Book review: “C.C. Pyle’s Amazing Foot Race”

C.C. Pyle's First Annual International Transcontinental Foot Race, better known as the Bunion Derby, was a plodding, disorganized event that taxed the health and sanity of the runners and was largely greeted with indifference by the American public. Fortunately, a new book about the race fares much better. Geoff Williams' "C.C. Pyle's Amazing Foot Race" … Continue reading Book review: “C.C. Pyle’s Amazing Foot Race”

Pointed questions mark Missouri 266 relocation hearing

The Missouri Department of Transportation wants to relocate Missouri Highway 266 a few hundred feet north so it can better accommodate Springfield-Branson National Airport. However, a lot of residents at a public hearing on Monday questioned whether relocating the highway was cost-effective compared to widening the existing one, reported the Springfield News-Leader. Those skeptics included … Continue reading Pointed questions mark Missouri 266 relocation hearing

Route 66 restaurant to be featured on Food Network

The Cafe on the Route, based on Route 66 in Baxter Springs, Kan., will be paid a visit tomorrow by a film crew from the Food Network for an episode of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," reports the News-Record of nearby Miami, Okla. The segment shot at Café on the Route should be shown in a … Continue reading Route 66 restaurant to be featured on Food Network

Route 66 has a second newspaper

During the National Route 66 Festival in Clinton, Okla., I briefly met Jim Michalec and his business partner, Kristine Ramey, of the Route 66 Advertiser. I wasn't as sociable as I could have been because I was half-gassed from working at the Ray's Motel preservation project. But I had enough lucidity to ask for complementary … Continue reading Route 66 has a second newspaper

Riding on the freeway of love

Aretha Franklin's big hit from 1985 uses the freeway, aka interstates, as a metaphor. But the actual freeways shown in the music video don't look nearly as inviting as the footage of old Detroit cars. Also of note: That's Clarence Clemons, of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, playing saxophone. The song contains yet another reference … Continue reading Riding on the freeway of love

Meeting will discuss Route 66’s future in Illinois

The Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project and Pontiac tourism are hosting a meeting at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Pontiac's City Council chambers to get opinions on how to guide the historic highway's future in Illinois, reports the Bloomington Pantagraph. The meeting ... will help develop the “interpretive master plan” with Schmeeckle Reserve Interpreters, a Wisconsin … Continue reading Meeting will discuss Route 66’s future in Illinois

The granddaddy of Route 66 sites

Yahoo! interviews Belgium resident Swa Frantzen, whose Historic Route 66 site was established in 1994. It the first World Wide Web site about the Mother Road. He started the site to test his university's servers, but also had a desire to inform computer users about Route 66 and help the Mother Road's struggling businesses.

Lunchtime at Wrink’s Market

On Friday, I paid a lunchtime visit to the newly resurrected Route 66 icon, Wrink's Market of Lebanon, Mo. Even though longtime Route 66 aficionados will see changes in Wrink's that indicate the convenience store remains a work in progress, I noticed two things that should gladden their hearts: Terry Wrinkle, one of the sons … Continue reading Lunchtime at Wrink’s Market

Notes from the road

Dida Zende, an artist based in Berlin, is looking for at least one old gas station along Route 66 to repaint so it resembles a FIT art gallery (above). It would be repainted mostly white, with a bit of red trim and the FIT logo. Zende wants to come do this free of charge in … Continue reading Notes from the road

Rebuilding Amboy one chicken at a time

The Inland Press-Enterprise of Southern California published an excellent article about Juan Pollo restaurant chain owner Albert Okura and his efforts to restore Roy's and the nearly abandoned town of Amboy, Calif. "Everyone who has owned Amboy has been in it to make money," he said. "You can't. "I see this as a marketing avenue … Continue reading Rebuilding Amboy one chicken at a time