 As soon as we crossed into...  As soon as we crossed into Oklahoma, we pulled into the Welcome Center to notify the state of our hot rod invasion. Nobody rolled out the red carpet, but we didn't get pulled over either, as in Missouri. |
 True grit: now in her third...  True grit: now in her third Power Tour, Jean Rice's all-weather suit helps has helped her to endure the elements while driving in the exposed cockpit of her T-bucket. |
 Hot Rod TV's Kevin Oeste captured...  Hot Rod TV's Kevin Oeste captured some more on-the-road commentary for an upcoming segment. |
 This freeway turnout never...  This freeway turnout never looked so good until the Tour arrived... |
 Hot Rod Magazine's Publisher...  Hot Rod Magazine's Publisher Ira Gabriel (the one who's always on a cell phone) and Hotrod.com Video Producer John Adolph relished for a freeway blast in a Viper owned by Ted Dzus (whose company makes the fasteners of the same name). Hey, were not always driving PDAs and computers! |
 You never know when a vise...  You never know when a vise will come in handy on the road, courtesy of the Motor Medic van. |
 The Motor Medic's van is chock-full...  The Motor Medic's van is chock-full of tools if Power Tour participants need any assistance. |
 Ted Hodge offered a piece...  Ted Hodge offered a piece (literally) of Route 66 history--only $40 per chunk! |
 Jean Price's weather-beaten,...  Jean Price's weather-beaten, blown T-bucket rested peacefully under a tree on the Moose Lodges lush setting. |
 Chevy's formation of factory...  Chevy's formation of factory rods is a compelling attraction on the Tour. |
 Vicki Haws of Ability Resources...  Vicki Haws of Ability Resources in Tulsa joined forces with iCan to get the word out on the Power Tour's presence and how it draws attention to the needs of people with disabilities. |
 Motor Medics performed field...  Motor Medics performed field surgery on an ailing Tour participant. |
 Troy Trepanier's StratusFear,...  Troy Trepanier's StratusFear, featured elsewhere on Hotrod.com, is soaring for the Long Haul. |
 The Tulsa police department...  The Tulsa police department showed up with some muscle of its own--a '75 Firebird packing a 700+ horsepower 502. In full pursuit mode, driver Gary Stephenson (the really big cop on the right) runs in the nines at 135 mph. |
 This Power Tour stowaway found...  This Power Tour stowaway found a cool place to hang out for the Long Haulor at least for the afternoon. |
 Power Tour announcer Pete...  Power Tour announcer Pete Duhart (right) kept up a steady patter over the P.A. system with participant interviews. |
Tornadoes had already touched down the day before in Tulsa, but the Power Tour headed there with a blustery whirl all its own. We left Springfield mid-morning, since this was the shortest leg of the entire tour, only 185 miles, but we welcomed an easy day in preparation for the long-distance drives across the Southwest later in the week.
Our only gas stop was just after the Oklahoma State line. Although it was just a freeway turnout, the Power Tour creates a party wherever it goes, with lots of socializing along the way (which is really what makes the Tour so much fun). It's amazing the things your hear while waiting in the crowded lines for the pumps. We spoke briefly with Jean Rice, a three-time Tour veteran driving a supercharged T-bucket who also flies a Varieze kit plane. She was decked out in the same all-weather suit used in previous tours--one plucky lady. For the tour, she keeps her luggage in a larger companion vehicle, and said she had to change her clothes three times during the wet weather of the day before.
We also looked over the shoulders of Chevy's Motor Medic crew that runs an on-road repair vehicle for the Power Tour. Their 502-powered Trip Truck outfitted with a mechanics' dream selection of tools is also used as a support vehicle for GM's desert testing. The medics helped out several people that day. One guy needed to use the vise on the back bumper to file down a part, while two of the Motor Medics in white lab coats dove under the hood of a vendor's tow truck. They are not particular about makes or models of vehicles, and are ready and willing to help anybody with a problem on the Tour. One of the most challenging repairs in years past was a Pontiac that needed a replacement for its hi-po rearend. An incorrect pinion/shaft angle appeared to be the cause of the problem, and the medics had to hack out pieces of 2x4s as wedges until they could obtain the right pieces.
What's interesting is how the level of hot rods has improved in the seven-year history of the Tour. "Generally the cars have been getting better--we've been seeing fewer and fewer problems as the Tour gathers more hot rods," points out Motor Medic Scott Leon. "People are building better cars as a result of going on the Long Haul."
Upon exiting the Moose Lodge that evening, a number of Power Tour cars couldn't resist peeling out, all under the watchful eye of the Tulsa police department. When the crowds cheering them on got a little too close to the action, though, the officers had to rein things in a bit. Still, this showy display of horsepower was far more "apeeling" (sorry) than the yahoos' foolish stunt in the Effingham hotel parking lot a couple days earlier.