With rare exception, your hot rod started out as a mode of daily transportation. I know, I know, some of you think they are ONLY there to look at and this realization may be a bit of a shocker for you. Quite frankly, those that think hot rods should only be looked at, rather than driven, are seriously mistaken. As Freiburger has told me on a few occasions, “Your opinion is wrong”. Every single modification any of us have done to our hot rods is the result of, or in search of, a particular emotion. Turning the key and firing up your favorite ride will give you a lot more emotions than sitting in a lawn chair and staring at it all day. Imagine how you’ll feel after smoking the tires down the street, enjoying a 50 mile cruise, or hanging a corner? The point is, driving your hot rod will make you feel even better than standing around staring at it.

At last count, I have visited 48 of the 50 United States by car, truck or RV. Admittedly, most all were visited during my childhood on family vacations or trips to races. In the last 15 years I’ve visited 44 or 45 on my own while traveling across the country for work, fun, or both. Am I bragging? A little bit. How many states have you hit? How many in a hot rod? I can honestly say that 35 or more have been seen behind the wheel of mine, or someone else’s, hot rod. How is this possible, you ask? Events like Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour and Drag Week have been responsible for a lot of them, but I’m also a gluten for a good road trip. Seeing what really makes this country tick, is as easy as hitting the road and seeing where it takes you. Trust me, there is no shortage of great places to eat, drink, and visit here in the good old US of A. In fact, I find it mildly annoying that people often think they have to leave the lower 48 to enjoy a vacation and find something interesting to look at or do. Seriously? Clearly you haven’t visited Milwaukee, driven through Kentucky in the fall, or enjoyed the sun on your left arm while cruising out west.

On country singer Jason Aldean’s new album you’ll find a song that refers to the great states of the Midwest as the flyover states because most people never see anything more than the view from a Southwest Airlines flight. And we all know that flying is clearly the most efficient way to move across the country. Hell, we spend a lot of time in the air ourselves. But if you get the chance to enjoy the drive, don’t pass it up. Throw your girl, or a buddy, in the passenger seat and see where the road takes you. I know that gas is expensive but, even at $4 a gallon, it’s cheaper to spend 4 days on the road than it is to fly somewhere for a 4 day vacation. And imagine the reaction you’ll get when you tell the gang at work that you are taking a few days off for a road trip, and how many will want to here your stories after you return. So get off your ass, dust off the car, and fire it up. Where you go only requires one decision at the end of the driveway. Left or right.