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By Elisabeth Altamirano-Smith | Community Columnist

The 28th annual HOT ROD Power Tour is revving up for their annual tour which will run June 13-17. The 1,000 mile journey is expected to bring together more than 3,500 hot rod vehicles together.  Auto enthusiasts from around the world will travel to the Southeast to witness the five-day, five-city journey.  During the tour from Hoover to Pensacola hundreds of hotrods are planned to make their way to the home of local hot-rod enthusiast, Ricky Easterling.

Easterling is well known for his passion of speed racing, specialty work on cars and building classic and hot rod motors. Easterling was diagnosed in 2012 with ALS, (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Over the last decade of living with the diagnosis, he has progressively become paralyzed leaving him unable to speak or make the tour. Easterling spends his time communicating with friends and family with an eye device called VISUALS.

Hot rod enthusiasts travel together in the same way motorcycle rally participates do; making stops in Memphis, Nashville, Hoover, Pensacola and Atlanta. Participants can join in at any point along the way.

Easterling’s wife, Robin is looking forward to the event and invites family, friends and car enthusiasts to come watch the drive-thru.

“They will pass by here, honk the horn, do burn outs and some will stop I’m sure,” said Robin. “We are going to have Ricky outside under a tent so he can see it all come through. There will be hundreds of cars if they detour through here. Anyone is welcome to come. Bring a lawn chair and sit in our front yard as they come by. It’s pretty amazing to see. It’s a big tour!”

On Thursday, June 16, the tour is expected to leave Birmingham between 7 -8 a.m. and make their way into Clanton between the hours of 9 a.m.- noon p.m. The Easterlings encourage spectators to arrive at their home by 8:30 a.m.

“We are going to have coolers with some water and drinks,” said Robin. “Just come and enjoy yourself.”

Ricky and Robin Easterling reside at 3435 County Road 47, Clanton, Alabama. For more information, contact 205-389-0676.