Swedes to drive 1965 Volvo on Route 66

I got an e-mail from a couple of Swedes who are driving Route 66 this month and September in a sweet-looking 1965 Volvo PV convertible. Their blog is here. It is in Swedish, but I found an OK online translator here. Just paste the URL into the Web page translation box, ask it to translate … Continue reading Swedes to drive 1965 Volvo on Route 66

Archive of Oklahoma road maps is online

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has scanned and put online its archive of state highway maps, dating from 1873 to the present day. These Acrobat files also contain detailed layouts of bigger cities and scenes from the road. Roadologists will find a lot of useful material here. For instance, the 1926 map's roads are mostly … Continue reading Archive of Oklahoma road maps is online

Mel Torme gets his kicks

Here's a little fun for you roadies from YouTube:

Wi-fi being installed at Texas rest stops

The Texas Department of Transportation announced it is installing wireless Internet access to all rest stops in the state, including the one in the Texas Panhandle that pays homage to Route 66, reports KXAN-TV in Austin. RoadConnect.net is the firm installing the wi-fi. "We've installed wireless internet service at 102 rest areas in Texas," said … Continue reading Wi-fi being installed at Texas rest stops

Wigwam Motel named one of 10 quirkiest

TripAdviser.com named its top 10 quirkiest motels from around the world. A Route 66 establishment made the final cut: 7. Chief Light-Wallet: Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, Arizona Operating along the historic U.S. Route 66, the Wigwams are actually teepee-style, cement tents. The bargain motel features the authentic feel of a 50s desert town -- from the … Continue reading Wigwam Motel named one of 10 quirkiest

“Cars” moves to No. 2 in box-office grosses

During the weekend, "Cars" moved into the No. 2 slot this year in domestic box office receipts with a total of $234 million, according to Box Office Mojo. It edged out "X-Men: The Last Stand" for the runner-up spot. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" is the runaway winner in the domestic box office … Continue reading “Cars” moves to No. 2 in box-office grosses

Arizona kicks

Ed Bradley of the Flint (Mich.) Journal, inspired by the movie "Cars," decided to take Route 66 on the way to the Grand Canyon. Here's his report.

Fontana’s Route 66 motels cling to survival

Route 66 through Fontana, Calif., has one of the biggest clusters of vintage motels in Southern California. According to an article Sunday by the Press Enterprise, about a dozen independently owned motels still stand along a stretch of Foothill Boulevard. "There are your cities along 66 that have motels left, but I don't think anything … Continue reading Fontana’s Route 66 motels cling to survival

Which town truly earns the “Redneck” title?

Harley Russell, during the course of his entertaining and sometimes eccentric Mediocre Music Makers shows with wife Annabelle, will tell his audience, "Welcome to Erick, Oklahoma, the Redneck Capital of the World." But the Oklahoman newspaper, in a lighthearted article, reports that East Dublin, Ga., was bestowed the "redneck capital" title by the "Jeopardy" game … Continue reading Which town truly earns the “Redneck” title?

Joplin makes a case for Mickey Mantle Museum

Perhaps growing impatient at the slow progress of a Mickey Mantle Museum in his Route 66 hometown of Commerce, Oka., Joplin Globe guest columnist Scott Haar makes a pitch for putting the Mick museum in nearby Joplin, Mo., instead. I'm not persuaded by Maar's argument. I'd rather have the museum in Mantle's actual home state … Continue reading Joplin makes a case for Mickey Mantle Museum