Hot Rod Power Tour 2011 - June 4-11 (multi-city)

Hey Y'all!

We set up on that Friday in Cocoa Beach, Florida getting ready for the first day of the tour. Saturday was very warm but we had a nice breeze. The magnets were very popular but as it was our first year doing this lots of the long haulers didn’t know we were had them. As the tour went on more and more would come by to get the magnets. With a guess I think we gave out around 2,500.

Each evening several of the vendors with big rigs decided that I was going to be the lead truck to the next location (sounds like a convoy). They called me the big blue truck - then the smurf truck and ended up calling me poppa smuff. It made driving five hours every evening a lot easier. Sunday was very hot in Valdosta, Georgia but again a great show of cars. 

 Marcel, me and Kevin

Monday in Montgomery, Alabama was about the same being very hot and bringing back some memories as this location was the track that I had taken my dad to a Super Chevy Show. 

Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee was great as more vendors came to this event and we were parked on top of the hill where there was a nice breeze. I did turn my ankle while unloading and I had to whine just a little bit. 


Wednesday in Indianapolis, Indiana was slam packed with thousands of cars inside the Indy speedway. When I was trying to get out I ran thru a hole and bent the apron on my right front bumper and then I had to listen to all of the trash talking of the other drivers. That evening as we were having dinner three of the other drivers (John with Mothers, Bill with Magnaflow, and Steve with Spectra) got together and bought me a CB as they was tired of calling me on the phone.

Thursday in Muskegon, Michigan I had to put on long jeans and long sleeves as it was pretty cool. Sonny and I had breakfast after we set up as we had time because we didn’t have to put the canopy up. Jennifer came in and we had a great day there. It was like working with the air conditioner on. 


Friday in Detroit, Michigan was cool with a chance of rain so I put the canopy up and I’m glad we did. There were a couple of showers that day but it did not detour this group as the lot was full of cars and every one happy that they had gone the whole trip. Marcel and Kevin was a big help setting up and tearing down. Without them I couldn’t have gotten every thing done. Also during the show we were all busy answering questions and handing out magnets. Sonny also was very helpful with the booth and tearing down in the evening. Jennifer came in for Thursday and Friday and helped Sonny and I do the shows where it was about 30 degrees cooler than all of the other shows. I did get Chip Foose sitting on the 104+ World's Fastest Mower. It was nice that I didn’t have to drive that evening and was able to relax with some friends. Got up on Saturday morning and drove back to Chicago and Gold Eagle.


The START YOUR ENGINES! brand got a lot of attention with two different guys telling me stories on how they had used it and how well it worked. One said Start Your Engines! saved him a hundred dollars. He said all of this with many customers around to hear it.


*** Thanks to Marcel, Kevin, Sonny, and Jennifer for helping me on the tour! ***


Until next time!


Bobby Cleveland - The Engine Answerman