POWER TOUR 2022

HIGH OCTANE AND SWEET TEA

- HEIDI ELZAS

If HOT ROD Power Tour 2022 was your first, then you know it can be summed up in one word beginning with the letter "H". Hospitable. It gave a whole new understanding of the welcoming, friendly, southern lifestyle and a new appreciation for ice-cold sweet tea. Though if hot and humid came to your mind first, we would not blame you. This was a year that left you dripping every single day, whether your car was living the luxurious life of air conditioning or not. Despite the high heat, enthusiasm radiated among participants and spectators. In five days, thousands drove a variety of cars for nearly 1,000 miles on roads lined with towering greenery. Power Tour creates experiences that are often overlooked with our modern means of transportation. The current state of travel, whether it be for business or pleasure, can create a level of the anxiety-the rush of getting from A to B. Power Tour has a way of disrupting that notion and forcing you on a trip worth slowing down for.

Early in the morning on Day 1 the gates opened at Liberty Park in Memphis, and a continuous line of cars began to stream in. Soon, the venue was full of rumbling cars and chattering people, a soundtrack that didn't fade until the final day. Anticipation filled the air, the crowd ready for the southern adventures to begin. Need to let your car rip a bit? The autocross course on location allowed for that energy to be released. Tires screeched on the starting line at the flicker of the green light. Other participants sought the shaded areas in between laps of the venue looking at the impressive collection of cars on display.