I finally had my act together. I got up early, out the door before 9 am. I went and met up with the MoPower Tour. It had rained the night before, but wasn’t now nor was it suppose to. All I needed to do was get gas and be on my way with everyone, and that is where Plan A fell apart.
Getting gas, I return to the meeting place for the MoPower Tour and they were all GONE! I was like, sheesh, could have waited 4 extra minutes. It wasn’t like you didn’t know I wasn’t coming.
Oh well, I turned around and headed out on my own. I traveled the route for almost a good 45 minutes before I came across another Power Tour participant. I was still trying to figure out if I was ahead or behind the main group. I think I was behind, but never did. It wasn’t that important.
Continue reading after the jump!
Getting off the highway I was with a group of unknown people, which was fine. We were cruising along, no issues. Going through the mountains were absolutely stunning.
A twist of fate worked in my favor though, my friends from the Chicago Gearheads had pulled over for some breakfast at an Arby’s in the mountains. This was great, I joined up with them and we all headed out into the mountains together.
This was the best leg so far. The weather was beautiful, the cars were working great and the scenery was just breath taking. We went for at least an hour or so without interuption, just our group making our way through these little valley passes.
Coming through the mountains, we came up to the Cumberland Tunnel. I hadn’t been in a tunnel like that in a while. It didn’t make me feel any better that I was lead car through the tunnel. Or the fact that the tunnel was closed for a bit to allow some chemical trucks through in front of us. But everything went fine, we all drove through without issue and entered Tennessee., then Virginia, then Tennessee again.
It might not seem like it, but it was tiring driving those mountain roads. Always have to be on guard, always alert. And of course I was trying to take pictures, which could have been a disaster.
We all just cruised along, me snapping random pictures of random things. There were some project Mopars for sale just outside of Jonesville, and I couldn’t get my camera up and out in time to take their pictures ironically. I was thinking about turning out, but decided to continue on with the group.
Coming out of some serious twistys, my friends in the new Mustang Convertible in front of us had a little issue. Their drag plate from the Chicago Gearheads had broken and was now dragging partially on the group. So we needed to make a pitstop before this thing went through someones window.
We found a little mini-mart gas station in one of the towns and pulled over to fix it. They had the problem fixed in no time, but we had other issues. The gas station only had one bathroom total, no boys and girls, just one. So we all had to wait our turn to use it, and since I had to use it longer, I let the other guys go in front, putting me at the back of the pack again.
Another problem was that the mini-mart we were at did not sell alcohol, which wasn’t a big problem for me, since I don’t drink. But the other guys did want some, so they went ahead to another gas station down the road for some.
The rest of the group who was with me made their way to the gas station and joined up with them. We let our cars cool down for a while, they had worked hard going through the mountains. I know the Caprice was running around 210 to 220 degrees.
So me always being a photographer, I pulled out the camera and began snapping pictures of cars going by. It was ironic because just as I get situated, the MoPower Tour head vehicle goes past me! I don’t know how they got behind me, but they did.
With the everyone rested up, and coolers full of refreshments, the group headed out on the last leg together. After this we would be going our seperate ways, some home to Chicago, some going to Pennsylvania, and myself heading to North Carolina to see my sister.
It was a sombering through, but we had such a great time and we had no regrets. So we made our way into Bristol. Going through Bristol, I happened to glance to my right, and there, pulling out of the gas station was my friends from Wicked Rides! So in one day, I was with all my friends. They pulled in line behind me, and we all pulled into Bristol Speedway together.
This venue was another one that I guess common sense took a day off, the vendors were all lined up against the drag strip, and the Hot Rod Stage was at the far end, about a half mile from where the majority of the show cars were at.
We didn’t dwell on this, some guys went to line up for drag racing, others went to sign up for going around the Nascar track in the speedway. I started my usual routine of mapping out where everyone was, finding unique or cool vehicles, then going back over everything to get more details.
Temperatures had risen, and the humidity was up, so sweating came easily to me as I walked the rows of cars. Finding some crazy stuff at this stop. A guy had a 68 Barracuda with 340/2 on the hood. I asked him about it, he said if I guessed right he would show me the engine. I told him it had to be a 170 slant six. He told me I was correct and showed me his tricked out small slant six. Pretty cool car with tweaks here and there to make it run real nice.
Walking around, I saw some cool old drag cars, the only “Super Mustang”, a SS Hemi Barracuda and Hemi Satellite. Which give you a real kick of nostalgia when being at a cool track like Bristol. On my swing back to the beginning I heard that the Nun-Runner was about to go down the drag strip, so I raced over the fence and grabbed some shots of it making a respectable 18+ second run down the quarter mile. Very cool for such a heavy beast, but a very cool, well engineered, well run vehicle. (Written under threat of death… ::ah choo, ah choo:: )
This venue had some really interesting cars to see, a Canadian Beaumont Acadian Sport Coupe… aka Nova SS in America. A stunning 69 Camaro with ZR1 engine ( I know it was here all week, I just now noticed it), amodified Checker Taxi Cab and a gaggle of rat rods. It was so refreshing to see such unique cars, instead of the hum drum stuff like usual.
Making my way through the crowd I found my friends with the new 09 Challenger R/T Classic. They were speaking with a gentleman and his wife who had a 71 
Dodge Challenger R/T. We arranged an impromptu photoshoot with the two cars in a nice wooded side area of the parking lot, I think the pictures came out really nice.
Finishing with the pictures, we chatted for a while and then they both had to go, so I said goodbye to my friends, who were heading home to Indiana and wished them well. Before going, I learned that they are huge Diner’s, Drive In’s and Dive’s fans…. guess what we’re doing when they come to Chicago!
Walking back to the drag strip, the racing had finished and they were just allowing people to walk around the track like nothing, people pulled their cars up for pictures on the track, and next to the Thunder Mountain signs. I got some really incredible pictures I think. And finally I have proof, a picture of myself at a venue! I think there are maybe 2 or 3 others in existance.
It was getting later, many of the participants were leaving. So I made my way for one more trek through the venue. I found my friends from the Gearheads hanging out in the bleechers just off the track, talking with the guys from Streetwise about how my friends 60 Buick LeSaber convertible beat out their Box Truck on the drag strip by a full .01 of a second. Pretty funny stuff.
This time I was done, I made my way back to the Caprice, loaded all my gear up and headed for the Motel. Not before hitting up a BoJangles. Quite the name.
Tomorrow is the Long Hauler meeting, it is going to be fun and sad, because another Power Tour is ending. I hope to have something more profound for tomorrow, but for now I will just say, see ya tomorrow!
Oh Yeah, we Rule!… so says the city of Somerset!
Ryan Brutt
www.ryanbrutt.com
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To view all the pictures, please see below.
[url]http://www.flickr.com/photos/hemipwr70/sets/72157619579712677/[/url]
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