I've always hated reading editorials that are nothing but the editor telling me what a great job he has. But after spending a week on the Asphalt Ego-Rama, I gotta tell you I really have a great job. Getting out of the office and hitting the road with seven hot rods and their builders/owners makes all the other duties that come with the job that much more bearable.
I'm always impressed when our readers get out and use their cars on trips like the Americruise or Tom's Fun Run, but the Ego-Rama is a little different. The miles traveled during the event itself generally aren't as many, but it's how we rack up some of those miles that put these guys and gals in a class of their own. Not everyone would subject his or her pride and joy to a day of grueling track testing and be able to come out smiling.
You can read all about the event elsewhere in this issue, but I wanted to interject some of my own impressions. After spending a little time with each car and its owner, I came to the realization that we had a group of hardcore hot rodders.Each one is an example of whom I try to tailor the magazine to each month.
The average number of miles on the cars was easily over 30,000. Rich Guasco has almost 60,000 on his roadster just since its restoration in 1999. Jim Shelton has put over 45,000 on his '32 in less than three years. Denise Sheldon, Jim Sheldon, and Jack Parker all came in from Michigan, putting almost 2,500 miles on their well-traveled cars just getting them to the event itself, and then they turned around and did the same going home. Jerry Krob put on over 1,600 miles coming in from Kansas on the flattest roads he could find (his wife, Cheryl, wasn't too happy with some of my scenic mountain road choices, but she had a great time, nonetheless). Corey Cummings had the least amount of miles to travel and the least amount on the odometer, but I know that's going to change, as I believe he and his wife, Judy, have a new appreciation for their coupe's abilities.
As if spending time with this collection wasn't rewarding enough, I actually got to spend some time behind the wheel of each one of these cars. How many people get the chance to drive a former America's Most Beautiful Roadster winner with its original owner/builder sitting next to them telling them to jump on it to see what it'll do? I always feel very grateful that someone is willing to turn their keys over to me (I know in some cases it's a very rare occurrence). In the past I've done road tests on new vehicles, but it doesn't mean as much when GM relinquishes control. When someone who has worked years to get his or her hot rod just the way they want it allows me to drive it, I appreciate it more.
If all this sounds like something you think you're up for, then fill out the entry form at the end of the event coverage in this issue or go to our Web site and do it there. We're still working on the details, but we're putting plans together to hold two Ego-Ramas this year tied into some Goodguys events. Stay tuned.