Summer-Fall 2010

This past summer’s effort began with the Hot Rod Power Tour, from Newton, Iowa to Mobile, Alabama. I covered this event for Custom Classic Trucks magazine. My article appears in the January 2011 issue. The event turned out to be a great opportunity to meet and interview folks who “drive what they build.”

I followed up this event with the Street Rodder “Vintage Air” Road Tour from San Antonio, Texas to the NSRA Rocky Mountain Nationals in Pueblo, Colorado. Along the way, I talked with and interviewed many custom owners. At Pueblo, I received the “Long Distance” award. From there, I visited a car collector in Alamosa. After that, I drove to Moab, Utah to interview a car builder. Then I drove to Dragertown, Utah to meet with lead-sled builder Bo Huff. I attended his Rockabilly Car show, where I again met and interviewed some great folks.

Next, I drove to Las Vegas and met with members of the Breakfast Club (a car club) held at the Thunderbird Café. This led to invitations to view two private collections. From Las Vegas I drove to Fresno, California to interview Blackie Gejeian, promoter of the Fresno Autorama. We spent several hours talking about his history, other builders, the show circuit, and the future of our enterprise. From there, I worked my way up the California coast eventually arriving at Puyallup, Washington for the Goodguys Pacific Northwest Nationals. Here I won another “Long Distance Award.”

Finally, I worked my way back East, interviewing car guys along the way.  In early August, I finally put the anchor down at Cortland, New York. I put more than 12,000 miles on my truck during my odyssey.