Gary and I went on the Power Tour for a week in June. This is put on by Hot Rod magazine and this was the 23rd year it has run. This was quite an event and words can hardly do it justice, but here's an overview. “Seven Cities in Seven Days” is the theme.
Now…..before I tell you more I want you to know that there were 6,000 to 8,000 cars participating in this! It can be any car, not just sports cars. Gary drove his 2017 long-beach-red Corvette and we traveled quite comfortably in it. Getting in and out gave our muscles a good work-out.
A course is laid out and it stays off the interstates so we see the local scenery. People
Naturally, the motels were filled with Power Tour people so it was like a mini-car show every evening. We walked around, talked to people, and just hung out.
There were 8 of us from the Harrisonburg area. We ate breakfast together at the motel, had fast food together for lunch, and went out for dinner. That lent itself to getting to know each other and we have made some new fun-loving friends including Orden and Reba Harman, Galen and Suzie Shank, Gary and Mary. Not pictured are Wilmer and Shirley Shank. A Singers Glen guy and his wife, L.F. and Debbie Miller, joined us for a couple of days.
 |
| This is at the National Corvette Museum and assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The tour of the plant assembly portion is mind-boggling to say the least. I didn't realize that there is no other place in the world where they make Corvettes. |
The Corvette Museum is where, in 2014, a sinkhole opened up in the middle of the room and 8 Corvettes feel into the bottom of the DEEP hole. Fortunately, no people were hurt as it was about 5:30 a.m. but the security cameras caught it all. 7 of the cars were restored but this one they left for all to see.
In Kansas City, Missouri we toured the Arabia Steamboat Museum and it was a highlight of our trip. The
Missouri is the longest river in the US and has claimed nearly 400 other
steamboats over its 2,500 mile course. In 1856, the Arabia was carrying
over 200 tons of cargo intended for general stores in 16 mid-western frontier
towns. The steamer was still fully loaded when it hit a tree snag and
sank just 6 miles west of Kansas City.
Due to erosion, the Missouri River changed course over time, and the Arabia was buried underground for over a century – along with all of its precious cargo. Lying 45-feet deep beneath a Kansas cornfield, the Arabia’s payload was protected from light and oxygen and was thus remarkably well preserved.
From fine China to carpentry tools to children’s toys to the
world’s oldest pickles—the Arabia’s artifacts are astounding. Plus, the family who took on the project in 1988 has
cleaned and displayed these items impeccably well.
We have figured out that the Harrisonburg area wouldn't be large enough for the Power Tour because there wouldn't be enough motels and even the fairgrounds wouldn't furnish enough parking for the 6,000 - 8,000 cars, vendors, and other workers.
Gary and I completed all 7 cities in 7 days so we won our “Long Haulers” metal plaque!
OUR ROUTE: We started in Kansas City, MO; then Newton, IA; Davenport, IA; Champaign, IL; Madison, IL; Indianapolis, IN;
and ended up in Bowling Green, KY.
 |
| This shows you some of the boxes that were filled with plaques. |
Another one of our adventures happened the last day of the tour. We got on the elevator to go down to breakfast and the ELEVATOR GOT STUCK!!! We were in there about 45 minutes and, even when they did open the door, it was between floors so we had to crawl out. It was a dramatic ending to a Power Week of fun!
 |
| My hero, Gary Lee Suter, with his jazzy shirt and hat. We covered 3,153 miles in that fast-paced week!  |
