Power Tour 2008

[novaderrik]

thanks, but is there an "official" route, or is it just "we'll meet here and have hamburgers" type of thing?

[trapin]

I hope to do this tour some day. I do miss the Cali to Detroit days. I used to head down to Mount Clemens every year to see all the long haulers. Those were good days. Wonder if they'll ever do that again.

[critter]

FYI, they stuck it at the fairgrounds in Little Rock because it was the only venue big enough to hold that many cars. It won't be in northwest Arkansas or anywhere else unless the car clubs in those areas go out and activly recruit the event like Little Rock did.

I'd also tell you that the Little Rock folks had arranged for police to block off all of Roosevelt Road that leads into the fairgrounds in order to keep traffic moving from the interstate in. That police presence was canceled by the managment company hired by HRM. They told organizers here that it wasn't needed since the folks would just be drifting in with groups of 10-20 cars. WRONG!

Local folks learned their lesson about HRPT last year. For one, my car club will not be helping with event. Our volunteers were talked down to and generally treated like trash by the managment company. No other car club wants to work with them this year because of our experience. The local contact has assured me that she's not listening to them this year about traffic control. She's doing it her way with the police shutting down the side roads.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience last year but trust me, it wasn't the local folks fault. Talk to Family Events if you want to bitch. I doubt it will do any good. They're only interested in one thing, making money.

[camcojb]

FYI, they stuck it at the fairgrounds in Little Rock because it was the only venue big enough to hold that many cars. It won't be in northwest Arkansas or anywhere else unless the car clubs in those areas go out and activly recruit the event like Little Rock did.

I'd also tell you that the Little Rock folks had arranged for police to block off all of Roosevelt Road that leads into the fairgrounds in order to keep traffic moving from the interstate in. That police presence was canceled by the managment company hired by HRM. They told organizers here that it wasn't needed since the folks would just be drifting in with groups of 10-20 cars. WRONG!

Local folks learned their lesson about HRPT last year. For one, my car club will not be helping with event. Our volunteers were talked down to and generally treated like trash by the managment company. No other car club wants to work with them this year because of our experience. The local contact has assured me that she's not listening to them this year about traffic control. She's doing it her way with the police shutting down the side roads.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience last year but trust me, it wasn't the local folks fault. Talk to Family Events if you want to bitch. I doubt it will do any good. They're only interested in one thing, making money.

thanks for the info. We met a lady at the Memphis stop last year that said she was coordinating the Little Rock stop, maybe it's the same person. She promised no lines getting in, etc. She was wrong......... it was by far the worst (and most dangerous) leg of the tour.

I really hope they have that figured out this year. We are actually starting in Memphis this year because it was so much fun, and then driving into LR on Saturday, hopefully missing the crowd.

Jody

[critter]

I don't think so. The local contact was in Little Rock that day. You don't want to know how upset she was about the whole fiasco.

Oh, and those were the better neighborhoods in south Little Rock. Those boys are *****cats. You folks need to get out more.

[camcojb]

I don't think so. The local contact was in Little Rock that day. You don't want to know how upset she was about the whole fiasco.

Oh, and those were the better neighborhoods in south Little Rock. Those boys are *****cats. You folks need to get out more.

we've got bad areas in California too. Still, it's uncomfortable having several gang banger-looking dudes staring you down at every corner, with major hills up and down and only being able to move 15 feet at a time. Clutches melting, engines overheating for 1-2 hours to make it 2 miles into the venue.

Jody

[shmoov69]

Had I been in the Camaro, it would have been dead! It would have melted down WAAAAY back! but the 58 did pretty well in the heat and traffic lines. But, if something don't change, I am getting pretty sick and tired of the poor (or lack of) orginization of the whole event. It pretty much has become a cluster&*^k and not worth it! But I will try it one more time....

[critter]

Again, from being there as a long hauler and working the event, I know. Your complaints are not with the locals or the HRM staff (for now). The company HRM hired is Family Events. This is WAY too big for the magazine to run without professional help. That said, they're not very professional. They will let the participants suffer if they can squeeze another buck out of it.

Here's an example. We PLEADED with them to open multiple gates into the fairgrounds to move participants in faster. They wouldn't do it. Why? Because the photo "vendor" of the event was set up to take a picture of every car as it came through the gate. If there was more than one gate they'd have to have more than one photographer. If they didn't get every car then they'd miss out on selling their package of photos of long hauler cars at every stop. I bet they sold all of about 25 of those package photos.

So for an extra buck or two you get to suffer, stop light to stop light.

Tell the Family Events folks what you think. Tell HRM staff what you think. Just don't take it out on the locals. For the most part they are volunteer car guys and gals, just like you. They don't deserve your abuse.

Like I said, our club learned its lesson. We will never help Family Events again. I don't car what they bring to town. Personally I'm voting with my money. I'm never doing the Hot Rod Power Tour again until they change the managment company.

[camcojb]

Again, from being there as a long hauler and working the event, I know. Your complaints are not with the locals or the HRM staff (for now). The company HRM hired is Family Events. This is WAY too big for the magazine to run without professional help. That said, they're not very professional. They will let the participants suffer if they can squeeze another buck out of it.

Here's an example. We PLEADED with them to open multiple gates into the fairgrounds to move participants in faster. They wouldn't do it. Why? Because the photo "vendor" of the event was set up to take a picture of every car as it came through the gate. If there was more than one gate they'd have to have more than one photographer. If they didn't get every car then they'd miss out on selling their package of photos of long hauler cars at every stop. I bet they sold all of about 25 of those package photos.

So for an extra buck or two you get to suffer, stop light to stop light.

Tell the Family Events folks what you think. Tell HRM staff what you think. Just don't take it out on the locals. For the most part they are volunteer car guys and gals, just like you. They don't deserve your abuse.

Like I said, our club learned its lesson. We will never help Family Events again. I don't car what they bring to town. Personally I'm voting with my money. I'm never doing the Hot Rod Power Tour again until they change the managment company.

in case you misunderstood, I was not taking it out on the locals. I understand how the event works, locals are for the most part volunteers from car clubs, etc. that try to help out for extra manpower.

What amazed me is after the Friday fiasco getting into LR, I thought for sure they wouldn't have a repeat on Saturday for the Long Hauler awards................ I was wrong, exact same scenario. So they aren't even smart enough to learn their lesson from a big-time problem, they go right out and make no changes for the second day and expect a different result.........

I am very curious how this year will go.

Jody

[critter]

Oh, I understand. I just want everyone else reading this thread to understand. If you see someone with that managment company riding around in a golf cart barking orders at some guy with a flag who's trying to direct you on where to park, give that guy in the golf car a piece of your mind. The guy with the flag would sure appreciate it.

And we're curious as well. Since we're not involved this year we'll be in the same boat with the rest of you. Let's all hope they listen to local input this time. I wouldn't count on it.

[Charley Lillard]

Family Events is hired by whoever owns Hot Rod. Did your club ever let Hot Rod know ? I know that Hot Rod staffers that were on the tour saw what was happening but I'm not sure if they know of your explanation as to the "why".

[mburrow]

I must have been on a different tour or something, the complaints you guys have I just didn't see EXCEPT when we left Cleveland, it took two hours to get to the main road. That was the only thing I had to complain about.
I'm with the guys who said just go and enjoy, nothing in this world is perfect, just enjoy the rides and car stories, not the gripe stories.
Have a blast this year and don't sweat the small stuff, remember it's all small stuff. mburrow

[camcojb]

I must have been on a different tour or something, the complaints you guys have I just didn't see EXCEPT when we left Cleveland, it took two hours to get to the main road. That was the only thing I had to complain about.
I'm with the guys who said just go and enjoy, nothing in this world is perfect, just enjoy the rides and car stories, not the gripe stories.
Have a blast this year and don't sweat the small stuff, remember it's all small stuff. mburrow

you must not have gone to Little Rock. Or you got there at a completely different time than everyone else. It was an issue both Friday and Saturday. I guess you could call it a small problem, but anyone that was there wouldn't............. This is not just about 2 hours to get in a venue, it's two hours stuck in the wrong place.

By the way, we had no problem getting out of any of the venues; we don't do the drivers meetings, just turns into a huge traffic jam.

Jody

[critter]

So come see the good part of our city:

June 6, 2008
2nd Annual Cruisapalooza
6 PM - 10 PM
River Market District


Hosted by the Arkansas Pontiac Association and the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau

Hot cars, trucks, street rods & more!

Cruisapalooza kicks off with a structured cruise from the Araknsas State Fairgrounds. Staging begins at 4:30pm on Friday, June 6. Sign up by e-mailing your name, address and vehicle type to [email protected].

Door prizes, ESPN2 (taping a Mother's sponsored show), Magic Man Derrick Rose, Adult Trike Race, Sweet E The Clown and Caricature Artist Jim Tindall.

Free admission!

For more information, contact Carol Doaln at 501-370-3201 or 501-517-1966, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.CruisinLittleRock.com

I'll be there on Friday night but not participating in the cruise this year. Family obligations prevent it.

[shmoov69]

Ok, who is for sure going (at least part way) on the PT. And if partway, where? I am definately going on the first few legs and have a room reserved the whole way, but don't know if I will go the whole way. Due to gas $ and if the traffic is stupid again. Last year really burned me out with all the traffic and lack of traffic controll.

[Charley Lillard]

I'm going.

[slenning]

I'm joining in Lincoln and going through to Madison.

[shmoov69]

what'cha taking this time Charlie?

[Charley Lillard]

Red Witch.

[72monteman]

Im going, leaving early Friday, is any one from the Charlotte area going?