Newton car enthusiast Rick Manning joins hot-rod tour

Newton - Newton resident Rick Manning and his 2002 Chevy Corvette joined other hot-rodders and car enthusiasts in the Hot Rod Power Tour™, America’s largest rolling car show. The tour began June 3 in Orlando, Fla., and ended on Friday, June 9, in Englishtown. “Rick and his hot-rodding peers bring the pages of Hot Rod Magazine to life through the tour,” said Jerry Pitt, publisher of the magazine. “The passion for performance is what drives automotive culture.” This year’s tour, presented by GM Performance Division and cosponsored by Flowmaster, covered over 1,533 miles before reaching the finish line in Englishtown at the Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Along the way, spectators cheered on more than 2,300 car hobbyists as they participated. Some 1,300 “long-haulers” ran the entire route. “Manning belongs to a powerful force in this country,” said Peter MacGillivray, vice president of marketing and communications for the Specialty Equipment Marketing Assn., which represents the specialty auto parts industry. “He is joined by millions of others whose passion for automotive culture and technology drives successful businesses all over the world - especially small to mid-size businesses. He is participating in one of the few success stories in the auto industry today.” Manning said he considers the tour “an absolute must” for those in tune with America’s car culture. “It allows collectors of every sort and age to come together and see America from behind the wheel of their favorite vehicle,” he noted. The 2006 tour traversed the eastern seaboard, stopping in Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania, before arriving in Englishtown. The Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour™ began in 1995 as a cross-country ride with thousands of participants, but only seven dedicated long-haulers.