Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner will lead his annual Governor’s Ride to Springfield of motorcycles on Sept. 23, this time on Route 66 from Chicagoland,
The DuKane and Lincoln Land A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois chapters are the official escorts for the ride, according to news release from the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway.
The ride’s finish Sept. 24 coincides with the annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival in Springfield.
The ride departs from two locations at 9:30 a.m. — Illinois Harley Davidson in the Route 66 community of Countryside, and Fox River Harley Davidson in St. Charles. The ride cost is $10, which will be matched by the Rauner Family Foundation and donated to registered 501c3 veterans organizations. The Boy Scouts will offer a pancake breakfast at Illinois Harley
and Fox River Harley from 7:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. for a $5 donation.
The ride departs from two additional locations as well. Participants can join the ride at 10 a,m. in Dwight at the historic Ambler-Becker Texaco station across the street, where they will be greeted by the Texaco station attendant and 1950s-era poodle skirt ladies.
In Lexington, the Governor’s Ride will travel along historic Memory Lane to the Veterans Monument on Main Street. Estimated time of arrival is 11:55 a.m, and participants can join the ride from Lexington as well.
After fueling at the Dixie Truck Stop in McLean, the next stop is at The Mill on 66, the newly opened Route 66 museum in Lincoln, about 2:15 p.m. The motorcycle tour will take the original alignment of Route 66 through downtown Lincoln on the way to The Mill, which is also the home of the Salt Creek A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois chapter memorial display.
Ice-cold water will be provided for free to all riders courtesy of Culligan of Lincoln and the Logan County Tourism Bureau. Salt Creek A.B.A.T.E. chapter members will be on hand to greet the riders and assist with parking.
The Governor’s Ride will then head to Springfield for the overnight stop at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The Governor will lead a contingency to the International Mother Road Festival in downtown Springfield. They will visit the Travel Illinois Expo and sign the annual Route 66 Car Hood at the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway tent. At the completion of the ride, there will be food, beverages and live entertainment.
Rauner’s been known to make a few Route 66 stops during his tenure as governor. He attended The Mill’s reopening in Lincoln a few months ago. Last year, he signed legislation to create an Illinois Route 66 motorcycle license plate at Fulgenzi’s Pizza and Pasta in Springfield.
(Image of the Governor’s Ride to Springfield logo via the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway)