jrrhdmust

I have driven on Hot Rod Magazine’s Power Tour three times, with the most recent being last year. This year the tour is starting in Biloxi, MS, then Houston, TX, Austin, TX, Dallas TX, and ending in Iowa. I have very little interest in being that far away from home station in an old car, plus with a southern Texas route it is sure to be blistering hot and my 73 Mustang does not currently have AC.

So a few of us arranged our own tour. We did it in conjunction with the first weekend of the month, so we could hit Caffeine and Octane in Atlanta on Sunday. There were about 1500 cars, including multiple Lamborghinis and Ferraris., and my favorite a Pantera. There is also a 550 Spyder that has been frequenting the show.

So here is what we did.

30 April
Depart for Barber Motorsports Park
http://www.barbermuseum.org/plan-a-visit/museum-hours/#
Tour the Barbour Motorsports Museum 1000- 1200
Depart Barbour at 12PM for the Porsche Experience in Atlanta
https://www.porschedriving.com/centers/Atlanta

1 May
Participate in Caffeine and Octane
http://caffeineandoctane.com/
It usually starts breaking up around 1000-1030
1030 Depart for Deals Gap (Tail of the Dragon)
Stop by Helen GA and have a Beer or three.
Remain overnight

2 May
Drive the Dragon
http://tailofthedragon.com/
At some point drive to Bowling Green KY
Remained over night

3 May
Tour the Corvette Museum
Tour Corvette Plant
http://www.corvettemuseum.org/visit/plan-a-visit/
Head back to HSV

It was a great trip. We ended up having about 7 cars, and 12 people. A few friends joined us along the way.

Driving the 996 on the Dragon was awesome!!! I drove it three times, these cars are amazing!!

ltusler

You were in Helen and didn't make the run up to Cleveland?

Flat6 Innovations

They tried, but the gates were shut... 😎

Spork

Very cool!

I have wanted to do the Power Tour for a long time now but hard to get enough time off as the course is usually way back east so adds a lot of extra drive time just to get there.

One thing that bothers me about the tour is all the late models running. Driving a new Mustang or Camaro kind of takes something away from the whole concept. Should be for older cars that have a little more "character" (meaning they might break down, get poor gas mileage, have no a/c or modern comforts, etc) and have a higher fun factor.

I guess a 550 Spyder certainly would qualify! I'd probably cut some slack for a newer Lambo too because even though I've never ridden in one let alone driven one, they probably aren't the most comfortable long distance cruiser. And just the idea of a Lambo or Ferrari logging serious miles in one trip seems pretty cool, using them like they were meant to be: driven!

I'd like to do the Power Tour in my all original, one owner '64 Pontiac Catalina 2+2, 389, 4 speed car. I'm probably going to put a/c in it though.

Did you get any photos of the cars or your trip? Would love to see them.

relinuca

Very nice Poncho. What? No Tri-Power?

relinuca

jrrhdmust

I could blow this up with pictures. I will post a few. I tried to hit Jake up, but he already had plans. I highly recommend the Corvette Plant, that was pretty cool. The Porsche experience in Atlanta was Ok. I thought is was supposed to be more of a museum, they had a few cars on display, but they were pushing their Driving Experience and 356 restaurant more.

Porscheby40

I did the 1998 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour from LA to Detroit in a 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge hardtop, Ram Air III w/ a 4-speed.

It was fun, but if I do it again, I'm taking a more modern car with an overdrive transmission and air conditioning.

It sounds like your own tour was a lot of fun.

jrrhdmust

I normally do the power tour in a 73 Mustang, the 2002 911 was awesome for the Dragon.

Here is the start of some pics. Atlanta Porsche Experience.

jrrhdmust

Caffeine and Octane

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more....

jrrhdmust

yet more....

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Final ones for Caffeine and Octane

jrrhdmust

Tail of the Dragon

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Corvette Museum (They wouldn't let us have cameras in the Plant)

jrrhdmust

more