams said. 

Another tractor making the trip was a bright orange 1965 Allis-Chalmers D-17, converted to run on propane and owned by Phill and Sandy Hallman. 

Hallman originally hauled the neglected tractor out of Silver, Texas, for $700 after it had sat unused for 15 years;  so long that a 5-inch sapling had grown between its rear fenders. 

Working with local mechanic Donald Love, Hallman spent three to four months and approximately $5,250 on parts and machining to bring the D-17 back to working condition. Today, Hallman said, it purrs like a kitten. 

Along the route, drivers waved at passing motorists, some of whom slowed down to watch the procession of restored tractors make its way toward Leesburg.