Minnesota Motorhead

As a longtime reader of Hot Rod magazine, I’ve always read coverage of the publication’s annual road trip, Power Tour, with envy.

I thought one year, I’d get in my car and take part in that week-long excursion across the U.S. – the road trip to end all road trips, the car enthusiast’s dream vacation.

Well, the wait is over.

Gas prices be damned, my wife, Allison, and I set out on our first Power Tour this year. And when I say we did Power Tour, I don’t mean we tagged along for a bit. In Hot Rod speak, we were long haulers, traveling 2,400-plus miles counting our drive to the starting point and back home.

This year, the tour started in Little Rock, Arkansas and wound its way through the back roads of the Midwest making stops in Springfield, Missouri; Topeka, Kansas; Lincoln, Nebraska; Ames, Iowa; Rochester, Minnesota and Madison, Wisconsin. The tour made the seven stops in seven days.

Allison and I, in my ‘84 Monte Carlo SS, left from our home in Minneapolis one day before things kicked off in Little Rock For the drive south, we caught up (literally because we were late arriving at our pre-determined meeting place) with some other Minnesota tourers and one family from Wisconsin.

Our “mini-tour” included Jim and Cathy Moldaschel from Mankato in a ‘71 ‘Cuda convertible, Gary and Bernie Salsman from Jordan in a ‘67 GTO, and Wisconsinites Tony and Katie Ciano and their one-year-old son, Chase, in a ‘57 Chevy four-door they drove from their home in West Salem.

After about ten hours on the road the first day and a few more the next, we rolled into Little Rock to meet thousands of other tourers from throughout the U.S., Canada and even some from the U.K.!

From the steep, winding roads of the Ozarks to the flood-struck fields of Iowa, it was a scenic route, to say the least. And the hospitality from locals in some of the towns we passed through was over the top.

It rained some and tourers had to deal with a bout of severe weather in Ames, but the sun shone more often than not. And it was great to see people, no matter what the weather, driving the cars they’ve put so much time, care and cash into building.

As for Allison and I, we only had one hiccup – when the throttle valve cable for my transmission slipped out of position suddenly on the trip to Madison and I couldn’t shift out of first. While I was adjusting the cable, four cars pulled off the road to see if I needed help!

I have read numerous magazine stories over the years about how Power Tour participants are quick to offer roadside assistance and now I know from firsthand experience that it’s true.

In short, Allison and I met a lot of great people on the tour, had a ton of fun, and I did something I used to only dream about. I’m hoping we can make it happen again next year.

The 2009 Power Tour will start in Madison and work its way east, making a stop in Warren, Michigan, the home of General Motors’ Performance Division. The full route isn’t finalized yet.

For more information on the Hot Rod Power Tour, check out www.hotrod.com.

June 5th, 2008 | Articles, Event Articles