Thinking About Better Weather And Hitting The Road

As I write this we are getting snow outside so it's weird to be thinking about summer and car show season. However, the NASCAR drivers raced in the Daytona 500 today and ESPN2 is showing their coverage of the Winternationals from Pomona, CA.  The official start to car show season is fast approaching. Here are some big events for the year. 

My goal for 2010 is to attend at least one National Car show event so that means start planning now! Here's a few events that I have penciled in for reference -

Hot Rod Power Tour

Dates - June 5 - June 12, 2010

Route - 

• Saturday June 5 - Iowa Speedway, Newton, IA
• Sunday, June 6 - Downtown Springfield, Springfield, IL
• Monday, June 7 - DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, DuQuoin, IL
• Tuesday, June 8 - Warren County Airport, Bowling Green, KY
• Wednesday, June 9 - Chattanooga State Community College, Chattanooga, TN
• Thursday, June 10 - Regions Park Stadium, Birmingham, AL
• Friday, June 11 - Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL
• Saturday, June 12 - U.S.S. Alabama, Mobile, AL

Other Stops - TBA

Registration Fee: $70.00

For those of you that don't know, the Hot Rod Power Tour is an organized event where car enthusiasts from the hobby drive a pre-planned route or "tour" through parts of the United States. The Power Tour began in 1994 when Hot Rod Magazine staff members decided to take some of their project cars on a cross-country drive from Los Angeles, CA to Norwalk, OH. Thousands of people participated along the route, but only seven participants (other than staff members) made the entire journey and were inducted into the original "Long Hauler Gang". Since its inception, the event has continued to gain in popularity and is now one of the most anticipated automotive events each year. The Power Tour is usually scheduled for six to eight consecutive days and is typically held during late May or early June. During the last few years, the Power Tour has evolved to become a Dylanesque "never ending tour" around the United States. Organizers have started the event in or near the location where the tour ended the previous year. Each stop along the Power Tour route is organized around other events or activities that vary as much as the participants themselves. See the Hot Rod Power Tour page for the magazine's 2009 coverage of the event or the main Power Tour page for coverage from previous years. 

I don't see myself attending this event this year unless it's for the couple of days that it's in Illinois. 

Carlisle All-Ford Nationals 16th Annual Event

June 4-6, 2010

Carlisle Faigrounds

Carlisle, PA

Adult Admission: Th.-Sa. $10 /Sun. $7  
Child Admission: 8 and under - FREE 
Gate Times: Th.-Sa. 7am-6pm / Sun. 7am-3pm

The Carlisle All-Ford Nationals is a three day event featuring the largest gathering of Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles in the United States. Everything from rare to common vehicles are featured as well as a marketplace full of parts and accessories. See this link for a recap of the 2007 event. Although it would be nice to get together with other Cougar owners from around the country, the problem with this event is the distance from home - over 750 miles and over 12 hours away. 

Car Craft Summer Nationals

July 16-18, 2010

Minnesota State Fairgrounds

1880 Como Ave.

St. Paul, MN

Pre-Registration: $45

The Car Craft Summer Nationals is a three day event featuring over 4,000 cars of all makes and models and attracts over 45,000 people. Ten years ago this event was only drawing 1,200 cars so they're certainly doing something right to triple or quadruple the particpants. Those in attendance can stuff themselves with a basket cheese curds while gawking at the shiny cars and watching the activities along the way. The Summer Nationals features a Miss Car Craft Contest displaying the best bodies, an autocross challenge to determine the best handling car, a dyno contest (a meausrement to see which car makes the most horsepower) and a launch box challenge. Extras include a burnout contest featuring smoking tires and the smell of burning rubber. There is also a car corral, family fun zone, and performance marketplace to look at all things car related. See the Car Craft site for coverage of the 2009 event by clicking here.

This is the event that I could see myself attending this year.  First, I like Car Craft magazine the best of the car magazines that I read. Second, the entrance fee to the event is an affordable $45 and St. Paul, MN is roughly only 9 and a half hours and 545 miles from home.  I have also visited the area and driven most of the route in the past so it's familiar territory.  We could maybe stay in Stillwater, MN like we did last time - there are several bed & breakfasts and a historic hotel in town - the Water Street Inn.

Another option would be to attend one of the various Good Guys events that are held throughout the year. There are a few that are held in the Midwest that are only a few hours from home.