2022 Hot Rod Power Tour

(Click on any photo for an enlargement)

We once again went on our "summer camp on the road" vacation.  Every year the Power Tour is sponsored by Hot Rod Magazine.  It started in 1995 so this makes Year 28 for this fun event.  It's the 5th time that Gary has gone and 4 years for me. 

We had 10+ cars from the Shenandoah Valley in past years but this year there were only 2 cars - ours and that of Wilmer and Shirley Shank. of us. One could not ask for better travel companions than Wilmer and Shirley. They set up all the hotels, mapped out our side tours, led the way, and were simply fun to be with!

Launched in 1995 by the HOT ROD magazine staff as a way to personally connect with readers, the HOT ROD Power Tour is widely considered to be the finest high-end hot rod–based automotive tour in the world, bringing together more than 4,000 vehicles in 2022.

 

 

Memphis to Nashville to Birmingham to Pensacola, to Atlanta

Day 0   Sunday, June 11, 2022    750 miles  Harrisonburg, VA to Memphis, TN   It was a long day but we did just fine.

Day 1   Monday, June 12   Memphis International Raceway was our venue.  We registered after standing in long, long, long lines.

We then toured Graceland, the famous home of Elvis Presley. 

Graceland was not as majestic as I had expected.  However, Elvis was only 42 when he died so he might have had more palatial homes in his future, had he lived longer.

His living room featured a piano in the adjoining room at the far end and a then-modern TV set.

 

 

The pool room ceiling and walls are covered with a gathered print bright fabric.

While in Memphis, we had lunch at B.B. King's Blues Club on the famous Beale Street. 

Day 2   Tuesday, June 13   About 200 miles   Memphis to Nashville

As always, most of the Power Tour follows smaller roads so we get to see small town America.  This was a nice ride. 

I started noticing the beautiful mimosa trees.  It's a bit too cold in the Shenandoah Valley for mimosas to thrive.  We saw them lining the highways for miles and miles.  Too bad the photos can't portray the beauty of these peachy colored blooms.

p.s.  I need to correct myself.  I just saw a whole row of mimosa trees along Rt. 33.   So, they do grow in the Shenandoah Valley!  I understand they're VERY messy to have in your lawn.

 
Day 3  Wednesday, June 14, 2022   200 miles   Nashville to Birmingham

 

We left a bit earlier than usual (8:30) because Wilmer remembered that there were shade trees along the roads inside the Hoover Met Complex.  We set up our chairs in the shade to watch the never-ending parade.  

 

We parked and went under the stadium where we had the most delicious and hottest (temperature-wise) Chick-fil-A sandwich I've ever had.  Somewhere we took a photo of us at our picnic table but it might have melted.

Yes, you're seeing correctly.  Our Corvette thermometer showed 100 degrees

 

 

Gary and I went inside to get our lanyards punched.

 

We came back to our chairs and watched some more.  We decided to go and came back to our car to see this:

Yes, that says 107 degrees!!!  And here we were walking around on asphalt!  Gary says that's the closest he ever wants to be to hell!!!

We went to our hotel to discover that our room was 63 degrees!  I froze but shook under the heavy duvet for a nap.  It took a while to reset that irksome thermostat and it finally got warmer.   (Keep this in mind - 107 to 63 within an hour.... more later on that.)

Day 4  Thursday, June 15   about 255 miles  Birmingham to Pensacola

We parked next to a guy who has a Pontiac G8 like Wilmer has.  They were having a good time visiting, so Gary and I went into the Venue to get our lanyards punched.

 

Gary with a Drag Race Funny Car

 

Gary with a Dragster

 Nice Wrap Job!

Day 5  Friday, June 17    about 800+ miles    Pensacola to Harrisonburg

Shirley started with a cold and got worse and worse.  We decided together to skip Atlanta so hit the road for another long haul.  We got in at dusk on Friday evening.

Just keep scrolling below for 3 more posts for 2022

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Or, you can click on each link below:
2022 Hot Rods Galore
2022 What's a Venue? And Other Tidbits 
2022 Our Favorite - Chop Top 54 Plymouth

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Posts from Previous Years

It Started at DQ   2021

What is the Power Tour?  2018

Power Tour in 2017 Corvette 

2022 Hot Rods Galore

 

 

We couldn't begin to share all the neat cars we saw - and heard!

 

Even a Hummer!

 

 

 

 

Wilmer and Shirley drove their Pontiac GT 2017

Their car was fun in that it looks like your average family car, however, when he puts the petal to the metal, it is quite a ROAR!

 

 

Gary and MaryMay drove Gary's Corvette 2017

Gary's car is long beach red.

2022 What's a Venue? And Other Tidbits

Here are a few tidbits that I learned on the Power Tour.  (You will know this is written by a female because guys usually know these things!)

VENUE

"Monday, June 12, 2022    Memphis International Raceway was our starting venue for the Hot Rod Power Tour."  I hate to admit my stupidity, but I had to look up "venue".  Do you know what it is? 

"A venue is a location where something happens."  This explanation is intriguing but I think this is even more clear:

All venues are places, but not all places are venues. 

Your house, for example, is a place. The stadium in your city is a venue. Your house could be a venue, however, if you were to host some kind of gathering there.

It makes life interesting to learn new words, doesn't it?

RAT RODS

 A rat rod is a custom car with a deliberately worn-down, unfinished appearance, typically lacking paint, showing rust, and made from cheap or cast-off parts.  Basically a hodge-podge of car parts that may not even use custom items from the same era.

 Reminder, click on a pic to enlarge it.

The Power Tour - This is the 28th year it's been held.

How many cars go on the Hot Rod Power Tour? 

In previous years, there were 6,000 to 8,000 cars registered.  We think the 4,000 this year is a pretty good turnout, considering that gas is almost $5.00 per gallon and we're still gearing down from the Pandemic.

There are also many participants who run the route without registering so they can see all these unique, souped-up, improved cars and trucks. 

 
Have you ever wondered what it is like to go on a cross-country road trip with 4,000 of your friends?

The Motor Trend Hot Rod Power Tour is just that – a five-day, five-city mobilized car show where 4,000+ participants bring anything from classic hot-rods to newer builds to showcase.  Plus, there are up to 100,000 spectators.  

 

Last year, a friend had a relative who lived on the route.  He said cars started passing his home before 8:00 a.m. and continued the entire day till after 5:00!   It took a full day for 6,000 cars to pass by.

Social Event Every Evening

All the motels for miles around are full of Power Tour cars that come from all over the place.  We saw cars from Wisconsin, California, Texas, Washington state, and Vermont.  In the evenings, you walk around and chat with friendly people about their prized cars. The tone is so positive and upbeat."

The Route of the Tour

Carefully chosen routes pretty much avoid the interstate highways and take us through beautiful scenic farms and small towns.  

They inform the various towns so there are often people out in their lawn chairs, under shade trees, with all ages of people waving us on.   Local cops sometimes direct traffic to keep things moving.  When we stop for gas, the stations are crammed with hot rods gunning their motors.  Finding restrooms can be a challenge!

 

The most fun part of the Power Tour for us is throwing out Hot Wheel cars to children along the way.

Some people throw out ball caps or Mardi Gras beads.

 

A friend found a dollar store going out of business so Gary had her get all they had.  We started out 3 years ago with 150 cars.  In 2018, the tour was in early June so kids weren't out of school yet.  In 2021, it was in August so kids were already back in school.

 

This year, we finally saw some kids!  I was busy throwing cars so didn't get many pics.

2022 Our Favorite - Chop Top 54 Plymouth

 

 

 

 

The first few days of the Power Tour Gary and I saw this unusual looking Plymouth.

 

 
We saw it several times and were so very curious.  We never could see who was inside!

When we came home, Gary posted this on his Facebook page.

"Can anyone tell us about this Plymouth, who built it and where is it from?  It was our favorite Show-car of the week in 2022."

 Shortly thereafter, the owner posted a YouTube video about it! 

It's about 9 minutes long and if you like cars, you will find this enjoyable. Click this link: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9HYimJBmOo

 At the bottom of the screen, click to turn on the subtitles:

"Homebuilt Kustom Chop Top 54 Plymouth:
How do you drive that thing?"

 

The owner is Dave Fleetwood and he's from southern Indiana.  He's owned the car for over 20 years.

   

At the end of the video, you get a free ride and an
inside-out view!

Gary and I deem this 1954 Plymouth Savoy

hands-down the BEST vehicle in the 2022 Hot Rod Power Tour!!!  

 

Good job, Dave Fleetwood and thanks for the video!  

p.s.  Within a day of posting, FB showed 68 likes and 23 comments on the Facebook group - Hot Rod Power Tour R.O.T.R. 2022