2004 Hot Rod Power Tour, page 5
          WE BUILD AMERICAN PERFORMANCE   
  
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     The Trip, Continued

Jim took the lead driving into St. Louis.  We found "Gateway International Raceway Park" and got parked, a great spot this time.  I was excited because on this leg of the trip it was drag racing time.  Hot Rod Magazine coordinated for Power Tour participants to run on the strip.  Everybody kept telling me I was crazy (being 1000 miles from home) to drag race my Chevelle.  What can I say, it was fun and I am hardcore.  I ran my car on the 1/4 mile strip and turned 12's.  I was happy about that, even though my car was cutting out on the top end (I thought I could do better.)  I saw Jeff Smith in his flamed '65 El Camino that night as he was leaving the venue. 

About this time we all got separated and a little frustrated at the miscommunication.  That was the only flaw in the whole trip.  Later that night Toni and I decided not to do the entire trip to Greenbay.  This was a hard decision to make and it broke our hearts to not go all the way.  We wanted so much to be a part of the "Long Haul Gang."  Money was getting tight, we could not get hotel reservations at two of the stops still ahead and I needed to get back to the many C & D Performance projects.  Also our girls were at home alone (they are 20 and 13, and that is scary).

  
  
   
  
  
  

The next morning we bid farewell to our Power Tour companions at the Cracker Barrel restaurant, it was very, very  sad.  We ate and hit the road, this time straight back on I-44 to Wichita Falls Texas through the beautiful state of Missouri.

At one of the rest areas we met Jeremy from Floydata Texas.  He had bought a car on Ebay and met his Dad on the Power Tour to pick up the car.   He was a cool guy.  His dad works at the Scoggin Dickey Speedshop in Lubbock Texas.  Jeremy has plans to build up the IROC for he and his son.  We stopped in Springfield and ate lunch together at Shoney's.

The rest areas in Missouri are cool.  They have totally automatic sinks that I had never seen before.  When you would put your hands inside the sink, you automatically got soap, then water to rinse with and finally warm air to dry your hands.  What a trip!  All the rest areas look the same with giant oak trees, picnic tables and manicured lawns, very nice!  We crossed the line into Oklahoma and had to stop and take a pic (for Jeremy's wife.) 

  
 
We drove together with Jeremy as far as entering the Tulsa area then parted ways.  By this time it had rained for 400 miles!  My car was a filthy mess from getting blasted by the truckers that were going way too fast in the rain.  At the first opportunity after the rain stopped we pulled off the interstate to take a break and clean up the Chevelle.  We were just outside of Tulsa at a gas station and an Arby's.  Toni ordered food and ate while I cleaned up the car.  After cleaning, eating and resting we gassed up for another leg of the journey.   Along the trip through Oklahoma we spotted a sight to see.  Check out the worlds largest McDonald's in the middle of I-44, some worthless trivia for yall!  We blasted through OK City and Lawton, then rejoicing when we crossed the TEXAS line and home sweet, home!!!

 

The entire trip up to St. Louis and back home again, was 1700 miles.  This was the best road trip that I or my wife have ever experienced!  We tried to be "Long Haulers" but my schedule of work and family would not allow it.  The Chevelle was flawless and ran ROCK SOLID! 

Special thanks go out to Dave & Carol and Jim & Kassy for making this trip such a gratifying experience, you guys have truly blessed Toni and I!  Thank you!  The people we met at every stop along the way and the friends we made on this trip are memorable and special.  God Bless you all!

At every stop there was an overwhelming sense of respect and awe for each vehicle.  Everyone knew of the blood, sweat and tears put forth into all the works of art that comprised each and every Hot Rod in attendance.

Some of the more memorable highlights include:  Wil helping me wax my car (he is handy on the trigger), all the fans along the tour route who greeted us, the Cover Craft lunch stop, the "Thermal Nuclear Meltdown" traffic jam in Tulsa, Dinner at the Outback Steak House, the homemade root beer floats at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, the Osage Beach lunch stop, my birthday dinner at Lambert's (home of the thrown rolls!), Our frequent prayer circles, the drive through the Ozarks jammin' with Van Halen tunes, and finally, making passes down the St. Louis Gateway International  Raceway drag strip and running in the 12's after driving 1000 miles.

VERY, VERY, COOL!!!  

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