Mark McConville and Keith Barfield want to drive a cherry-looking 1966 Pontiac GTO down the length of Route 66 sometime next year.
But the GTO won’t be powered by gasoline. They will attempt the trip entirely with compressed natural gas, or CNG, and reportedly will be the first vehicle to do so on the Mother Road. Their Web site, Route66goatgas.com, will document the quest.
From the group’s Web page:
We are a couple of knuckleheads looking to have a blast and hopefully awaken true Americans to reclaim the fun that was lost through our dependence on foreign oil. We believe that American produced Compressed Natural Gas is an immediate bridge to future alternative fuels that we can enjoy today and simultaneously support America’s economy. We believe this trip can lift the spirit and raise the collective consciousness of the citizens of America and remind us of our wonderful heritage of muscle cars, Route 66, adventure, sightseeing, vacationing and tire smoking fun. We collaborate with mechanics, CNG producers, CNG providers, ecologist, Clean Cities initiatives, hot rod enthusiasts, auto afficianados, adventurers, and friends to facilitate mutual support, recognition, and the exchanging of ideas to reclaim our American heritage of fun times with fun cars. We work to encourage a thriving network of individuals who want to see the greatness of the “ROAD TRIP” returned without the guilt of sending our fuel money out of America. We facilitate classes, lectures, appearances, and exhibits in an effort to reclaim the fun for all citizens of America. Our website strives to unleash the creativity and American innovation potential of every follower to help us make this happen!
It’s not going to be easy, because of the lack of CNG infrastructure across the country. As a map on the home page shows, there aren’t any fill-up spots in Amarillo, Texas, or Flagstaff, Ariz. And going all the way from St. Louis to Miami, Okla., seems awfully far, too.
The goal is to finish the trip by July 4, 2010, in Los Angeles.
If you have a CNG filling station or would like to help in other ways, go here.
Excellent idea. There have been quite a few classic car folks that have converted to CNG, E85 and even electric power. I’ve added a bookmark to the route66goatgas page to my daily reading list (just below Route 66 News, of course).