The PPG / STREET RODDER Tour #4 gave real meaning to the phrase, "having fun with your car." On this trip, we combined drag racing, rock 'n' roll music, and behind-the-scenes looks at some incredible facilities, and wound up at the largest street rod event in the world. The distance between Norwalk, Ohio, and Louisville, Kentucky, is actually only slightly more than 300 miles and can be easily driven in five hours. Getting there, however, isn't the Road Tour's only objective-having lots of fun and seeing interesting places is what it's all about.
The Blue Suede Cruise is in its fifth year at Norwalk Dragway, midway between Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio. This beautiful facility is perfect for a weekend event and the dragstrip was open for fun runs all weekend. Combine the auto activities during the day with rock 'n' roll music at night and it was the perfect way to kick off the fourth leg of the Road Tour.
We gathered at 8 a.m. on Monday, with folks from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, and even Hawaii on this tour, and everyone was ready to roll. After a brief stop at Thomas Edison's birthplace in Milan, Ohio, we traveled south and then west on Route 30, the original Lincoln Highway.
Our lunch stop was at the newly relocated Hagan Street Rod Necessities in New Bremen, Ohio. Pete Hagan recently moved his family and business from Carson City, Nevada, to the farmland of western Ohio. After a good lunch, shop tour, and a look at the Coopster '33 Ford roadster project, it was time to continue our journey south. Down I-75 to I-70, we made a brief stop at the National Museum of the Air Force near the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Two hours is not enough time at this huge facility, but we did see some amazing planes and exhibits.
Kenny and Ray Gollahon at Brookville Roadster were our hosts for Monday evening in Brookville, Ohio. After yet another great meal, we were treated to a complete tour of their facilities. They have been pioneers in the steel street rod body market for almost three decades, starting with their Model A roadster body. Then they turned the street rod hobby upside down with the introduction of their steel Deuce roadster body a few years ago. The latest addition to their line of bodies is the amazing steel '32 Ford three-window coupe body they introduced last year, and it's something for which our industry has long been waiting. Judging by the number of orders they have received, they did it right. Tuesday morning it was Westward Ho as we continued across I-70 into Indiana and then on to Indianapolis and the Speedway. It is a very cool sight to drive into the track tunnel and come out in the infield of the most famous speedway in the world. The museum was directly in front of us, and preparations for the Brickyard 400 were already taking place. The NASCAR folks were running on the following weekend. We spent about an hour in the museum and then took the bus tour around the track. It was a fun couple of hours on hallowed ground. After lunch, we made a three-hour drive through the beautiful southern Indiana countryside to Jasper, Indiana. Bret Voelkel and the crew at Air Ride Technologies were our hosts for Tuesday evening. After some great German food, Bret gave us an up-close-and-personal tour of their facility. It was a very informative and interesting evening with folks who know their product and their market.
On Wednesday morning, it was time to get to the Nationals. It was only 90 miles to Louisville, so we had time to check out one of the most famous attractions around-the Louisville Slugger baseball bat factory via a one-hour tour. The Tour #4 group surprised me with a personalized baseball bat that will be a cherished remembrance of a fun trip and a great group of folks. After lunch, we headed to the fairgrounds and registration. Our PPG / STREET RODDER Tour #4 was wrapping up, but the NSRA Street Rod Nationals were just getting started.
It was a fun week on Tour #4. The new Road Tour format seems to be working well, and we invite everyone to join us on future tours and to "come along for the ride."
The PPG / STREET RODDER Road...
The PPG / STREET RODDER Road Tour #4 began the trip to the NSRA Street Rod Nationals at the Blue Suede Cruise in Norwalk, OH. Norwalk Raceway Park hosted almost 1,500 rods, customs, and musclecars at the event, and the strip was open for racing all weekend.
On Monday morning, the Road...
On Monday morning, the Road Tourians began to gather to head out on Tour #4. The distance to Louisville is actually only 300 miles from Norwalk, but we had planned three days of shop tours and fun places to stop along the way.
We made a brief stop in nearby...
We made a brief stop in nearby Milan, OH, to visit Thomas Edison's birthplace. A Road Tour stop creates an instant car show wherever we go.
We took a two-lane highway...
We took a two-lane highway south from Milan. In July, Ohio is a sea of green fields and lots of corn.
The Lincoln Highway was the...
The Lincoln Highway was the first road to go from the East Coast to the West Coast. We traveled on part of the original highway as we crossed Ohio.
Earlier this year, Pete Hagan...
Earlier this year, Pete Hagan relocated Hagan Street Rod Necessities from Carson City, NV. Their new home is in western Ohio on farmland near New Bremen.
We were treated to a close-up...
We were treated to a close-up look at Hagan's latest project called the Coopster. Pete is gearing up to do a limited-production 1933 Ford all-steel roadster with a mechanical retractable hardtop.
For years, Hagan's has been...
For years, Hagan's has been known as the place to go to for a custom-built hood. Pete showed us how a pattern is made to begin the process.
From Hagan's, we traveled...
From Hagan's, we traveled south and made a stop at the National Museum of the Air Force. Located just northeast of Dayton and near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, this facility is huge and contains hundreds of planes of all varieties.
Our stop for Monday evening...
Our stop for Monday evening was Brookville Roadsters in Brookville, OH, west of Dayton. We were treated to a great meal in their newly completed showroom.
Long known for their steel...
Long known for their steel Model A and '32 Ford roadster bodies, Brookville's latest effort is an all-steel '32 Ford three-window coupe. Production has begun and the orders are pouring in for this masterpiece.
We were given a complete tour...
We were given a complete tour of the Brookville facility. This particular piece of equipment is capable of exerting 600 tons of pressure. It was an impressive display.
Industry innovators Ray and...
Industry innovators Ray and Kenny Gollahon (far right) were great hosts for our evening at Brookville Roadster.
It was hot and hazy as we...
It was hot and hazy as we headed west on I-70 and crossed into Indiana. The sign on the arch thanked us for visiting Ohio and invited us to stop back real soon.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway...
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is located in the infield of the track. The folks at the museum were good enough to let us stop briefly in front for a photo opportunity.
We spent almost two hours...
We spent almost two hours at the track. Inside the museum, we were able to see race cars from all eras of racing at the Brickyard.
From Indianapolis, it is a...
From Indianapolis, it is a beautiful drive through the southern Indiana countryside to Jasper. Our destination for the evening was Air Ride Technologies.
The folks at Air Ride Technologies...
The folks at Air Ride Technologies greeted us in style with food catered by a local German restaurant. We really ate well on Tour #4.
Owner Bret Voelkel (right)...
Owner Bret Voelkel (right) personally gave us a tour of the Air Ride facilities. Air Ride Technologies is a very innovative company with a strong emphasis on research and development.
By Wednesday morning, it was...
By Wednesday morning, it was time to head toward Louisville. The NSRA Street Rod Nationals were scheduled to begin on Thursday and we did not want to be late.
Before heading to the fairgrounds...
Before heading to the fairgrounds and registration, we made a stop in downtown Louisville. The Louisville Slugger plant offers tours to the public and we took the opportunity for one last group photo in the shadow of the largest bat in the world.
At the Nationals, many of...
At the Nationals, many of the folks from tours 1, 2, 3, and 4 stopped by the STREET RODDER booth. We decided to get everyone together on Saturday for a group photo. SRM's senior editor, Eric Geisert, was on hand to capture the Kodak moment.