What kind of party do you throw for a 10-year-old? If your baby gurgles with the ferocity of a grizzly bear and emits the rich aroma of burnt diesel fuel, then only a one-of-a-kind of party will do. Over 300 registrants from all over North America drove into Indianapolis Raceway Park to participate in this year's Power Fest National Rally in support of the first 10 years of Power Stroke production.
The Rally set aside five days on the grounds of IRP to allow participants ample time and space to get situated and engage in a full schedule of events organized through the collaborative efforts of FOKISD (pronounced fo-kist), the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Super Duty club, Ford Trucks, International, and Indianapolis Raceway Park. This year's event drew a substantially larger crowd than previous years, with at least one other club cancelling its own event to attend.
Things got underway early. Thursday morning saw a mile-long stream of burbling Super Dutys threading their way down the Interstate headed for the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville. This was a poker run as well, with highest hands winning Ford Truck-branded swag. WIth over 100 owners eager to see a truck created before their eyes, briskly paced walking tours of the largest truck-building facility in America began.
What an incredible toy box it is. Stacks of shiny new axles, engines, transmissions, turbos, and exhausts populated an industrial landscape connected by miles of continuous assembly lines. Bodies for Excursions and F-Series Super Dutys dangle overhead awaiting a union with various engine and chassis packages. There wasn't an owner present that didn't want this ultimate garage of unlimited interchangeability.