From the When It Rains, It Pours Department: After years of very few volumes about the famed 1928 "Bunion Derby" footrace across America, two remarkably comprehensive books are released three months apart. The first was "C.C. Pyle's Amazing Foot Race" by Geoff Williams. The second is "Bunion Derby" (256 pages, University of New Mexico Press, … Continue reading Book review: “Bunion Derby”
Category: Sports
Saratoga Lanes named to National Register
Barely a block south of the Manchester Avenue alignment of Route 66 in the St. Louis area is Saratoga Lanes, an upstairs, eight-lane bowling alley that's been there since 1916. Yep, it predates the Mother Road. On Jan. 29, the Saratoga Lanes building was named to the National Register of Historic Places. Saratoga Lanes is … Continue reading Saratoga Lanes named to National Register
Tour of Missouri bicycle event will include Route 66
The 2008 Tour of Missouri cycling event on Sept. 8-14 will include stretches of Route 66, including the towns of Rolla, Lebanon, Springfield, St. James and St. Louis as host cities. It appears that Stage 4, which goes 105 miles from Lebanon to Rolla, makes use of the Mother Road extensively. Here's the news release … Continue reading Tour of Missouri bicycle event will include Route 66
Andy Payne ran here
The Lincoln (Ill.) Courier published a fascinating article about the Lincoln library's research into the 1928 Bunion Derby, the transcontinental footrace that went the length of Route 66. Oklahoma native Andy Payne, a previously unheralded runner, bested the talented field and took home a $25,000 prize. The library used Geoff Williams' excellent book, "C.C. Pyle's … Continue reading Andy Payne ran here
Racetrack celebrating 25th anniversary
Located just off Route 66 near Lebanon, Mo., is the I-44 Raceway, which caters mostly to stock-car racing. The 2008 season for the 3/8-mile oval track will be its 25th, reports WhoWon.com. A good mix of weekly shows and special events for 2008 will find the weekly shows featuring UMP Late Models, USRA A-Modifieds, Factory … Continue reading Racetrack celebrating 25th anniversary
An obscure figure of the Bunion Derby
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer today published an excellent story about Ed Gardner, one of the runners in the 3,400-mile transcontinental footrace, famously called the Bunion Derby, that took place on Route 66. As many Route 66ers know, Oklahoma native Andy Payne won the race and its $25,000 prize. But few know of Gardner, who was one … Continue reading An obscure figure of the Bunion Derby
First-timer wins Route 66 Marathon
A first-time marathon runner captured the overall title and a 50-year-old won the women's division in the second annual Route 66 Marathon on Sunday in Tulsa, Okla., reported the Tulsa World. Scott Downard, 24, of Norman, Okla., was a cross-country runner in high school and the University of Oklahoma. Sunday was his first marathon, and … Continue reading First-timer wins Route 66 Marathon
Running marathons on all eight Route 66 states
I recently received a message from Yves Barbreau of France, who plans to take an ultra-marathon team to America in September 2008 so it can run one marathon a day in eight days, on each of the eight Route 66 states. It is called Team Globules, boasting a two-time French marathon champion and a winner … Continue reading Running marathons on all eight Route 66 states
Don’t try this at home, kids
Pole-vault aficionados B.J. and Becca try their luck vaulting onto the tops of the planted cars that are part of the Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, Texas. At least they didn't try to vault over the cars, where no landing pad awaited them.
From Pops to POPS
To help restore a vintage Route 66 neon sign, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association is hosting a poker run on Saturday, Sept. 15. The event begins at the site of the defunct Pop Hicks restaurant at North Third and Gary Boulevard in Clinton, Okla., and goes east on Route 66 to POPS in Arcadia, Okla. … Continue reading From Pops to POPS