 Kids, don't try this at home....  Kids, don't try this at home. We're trained web professionals. Stay tuned for video downloads of the Chevy convoy. |
 We stopped in formation every...  We stopped in formation every so often to swap cars--what a great way to keep the drive interesting. Click on the film icon to see video of Hot Rod's Jeff Koch behind the wheel of the Motor Medic/GM Performance Blazer. |
 Koch rode shotgun for a time...  Koch rode shotgun for a time to shoot the Chevy convoy. |
 We spotted the Gateway arch...  We spotted the Gateway arch in St. Louis as we crossed the Mississippi River. One of the Chevy staff added a bit of travelogue at this point, pointing out that until early '80s, Corvettes were built in this city before the plant was moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky. |
 T-buckets on the Tour managed...  T-buckets on the Tour managed to weather the storm and arrived high and dry (more or less). |
 The crowds they just kept...  The crowds they just kept a comin', but this time for rods of a different sort (not the fishing pole variety). |
 Throngs of tourists come to...  Throngs of tourists come to the Bass Pro Shops for the unusual decor, which includes waterfalls and duck ponds. |
No bear rugs here. |
 A new outdoor-themed museum...  A new outdoor-themed museum is under construction next door to the Bass Pro Shops, set to open in the Fall of 2001. Maybe next year's Power Tour will stop by and check it out... |
 The Bass Pro Shops' log-cabin...  The Bass Pro Shops' log-cabin lobby was hewn by Amish craftsmen. |
 As the Chevy slogan goes,...  As the Chevy slogan goes, "We'll be there", and they were. |
 More colors than a bowl full...  More colors than a bowl full of jelly beans... |
 Vic Edelbrock's Chevy was...  Vic Edelbrock's Chevy was a head turner, but his free barbecue for Power Tour participants was an even bigger attraction. |
 This right-hand drive Ford...  This right-hand drive Ford may be the Longest Haul of all... |
 ...from the Land Down Under,...  ...from the Land Down Under, can you hear the thunder? |
 "Can I go on the Power Tour...  "Can I go on the Power Tour too?" Ummm, maybe next year, after a bit of TLC. We tripped over this promo vehicle, based on a 1973 Opel Kadette, at the muffler shop next to the host hotel in Springfield. The sign reads, "Our work is exhausting." No wonder the shop owner admitted, "It needs a little work." |
LIST OF ALL DAYS
Even though the bulk of the Power Tour cars are owner-built hot rods, this doesn't mean the manufacturers don't like to play as well. This year Chevrolet brought along a slew of modified production vehicles that we were invited to check out on this leg of the trip. Hot Rod magazine's Jeff Koch, along with your online editor and video producer, hopped on board this compelling collection of vehicles, and took turns with each one. While the two Corvettes were clearly the favorite rides of the day (especially the blown Mallett), we found the others each had some distinctive appeal. A bad black Blazer with a Corvette LS-1 under the hood was a real Q-ship, except for the fat rear meats (315/35ZR17), which fill out the wheelwells perfectly. There was also a supercharged Cavalier (with pretty healthy performance for a four-banger), a 260hp S10 Xtreme, and a Monte Carlo Pace Car. (You'll be hearing more about them as the trip goes on, and when Jeff catches his breath from the trip, check out his upcoming features in Hot Rod magazine as well.)
Although we encountered the first serious rainstorm of the Tour, it didn't slow the Chevy convoy down one bit. We did wonder how the T-bucket contingent fared that day, however. Despite the downpour, we continued to encounter spectators along the roadside--it amazes us how many people eagerly anticipate our arrival, even when we just buzz on by. Speaking of buzzing, one of our more prominent Power Tour participants had an encounter with the highway patrol due to a suspiciously absent license plate. No worries, but some state trooper is now the proud owner of a nicely embroidered Hot Rod shirt. (We havent tried this tactic before, but well keep it mind for the future.)
The sun finally broke through by the time we rolled into Springfield, Missouri at the Bass Pro Shops. While the parking lot of this mega-mall may not have been quite as scenic as our previous stops (weve been getting a bit spoiled), it sure was packed with spectators. Thats partly because Bass Pro Shops is the top tourist attraction in the state. With enough acreage under one roof to cover seven football fields, this is a Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, stocked with just about anything youd need for fishing and camping. More than that, inside this mammoth facility youll find waterfalls, duck ponds, diver-fed fish in aquariums, restaurants, and even a barber shop. The only thing missing is the great outdoors.
Edelbrock supplied a tasty barbeque that evening, and we all managed to duck inside before the thunderheads rolled through again. But we plan to make our own sort of thunder on our way to Tulsa on the next leg. Oklahoma, here we come!