Contributed by Tara Bush
Hit the back roads at 7:30am, stop for lunch where the locals eat, cruise into a massive venue for racing & car show time, dinner at a local spot, followed by a hotel parking lot party, then hit the sack anxious for another day to do it all over again….along with several thousand other car fanatics. That is the Hot Rod Power Tour in a nutshell.
Since June 1995, there have been 29 Power Tours, driving through 37 states and stopped in 123 cities. That’s amazing success for an idea that started with the Hot Power Fest at Norwalk Raceway Park in Ohio. They thought it would be fun to embark on a 10-day, 9 state, 2800-mile journey from Los Angeles to Norwalk.
I became a member of the “long-haul gang” on my first Tour in 2011 with my 1967 Acadian Canso. This title is for those who have driven the entire Tour. 2023 was my tenth Tour. The multi or single day pass is an option. Pre-Covid the Tour was billed as “7 states in 7 days”, now under the recent control of Motor Trend it has been reduce to 5. More manageable for some, not long enough for others.
Steve has always been my driving partner; he drives and I navigate (plus find local food & gas stops). Due to work, Steve couldn’t make the trip so Shelly took his place at the wheel. We led with our friends; Russ Muller in his Mustang (2nd trip for him) and newbies Trish & Curt in her Charger. Plus, we picked up some new friends along with way. Curt kept us in full laughing mode along with Russ’s one-liners and Shelly’s fast comebacks….Trish and I were enjoying it all.
Our stops included the Atlanta Motor Speedway, SC State Fairgrounds in Columbia, vintage Rockingham Speedway, Charlotte’s Zmax Dragway, and Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.
Summit was a preferred stop for many heading to the Atlanta Speedway. I picked up a new starter, just in case, and the rest of our gang got shirts and signs as mementos. The drive to the Fairgrounds was part back roads, part highway. The drive to Rockingham was beautiful countryside through very small towns. The racetrack was out in the country and filled with dust. It was the only time I had to clean the car afterwards. The trip to Charlotte
was fantastic until we got close to the track and traffic grinded to a halt. I am great at finding alternate routes and Shelly obediently followed my directions. The heat was oppressive at the track so we opted for an early dinner, followed by the party in the parking lot. The burnouts could be heard and sometimes seen throughout the cluster of hotels. The route to Bristol was hands down the best part of the trip. Over the mountains and through the towns of extremely excited people. They welcomed us from anywhere there was a strip of grass and trees lining the main road. Shelly wore out my horn and my waving arm started to go numb. Bristol’s track was hot and large and way too much walking. After getting our long haulers sign, we headed out early to make our way to Newport, Tennessee.
Shelly and I joined up with Lori and her crew for the Moonshine Rod Run. Over 500 pre-1972 classics were scattered under a canopy of trees around the town’s park. It was a relaxing day before the long road back to Orlando.
We stayed one step ahead of the heat and rain (couldn’t ask for better weather), the company kept was a hoot, the car made it back home in one piece, and I am ready to go again.
For more photos, click HERE. Daily blogs for previous years HERE.
