2001 Hot Rod Virtual Power Tour - Day Four, May 6

LIST OF ALL DAYS

Even though the bulk of the Power Tour cars are owner-built hot rods, this doesn't mean the manufacturers don't like to play as well. This year Chevrolet brought along a slew of modified production vehicles that we were invited to check out on this leg of the trip. Hot Rod magazine's Jeff Koch, along with your online editor and video producer, hopped on board this compelling collection of vehicles, and took turns with each one. While the two Corvettes were clearly the favorite rides of the day (especially the blown Mallett), we found the others each had some distinctive appeal. A bad black Blazer with a Corvette LS-1 under the hood was a real Q-ship, except for the fat rear meats (315/35ZR17), which fill out the wheelwells perfectly. There was also a supercharged Cavalier (with pretty healthy performance for a four-banger), a 260hp S10 Xtreme, and a Monte Carlo Pace Car. (You'll be hearing more about them as the trip goes on, and when Jeff catches his breath from the trip, check out his upcoming features in Hot Rod magazine as well.)

Although we encountered the first serious rainstorm of the Tour, it didn't slow the Chevy convoy down one bit. We did wonder how the T-bucket contingent fared that day, however. Despite the downpour, we continued to encounter spectators along the roadside--it amazes us how many people eagerly anticipate our arrival, even when we just buzz on by. Speaking of buzzing, one of our more prominent Power Tour participants had an encounter with the highway patrol due to a suspiciously absent license plate. No worries, but some state trooper is now the proud owner of a nicely embroidered Hot Rod shirt. (We haven’t tried this tactic before, but we’ll keep it mind for the future.)

The sun finally broke through by the time we rolled into Springfield, Missouri at the Bass Pro Shops. While the parking lot of this mega-mall may not have been quite as scenic as our previous stops (we’ve been getting a bit spoiled), it sure was packed with spectators. That’s partly because Bass Pro Shops is the top tourist attraction in the state. With enough acreage under one roof to cover seven football fields, this is a Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, stocked with just about anything you’d need for fishing and camping. More than that, inside this mammoth facility you’ll find waterfalls, duck ponds, diver-fed fish in aquariums, restaurants, and even a barber shop. The only thing missing is the great outdoors.

Edelbrock supplied a tasty barbeque that evening, and we all managed to duck inside before the thunderheads rolled through again. But we plan to make our own sort of thunder on our way to Tulsa on the next leg. Oklahoma, here we come!