HRPT 2009 pics

driller

driller

El Presidente
Staff member
When we left Carlisle on Monday afternoon, we made it home around 5 PM and I spent the remainder of the evening unpacking and repacking to get ready to meet up with the Hot Rod Power Tour 2009. :D

We joined the tour in Detroit and from there we traveled to Dayton-OH, Somerset-KY and finally Bristol-TN before returning home. Some pics of the tour...

Detroit

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The Lincolns caught taking a short rest stop the next day...

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Rollin' on the Tour...

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Some stage antics...

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A rare hotel parking lot find...

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A beginning of a typical early morning gathering for the driver's morning meeting...

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Bristol...

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The tour was grueling but absolutely a blast. Late nights and early mornings were the rule of the week. A typical day began around 7AM gathering all the crew and gassing up before heading off to the driver's meeting. Then on the road for several hours usually with a couple or more short stops along the way. Arrive at the venue, polish the car, walk around the show and vendors. Usually spend some time at the stage events before heading off to the hotel in the evening and ending the night with dinner, a few drinks, some parking lot BS sessions and a few more drinks before finally calling it a night. :D

I'm not sure how many cars were in attendance but the number had to be in the thousands. To participate in this event is a true test of your mettle.

The Metro-Beach venue in MI was huge but was easily eclipsed by Bristol. The town of Somerset wins the hospitality award hands down. The small towns of OH and KY were cool to drive through seeing all sorts of roadside spectators along the way.

The weather was wet at some part of the day for all but the last day. But for the most part, it wasn't bad. We had a group of up to five Mark VIIs and a Mark V along with my '96 Mark VIII. A Shelby Mustang and another Mustang joined along with the Lincoln clan for most of the tour. Trying to keep such a convoy together in traffic can be exciting at times, but it was just cool rolling together as a group. ;)

There were a couple other Lincolns we saw occasionally but we couldn't coerce them to join us. I never did meet the owner of the Lighting powered Mark VIII and didn't see it anywhere after Detroit.

Many more pics can be found here...

http://imageevent.com/driller/hrpt2009
 
The grand finale at Bristol was most exhilarating. With both drag racing and circle track laps available, it was a packed house. When we arrived at the venue we trekked to the stage area where I heard the announcement they had only 35 slots remaining for the circle track. I literally jumped from the chair to be sure to get in line for the once in a lifetime experience. After all, I have been drag racing a few times before! :D

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Imagine taking your Mark VIII on a Nascar track. :rolleyes:

The experience was heightened by a special milestone. While waiting in line at the gate, I glanced down and noticed the odometer sitting on 150,000 miles even. :D

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There were approximately 30 some cars per group and I was in the last group. Once staged and the instructions were given, the pace car led 10-12 cars at a time for 5 laps around the highly banked 1/2 mile oval. The rules were simple, do not pass.

The pace car supposedly led the pack at 75 mph. The only way to really exercise the car on the track was to fall back a bit allowing yourself room to power out of the turns down the straightaway. As it turned out, the Shelby Mustang ahead of me was driving fairly agressively allowing me to put enough room between us to really get on it down each straightaway. A older body style Camaro behind me gleefully obliged to match the pace. :D

I'm no Nascar fan but the experience was simply thrilling to say the least. The '96 Mark VIII performed very predictably and I was so 'into it' - not once did I think to look down at the speedometer! LOL :D

But I have to say, taking the Mark VIII around the circle track was certainly perhaps out of character for me but the experience was priceless! One of the Lincoln Mafia members took some pics of the car on the track and said he would send them to me. I'll be sure to post them when he does. ;)

Now all you Nascar fans can go ahead and laugh! LOL :fart
 
I am so envious I am not a nascar fan by any means but that just would be to cool,all though i do have to admit that a few weekends ago i did finally get a chance (and a clear road) to bury the speedo on on my Mark and i tell you what thats a heck of a rush.
 
LeoC2 said:
If the tour ever gets close enough to NY... one can only dream.
Click to expand...

As the tour usually starts where it ended the previous year, one could only guess which direction it would go for next year. It very well may come close to NY. ;)

Participants were all a buzz prognosticating next year's route. Some were convinced it would head south, perhaps Daytona or Orlando as the final stop. Others were just as convinced it was time to return to the east coast.

Unfortunately the start date seems to continually conflict with the All-Ford Nationals in Carlisle, otherwise I would surely be a 'longhauler'. ;)
 
So, I don't wanna say that I hate you... :p
but yeah... I pretty much hate you... ;)
and really, I hate myself for not going... :D

stupid job... fired twice... :mad:

I did wear my Carlisle 2009 shirt on the last day though... :D

:D -J
 
Joe, I know you would absolutely LOVE the Power Tour.

The morning driver meetings are optional. ;)
 
NASCAR fan or not (which I am of course), I could see how that would be a thrill. Years ago as a teenager I got to drive my T-Bird Turbo Coupe around a small circle track in NH and that was a thrill. I know it really cant compare, especially to Bristol but to a kid it was cool. I envy you! Passing or not!

The power tour even without the track run sounds like alot of fun!


Keith
 
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