2018 Hot Rod Power Tour begins at Bowling Green

They say the Hot Rod Power Tour is the largest traveling car show in the world. It draws in more than 6,000 cars as the gigantic caravan hits seven cities. At every stop, there are giant manufacturer displays, drag racing, autocross, and more. For 2018, the first stop was in Bowling Green, Ky., at the Beech Bend Raceway Park. Naturally, it rained while I was there, but there were still thousands of cars on display waiting for breaks in the weather. With so many to choose from, there were bound to be some interesting things to check out. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

2015 ISSCA Nationals in Bowling Green

Most people don’t really consider the mid-1990s to be a high-water mark in the history of the automobile. It’s an era of bland, jellybean-shaped appliances and soulless Toyota Camrys. V8, rear-wheel-drive performance cars were out, and the word “horsepower” was being replaced with “fuel economy.” Luckily, General Motors was quietly building cars under the radar that bucked the trends of the time. The 1994-1996 Chevrolet Impala SS was a holdout from another era. It was big. It sat on a full frame. It had a 260-hp V8 when 100-hp four-bangers were the norm. Its sinister, monochromatic looks were like a big middle finger to the wheezy turd-mobiles with which it shared the road.

2014 Chevrolet SS test drive review. Not what it first appears to be

The car you’re looking at here may be one of the biggest sleepers in America.  It looks like an oversized Chevy Cruze.  It doesn’t really have a name.  And it is one of the fastest, most potent full-sized sedans you can buy.  The 2014 Chevrolet SS is one of those cars that you need to experience to appreciate.  But not many people will get that chance.  In spite of being the face of Chevrolet’s NASCAR efforts, this car is a secret.  And it will probably remain a secret until someone looks back on them and realizes what they missed.

Car interior extravaganza. It's what's on the inside that matters

As the temperatures turn cooler here in Kansas City, people are going to be spending more time inside.  And so, we will also turn our attention inside.  Today we’re talking about car interiors. And why wouldn’t we?  Upholstery, dashboards, and steering wheels help define a car just as much as bumpers and taillights.  And most people spend a lot more time looking at their cars from the inside out.  So I’ve gone through my photo collection to find a good sample of interiors for your viewing pleasure.  Let’s take a look at some notable examples.

1994-1996 Cadillac Fleetwood. Impala SS performance, complete with vinyl top and fender skirts

Most performance car enthusiasts look at the '90s with some level of fondness. Let's face it, even fast cars in the '80s usually weren't very fast, and if they had even a hint of performance, they usually used more fuel than what you got out of them.

Things improved greatly in 1992, when Chevrolet put the new 350-c.i. LT1 V8 in the Corvette. In Chevy small block history, this was a watershed moment. Corvettes were rated at 300-hp--a huge number at the time-- and people experienced fuel mileage in the mid-to-high 20s. That might not seem like that big of a deal now, but at the time, it was like a miracle.

Tonganoxie Days puts on a nice car show ... when it doesn't rain

It seems like every year when it’s time for the Tonganoxie Days Car Show at VFW Hall #9271, it rains.  And every year, I say something like, “they had a good turnout for the rain, but just imagine what it could have been if the sun was out.”  Well guess what.  When they held the show last Saturday, the sun was out.  And guess what else.  There was a park full of nice cars.  Turns out this can be a top-notch show with a little help from Mother Nature.

2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ test drive review. Looks like one of these is in our future

If you’re looking for a review of the 2014 Impala by someone who has experience with Impalas, you have come to the right place.  Over the years, my wife and I have owned no less than five cars with the leaping deer on the sail panels.  If you add close family members, that number easily could be dozens.  Right now, my wife has a 2007 Impala, and my daily-driver is a ’96 Impala SS.   So when I was given the opportunity to spend a week with an all-new 2014 Impala LTZ, I obviously jumped at the chance.

The 2014 Chevrolet SS recalls the full-sized, rear-wheel-drive Super Sports of the past

Thursday, Chevrolet took the wraps off of the much-anticipated, 2013 SS NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The car will be based on the upcoming, Australian-built, 2014 Chevrolet SS. This is pretty big news for bowtie loyalists, because it marks the return of full-sized, rear-wheel-drive performance to the Chevrolet lineup. But it certainly isn’t their first foray into this market segment. When people think of the SS badge, images of ’69 Camaro 396s and ’70 Chevelles with 454s might come to mind. But the SS badge was born on Chevy’s full-sized offerings.

The North Kansas City Centennial Car Show was hot

Let's face it.  If you have a car show during one of the hottest days in the history of June, schedule it during the absolute hottest part of the day, and locate it in the middle of an un-shaded asphalt parking lot, you're not going to get much of a car count.

To wit: the Centennial Car Show hosted by the North Kansas City Rotary Club.  This thing was Saturday from noon to 4:00.  I almost can't think of a more miserable scenario.

As the ISSCA meets up this weekend at the Woodward Dream Cruise, we look at the history of the 1994-1996 Impala SS

The big Woodward dream cruise takes place this weekend in Detroit. Automotive enthusiasts from all over the nation will converge on the Motor City to celebrate America’s automotive heritage with the granddaddy of all car cruises.

Chevrolet is a major sponsor of the cruise this year, with all kinds of displays and events happening as part of their 100th Anniversary celebration. Included in all the action, the Impala SS Club of America is holding their annual ISSCA Nationals event in conjunction with the Dream Cruise.