Tour Journal

Oct-30-2007 A Sure Thing in Charlotte

I've always wanted to know what a "Tar Heel" was. Finally, I have found out after our latest Goodguys trip to Charlotte, North Carolina. But this is not the only highlight of the weekend. This was a true "Fall Classic," with a ton of hot rods calling the Lowe's Motor Speedway home for the weekend. In the heart of so much NASCAR history, Brian could hardly contain himself. I found him painting a "55" on the side of a 1985 Toyota Camry. His initials might be "B.P.," but he's no Benny Parsons.

Staying at the Hilton at University Place on the boardwalk was a great idea. We were right near two tremendous establishments: Bad Dog Burgers and Boardwalk Billy's. Sometimes we go to some stuffy restaurants, but these places were very laid back. Brian and I were pretty stoked about the Tuesday night trivia at Bad Dog. Who knew that Trivial Pursuit was the #1 selling board game in the 1980s? Obviously not Brian.

My excitement level just kept escalating throughout the weekend. You should have seen the smile on my face when I stumbled upon a 1969 Dodge Charger, complete with an "01" and the words "General Lee" across the top. Yes, it was the car of my childhood dreams, straight out of "The Dukes of Hazzard." The owner of the General could see the jubilation across my face, bellowing out a "yee haw!" as I took pictures. It doesn't get any better than this, right?

Wrong. On Saturday night, it was time for the Buckeyes to take on Penn State. Figuring that we were deep in the heart of ACC and SEC country, there was no way we'd see some premium Buckeye action at a local restaurant. You could imagine our glee when we drove up to Jock's & Jill's, where Buckeye Nation was in full bloom. A seven-foot inflatable Brutus Buckeye greeted us at the door, along with a cast of Charlotte Buckeyes. OSU music drowned the grille from wall to wall; it felt like we were right back in Columbus. Oh yeah, the Buckeyes were victorious, pounding the Nittany Lions by 20 points. Brian was snoring the alma mater all night.

By the time Sunday rolled around, I was already exhausted. The sight of the newest NAPA AUTO PARTS Trick Truck was plenty refreshing, though. A 1935 Ford was my pick to click this time around, and owner John Black found this diamond in the rough at a Goodguys swap meet in Columbus two years ago. The 402 Roush engine wasn't the only thing Roush about it. Mr. Jack Roush himself autographed the engine and chose the paint scheme for John's jewel. Most of the credit for the build goes to Bugzy's Rod House in Leland, North Carolina. If you have any question about their work, just take a look at this beauty.

After packing up and leaving Charlotte (and getting Brian to quit asking where the infamous "web" was located), we headed north and started thinking about that one last trip. That's right, one more West Coast swing and it's all over. After 19 shows, I can't believe there's only two more to go. I wouldn't have it any other way than to see you there! Next weekend it's the Autumn Get Together in Pleasanton, followed by the finale in Scottsdale. Don't spend the winter wishing you would have gone. Bring your rod to the sunny Southwest. We'll be there, so should you. Oh, and by the way, a Tar Heel is named for the folks of North Carolina being huge exporters of tar, pitch, and turpentine many years ago. While the term was originally used in a derogatory nature, the nickname is used with pride these days. They're not Buckeyes, but they're ok.

Drive safely!

Sep-27-2007 I Can't Drive 55!

Forgive me for being busy. Brian and I are getting ready for the 15th Lone Star Nationals, and my pre-birthday planning has been hectic as well. Yes, next Tuesday is my birthday. I can't believe I'll be 25... a quarter of a century! October 2nd is also a birthday shared by Kelly Ripa, Sting, Groucho Marx, Bud Abbott, and Mahatma Gandhi. Talk about a group of artisans. Anyways, it's time to stop being so vain and start telling you a little bit about the rest of the weekend in Chicago.

Saturday we were in for a treat. The great folks from Goodguys -- namely Ed and Susan -- secured a pass for Brian and me to participate in the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Talk about a rush! Jumping into the stock car and being strapped in was cool enough; but the thrill I felt leaving pit road was something I'll never forget for a lifetime. Imagine going full-speed down a straight road and then turning up a steep hill without even blinking. It was amazing, as the captain of the Tony Stewart-replica #20 car dashed around the Chicagoland Speedway at a crisp 150 miles per hour. When it was over, it seemed like an eternity in 90 seconds. If you ever get the opportunity to go for a ride in a NASCAR, I suggest you not pass up this opportunity. Just make sure Brian isn't the one driving. He only makes right turns.

After a great day on the track and at the prize wheel, Brian and I decided to check out some of Chicago's finest pizza. We landed at Giordano's, world-famous for their stuffed, deep dish pizza. Naturally I ordered the thin crust, but Brian wasn't scared of the stuffed version. It was such great pizza; we couldn't even finish the small size.

Sunday meant it was time to select a new NAPA AUTO PARTS Trick Truck winner. I must admit that every show I go looking for a Chrysler product, just to add a different element to the Ford and Chevy-dominated award. This time around, Chicago treated me right. Jeremy's Bach's 1934 Dodge pickup was as cool as the other side of the pillow. A 360 MOPAR Magnum coupled with a 727 Chrysler tranny is the driving force behind this terrific truck. Jeremy's a young guy, too, which makes this classic custom a black diamond.

We're back in the Buckeye State for a couple more days before we head deep in the heart of Texas. I'm hoping that Brian doesn't wear his spurs, because that's pretty embarrassing (like he did last week in Chicago). As always, don't forget to spin our prize wheel and check out our great deals on parts, tools, equipment, and retail products.

Drive safely!

Sep-21-2007 Cleveland Rocks... Chicagoland Rolls!

Brian and I braved the chilly environment up in rustic Rhinebeck, and now we're back in the heat at Joliet, Illinois, home of the first-ever Chicagoland Nationals. I am a huge fan of having these Goodguys events at NASCAR tracks. Being in the garage area gets me ready to turn some wrenches. Good thing we've got plenty of grease towels on hand! If you have the urge to feel the horsepower firsthand, then come on out and try the Richard Petty Racing Experience. Get a few laps around the track for a very reasonable fee. I can't guarantee you'll be a Daytona champion like Michael Waltrip, but it's a start.

As I mentioned in my last entry, Brian is a huge Detroit Tigers fan, and I was stoked to hear he had purchased some tickets to a game against my Cleveland Indians on Tuesday. After nine innings of hard-fought baseball, my Tribe came out on top (like there was any doubt). Win or lose, I was just happy to be in the friendly confines of Jacobs Field, where it was Dollar Dog Night. Brian put his sorrow where his mouth is, chowing on five hot dogs as the Indians hit four home runs en route to a 7-4 victory over Detroit. Now the Indians are on the cusp of their first playoff appearance in six years, while Brian will be using his NAPA AUTO PARTS grease towel to wipe his tears away.

Day One here in Joliet was a scorcher, with temperatures reaching in the upper 80s. The heat was no match for hot rods, though, as we saw plenty of classics and customs fresh out of the garage making their way into the infield. Little did we know we would be in the company of a semi-celebrity today. Our NAPA girl, Erika, is a reality TV star, having secured a role in the hit series "Beauty and the Geek" a couple years ago. While Erika was eliminated two episodes into the series, she's still #1 in our hearts. Be sure to stop by the NAPA AUTO PARTS Overhaulin' tent to ask Erika about her celebrity status and spin our prize wheel. We promise the Paparazzi will keep their distance.

So we'll be seeing you this weekend in Joliet! Need some quality auto parts, tools, and retail auto products? We've got plenty of each at our NAPA AUTO PARTS display, and if we don't have it, we can get it delivered! If that doesn't get you excited, then you must not have the fuel in your veins like Brian.

Drive safely!

Sep-13-2007 The Beast of the East!

Rhinebeck it is! I'm back out on the road, ready to take the last six Goodguys shows by the horns. I'm not sure if there's a better place to start than Rhinebeck, New York, where we're getting some rare Atlantic flare for the East Coast Nationals this weekend. I can't forget to mention that "we" has a new meaning for the rest of the year. I'm proud to introduce my newest comrade on the NAPA Goodguys Tour: Mr. Brian Puffer. Brian is a native of Bowling Green, Ohio, and a graduate of The Ohio State University. B.P. does have his faults, though. He's a Detroit Tigers fan after all. In the heat of a playoff race this September, it should be a lot of fun with me being an Indians fan and Brian a Tigers fan. What we both agree on is that there's no better place to shop for all our automotive needs than NAPA AUTO PARTS. Be sure to stop by the prize wheel and say "Go Tribe" to my new right-hand man.

We've had a few cool stops on our way to Rhinebeck. We love to visit our local NAPA dealers providing quality auto parts in their respective towns across America, so we were pleased to stop by the NAPA AUTO PARTS located in Greenville, New York. Not only is store owner Mark Wilcox a great host, but he is a great go-cart driver. After our stop in Greenville, we headed just north of Albany to display our NAPA AUTO PARTS Overhaulin' Delivery Truck at a cruise-in at Guptill's Coney Island Express. I think I've seen it all now that we've had a car show at a roller rink. What a great show we had, as a crowd of around 100 people stayed to watch us rev up the custom S-10 and drive it back into the NAPA trailer.

Driving to Rhinebeck, we didn't know much about the little town resting just east of the Hudson River. What Brian and I found was a town rich in history. If you visit Rhinebeck, be sure to visit the Beekman Arms and Delamater Inn, the oldest inn in the country. You're also just minutes from the birthplace of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. If you're hungry, we recommend Pete's Famous Restaurant. I don't know if I've ever seen a bigger selection in one menu. The great food matched the phenomenal service.

Today we visited a famous little town called Woodstock, the "Colony of the Arts." If you're a fan of music (and the Sixties), then take a trip through Woodstock and you'll be in the thick of plenty of culture and flower power. Former residents include David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt, Todd Rundgren, Uma Thurman, Liv Tyler, and L.A. Lakers coach Phil Jackson. Brian and I were a bit disappointed that the concert/festival named for the town was actually not held in Woodstock; it was held in Bethel, about 90 minutes south of the village. Still, it was a great experience to visit this unique town.

Now it's time for the East Coast Nationals, and Brian is more floored than a 454 when the tree hits green at the start line. We'll have plenty of tools and equipment on display, and if you can't find it under our tent, we'll have it delivered right to your car. Now, that's convenience. Anyways, we'll see you this weekend!

Drive safely!

Aug-28-2007 Kansas City... Kansas City, Here We Come!

Don't mind me - I've just been slacking again on my NAPA Goodguys journal duties. But it's been a long haul, traveling to Madison and then Pleasanton. Now we are on our way to Kansas City, with the California sun setting behind us as we make our way east. The 6th Mid-Western Nationals at Kansas Speedway looks to be a swingin', hot-roddin' time this weekend. Cole's just excited to try out some Midwest barbeque flavor that stands above the rest. But before I get ahead of myself, I can't forget the great event we had this past weekend in Pleasanton, home of the world-famous Goodguys Rod & Custom Association.

It wouldn't be easy making it to Pleasanton, as a forest fire at Donner Lake just west of Reno, Nevada had us stuck on I-80 for three hours last Wednesday. Being stuck in our tracks for that long can cause a couple young bucks like Cole and I to work up quite an appetite. Once we made it to Pleasanton, we discovered the Hopyard Ale House. We couldn't have been happier with the food and the service at the Hopyard, especially with the seasoning they lace atop their delicious burgers. If you haven't had the luxury of dining here, I suggest you try it out when you're in town for the Autumn Get-Together in November.

It was also great to have some perfect weather this weekend in Pleasanton after it seemed to rain on us for a week straight. Talk about some true classics this weekend: over 3000 cars filed into the Alameda County Fairgrounds, and all of them were at least 50 years old! That's right, every car exhibited this past weekend was manufactured in 1957 and prior. I'll be honest, I figured this might make my task of picking a new NAPA AUTO PARTS Trick Truck Award winner a little tougher this time around. Boy, was I wrong...

I fell in love the first day of the show with a 1953 Ford F-100, built by the Roadster Shop for Mike Crimaldi of St. Charles, Illinois. The 509 Merlin engine alone was enough to wow me, but the coolest part of the truck was the carbon fiber inlay of the bed. I think the attention to detail given to the bed of a custom truck is always a decisive factor in picking the next NAPA AUTO PARTS Trick Truck. Let's just say that Phil and the boys at Roadster Shop can read my mind.

The weekend wasn't just about another award. Even our prize wheel had some competition. Our NAPA comrades from Fresno brought out a "money booth" that wowed the crowd every two hours. I also can't forget to mention the food - the Philly cheese steak wraps were the bomb! Once again, don't forget to try one of these when you come back to Pleasanton in November. Just don't eat one in your hot rod. They can get kinda messy.

After leaving the "House that Meadors Built", our fun spilled over into today as we headed down to Newman, California for a tool show at John Spires's NAPA AUTO PARTS on Main Street. John must also be a mind reader because he served up some tri-tips for a couple Goodguys roadies and all the hard-working mechanics in Newman. To thank all of his customers, he even gave away a brand new four-wheeler. John knows that the customer is the most valuable part in the auto parts industry, and he had plenty of smiling faces in his NAPA AUTO PARTS store today.

The sun has set on Cole and me as we have just passed into Nevada. The nighttime is not going to stop this dynamic duo; we're way too pumped for our Midwest swing in the heart of Kansas. Just don't get any ideas about us putting the NAPA AUTO PARTS Overhaulin' Delivery Truck on the track at the Kansas Speedway. We really don't want to embarrass anybody.

Drive safely!