Call of the whacky

This YouTube poster called "pappymeme," aka Mondo Man, checked out a few Route 66 sights in Arizona and California and let loose his trademark Tarzan yell. There's more where this came from at his YouTube account, but I like these best, especially the bemused look from Bottletree Ranch owner Elmer Long. Maybe it's because Elmer … Continue reading Call of the whacky

Follow her east

Claudia Heller, who's written a bunch of recent articles about Route 66 in California for the Pasadena Star-News, tucked into a report about Route 66 enthusiast Kim Anderson that she's about to write a series about the Mother Road during a trip from Needles, Calif., to Chicago. Considering Heller's well-researched previous stories, I'm looking forward … Continue reading Follow her east

Ultramarathoner takes a big challenge

Ultramarathoner John Radich is running down Route 66 for a Scientology-based charity, according to a story in the Redlands (Calif.) Daily Facts. Radich is taking the path of Route 66 from Santa Monica to Chicago, then heading east to the ocean in Atlantic City, N.J. If he's got the energy, he'll also run to New … Continue reading Ultramarathoner takes a big challenge

Notes from the road

Roadies who've explored Route 66 in Clinton, Okla., may remember the 15-foot-tall fiberglass American Indian mascot, aka Muffler Man, who graced the front of David Howe Motors for years. The Howe Indian disappeared after a recent ownership change. But we're pleased to report the mascot has turned up at Indian Trading Post and Art near … Continue reading Notes from the road

CNG GTO update

The Daily Oklahoman filed a story today about Mark McConville and his 1966 GTO that's been outfitted to run on compressed natural gas. McConville's Drive to Inspire on Route 66 began last weekend from Santa Monica, Calif., in an effort to boost CNG as an alternative to gasoline and the infrastructure it will need. That's … Continue reading CNG GTO update

Notes from the road

I received word Monday that Betty Courtney, 79, one member of the team that helped form the much-praised 4 Women on the Route in Galena, Kan., died Sunday. She, along with Melba Rigg, Judy Courtney and Renee Charles, helped lead the charge to take an abandoned gas station on Route 66 in Galena and transform … Continue reading Notes from the road

At the drive-in

Joe Williams of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch makes an enjoyable trip up Route 66 to the Skyview Drive-In in Litchfield, Ill., to see the the Steve McQueen classic film, "Bullitt." Apparently Williams owns a 1966 Plymouth Fury. Good for him.

Interesting data from the Clinton museum

The Daily Oklahoman today posted an article about a report from the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton. The museum and curator Pat Smith provided fascinating data I'd never seen before: The museum greeted 33,000 visitors last year, a record. 35 percent of those visitors came from other countries, and nearly half of those from … Continue reading Interesting data from the Clinton museum

Good news, bad news from Vietnam Wall caravan

First, the good news. There appeared to be a good turnout Saturday morning for the Operation Oklahoma motorcycle rally that was slated to go on old Route 66 from Tulsa to Chandler, Okla., then on to Norman, Okla. Hundreds of motorcyclists that gathered at the University of Tulsa to help escort the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall … Continue reading Good news, bad news from Vietnam Wall caravan