Looking for Route 66 info

[Michael W.]

Hi,

Well next year we are planning to drive the route 66 from Chicago to LA. We made a rough driving plan and to do plan already, but always looking for the best things to do and see.

I searched via google for several hours and its mainly about LA, Chicago, Las Vegas and the history of the road, but I cannot find concrete and good info on:
- sight seeinging tips
- must see and to do's

And by this I a mean to see and to do along the route.

Would love to receive some input and suggestions from any of you who have experience on this mother highway!

Thanks

[Gary C.]

Re: Looking for Route 66 info

Michael, the Convention Road Tour is going to do some Route 66 traveling. e-mail Bill Sangrey ncrsroadtour@embarqmail.com There's a Restorer article coming in the next issue about one of our Members and his road tour this last summer with his son and think they drove part of Route 66. Gary....
These are some of the Route 66 website and am sure there are others:
Oklahoma http://www.oklahomaroute66.com/links.html
New Mexico Tourism http://www.rt66nm.org/tourism.html
Arizona http://www.destination360.com/north-...a/route-66.php
California http://gocalifornia.about.com/cs/rou...66.htmwebsites as

[Grant M.]

Re: Looking for Route 66 info

Michael,

I haven't yet had the pleasure of driving (any) of the old route, but I plan to one day and have already invested in a couple of books on "the mother road". I suggest you pick up one or two of them (I bought mine at Borders or Barnes and Noble) which have segment-by-segment directions to abandoned/re-numbered sections as well as commentary on what to see.

grant

[Kevin M.]

Re: Looking for Route 66 info

There are lot's of small museums along the way but make sure to stop in Victorville on route 66.

http://livecarshows.com/Rt66Victorville.html

KM

[Robert B.]

Re: Looking for Route 66 info

Hi Michael -

We have done the Route 66 trip several times - most recently with the Stingray registry group in April of this year. We had 8 to 10 midyears on that trip, which lasted 17 days from Chicago to Santa Monica. It was by far the best trip we have ever made. We drove our 67 small block coupe the entire distance with very few problems. The timing was quite good - it takes at least 14 days if you want to stop and talk to the people along the way, and experience the rich history of the mother road.

We have many books on route 66, but there are two that are by far the best guides: EZ66 guide for travelers, by Jerry McClanahan is the best turn by turn guide, with lots of information on things to see along the way, and Images of 66 by David Wickline is a photo guide with very good descriptions of things to see and do. If you are interested, I can email the itinerary that we used on our trip.

Bob

[Jim T.]

Re: Looking for Route 66 info

Had to cross Route 66 in town to go to high school when I lived in Clinton, OK. Been a few years since I have been back, but the last time there was still a piece of the old 66 east of town that will take you into the town and on your way west through town to rejoin I-40 you can visit a car museum in Clinton. Where the Sonic is now was the same location for the Hub Resturant that served outside like the Sonic. The HUB originated in the late 50's and was very popular as part of the main drag.
My experience on the "mother highway"
I still have the speeding ticket I got one early SEP evening in 1964 on Route 66 west of Clinton. My speedometer in my 58 348 Bel Air was past 120 and my tack was on 5,600 RPM's. I was out running Officer Butler of the Oklahoma Highway Patol in his 61 Ford Police Interceptor. I regained my senses and just pulled over and I was standing behind my 58 leaning on the trunk when Officer Butler arrived. The local Justice of Peace was in the patrol car. Officer Butler told my dad he wanted to have my engine torn down to see why my car could go so fast. Received a speeding ticket for 120. The Justice of the Piece kept my drivers license in his desk drawer for 30 days.

[Rod K.]

Re: Looking for Route 66 info

Hackberry, AZ, between Seligman and Kingman. Small general store right on the highway by itsself (not in the town). V Red '57 parked in front under the canopy by the pumps, so Fiftyish. Numerous other vintage (30's to 60's) cars and shells in various states around the store. Flathead goodies on display inside along with other items of interest. Worth an hour or so.

[Michael A.]

Re: Looking for Route 66 info

Hey Michael
You are planning a great trip. My son John and I did it in June this year, right after he graduated from high school. It was incredible. The story of our trip will be in the next Restorer. You can also check out our web site which has the story, the blog, recommendations, etc. Go to www.home.comcast.net/~kixon66. You may also want to check out www.route66people.com for some additional info from fans of Route 66.

I'm not sure what time of year you are planning to go but I'd suggest a spring or autumn trip. We didn't have the option so did it early in June. It get's pretty hot through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Our trip across through the desert in California was really hot ~110F (~45C). We tended to drive as early as possible in the morning to take advantage of the cooler temps. If you have to do it in the summer, so be it. It's worth the trip and the temps will be part of the adventure!

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or you'd like some more ideas.

Cheers
Mike

[Michael W.]

Re: Looking for Route 66 info

Thank you all for your input, we really appreciate this!

Just to anwser some of you:
- Gary C = good to know about the road tour following it. Like two years ago we drove a "long route" to Boston, so in 2009 our end of our tour will be the NCRS Convention site in San Jose! So the Dutch will be back.

- Grant - i was looking for some books. Please send me the ISBN numbers so that i can order them through amazon.com

- Kevin - this is very interesting!

- Robert - driving it with my own Vette is definately one of my dreams! I found out that shipping it over and back is cheaper then renting....so who knows.

- Rod - we got some pics on that 57 from our treasurer, he visited that place this year. Very neat.

- Mike - great story and info! we will come back to you.

Our plan is to start in chicago and make a detour to Bowling Green for a day! Then return to the rout and drive till LA. From LA pick up the pacific 1 to San Francisco and San Jose to arrive there on the 12th of July to be at the Nationals.

Thanks

Michael

[Bill M.]

Re: Looking for Route 66 info

Hi,

I cannot find concrete and good info on:
- sight seeinging tips
- must see and to do's

And by this I a mean to see and to do along the route.

Would love to receive some input and suggestions from any of you who have experience on this mother highway!

Thanks

Michael:

The stretch from Kingman to Topock has a lot to see and it's a fun Corvette drive. The switchbacks are a blast. Have fun!

I have a book by Tom Snyder that has a lot of good info. ISBN 0-312-13162-3. My copy is from 1995. "Route 66 Traveler's Guide" It has maps for the whole route with detailed notes.

Bill

[Bill W.]

Re: Looking for Route 66 info

I live about 1 mile from it in Edwardsville Il . There are a few old motels and some old signs. and a cool bridge over the Mississippi that is closed but you can park and walk across. If you park and walk the bridge is about a mile wide.. Make sure somone stays and watches your car even if its not a corvette....Bill

[Doug F.]

Re: Looking for Route 66 info

I have found these maps handy when looking for pieces of the old road.

http://www.historic66.com/books/book-8statemaps.html

Doug

[Kevin G.]

Re: Looking for Route 66 info

Try this link, the book was written by our very own newsletter editor (DelVal Chapter), John Mulhern III. John is a member here on the board as well, you might try sending him a PM?

http://books.google.com/books?id=TJ1Gv8h3Wt4C&pg=PA12&lpg=PA12&dq=route+66+by+john+mulhern&source=bl&ots=d3i12duKQv&sig=hZ4Drykz6m7FqQcTJzNyuVRgVWE&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPP1,M1

Regards,

Kevin

[Loren L.]

Re: Looking for Route 66 info

I have always been fascinated/intriqued by the European desires to "feel" the "Mother Road"; no mistake, traveling it at leisure IS worthwhile, but I suspect the European interest in the 2000s is more rooted in the TV show than in American history. Whatever the case, enjoy! You might want to contact the NCRS chapters along the Route and ask those residents what they "should not miss'.

[Grant M.]

Re: Looking for Route 66 info

Michael,

Something else I found that won't necessarily help you on a modern day trip, but is interesting from a historical perspective, are old gas station road maps from the pre-interstate era. I found one fairly recently that depicted much of (as I recall) I-40 in "dashed" lines, indicating it was under construction. I realize you're in Europe, but here in N. America such road maps can often be found at antique stores and car shows for only a few dollars.

I will check my Route 66 books for ISBN numbers and post. I think the one by Tom Snyder listed in a e-mail by Bill Mashinter was one of them.

grant