“Cars 3” teaser trailer released

Disney released a teaser trailer Monday morning for the Disney-Pixar animated film, "Cars 3," which will be in theaters June 16. https://youtu.be/E4K7JgPJ8-s So Lightning McQueen obviously suffers a sort of catastrophic race crash during the film, reminiscent of Strip "The King" Weathers' crash in the climax of the original "Cars" film. The Wikipedia page about … Continue reading “Cars 3” teaser trailer released

Happy 90th birthday, Route 66!

Today -- which also happens to be Veterans Day -- marks the 90th birthday of the official existence of U.S. Highway 66, better known as Route 66. Nov. 11, 1926, was the day the American Association of State Highway Officials formally adopted the 2,448-mile path from Chicago to Los Angeles and number for U.S. Highway … Continue reading Happy 90th birthday, Route 66!

Tow Tater, aka Tow Mater, has a competitor in Missouri Mater

A lot of Route 66 folks know of Tow Tater, the 1951 International boom truck on Route 66 in Galena, Kansas, that served as the direct inspiration to the Tow Mater character in the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film "Cars." But barely 15 miles east in Carterville, Missouri, also on Route 66, sits another rusty tow truck that … Continue reading Tow Tater, aka Tow Mater, has a competitor in Missouri Mater

Cars on the Route put up for sale

Cars on the Route of Galena, Kansas, which helped usher in a revival of its downtown, is being put up for sale. It will remain open, however, for at least a few more weeks to greet Route 66 tourists. Renee Charles, one of the founders of the business almost 10 years ago, and partner Brian Jordan … Continue reading Cars on the Route put up for sale

Graphic novel of “Cars” movie coming this summer

Toronto-based Joe Books will publish a thick, graphic-novel version of the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated movie "Cars" this summer. The Bleeding Cool website got the scoop Thursday. The print version of "Cars" will be 380 pages in softcover ($29.99 list) or hardcover ($49.99 list). A description of the book from the publisher: Hotshot rookie race car Lightning McQueen … Continue reading Graphic novel of “Cars” movie coming this summer

Tale from a Route 66 childhood gets an Oscar nod

I missed this when it was announced last week, but a Pixar animator now is an Academy Award nominee because of his short film, inspired by his childhood at a Route 66 motel in California. Sanjay Patel, with producer Nicole Grindle, were nominated for an Oscar in the short film (animated) category for "Sanjay's Super Team." Here's a synopsis … Continue reading Tale from a Route 66 childhood gets an Oscar nod

Decade-old Cars film still draws tourists to Route 66

In a few months, the Disney-Pixar animated Cars film will mark its 10th anniversary. Because of its setting included the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Springs, the film brought several years' worth of new tourists to the real Route 66. Based on Route 66 News' steady and solid traffic over the years with the story about the … Continue reading Decade-old Cars film still draws tourists to Route 66

“Cars 3” appears to be slated for 2018 release

"Cars 3," the second sequel of the Disney-Pixar animated films that were rooted on Route 66, appears to be scheduled for a 2018 release, according to a report from Sao Paulo Disney Expo in Brazil by Pixar Brazil Blog. A reporter at the expo May 27-28 took a few photographs of a Disney employee in … Continue reading “Cars 3” appears to be slated for 2018 release

Pixar short film uses Route 66 motel as its setting

An upcoming short film by Pixar Animation Studios, "Sanjay's Super Team," uses a Route 66 motel as its setting. That's because the short's director, Sanjay Patel, saw his parents buy and operate Route 66's Lido Motel in San Bernardino, California, according to the Los Angeles Times. His family still owns the motel. The short film will be … Continue reading Pixar short film uses Route 66 motel as its setting

A chat with Rock Cafe’s Dawn Welch

KC Keefer, continuing with his Genuine Route 66 Life video series, talks to Dawn Welch, longtime owner of the historic Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma. Welch talks about the Route 66 restaurant's up-and-down history, including her role in the Disney-Pixar "Cars" movie and the restaurant nearly being destroyed by fire in 2008. https://youtu.be/rXZ5p1qfm8Q More can … Continue reading A chat with Rock Cafe’s Dawn Welch