Today started out where no Power Tour participant wants to be…the shop.  As I had mentioned yesterday, when we arrived in Racine we noticed that the alignment on the Pacer was WAY off.  Could have been the hammering at the drag strip but somehow a few of the adjustment cams in the front suspension slipped and the front tires looked like they were ready to fold over.  We woke up early and busted out the Yellow Pages and made a call to the guys at Alignment By Klamm in Racine, WI.

The guy mentioned on the phone that they were super busy, but we called at a quarter to 8 and he said that if we got there ASAP, he could squeak us in. Our 3 month-old Kumho’s were ecstatic! When we arrived, they wasted no time and threw the Pacer on a lift and went to town with lasers and computers and as true professionals knew EXACTLY what they were doing. They also even gave us tips on how to keep the suspension from slipping again, which is the first shop to do that. I implore you if you’re in the Racine, WI area or find yourself in Racine, WI and need alignment work done, go to Klamm’s. They had us on the road by nine, too late for the driver’s meeting out of Racine, but still far earlier than we expected.

With the Pacer driving straighter than she ever has, we set out on the freeway towards South Bend, IN to see if we might be able to make up some time. Right outside downtown Chicago, we passed the official Power Tour Lead car. Make up time? We were leading the thing!

We got through Chicago, and pulled off for fuel for both the car and our stomachs. Afterward, my Dad decided to hop in with our running mate Mike in his 2003 Mustang Mach 1, leaving me alone in the Pacer. With a full tank of gas, windows down, and AC/DC cranked on the freshly installed sound system I motored through Indiana waving at bystanders and causing a ruckus as I did it. I bet I looked like an idiot, but I sure had fun.

Arriving at the fair grounds in South Bend, IN it was super humid and there were looming dark clouds in the sky. As I pulled in, I was escorted towards the front as the other V-8 Pacer (really) saved a spot for me so we could have two fully restored V8 Pacers next to each other.

We walked around the fairgrounds and I snapped pictures of my usual unusual stuff: Studebaker Lark with a blown big block, chopped and sectioned 53 Buick, Triumph TR8 with a small block Chevy…I’m sure you’re starting to get used to my style. Yea, there’s a couple pictures of El Camino’s, Olds, Chevy II, or Chevelle Wagons, and maybe a sprinking of highboys, but I know when to admire nice cars when I see them.

After the fairgrounds, we headed to the hotel where in and of itself it becomes a car show. People outside cleaning off their cars, benchracing, or doing burn-outs in the parking lot…it’s all part of the Tour, and I love it. It’s really a week of eating premium fuel, breathing carburetor exhaust, and living cars…my heaven.

Tags: car show, Cars, hot rod, Pacer, power tour