8:00 am. The driver’s meeting is at 10:00, but we leave early to get the grand tour of the Trepanier digs. Following close behind the Edelbrock Sedan Delivery is a classic restored Nova police cruiser. Here’s a hint for the Edelbrock folks; don’t tell them your speedometer is broken — people seem to be getting wise to that old excuse.

A few miles from the Trepanier’s shop we stop for fuel. The beasts are thirsty.

While at the gas station, Jack Trepanier takes time out to give us a tour of “one of the nicest little ladie’s restrooms in all of Illinois.”

10:30 am. We arrive at the Jack and Troy Trepanier’s hot rod shop.

Their latest project is a street rod with a Viper engine and drivetrain.

The street rod will be called. . . 

11:00 am. The Sniper’s rolling frame, engine and driveline are unveiled.

The Sniper’s custom body takes shape.

The Viper doesn’t look quite as promising.

The hot rod builder’s hall of fame. Pictured in upper right hand corner, from left to right: Ray Brizio, Troy Trepanier, Chip Foose, Posie and Shane Weederly.

12:30 pm. Lansing cruise party. Hot Rod publisher Jim Savas watches as Mothers® Sales VP Forrest Tosie waxes his car. Jim believes that a quality wax is best when applied “by anyone else but me.”

Keith Bradbury and Shane Downes flew all the way from New Zealand to Los Angeles to be a part of the ’97 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour. While in LA they purchased a primered Camaro convertible and plan to ship it back to their homeland when finished with the Tour.

Keith and Shane are not the only out-of-towners looking for cool cars. Here we see three space aliens from the planet Detroit shopping the show for the perfect car to take back to their home world.