We’ve had some impressive experiences on this year’s 17th annual Hot Rod Power Tour. Including, but not limited to the Kennedy Space Center, The Strip at Nashville, and The Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Let me just say on this Power Tour Muskegon, MI had some big brake shoes to fill. As a cheap literary device to get you to read my entire post I won’t tell if Muskegon was a hit or a miss until later. Allow me to begin with what else happened today.
Today we doubled up our Thrifty Suburban posse with the addition of the boys from Anyone Agency. They’re working with our Mothers Marketeers on some high level promotional programs. I say high level because it’s all over my head anyway. Besides, these boys are far too hip for my style-challenged self. From left we have our Ken, Michael and Steven from Anyone and our Man Main, Shane.
The driver’s meeting went well. At least I think it went well since I was napping in our Thrifty Suburban.
And then we were on the road to Muskegon behind the lovely Michelle from Hot Rod who ALWAYS drives the lead vehicle on the Power Tour.
After all of twenty minutes or so on Tour I was hungry. I also had to visit the powder room. And I wanted to stretch my legs after a nap. This Power Tour business is hard work. So after a brief discussion and my constant whining and breath-holding we stopped at Sherrill’s in Tipton, IN where we could eat here and get gas.
At Sherrill’s we ran into Todd’s mom Julie (and his dad too). Todd being Todd Ryden from MSD. Here’s Julie hanging with our Mothers Marketeer Ken and our Savvy Salesman Forrest.
After breakfast our waitress wouldn’t take credit cards and gave us separate checks. To Amy in accounting please accept this image in lieu of an expense report.
While we stuffed our pie holes, it started raining. Hard. But the Power Tour set is crafted from hearty stock and none of us were going to let a little water dampen our spirits.
The beauty of the Power Tour is that watching is almost as fun as doing. Almost.
This is the only way our Thrifty Suburban can look good. Reflected off the hubcap of...
...this 1940 Packard.
Even as the rain came pouring down it could not stop The Power Tour from marching on.
This guy wanted to thank me for risking life and limb (and a camera that’s worth more than both) as I hung it all out in order to get these pictures. You’re welcome, sir, now where do I send the dry cleaning receipt? In the process one of my favorite Mothers shirts got wet.
Ugh. No one ever wants to see this. The good news is it seemed like there were no injuries other than the driver’s pride.
As we crossed into Michigan...
The sun shone through the clouds bringing back our shiny, happy Tour with it.
After 270 miles and all sorts of weather we finally reached Muskegon. We noticed many of the flags in the city were at half mast. And while we couldn’t find out what happened we do want to offer our condolences to the people of Muskegon.
When we arrived at Downtown Muskegon, we found Robert from our Big Rig crew doing his “I’m-King-of-The-World” bit from atop our Mothers Big Rig.
We also found one heckuva party! The amount of spectators and cars was staggering at Downtown Muskegon. This was by far my favorite stop of the Tour thus far.
I love this sight. An official police car sitting front and center at our Mothers display. Another sight I love is that this car is not parked behind me on the interstate with its lights on.
Also in our display I spotted some of our Mothers Professional line. Serious stuff for serious car care.
The Lucas Oil Dyno Challenge was on all day. I tried to get John our Mothers Big Rig driver to drive our Peterbilt up onto the rollers, but he just looked at me like I was stupid. Stop doing that, people!
Richard Hatch’s ’68 Camaro Convertible RS has been updated with a 2001 Corvette LS1. That’s my kind of update.
Mark Plaggemars’ ’69 Mustang Boss 302 was featured in the August 2010 issue of Popular Hot Rodding. And no wonder it was.
You get all types on Power Tour. I’ll just leave it at that.
Dennis Mykols from Spring Lake, MI calls his 1970 El Camino, Split Personality. The paint is from a 2007 Ford Edge called Blazing Copper Metallic and the engine is a GM Crate 350 making and sending 300 hp back through a TH700T4 Overdrive gearbox to the 18" x 9" Chrome IROC Z-28 wheels and 245/40 BFGoodrich Riken Raptor rubbers.
This ’29 Ford is fitted with a 355 Chevy engine and Turbo 400 trans and the cab has been chopped and extended five inches. Is it wrong that my favorite feature is the “ah-hu-ga” horns on the firewall?
Scott Carroll’s ’69 Camaro has a 350 mill with a 6-speed tranny and 4:11 posi. But it’s the hood scoop, side pipes and Cragar S/S that make this a really bitchin’ Camaro.
This Aleutian Blue Pontiac GTO drop top belongs to Bob Hughes. Bob is proud to point out that the 400ci engine and 3-speed HD manual transmission are original with 63K miles. Bob even has the original window sticker indicating its $3,881.76 price. I don’t know much, okay, nothing about cars but I do know it’s worth much more than that today. It is, isn’t it?
This ’75 Corvette is overstuffed with a 600 hp 383 ci stroker motor with a 6-71 Weiand blower, not one but two Holley 600 cfm double pumper carbs, Hooker headers and MSD 6 BTM ignition, distributor and plug wires. The Turbo 400 trans has a manual shift valve body plus Eaton posi traction, 3.55 Richmond ring and pinion. Outside the rear bumper is from a ’92 Vette and both front and rear bumpers have been “glassed in.”
This was, er, is a 1939 Hudson.
Mike Mondrella’s classic ’32 Ford Roadster with a 355 Chevy lump. Doesn’t this look just like John Milner’s American Graffiti coupe?
Peter Barrow is from “Canadia,” eh. And so is his very clean ‘70 Nova SS with a 350 under the hood.
Roger Nobach bought this 1964 Nova SS in ’74 for all of $225. At the time it was set up as a straight axle, mid-engine A/Gasser. Roger Pro-Streeted the rear end with a Dana 60, four link, coilovers and narrowed the works to fit 31x21.50 Mickeys. Up front a Mustang II front suspension was added. And I do believe Roger turned up the power too in the name of a 427 ci Bow Tie small block with 7.6 to 1 compression ratio, a 671 BDS blower with dual 750 Barry Grant carbs, aluminum AFR heads, full roller cams, MSD ignition and a Turbo 350 trans and cone converter. I like Roger’s style.
Another reason I like Roger Nobach’s style. He also owns this Nova Wagon with a 350 and a 4-speed. Roger, will you adopt me? I’m mostly house-trained and I don’t eat much. Okay, I may have lied about both of those facts, but I can get you a lifetime supply of Mothers California Gold Showtime Instant Detailer. If not free, I can get it to you for cost. Okay, at the very least I can locate a local retailer. See, Roger, what’s not to love?
Conrad Madej and his family restored this 1912 Ford Model T C-cab Delivery. In its original form it delivered ice blocks from house to house until 1927. The body is now a mix of fiberglass fenders, sheet metal splash panels, oak running boards and interior pieces along with mahogany and vinyl touches. The paint is PPG Aztec Gold with Hot Red accents. Engine is a 350 Chevy small block with a TCI Turbo 400 transmission and narrowed Ford rear end. 14-inch wide Mickey Thompson tires wrap around 15-10 chrome Cragar Series 320 wheels.
David Atkins’ 1963 Impala Pro-Mod features a 2,000 hp custom 438 twin-turbo LSX from Baker Engineering, Inc. with twin 88mm Garrett turbos, BS3 engine management, Baker designed turbo camshaft, Pro/Cam dry sump oil system and fuel system. In order to be environmentally conscious (and run cooler) the fuel is E98.
Hey look, it’s a 1931 Model A that still looks like a 1931 Model A. However, this is a depression-era sleeper as it’s fitted with a 400 hp custom Baker Engineering, Inc. engine based on the LT-1.
Rich Neisler’s dirt late model car makes 750 hp from a custom all-aluminum SB2 small block Chevy 402 in Baker Engineering, Inc. engine with a Pro/Cam dry sump oil system. All I wanted to know is where was his Long Haul sticker.
Obligatory hero shot.
This is a GMC Futurliner, one of 12 built in 1939 to display modern advances in science and technology such as jet engines, stereophonic sound, microwave ovens, television and more marvels of this time. This is Futurliner No. 10 and only eight others are known to exist, five of which are in total disrepair. Yes, this is a rare beast. The Futurliner is 33 ft. long, 8 ft. wide and 11 ft. 7 in. tall with a 248 in. wheelbase and a weight of approximately 30,000 lbs. The driver sits in the middle with 2 riders behind him (a’la McLaren F1). The Futurliner is front engine rear wheel drive with a 302 ci gas I-6 cylinder OHV GMC powerplant making 145 hp. There’s a 3-speed PTO gearbox in the rear and four front wheels (arranged dually style) have a built-in differential. The future was bright indeed. Learn more about Futurliner at futurliner.com.
Dean Hatem’s International Scout 800 has a massive 454, a BorgWarner gearbox, and from all outwardly appearances a very bad attitude.
Jack and Troy Trepanier from Rad Rides by Troy with their ’62 Falcon.
Nice.
Here’s Jack, Troy and our fearless leader Jim having a laugh. I hope they weren’t laughing at me although I did notice later that my fly was open.
Here are our Mothers Marketeers Ken and Shane flanking Jack and Troy and our Fearless Leader Jim.
And this concludes another day of the Power Tour. Tomorrow we have a quaint 223-mile sprint to Detroit for our last day. More specifically, the Metro Beach Metropark at 31300 Metropolitan Pkwy, Harrison TWP, 48045.
John Naderi
for Mothers® Polishes•Waxes•Cleaners
