By Ryan Brutt

HemiPwr70

The final run, the run to the end. Today was going to be unlike all the others. We were running completely separate of the Power Tour. Our stop, the Tim Wellborn Muscle Car Museum.

Continue reading "Hot Rod Power Tour 2010: Day Seven, Mobile AL" »

By Ryan Brutt

HemiPwr70

Things got interesting today. Unfortunately we lost our friends in the Superbee, but everyone else was game to meet up. So I found a real interesting place online called Aretha’s Frankenstein’s in Chattanooga. It was a GREAT decision.

Continue reading "Hot Rod Power Tour 2010: Day Six, Birmingham AL" »

By Ryan Brutt

HemiPwr70

Early this morning we were lucky that many of our friends in the MoPowered Tour were at the same hotel. So we all left together for an early morning adventure. Our plan was not to get breakfast, but to go to the Holley Headquarters and get a tour of their facility.

Continue reading "Hot Rod Power Tour 2010: Day Five, Chattanooga TN" »

By Ryan Brutt

HemiPwr70

Last night my partner in crime arrived, Rob Wolf of Mopar Collectors Guide joined up and will be chilling with me for the next few stops. So we got up and made our way to the Du Quoin Family Restaurant, meeting up with a few of our good friends in the 69 Superbee and 70 Coronet Convertible.

We left by 9 am but with a slightly changed plan, while we would be leading the Tour for a bit, we were going to do some photos for a upcoming issue of MCG and were going to peel off with the 69 Superbee sometime during the Tour, and the rest of the group would continue on without us. So we gassed up and hit the road.

Continue reading "Hot Rod Power Tour 2010: Day Four, Bowling Green KY" »

By Ryan Brutt

HemiPwr70

Working it out to have us all meet at Charlie Parker’s Diner was pretty cool, the place was in an old airplane style hanger. Everyone who was there liked the food and had a nice time. A group of nearly 10 Mopars was able to find the place and meet up. We all headed out together for what was suppose to be a easy trip, which turned out to be everything but.

Continue reading "Hot Rod Power Tour 2010: Day Three, Du Quoin IL" »

By Brian Lohnes

BangShift.com

The F-Bomb has a shinier, younger brother. Hot Rod editor David Freiburger’s new project Camaro was spotted by our own Chad at the Power Tour stop in Newton, Iowa. Powered by one of GM’s new E-Rod crate engine packages, it was the buzz of the Power Tour on Saturday.

There’s an interesting BangShift,com connection to the car as the builder, Mike Copeland is a member on our forums (LS1ZR2 is his user name)! Mike’s Michigan-based shop, Diversified Creations handled the build, and as Mike is a GM employee, we’re sure that the E-Rod is working mighty fine in the front of the late Second-Gen F-body.

Guess the days of the cheapie late 1970s or early 1980s Camaro is over. The car appears to kick some serious ass. Look for the build to be featured in upcoming issues of Hot Rod. The car will be running the remainder of the Power Tour. Two more pics at BangShift.com

By Ryan Brutt

HemiPwr70

The first leg of the Power Tour started us off at the Perkins in Newton, IA. I got there around 8 am and had breakfast. By the time 8:45 rolled around we had almost a dozen Mopars waiting to go.

Everyone was introducing themselves and showing the others their cars. It is always a blast to have a group of Mopar guys together. Once 9 am rolled around I gathered everyone together to give them updates on what was going on. We were to follow the main route. There would be fuel stops approximately every two hours for those that needed it. And we would have a brief stop in Macomb, IL.

Continue reading "Hot Rod Power Tour 2010: Day Two, Springfield IL" »

By Ryan Brutt

HemiPwr70

Today was the official beginning of the Hot Rod Power Tour. I packed up my stuff in Le Claire, IA and headed out. But not after making one more pass by the American Pickers place. They weren’t there, darn.

Continue reading "Hot Rod Power Tour 2010: Day One, Newton IA" »

By Ryan Brutt

HemiPwr70

Today started like every other work day, except I wasn’t coming home. I left right from work and drove for 3 hours. I setup for the night in Le Claire, IA. I had spent the day here a few years ago and it was half way between Newton and Chicago. Also it is the home base for the American Pickers TV show.

As I pull off the highway, there is a large sign posted stating it was “American Pickers” weekend. There is an entire weekend of events that are centered around the show and characters. I would love to spend the day here and go to the Q&A sessions. But I drove past their headquarters, which was interesting.

Spent the evening at a local bar and grill, grabbed some good food and met some good people. Now back at the hotel relaxing and watching some TV before heading to Newton tomorrow morning to meet Chip Foose (hopefully).

More information on the end of the MoPower Tour tomorrow night.

Continue reading "Hot Rod Power Tour 2010: Day 0" »

By Ryan Brutt

HemiPwr70

Hot Rod has announced the route for the 2010 Power Tour. We’re going to pass right through Macomb, IL where I went to school for a few years. I know of MANY muscle cars sitting in the fields around there. Take a look at carsinbarns.blogspot.com for my recent trip out there. Obviously I will be making a stop in this area… I think I left a 74 Dart Swinger there.

This year’s route takes us all over the place, from the fields of Iowa to the Gulf of Mexico. We really are traveling to two extremes!

Along the route are a variety of interesting places to hit up. I might try to hit up the Wellborn Muscle Car Museum on the Friday of the Tour–that’s the closest we will get to it. Also for breakfast on Sunday I will be hitting up Charlie Parker’s Diner as was seen on Diner’s, Drive In’s and Dive’s. Also you can hit up the Corvette Factory if you would like.

Continue reading "Power Tour 2010 Route Announced" »