Hot Rod Power Tour First Timer

[427.060]

The Power Tour is in my area this year. It starts Near Atlanta then goes to Columbia SC, Rockingham NC, Charlotte and ends in Bristol Tn. It is something that I have wanted to do so I have decided that this will be the year. I have already made my motel reservations. I know there are guys here that have done the tour before. One thing I already know that will be a problem in the temperature. My car doesn't have AC so it will be hot. I am in the process of making a couple upgrades to the car getting ready for the drive. I had a new engine built an installed 5 or 6 years ago. It is a .070 over 427 with almost 550 hp. It was built by Fulton Competition. It gets around 8 mpg running 93 octane so I know I'll be spending a good bit on gas.

Any suggestions for a first timer? I am planning on taking a few things with me like some tools, spare tire, floor jack, belts and radiator hoses, coolant and a cooler for drinks and snacks. What else should I take?

What time is best for leaving one location and heading to the next? I plan to go the Atlanta on Sunday before the tour starts.

I am really looking forward to this.

Thanks, James

[Pro Stock John]

Do what you can to make the car hard to steal.

If you use an iPhone, get an Airtag and put that in the car.

Not sure how roadworthy your car is, how much you drive long distances, I'd make sure I had a good shroud on the radiator and I'd bring 2 jugs of coolant just in case.

[oldstv]

I did it last year for the first time. My advice is let it run in your yard for a couple of hours without moving it. We were in line for 2.5 hours in Memphis and there were cars running hot everywhere. When we got to Nashville we waited almost that long before we turned around and went to the hotel.

It is a great time but I had to change my mind about what I was expecting. It is more about the drive than the show. Enjoy the drive and the experience and you will be happier when it is over.

[L_e_e]

My daughter and I did part of the tour in 2019 with our Z28, if was fun but brutal, black car, black interior, 4-spd w/ 3:73 gears, no A/C, 90+ temps and humidity. As mentioned above, WATCH YOUR CAR and pack plenty of patience, and if you have a manual trans prepare for some serious in/out clutch durability..I have a pretty complete spreadsheet of what I brought that I can send to you.

[Charley Lillard]

What gears do you have ? Kinda want highway gears. Does your 70 over 427 run hot in the summer ?

[427.060]

Lee, please send me the spreadsheet. The car has an automatic transmission.

Charlie, I have 3.42 gears. The car cruises good at 70 mph. I haven't had an issue with it running hot.

[Charley Lillard]

I started doing Power Tours in 2001 and stopped probably 4 years ago. It had gotten up to 5000 cars. With that big of a turnout you always have to park somewhere with a huge parking lot. Usually very hot and humid. If the route goes thru a small town God forbid if there is a stop sign as it will back up forever. The best part these days is the evenings, going out to dinner and hanging out with buddies in the hotel parking lots. Have fun and take some side trips on the route as sitting around the hot venue for several hours gets old.

[427.060]

Charlie, I knew you used to do the tour but wasn't sure if you still did. I met you in Columbia SC 16-18 years ago. I drove down for the day.
I won't sit around all day at each venue. I'm too old to sit around in the hot sun all day for 5 consecutive days. At a couple of the stops I had to book motels 10-20 miles away.

[Charley Lillard]

I started doing Good-Guys and Barrett-Jackson Road Tours. They limit it to about 50 cars, book you all at the same hotel and basically you drive to shops , private collections, landmarks etc and the end of the day you are at you hotel instead of sitting around a huge parking lot. Great way to see the country and make friends. They have a support vehicle pulling a trailer in case of breakdowns.

[427.060]

The Power Tour is next week. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that the long haul tickets would sell out so I had to buy a multi day pass. I'll be starting at the second location, Columbia SC. This time next week I should be in Columbia. I plan to do the next two stops in Rockingham and Charlotte. I haven't decided if I'll go to Bristol. It depends on how the previous days go and how tired I am.
They posted the route a couple weeks ago. Traveling back roads looks like fun but it will probably be a mess due to having 5-6000 cars on the same route. I will do the back roads the first trip just to see how it is. After that I may take the quickest route.
Last week was spent getting my car ready. I had a brake caliper that was leaking so I had Lonestar Caliper rebuilt a set and put them on the car. Changed the oil and transmission filter. Got my cigarette lighter working so I can charge my GPS and phone. It hadn't worked since I bought the car almost 20 years ago. Checked all fluids, tires, belts, hoses and tightened bolts. I'll spend the next few days getting everything together that I need to take on the trip.
I'm really looking forward to this.

[oldstv]

There are at least 4 cars in our group and our plan is to to the long haul. Not looking forward to the trip back from Bristol to south Georgia but that's part of it. Have a plan a which is my 66 chevelle with an ls3 and ac, plan b in my 1991 blazer that is all original. That's what we were in last year. Starting to get excited about Monday.

[Charley Lillard]

Have fun and give us updates.....

[A12pilot]

Awesome! Enjoy and looking forward to pictures. None other than Bobaroni Ashton is down there too, so be sure to introduce yourself to him as he’s very philanthropic with treating one to dinner!:headbang:

Charley, I’m curious on the tours you mentioned. Those sound fun!

Cheers
Dave

[427.060]

I'll take pictures and maybe a couple videos and post them when I get back home.
James

[Steve Shauger]

Look forward to seeing pics/videos. Should be a great adventure with like-minded enthusiast!

[Charley Lillard]

No you can give us evening updates......

[southernfriedcj]

I started doing Good-Guys and Barrett-Jackson Road Tours. They limit it to about 50 cars, book you all at the same hotel and basically you drive to shops , private collections, landmarks etc and the end of the day you are at you hotel instead of sitting around a huge parking lot. Great way to see the country and make friends. They have a support vehicle pulling a trailer in case of breakdowns.

There needs to be a Super Car Registry Power Tour.

[427.060]

I made it through the first day in Columbia SC. There are a lot of cars here. I spent a lot of time explaining what a Beaumont is. I didn't take many pictures today. I'm not sure how to add pictures using my phone.