It's time to change the oil and get ready for the long haul ahead. It doesn't matter whether you sign up for one, two, or more legs of this year's Road Tour, it's a sure bet that you are going to enjoy yourself. Some of this year's entrants have already signed up for more than one leg, guaranteeing them a vacation to remember.
The staff at Boyd Coddington Hot Rods is continually working on and prepping the Outlaw 'glass '34 Chevy coupe. The Roadster Shop chassis is ready to go with its Heidt's four-wheel-independent suspension, and the GM Performance Parts Ram Jet 350 with the Gear Star 200-4R tranny is also in place and ready (well, almost) for the drive. The time is drawing nearer to having the coupe up on its Wheel Vintiques and off to the first event in Ocean City, Maryland, but right now the exhaust is being fitted at Doug's Headers and the remainder of the exhaust system is a go.
There will be plenty of rodding fun at the various events we're slated to attend, but the real stories may very well come from those rodding names that come along for the drive. Have you always wanted to ask former STREET RODDER Editor Tom Vogele what it was like back in the day? How about how come he hired Brennan as the current editor? (That question alone should take you deep into the night around the ol' campfire with beverage in hand!) What about all those questions you wished you could ask someone on curing your street rod's little woes? Well, SRM Tech Editor Ron Ceridono will make the Vintage Air leg from San Antonio to the L.A. Roadsters' Father's Day Show in Pomona, California, and will be on hand each day and at the evening stops to pull up a chair and answer those questions-although you may have to pry him away from the buffet line!
You want to ask the pros how they do what they do? Well, the likes of Bobby Alloway, Boyd Coddington, Pete Chapouris, Barry Lobeck, Darrel Zip, and others will be on the various Road Tour legs and you will get your opportunity. (Editor's note: One of my first questions to Bobby Alloway will be if he can tell the difference between a '37 and a '38 Chevy. I am gonna get in trouble for that one!) Other personalities who will add to the party feeling on any one of the tours will be Jack Chisenhall and Rick Love of Vintage Air, and Frank Streff of SO-CAL Speed Shop in Phoenix, Arizona, and Magoo (he's one of those older rodders who was famous a bunch of decades ago), who should have plenty of stories on what's wrong (and right) with today's street rods. (Editor's note: Magoo may have a comment or two about ye ol' editor in his younger days; that alone should make the attending well worth it.) The real fun of traveling in a street rod cross-country starts at the time everyone traveling together becomes good friends and you can ask that one question that has been stored in the back of your mind for years.