Folks Of Interest Route 66 Chicago to Flagstaff 23 APRIL. Anybody Else?

The night of the tornados we were in Cuba, MO. Wicked T-storms all night but no damage. Here's a couple shots in Baxter Springs. Small but potent F2 tornado cut a 2-block wide swath doing a lot of damage. This image is just from the street. Guy in a store in Baxter Springs said a LOT of help showed up fast and that they (the town) were very grateful.
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Today we drove off of the Mother Road and up to Bartlesville, OK. Met up with Mickey of the Stray Kat Kustoms, what a great guy. Though the Buick isn't custom, we're going to stick around until Friday and cruise with the group to Afton, then maybe head West again in 66 from there. OR, maybe stick around and enter the SK500. Weather is warming up and, what the hell, we're here!

 

Hope to see you at Stray Kats.
Lee

 

And here's the last "rainbow" bridge in Kansas' 13 miles of Rt66:

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The way your luck runs… You probably will! H.

 

Glad to hear your going to stick around for the 500. I'll see ya at star birds. Be sure to introduce yourself.

 

Thanks for the comments and support about doing 66 in an old cruiser. It makes me feel just slightly less Batshit Crazy for doing it.
One more from Chain of Rocks Bridge. Looks like the text in the opening scene in Star Wars!
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I am REALLY looking forward to the cruise down there with the major bonus of touring Darryl Starbird's museum. Looking forward to meeting you too Ryno. You know what I'm drivin'! Hunter

 

The Flamingo Motel in Elk City OK Is right down the street from the Route 66 National Museum, is clean and cheap, an old-type horseshoe-shaped motel. All modern conveniences, about $50. It's in the oil patch, reservations recommended. I do NOT recommend the mexican restaurant next to it!!!

PS there is a lot of stuff on the 'net about avoiding Shamrock TX... check it out and decide for yourself...

 

Great advice, THANX. BTW: If we could avoid the panhandle of TX entirely, we would. H.

 

I live about 40 min. south of Atlanta and took these pics of the Rt 66 Museum while I was there for a car show.Here are some pics and the link to the album.Here in Springfield we have one of the 3 Bunyons,it's located on Wabash Ave at Lauterbachs Tire and Auto.





Here is a shot of the Palms Grill



Here are a few pics in the Museum and the link to the rest of the pics.Doing the Rt. 66 tour is one item on my bucket list and really hoping to do it in the very near future....like soon.









http://public.fotki.com/62704/central-illinois-ca/atlantaillinois-car-show/

George

 

We're in Elk City, OK now. Rt66 through MO and OK is just stunningly wonderful 2-lane driving. Yesterday, drove a long stretch of the old skinny road where every joint in the concrete goes ku-kuhk, ku-kuhk, ku-kuhk reminding you exactly where you are.

Don't think about it. DO IT.

Tucumcari Tonight! Hunter

 

"And I been from Tucson to Tucumcari…." Lowell Goerge - Little Feat

 

MAN this site looks AWESOME!
Made it home to AZ safe and sound despite the HAMB going down on us right when we got into NM. I couldn't retrieve the contact info for winduptoy in Zuzax, NM or I would have hollered at him when we went through. Also missed meeting Ryno at Darryl Starbird's and the SK500 somehow. Hunter73 (amazing 56 Ford) pointed out his badass Chevy wagon as he was motoring away, dammit. I'm real sorry about that. Ryno was kind enough to offer safe shelter to us should we have any mechanical problems. Just knowing that we had a friend out there, since we were driving a 50+ year old car, 2000+ miles on the lonesome highway made us (the Mrs. particularly) a lot more confident on that trip. BIG Thanks to straykatkustoms, in the middle of organizing the Stray Kat 500 car show, for taking the time to offer some local advice and spend some time looking at our LeSabre. Again, genuine, old-school courtesy and friendship. I'll tell you, the kindness to strangers we've encountered on this site (and on Rt66) means an awful lot to us.
I used to belong to a BMW motorcycle club that actually had a network database of members who would offer everything from a cup of coffee to transport and full shop facilities to travellers. They published a little booklet with contact info state by state . Made a cross-country moto trip a little easier, even if ya didn't have problems, you knew there was some help out there in the black void.
Again, THANKS to all who followed us and gave a crap. Hope I didn't bore anybody. We had a blast on this trip from Chicago (via, Jefferson, WI) to Winslow, AZ on the Mother Road. Thought we'd take a week to do it but we were having such a good time, we took 2. We were both more than a little sad when we turned south off of Route 66 headed home.
If you've EVER thought about doing this run, man, don't hesitate. Relatively speaking, for the money, it was a bargain vacation. Plus you get to do what you LOVE to do: Drive your car on America's maybe most awesome-est ever 2 lane road. I will never forget the gorgeous drive through the Missouri Ozarks with the dogwoods blooming all over the hills. There's almost NOBODY on this road! Its amazing. Still can't get that damned tune out of my head: "It winds, from Chicago to LA…"
OK, I'll shut up. For now. Still planning on finishing it up with Flagstaff to Santa Monica around Christmas. Who wants to GO?? Hunter

 

I stayed at the Blue Swallow last May. The couple that run it are great. Glad you made it home and the Buick did great. Now don't you need a vert for those AZ nights.

 

No but I definitely am looking into AC!!! It hit 98 in Tulsa and OKC.....


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Hi, we just did part of Route 66 in a 1939 Dodge Business Coupe from New Mexico to Albuquerque then transport to LA as a little big end problem developed. But apart from that the trip was awesome & recommend others to support to keep the route alive... Amazing how people flock to the cars and other hot rodders share their experiences with you. A/C is a must at times, although we love the windows open.
Oh we finished Route 66 in a (hire car) so we got to enjoy the feel of all the nostalgic shops & Hotels.
Your car is beautiful, hope you enjoy it for many years.
Cheers


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Glad you got to do some of the Old Road in an old car. You're right: People put down what they're doing to come see these old cars. Kids on the road ALL have their cellphones out getting shots of it. Funny how this car appeals to everybody. Young and old. Rich and poor. Businessmen in suits and gangster punks. People of all walks of life just love old cars. Talk about a conversation starter! I got more Thumbs Up on that trip than the rest of my life put together. I can't wait to do the rest of it, across the Mojave, to Santa Monica. Why the Hell not? Got a huge 4 core Harrison unit rebuilt, new FlowKool pump, upper and lower hoses. All waiting at the house for me to get home from working in S.Korea. Looking forward to seeing the old girl again. And the Mrs. too….. Thanks for the post. H.