It’s the story of Santa Claus and the school teacher and a trip nearly all the way to the North Pole. And it’s the story of Fayette County residents, Santa look-alike Ray Besch and Fayette County school teacher Teri Besch, who on June 1 began a 10,000 mile trip that will take them to the Arctic Circle and back in their fully restored 1931 Model A Deluxe Coupe.

Ray said the 1931 Model A Deluxe Coupe was re-built and restored to factory standards. Unlike some, the car was built to drive, not to show, Ray said smiling.

Prior to the completion of their extensive work, the car had last been driven in 1985. It was bought by a friend in 1996 who purchased it from the original owner in Sacramento and sold it to Teri and Ray in 2000. And then came the restoration of the iconic vehicle, something that was all the more special since Ray’s father once owned a Model A.

And the result of the re-build and restoration was a fresh out-of-the-showroom 1931 Model A Deluxe Coupe in Washington Blue with of all the options available in 1931. A sampling of Ray and Teri’s efforts include a luggage trunk behind the rumble seat area, a roll-down rear window, a rear view mirror with an inset clock, a small dashboard fan from Montgomery Ward that was also available for the Model A in 1931 and a host of other additions that make this unique vehicle fully outfitted and ready to hit the road in style. And for the trip they will take a host of spare parts since the auto parts stores they will pass along the way don’t usually stock what they might need if a breakdown were to occur.

“We’re prepared for almost anything,” said the retiree turned part-time Santa Claus, with a chuckle and an twinkle in his eyes. Ray even has an almost-real driver’s license to prove that he is the Jolly Old Elf.

Teri and Ray first drove the Model A in 2004. And since that time they have driven it to Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. But that was then and this is now. And it’s the “now” that will bring a very unique type of trip, one that is expected to take the couple to the Arctic Circle and back. Your read it right. The Arctic Circle.

The couple left Fayette County on June 1, the day Teri completed her teaching duties at one of Fayette County’s schools. They will travel approximately 5,000 miles to reach their destination in what they expect to be 15 days. Ray and Teri will be accompanied by a couple from Marietta who will be driving their 1930 Model A.

The trip up to the Arctic Circle will first take Ray and Teri from Fayette County to Tennessee, then through Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana. Once in Canada, they will pass through Calgary, Alberta then on to British Columbia, the Yukon and into Alaska where they will visit Tok and Fairbanks on the way to the Arctic Circle, just another 120 miles up the road.

Ray said they will primarily drive on secondary roads and, “On the interstates if we have to. We don’t want to get in people’s way on the expressways.”

Even on expressways, other drivers shouldn’t be bothered. The Model A’s cruising speed is about 50 miles per hour, Ray said, not to mention the fact that the 1931 coupe gets 19.4 miles per gallon on the open road, significantly upstaging some of its more modern descendants.

Of course, there is yet another reason to take the secondary roads.

“There is more to see and you can actually see it.” Teri explained, adding that the little coupe provides a very comfortable ride.

The couple said the return trip could take a somewhat different route, depending on what they want to do along the way.

The continental trek could cost up to $14,000 in all. Ray said “gas money” for the trip is being sponsored by Bentley’s Antique Auto Service in Maysville.

But why travel so many miles, why all the way to what is essentially near the top of the world?

“According to our friends, we’re nuts,” Ray said, laughing. “We wanted to see Alaska. Once we’ve completed the trip we will have seen virtually all the states.”

So, they’re taking an extended trip filled with breathtaking scenery in an immaculately restored classic vehicle that’s taking you to a place you’ve always wanted to visit? Far from nuts, it sounds like Teri and Ray Besch may be on to something the rest of us could appreciate.

And after all, who needs reindeer when you’ve got a Model A?