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Who's ready for Day 01 of the Power Tour? I know I am, but that's mainly because I'm a hit-it-and-quit-it, one-and-done kinda guy. This applies to my work ethic, marital status, even my offspring. Yes, I know I have two kids, but let's face it, my youngest was an accident. Don't worry, she'll never read this, but just in case, Daddy loves you! Where was I, aside from looking into therapy for my youngest child? Oh yeah, Day 01 of the Tour! 
Today, we tripped from Charlotte, North Carolina to Martinsville Speedway in Virginia, across 206 of the most majestic miles in our U.S. of effen A.! I would curse, but my kids are probably reading this right now (remember, Daddy loves you!). As a writer, I'm constantly reminded that all great stories start with conflict. Aside from the daily conflict that I deal with as a parent who loves one of his kids more than the other (sorry, Daddy loves you both equally!), we started Day 01 with plenty of good old fashioned conflict. 
Charley Lillard has a meticulously well-curated collection of cars and he always brings something special like any one of Mark Stielow's very special Pro Touring Camaros that he owns. This year, he brought something new in this, an original paint 65 Riviera built by Sled Alley Hot Rods and fitted with a supercharged ZR1 mill. This car is a beauty. This car is a beast. But one thing it wasn't this morning, was running properly. 
Everybody jumped in to give Charley a hand fixing the Rivi in the late night/early morning hours. Everybody, that is, except me. I gave him a hand, but again, it was more like a slow clap, from the confines of my bed. In my defense, it was a really comfortable bed. And also, I'm inherently lazy. 
The culprit was nothing more than a seized power steering pump and thanks to the fine people at Hendrick Chevrolet they hustled over a new one at dawn. At least I think it was dawn. I'm sure I was probably sleeping. Thanks to our man, Steen Gilbertson for skipping breakfast to install the new unit and to Keith Echols for the solid group selfie work. 
By the time I could be bothered to come downstairs (again, not the easiest task, remember, really comfortable bed!), I was greeted by a partially dismembered mannequin, wrapped in plastic and stowed in the back of our Super Happy Terrific Rental Burban. Forrest went to great lengths to explain that said mannequin was anatomically correct, then muttered something about charity before quickly slamming the liftgate. 
Okay, Forrest did tell me that the mannequin was custom airbrushed/body painted with all of the major tour sponsors painted by a big time artist and that it would be auctioned off on the main Power Tour stage with all proceeds going to charity. That makes sense. What makes less sense is me overhearing Forrest talking to the mannequin whenever he thinks they're alone. 
Not sure what's going on here, but if I had to venture a guess, I'd say that Brian Thomson told our own Jim Holloway that he'd wash his Mothers shirt in his hotel room, which probably has both a comfortable bed AND a washer and dryer. Anyway, one thing lead to another and Brian mixed Jim's white shirt in with his reds and this is how the Mothers "salmon" shirt was borne. I hear tale that Reese's Peanut Butter Cups came to exist in much the same fashion. 
"So... did you see Jim's shirt?" "Yeah, what does it mean?" "No one knows what it means, but it's provocative. It gets the people going!" 
Okay, salmon shirts, power steering pumps, and mannequins aside (oddly enough, not the first time I've wrote those words in that order), let's get this show on the road. 
Once we got in the car, it was just me and Forrest. He started out the drive by saying, "Buckle up, precious." This was a bit strange. Stranger still when I realized that the mannequin was still in the back. If you need me, I'll be the one pretending to sleep for the next 1259 miles. 
Because Steen spent the morning installing Charley's power steering pump he was stuck eating gas station Teddy Grahams sans milk. I know how you feel, Steen. Because I overslept, the hotel kitchen ran out of the Pico de Gallo to go with my breakfast burrito. I haven't been that crushed since I found out we were expecting my second child. I mean, Daddy loves you! 
The Star Power of Jim's salmon shirt will not be denied. 
I felt bad for Charley, since he lost his power steering pump. Today also marked his 46th wedding anniversary and Charley was unable to be with his better half, mainly because he chose to go on the Tour instead. As an anniversary gift, I told Charley I'd shoot some seductive car and model snaps of him and the Rivi to send to his wife. Sadly, this was the sexiest pose he could muster. 
This pic was almost perfect. That is, until Steen parked his Chevelle in front of Joe. Thanks, Steen! 
So much to unpack here. Maybe Tom is hiding the pain because he wore the wrong color shirt. Or perhaps Forrest is smiling through the pain because Jim only bought Tom a soda. Or maybe Jim and Tom are talking about how creepy it is that Forrest can't stop smiling like this, since he picked up the mannequin. Yo, Jim, can I ride with you? 
The crew working to help diagnose an issue with this dually. Forrest asked if he tried wearing a brighter shirt. 
I want to know if this dude is long hauling with this one, while all Forrest could do is wonder how many mannequins will fit in the back. 
Doing God's work on Tour. 
This sight set Forrest's heart aflutter. He said if I'd be willing to make a quick stop to check it out, he'd be willing to buy tickets for the three of us. Again, he and I are the only ones in the Super Happy Terrific Rental Burban. I'm still unsure if I'm Precious in this scenario. 
We finally made it to Martinsville Speedway for the first stop on the Tour. At 0.562 miles it's the shortest track on the NASCAR Cup series. It's also one of the first paved ovals being constructed in 1947. And for some reason Forrest wants me to add that today's mannequins are much more representative of self expression. People create art with mannequins by embellishing their bodies with colors, patterns, different materials or jewels. Mannequins are used for more than just displaying clothing, they have become pieces of art in and of themselves. Forrest promised me if I said this, he'd give me my toothbrush back. Unless he's been using it on the mannequin, in which case, I'm cool. 
Nothing to see here, just Jim and Jonathan holding Forrest's leg. Not the first time I've wrote those words either. 
I can just tell that Jonathan's resisting the urge to ask Forrest how he got a leg up on this Tour. Or maybe he's just proud that Forrest didn't skip leg day. Or that it cost him an arm and a leg to get in today. I can keep going. 
Jonathan... always excited to share his meat with us. 
Although things usually get awkward when Jim tries to feed Jonathan his own meat. 
Keith's souvenir Blue Man Group serape may look fierce, but it's no match for the sheer savagery of the Mothers salmon shirt. 
We're excited to welcome this dude onto the Tour. This is his first time and he did so much more than help hold Jonathan's meat. Mothers' own Tom Callahan is based out of California and because of all this, he wants us to call him Cal. Whatever you say, Tex! 
Almost sold out! Much like me, except that I'm almost "souled out." I've had to do such bad things to take care of my kid. I mean kids. Plural. Daddy loves you! 
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This Mercury's gone 165mph on the Salt! 
I love me a clean BMW wagon, although this one looks a bit out of place on Tour... 
That is until you spot the 460hp 6.0L LS under hood. Wunderbar! 
Get you an S.O. who will go all the way on Tour with you. 
Corey Coauette of Lunch Money Garage is a boss. He's taking his hand-controlled 1927 Dodge pickup with a Vortec 350 all the way on Tour. Oh, did I mention he built the truck himself. Tour level: ninja. 
Our own Forrest did the weather report as usual on stage today. He did look like he was feeling a little Blue today, but even beyond that, I wanted to take a moment to share the many moods, the many seasons, the many looks of Forrest Eugene Tosie. 
This one looks like he can tell what Power Tour main stage host Jeff Thisted is thinking. 
Now it looks like he can tell that Jeff just farted. 
Now he's wondering if he has to fart too. 
And finally, this one doesn't really say anything. It was just accidentally, perfectly timed. I'm so gonna lose my toothpaste privileges for this one. So worth it though! 
Tomorrow we’ll knock out 178 miles to Bristol Motor Speedway. In the meantime, please enjoy our gallery of pics from Day 01 here. John Naderi for Mothers® Polishes•Waxes•Cleaners facebook.com/mothersusa
