Power Tour lessons learned

[Steve Chryssos]

Dan,
Your Nova is one sweet ride.

[Neil B]

I was in the middle of nowhere at a gas station and who pulls up next to me for gas ???? Neil... Pretty cool meeting people for the first time in the middle of nowhere. I watched him at Englishtown also.

It was great meeting you too Charley. I also enjoyed meeting Jeff S and Frank at SGMP and quickly meeting Steve at Englishtown.

[Steve Chryssos]

Nice meeting you as well. You brought your IROC? Let's see some pictures.

[Neil B]

Nice meeting you as well. You brought your IROC? Let's see some pictures.

I took this one on the Tour for some dragstrip fun at the stops....




This one stayed at home but is probably of more interest to folks here....

[dhardison]

Dan,
Your Nova is one sweet ride.

Thanks Steve, I drooled on your Camaro more than once on the Tour. It's hard core!

[Steve Chryssos]

Very hot cars. I saw the 3rd gen in Roanoke. I was sure that it was a car that a friend built here on Long Island. I was hoping that was your car so that I could ask if you bought it from my homie. Build it or buy it?

And your words ring true. all of the internet nitpicking about what does and does not work goes out the window once your ride has completed Power Tour.

[Neil B]

Very hot cars. I saw the 3rd gen in Roanoke. I was sure that it was a car that a friend built here on Long Island. I was hoping that was your car so that I could ask if you bought it from my homie. Build it or buy it?

And your words ring true. all of the internet nitpicking about what does and does not work goes out the window once your ride has completed Power Tour.

I purchased the 3rd Gen last year from a guy in the Tampa, FL area. I believe the car was originally built in the early 90's by a guy who lived in Ohio (secondhand info). I have only done some minor engine/exhaust/driveline work and some TLC. I'm going to try for 10's with a small nitrous kit this summer and then I have a 13.5:1 solid roller 372ci motor for this car.

Steve, your car is one of my all-time favorites. It's the perfect blend of road race/street car.

[MarkM66]

I drove it for 6 weeks before leaving and then drove 1220 miles from NY to Orlando.

Damn that's some miles. Lots of these too I bet, . lol

[Steve Chryssos]

Oh yeah. Most nerve-racking was the first 75 miles. Crossing thru Brooklyn is an absolute nightmare. Might as well be driving on the surface of the moon. I pulled off in NJ and softened up my shocks. After that, it was all downhill.

[Steve Chryssos]

.....Steve, your car is one of my all-time favorites. It's the perfect blend of road race/street car.

Thanks. That car's never been to a show. I was blown away by the positive response on Power Tour. Who knew?

[syborg tt]

here is what i've learned.

1. Make sure your AC work
2. Make sure you Radio Works
3. Convertable's may be cool but they are not fun on the Power Tour
4. Duct Tape can really be your Friend
5. Compact Floor Jack is really nice.
6. Order back up Ignition stuff from Summit just in case.
7. Check your nuts and bolts
8. Spare tires are really important when you parked on the Side of the Road.
9. Mapquest from Hotel to Venue
10. If you are not sure you are going to make the entire tour reserve your hotel rooms on your credit card instead of thru the event cordinator.
11. Be open to anything as stuff really happens quick.
12. It's only a scratch and a new Paint Chip.
13. When doing the Tour in a Pick Up it's really hard to Sleep
14. Pick Ups are great for carrying all of your stuff and new Swag
15. Take a few Extra batteries for your Digital Camera.
16. Take soft side luggage (large gym bag) instead of hard luggage it's doesn't dent when you bump your car (it may scratch)
17. Don't think buying a case of Water is a great idea if you plan to leave it in your car without a cooler in 100 degree weather.
18. Cell Phones are your best Friend
19. Get important numbers for your cell phone.
20. Don't worry it's insured

I have more but i should stop now.

[76Stingray]

It was nice meeting everyone on the tour. It was my first and I was riding in a 02 Camaro SS. We made 3872 miles start to finish and had a blast despite the issues we were fighting on the trip.

1. Being a co-pilot is BORING.....
2. Make sure to have camera batteries and a large memory card when you’re a co-pilot
3. Who said driving a new model is easy...we worked on this thing every day
4. It makes the cruise much better if your running with allot of bad ars cars.
5. When your riding you sure can dream up allot of stuff to do to your cars sitting at home
6. Your everyday ride height and your power tour ride height are totally different....adjust BEFORE leaving at 3 am and having to turn around and go back home.
7. Rims bend when they hit curbs and it’s very hard to find a shop you trust to fix them.
8. Mich. tires and their new bead lock technology rocks..not 1 lb lost after 2000+ miles on severely bent rims.
9. Function before bling. That shiny broke stuff will not get you home.
10. I would suggest more than 290 break in miles on a car with everything new except the body before you leave for the tour.
11. Garmin Streetmate really makes finding places easier..I just need an address.
12. Garmin streetmate has a problem differentiating between XXXXX road and XXXXX lane. Ended up in someones driveway instead of hotel one night.
13. No doze and energy drinks on the 24 hour ride home make your skin crawl.
14. A broken shock(top mount snapped) after a curb incident will still make it home..but you have to be careful taking it off.
15. and last but not least. The people you meet will go out of their way to help you..even if you are driving some new fangled crap instead of classic. The people on the tour are second to none.

[Steve Chryssos]

You guys definitely get the perseverence award. You rock. New fangled or not, that 4th gen is bad ass!! Post a picture of the pulley.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Oh yeah. Most nerve-racking was the first 75 miles. Crossing thru Brooklyn is an absolute nightmare. Might as well be driving on the surface of the moon. I pulled off in NJ and softened up my shocks. After that, it was all downhill.

One of the best analogies I've ever heard, lmao. Did you take the Belt or BQE?

[Bill Howell]

1. Mount a camcorder mount on the car somewhere and never turn it off.

2.No car has a big enough trunk.
3.Jack Jack loves lemons.
4.Jenn loves to talk.
5.If you hit a bump hard enough in N.J. you will lose your P/S cap.
6.Be sure A/C is working right before you leave on the tour.
7.Check fuses very closely if the car will not start.
8.Damn, it is hot in Florida this time of year. Wear shorts next time.
9.Damn, it is cold in NYC at 7am this time of year.Wear long pants next time.
10.Take a notebook next time to keep up with all the forum members you meet so you will remember their real names, not screen names.

[Steve68]

Steevo, remember insulation,! even if it's just for your foot area, and damn the souths hot!! It was good meeting all of you, had fun with Kevin and Frank trying to assemble the Bird, Talking to Steevo over the subject of how hot your feet can get with no insulation, wish I could have gone farther but at least I got to go this time!!!!

[Steve Chryssos]

Thank you so much for the insulation and NASA goo. We plugged up all the holes in the firewall and put as much insulation down as possible without pulling the seats. It made a huge difference. I'll finish the job over the weekend.

Unfortunately, the insulation prevented me from hitting WFO o the dragstrip. Gotta re-adjust my linkage. Only ran a 13.68@104 at E-Town. Left at idle and spun the tires anyway.

[Steve Chryssos]

One of the best analogies I've ever heard, lmao. Did you take the Belt or BQE?

Took the Belt Parkway. By far the most nerve-racking part of the entire trip--twice! Next time I'll go thru the city, dodge some potholes but only drive 35 mph.

Picture the nastiest, too-tall speed bump in your town and then drive over it at 60 mph in a lowered car full of fuel and luggage. That's what the Brooklyn section of the Belt Parkway is like--over and over and over.......BANG!! SCRAPE!! GRIND!!

[Steve68]

Yea, but it kept your feet cool, well cooler, I can't say it was 100% better , what you got left of the roll pass along to you friends that need it, if you need more, I'm just a PM away..........

[76Stingray]

You guys definitely get the perseverence award. You rock. New fangled or not, that 4th gen is bad ass!! Post a picture of the pulley.

It was a very interesting trip I will say that. But even with all the issues we both can't wait untill the next one. I plan on being in on of my cars this time though. Here is a picture of the broke pulley http://95formula.ls2.com/PowerTour2006/BrokePulley.jpg

Which lead to this

http://95formula.ls2.com/PowerTour2006/TowRide.jpg

YOu can see in the pic that all the pulley "spokes" broke..allowed it to wobble and cut into the PS. Oh well..we ran a shot belt and made it to Jasons shop where he had everthing we needed to get it back on the road.