What is the Power Tour?

(This blogger program isn't doing what I set up......that's why things are weird sizes and colors.)   
 By the way, you can click on any photo to enlarge it.

Hot Rod Magazine organizes a route that goes to 7 cities in 7 days for any and all sorts of cars - including sports, souped up "family cars," and "rat rods."  This route takes small, local roads which gives us a chance to really see the country.  The rally in 2018 was the 24th year this event has been held. 

There were 6,000 to 8,000 cars this year!!!!!

Every late afternoon, we go to a venue (such as a race track or fairgrounds) to get our badges punched in order to get our Long Haul plaques at the end.   The many vendors set up booths where they sell all sorts of things.

Each evening, all the motels for miles around are full of Power Tour cars.  It's such fun to wander around to see the cars and chat with people.... people from California, to Texas, to Maine, to Virginia.

Last year the tour ended in Bowling Green so that's where it started this year.

Power Tour 2018
Bowling Green, KY

Chattanooga, TN

Birmingham, AL

Atlanta, GA

Darlington, SC

Raleigh, NC

Charlotte, NC

 Planning Time 
Our trusty-dusty leader, Galen Shank, calls a planning meeting.

A friend hates the "twin-sies" look so we sent her this photo!

One of our evening meals.  Dining together was a great time to share the day and to get to know each other.

L.F. Miller, Susie Shank, Shirley Shank, Wilmer Shank, John Sauder, Larry Martin, Galan Shank, Gary Suter, MaryMay Angelil, Franklin Miller, L.F.'s son-in-law.

This website isn't letting me arrange the pictures the way I want so I'll just show you some of the cars.  Some of the them might look like family cars, but when they start up - VAROOOMMM -  you know there has been some souping up under the hood.

 

 

Some of these old ones are referred to as rat rods.

Many are like new from the factory.

    

The interior of this one was simply superb.

I have nothing brilliant to say about these except that they're all fun.

 A Lincoln Continentals is always impressive, especially when it's perfect like this one.

This is one of the first rat rods we saw.

This car was right in front of one of our group.  Going down a steep incline, it must have slipped on the wet road and it flipped over and down the bank.  The man's grandson was in a car ahead and somehow came back to find the man.  This is the grandson crawling in and dragging his grandfather out.

It appeared that the man had hit his head but they were on their way to the hospital when we left.   We heard later it took a while to get 911 help because there were no cell towers on that little mountain.  As far as we know, things ended OK.  Except his pride and joy, a 1957 Chevrolet that was impeccably restored was ruined.

 Several times throughout the week, we would stop and just watch cars go by for a while.  It takes a long time for 6,000 - 8,000 vehicles to pass through an area - and it is NOISY!  We would watch for a while, then rejoin the caravan.

Watching the World Go By
Gary Suter, Galen Shank, Orden Harman, Kurt Glover, Ron Williams, and Franklin Miller.

Gary, Galen, Orden, MaryMay, Susie Shank, Reba Harman.

Throughout the week, Hot Rod magazine has photographers along the way.  They take a picture of each car and other candid shots that go into their magazine.  You go to their "booth" to see your photo and order or not.  Gary's photo was dark so we went the next day to see if it could be improved.  We were invited into an "RV" that was converted into a photo lab.

The wife did the computer work to prepare each photo for printing.

The owner standing by the printer.  He redid Gary's without hesitation.

A photo coming out (not Gary's).

The employee mounted and trimmed the poster.

Ta Da!  A photo of Gary's poster (looks better in person).

The finished product is a nice souvenir for remembering a fun, fun week. 

It is amusing that grown-ups will stand in line in the hot sun to get a metal plaque.  Here are thousands of people waiting patiently.

L.F. Miller and I grew up in Singers Glen and our mothers were great friends. 
L.F.'s son, Franklin, lived there as a youngster.

Hot Rod magazine publishes the route for next year fairly soon.  It ended in Charlotte, NC this year so it will start in Charlotte next year.  Galen probably has all the motels booked already!

The part of the Power Tour I like best is being with friends for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as sharing all sorts of adventures along the way.