Never beat yourself up over car problems B52. It happens to all of us, especially when we least expect it. The only way to find out what's wrong is to drive them, as long a distance as possible. No apology needed on my end. Fix her up and get her running again.

I am disappointed that we won't be able to use Power Tour as an excuse to meet up with you and your wife but we still have the possibility of Woodward in August. I will try to pin my hat on that event instead.

While this is bad news for B52, it gives me a small break. Now I can get to the Tulsa venue as early as possible to get my Long Hauler plaque and then get out of dodge ASAP to start my long 14+ hour cannonball back to Michigan. The sooner I get started, the sooner I will get to go to sleep in my own bed.

As for pictures from the road, I have them but by the time I get around to uploading them, I am beat. Driving Route 66 takes concentration to watch your speed, other traffic, and the turn-by-turn navigation instructions so you don't miss a turn or a point of interest. I promise to post the whole lot when I get home and get some rest. However, if I have a few minutes while I am on HRPT, I may tease you with some things.

Edited June 18Jun 18 by Frosty

Oh yeahhhhh! Thanks for the teaser Frosty one! Drive safe bud.

Nice Ford GT! Those horseshoes make it double lucky?

More teasers. I drove from St. Louis to Springfield and then I drove on to Tulsa today so I can cannonball out of here in the morning ASAP. Long day driving but a lot of neat stuff, as well as long lines and traffic.

YYYYYYEYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!

Edited June 18Jun 18 by Frosty

soooo cool frosty

i am there with you ! so so enjoy your prospective !

Edited June 12Jun 12 by 64 kiwi boni

Anybody going to guess who the statue is?

That would be Rat Fink, by Big Daddy Roth

7 hours ago, Frosty said:

Anybody going to guess who the statue is?

I recon it looks a bit like chuck berry

Goodnight Violet! You did well all week and exceptionally well today! Daddy is proud of you! Sleep well little lady! You’ve earned it!

Glad y'all made it back in one piece!

Okay let's start the picture extravaganza.

This year's Power Tour had a much different feel to it. Last year, there were known celebrities scheduled at each stop for autography and photograph sessions. None announced this year, although I did run into and talk with Lucy Costa and Mike Cotten at some length. They were the only "celebrities" I found all week, mind you, I was not looking very hard either. This year's tour was more about Route 66 and less about the stop venues (to me at least). So that is what I concentrated on - Route 66 and side visits and less on the venues, the pictures will show that.

On with the show, this is it!

Day One - Joilet IL - Route 66 Raceway Park

On my way to the track, I decided to make a little side trip before I got there. If you are fan of the original Blues Brothers movie, you will recognize this place. This is old Joilet Prison, that was used in the movie.

You can tour the prison. I did not, but judging from the cars in the parking lot, I was not the old person on Power Tour to think of coming here.

Jake and Elwood on a nearby parts store wall.

"We gotta' go see the penguin!" "We're on a mission from God!" LOL!

Here we are at Route 66 Raceway. It was a cluster getting in though. It seems that Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway share the same access road. So those folks that didn't pickup their credentials on Sunday, or single and/or multi-day participants still had to go to Chicagoland first before going to Route 66. So the traffic getting in was twice as bad, since traffic handlers has to determine who was going where.

I did run into Lucky Costa while I was there.

This is the same Peak car that was built on one of the last episodes of Hot Rod Garage.

The green Corvette is the top of the line ZR1 with a flip flop color (it shows green now). This Vette convertible is $188k as built! Woof!

The Power Tour swag truck showing the 2026 PT route.

Cars in the vendor areas.

I see this guy on PT and Roadkill Nights al the time. He always has a different female cop model with him.

Lucky Costa - before I chatted with him.

The Power Tour motorhome. This is the closest I would get to it since taking a photo with your car next to at the end of Power Tour in Tulsa is out of the question for me.

Lucky's Ford Galaxie wagon from HRG. It is Coyote powered now. He's done a lot of work to it. He's documented a lot of that work on his YouTube channel, if you follow him.

A Charger EV

The only thing on the track at the moment is the lane dryer. They started drying around 12 noon. As I was leaving around 2:30 pm, they ran a couple of races and then (as I was still walking to my car) it started raining again. I have no idea how many races were actually run that day.

Some of the folks waiting in the staging lanes - waiting for the track to open.

Back out onto Route 66 - On my way to a place I missed yesterday.

Welcome to Wilmington IL - home of the Gemini Giant

The Gemini Giant is a re-purposed fiberglass "Muffler Man" statue from the 1960s. They are all over the USA. Some we will see later too. You can read about it's history on Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_Giant

Did I mention it rained some more?

A quick drive by of the Odell Standard Oil Gas station.

Heading south. RR tracks to the left, I-55 to the right.

This old Texaco station had a broken down Fox body Mustang. I offered to help but they said they had it well in hand.....okkkaaay. Off we go.

Onto Memory Lane park.....

Very cool mailboxes!

The Kicks Restaurant on Route 66. Nice play on words.

This gets me to the end of Day 1 - just north end of Bloomington-Normal IL. Tomorrow PT will come through this area before turning east towards Rantoul IL. I can run down to here in the morning and head towards the state capital, Spingfield.

Edited June 18Jun 18 by Frosty

Day 2 - Rantoul IL - the former Chanute Air Force Base complex

Today started like yesterday, more Route 66 and a few side trips before heading toward Rantoul. So I beelined from Joilet to Bloomington/Normal via I-55 to save time since I have already done Chicago to Bloomington in the past 2 days. Plus it got me ahead of the Power Tour traffic.

A

In Atlanta IL, I found a restored gas station with more highway giants

Some of the history of these giants - it's kind of fascinatring.

Does this big guy look for familiar? He should!

Inside the station are more giant artifacts....

Notice the picture of the Indian figure on the right. That is the Indian figure now located at the Pontiac Transportation Museum. The PTM has the original "Harry on the Hill" figure. It was restored with three feathers, instead of the original two.

Apparently one Indian figure had a full head dress too.

This place was truly interesting.

Another Muffler Man giant near the gas station.

I came across this one room school/church. It sits near a strip mall.

Another restored gas station

An old abandoned restraraunt

An old abandoned motel

Ronald looks content.

Heading for Springfield.....

Welcome to the capitol of Illinois!

Who is Springfield's most famous person? Let me give you a hint.

Miniature version of Lincoln Memorial (in Washington DC).

Abe is buried 10 feet below his headstone - in solid concrete. Between his death and his final interment here in Springfield in 1901, he had been buried and moved 17 times! There was a real threat of grave robbers trying to steal and ransom his body in those days.

Abe's family is buried directly across from his headstone, except for one son who is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Sadly, Mr. Lincoln's direct family has died out.

This 1955 game show program is a rather interesting watch too.

It's time to hit the road and head east into Rantoul and the former Chanute Air Force Base. I was here over 30 years ago on my way to Champaign-Urbana to watch Michigan beat Illinois. At that time, Chanute had recently been shut down by the US government. It had an Air Force museum. On of the base's function was to train new B-52 crews. The museum had a full size cockpit trainer you get go into at the time.

Here is a closer look at that $188k Corvette

This red Tahoe is Mike Cotten's. He told me these wheels are billet from the 1990s. He said they were sitting the Motortred warehouse and no one wanted them. He is very much into the Pro Street and 80/90s look, he grabbed them.

So ends Day 2 - I am off to my hotel in nearby Champaign.

Edited June 18Jun 18 by Frosty

Day 3 - near St. Louis - World Wide Technology Park

Started out my checking out the cars at my hotel in Champaign IL.

For Big Ten fans, you know that Champaign IL is home to the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. Here is their football staduim.

Time to hit the road and get to back to Route 66.

A rare Mercury pickup truck!

Going thru Cuba Illinois - a crowd was encouraging us to do burnouts. What you don't see in this picture is a cop directing traffic directly opposite these fans. I asked the cop if we were allowed to do burn outs. He said "I don't care!" Pfft! Good enough for me!!!! My burnout was weak but I did it!

My Route 66 map said this was the Litchfield Butterfly. It sets between I-55 and Route 66.

An abandon motel

Old train box cars with their wheels removed. No idea why they were there. But is was interesting.

A nicely restored Shell station with a cool Ford pickup in front of it.

This Route 66 sign was inside an automotive auction house.

Welcome to either Rabbit-Henge or Rabbit Ranch!

St Louis is nearby.

Lucky Costa brought his Galaxie station wagon on Power Tour.

This Dodge pickup is owned by a 19-year old kid name Aaron, whom I befriended at last year's Power Tour. We have stayed in contract for the past year. He is studying automotive mechanics and restoration near his home in Rolla Missouri. He has done a lot of work and repair on this truck himself and with his dad. It sounds mean. I gave him a bunch of stuff I have including a historic illinois route 66 sign. I have even more stuff for him now.

That is Aaron. He's a really good kid.

Heading out to my next adventure here in St Louis.

Autocross track.

Edited yesterday at 06:06 PM1 day by Frosty

Day 3 - St. Louis Missouri - Gateway Arch National Park

I didn't know until I got there that the famous St. Louis Arch is part of the Gateway Arch National Park. This was my first time in St. Louis. I have been to KC Missouri before but never St Louis before.

For a moment, I thought this was a former state capital. I was wrong. It is actually an old courthouse. It is also part of the National Park.

My $17 ticket to go to the top of the arch in special (albeit very cramped) elevator cars.

\

The car was windows as we go up. Each car seats 5 people.

Here we are at the top.....

Looking east over the Mississippi River towards Illinois.

Looking west into St Louis....

Busch Stadium - home of the St. Louis Cardinals MLB team

Telephoto shot of the courthouse.

Underneath the arch is a hue and interesting museum. I didn't have a ton of time to explore it though. Another time perhaps.

Back outside.....

A look at the viewing slits at the top of the each that face east and west.

So ends Day 3.

great pictures frosty , what’s with the silver Vf Holden sedan ? That had to be a private import ?

4 hours ago, Frosty said:

Day 3 - St. Louis Missouri - Gateway Arch National Park

I didn't know until I got there that the famous St. Louis Arch is part of the Gateway Arch National Park. This was my first time in St. Louis. I have been to KC Missouri before but never St Louis before.

For a moment, I thought this was a former state capital. I was wrong. It is actually an old courthouse. It is also part of the National Park.

My $17 ticket to go to the top of the arch in special (albeit very cramped) elevator cars.

\

The car was windows as we go up. Each car seats 5 people.

Here we are at the top.....

Looking east over the Mississippi River towards Illinois.

Looking west into St Louis....

Busch Stadium - home of the St. Louis Cardinals MLB team

Telephoto shot of the courthouse.

Underneath the arch is a hue and interesting museum. I didn't have a ton of time to explore it though. Another time perhaps.

Back outside.....

A look at the viewing slits at the top of the each that face east and west.

So ends Day 3.

Doesn’t look like the area around the arch has changed too much since I lived there in the late ‘90s. They still smush you into those egg elevators to go up the arch?

Yes they do Ringo!

Kiwi - the Holden Commodore was imported as the Chevy SS after the Pontiac G8 went away. A lot of guys here in the states like rounding up Holden badges for their GTOs, G8s, and SS’.

Edited 21 hours ago21 hr by Frosty

I really enjoyed those pics- tooling down Route 66 with you at the wheel now saves me having to do it.

Uranus Fudge Factory? There's some joke material there!

7 hours ago, Frosty said:

Yes they do Ringo!

Kiwi - the Holden Commodore was imported as the Chevy SS after the Pontiac G8 went away. A lot of guys here in the states like rounding up Holden badges for their GTOs, G8s, and SS’.

ok !!! thats kinda cool

1 hour ago, Fitzy said:

I really enjoyed those pics- tooling down Route 66 with you at the wheel now saves me having to do it.

Uranus Fudge Factory? There's some joke material there!

dont go there ! i justa had a colin !!!!

Day 4 - Springfield Missouri - the campus of Missouri State University (a.k.a. the Mo' Bears).

Today would be my second longest day on the road, short of my return home. I was not spending the night near Springfield. I was driving all the way to Tulsa OK so I could sleep in a little before my 14+ hour cannonball drive back home after getting my long haul plaque.

The plan was to drive from St Louis to Springfield and once I got my punch keeping going ahead of the rest of the Power Tour pack. As the end of the day, I found out I was not the only one to drive to Tulsa. At my hotel in Tulsa, there were several Power Tour folks there too.

Leaving the Gateway Arch area and heading west.....

However, I needed to make one short stop while in St. Louis. I needed to see the statue to one of the greatest guitar players of all time, who called St. Louis home....Mr. Chuck Berry.

Out of St. Louis and back on Route 66.

The Beacon has been a car wash since the late 50s according to my guide app.

Another closed motel - being used as a...a.....a dump?

Another old motel that is closed.

This looks like it was once one of the famous Wigwam Hotels that were scattered across Route 66. However, there was no sign. Still it was cool to see.

Part of the problem with driving Route 66 with Power Tour - traffic can back up bad in these small towns. So sometimes I decided to cut my losses and jump back on the expressway to get ahead this stuff.

Some spectators waving at those of us on Power Tour. I saw this a lot in Missouri along side the road. It was great to see!

The Missouri Hick? Seriously?

Seriously.

More roadside spectators.

Nice....driving behind a hearse....on Power Tour.

YYYYYYYEEEEESSSSSSS!

If you have never been to a Buc-Ees, it is an experience. I have never seen so damn many fuel pumps in one place before.

Back on the expressway (I-44)

Thankfully I was headed west and the back up was eastbound. This was a miles long back up. I am glad I was not in it.

Welcome to Buc-Ees of Springfield Missouri!

Great restrooms. Cheap gas (since they literally sell a ton of it). I stocked up on beef jerky! Lunch was a massive chicken burrito to go!

Finally arrived at the campus of Missouri State University to get my punch. I didn't stay for any of the midway/vendor stuff. I had more miles to cover that day.

So ends the first half of day 4.

Day 4 - Second Half - Springfield MO to Tulsa OK (via Kansas)

I was literally in Springfield for 30 minutes. Long enough to park, walk to the closest punch station (they set up several around the staduim because of parking lot sizes around the area), and get back on the road....back on Route 66.

I just love restored old gas stations

I am in Joplin! Another town mentioned in the Get Your Kicks on Route 66 song! Over my life I have been to Chicago (many times), St Louis (now), Joplin (now), Oklahoma City (back in the early 90s), Kingman and Barstow (on my honeymoon 20 years ago).. I just need Amarillo, Gallup, Flagstaff, Winoma, and San Bernardino.

Joplin is near the state line with.......

Did you know that there are only 13 miles of Route 66 in the state of Kansas. I drove them all!

Welcome to Galena KS

This is Gearhead Curios. A Route 66 tourist trap. I got my new Route 66 hat here.

I am lead to believe that this gas station was part of the inspiration for the first Cars movie.

Around the corner from the gas station is this.....

This was interesting....justa up the road from the gas station was a burned out train engine, freight car, and caboose. Also some more abandoned stuff.

I noticed this cool bridge that was just to the right - on a an old section of Route 66. As I passed by, I noticed that you could cross but only one-way, So I turned around and went across it.

I had to make time since it was getting close to sunset. I needed to make time so I got on the expressway heading towards Tulsa.

Yes, this part of Oklahoma is controlled by the Cherokee Indian Nation.

So ends Day 4 - I made it to my hotel in Tulsa and crashed after nearly 9+ hours of driving from St. Louis.

Day 5 - Tulsa OK Raceway Park - Hell Day for me.

I slept in knowing full well I had a 14+ hour drive home to get to the Widetracker's Dust Off the next day. Ugh. I was not looking forward to this. The venue opened at 11 am central time. So I made sure to be there around 10:15. There was already a line up! Great.

Hurray!

Violet with her badge of honor. She was awesome.

Now let's get the hell out of Dodge (get it!?!?! Dodge?).....never mind.

I hit the road but I allowed myself one last Route 66 stop on my way home. It was a 15 minues diversion so I set the GPS to Catoosa OK - home of the famous Blue Whale! This is an absolute icon on Route 66. I couldn't miss it.

At one time this was some sort of kid's swimming/water slide. I assume for liability purposes and because of the tourism that it is no longer and it is just a tourist destination now. Still this was very cool.

Time to hit the road for good now. Bye bye Route 66.

Cows!

Here is the exit for Uranus!

A train heading north next to I-55 near Bloomington IL.

Sunset in rural Illinois and I still have close to five more hours to go.

Violet and I made it home at 3:30 a.m. eastern time. I would get 3 hours of sleep and then take pictures at the Widetracker's Dust Off and then go to my nephew's birthday party. Violet was great the whole trip. I averaged around 22 mpg and travelled over 2,700 miles in a week.

End of Hot Rod Power Tour 2026.....for me.

Fin.

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by Frosty