{"id":772271,"date":"2019-06-25T03:56:34","date_gmt":"2019-06-25T10:56:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bangshift.com\/?p=772271"},"modified":"2019-06-25T03:56:34","modified_gmt":"2019-06-25T10:56:34","slug":"2019-hot-rod-power-tour-coverage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bangshift.com\/bangshiftapex\/2019-hot-rod-power-tour-coverage\/","title":{"rendered":"2019 Hot Rod Power Tour Coverage: A BangShifter’s Tale Of Triumph In The Face Of Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Words and photos by Mike Brooks) –\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>2019 marked the 25th anniversary of the Hot Rod Power Tour. Last year I was finally able to check that off my bucket list with my C10 pickup. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I vowed to be back in 2019. My truck had different plans. At the end of the summer last year, I scorched a few rod bearings in the Cadillac 500 that resided in the C10.<\/p>\n

By Thanksgiving, I was the owner of a new 514\u201d Caddy mill that would take its place. Once the snow melted in my neck of the woods, I dove in and spent the last few months prepping the truck for Power Tour. After several challenges, obstacles, headaches, and heartaches, I finally had the truck ready to go the day before I was to head to Concord, NC for the kickoff of the event. I took the truck for a 40 mile test drive and it was flawless! That is, until I pulled back in my driveway at 8:00 pm. Whatever is supposed to hold the starter gear back failed, and when I pulled in my uphill driveway the gear fell backwards into the flexplate ring gear and destroyed a good chunk of it. Drats!! By 1:00am, I had the trans out along with the damaged flexplate. Upon installing the flexplate from my old engine, we discovered that flexplate had a small crack developing. Double Drats! I planned on leaving in just a few hours. I was out of parts and out of time.<\/p>\n

\u00a0So, I did the next best thing. I thumbed a ride to Charlotte, NC with a friend and met up with Brian Ackley and his 1964 Country Sedan station wagon (aka \u201cBig Sexy\u201d) at the first stop in Concord at Zmax Dragway. From there, we longhauled to Martinsville, to Bristol TN, to Sparta KY, Indy, Fort Wayne, and finally wrapping up the tour in Norwalk OH. Of course, I had my camera in tow and took shots all along the journey. From the venues, to the highways, the small towns, and the hotel parking lots, I tried to catch it all. I had an amazing time with friends I\u2019ve known for years as well as friends I made on the tour last year. I can\u2019t wait to do it again next year. If you\u2019ve never been, you are missing out! Build, buy, or borrow a car and join us next year!<\/div>\n
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