Just gonna throw this up here and leave.
http://www.hotrod.com/powertour/hrdp_2012_hot_rod_power_tour_locations_dates_registration/
I am plannin on Detroit, Muskegon, and Champaign. Who else is goin?
I might hit the Miami OK location.
I'm doing Muskegon, Champaign and Madison. Hope to run into you again Gumby.
i'd love to go, always wanted to do the whole thing.. something ALWAYS comes up and i can't do it.. >:l
I'd LOVE to do it this year but I really don't think I'll have the bird road worthy by then, at least without help. Next year for sure ;)
Gumby and I have been in contact and I'll be going. Due to my location, the first three stops are a no brainer.
For those who are up for it, hitting the starting day is probably the most fun! Everyone's full of anitition and checking out the cars as they're coming in to register. It's a great time.
I have a ton to do on the car though! Next weekend the work begins.
Hope to see you guys there again. I will probably stay in the same hotel (Sline Inn, I believe) in Muskegon.
Hope we can spent a bit more time with each other this year! Rooms are booking quick. Both Muskegon and Champagne have limited accommodations. You may want to give Sline a call!
Mine are done...I'm excited already and its still January
Just found this on one of my autocross club sites....bring your helmets!!
, I've not even registered yet! Guess I need to get on the ball.
That's great to hear! The reminder on the helmets is well taken. It would suck to get there an not be able to run.
I wonder if there will be an event in Muskegon. There used to be a drag strip close by...
I would imagine there will be some loaner helmets, but if you got your own who wants a loaner? blech.
As an aside, Ryan likely wont be able to run the srt8. They arent classed and therefore not allowed to run, due to rollover risk. This event will likely be run "fun" style w/o classing, but general rules and guidelines will still apply.
Dang, finally got registered and all the hotel rooms booked. I've never had so much trouble finding good/affordable rooms close to the event. I ended up not getting a room at the Sline Inn in Muskegon (it was booked up). I am staying at the Holiday Inn in Grand Haven-Spring Lake.
I'm hoping to leave early enough Sunday so we will have time to stop in South Bend and check out the Studebaker museum. I've heard that its worth looking into. We usually bust ass trying to make it to the event by taking the power tour route. I think this year I'm going to try and find some neat things along the way to check out and not worry about getting to the venue. That should make the trip more enjoyable.
I am looking forward to Gateway motorsports park (http://"http://www.gatewaymsp.com/en/"), there will probably be some drag racing and hopefully some roundy-round track time available as well.
Got that right on loaner helmets! Even with a head sock, it's just plain gross.
Rules are rules I guess. I can see a standard Grand Cherokee being a rollover risk, not so much an SRT 8. Those things run the same lap times as Vipers on a road course. They don't hit the top speeds on the straights, but the 4wd puts them through the tight stuff quicker (and Vipers are NOSE HEAVY). When we did an SRT 8 clinic at Road America, they showcased them on autocross first, then let us out on the track with them. They are amazing 5,000 lb tanks stock!
He'd be bummed if they shut him out...
Spring Lake Holiday Inn is about 10 miles south of the venue, all highway and not far. Gumby's staying in Grand Haven, and I'll be in Grand Rapids.
I've learned never to take the recommended route. I've found that it takes at least 8 hours of drivetime and it ends up being like you discribe, "busting ass to make to the venue". Having a stick shift and creeping through small town traffic grids with 3,000 other cars maybe fun for some, I just get worn out.
You do miss some stuff by taking the highway, but 4 hours in the car is a lot less tiring that 8 hours. I don't want to feel like I need a nap when I get to the venue and I want to get there before people start packing up!
Yeah it definately wears you out taking the route, but there is some beautiful scenery that you miss on the interstate. I've found that I have more fun in the hotel parking lot than at the venue.
LOL!
I've had some great times at hotels too! A smaller group, a chance to spend a little time with people, sit down, relax and have a beer. It's where you form relationships. Sometimes the nights can get a little long (in a good way).
I've found if I can get to the venue early and be able to take part in whatever is at the event, than it can be great time. However, if I roll in between 4-6 PM, I too pooped to enjoy anything. But that still leaves the hotel parking lot.
I'll trade scenery for 1/2 the time on the road though! It may sound a bit counter car guy and I won't qualify for the hardcore award, but it works for me!
Actually I was in Grand Haven last year. I will be in Grand Rapids this year for the Muskegon stop.
Thread revival. Anyone else going this year? I'm excited and its still a month away! Sadly I will only be making three stops this year. Someday I would love to do the whole week, but with a 10 mo. old at home, I better not press my luck with the wife.
I have to tune my bird up (got a new coil, plugs, wires, cap/rotor for it) and remove the new rear springs so I can cut them down a tad. As my uncle says it has a "pine riser" look to it now (I'm not totally sure what that even means, maybe one of you old guys can enlighten me? lol)
I'm going. Whether it's in the Thunderbird remains in question... I'll update my thread on progress after the weekend.
I'm pretty sure I qualify an an "old guy", but have no clue as to what your uncle means by "pine riser"!
This year, for guys who are within a days driving distance of Detroit, doing three days of the Tour is a great option. It keeps time off work to a minimum (one maybe two days, depending on how far home is from Champagne). It's worth going just for a day to see the spectacle!
Yeah, that's why I opted to go again this year. I will be close to home and will only miss a couple days of work. While I'm skipping day one in "the D", I am looking forward to Muskegon. They were very receptive of the tour last year and I thought it was a nice town/setting. Hopefully I can get downtown quicker this year and witness more of the burnout area.
I"ll be there! First three stops.
Will there be any autox stuff at any of the stops you are attending? It would be awesome to see your 'bird waxing some high $$ pro touring stuff around the cones.
See post #10. Looks like evening autoX in Champaign
Oops should have read that!
I hate you all that have been on Power Tour, it's on my bucket list and I have yet to do it :bowdown:
I visited Montgomery last year! Had fun!
The Thundebird will not make the Power Tour this year. Pressurized the oil system and the rear main is leaking, not enough time to R&R the engine and take care of the other logistics. I'll still be attending the first three stops, but I'll be riding in a 2002 Chrome Yellow Honda S2000.
Well that sucks. At least you still get to go, though.
Chris, too bad you're not coming to the first stop. You'd be able to stop by and at least see what I've been up too! Gumby will be here Friday night.
Cant wait to get there either!
As for me, I hurt the trans last night so I got my own thrashing to do now. Thankfully, got a spare in the corner and an old rebuild kit ready to go.
Boy you guys are scaring me with all this breakage!! Now if my 'bird breaks down the circle will be complete, lol. Gumby I am sure you will thrash and get yours ready to whip a$$ in the autoX.
That reminds me I need to double check that my spare tire 1) fits 2) Is in good working order. I also need to do an oil change.
Trans is swapped, and I registered for the Tour today. As long as I dont break anything on the 28th...
Just read on bangshift.com that there will be a Pizza place hosting partint burnouts after the main event is over in Muskegon, MI. Last year the burnouts were done downtown and it got a little crazy! This should be a safer alternative to having tons of people crowding the side of the street.
Location:
Fricano's on the Lake
1050 W Western Ave
Muskegon, MI
I will probably go check it out as I love watching other people tear their stuff up, lol.
Here is a video I took last year of some of the excitement: http://youtu.be/KVTmnhopXyQ
Hope everyone had a great Tour! It's a shame we got cut short by my IRCM failure, but from reports it doesnt seem that we missed much in Champaign(no official major activities planned, and rain in the evening).
Thanks for the good traveling company. Hopefully the Tour will be close enough next year to do it again.
Results from Muskegon's autocross are up
http://www.furrin.org/Results/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/88/Hot-Rod-Power-Tour-Autocross--Final--632012.aspx
also found this:
http://jalopnik.com/5915824/watch-a-cadillac-cts+vs-airbags-explode-during-a-pre+wedding-autocross
I got back early this afternoon. Yes Gumby, Champaign did not have a ton going on at the venue other than just the normal walking around and looking at cars. Sorry we all couldn't meet up due to your mechanical problems, but I understand! Maybe next year?
Yesterday was pretty enjoyable at the stop at Gateway Motorsports Park. Good amount of drag racing action and the weather was nice. I didn't see every pass by any means, but the best I saw was a 9.xx pass by the 2.3T powered "Huber" Mustang that has been shown in the magazine partiting in Hot Rod's drag week.
My T-bird did very well this year. Only problems were a loose tach wire and my windshield washer not working due to a plugged line (I haven't used the wipers for years, lol). Both were easy fixes. My car averaged about 23 mpg on the way to MI and 19 mpg on the stop-and-go Power Tour route. I have yet to fill it up and see what I got coming back from St. Louis but expect it to be in the low 20's. My biggest issue was that the car is a little too low in the rear now. I lost count on how many times I drug my tailpipes coming in and out of parking lots. I am going to need to do something to get the rear up just a tad. Other issue is a sore left leg from pushing in my clutch...the Steeda alum quadrant and adjustable clutch cable are a lot stiffer than the stock setup and took its toll on my knee, lol.
Overall my Uncle and I had a very good time and can't wait to go again next year. 3 days seems to be a nice sweet spot for us though, I can't imagine going all 7 days. I think I would be totally spent by 5 days in!
Sorry for my late chime in on the event! Things were pretty crazy after only being gone a few days...
It was a great time, even being a little shorted by Gumby's intermintant loss of power and subsequent tow home.
Our little caravan consisted of Gumby's Thunderbird, my friend Mike's 2002 Honda S2000 and Ryan's 2008 Jeep SRT8 Grand Cherokee.
The starting point at the GM Proving Grounds was impressive. Ryan, Gumby and I got there at 10 AM. The place is about the size of a county! We drove about 15 minutes from registration to get to the venue. Getting out at the same time as "almost" everyone else, took about 2 hours! Ryan's Jeep had a few upgrades since last year and it was getting hot in traffic. The heater had to come on to cool the engine. It got a little toasty in there until we could get on the road.
We beat it to Muskegon on Sunday morning, getting there about 11:30 and signed up for the Autocross. We were first in line. The times listed in the link in Gumby's post greatly understates his performance on the track! He was #2 or #3 until a couple C5 Corvettes and the '12 Mustang hotlapped the course with 5 and 6 runs, dropping their times. Ryan's Jeep was an animal (5,000 lbs of SUV). He was kind enough to let me beat it around the track. Here are a few links. I'm in the white helmet, he's in the black.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3bwA4z0xFk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNIdVW4Y1Qw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmX3DejU4mk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD_guPKvSL4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_iUcbfUeOs
Being with the truck was kind of like dating a super model. Everyone wanted to see it, not us. It received attention from Hot Rod Magazine. They interviewed Ryan and the car was shot for a feature. He was invited to the Optima Invitational Challenge too (which is kind of like be asked on a date by a super model)!
We got late start on Monday, due to a late evening by Gumby and I. Two hours outside of Champane, Gumby's intermitant loss of power became too frequent to continue. We got to hang out for another three hours waiting for the truck and then headed for home.
It was only a Friday evening to Monday evening, but it felt like at least week!
We missed Chris Wilson in Muskegon and of course didn't hook up on Champane...
Have to see what the route is next year!
Unless it goes waaay west/too far from home, I'm definately in again! My uncle sent me a text yesterday, "work sucks, when is HRPT?" lol...
Historically they've started it where they end it the year before and then head either north or south, depending... I suspect it will pass within a couple hours of you on the way back up. We'll have to wait till Nov/Dec for the route!
We were watching this car do the course and wondered what happened when we heard the pop and the car stopped. There's a bit more to the story on the understatement of his being "slighty perturbed"! He provided a bit of entertainment to the crowd with his reaction as he got out of the car: He proceeded to dance around getting his helmet off, throwing it into the car, slamming the door and then issued a few screaming tiraids! We were all a little stunned by his reaction, because it wasn't clear what happened. If someone caught that on video, it would probably gone viral!
i went to the power tour , i live in muskeon. sorry didnt take the Tbird, drove my 70 cobra. I watched these two get the wedding photo, their car was parked just down from mine.
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn27/ramair351/4a02ab75.jpg)
NIce Cobra!