Hot Rod Power Tour 2019

Discussion in 'The Bench' started by gs66, Jun 1, 2019.

  1. gs66

    gs66 Silver Level contributor

    Any one going on the Power Tour this year? We can only go three days but will be looking for Buicks in Indy and Ft. Wayne. If you go share pictures of Buicks spotted on Tour. If you’re on the fence go, highly recommended!
     
    Donuts & Peelouts and 1972Mach1 like this.
  2. gstewart

    gstewart Well-Known Member

    Two friends of mine are joining the power tour.
     
    gs66 likes this.
  3. sriley531

    sriley531 Excommunicado

    Myself and a friend chatted about doing the Kentucky to Indy (and maybe to northern Ohio) legs, but life got in the way... :(
     
    Ken Warner likes this.
  4. gs66

    gs66 Silver Level contributor

    We have done the Tour 13 times with 9 of those Long Hauls. The people you meet and the cars you see (actually being driven) is awesome. If you get the chance to ever do at least part of it you will have a great time. It’s a great way to see Americana at its finest driving backroads through the small towns.
     
    Last edited: Jun 16, 2019
  5. steve covington

    steve covington Well-Known Member

    Hot Rod Power Tour 2018 came through a little town near my home last year. My nephew and I went to watch it come through. The town set up the traffic signals in local control by the police, diverted other traffic so as not to interfere with the flow, as there was ONE major turn in the route requiring a left turn. They set up a Hook and Ladder Firetruck with the US flag, banners, etc at the intersection before the left. It was one of the largest, No, make that it was THE LARGEST procession of cars I had ever seen. It took about two hours and change for them to pass, and we were just one town past the Darlington SC stop.
    I would love to do at least one leg, and would just love to do a LONG HAUL, but can't seem to get anyone in the family to go with me, and I sure wouldn't want to do it by myself, even though you are DEFINITELY not alone.
     
    Smokey15 and Donuts & Peelouts like this.
  6. telriv

    telriv Founders Club Member

    I did the East Coast run, the 1st. one, in 1990 with my '64 Riv. WHAT A BLAST!!!! Most fun thing I did EVER. I had my youngest son with me at the time. Today he's 35. I think/feel that's what got him started on the path of life he has chosen. The GREATEST THING WAS WHEN GRAY BASKERVILLE, THE GRAND FATHER OF HOT ROD MAGAZINE, ASKED ME FOR A RIDE IN MY RIV. That was an experience I'll NEVER FORGET.


    Tom T.
     
  7. redsixty9

    redsixty9 Platinum Level Contributor

    Hitting the Power Tour in our 67 Special. We are headed from the Chicagoland to Sparta Ky. Then Indy,Fort Wayne And Norwalk Oh. We are taking the long way there. Chicago to Lake of the Ozarks to check out the new pontoon boat. It should be fun twin 300hp supercharged Evenrudes on a 25ft tri-toon should get us around pretty good.Then heading to Kentucky speedway on Monday. Should be a fun filled trip if all goes well. Hope to see some other Buicks on the tour.
     
  8. 455monte

    455monte Well-Known Member

    Had plans to go to kickoff in charlotte tomorrow in my 67 but seems pointless with all this rain we are now supposed to get tomorrow
     
  9. redsixty9

    redsixty9 Platinum Level Contributor

    Yes, that lake. The reason they only film establishing shots in Missouri for shows is because it's expensive to film there. They have no film infrastructure there since about 2010 when their film tax incentives were not passed. Georgia has a great tax incentive for film companies to shoot in their state. That's why they shoot most of "Ozarks"s in Georgia. They film it in Illinois too. Anyway the pontoon boat hits 70 mph and it's very thirsty but fun. Not too sure it's very safe but it handles surprisingly well.
     
  10. redsixty9

    redsixty9 Platinum Level Contributor

    Too bad. That sucks! Saw quite a few Buick's on the power tour. I think I was the only 67 but not sure. I take that back I did see a silver 67 sportwagon with gs scoops cruising but didn't know if was on the tour. I'll guarantee I was the only 67' Special. We put 2,450 miles on the old girl with no drive train problems. The 340-4 ran smooth and definitely put her through the paces. I actually got great mileage on the flat roads 20.2 mpg and about 15 mpg or less on the hilly terrain in Kentucky. Some of the back roads were wild. The hills and switch backs on roads that were very narrow with no speed limits or center lines. Steep hills and hairy blind turns I wonder how many cars got damaged. I saw a few but I'm telling you it was fun! You really had to concentrate on the road and I'm glad I took the 67 I knew her limits. I'm sure I would have pushed a lot harder in my 69 with the ridetech suspension and great brakes. Then again on roads you've never drove before and sometimes the turns were so sharp 15mph was risky. Kinda glad the 69 stayed home. My wife was mortified the whole ride as my co-pilot through the hills and driving the Special saved me from a tongue lashing,bruises and the silent treatment for hundreds of miles. I'll definitely go again but attack it a little different. It's grueling and I only did 4 stops. I was smart and used Airbnb for my stays. Each stop provided me with a safe place secure place to park our car. That made it easy to sleep at night. There were a number of cars stolen. Five that I knew of. Get there early and leave the event early seemed to work the best for us. The later in the day the longer the line is to get in. For sure! Plan your stops. Get to bed early so you can get a early start. Get back to your room early so you can enjoy a nice dinner and relax. It's drive,drive,drive and drive some more. The planned route sometimes takes you way out of the way it took us 5+hrs to go from Indy to Fort Wayne Indiana. We ended up going into Ohio on their route. We're still scratching our heads why? You use a lot of gas too! This is not a cheap thing to do so leave the cheapskates at home! There are a lot of great car people on the tour and everybody seemed to have a great time and the comradery of strangers is just awesome. I'd recommend this everyone on this site to check it out at least for a stop or two. A full seven days might be a bit much for some but you never know. We had a great time on our adventure and saw a lot of very cool rides. How Fun! I always wanted to do it and it only took 25 years. Yikes!!!!:rolleyes:
     
    Smokey15 and gs66 like this.
  11. gs66

    gs66 Silver Level contributor

    Well stated. It is a lot of fun but also grueling by the end. This year was the 13th Tour for us with 9 of them Long Hauls. You meet some great car people and the variety of cars and trucks is something else. I highly recommend it. I saw a white 67 at Indy, was that yours?
     
    Smokey15 and Donuts & Peelouts like this.
  12. redsixty9

    redsixty9 Platinum Level Contributor

    Yes, that was us. I was the guy drooling at the white 65' gransport. This guy Gene turned me on to your car. It's a beauty. I like the way the modern Cragars look on your car. You have a really nice car my friend. Ours is something I bought that was a good deal. It was pretty ballsey to actually take it. I bought it just before a snow storm as a back up for my 69. I never drove it. Just looked like a clean car. I took over the storage that day. It sat for months in Indiana. Towed it home and did some mechanical things to it hoses,fuel pump,motor mounts,radiator,Half ass tune up (didn't even change the plugs.),Front disk brake conversion and new lines, changed the oil and put a few hundred miles on it. She ran real good despite it has a edelbrock carb on it. I washed it and detailed her up a bit and we were off like a prom dress.
     
    Smokey15, gs66 and Donuts & Peelouts like this.
  13. Chris Lance

    Chris Lance Platinum Level Contributor

    E2F71AEF-D77D-444E-BD7F-DA76C76FA6A6.jpeg I long hauled a few years back from Texas to NC.......it was pretty grueling, but I’d do it again in a minute. It’s something every car guy should do once. This is a pic snapped by a buddy at our final stop in Charlotte....I was DONE
     
    Smokey15, Brett Slater and sriley531 like this.
  14. 455monte

    455monte Well-Known Member

    IMG_3725.jpg
    Is this your 67 special?
     
    Smokey15 likes this.
  15. redsixty9

    redsixty9 Platinum Level Contributor

    Yes sir, That was us. Kick ass! What car were you in? Thanks for the picture.:)
     
    Smokey15 and gs66 like this.
  16. redsixty9

    redsixty9 Platinum Level Contributor

    I bet. I'm sort of glad I only did 4 days. I could imagine how spent you felt. I will do seven days but I'd have to run with the right group. I like to drive but it does beat the crap out of you. By the seventh day it would have to be like the movie "Ground Hog Day.". Go to sleep. Wake up. Drive. Over and over again. In Indy a friend of mine said if he wasn't with other people he would be headed home right now. He was beat by day 5 . We did have fun though.
     
    Smokey15 likes this.
  17. sriley531

    sriley531 Excommunicado

    I think I know that car...
     
  18. 455monte

    455monte Well-Known Member

    Redsixty9, My sis n law sent me that pic.
    They were in a black Callaway 96 impala SS.
    I didnt make the tour unfortunately
     
  19. redsixty9

    redsixty9 Platinum Level Contributor

    I don't know much about the car. I bought it in Indiana in February off a older gentleman named George it was in Shererville. I think he bought it from a auction. It had some documentation with it showing motor rebuilt in 87. The car is mostly original he stated it was a V6 car converted to a 340-4 W/ a th350. According to what I found it was originally a 340-4. NB was stamped on the block showing Hi-compression 340-4 and a 2-spd trans. Someone converted the trans to a th350. The tags are confusing on a 67 but from what the Team Buick site info says it's a 340 car. Very little rust on the body and one lacquer repaint and the car is very straight interior is nice,great stainless trim and good chrome. I bought it to use for the power tour then flip but my wife fell in love with it. Things could be worse I guess but that was my bank roll to finish my 69 this winter. Oh, well I'll make it work.;)
     
    Smokey15 likes this.
  20. redsixty9

    redsixty9 Platinum Level Contributor

    Tell her thank you very much. My wife took some pictures too but mostly got pics of doors or fenders. Yikes!!
     
    Smokey15 likes this.

Share This Page