The San Jose Mercury-News' recent story about Susan Wageman, who was trying to learn to drive her husband's manual-transmission Corvette after he died unexpectedly, gained quite a response from readers. The newspaper printed several letters to the Roadshow column about it. Columnist Gary Richards also provided a few more details about Wageman since the story … Continue reading Susan Wageman story touches hearts of readers
Category: People
Pig Hip ponderings
Springfield (Ill.) Journal-Register columnist Dave Bakke took a look at the surviving momentoes salvaged from the fire that destroyed the Pig Hip Museum on Route 66 in Broadwell, Ill. It's a terrific read, including the description of longtime proprieter Ernie Edwards poking at the body of a dead squirrel that's believed to have caused the … Continue reading Pig Hip ponderings
Corvette cruise lessons
Greg and Susan Wageman used to cruise down our nation's two-lane highways, including Route 66, in his blue Corvette. Greg did the driving; Susan did the navigating. Greg had always meant to teach his wife how to drive a stick-shift. But he didn't get the chance. He died unexpectedly of a pulmonary embolism at age … Continue reading Corvette cruise lessons
Pig Hip updates
I've started this new thread about the Pig Hip Museum fire and its aftermath for the stories that keep coming in. I also updated the previous thread about the Pig Hip clear into early Wednesday morning. Today, Dave Hoekstra of the Chicago Sun-Times has some interesting musings about the Pig Hip in his Travel Dispatches … Continue reading Pig Hip updates
Surprise on 66
Now this is a surprise party. Vaughn Veit of Minnesota was set to mark his 66th birthday on Route 66 in Victorville, Calif. What he didn't know was that his wife had set up a surprise party, with about 200 friends traveling from Minnesota, at the California Route 66 Museum, reported the Victorville Daily Press. … Continue reading Surprise on 66
New “Cars” video game being produced
Author and Route 66 expert Michael Wallis, who portrayed the Sheriff of Radiator Springs in the hit Disney-Pixar movie "Cars," provided some interesting news to me this week via e-mail: This week I spent several hours in studio recording a brand new CARS video game featuring the Sheriff, Mater, Lightning and many of the other … Continue reading New “Cars” video game being produced
Blues jam with the Mediocre Music Makers
A fellow named Shadetree blows a mean blues harmonica while jamming with guitarist Harley Russell of the Mediocre Music Makers a block south of Route 66 in Erick, Okla. There's plenty of goofing around, but it's apparent that both are pretty good musicians.
“Popularity Contest” entrant to be another reality TV series
Rory Schepisi, the CMT "Popularity Contest" runner-up who is building a restaurant on Route 66 in Vega, Texas, is set to appear on another reality TV series on the Food Network. Schepisi will appear on the third season of "The Next Food Network Star 3," which premieres on Sunday, June 3, at 9 p.m. EST, … Continue reading “Popularity Contest” entrant to be another reality TV series
Illinois Hall of Fame needs nominees
The Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame in Pontiac is seeking nominations for its Class of 2007, reports the Pontiac Daily Leader. Nominations may be submitted to: Route 66 Association of Illinois, Attention: Hall of Fame Committee, 110 W. Howard St., Pontiac, IL 61764. Deadline for receiving the applications is March 10. Induction ceremonies will … Continue reading Illinois Hall of Fame needs nominees
Oatman gunfight re-enactor killed in accident
Those who have visited the remote Route 66 town of Oatman, Ariz., probably have seen the often-humorous Old West gunfighter shows along the town's main drag. According to the Mojave Daily News, one of those gunfighters was killed in an auto accident on Route 66 east of Kingman on Tuesday. Irving Thomas Spence, 57, of … Continue reading Oatman gunfight re-enactor killed in accident