I’m speechless. For once (okay, maybe the second time).
After finally landing in Cleveland last night (after a detour when our plane ran out of gas, forcing us to stop in Detroit — check your map for the brains behind that one), I arrived to see no car for me to drive.
Seems as though there were some last minute details to attend to on the alternative fueled monster we’re bringing, which meant my car wasn’t here. They’re riding together in one of the other trucks, so I’m told. Good thing we have plenty of other cars laying around. I’ll just take the RX8 set up for drifting until a set of wheels shows up that I like.
That’ll fix ’em.
Don’t let anyone kid you about Cleveland. Drew Carey may make fun of it, but it’s really a happening place. Just look at what I saw walking around the I-X Convention Center parking lot, conveniently located right next to the airport.
We aren’t the only ones with an alternative fueled vehicle. Jay Leno’s EcoJet arrived and found a home surrounded by stanchions.
I’m thinking we can take him in the quarter mile. You’ll see what I mean when our alternative burner arrives in 2 days.
One of my favorite reasons for the Power Tour changing cities is getting to see different cars. Just look at some of the cars we found in the lot:
The interior is cool, in its own way.
Well-done flames are always popular.
Look real close — the flames are the hood.
Now that’s putting some thought into the details.
If you’re a fan of the Chrysler 300, here’s young lineage.
It’s a 300D if you really love the old finned letter cars.
Since retro is always in, here’s what “Mooning” was years ago.
I think it was different back in the ’70s.
Despite the price of gas, mega motors were all over the place. I saw an original ’67 Belvedere while I was without the camera, but I’ll get it tomorrow. This was a bench seat 4 speed HEMI. I promise a picture tomorrow. I wonder if I have enough cash in my pocket to make a deal? Those B-bodies are on my dream car list.
Speaking of mega-motors, this Rat was holding court in one area,
while a monster MOPAR was turning in the high horsepower number for the day. Take a view.
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and a listen.
Last year we met Chloie at the final stop. She was 6 years old then, and had been on four Power Tours. Check out June 9, 2006, at the end of the daily coverage. She’s back this year, wisened at the age of 7 and helping Grandpa have a great time.
We climbed up on top the rig for a look around, and saw the diversity of Power Tour vehicles. Mega-rich oil companies playing it poor and humble,
a soccer-mom’s minivan that was attacked by a herd of flames,
and even a golf cart — this one with every hot rodder’s dream girl, Linda Vaughn.
The view was so good from up top we had visitors all day long,
including the folks from Hot Rod Television.
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Not to be outdone, I shot my own video.
Cecil B. DeMille, eat your heart out.
Before heading up for the stage and my daily giveaway, I pondered doing the incognito thing with some great sunglasses,
but everyone decided they looked better on Robert’s face than mine.
For the past several years, I’ve been the honorary Hot Rod Power Tour weather prognosticator. I gladly resigned my spot last year to a younger, far wiser, Chad of Hot Rod TV fame. Chad assured Joe, the emcee, and I, that he was up to the task.
While on the stage (and at the same time, on the Jumbotron),
with Chad and Joe, a mighty gust of wind nearly swept us all off our feet.
Notice that serious lean? Well, Chad never saw it coming.
Some weather man he turned out to be. Joe, in a fit of rage, fired Chad and hired me back.
Just my luck. So, real quick-like, I fired-up my handheld PDA phone and checked the weather for Kalamazoo.
Isn’t technology grand? 50% chance of rain for tomorrow, by the way.
Done with my duties for the day, I headed back to the rig, spotting a car even expert detailers couldn’t make look better.
I’ll never be able to retire if this trend catches on.
With visions of the Mothers Chip Foose commercial filling the Jumbotron, we headed for the SEMA bus and a bar-b-que. Peter McGillivary of SEMA had graciously agreed to host some of the manufacturer SEMA members for an after-hours bar-b-que.
When we arrived Peter was doing his thing, so we waited out front for our steak, medium-well, thank you.
Dr. Strangelove’s personal transportation drove by... and I’m hoping at least three or four of you get that joke.
In the middle of the bar-b-que, the 50% chance of rain for tomorrow turned in to 100% for today.
Jumping-in the drifting RX8, we drifted back to the hotel and planned for tomorrow’s drive to Kalamazoo. The way I see it, we’re 50% ahead on the rain. That means tomorrow will be bright and sunny.
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