If you see a Marine blue 1948 Plymouth Special Deluxe sedan on Route 66 in the coming days, chances are good it's Scott Christenson behind the wheel. Christenson, 56, of Champaign, Ill., plans to drive from Chicago to Los Angeles, starting later this week, in remembrance of his niece, Erin Dennington, who died at age … Continue reading Man to drive classic car for asthma nonprofit
RFD-TV buys Roy Rogers’ horse, dog at auction
Cable television channel RFD-TV gave thought about purchasing all of the memorabilia from the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans museum when its contents were put on the auction block a few days ago. Instead, it bought the next-best thing. RFD-TV president Patrick Gottsch purchased the movie cowboy's beloved horse, Trigger, for $266,500. After Trigger died … Continue reading RFD-TV buys Roy Rogers’ horse, dog at auction
Secluded Newberry Springs ranch used as movie set
I didn't know a ranch in the Route 66 town of Newberry Springs, Calif., has been often used as a movie set. I'll bet you didn't, either. But, according to the Victorville Daily Press, Spike Lynch’s hidden Roughout Ranch (between Interstate 15 and I-40) has been used as a film-shoot location in each of the … Continue reading Secluded Newberry Springs ranch used as movie set
Fair-food restaurant to open in historic Springfield eatery
Remember the Sonrise Donuts building and its distinctive neon sign on its roof on Route 66 in Springfield, Ill.? The long-closed business now will be the home Monday of a Gibby's Orbits restaurant, reported the Springfield State Journal-Register. Jack Gibbons had served mini-doughnuts, corn dogs, lemon shake-ups and other favorites at area county fairs since … Continue reading Fair-food restaurant to open in historic Springfield eatery
Is the depot suitable for Joplin museum?
A story in the Joplin Globe this week shed light on why officials with the Joplin Museum Complex are hesitating to endorse an idea to renovate the city's historic railroad depot and move the museum there. [T]he existing interior space is less than the current museum’s, he said, based on his staff’s measurements of the … Continue reading Is the depot suitable for Joplin museum?
Not just pedal-pushing
This is a physical challenge that even Andy Payne would think twice about doing. British Olympic gold-medalist rower James Cracknell wants to cycle, swim, run or row all the way across America in just 18 days. According to Road.cc: His 3,600 mile trip will mostly be completed by bike and 2,500 miles of it will … Continue reading Not just pedal-pushing
Going for 3 million miles
Irv Gordon already owns the world record for most miles on one car. But he's aiming to drive his 1966 Volvo P1800 to the 3-million-mile mark sometime within the next three years, reports Auto123.com. Here are the impressive numbers: In 1998 he made the Guinness Book of World Records for most miles driven by a single … Continue reading Going for 3 million miles
That’s re-certifiable
Kevin Klowden of the Milken Institute wrote in an opinion piece today on the Fox & Hounds Daily blog, proclaiming that one way to stimulate a flagging U.S. economy is to reinvest in Route 66 and thus boost tourism. That sounds good at first glance. But then Klowden veers in this direction -- he wants … Continue reading That’s re-certifiable
Notes from the road
A few weeks ago, while geocaching near Route 66 in Riverton, Kan., we found out about the strange story of May D. Knotts. According to a geocaching site, May D. Knotts was said to have been hanged from an old oak tree in 1904 after it was discovered that she was a witch. Knotts, who … Continue reading Notes from the road
For noble reasons or narcissism?
Scott Shakford, editor of the Desert Dispatch newspaper in Barstow, Calif., wrote an interesting editorial today about folks coming through town on cross-country Route 66 stunts and the newspaper's coverage of them (or lack thereof): We do interview some of them, if we think Barstow residents will find their stories interesting. [...] In our efforts, though, … Continue reading For noble reasons or narcissism?