I just got done registering the T-bird for Hotrod magazine's Power Tour 2009! I took my '07 Mustang GT to the 2008 HRPT and had a blast. This year I am going to meet up with the tour in Dayton, OH on June 10th and then go to Somerset, KY the next day. Hopefully I will have the new 5.0 HO swapped in and all the bugs worked out by then! The 3 days I went last year I did not see a single Fox T-bird/Cougar out of the thousands of cars there.
Anyone else ever been to, or plan to go on Powertour?
I went in 05 and 07.
I plan to do the long haul. The way the tour is set up this year, I don't have to drive too far to Madison Wisconsin (I'll take the Ferry from Muskegon to Milwalkee to save a trip through Chicago) and it's only a day trip home from Bristol.
Saw one 4 eye in 05 and one pro-street 87/88 in 07. There were a few Mark VII's in 05. It would be great to see more this year. Fords overall are in the minority (it is sponsored by GM...).
The Power Tour is quite an adventure. Amazing cars, many you'd expect to be trailer queens, but their on the road, in the rain, getting beat on during some of the events. It's worth going, even for a day!
Lodging is filling up pretty fast. Everything within 30 miles of Somerset is booked.
Me and my dad ran the first leg last year, it was definitely worth going for sure. :cool:
Ill be meeting up with the tour in madison, so let me know!
Its definatley worth going! I got my hotel room for Dayton but noticed that everything close to the Somerset location said "call" on it. I just figured they didn't let you book a room online or something, the thought never crossed my mind that every room was already booked! One of the coolest parts is setting out in front of your hotel room watching people do burnouts!!
Birdman: It's great the tour starts in your home town! It could make a long ride home though... Certainly have to make arrangements to meet.
The nights at the hotel/motels are always fun! Every site has it's own little car show. It also give more of an opportunity to meet people.
One of the things which struck me were all the people lining the streets and the bridges to watch the tour go by! Their enthusiasm really make you feel part of something. They're even out there in the rain!
Yeah I noticed that too. The towns we went through were basically shut down so people could watch the tour roll through. You almost forget that it is the middle of the week. I kept thinkin' "shouldn't these people be at work?". I really had not planned on going again but the wife gave me the green light to take my bro this year instead and leave her at home! Had to jump on that one lol.
There are a lucky few whose spouses or significant others are interested in this hobby! My wife is happy not to go on the HRPT, she would find it boring (to her, all cars about the same, just different colors)!
I have found it tough to get someone to commit to doing the Long Haul, as it's about 10 days away from home. My wife may be willing to let me take off for that long, but most of my gear head friends spouses aren't that understanding.
I have come up with a work around for this year, due to the tours scheduled stop at the GM Tech Center. The Tech Center is only about 45 minutes away from home, so I can swap passengers there.
I had looked @ the HRPT would be great if we could all meet up.
I had planned on joining in Oh and going to the end.
Greg, that would be great. Be good to see you again!
So do you guys have rooms already booked in Somerset? I guess I'll have to settle for one of the hotels 30 miles from Somerset not yet booked up. Sucks there aren't more rooms in town...I don't want to be 30 miles from all the action. I still don't know if I will continue on to the last day in Bristol or not...it sounds cool but would be about 8 hrs from home for me.
Mark are you driving the bird???
Of course! It's my road car.
Should I assume you would be bringing the Cougar out?
You gave me quite an education on how a turbo loads (and unloads) on the "ride of terror" last summer!
Yeah, we would be driving the Turbo Cat. That is if all goes
well with Pinks All Out in Memphis in May?????
I have swapped to smaller turbo's they seem to spool sooner and
harder. LOL
Just gotta get some more fuel press now.
The Pinks All Out which will be close to me this year is the same day as the CatJam! I was pretty disappointed to see the conflict.
Good luck with getting the set up dialed in. Hope Memphis is a great time!
I'm working a few upgrades too... Nothing quite to your power level though.
50tbrd88: Sorry for skipping your question about lodging for Somerset. Yes, I have reserved a room in town. It is the only spot which requires a long notification if canceled (three weeks). 30 miles from the venue is a hike in the evening, but you don't have to leave from the venue in the morning, you can just head out to Bristol from where ever you are staying.
I just booked a room in London, KY. After looking at the Bristol location on google earth, I think I will have to go. If there is even the most remote chance they will let us drive on the track, I'm there!!
Great to hear you'll hit both stops. The last day things get a little wild!
Last year was my first year and we didn't go to the last day. We went Springfield, Topeka, and Lincoln. My wife went with me and she is not a big car show person. Don't get me wrong, we had fun but after a few hours at the show part she was bored (and whining that they all look the same). So this year my bro is going with me and I can look at more cars, and hang out in the hotel parking lot later into the evening to watch the BURNOUTS. I can't wait!!
I am leaving at 6 am to head to Dayton, OH to meet up with the tour! I will snap as many pics and take as many vids as possible and share them with you all when I get back.