2014 Hot Rod Power Tour
Brotherhood of the Road: 2014 Hot Rod Power Tour
Although the 2014 Hot Rod Power Tour has come to an end for this year the memories of this great ride will live forever. As tour participants all gathered this morning to grab Long Hauler awards the size and scope of this year’s tour became apparent. Officials were estimating that up to 5,000 Long Haulers made the entire cruise. That is a record.
There is a special feeling you get when you accept that Long Hauler award with other participants that made the trip with you. As you looked around at your fellow Long Haulers today it became apparent that this was more than a tour. It was a Brotherhood of the Road. For every Long Hauler this was a moment of fame. You were part of something really big this year, the Twentieth Anniversary of Power Tour.
As the 2014 Hot Rod Power Tour started its final leg of the tour from Bettendorf, Iowa to Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, everyone was in great spirits to complete the 1,600-mile cruise. Friday morning was the last leg of the 2014 Hot Rod Power Tour. That’s a lotta’ drivin’ in one week. But it was worth it. At every venue the weather was perfect. Getting that Long Hauler Award on Saturday made the trip worth while. No one was going to miss the final meeting on Saturday.
A record number of cars have completed all 1,600 miles of the 2014 Hot Rod Power Tour this year. The 2014 Hot Rod Power Tour started in Charlotte, North Carolina last Saturday and ended in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin today. Here are some of those that made the entire 1,600-mile tour:
On Day Five of America’s most popular car experience. An impromptu burnout display happened on the bridge going over to the Isle of Capri Resort and Casino. We captured some of the action as local townspeople looked on in amazement. “These Power Tour guys are crazy,” I heard one of them say, grinning from ear to ear.
This is the 20th Anniversary edition of the Power Tour and Hot Rod Magazine pulled out all the stops to make it a great ride. They started this thing off in Charlotte, North Carolina with over 3,000 cars. I can’t think of a better place to congregate if you’re an old car fanatic. Charlotte is like a mecca for car guys. Richard “The King” Petty even showed up to give the Long Haulers a send off. It was one of the best first day parties ever.
On Day Two everybody was pumped to get started and the back roads through the Smokey Mountains was a perfect way to get acquainted with the roads and directions. That night in downtown Charleston, West Virginia there may have been a few tires lit up but the party didn’t get to out of hand. The people are so friendly that we want them to think well of us.
Tuesday, in Norwalk, Ohio, it was pretty exciting to see some of the tour cars out on the track at the Summit Motorsports Park. If you’re geared for touring it took a lot of skill to do a good time. But some people may have been wrenching methinks.
On Thursday as we joined the Long Haulers we were surprised to see how many have survived the entire trip. If this many members of the 2014 Hot Rod Power Tour make it to the final destination in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin tomorrow it may set a new record for the number of Long Hauler awards that will be given out on Saturday. Here are some of the cars that have made it all the way:
