Power Tour Final Look Back

A last look at the 2010 Power Tour includes stuff from day 1 to the end. The bonspeed boys; Brad Fanshaw, Mark Cilani and Mark Grimes all agreed to do it again. No we can't mark this one off the bucket list, because then we couldn't come back next year!

Newton, Iowa at the Speedway it was day 1 and we had no idea what the trip would be like. It had already started right, lots of cars, good weather and the cars made it finally! This was the pre-tour briefing, you can see the guys from Hot Rod up on the trailer.

One of the best things about Power Tour was the gas station stops. Every stop was full of cars, different ones every time and lots of car crazy people to meet.

You see everything on Power Tour, even a 2069 Camaro?

Enthusiasm was fantastic for the tour every city opened up and they all came out to watch us cruise through town.
Highway Patrol...no Power Patrol. We saw this cool cruiser parked at the Mid-America Corvettes open house and never saw it again?

In Du Quoin, IL we saw this bad S-10 and this guy knows style. It sports the bonspeed INTENSE wheels.

This bad Mopar had everyone watching from the radical roof graphics to the 10-71 blower it was crazy!

VISIT: bonspeedWheels.com

It's Not Over Yet..More Posts Coming This Weekend!

We just got back to California after a week on the Hot Rod Power Tour. Man it is tough settling back into the life at the office after driving America, living in a different town each night, bench racing in the parking lots, meeting new friends.

Every stop is an adventure and car show. Stay tuned here at the blog we will be posting more photos, more stories and our Top Ten Things you must have when you go on Power Tour!

If you have time you can also visit www.bonspeedWheels.com

bonspeed boys and the Grimes Gang Part Two

There are two things you do regularly on Power Tour other than drive you clean your car at every stop detailing the road grime off the car so everyone can admire. Here Mark Grimes is wiping down the wheels on his Corvette.


The other thing you do very frequently is stop for fuel, Mark Cilani is demonstrating proper fuel technique. Gas-up, run to the men's room and get a snack.

Speaking of snacks the Grimes Gang loves their snacks. Early morning Du Quoin and Damon and Royce are already enjoying snacks and energy drinks.

Damon and Royce spent the trip in this slammed Pontiac GTO.

Again a big thanks to our friends who traveled with us: Mark, Diana, Damon, Royce, Matt, Meagan, Scott and Suzanne Grimes. The Grimes Gang was a blast to travel with!

Lunch in Hopkinsville, KY, the bonspeed boys Invade Rural America

Ever see one of those movies where the guys walk in a restaurant or bar and everything stops, every single person turns to look. Welcome to Hopkinsville, KY, we drove off the beaten path to have lunch with the owner of BedWood© for Trucks, Jeff Major. Jeff had noticed we were coming close and invited the crew for lunch at The Wood Shed BBQ.

We arrived before Jeff and when we rumbled in the parking lot with four black machines and a Silver Vette it was quite a site. As the ten person bonspeed gang walked through the door all eyes were on us.

A few minutes later everything was fine and we were enjoying Southern hospitality and some fine cooking. After a quick lunch of pulled pork and fries we hit the road once again.

Z06 Seat Time from DuQuoin to Bowling Green

When we left DuQuoin, Illinois, I prayed Mark Grimes hands from the grip he had on the supercharged Corvette Z06. It was the perfect time to drive the car, two lane back roads plenty of hills and chances to stand on it for passing.
Grimes has prepped the car great a Magnusson Supercharger, stainless exhaust, carbon fiber hood, flat black paint accent stripes and of course the mean bonspeed Jag-X wheels with flat black centers and gloss black hoops. The car handles well and even with all that added horsepower is manageable.
I really enjoyed the time behind the wheel of the "Wyd Open" Z06.

Two Days of No Wi-Fi - Not all Motels are Created Equal!

Sorry for not posting for the last two days, but unlike California there is not a Starbucks on every corner. The motels we have been stopping at either have no Wi-Fi or really weak and unable to upload any pics.

Next time I must have a wireless card, we live an learn. Ahead, two days of catch up, so read on!

The Grimes Gang and bonspeed boys Travel America

Ten friends, five cars and days to be part of the Hot Rod Power Tour. The bonspeed boys could never have made this years Power Tour without this generous group. I know they each have lead feet and bottomless stomachs!

Mid America Corvette Hosted BBQ

The great people at Mid-America Corvette parts hosted a gigantic BBQ for thousands of car freaks. We ate, toured the factory and checked out the museum. The place is huge and really fun to stop and see.

Power Tuesday Headed to DuQuoin, Illinois

SHOWN ABOVE: The bonspeed boys; Brad Fanshaw (standing in plaid shorts), Mark Cilani and Mark Grimes (red shirts) met a great group of guys at a gas station along the way. Several were from the Netherlands and they were traveling with some friends from Illinois. Driving in some muscle cars they were having a blast.

At our first stop of the day I was stopped by a guy from the Netherlands. He introduced himself and wanted to show me his tattoo, this guy really loves bonspeed. His tattoo is the art from our Speed Society t-shirt, how cool is that. Truly a bonspeed guy for life!

Iowa, Illinois and thousands of New Friends; Power Tour Day 1

It was better than we ever imagined, the weather has been great and the people fantastic. Early this morning we met at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa, us and about 350 cars listened to the drivers meeting and checked out the cars. As we left the speedway everyone was cheering us on and watching the cars barrel past and onto I-80.

It never stopped every overpass, every small city and at every gas station the locals cheered us on, waived and in Kaokuk, Iowa they really rolled out the red carpet. I think everyone from that city was on Main street and they handed out water at stop lights and even invited us to stop for sandwiches. It was truly Midwest hospitality at its best.

As we drove and got closer to Springfield, Illinois today's stop more and more cars joined the cruise. We saw rat rods, muscle cars, junkers, 4x4's and lots of people enjoying the day and their cars.

We rolled into Springfield a little late again, too late for registration and were forced to park a few blocks from the true downtown action. That will not happen again tomorrow, the bonspeed boys will be in the center of the cruise and at the Mother's semi. Watch for our tweets and get live updates!

The Mother's Semi is on Power Tour Stop and see the bonspeed Wheel Display

The guys from Mother's waxes and polishes are traveling on the Hot Rod Power Tour. They have a big red semi and it is loaded with tons of great products to clean and maintain your car. The semi also has a special bonspeed wheel display that gives you an up close look at our wheels.

At some stops the bonspeed prepped Z06 Corvette will be on display. Stop by the Mother's truck and say hi to the bonspeed boys.

Follow the bonspeed boys Live on Twitter

The bonspeed boys are posting live updates from the Hot Rod Power Tour 2010 every day.
Sign on to Twitter for updates from bonspeed Wheels.


Click Here for bonspeed Wheels Tweets

A Look at the Z06 the bonspeed boys are Driving on Power Tour 2010

The car is just 200 miles old, but it already has been fully prepped by Mark Grimes. The black Z06 was sprayed with a flat back stripe, over the carbon fiber hood and the top of the car. The suspension was tweaked for ride height and even better handling. The exhaust exits out of a stainless exhaust and that gas is hot as it gets squeezed from the now supercharged motor. With the hood shut you know this is no average Vette by seeing the massive intercooler peaking from the front grill.

Making the Z06 distinctive are the bonspeed Jag-X wheels with bolts and our new optional flat caps. The wheels look great and accent the car perfectly with flat black centers and gloss black hoops. Mark has already worn a little of the massive rear tires, at his rate he may need new tires to get home.

How To Prepare a Mean Z06 Corvette and Thunder Tahoe for Power Tour

First thing you need is one of these really cool bonspeedWheels.com windshield banners. Then you find the center of the glass and lay that puppy down.

Instantly, your car or truck looks sexier, lower, meaner and faster. Despite the high-wind conditions expert car guys Brad Fanshaw and Mark Grimes installed this sticker. A technical install at the corner gas station, but we got it done on both the Z06 and the Tahoe.

If you need any tips on how to accomplish this on your vehicle just ask at any of the tour stops.

Power Tour Plans Change as SRT8 Wimps Out!

As any real hot rodder knows, plans can change without notice. The famous last words; "It ran great yesterday" were ringing in our ears today.

The Jeep SRT8 we planned on driving with its 22" bonspeed Delta wheels, supercharged Hemi, Eibach suspension and stainless exhaust rolled over dead. The flat black over gloss paint gleamed in the Midwestern sun, but the fire of the engine could not be created. The verdict is a dead PCU and in a computer controlled car that is certain death.

The bonspeed boys gave it their best to raise the car from the dead, we changed the battery, checked wires, connections and Mark even called dealers trying to hustle a new computer. We finally ruled the car out of commission as the day dragged on and we were losing road time.

Grimes didn't leave us high and dry driving a rental car on Power Tour, no way! We went back to his shop and dug out the back-up car. Stored just waiting for a chance to tour was his Supercharged Thunder Edition Tahoe. Have you started to get the idea that Mark really likes supercharged rides? Yes, he does and we are glad he had another ride waiting on the side lines.

Ok, so day one has begun with a problem, but it was quickly resolved and we made it on the road. It was too late to make the Iowa stop of Power Tour as we rolled in about two hours late. No worries, we will catch up with the tour in the morning.

Power Tour the First 24

Every trip starts with the usual airports and jet travel. Mark and I loaded up on the plane in Orange County, Ca and traveled to Minneapolis for our change of planes. Flying in over the Twin Cities Mark confessed that he had never been to Minneapolis or Minnesota. As he looked down he exclaimed, "It's green down there!". Then he reminded me that he really has never traveled much in the Midwest at all.

Well, we changed planes and made it to Omaha, yet another city holding new adventure for bonspeed boy Mark. For me Omaha is an old friend, it is where I lived for my high-school and most of my college years. Omaha is where I became a car fanatic, working at the local speed shop; One Stop Performance, cruising and yes, street racing on Abbott Drive.

After showing Mark the city and some of the great old midwest character we headed to MidLife Motors a car collection owned by a high-school friend (Scott Noble) and managed by another high-school buddy Mike Daly. Like all car guys everything is a mix of finding the best cars, the ones you wanted and a little of our youth. That is the collection at MidLife, a great grouping of Ford, Chevy and Mopars that is high-lighted by some of the motocross bikes we raced as kids.

Mike and his dad were nice enough to show us around the shop and talk about the days when we would cruise Dodge street and race our motorcycles without the fear of injuring our bodies.

Maybe day one started in airports and driving a rental car, but the stop at MidLife already made us forget about the doldrums of travel. Visiting with Mike and seeing the cars Scott has brought together, I can already see were going to have some fun!

bonspeed boys the Who, What and Where Power Tour 2010

Friday morning the bonspeed boys are flying from the Orange County, California airport and heading to the Midwest for the Hot Rod Power Tour 2010. Looking forward to meeting car guys and gals from around the world and finally experiencing an event on our list of To-Do's!

Who are the bonspeed boys?
The original bonspeed boys are Brad Fanshaw and Michael Anthony, the owners of bonspeed. Over the years the group has grown to include a very small group of close personal friends who have participated in helping to make bonspeed the exciting company it is today.

Shown at right and going on the 2010 Power Tour are Brad Fanshaw (left) and Mark Cilani (right). We are traveling with our resident Midwest bonspeed boy, Mark Grimes friend and owner of MAG Motoring Wheels (www.MagMotoringWheels.com). Mark's family is traveling along too, we will introduce you to them when we get to Omaha.


What Do the bonspeed boys Have Planned?
We are planning on having as much fun as gear heads can have without the long arm of the law catching us. We plan on tearing down the back roads, frontage roads and any roads the tour has to offer. We are going to check out the cars and meet as many car people as we can find. I am certain we will eat way too much greasy food and stay up late every night. We will do that while spreading the word about bonspeed Wheels!

Where Are the bonspeed boys Headed?
Ok, before anyone says we are less than hard-core car guys or sissy men, we are only traveling on part of the Power Tour. We would love to embark on a week long adventure into the Southern United States. It would be great to travel the distance and say we are long-haul guys, but when the cats away the mice will play. The bonspeed empire does not run itself.

Tour Dates the bonspeed boys are Attending
Saturday June 5
Newton, IA, Iowa Speedway

Sunday June 6
Springfield, IL, Downtown Springfield

Monday June 7
DuQuoin, IL, DuQuoin State Fairgrounds

Tuesday June 8
Bowling Green, KY, Warren County Airport

Wednesday June 9
Chattanooga, TN, Chattanooga State Community College

Hope to see you on the road in a town listed or at least have you reading our Twitter Tweets and the blog.