Bennetts insurance of the United Kingdom conducted a survey to see what are the most desired places in the world for motorcyclists to drive, according to Motorcycle News. The winner was the Great Ocean Road, a 250-mile stretch along the southeastern coast of Australia. Not far behind in second place was Route 66. Not the … Continue reading Look what came in second
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.
Squish, squish
The Route 66 Cellars winery in Needles, Calif., held its second annual grape stomp, reports the Mohave Daily News, where customers could crush the fruit with old-fashioned way -- with their feet. The article gives some background on the relatively new business: Route 66 Cellars opened its doors in March of 2006 and they are … Continue reading Squish, squish
Don’t use them for a fill-up
The City of Joliet, Ill., found a unique way to kick off its Joliet Kicks on Route 66 tourism campaign. It has placed fiberglass replica gas pumps at various historical landmarks, complete with informational placards, reports the Joliet Herald News. The story contains a photo of a Texaco gas pump in front of the Rialto … Continue reading Don’t use them for a fill-up
Soulful 66
This is a good one. Veteran blues and gospel singer Linda Hopkins sings Bobby Troup's "Route 66" in front of an enthusiastic European audience. Believe it or not, Hopkins is 82 years old and was still performing as recently as last year. Here's her impressive bio.
Route 66 as a teaching tool
It's already been reported here, but Central Connecticut State University published an article about two sociology professors, John Mitrano and Bruce Day, who earned a $2,775 grant from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program to help schools and universities incorporate Route 66 as a teaching tool. A few tidbits from the article: “Each year we … Continue reading Route 66 as a teaching tool
Kansas Route 66 association president dies
Sad news from longtime Route 66er Carolyn Pendleton, who reported late Monday on the Route 66 yahoogroup: Today Baxter Springs and the Kansas Historic Route 66 Association lost a dear friend. Earl Staton, our president, passed away. Earl was 91 years old, and he lost his battle with cancer. Earl had more knowledge of the … Continue reading Kansas Route 66 association president dies
More about the American Express grant
Nearly two weeks ago, the World Monuments Fund announced that American Express was awarding a $150,000 grant for a study to help sustain historic Route 66. The news release announced several other AmEx grants, so the finer points of the Mother Road money weren't included. Also, this comment from Route 66 News reader DynoDave motivated … Continue reading More about the American Express grant
Gorilla of my dreams
Keiron, from the United Kingdom, posts animated videos on YouTube from time to time. This week, he made a clip of Guy the Gorilla singing "Route 66." The freewheeling music's is pretty good, but I can't place it.
JFK cruising Route 66
Folk artist Luke Powers has written a song titled "I Saw John Kennedy Today," which is part of his "Picture Book" album. Here's the story behind the song and its Route 66 connection, according to a news release: The latest Americana "hit" is a quirky song about the 35th president written by singer-songwriter Luke Powers. … Continue reading JFK cruising Route 66
Tour of the California Route 66 Museum
LiveCarShows.com has posted a nicely produced tour of the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville, Calif. There's a lot of focus on a teardrop trailer displayed at the museum. And for those who doubt whether Route 66 is an international tourist attraction, check out the museum's map of visitors.