Book of short stories, essays, poems focus on Route 66 May 14, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Books.add a comment
Gondwana Press, based in Oklahoma, has just released a new book, “Lost on Route 66,” consisting of short stories, essays and poems about Route 66, according to a news release.
Eighteen authors from three countries and many states contributed to the book. Katelyn Bohl and Eric Wilder, author ofBig Easy, edited the manuscript. r. r. bryan, author of All the Angels and Saints, says “Hitch a ride on a dream and get lost on Route 66.
The book, according to Editor Eric Wilder, contains stories, poetry and essays by many talented writers. “The quality of the submissions blew me away,” Wilder said. “Some of the stories and poetry are so powerful that they brought me to tears.”
You can buy it at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. It’s 168 pages and retails for $14.95.
Needless to say, this is a book I’m going to check out.
Salute to a Mother Road advocate May 13, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in People.1 comment so far
A flattering profile was written by Layne Rider of FavoriteRoad.com about longtime Route 66 champion Jim Conkle.
Conkle is chairman of the Preservation for Historic Roads and Corridors, the Route 66 Preservation Foundation, the Route 66 Alliance, Highway 99 Alliance, and general manager and editor of the Route 66 Pulse newspaper.
But it was Conkle’s personality that won over Rider:
This guy is great – he’s funny, humble, positive, enthusiastic and delighted to share his love for the road with people. Before I tell you about him and our interview, let me be quick to point out that he clearly credits everyone else for any of the successes he has had. He loves the folks that live and breathe Route 66 every day; cleaning the restaurants, cooking the food, and keeping the roadway fun , clean and safe and he wishes they were with him each time he travels the Mother Road (“the road has to travel to see them, they don’t get to travel the road themselves”). He is devoted to encouraging and mentoring “roadies” who love other famous roads like the Transatlantic Highway, Lincoln Highway, Highway 99, 101, Carlsbad and the road to Yellowstone. He says, “Without them, I have so little to do.” [...]
To Jim the road IS the destination, and not just Route 66. He explains there are many roadies out there devoted to their particular corridors and he knows he has an easier time of it because his “flagship” happens to be Route 66. He believes there is great value in our roads and we must take the time to promote them, “We all are stakeholders in the roads, but don’t realize it…We need people to get out and visit their Kiwanis’ and Rotary clubs, and the Chambers of Commerce and tell them about the value of theroad.” He explains there is an obvious “economic barometer” that we can use the roads for; they bring tourism to our towns and family businesses along the roads. Roads generate revenue and we need to remind people of this fact. His advice- “Be friendly to all, don’t be concerned about egos and attitudes and get out (and) find your stakeholders”. Further he explains, “(we must help each other) “create an image of our own roads, a mystique”; much like Jim has done for Route 66.
It’s a spot-on assessment of Conkle. I’m proud to consider him a friend. But, as anyone who’s met him will attest, it doesn’t take a lot of effort for you to feel at ease with him. He’s that gracious and out-going.
A closer look at Williams May 13, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Attractions, Music, Photographs, Towns.add a comment
M.G. Hauck III made several visits to the Route 66 town of Williams, Ariz., and compiled this slideshow, with the music of Nat King Cole figuring prominently in it.
The Williams Chamber of Commerce could do much, much worse than this video.
Route 66 included in Harley ‘dream trip’ promotion May 12, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Businesses, Motorcycles, Road trips.add a comment
A screen capture of Harley Davidson's "Start Something" website, which features Marisa Miller as the spokeswoman.
U.S. motorcycle maker Harley Davidson rolled out a “Start Something” campaign, which includes supermodel Marisa Miller as a spokeswoman and Route 66 among the options for a “road trip of a lifetime” sweepstakes, according to a company news release today.
Surfing the “Start Something” site, it’s clear that Harley is trying to attract customers who’ve never ridden a motorcycle. It includes instructions on getting a license, scheduling a riding course, buying equipment, picking the right bike, and other advice for novices.
“This is the most ambitious effort the Motor Company has ever undertaken to encourage men to ride,” said Dino Bernacchi, Harley-Davidson’s director of Advertising and Promotions. ”We know men from as young as 18 to 55 and older are dreaming about participating in our sport. With over 30 bikes to choose from and starting at just $6,999, there’s no reason to wait until ‘down the road.’ Today really is the day to ‘start something.’”
To Harley’s credit, it didn’t pick Miller just because she’s eye candy. She recently got herself a motorcycle license, learned to ride, and bought a bike — the whole nine yards.
The giveaway will give one winner and three friends a Harley of their choice and an “ultimate” road trip, with one of the options being Route 66. The other road-trip options are the Pacific Coast Highway, Florida Keys, Beartooth Highway, Black Hills of South Dakota, or the rider’s choice.
Harley had better hope this campaign works. It’s been struggling lately, to the point where the company is considering moving from its longtime headquarters in Wisconsin as cost-cutting measure.
“Rawhide” was once filmed in Tucumcari area May 12, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Movies, People, Television, Towns.3 comments
“Rawhide,” the TV western that helped launch the long career of Clint Eastwood, used the Route 66 town of Tucumcari, N.M., as a base to film five episodes in 1959, according to a story in the Quay County Sun.
If you have fuzzy memories of “Rawhide,” this might jolt your brain:
The Sun reports:
Actors and technicians arrived in Tucumcari on Aug. 10, 1959, for six weeks of work, the Tucumcari Daily News reported.
The show’s stars included Eastwood, Eric Fleming and Sheb Wooley. Guest stars also popped in and out of town for brief appearances.
The paper reported scenes were filmed at three Quay County ranches. The cast and crew, about 65 in all, were seen regularly around town and became regular patrons at Del’s Restaurant.
An autographed photo of Eastwood once hung on Del’s wall. A number of longtime Tucumcari residents gave their memories of the production to the newspaper.
On a side note, Wooley was born in the Route 66 town of Erick, Okla., and has a street named after him.
The Sun also reported that Jimmy Stewart stayed in town for a couple of days during a snowstorm. Brenda Lee, Morgan Freeman, Willie Nelson and, most recently, Paul McCartney spent some time in Tucumcari.
Rand McNally adds Route 66 to its 2011 atlas May 11, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Maps.5 comments
Rand McNally, a publisher of popular and widely distributed road maps, announced today that its 2011 edition of its road atlas will include the marking of Route 66 and other historic roads.
Among several updates that will be included in the atlas are:
The addition of specialty highway shields to show historic and scenic routes including Route 66, the Lincoln Highway, the Great River Road, the Great Lakes Circle Route, and the Lewis & Clark Trail Highway;
The atlas arrived in stores in late April, in time for vacation season. It retails for $13.95, although it’s frequently discounted to $10 to $11.
County to dedicate new Route 66 museum May 11, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Events, History, Museums.add a comment
Jasper County will dedicate its new Route 66 museum inside the Jasper County Courthouse lobby in Carthage, Mo., at 10 a.m. Thursday, according to the Carthage Press:
The Route 66 display sits in the south lobby of the courthouse opposite the historic elevator. It’s modeled on the old Boots’ Drive In restaurant and features artifacts that represent “The Mother Road.”
The display cost $128, 510, with $98,869 coming from a transportation enhancement grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation, and $29,641 coming from the county.
Planning for the display started in January 2008 and it was completed late in 2009.
The museum in the courthouse has a website here.
A new LED-lit Peace Star on top of the courthouse also will be dedicated, replacing the fluorescent bulbs.
UPDATE: Here’s a story from the Carthage Press about the ceremony.