I live within 2 miles of Route 66 near Rolla, Missouri. I’m real close to the Totem Pole. Here’s a shot taken in Vinita, Oklahoma on my way to the Stray Cat 500 in Dewey.
We went to Denver last week to visit some family. On the way back we took the old national highway part of the way. While not as significant to the hot rod world as rte. 66, it is steeped in history and was still full of museums and old towns so the history could still be visualized as we drove it. Older than 66 by a long shot it was the first federally funded road project and was signed by Jefferson. The highway goes from Atlantic City to San Francisco and the history and economics of the country started, stopped and then finally finished the project more than 100 years later. We should all try to check out these historic roads and learn as much as we can about the things that helped shape our country. Wouldn’t it be fun to do end to end group trips of these historic roads. People could travel all or part of the route and enjoy activities and develop friendships with others who share their interests and hobbies.
There are several alignments of the Lincoln Highway near here and even a few dirt stretches left. Pushed by Standard Oil and Hudson at first it was mostly signage showing drivers which dir† roads to take to the next town. Parts in and near cities were paved first. It and the later freeway system was a result of things Eisenhower saw in Europe during WWI & WWII.
I'm going out on a limb here, but I will say the best Route 66 is by Nat King Cole. It moves me. If one of you has it on Capital Records 78 RPM, I'm buying. Talk to me goose
I really liked the TV show too even if it was terrible. My buddy had a Vette and we thought that made us as cool as †he TV guys. And yes Nat King Cole's version is the best.
I'm about 30 miles south of Ash Fork... Like to stop by Lilo's in Seligman for a cup o' coffee & a chunk of carrot cake. They still have BURMA SHAVE signs on "Old 66"...
I took that piece and read those signs a couple of weeks ago. Still real from there to Kingman. I wonder how much Ash Fork flagstone my car trailer would haul?
I was on my way to the RPM Nationals and had to drive thru Ashfork....and as I drove down Main...what is that awful noise from my car.....it would get loud and diminish....I pulled over to check thinking the trip was maybe going to be delayed with jalopy troubles....listening under the hood couldn't pinpoint it..shut off the engine........ it was the trees full of Cicadas .... KB International at a flagstone business farther down the road that day.....
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Route 66. Many of us will travel parts or all of the highway this year Great Fun and adventure. It so happens that my nephew Ian Bowen is maybe the top Route 66 expert. He works at the end of the road Kiosk at the Santa Monica pier. https://66tocali.com/ He also has a web sight with Route66 stuff. https://www.ianbowenstudio.com/Portfolio/On-Public-Lands He’d be happy to answer any questions you might have. Good kid!!!! If you happen to see or talk to him, tell him I said hi. Dan
My memory of Route 66 is of a young and dumb soldier on leave. I had a '67 RS Camaro and drove straight through from Ft Sill to the SF Bay area. As I remember 30 hrs of driving and then so wound up I didn't sleep for another 6. I probably took the cutoff to Bakersfield and up 99 to Modesto. Interstate 5 did not exist then. Another snapshot was during the 2016 Cannonball. I crewed on a team that ran a 1914 Indian from Atlantic City to Carlsbad CA and was able to take a sidetrip to some of the old highway.
My grandfather worked at North American also, started his career as a machinist. Too bad the old site is a Mall now.
I've been on the whole route but not in one trip. It took decades and I wasn't old enough to drive for all of them.
My dad was an Electrical Engineer and we lived in a new tract home in La Mirada. My Dad took me to the N.A.A plant/complex a couple times when I was a kid....it was huge...can't believe it's all gone.
Apple Tree in bloom 3/27/26 about 7 miles East of Albuquerque, along Rt 66, in Tijeras, NM....Tijeras means Scissors in spanish Bob Audette (RIP my friend) was born the same year that Rt 66 was designated a US Highway...he always had a deep attachment to the highway as a result...he lived on Rt 66 at Barton....another 7-8 miles beyond here to the east He planted some apple trees along the highway many years ago and this is a survivor...I caught it in bloom yesterday I've got fond memories of the old guy....we used to drink lots of coffee together and swap lies...Here is to Bob
Having grown up in Southern California I traveled the California/Arizona portions many times. Back in the late 60's/early 70's, when I first started driving trucks, much of the Interstate system wasn't completed so there was a lot of Rt.66 & I-40/I-44 on and off. In 2004 we rode the Harley from Joplin to Santa Monica on the as much of 66 as possible. This summer I plan on driving the '56 on the Western Missouri and Eastern Oklahoma portions for the upcoming 100th birthday celebrations.
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