In our opinion, the most fun a person can have on four wheels during the summertime is to attend Rod & Custom magazine's cross-country rod run known as Americruise. For 2007, Americruise featured two separate cross-country tours that joined in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the state fairgrounds to show 'n' shine and Go & Whoa.
Beyond the fact that participants actually drive their rods across the country to show at Lincoln is the Go & Whoa segment of the event, where anyone who enters is welcome to join the competitors for Rod & Custom's Rod Of The Year competition in handling and braking trials. New for Americruise 2007 was a Truck Of The Year award handed out jointly by Custom Classic Trucks and Classic Trucks. Proving that cars are cool but trucks are even cooler were the guys driving hopped-up old trucks breaking down the doors to get their rides out on the track to run amongst the hottest of hot cars.
The West Coast tour pulled out of Sacramento Vintage Ford on June 22, led by Rod & Custom's editor, Kevin Lee, with around 150 well-wishers in rods, customs, and pickups present to see the R&C entourage off. On June 25, the Southern tour left from Painless Performance's Fort Worth, Texas, facilities led by Dennis Overholser. With the number of hot-rodded cars and trucks at around 50-plus pulling out from Painless Performance on Monday morning, needless to say, it was quite a sight as the pack worked their way toward old Route 66 in Elk City, Oklahoma, for the first night out.
Of course, time really flies when you are having fun. The next thing we knew we were at Speedway Motors' giant (and we mean giant) facility checking out what has to be one of the largest inventories of cool aftermarket parts ranging from a shift knob all the way up to a '34 Ford cab.
In upcoming issues we will run special features on each of the trucks that toured with us on Americruise, but in the meantime, please enjoy our coverage of the happenings at the fairgrounds in Lincoln. CCT