The Total Performance Tour kicked off the PPG/Street Rodder Road Tour season with a fun filled weekend in the Daytona Beach area on Saturday and Sunday May 12 and 13. After gathering at Total Performances' showroom at Destination Daytona the Road Tourians took a cruise over to A1A and made the 45 minute trip down to the historic Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, just south of Daytona Beach. After a brief look at the famous lighthouse and surrounding buildings, we had a great lunch at the North Turn restaurant in Ponce Inlet. Besides the fantastic view of the ocean, the restaurant is filled with photos and memorabilia for the 1950's when the location of the restaurant was actually the north turn of the famous NASCAR beach track where the races were held before the Daytona Speedway was built in 1959. From the North Turn Restaurant we traveled as a group to the one a month cruise-in at New Symrna. We were treated to a special parking area and enjoyed the pleasant afternoon. Many thanks to Carroll Hamilton of Total Performance for putting together a great day of fun in the Florida sun.
Sunday we gathered again at the Total Performance Shop at Destination Daytona for a 90 mile trip to Ocala and a visit to the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum. For those who have not made a stop at this fantastic facility, you have to pay a visit if you are in the area. It is two huge buildings filled with an incredible collection of racing racing cars and memorabilia collected by Don during his many years as "Big Daddy" of all the drag racers. The trip back to Ormond Beach got us a little wet but everybody survived to enjoy a hot dog picnic dinner at Destination Daytona which was provided by Total Performance and Classic Automobilia.
Monday morning at 7:30 we were ready to roll. Accompanied by some showers almost 30 vehicles pulled out to start the trip up the East Coast to our ultimate destination of Ocean City Maryland and Cruisin' Ocean City. Our travels on Monday included a trip north on A1A to St Augustine and a stop at the historic Castillo de San Marcos Historical Sit which dates back to the 16th Century when Spanish explorers founded St Augustine. After another great lunch at the Conch House restaurant on the water, we made the 200 mile trip north to our stop for the evening at Hilton Head Island.
The week's fun has just begun as we will be in Myrtle Beach Tuesday evening then on to Nags Head on Wednesday with a planned arrival in Ocean City on Thursday. Check back here for all of our Road Tour updates.