It's a complicated story -- which the Orange County Register can tell more completely -- but it's about Dave Torstenson's fascination with vintage Volkwagen minibuses, the generous VW community, and an improbable quest to drive a ramshackle 1972 minibus from Tulsa to Los Angeles while being filmed by a documentary crew. Route 66 connections? There … Continue reading Catching the VW bug
Category: Movies
Tractor tippin’ or Combine Ranch?
It appears to be a mix of both, actually. Richard Etchells recently posted these photos on the Route 66 yahoogroup of what appear to be harvesters planted into the ground at an angle. This is a few miles south of Route 66 near Amarillo, Texas. It appears to be a homage to the "tractor tippin'" … Continue reading Tractor tippin’ or Combine Ranch?
“Independent America” to air on Sundance Channel
The excellent 2006 documentary about indie businesses struggling to survive, "Independent America," will have its television debut on July 4 on the Sundance Channel, the filmmakers announced. There's no time yet announced for the broadcast; check your listings closer to the Fourth of July holiday. We reviewed "Independent America" and highly recommend it. Route 66, … Continue reading “Independent America” to air on Sundance Channel
Dang it, we don’t want to be bypassed again
KOTV in Tulsa uncovered an interesting story about the Route 66 town of Catoosa, Okla., and the state highway department's plan to close an access ramp from an adjacent highway. The state wishes to close a ramp from westbound U.S. 412 onto northbound Oklahoma 66, aka old Route 66. The state says the ramp's design … Continue reading Dang it, we don’t want to be bypassed again
More toys coming from “Cars”
We knew this was going to happen, but sharp-eyed reader Jennifer pointed out in this comment that a slew of new die-cast toys from last summer's Disney-Pixar hit, "Cars," is coming out soon. RPMdiecast.com is taking pre-orders for these "Cars" characters, a few of which are shipping in June or July; others have no release … Continue reading More toys coming from “Cars”
Pixar “Cars” ride to open in Disneyland Paris
Rob Ryan of The Times in London attended a sneak preview of a few new rides at Disneyland Paris. If you're vacationing in France, fans of Route 66 and last summer's Disney-Cars "Cars" movie have something to look forward to: Cars: Race Rally is a gentle ride based on the Pixar movie, and will feature … Continue reading Pixar “Cars” ride to open in Disneyland Paris
Rendezvous at the Rock
Check this out. Emily, aka Redforkhippie, was at the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., this week and ran into Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire there. He was giving way copies of this drawing he created. Pictured is the Rock Cafe, along with Waldmire's tan Volkswagen minibus and Fillmore, the VW minibus that appeared in the … Continue reading Rendezvous at the Rock
The sad story of Glenrio
Josh Burton of the Amarillo Globe-News does a bang-up job telling the history of Glenrio, a Route 66 ghost town on the Texas-New Mexico border that recently was named to the National Register of Historic Places. Burton talked to Phil Thomason, who wrote the proposal to put Glenrio on the National Register; Allen Ehresman, whose … Continue reading The sad story of Glenrio
Joliet to launch Route 66 campaign
After seemingly much indifference to the Mother Road for years, the city of Joliet, Ill., is embracing Route 66 tourism in a big way when it launches its Joliet Kicks on Route 66 campaign on June 2. According to the Herald-News: The Joliet Area Historical Museum will have a bunch of interactive displays, including watching … Continue reading Joliet to launch Route 66 campaign
“First Snow” opens to limited release
"First Snow," the thriller starring Guy Pearce that was filmed almost entirely in the Route 66 town of Albuquerque, opened to limited release on Friday. According to some stories I read, the film will gain wider release later. Here's the premise: Stranded after an accident outside a desolate town, Jimmy Munson (Guy Pearce) visits a … Continue reading “First Snow” opens to limited release