2008 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour - 2396 miles in the Atom

[Lane]

I hit the road in the Atom for the 2008 Hot Rod Power Tour from June 7 - 13, 2008, traveling almost 2400 miles in 8 days.  Longtime friend and fellow car club member Jeff P (known here as Evilatom Transit) flew from CT to WI and we drove down to Arkansas.  The tour started in Little Rock and wound through 7 states on its way to Madison WI.  I wasn't the only Atom owner in attendance though, as Randy from Florida participated with his yellow 245.

All those miles, and a good portion of them through pouring rain, and not a hiccup from the motor.  There were a few other minor issues though.  Had to stop and try to fix all the damn bulbs at least 5 times as they kept rattling loose and popping out of the sockets, and one of the Wilwood calipers started making an odd noise during mid-effort braking that felt through the pedal like the piston may be hanging up or having trouble extending.  Replaced the pads and it was fine, so it may have been an issue with the pad backing plate binding on the caliper.

We took around 800 photos during the week, and 300 of the best photos and video clips are on my website at http://www.evilatom.com.  We also received some press from both Hot Rod Magazine and Mothers Car Care Products.  Visit each link to view the photos that accompany the quoted text.

Hot Rod Magazine photos:
http://www.hotrod.com/2008powertour/hrdp_2008_day2_coverage/photo_34.html
http://www.hotrod.com/2008powertour/hrdp_2008_day2_coverage/photo_35.html

http://www.powertour.net/powertour2008/June8/default.htm: "We tried to close in on this Ariel Atom, but the only chance we had was in traffic, his superior power-to-weight ratio leaving us in the dust on acceleration."

http://www.powertour.net/powertour2008/June9/default.htm: "Well, I was right. It rained and stormed, with a little pea-sized hail thrown in for good measure about midnight. It was still raining when we arrived at the driver's meeting. Few listened.

Because few showed up. Some who did were our friends in the Ariel Atom.  As a matter of fact, they received applause when the motor was shut down and they prepared to climb out.

That, dear friends, is dedication. Their biggest problem so far? The drain holes in the floor plugged up, preventing water from flowing out. 30 seconds with a pocketknife and they were good to go.  My heroes."

Video coverage of us driving through the rain - watch the first video on page (it's short):
http://www.hotrod.com/2008powertour/hrdp_2008_day3_coverage/index.html

There might be more when the next issue of Hot Rod magazine comes out as a photographer rode co-pilot on the Atom for part of the trip.  It was a great time and I can't wait to do it again.  The event staff and all the Hot Rod magazine folks did one heck of a job.

[bolus]

Very cool    I came across those pics here as well by someone who spotted you
http://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=15811

[1965Cobra427]

Great trip and cool coverage in HRM. They even got the right engine size, weight and 0-60 time! Looks like the trip was a real blast. I hated missing it, but the same complications that kept me from Reno, did the same for the Tour. Maybe next year. . .

Thanks for the post.

[Lane]

[quote="1965Cobra427"]
Great trip and cool coverage in HRM. They even got the right engine size, weight and 0-60 time!
[/quote]

This was most likely because I had a stack of business hobbyist cards in the car with details, vital stats, and owner info on them and Hot Rod probably referred to it.  Seems to be a common thing on the Power Tour and helps us all remember our newly-made friends and their cars.

[trev0006]

great read and coverage, Thanks.

[Alec]

You were spotted.

[Lane]

Hey, thanks Alec.

Forgot to add to this thread after the magazine issue came out - additional photos of me on the trip were in the Nov 2008 print issue of Hot Rod Magazine.  Scans are linked to this thread.