So how much of Route 66 is there left (old road)? Looks like on the map that it is mostly interstate. Dove US Route 50 from Cincy to Pueblo, Co. in my A. Not a real fast way but there was a lot to see, I liked it.
This post really brought back some good memories. A good Navy buddy and I drove much of 66 from California to NJ and back for the Christmas holidays in 1962. He had just finished (and I mean JUST - like the day before we left) building his '55 Studebaker with a 327, 4 speed, and a 9" rear. The headers were hand built from about 35 different pieces of pipe. We had two 4 barrel carbs, but couldn't get the linkage right so we ran off of one and hung a straightened out coat hanger through the firewall for the other one. Speedometer didn't read right so we tried to guesstimate our speed with the tach. Didn't work too good cause I got pulled over in Virginia at 3:30 in the morning and the troopers said they had tracked us at 130 MPH! They were sympathetic to two Navy boys heading home for the holidays and let us go, but they must have radioed ahead because every cop from VA to NJ gave us the once over. We got home on Christmas eve and headed back the day after New Years. Great trip!
I did it from Flagstaff to Illinois in December 1964. Did it with a friend in his 1963 Corvair. I was transfering from AZ to Alabama and took a delay en route so I could go home to Ma for Christmas. Flew from Chicago to Boston after 36+ hours on the road driving as fast as 90 for long streches. 90 was top speed in the little 'vair unless you were going down hill. Oh, to be 19 again.
done it many times... bringing a 66 bbc impala home with dad when i was 17, did the whole thing on th e power tour in 01, and a few time inbetween, o'yah, and bringing my 31 back from vegas to milwaukee...had to tow it, but cool either way. planning on a long trip down it some year in something cool though. if you havn't yet, DO IT!
My granddaughter Katey was lucky enough to do the whole thing this summer. She left Bristol CT the Friday before the 4th of July, headed to Niagara Falls and then over to Chicago and out to Santa Monica. She was riding in the back seat of her other grand parents 1962 Chevy wagon! On the trip back she stopped in Louisville and that was the first Sue and I and her parents had seen here in 5 weeks! Some kids have all the luck (or great grand parents!)
ALOT OF THE ROAD IS FRONTAGE ROAD CHECK OUT WWW.MICHAELWALLIS.COM NOBODY KNOWS THE RT66 AND HISTORY BETTER THAN HIM
Camped all along 66 from Okc to california as a kid on family vacations to Nor Cal. When I grew up and joined the contract aircraft maintenance circus I took US highways every chance I got. It's the only way to go. The only thing better is the trips on the train from Amarillo to Sacramento.
You can tell by my screen name that I am a supporter of The Mother Road (JT are my initials). I grew up in St. Louis, and was always fascinated with Rt. 66. I've travelled from Chicago to Needles, still need to finish the last leg of my journey. Here's my advice: don't rush, if time is an issue, do only a section at a time. Avoid the franchised restaurants and motels, patronize the local mom-and-pop places. Stop for anything that is beautiful, offbeat or downright weird. There are plenty of resources; research a bit, pick out some must-sees, and leave some time for deviation. You and your travelling partner will have memories to share for a lifetime.
I remember riding on 66 around Joplin, Carthage and Springfileld, MO when I was a young child. It was scary. Big trucks passing on narrow bridges. cars passing on the shoulder. Lots of traffic. Way too much for a narrow, hilly two-lane.
Thats it in a nutshell....bottom line take yer time and really enjoy the road remember the rt66 motto "life begins at the off ramp"
A couple of blues buddies of mine did it a couple of years ago.... it was a great story. Especially when the van fell in a ditch.. http://scottmatthewpittman.com/66/index.html "From September 4th to October 20th 2001, Frank Morey and I left in a 1988 Chevy G20 to take on America's main street, Route 66. With only 9 gigs booked over a two month period, we summoned all of our hustling skills to perform over 30 gigs in 50 days from Chicago to L.A. and back."
1961 Dad got stationed at Pearl. Packed the 59 Rambler wagon in D.C. and headed west. Hit 66 at Saint Louis and took her to Santa Monica. Then we went to San Fransisco and loaded up on a old Liberty Ship to Pearl Harbor. Came back in 1966 the dock workers dropped a boom on the Ole Rambler but like troopers we hit the road. Blew the motor in Needles CA. They had a Mercury dealer there. Got a new car and went back to DC. Great trip out Ate most of our meals at Dairy Queens and got to spend the night in a tee pee hotel.
Yep, done the whole trip. Two years ago self & 4 buddies (all car guys) flew from New Zealand to San Fran, took in a Goodguys show, then flew to Chicago. Picked up a rental van & spent 3 weeks driving the road ( or whats left of it) back to Santa Monica. The only real deviation was a visit to Choprods in Elmer Missouri to get some bits for my Olds.We had a blast,alot of friendly people and alot of good memories. Would recommend it to anyone, just take a good guide book, alot of it is confusing.
I live here on it. Where East Meets the West. In Miami, Ok they still have a section of the old original 8ft wide concrete road for about 6 or 7 miles.
We took a family vacation from St. Louis to Pheonix on 66 in 1958 0r 59 when I was in grade school. It was one of those kid things I never forgot. My wife and I have been talking about making the full Chicago to L.A. trip the next time we get a new car.
Did it as a passenger when dad would drive us from SoCal to Arkansas in the summer. Interesting trip even then . . . circa 1947 - 1952. Did that section my own self in 1972 driving a hot rod 59 Ranchero with home-built cabover camper. Fun trip. I've driven the section from Seligman through Topock to the Colorado River crossing below Needles. I't a super winding SOB between the south of Kingman and Oatman, but how many places are you going to have a donkey join you in the bar? (Oatman. They run loose through the town.) When you come up Hwy 40 headed east from the river crossing you'll see a super narrow asphalt road just outside the freeway 40 fence on the east side. That is old Route 66 and looks to be from a very early - if not the first - paving job over the old trail/dirt road. I drive 66 almost every day. Yesterday, spun the roadster out to the airport in search of some metal. (Couple of steel supply outfits out there.) The airport - about 5 miles north of Kingman has a small museum that's a little short on airplanes, but they have a couple of interesting WW2 armored cars and troop carriers along with lots of aircraft oriented paraphenalia. Worth a stop imo, probably best on weekends between 1000-1500. On the west end of town, a couple of good museums just opposite Locomotive Park where there's a big ol Northern steam loco with tender and caboose sitting there. The Route 66 museum is definitely worth the $4.00 admission and the nice part - fairly sure they still do it - you'll get an additional ticket for the Powerhouse Museum about a 1/4 mile down the road for each Route 66 museum ticket you buy. Across the road from the Powerhouse Museum is Mr D's Diner. 50's oriented, they put out pretty good food. (Buy your Sweetie a pink t-shirt while you're there.) (This incidentally is the cafe that Oprah stopped at during her cross-country of America.) You never know what you're going to see running through town. Sweetie and I stopped at Mr. D's for lunch a week ago and saw a gang of guys from Posie's in there. Apparently they were headed home from the Las Vegas SEMA show. Never really had a chance to talk to them - I tend not to interupt or bother people - and Sweetie and I were about finished when they came in. Cool part was, we were in the roadster and right across the road in the Powerhouse parking lot were the cars the Posie's gang was driving. Posie's - I'm guessing it's his - 48 or so Chevy fastback with much modifications was on an aluminum trailer. Along with that was a three window coupe, nicely done with what looked like clearcoat over the bare steel. Most interesting car was a Bonneville style coupe running 20" rear wheels with bias-plys. A 20" bias must have been hard to find. They have a Boydster looking roadster that was nicely done as well as an A panel. There were some other cars as well, but the Bonneville coupe and Chevy fastback were the ones I was most interested in. And like you'd think . . . I didn't have the camera with me....
Have done the whole thing twice...once in a later model Monte Carlo, once in my old (now sold) 1965 Pontiac Catalina convertible. Fricking awesome time.......do it once in your life. Buy a book that shows the proper route and places of interest and take your time. On the way back take the freeway.
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