Over the years, us fine folks at Mothers have had plenty of fun on the Hot Rod Power Tour. Good food, good friends, and cool cars to drive.

And, 2009 will be the pinnacle of my Power Tour experience.

With the auto manufacturers needing all the help they can get, I decided the best way to support them was to buy something new for the Tour. You know, help a brother out. Looking at what was available brought lots of choices — all of them good.

But, one better than the others.

Since last year’s Tour, I’ve been bicycling, eating right and exercising, all to meet the rigors of middle-agedness and Power Touring. My plan was to drive a car that would go faster than what I weighed. That’d be easy to do if I weighed 155 or so, but I haven’t seen that weight since the early 1980s.

180? Not this year. 190? Not by June.

200? Yeah, I can do that. But, 205 would be a little easier to accomplish.

Now, let’s see — what goes 205 and is made in America?

Just one car: The 2009 ZR1 Corvette.

Gee, that wasn’t so hard to pick out. Just take a gander at these specs:

Does that sound like a vehicle suitable for the Power Tour? Sure it does. What’s a car with those specs look like? Just take a look.

Ground pounding horsepower. Enough amenities to keep me happy and comfortable in my old age. And, the ability to flatten my astigmatic eyeballs should the urge arise.

I admit it — the urge is there for flattened eyeballs.

Yep, life is good.

So, when we Tour through Michigan, I can hold my head up high, supporting American car makers. And, when we end in Bristol, I’ll be a true-blue American, fitting in with all the good ol’ boys.

Whadda ya think? Is this a great country or what? I’m counting the days until we blast off for parts known and unknown.

I hope to see you there.

Your humble and obedient servant,

Forrest Tosie

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