I always wanted to do the Hot Rod Power Tour. I left the house last Sunday with one of my best freinds who I've known since 1st grade (1980) in my 2019 Challenger T/A. I was a little nervous having never done the Power Tour before. The looming cost of fuel and leaving my car parked outside at a hotel overnight in Memphis, East Arkansas (we don't consider West TN as part of Tennessee) didn't make me feel good.
Despite the fuel cost ($363.24), sweltering heat, and the threat of stolen cars, it was well worth it. I think I heard 5 or 6 Hellcats were stolen along with a 1987 Cadillac in Memphis alone. An older couple from Louisianna had their Challenger Hellcat broken into at our hotel. They had "security" which I think could have been involved. I walked outside and saw the broken passenger window on the ground next to it and my heart sank. I immediately checked my car and it was fine. He had the Chrysler anti theft fix. I believe it would have been stolen otherwise. They were ready to go home, but a few of us encouraged them to get it fixed and continue on. They told me in Atlanta that they appreciated me and would have left if I hadn't encouraged them to stay. I felt much better when we crossed the Tennessee river back into real Tennessee. I met some cool people from all over the country. We hung with some guys from Denver, CO and San Antonio, TX. I saw Canadian license plates and some from Maine and Oregon. I believe there were participants from 47 states. My favorite venue was Atlanta Motor Speedway, but the best town we visited was Pensacola, FL.
Like I said, I met some cool folks. One of the coolest was Ralph Gilles from Dodge. He was driving his Hellucination Charger. That car was absolutely spectacular. If I ever come into stupid money, I'm going to have Speekore build one for me. Anyway, I went out to check on my car early on Tuesday morning when we were staying in Smyrna, TN below Nashville. I was parked two spaces over from Ralph's car. There was a guy putting stuff in the trunk and I asked him if it was his car. He told he it was his buddy Ralphs's. Ralph came out and started talking to me. I asked him about the Charger. It has a full carbon fiber body. That isn't a wrap. He said it has no real Charger parts and rides and drives great. I asked him if it creaked and moaned going down the road and he said it didn't. I then told him not to let me hold them up. He then asked me what year my car was and if I was always a Mopar guy. He asked about my cars/trucks. I told him a little and he acted super interested in what I had to say. He seems like a genuinely super person. I asked him if Direct Connection was going to have any 392 parts and he said they were coming in the fall.
I have a ton of pictures, but here are a few. I will probably post a few of the Mopars if I can get my slow internet to do it.
If you've ever thought the Power Tour would be fun, don't hesitate or let the cost of fuel deter you. It is a really fun experience that I have sorely missed the last two days.
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Despite the fuel cost ($363.24), sweltering heat, and the threat of stolen cars, it was well worth it. I think I heard 5 or 6 Hellcats were stolen along with a 1987 Cadillac in Memphis alone. An older couple from Louisianna had their Challenger Hellcat broken into at our hotel. They had "security" which I think could have been involved. I walked outside and saw the broken passenger window on the ground next to it and my heart sank. I immediately checked my car and it was fine. He had the Chrysler anti theft fix. I believe it would have been stolen otherwise. They were ready to go home, but a few of us encouraged them to get it fixed and continue on. They told me in Atlanta that they appreciated me and would have left if I hadn't encouraged them to stay. I felt much better when we crossed the Tennessee river back into real Tennessee. I met some cool people from all over the country. We hung with some guys from Denver, CO and San Antonio, TX. I saw Canadian license plates and some from Maine and Oregon. I believe there were participants from 47 states. My favorite venue was Atlanta Motor Speedway, but the best town we visited was Pensacola, FL.
Like I said, I met some cool folks. One of the coolest was Ralph Gilles from Dodge. He was driving his Hellucination Charger. That car was absolutely spectacular. If I ever come into stupid money, I'm going to have Speekore build one for me. Anyway, I went out to check on my car early on Tuesday morning when we were staying in Smyrna, TN below Nashville. I was parked two spaces over from Ralph's car. There was a guy putting stuff in the trunk and I asked him if it was his car. He told he it was his buddy Ralphs's. Ralph came out and started talking to me. I asked him about the Charger. It has a full carbon fiber body. That isn't a wrap. He said it has no real Charger parts and rides and drives great. I asked him if it creaked and moaned going down the road and he said it didn't. I then told him not to let me hold them up. He then asked me what year my car was and if I was always a Mopar guy. He asked about my cars/trucks. I told him a little and he acted super interested in what I had to say. He seems like a genuinely super person. I asked him if Direct Connection was going to have any 392 parts and he said they were coming in the fall.
I have a ton of pictures, but here are a few. I will probably post a few of the Mopars if I can get my slow internet to do it.
If you've ever thought the Power Tour would be fun, don't hesitate or let the cost of fuel deter you. It is a really fun experience that I have sorely missed the last two days.
Maybe I can do a 392/8 speed swap in my 1980 D150 for next time. It will have AC!
