Event Coverage Big Ken & Son, Route 66/HAMB Drag Adventure

Do yourself a favor, and DO NOT blow through this city in a day, like we did. Take a few days and suck it up, too damn much to do here.
I must mention, however, the roads suck ass, and they have a stoplight for every living person, in the city. Shit, you should see my left leg these days.







Some real tall building .









Gotta find a lunch dive. Now, Ryan picked the location, and wouldn't ya know it, we drove from Dallas TEXAS to Chicago, to have MEZICAN food !

Cemitas Puebla - it was on Diners/Drive-ins/Dives, and had damn good food. If your in the area (and you really need to WANT to be in that area) stop in. You will be pleasantly suprised. Larry was !



Thus ends the tour of the City of Chicago.
Major kudos to Larry and Glo, for the hospitality. Dynamite folks. I didn't get a damn picture of the garage, house, coupe, Dylan collection in the 'man-cave', or shit.
Next morning, heading back south.

 

Cool pics Ken !! Thanks for sharing !!! >>>>.

 

Now, it's Tuesday, and heading south.............to Wilmington, and the Gemini Giant.



It's really kinda freaky, up close.



Sweet little coffee shop in Dwight.

Awesome restored Texaco in Dwight. Been around since 1933. Same as the pickup, that was a cool snippet of info.
Met a cool couple from Lithuania there, traveling the Mother Road to St. Louis.

OldBobSign was ever so grascious, as to make be 2 complete sets of Route 66 magnetic signs for the '33. What a guy.

 

Cool Ken! You are welcome for another tour anytime.....

 

Keep the pictures coming... awesome trip!

 

OK - back on the road again, that got to be the theme over the trip.
This was a cool place coming into O'Dell.

Here's a great restoration of an old Service Station, tons of detail were paid this little establishment. Remember the Lithuanian couple, they were still with us, and took some shots for us.





Next spot was an old 'Painted Barn'. We've seen them as kids, but there aren't a lot of them left. They are disappearing, due to the fact they have been legislated out of existinace, due to 'Highway Beautification' efforts. Go Figure. This one has been grandfathered in, and had it's own 'Historical Marker' and 'turnout, so you can get unmolested shots of it. Pretty cool in my book.





Here we are at the Route 66 Museum in Pontiac. It's an old restored fire station. It was absolutely stuffed with Route 66 Memorabilia.

Awesome mural on the back of the building.

Parked on bricks unearthed from the original Mother Road.

Killer mural of the Illinois led of the Route inside.

Bobby Troupe dedication area. He did the song, 'Get your kick's, on Route 66'.

Cozy Dog memorabilia.

This collection of license plates, is from ONE FAMILY.

 

In Atlanta, we found another 'Muffler-Man'............

At this point, we grabbed Interstate in order to meet the guys for lunch at the Cozy-Dog in Springfield. We missed a few things we wanted to see, but did not want to keep the folks waiting.
Here we are back at the Cozy Dog on Tuesday - LUNCHTIME. Sitting around the table, are Sam (Cool57), Ryan, Mike (Russco), myself, Jay (DaTinman). Jay is Gloria's son, and OldBobSign's is his evil stepdad now. Thanks guys, it was awesome of you to join us, and be part of the Adventure.

Mike has an absolutely gorgeous flatty coupe.



Parting Shots............



Again, due to now really wanting to hit St. Louis during rush hour........we hit the interstate, pretty much the rest of the way.

Back in Missouri.

 

THEN - right as we got into 'Monsterflakes' neighborhood............

Friggin' thing went flat at about 75mph and I was in the fast lane, rush hour, and heavy traffic. SHIT.
Ryan set flares.

I broke out the tools and jack, pulled the wheel.


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Yanked the tube out, installed new one, now, just needed a bit of air. Called AAA, what a cluster. Screw them.

Wrecker stop to assist, oops, "I'm not AAA affiliated, must have another flat up the way, somewhere. Sorry, have no air either, good luck".
Thanks pal.

<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i254.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid254.photobucket.com/albums/hh114/bigken069/Route%2066%20and%20MoKan%202009/MVI_0293.flv">
Read the rest here.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=390069

Cleaned up the loaner tires/wheels from Jimmy (Jim Dandy) thanks again, man..........

Time for the swap from 17's to 16's............and dad even helped.

Done, ready for a test drive.........

Then these guys showed up, a couple of my old high school buddies, and they brought beers. So much for that test drive.................(actually, took 'em both for a ride before all the beers disappeared.)

Thursday morning, had the loaner tires balanced, and they did the best they could, and speeds of 55 were about the max. No biggie, we're on the Mother Road anyway. Once again on the road. This time, destination - HAMB DRAGS.
First stop is a monument in Weldon Spring Mo., it's a major 'Super-Funds' nuclear waste site, just happens to be right next to where my high school is. Check this out:
http://ruralmissouri.org/04pages/04SeptWeldon.html

http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/ws-special/ws-toc.htm

refer: Francis Howell and the monster pile of rocks...........

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou....72381&spn=0.011119,0.024376&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A





Finally explains a lot about me........now I know.

 

Nice shots Ken. What an awesome trip to take with your son.

 

Great trip, great photos -- Good for you and Ryan! Certainly the stuff memories are made of.
Thanks for taking the time to post all of this!




Malcolm

 

Well, after a great breakfast in Eureka of White Castles, we headed down I-44 to, HEY, isn't that ANOTHER Meramek Caverns Barn? Well hell, sure is. Let's hang a left here.



Meramec River............



Next spot, the Stanton Motel.............still in use.



Buzzed by the Antique Toy Museum, right next door to the Jesse James Museum, had cool trucks out front.

Motel next door that needs a little TLC.

"On the Route Again"...........

If your looking for a really cool, quaint little place to stay, the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, is still booking rooms, and in the same tidy manner that they used to. Really cool place.



Artsy shot.

Cuba is full of murals painted on the buildings. Too many to shoot. It was cool though.





Ryan and I had seen signs on the Interstate about the worlds largest rocking chair in Fanning. Thought that was kinda one of those cheesey spots, then we rounded a bend in the road, and came up on this damn thing. I think we both said, 'HOLY-SHIT', at the same time. ONE BIG ROCKING CHAIR. I HAD to park UNDER it.





Killer mural on the side of the building, made me thing of a certain 'Dirty'.

xxx

 

Bigger shot of the mural at the Fanning Outpost.

Chair details.

Onward we go, nices little stretch through town.

Devils Elbow, original 4-lane pavement of the Mother Road. The name comes from an dangerous bend in the Big Piney River below the bridge.

Videos from the Devils Elbow stretch of 66.
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Next stop, the Munger Moss Motel, in Lebanon Mo.



A very friendly German fellow and well versed on the Mother Road, loved the '33 and was taking pictures of it, so I offered him a seat.

Even if I had remember his name, I could have never spelled it.
And with that, it about wraps up our Route 66 coverage. Next stop - Joplin, Holiday Inn.

 

Well, Route 66 was the focus of the trip, but I really sucked when it came to coverin' the drags. Not to mention, had family down and spent time with them. But Thursday at the hotel, it was fun.
Ken & Vicki picked up her a new set of wheels.............





Man, hate to come across her in a dark alley.

Just one Bad-Ass............

She's raising hell in the parking lot, doin' smokey burnouts that would make DW jealous, all while he's polishing his wheels.

Saturday at Ryno's Donuts & Coffee time.............
Thanks for lettin' me use the shop again, man.
Mik's Merc.

Big Olds and one of Ryno's Cadi, at rest.

'Nudder Cadi of Ryno's, just finished the paint on this one - GORGEOUS !



Crowd gathers.............

Stunning Catalina he just finished and is about to deliver do Dallas, Labor Day weekend.







My shop helper, and potential 'elf'...........Mika.

Flat-Top Bob's ageless Merc.



Neighbor of mine from Frisco, Kirk's Plymouth.

Guess who!

 

Left Ryno's after planty of coffee and donuts, and hit the highway to sit in traffic. What the hell is up?

Only took 60 minutes to get in the gate......

Roberts (A 31 Mo Fo) '55..............maiden voyage from Texas to MoKan........let's see how it does......

Greg's (Geemann51's) adorable spousal unit.

He wanted her back, but thanks for sharin', man.

Kathy (Kisam) kicked back, sunnin' in the perfect race-day weather.

Robert whippin' up some damn fine chicken and beef fajitas......everyone needs there favorite Mezican when it comes time to eat. Thanks dude - you rock!

Drag-n-Fly made it back to the pits in one piece, after the spectacular wheelies.............

 

Saturday, head to the hotel, cleanup, and head out to dinner. Make it back to the Holiday Inn to bid our friends an adios, until next year.
Bob-'Special'-K...............

A motley crew, to say the least, against the wall, Vicki, Kathy, Bill (Brokenspoke), and Ken.

My see-ster Tammy, mom, and brother-in-law, Dave.

My dad, and Mike Hoffman, childhood friend of mine.

Missy & Ben D...............rockstars...

Special-K and his doll-of-a-wife..........

Kathy (Kisam) always a good hugger.............

Family shot, me, Ryan, mom. dad, Tammy and Dave.

How rude, Breeder wouldn't hang up to kiss me goodbye.........WTF man !

And finally, me and my Monkey.............

 

Headed out from Joplin the next morning, 336 miles to Dallas.................been a 2000+ mile adventure. A pretty big sigh of relief when ya cross the Red River, and dive back into Texas. It was a killer 10 day trip with my son. Thanks to all the guys that came up to me at the drags with encouragement on being able to do these things with a 19 year old that still has time for dad. Pretty cool deal, really. Ryan's made many friends at HAMB events, as I have. It's cool to do things like this, with him. Thanks for making him feel at home.
We pulled into the driveway about 3:20pm, and the first thing we had to do, was get a couple shots of the end of our adventure.

And then, a toast to a great and successful trip.


Thanks to all along the trip, that made it what it was.

BigKen

 

was great to meet ya!! Hope to do a similar trip with my brat someday.

Ya know,,,,, It took you almost as long to post the story as it did for you to make the drive!

 

Man...trip of a lifetime... Rye seemed pretty stoked also

 

Great adventure Ken and Ryan! I enjoyed it so much!

 

Looks like y'all had a blast.

 

Yea, I know, there were a ton of pictures I didn't even use......not to mention, finding the time this week.
Yea, your gonna have to do that with yours, it's pretty cool.
Be sure and tell you mom and evil step-dad I said 'hey'.

 

I hope there's more to come, myself. We talked about Ok. City to the Grand Canyon next year. Maybe throw in Bonneville.

Kathy, it always good to see you, and thanks for the hugs too...

 

thanks for the bear hug at the drags, big guy...

wished I woulda known you were passing thru my neck of the woods on your way back home sunday AM, but I'll bet you guys were wanting to get home by then.

 

Wow the pics are priceless Ken !! Thanks for sharing your trip with us !!! >>>>.

 

Ken,,I have to say I admire you man,, whatta a way to spend time with your son,,a trip and adventure of a lifetime for gearheads and the storys you will share for years to come.

BTW,,I have always liked your truck,,,I almost skipped the fenders on mine because of the look of yours.

I know it's cramped in that truck because it's a tight fit in mine and because you and I ain't exactly petite I'm sure folks ask you all the time how you drive more than a few miles at a time.

I have read and re-read your thread and your post have been subscribed from day one,,,I have enjoyed the trip thru the cameras eye! HRP

 

Highlight of my week this week was waiting for your next update. VERY COOL! I know what I want to do for my next vacation... Good seeing you and Ryan as always....

 

How rude, Breeder wouldn't hang up to kiss me goodbye.........WTF man !

i was calling my mom to see if kissin santa clause would fuck up my gifts from here on out!! she said it would!!! ahh hell with it! next time i see ya ill give ya one! all i get is tube socks and lotion for xmas anyway!!!
great thread ken!!! lots of killer pics!!!

 

Appreciate that man, means a lot to me. Good time for sure. We weren't even home, and started talking about next years destination...........
And your a bad influence, you got me thinking about fenders and PAINT. OH-NO !

 

Thanks for letting us take a ride along with you guys on this fantastic once in a lifetime roadtrip! You will cherish this trip for years to come.

 

OK, I've been waiting for a long time to here you say this and I'm no letting you forget it hehe, paint, paint, paint