Fans of vintage cars came together for the 36th annual Endurance Run and Lowland Tour, an event that celebrates leisurely driving in an open car without seatbelts, windshields or other amenities of modern life. Sponsored by the Santa Clara Valley Model T Ford Club, the event drew almost 100 antique cars.

"This recreates the speedster event of the 1920s. We relive history," said Gary Hagen of Gilroy, sporting a handlebar mustache that took him two days to fashion.

The event has two separate components. The Endurance Run is a timed rally, specifically for roadsters built in 1927 or before. Just as during the days of Henry Ford, speed aficionados take the bodies of Model T's and make race cars out of them, which can reach speeds of 85 miles an hour. Whoever can finish the predetermined course closest to a set target time is deemed the winner. This year, the route took the participants to Capitola via quiet back roads and ended at the Sun Microsystems headquarters in Santa Clara. The time to aim for was seven hours and 30 minutes.

The companion event is the Lowland Tour, geared for touring cars, or slower convertibles, which must have been built in 1940 or earlier. Organizers set a shorter route for these cars, since the cars are not well-equipped for high speeds.

Jim Boyden had one of his five vintage cars parked along Santa Clara, waiting for the Lowland Tour to begin. Boyden, who has lived in the Almaden Valley for 25 years, brought his dark green 1910 Model T touring car to participate.

"These cars, we do drive them on the road on Sunday afternoons," he said. "That's the fun of it. You get them out. Keeping them cooped up is not nearly as much fun."

However, driving a vehicle that old does have inherent risks. Parts can break down. Boyden's recent drive to Cambria proved uneventful until a pothole put a hole in the radiator. Temporary patches to the radiator allowed him to finish the ride. Problems are typical and to be expected, he said.

"Always be prepared," Boyden said.

The street was lined with onlookers and touring cars like Boyden's. However, the buzz in the air went up a notch when an antique fire truck, with sirens blaring, escorted 40 roadsters to the starting line. Drivers and their navigators in white overalls and aviator goggles and helmets hopped out of their cars and mingled with spectators.

"It's fun driving old race cars," said Tim Hale of Hollister, one of the spectators. A former club member, he and his wife came out to support old friends.

Part of the experience is driving without a windshield, he said. The driver's side may have a windshield, but some passengers have to do without.

"She had to eat the bugs," Hale said of his wife, Linda Hale.

"I could never smile," she added.

Llona James came from Port Hadlock, Wash., to see off her son, Doug James of Pacifica, and his wife.

"My husband and I built the one they're running," she said of a white 1923 Model T with pinstripes.

Kevin Greenberg of San Jose came to take pictures of his parents.

"There are no airbags, no antilock brakes," he said. "I'm sure I'll tell them to drive safely."

However, his father, Allan Greenberg, made a concession to modern notions of safety and installed seatbelts in his white 1926 speedster.

He was in car number 63, toward the back of the pack. His wife Lucy was his passenger.

"I have this love for old cars," said Greenberg, who is also the club president. "I think that's enjoyment. We're driving a piece of history."

Allan Greenberg, who has lived in Almaden for 24 years, spent six months building the car he was using for the Endurance Run. The fun of his investment, he said, is the ability to take his car out for drives, albeit carefully.

"We're not hot rodders; we're not speed demons. We enjoy showing them to people," he said.

Fifteen minutes after the roadsters arrived, the call to start the cars came. Drivers revved their engines, and they and their navigators raised their arms to show they were ready. The green starting flag was lowered, and the cars took off, leaving a cloud of exhaust fumes behind them. Onlookers jumped, cheered and waved their arms.

The din of noise came down. And suddenly, spectators got excited again.

Apparently, one of the drivers got lost getting to the starting line. To the applause of the crowd, the driver waved to the spectators before his yellow vintage car set off to catch up with the rest of the pack.

Then it was time for the touring cars to join their counterparts on the road.

"Let's move it on. Keep them moving," the announcer said over the loudspeaker.

Slowly, the touring cars headed out on Santa Clara. Police officers opened the street to traffic again, and the crowd thinned out. Downtown San Jose returned to its modern self again.

For Greenberg, there was bliss for six hours and 200 miles. He was elated to cross the finish line early but was very tired as well. The single-lane roads took their toll.

"It was really steep going up and steep going down," he said. "It's called a challenge, but I don't know if it's supposed to be a challenge to the car or the person."

Except for brakes that needed to be adjusted, the Greenbergs managed to avoid mechanical problems. This year's Endurance Run proved to be a hit.

"I was really pleased with how everybody in the club performed," Allan Greenberg said. "Everybody did a super job. It was just a super event."