Hot Rod magazine’s Power Tour began in 1995.
The inaugural tour grew from a staff project: Hot Rod employees drove project cars on a cross-country route from Los Angeles, California, to Norwalk, Ohio. What began as a long-distance road trip attracted thousands of participants along the way and established a format that combined driving with organized automotive events.
Only seven non-staff participants completed the entire original journey. They became the first members of the “Long Hauler Gang,” a designation that later became closely associated with completing the tour. The event typically lasts six to eight days and has traditionally taken place in late May or early June.
The Power Tour is sometimes mistaken for a fixed annual race or a single-location car show. It is instead a moving road event, with routes and starting points changing from year to year. Stops commonly include contests, entertainment, celebrities, and displays of participant vehicles.