Jul
15
2009
Just starting to go back though my Hot Rod Power Tour Photos. One of the things I was on the look out for was just how far people had come to participate and an easy was to do that in the States is by checking out the licence plates. Here are just some of the states representing turned into desktop wallpaper.
Black and White
Colour
Jun
14
2009
Last night at out hotel (Super 8 Motel in Bristol) we were parked next to Jim from Pennsylvania, this Chrysler was the car we parked next to at the Quaker Stake and Lube in Madison before our epic adventure began so brought us full circle.
Our hotel is close to this huge cross, part of a Baptist Church.
So today was the final morning of the Hot Rod Power Tour 2009, all that remain was for us all to gather for the Long Hauler awards. A special plaque is presented to everyone who lasted the distance from Madison to Bristol. Cars filed in through the morning mist.
The awards were held in the other part of Bristol Speedway (not the drag strip), the NASCAR circuit. Here is is outside and in (click for larger versions)…
People poured in for over an hour.
There was a photo taken of everyone which will be in Octobers issue of Hot Rod. Thanks was given to all the sponsors and dates were announced for next years tour, starting a week later. Two crate engines and a 2010 Camaro were given away as prizes and that was everything wrapped up.
I’d just like to say thanks to everyone who has made this week such a special adventure. Everyone we have met has been welcoming, no one has sneered at our crappy rental car and we have been made to feel like part of a special group of people. Thanks to all the organisers, venues and sponsors for making it happen. Thanks to everyone who has followed this blog and given support. Thanks to our new friends.
Jun
13
2009
Another damp start from London, Kentucky this morning but as we got towards Tennessee the sun finally showed it’s face. So much so we finally got the mount for the camera in action to get some on the road shots. Sadly most of these have been ruined by what appears to be a hair on the sensor in the camera but we got a few…
We stopped off on route at a view point to see an awesome view of Tennessee, the countryside is so lush down here.
Then as the heat really turned up we got to our final destination, Bristol Speedway.
This is two hours worth of cars arriving and parked along side the strip in Bristol. There were two other car parks of cars besides this one. We heard yesterday that there had been a count up of cars on show back in Racine and there were over seven thousand.
Time to check out some drag racing. I’ve never been to a track outside of the UK and the facilities here were incredible. I hope one day Santa Pod will evolve to this level, I know they have invested a lot of money over the last few years. It was amazing to see some cars that had driven 1200 miles with us run 11s.
The coolest dog at the show rode around in a Hot Dog!
Clivey if you’re reading this one’s for you, burnt orange in a ’70!
Here are our friends Maureen and Jim, they gave us a present to take back to the UK, a Super Sport key ring that Jim’s son made on a water jet machine, fantastic. Thanks guys.
Some other shots from around the show, I can’t believe it almost over.
Jun
12
2009
We were woken up at 5.30 this morning by thunder and lighting in Dayton. About an hour later we heard thunder of a different kind as all the V8s were starting up in the multi-story car park ready to roll. The rain came and went on the journey and it was fairly clear when we arrived in Somerset, Kentucky. First thing we did was hit Kentucky Fried Chicken, had to be done. We arrived at the venue and went to validate our Long Hauler cards when the sky opened. We took refuge in the Pypes Exhaust stand where I picked up a pair of electric exhaust cutouts and some Y pipes for the Camaro.
A mad dash back to the car and we waited out the rain and caught up on some sleep.
Luckily the rain did blow over and it turned out to be a plesant evening. Once again a great turn out for the show.
More in the flickr set here.
Jun
11
2009
Lots of interstate driving today which is not the most interesting, more rain too, hopefully as we go further south it will clear up. It was hot and humid though as we completed the 250 mile drive to Dayton. We needed to go off and do some shopping so didn’t spend much time at the car show today. I was extremely pleased to see a very special car when we arrived, one the VW fanatics will appreciate, Project Death. How they drive this thing I’ve no idea but its uber cool.
I asked the owner of this van how long it took to mask the flames. Six weeks and $1000 of masking tape! He has the paitence of a saint.
A few more shots from the show…
There are some people we run into every day on the Tour, Jim and Maureen are always early to the show like us and some of the friendliest folks around. This is thier Camaro…
Jun
10
2009
We woke once again to grey skies in South Bend this morning. We hit the road early and arrived in good time for the lunch meet and shop Tour at Ididit. By this stage it was starting to warm up and we hadn’t seen any rain. It was cool to tour the shop and I bought a Grant steering wheel for my Camaro. Hot Dogs were provided for all.
We got to the Metro Park area just after one o’clock and by this time the sun was beating down. I’ve stuggled to capture the scale of the show here so I took a picture of the car park around 2pm…
This was the same car park about 2 hours later…
..and that wasn’t the only car park either! We were king and queen of the lawn chairs this afternoon, we found a great spot by the entrance to the park and watch a constant stream of cars come in for a couple of hours in the glorious sunshine.
Then we went back to our hotel in Warren to check in, only to find a local cruise night at the bowling alley right next door. This is the view from the window…
We went to check it out. Nearly all these cars have nothing to do with the Power Tour, just another couple of hundred Rod and Muscle Cars that have come out to play.
Let’s hope the sun is here to stay. See more from today in the flickr set.
Jun
9
2009
A thunderstorm last night in Racine meant it was pretty wet when we set off this morning. Even our hotel car park looked like a car show.
We decided to skip the drivers meeting this morning and head straight down to South Bend so we could spend more time in the show ground. There were some great cars on show. These two looked vaguely familiar…
Field after field of cars were on show.
Awesome 68 Charger…
Troy Trepanier joined the Power Tour today with his latest creation…
Here’s one film clone car we don’t see in the UK, the Griswold family wagon…
These guys are running an Ariel Atom in the Tour, complete with helmets…
This 67 Camaro RS was clean as they come with some great detail ideas. It was for sale for $130,000.
Corvette grills on 55 Chevys look so right.
Check out more in the Flickr set here.
Jun
8
2009
At the drivers meeting in Madison it look as if the weather was against us today as it drizzled with rain.
Things soon dried out as we hit the road and headed off into the country side, no interstates today so some great landscapes to fill the windows. We saw a few interesting cars at the side of the road that weren’t even part of the tour.
All along the route people had come to sit by the road and wave us on our journey it was great to see so much support. The first stop of the day was in Cambridge and the people of this small town had really gone to alot of trouble to make us welcome. Special breakfast meals were laid on and the whole town had come out to see what was going on. The locals even had a water box in the road and were cheering every car to burn out.
Even the gas tanker was tempted to burn out!
From Cambridge it was on to Union Grove Dragway to see the Peak Performace participants continue to use and abuse thier cars.
When we eventually arrived at the main venue in Racine I had a bit of a melt down. I have never seen so many Hot Rods and Muscle Cars in my life and didn’t know where to look or how to even start taking it all in. I can now see where the lawn chair thing comes in to play, pick a good spot and let the cars roll past you rather than trying to get round them all. There were litarlly miles of cars parked up along the lake front and in the old town of Racine. Amazing!
We rounded off an amazing day with a visit to the Bratfest. Mike and Carolyn had contacted us before we left the UK to invite us to a gathering at thier house. Thanks so much for the invite, great food and great company.
More photos in the flickr set here.
Jun
7
2009
So yesterday I forgot to mention our steed for the the Hot Rod Power Tour, a black 2009 Dodge Charger. Obviously we would prefer to be doing the Tour in an old car but the Dodge ties in nicely to my old Black ’67 Charger that I used to own. They may only share a name but it’s a name that conjours up the menace of the villains in Bullet, the power of Blade and some good old boys delivering moonshine.
Saturday here in Madison and the first thing we did was register at the Alliance Energy Centre. As we queue to enter I saw a car I recognised instantly in my rear view mirror, the 66 Charger know as 1st Wing. If you don’t know the story check it out over here. It was a car that had some people fooled for quite some time. As soon as we parked up I headed over to check it out and it looks every bit as good as I thought it would.
As the day progressed thousands of amazing cars turned up in Madison, I’ve never been to such a large gathering of Hot Rods and Muscle Cars in my life and didn’t know where to point the camera first. Everyone wants to talk cars and everyone has time to tell you about thier ride, it’s a fantastic experience. The guys at Erodz Customs had a 63 Bel Air and a bunch of Sharpies and were asking people to write messages in thier car.
There was a chance for people to prove that American cars can take corners in the Autocross, some cars were pushed to the limit.
Unfortunatley as the day went on it became more like a show in the UK as the sky turned dark and then the rain came. I felt sorry for the guys who were running slicks!
More photos in the flickr set here.
Jun
6
2009
So here we are in Madison, WI or Mad Town as it is nick named. The Hot Rod Power Tour doesn’t even start until tomorrow and already the streets have been brought to life with the rumble of V8s and the glare of candy paints. The guys at Hot Rod and Bang Shift put together a little cruise in for us early birds tonight at the Quaker Steak and Lube in Middleton.
A fine evening of weather brought out some awesome cars and people. First inspection of the car park drew us straight to Ring Brothers stand where they had two mind blowing Pro Touring cars on display, a 69 Camaro and a 67 Mustang Fastback. The attention to detail on these cars is second to none. We went to eat after that and shared a table with Bob and Sue who own a great Kermit green Chevy Nova. It was great to chat to them and realise that car guys are car guys all over the world. After eating we met up with Jim and Maureen who have a super clean 69 Camaro SS, they’re hear for the Long Haul. Jim seems to be driving though even though the licence plate reads “Her SS”.
Further wandering around he car park brought us to a nice looking puke green 71 Hemi Cuda convertible with what looked like a four speed. The owner asked me if I liked Hemis, who’s going to say no! He said this was the only Hemi car he had that wasn’t numbers matching, this car had a 572 with a 5 speed box. Back home this Cuda shares garage space with two other Hemi Cudas, two Hemi Challengers and a 69 Hemi Charger. He didn’t need to tell me his name, I said, pleased to meet you, you must be Mr Hemi.
It was great to check out the new Camaro in the flesh, very nicely proportioned and a great looking car. Another favorite was a 59 Chevy Brookwood, ratty as hell with a surf board on the roof, gnarly dude.
More photos in the flickr set here.
