Welcome back to our 2014 Hot Rod Power Tour coverage and ice cream social. Since I ate all the ice cream, the only thing left is to share our experiences from the road more traveled.
We took off early today with a 7:00 am call time (or sevenish if you’re me). We had 325.4 miles to cover from Norwalk, Ohio to the Lake County Fair at Crown Point, Indiana. Here we see our own Jim Holloway carving the cloverleaf in our ZR1 4 MOM. Not shown is our own Shane Christman pitching the back end of our rental Navigator. Also not shown is me regretting the midnight all-you can eat pizza party I hosted in my bed the night prior.
Since I was still feeling queasy from the first part of the drive, I felt a sensible breakfast would set things straight. And I can’t think of anything more sensible than a Sausage, Egg & Cheese McGriddle with Hash Browns and a Cinnamon Melt to top things off.
Shane and I got into a heated discussion as to which ZR1 wheels we prefer. When Shane locked me out of the Navigator and began to drive away, I quickly came around to his point of view. Which wheel do you prefer?
On this Day Four of our Tour, we began in Ohio before skirting into Michigan briefly on our way to Indiana.
During the trip we experienced a wide variety of weather, from light clouds in the morning…
To bright sunshine…
To heavy rain.
The good people at Lane Automotive hosted the lunch stop for the entire Power Tour. Lane Automotive was founded in 1954 by George Lane and has grown to become a speed equipment industry phenomenon.
This is what greets you in the lobby at Lane. Much better than a plastic ficus tree.
Lane Automotive even distributes our own Mothers Polish.
While at Lane I wanted to pick up a pair of these Weld Front Magnum Pro skinnies to give our rental Navigator some proper street cred, but Amy from accounting didn’t feel that this was a legitimate business expense.
It was cool to see this father teaching his son the finer points of shifting on this McLeod display. Shane tried to do the same thing with me, but I’m lost without a pattern and numbers on the knob.
Next year I want Shane to push me around the grounds at each stop like this to save me from walking so much to get pictures. It will make things so much easier for me. But for Shane, not so much.
These guys brought their Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible on the Tour. They’re damned if a little downpour is going to stop them from enjoying an al fresco drive.
Once we arrived at the Lake County Fairgrounds these lush, rolling hills and more than a few hot rods on the lawn were laid out to greet us.
The Fairgrounds are set around Fancher Lake.
This kid had the right idea.
One very clean Corvair.
Good to see Steve Beauregard’s ’34 Coupe with a blown 350 return to the Tour for another long haul.
This Z/28 is packing something special under the hood…
In the form of dual TorqStorm Billet Superchargers.
Check out this vintage Formula Vee car, complete with a vintage VW engine. I think it would be cool if this guy did the long haul in this one. Somehow I doubt the owner shares the same point of view.
The obsessive compulsive in me wants to hit these tires with some of our Back-to-Black Tire Renew, followed by Back-to-Black Tire Shine. Must resist urge to clean and shine all the things.
This very clean ‘66 Chevy II with a fuel injected 350 is for sale at the buy-it-now price of $22,500.
Big time Galaxie 500 XL with a hefty 427.
Chevy stuck its small block chocolate in the peanut butter of this 944. Delicious blasphemy.
This is Elzilla, a ’59 El Camino done up in the grandest tradition of AutoRama look of the late sixties.
I’ve never been one for flames and scallops, but there was something appealing about the subtle treatment on this Nova.
In ’62 this was a Valiant effort. Ha! See what I did there? Don’t try this at home, people.
This ’72 C/10 Short Bed is called Bad Apple and it received a complete ground up restoration by CA Classics in Rockford, Illinois in the early nineties.
Bad Apple’s 350ci HO Z series crate motor has lightweight Corvette aluminum heads, roller cam, 400 Turbo transmission and Flowmaster mufflers.
Our friend Ted Dzus uses our own Mothers products to properly care for his Henry J.
This ’66 Lincoln from the Land of Lincoln, has personalized tags that read, “BIG ABE.” I thought I told you people not to try this stuff at home.
We thought the minty fresh color on this coupe was outrageous until we saw, well, you know.
Randy Lambert’s got jokes, parking his Outlaw Super Stock Z/28 in front of a 15 mph speed limit sign.
This Impala also belongs to Randy Lambert.
This shoe belongs to David Freiburger’s Crusher Camaro.
Our friends from Rad Rides by Troy brought this ’62 Biscayne, aka “Chicayne.” We can’t wait to visit the shop tomorrow.
Chicayne is fitted with a twin turbo 406cu Dart Iron Eagle motor with a 4L80E transmission.
Off road racing powerhouse, Casey Currie brought his Currie Enterprises Jeep on Tour this year.
Our friend, Charlie Lillard added to our Big Rig display with his Camaro that features the entire drivetrain from a ZR1, LS9 and all!
Our own Steve Polen in the midst of one of our technical demonstrations.
Our own Hunter Gilbertson showing that it’s all in the details.
At the end of each day there is a stage presentation. Our own Forrest Tosie always goes up on stage to offer a bit of trivia as well as a weather report.
Today Forrest brought along his counsel, our friend Rich Udell, the barrister.
Tomorrow we’ll travel 251.8 miles to the Isle Casino Hotel in Bettendorf, Iowa. I don’t have much left, but what I do have is all going on red. Call it a hunch, but I think that color’s a winner. Until tomorrow.
In the meantime click here to check out even more great images from Day 4.
