Author: Ron Warnick

I'm the editor and publisher of Route 66 News, a clearinghouse of events, information, and entertainment pertaining to historic U.S. 66, the Mother Road.

Constructive criticism for a Route 66 town

Dan O'Neil, the mayor of Edmond, Okla., wrote an opinion piece for the Edmond Sun. In it, O'Neil announced the city was selected by the Mayors' Institute of City Design to participate in a study. The group tries to resolve urban design problems. O'Neil lays out what he thinks needs to be addressed: What project … Continue reading Constructive criticism for a Route 66 town

Art inspired by Route 66 motels

Artist Victoria Taylor-Gore shows pastels from her "Route 66 series" in a slide show on YouTube. These works are inspired by motels from the 1940s to 1960s. Music is by jazz legend John Coltrane.

The Father of Truck-Driving Songs

Here's country star Dave Dudley, singing his signature hit "Six Days on the Road" during a 1970 television show. It was a big hit in 1963, and spawned many other truck-driving songs.

“… Just a memory now …”

Trailerdancer, a poster on YouTube, has recorded his version of Fred Eaglesmith's song, "White Rose," the story of a small-town filling station that was abandoned when it was bypassed by the interstate. The song doesn't specifically take place on Route 66, but the sad story is familiar to those who live on the Mother Road. … Continue reading “… Just a memory now …”

An obscure figure of the Bunion Derby

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer today published an excellent story about Ed Gardner, one of the runners in the 3,400-mile transcontinental footrace, famously called the Bunion Derby, that took place on Route 66. As many Route 66ers know, Oklahoma native Andy Payne won the race and its $25,000 prize. But few know of Gardner, who was one … Continue reading An obscure figure of the Bunion Derby

Updating the calendar

Winter is the time in which I try to update the Schedule of Route 66 Events as much as possible for the coming year. If there is a 2008 event in your town that you think would be of interest to Route 66 aficionados, e-mail me at route66news(at)yahoo(dot)com. Look over the link above to see … Continue reading Updating the calendar

Sunset at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge carried Route 66 over the Mississippi River from Madison, Ill., to St. Louis for decades. Those structures you see in the river are water intake towers. And that roaring sound in the video is water rushing over the natural chain of rocks near those towers. The Old Chain of … Continue reading Sunset at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

A labor of love for a Valentine

I e-mailed longtime Route 66er Jerry Ueckert of Edgewood, N.M., this week on another matter, but decided to ask him about his Valentine diner restoration project. Ueckert purchased the diner, originally located in Magdalena, N.M., early last year and moved it to Route 66 in Edgewood. It's an eight-stool Aristocrat model, first designed in the … Continue reading A labor of love for a Valentine

Cool Springs Camp update

Yesterday, I e-mailed Ned Leuchtner, owner of the restored Cool Springs Camp on Route 66 between Kingman and Oatman, Ariz., to ask him how things were going with Mohave County and his zoning troubles with the business. The county was giving him static because he was building a replica lodging cabin next door, to be … Continue reading Cool Springs Camp update