 Our trusty driver of the Power...  Our trusty driver of the Power Tours lead van, Bruce West (who is a retired motorcycle cop) used his secret password and handshake to convince the local police in Holbrook that these hot rodders posed no serious threat to the peace and security of this sleepy gas stop. |
 Even though the Holbrook cop...  Even though the Holbrook cop admitted he didnt have enough tickets in his book to cite all the rods for illegal U-turns and staying in the no-stopping zone (not exactly high-performance offenses), we obediently lined up our rods to get back on I-40 to Kingman. |
 Shots from Kingmans...  Shots from Kingmans Route 66 Museum: Can you imagine having to deal with this to get on I-40? During the early days of Route 66, it sometimes crossed fenced-in ranch land that required going through a whole different type of tollgate. |
 If you thought the roads were...  If you thought the roads were rough in Detroit, check out this old pic of Route 66 near Kingman. Its a Mother of a road all right. |
 These early Power Tour participants...  These early Power Tour participants brought along a little bit too much stuff, and needed a tow to get out of the mud. |
 Also on display at the museum...  Also on display at the museum is this clean 1950 Studebaker. Theres currently an opening for a 50s motorcycle display. If any site visitors would like to loan or donate one (or other historical items) to the Route 66 Museum in Kingman, call 928/753-9889. |
 To handle all the Power Tour...  To handle all the Power Tour cars, Kingman blocked off more than a mile of old Route 66, now named Andy Devine Blvd., after the squeaky-voiced character actor who grew up there. |
 Folks kicked back in the park...  Folks kicked back in the park across from the displays with some live tunes and... |
 ...and also got their kicks...  ...and also got their kicks on Route 66! |
 Good golly Miss Holley! Well,...  Good golly Miss Holley! Well, actually shes Miss Route 66. |
 Kingmans main drag is...  Kingmans main drag is perfect place for all the Power Tour rods and displays. |
 Mr. Dz 50s style...  Mr. Dz 50s style diner made a great backdrop to the Power Tours line up in Kingman. |
 Dont you just want to...  Dont you just want to get in it and go man go? |
 Tony Caprios Texas Bandit...  Tony Caprios Texas Bandit stole the show at the end of the day with flaming exhausts
|
and incredible wheel... 
and incredible wheel stands. |
 Power Tour Announcer Pete...  Power Tour Announcer Pete Duhart (right) spread some good cheer around by holding drawings for a rod-load of freebies. |
 Getting across the desert...  Getting across the desert in this hot (literally) Rodster required borrowing a Route 66-era water bag. |
 Lets see, how do those...  Lets see, how do those song lyrics go? "Standin on the corner in
" |
 Norm Kings PT Cruiser...  Norm Kings PT Cruiser almost didnt make it, except for some fast work by the Chrysler help-line. |
LIST OF ALL DAYS
After enduring the crowded streets of downtown Albuquerque, the open vistas of western New Mexico were a welcome change. Just after crossing the Arizona state line we were amazed to see a large gathering of the "Over the Hill Gang" on the overpass. Even when spectators are unable to join us on the Tour, its gratifying to know theyre with us in spirit (or at least in cyberspace if theyve been following our Web site updates).
At our gas stop in Holbrook we found an even better deal than the $40 chunks of Rt. 66 offered by Ted Hodge in Tulsa. Petrified wood in the Shamrock convenience store sells for only a few bucks, and the fist-sized prehistoric rocks were twice the size of Teds nuggets! But for some unexplained reason we didnt see any Tourers loading up with these precious collectibles. Maybe its because we had to beat a hasty retreat when the heat (the law-enforcement type) got too intense. Seems that the towns Department of Public Safety received phone complaints about a hoard of lawless hot rodders clogging the streets, with a potential riot in the worksobviously this vehicular flashpoint had to be doused as quickly as possible.
So, we dutifully motored back toward the freeway in an orderly formation (but not before pausing yet again for some more photos). The real reason Tourers didnt collect some bits of rock is probably because the souvenir of choice is a Long Haul stamp on the back of the registration pass worn around their necks. Its proof that youve not only retraced Rt. 66, but also done it with a convoy of other half-crazed, weary rodders running on too many motel continental breakfasts and ragged adrenaline. The Tour is a test of personal mettle and personalized metal, an uneasy alliance of man and machine facing the common foe of seemingly endless stretches of freeways.
At this point, the Power Tour was beginning to feel too long, too crowded, too hotand just too darn much fun. We can hardly wait to get to San Bernardino, both to finish off our 7th Tour, and to relish the finale. And well probably feel really sad about seeing the end as well.
Before that, however, Kingman proved to be a refreshing stop along the way, with the small-town hospitality and nostalgic flavor of the Mother Road we long to savor. We stopped briefly at the new Powerhouse Route 66 Museum, which had opened just in time for our arrival. If youre in the area, its well worth a visit. There are photos and depictions of the early days of this first cross-country highway that really capture the feel and history of the era. During the early stages, road signs were few and far between, so tour guide books of the day showed photos of houses and water towers to look out for, and even a ranchers gate that had to be opened and shut to proceed down the rutted and winding dirt trail. Especially moving are the photos of families stricken by the 10-year Dust Bowl drought as they struggled westward in search of relief. (These exhibits really put the comparatively minor hiccups and hassles of the Power Tour in perspective.)
Speaking of hiccups, we heard about one Power Tour participant who almost didnt make it, but thanks to some special treatment by Chrysler, he should be able to finish the final leg with us. Norm King was headed to Albuquerque in his PT Cruiser from San Antonio, but had to stop in El Paso when his A/C went south. Sorely disappointed at the thought of missing out on the Tour, he explained his plight to the local dealer, who politely explained he simply had no parts in stock to fix it right away. Norm then got on the phone to the Chrysler help line, and minutes later the service manager was scavenging components from the showroom cars A/C system. The dealer even took the Kings to the mall to watch a movie while repairs were being made. The couple managed to hook up with the Tour in Kingman for the run into San Bernardino. Talk about good servicethats how important the Power Tour is for some folks.
Online Editors Note: A special word of thanks is in order for this upload to Jeff Benson for logistical support with his Pro Barge III Chrysler New Yorker. Way to go Jeff! Next stop: San Bernardino's Big Finale.