Hot Rod Power Tour Kickoff 6/2/11

Beach potato · 06-02-2011, 06:28 PM

Wow - thousands of cool cars are in town...Huge street party and mini-tours and cruises around here. Trip out to Launch pad 39 to drive around the Shuttle on the pad. I have got 4 cameras ready...woo hoo!!!

Power Tour Countdown: TODAY!!!!!!

- Hot Rod Magazine Blog

Car Show • Schedule • Friday Night Cruise • Saturday @ the Cove • Sunday Drive @ KSC • Where to Stay • Where to Eat • Power Card • E-Mail List

The 2011 Hot Rod Power Tour® will kickoff in sunny Cocoa Beach, Florida! The Saturday Car Show will take place on June 4, 2011 at Port Canaveral. Events leading up to the big show on Saturday will include the Ron Jon Friday Night Cruise in downtown Cocoa Beach and a street party Saturday Night @ the Cove. Participants will have the opportunity for the Sunday Drive of a lifetime 'inside the fence' at the Kennedy Space Center for a tour around Launch Complex 39 en route to Georgia! Plan a long weekend on the 'Space Coast' and take part in all the events planned for the Hot Rod Power Tour kickoff weekend 2011!

Over 3,000 Hot Rods from all over the nation will be in Cocoa Beach for the kickoff of the Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour. Several hotels are offering special event rates for the Hot Rod Power Tour Kickoff. Check out the Where-to-Stay page to reserve yours now. Due to the number of participants expected for the event rooms will sell out so don't delay. For more information on the full Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour check out Hot Rods, Classic Cars & Street Rods - Hot Rod Magazine

Introduction

“Where do I even begin?”

Where do I even begin? How about with some apprehension, intimidation, shock, awe and just little bit of Wayne and Garth's "we're-not-worthy" shtick thrown in for good measure. For I am following in the flip-flopped footsteps of greatness here because Forrest "Toastie" Tosie and "Krispy" Ken Holland have been covering The Hot Rod Power Tour on behalf of Mothers with daily updates since the very first edition.

I'm John Naderi. I'm new around these parts and I'll be your misguided guide for the 2011 Power Tour. As for street cred I am a five-time veteran of the tour. Uh the Super Street Tour that is a now defunct knock-off of the Power Tour that was more Honda than Hot Rod.

And while my bladder capacity (which rivals a twelve-year old girl) may not make me the ideal long hauler companion, I more than make up for it with my ability to fall asleep within minutes of embarking on any kind of road trip, whether I'm a passenger, or unfortunately a driver.

I may not know history like Forrest and Ken (does this mean I'm doomed to repeat it, like Calculus?), and I can't tell you the detailed specs of the Gateway Arch or even who, exactly was General Custer (wasn't he the one who killed Mr. Boddy in the library with the lead pipe?). Although I know that REO Speedwagon is more than just an '80s band.

The tour has gone from the West to the East, and back again, Midwest to, uh Midwest, North to South and this year we're headed north from the sandy beaches of Cocoa Beach, Florida to the mean streets of Detroit, Michigan.

Of the 16 tours (yes, that's all of them) Mothers has not been afraid of rock chips or projectile insects. Our peeps have toured in such legendary Mothers metal as the Vista Cruiser, '67 Olds 442, '59 Chevy Sedan Delivery, '63 Nova SS convertible, ZR1, and even Forrest's "Way Cool Mothers® Vortech Mustang."

Gas prices be damned this year we're bringing back one of our big guns, Mothers '67 El Camino complete with it's 572-cubic inch engine unless we decide to swap it out for something even bigger.

As these cool rides, our usual cast of characters, and even our Mothers Big Rig take off on the 2011 Hot Rod Power Tour, I'll be in tow. Shambling after trying to document everything in my best meandering aimless way. I hope you enjoy the tour, it's going to be quite a trip.

Keep the shiny side up,

John Naderi
for Mothers® Polishes•Waxes•Cleaners

Content copyright 2010-2011. B. Lilley, Inc. All rights reserved.

Scott 0168 · 06-02-2011, 06:34 PM

Trouble with cars like the above, they are pretty, but the don't drive em, trailer queens for sure!

Dragon2U · 06-02-2011, 06:36 PM

Dang, I forgot all about that starting this week, thanks for the reminder and post lots of pics if you can. Are you cruising some of the way?

Focks · 06-02-2011, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott 0168

Trouble with cars like the above, they are pretty, but the don't drive em, trailer queens for sure!

I don't know about that, Scott. I drove mine all the way both times. And I saw some that were really tricked out with paint, engine and Sfx, and they all drove theirs the whole way. There was even that guy who drove that sate fair Rocket the whole way during the 2006 Hot Rod Shower Tour.

Beach potato · 06-02-2011, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragon2U

Dang, I forgot all about that starting this week, thanks for the reminder and post lots of pics if you can. Are you cruising some of the way?

Yea, going to be in the run out to the Shuttle launch complex, the road goes about a thousand feet from the Space Shuttle. Atlantis is poised for the LAST flight. Pretty cool to get this close......

....and your 'right on' Focks,,saw lots of blown and heavy duty machines come into town all day....hundreds of em!!!
Of course the Woodward cruise is loaded with ''trailer queens'' but not the power tour - real rods driven for 7 full days up to Detroit.

Tonight, you can enjoy a mini power tour in Cocoa Beach and on Merritt Island. The Ron Jon Friday Night Cruise, which starts at 7 p.m., features stops at Ron Jon Surf Shop, Slow & Low Bar-B-Que Bar and Grill, Sandbar Sports Grill, Hooters on Merritt Island, Mambo's at the International Palms Resort, Eagles Nest Sports Bar and Grill, Sunset Waterfront Cafe and Bar and Juice-N-Java Cafe. Each location will have entertainment and hundreds of cars to gawk at.

There is a poker run, too, said Bryan Lilley, organizer of the Port Canaveral-Cocoa Beach kickoff of the tour. Best hand wins a big prize.

The big day is Saturday at Terminals 2, 3 and 4 at Port Canaveral. In addition to the hot rods, there will be between 60 and 70 NASCAR-style tractor-trailer vendor rigs filled with folks selling parts and wares. Racing star Mario Andretti will sign autographs. The mainstage will have contests and giveaways. A Camaro will be given away.

A street party at the Cove follows the car show.

Scott 0168 · 06-05-2011, 08:29 PM

It would be cool if someday they could end during the Woodward Dream Cruise. I see in todays local news paper they are stopping Thursday in Muskegon, Michigan before heading over to Mo Town!

ssr71 · 06-06-2011, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott 0168

Trouble with cars like the above, they are pretty, but the don't drive em, trailer queens for sure!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Focks

I don't know about that, Scott. I drove mine all the way both times. And I saw some that were really tricked out with paint, engine and Sfx, and they all drove theirs the whole way. There was even that guy who drove that sate fair Rocket the whole way during the 2006 Hot Rod Shower Tour.

One of the rules of the Power Tour - NO TRAILERS. The vehicle must be driven into and out of each venue. Now... that's not to say that some of the day trippers come from home, show up to show off, then go home.