Hot Rod Power Tour - Origins & History

[70chevyC-10]

Since 2011 & 2012 show TBD for the Long Hauler awards, I thought that I would add this;

The 2011 Long Haulers award on Saturday morning were at the GM Proving Grounds in Milford. My personal favorite of our ten years. Even though we had a small time window to get in. There was the guy in the new Mustang that decided to try out the black lake skid pad & was immediately escorted off of the property by their security. The Q&A session about the facility revealed some really neat facts about the place. And of course the route that they built for us to run on our way off of the property that included quite a few of the different test track areas linked together by trucks that blocked roads to keep everyone on course. That was fantastic. Still one of our favorite topics when we pitch the event to others.

The 2012 Long Haulers award was at the same QuickTrip Park as the Friday venue the day before. Friday night there was a huge Country Concert there so on Saturday morning there was a hell of a lot more Beer cans in the parking area than the day before though.

Several of us hung out on Friday evening and watched the people tailgating for the concert Mike - - party central.

[squirrel]

I don't have a web page on the 96 trip, which I only drove the beginning (home in AZ to LA to LV back to home). but I have a page on the 97 trip....

http://selectric.org/powertour97/index.html

kind of like reading ancient history, now

[moparjim71]

Some nice vintage tin on those early tours! I wonder what the average age of the cars is for each year, it’s definitely going down.

[squirrel]

now that they're making intersesting cars again. Or we're all getting old and soft!

[BluLightning]

now that they're making intersesting cars again. Or we're all getting old and soft!

I may be getting old but I'm building a buggy sprung Model A with a flatty in it.

[PT Sportwagon]

I hate to say but after 2000 HRPT went to hell. only going in circles on the east coast. What ever happened to the true flavor of the power tour, cross country. Sea to shining sea.

[Gwood74]

I recall my senior year of high school reading the route for 1997 and planning on running from the KS/CO border to the KS/MO border. My old man told me the old girl would never make it,being a good kid I listened and missed out. Then 1998 rolled around, college, lots of alcohol and young ladies I missed seeing routes, 2002 got a real job and no time off. By 2006 I married with one kid with no money to go, wife hated the car. Finally made it in 2012 for two stops, 2013 four stops, had to sit out 2014 & 2015, 2016 I finally got a long haul under my belt and 2017 was a bust when the cracked piston skirt created a knock the day before the start but I still made the first day in my daily driver. Present day I'm preparing for another long haul, the wife still hates the car/won't come with me and my old man who is now retired refuses to come along because he secretly still doesn't trust my car. Seven states later and a ton of new friends I wouldn't change a thing but added on four more states to my travels.

[convss]

Definitely nice to relive the history of Power Tour! Brings back lots of memories! Did our first parts of HRPT in 1997, and because of work, etc. were not able to do a long haul till 2009, but many more since then. Going a different route this year, though. Passing on Power Tour to tour Route 66 this year. Will miss seeing you all, but will be back, just like a bad penny!

[squirrel]

I"m planning to go on a rt 66 tour this year, as well. Not quite the power tour, though!

https://24hoursoflemons.com/lemons-rally/route-sucky-suck-2018/

and this is what we plan to take (my brother's car, been sitting for decades)

[Monster]

Thanks to one of our outstanding members Jim (squirrel), who dug around in his HRM collection and found the first published notice of the details for the 1995 Tour, enabling me to wrap up my historical research and complete the story. If you would like to read the article, go back to the original post that I've updated.

[KingKenny]

i'm disabled now and can't go any more so every year i follow the daily coverage on mothers.com.... great coverage and history back to '96

http://powertour.mothers.com/

check it out

[Captain]

Thank You for pulling this up, to refresh past participants memories, and educate us new first timers.
( I did participate in Americruise twice)
Best was we brought my '52 farm stakebed to Madison in '99, loaded with Curbside Picked up Furniture, and in Yooper Style, spread it out, patio umbrellas, tables, coaches, LazyBoys, and Tailgated on the Main Drag inside show grounds watching everyone roll in!!

[Monster]

Got the last couple years of history updated. For everyone who is lucky enough to participate in the Power Tour this year, have a great time and enjoy the cars and friends ... don't take anything for granted.

[Phil]

You left out the most important Power Tour - my first 1999 East Danvers MA to Panama City Beach FL

[cstmwgn]

You left out the most important Power Tour - my first 1999 East Danvers MA to Panama City Beach FL

Is this Fiero Phil?