Hot Rod Power Tour Day 4: Route 66 Milestones, Small-Town America, and No Home Depot
Aaron and group rolled out of Champaign, Illinois, this morning and headed south toward St. Louis, Missouri. The route covered approximately 192 miles where they proudly displayed their cars at the World Wide Technology Raceway. They also traded rain showers for a heat index of 110 degrees.
One of today’s coolest moments happened while Aaron was driving the 1966 Mustang down Route 66, going 66 miles per hour and the odometer rolled over 60,066 miles! It felt like one of those memorable road trip moments that was meant to happen.
Meanwhile, my aunt was creating adventures of her own. Riding her scooter on the high bank at the at the St. Louis NASCAR track, making left turns and enjoying every minute of the experience. At this point, she’s becoming almost as famous as the Mustang itself.
Of course, no HOT ROD Power Tour Day would not be complete without Aaron having to stop to buy something for the car….I know, shocker, it wasn’t Home Depot..it was O’Reilly’s to buy more parts for the Mustang. For those keeping track at home, Aaron somehow managed to leave without purchasing another tape measure. Progress!
The good news? After yesterday’s interior flooding adventure, today’s inspection revealed no fish, no ducks, no unexpected wildlife, but a “Straw Hat” did show up in the Mustang. The portable fan appears to have done its job, and the Mustang continues to perform remarkably well.
One thing that has stood out throughout this trip is how welcoming the communities have been. Town after town has embraced the Power Tour participants, lining streets, attending events, and sharing in the excitement as thousands of vehicles roll through.
The HOT ROD Power Tour reminds me a lot of RAGBRAI (Registered Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) when Aaron and I have done twice, on a tandem bicycle and we are still married! The biggest difference between the two events: Four wheels instead of two.
Both events bring together people from all over the country, traveling from town to town, building friendships, supporting local communities, and creating memories along the way. The vehicles may be different, but the spirit feels remarkably similar.
As Day 4 comes to a close, the Mustang continues to rack up miles, the stories continue to grow, and the adventure keeps getting better.
With two more days of the Power Tour ahead, there’s no telling what memories, milestones, or Home Depot purchases might still be waiting around the next bend in the road.
Stay tuned for the final leg of the journey!
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