This is from the "Don't try this unless you're a pro" chapter. Ken Block of Hoonigan Racing recently showed his driving and burn-out skills on the streets of Shamrock, Texas, including Route 66. It's hair-raising to see how close he comes to slamming into the supports of those old gas stations in town. KAMR-TV in … Continue reading Hot rodder Ken Block shows his driving skills in Shamrock
Category: Gas stations
Majority of Packard collection at Afton Station sold, hauled away
Much of the late David Kane's valuable collection of Packard vehicles at Afton Station Route 66 Museum in Afton, Oklahoma, recently was sold and hauled away, adding uncertainty about the future of the station. Reports filtered in on social media that passers-by had seen the Packards being loaded up onto transport vehicles. Marlin Carpenter, who … Continue reading Majority of Packard collection at Afton Station sold, hauled away
A look inside the historic Threatt Filling Station
A few months ago, a prominent Route 66 advocate whispered she'd been inside the Threatt Filling Station along Route 66 near Luther, Oklahoma, and she was blown away by the artifacts inside. Last week, KOKH-TV in Oklahoma City brought a reporter inside the station. Take a look for yourself: More from the story: “I don't … Continue reading A look inside the historic Threatt Filling Station
Route 66 Road Ahead launches YouTube channel
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership recently launched its own YouTube channel and uploaded its first on-the-road video filmed by three young guys in an eight-week campaign that seeks to attract younger generations to the historic highway. Here's the first video from the trio in Illinois, uploaded today: https://youtu.be/mJrOWGMre0Y According to a news release from … Continue reading Route 66 Road Ahead launches YouTube channel
T-shirt sales aim to restore Threatt Filling Station near Luther
David Threatt a few days ago launched a T-shirt sales campaign to help restore his family's century-old Threatt Filling Station near Luther, Oklahoma. The family wants to reopen the long-closed gas station on Route 66 as a historical museum. As of Wednesday night, 55 of the long-sleeved shirts had sold, raising more than $1,400. The … Continue reading T-shirt sales aim to restore Threatt Filling Station near Luther
Big Route 66 shield added in front of Gay Parita Station
It will be difficult for travelers to miss Gay Parita Station now. Roamin' Rich Dinkela on Thursday painted a 12-by-15-foot Route 66 shield on the road in front of the Paris Springs, Missouri, landmark. It looks like a old-style Route 66 shield, except it states "Gary's" where "Missouri" typically would be -- a tribute to … Continue reading Big Route 66 shield added in front of Gay Parita Station
An update on the Texaco gas station in Foyil
When we'd last heard almost three years ago, a local man bought a 1920s Texaco station along old Route 66 in Foyil, Oklahoma, and shortly had it added to the National Register of Historic Places. The station's owner, Kean Isaacs, pledged to restore it to as close as its original look as possible. Last week, … Continue reading An update on the Texaco gas station in Foyil
Was there a ban of black customers at Route 66 motels in eastern New Mexico?
Roland Penttila, a reader of this website based in Albuquerque, emailed this 1955 newspaper clipping a few days ago: Penttila wrote: While many white families have fond memories of their auto adventures along Route 66 during its heyday, too little is remembered of how difficult it was for African Americans to travel U.S. highways including … Continue reading Was there a ban of black customers at Route 66 motels in eastern New Mexico?
Restoration of Underpass Cafe near Phillipsburg accelerates
A volunteer work crew from the Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society helped the owner of the long-closed Underpass Cafe near Phillipsburg, Missouri, clean his property before it undergoes an exterior restoration. The cafe -- named because of a low-clearance Frisco railroad bridge to the east -- closed about 50 years ago after a new alignment … Continue reading Restoration of Underpass Cafe near Phillipsburg accelerates
Cucamonga Service Station wins Governor’s Award for preservation
The restored Cucamonga Service Station along Route 66 in Rancho Cucamonga, California, on Friday received one of six of the Governor's Historic Preservation Awards. The annual awards are sponsored by the California Office of Historic Preservation and California State Parks to projects, people and organizations "whose contributions demonstrate significant achievements in preserving the heritage of California," according … Continue reading Cucamonga Service Station wins Governor’s Award for preservation