'14 Power Tour - Mike Paige page

Post by **daytonajim** » Mon Jun 16, 2014 9:33 pm

I am starting a thread for Mike Paige - he can change & add to it. Jim

Today we visited the Floyd Garrett Muscle Car Museum in Sevierville, TN and saw some stunning low mile cars including two GMMGs: 2000 Berger Camaro #1 and a Dale Earnhardt Intimidator with very low miles. Drove 550 miles from Indianapolis to Hickory, NC. It was a beautiful day for a drive through the Smokey Mtns.

Great scenery.

Views from the road. Behind Jim's Camaro.

Today was the first day of the power tour--thousands of cars gathered at the ZMax drag strip for the official tour launch in Charlotte. It was a day of drag racing and autocross racing and checking out the vendors. Jim and I drag raced our two cars. I made two runs - a lot of fun, but in my case the driver wasn't quite as capable as the car! Jim made four runs and his engine blew on the fourth one - he is having his car shipped to Vengeance Racing in Atlanta tonight for diagnostics and rebuilding as needed.

Jim will be continuing on the power tour with a friend who had room in his Blackbird cnvt - Bob and I will will be in my car as before.

Tomorrow, we drive to Knoxville.

Yesterday on day 2 of the power tour we drove from Charlotte to Knoxville via scenic highways through the Southern Blue Ridge mtns. The drive around Lake Lure and Chimney Rock was especially beautiful. Then several thousand cars gathered at Chilowee Park.

Today we drive to Charleston, WV.

Yesterday was day 3 of the power tour and the drive was from Knoxville to Charleston, WV. It was a great drive through the Appalachians with plenty of twists and turns for some fun power shifting.

The meeting point in Charleston was along the river beginning at the Capital building and our cars were parked along the street for almost two miles.

Bob and I visited the Capital after doing the car walk.

Today was day 4 of the power tour. We drove from Charleston, WV to Norwalk, OH in the north central part of the state near Lake Eire. Easy driving and interesting to go through Amish country in central Ohio.

We gathered today at the Summit Motorsports Park for the end of day car show, went to the booth for our daily "long haul" stamp, went to watch the drag races but they were rained out.

Tomorrow we head for Crown Point, Indiana.

June 11, Day 5 of the Power Tour: We drove from Norwalk, OH to Crown Point, IN. Along the way, we say Trigger Smith's private collection of GMMG supercars and Corvettes -- all 50 in mint condition in Swanton, OH. Trigger owns Soul Road Trucking. He, his wife and daughter were gracious hosts and it was a pleasure seeing this collection.

In Crown Point, we again joined the huge mass of power tour cars -- our rolling car show extravaganza.

June 12, Day 6 of the Power Tour: We drove from Crown Point to Bettendorf, Iowa, a relatively short trip of about 200 miles. Arriving at 11:30 am at the Isle of Capri Resort and Casino, we had plenty of time to find a good place to park, see the floating casino on the Mississippi River, and of course the other cars. It was one of the most relaxed days yet.

June 13, Day 7 of the Power Tour: The final leg was a beautiful drive through N. Iowa and S. Wisconsin that took us through Platteville, where Bob's sister and my cousin Margaret lives. She hosted us for brunch and it turned out to be a fun family get together as we were joined by cousins Julie and Mary, along with spouses, friends, Margaret's grandkids, etc.

Before arriving at Margaret and Joe's, Bob and I toured Mineral Point, a Welsh mining town that our uncle Al Felly has helped restore. Al and Edie has lived in the "Welsh House" for many years and had just sold it to a couple, whose great grandparents has lived there for 60 years. Very cool. Shake Rag Alley is beautifully landscaped and the miner's houses are very historic.

Then we picked up my friend Bob Hargis at the Madison airport and drove on to the final venue, the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells. The town was packed with power tour cars, of course. Quite a show.

June 13, awards morning: The morning of June 13, all of those who had made the "long haul" from Charlotte got their awards. As soon as that was done, we drove to Lake City, MN where we dropped Bob Connor off, and then Bob Hargis and I drove back to St. Paul.

It is a wrap! We had a great time, saw some beautiful country, and were surrounded by great cars for 7 days. My car didn't miss a beat the whole trip.

Michael Paige

Email: r-paig@umn.edu

Blackbird owners - Bob, Mike, Aaron, Jim

NCGuy68 · Post by **NCGuy68** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 4:19 am

I personally enjoyed spending a few days with Mike and company in Charlotte. He is a Great Guy and loves his Yellow CETA...

I'am hoping he grabbed better 1/4 mile times at Norwalk because with each pass in Charlotte he went quicker... :dance: And Most Important - He Had FUN!... :auto-layrubber:

Post by **daytonajim** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 5:36 pm

http://share.shutterfly.com/share/recei ... Jw5ZMWrCNA

Great photos.......... See Trigger's ZL1's - fantastic work Mike.

On Shutterfly - thanks Mike

CETABlackbird4 · Post by **CETABlackbird4** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 11:06 pm

Yes, one emblem fell off and I took the other two off to be on the safe side. Fortunately, I have a back up set and will apply them more safely later. At least two of three made it to Charlotte.

Mike

Post by **daytonajim** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 8:55 am

Mike's first two runs down the track - ever @ age 71.

How cool? You are never too old to have fun with your GMMG! 'You-da-man'

If I would have kept the CETA BB & not broke HRE #2000 that could have been me. 'Shoud A - Would A - Could A ' Wa-Wa-Wa!

Run #1 (Click the photo)

Run # 2 (Click photo)

Post by **daytonajim** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 2:47 pm