Starting at Coker Tire and Honest Charley’s Speed Shop in Chattanooga, Tennessee and ending at Cruisin’ Ocean City in Ocean City, Maryland, the Coker Tire Tour is eight days jam packed with car shows, shop tours, museum visits and even a fundraiser for a great charity.

The Tour started Saturday May 9th with a car show and silent auction to benefiting Patti and Kyle Petty’s Victory Junction Gang Camp for Kids. Last year we were able to raise enough money to send a child to camp for a week and this year we are hoping to send two children. Featured in the silent auction will be a Classic Automobilia 75th Anniversary Hot Rod Pedal Car with special graphics by none other than Chip Foose. Anyone who wants to help with this worthwhile cause can call the Road Tour hotline at 1-800-664-1362 to make a bid or a donation.

Sunday morning is a cruise through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park as we head to our Sunday evening destination of Knoxville, Tennessee. On Monday morning we visit our good friends at Lokar for a look at their facility. Then it is on to Bobby Alloway’s Hot Rods with a personal tour of one of the most famous shops in our hobby. Monday evening Brent Vandervort at Fatman Fabrications welcomes us in Charlotte. Brent is always a great host and is making arrangements to get us in to see an incredible private collection of muscle cars in the Charlotte area. Since we will be staying in Concord near Lowes Motor Speedway, we will certainly be taking a tour of one of the NASCAR race team shops on Tuesday morning.

Tuesday afternoon we have received special permission to pay a visit to the Victory Junction Gang Camp where we will see the facilities and present the money that was raised in the auction. From Randleman it is a short drive to Greensboro, North Carolina where we will receive a special welcome from Jim Barber at Classic Automotive Restoration Services’ extensive facility. Wednesday we are up and rolling again as we make our way to Virginia Beach. Along the way we will stop at Cecil Proffit’s Antique Garage and Car Museum for lunch and then on to Jessie’s Rod Shop for a barbeque hosted by Tidewater Street Rod Association.

Thursday starts with breakfast at the Lynnhaven Pier sponsored by Route 60 Garage. The City of Virginia Beach really rolls out the red carpet Wednesday afternoon. On tap will be a special visit to see the elite jet fighters at the Naval Air Station Oceana, a meet and greet at Rudee Inlet and then we will be guests of honor at the kick-off of the huge Beach Music Weekend Thursday evening. Friday we will be up and rolling to arrive before noon at Cruisin’ Ocean City for the huge weekend event in Ocean City, Maryland.

It is going to be a full week of Road Tour fun on the Coker Tire Tour. Check out our website at www.streetrodderweb.com or call the Road Tour Hotline at 1-800-664-1362 for all the latest news about the eight Road Tours we have planned for the summer.