Another ride on Oatman Road January 28, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motorcycles, Road trips.5 comments
Here’s the best-quality video I’ve seen yet of two motorcycling buddies driving on Oatman Road, aka Route 66, in western Arizona’s Black Mountains.
These guys were going at speeds that would make me uncomfortable; don’t try it yourself.
The clip shows the capabilities of the GoPro Hero 2, a high-definition video camera that’s finding favor among bikers, snowboarders, surfers, and other daredevils.
New Operation Route 66 trailer December 14, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motorcycles, People, Road trips.1 comment so far
A new trailer for Operation Route 66, which will raise funds in May 2012 for U.S. veterans of the Middle East wars, was posted a few hours ago:
More about this charity road trip can be found here.
I’m nearly 100 percent certain the narrator is “Route 66: The Mother Road” author Michael Wallis. It probably didn’t take much persuasion for Wallis to lend his talents; he’s a Marine.
“Born to Be Wild” November 6, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motorcycles, Movies, Music, Road trips.2 comments
I’ll let the creator of this video explain it:
Bobby Cochran & Steppenwolf perform an extended version of “Born To Be Wild” from the movie “Easy Rider” (1969) starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson. Location scenes include Park Moabi, California; Colorado River bridge crossing at Topock, Arizona; Flagstaff and other scenes along Route 66 in Northern Arizona. Also, Steppenwolf in a live performance on the “Midnight Special” TV show.
In case you’re wondering who Bobby Cochran is, he’s a guitarist for a later version of Steppenwolf. Regardless, it’s a fun clip.
A driver’s view of Oatman Road November 4, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motorcycles, Road trips.4 comments
Sit back and take a mini-vacation for 23 minutes. Here’s the best-quality video I’ve seen of a motorcyclist’s drive on Oatman Road, from the outskirts of Kingman, Ariz., through the twists and turns to Sitgreaves Pass, and into the town of Oatman itself. It was shot with a helmet cam.
You’ll see cattle near the road about the 11-minute mark. Strangely, no wild burros are seen in Oatman.
A new song about the Mother Road October 31, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motorcycles, Music, Road trips.1 comment so far
A Czech blues-rock band, After 40, has recorded a song titled “Route 66.” And it’s not a cover of the famous Bobby Troup tune; it’s new song.
Here’s the video for it. Apparently someone sent a film crew to the Mother Road in Arizona and California:
After 40′s newest album also it titled “Route 66.”
Route 66 from the viewpoint of a motorcycle September 21, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motorcycles, Road trips.2 comments
This should be an interesting project. Check it out …
Depew annexes Route 66 Biker Park land August 9, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motorcycles, Towns, Vehicles.add a comment
Trustees for the town of Depew, Okla., voted on July 28 to annex 120 acres several miles from the town that includes Charles Elliott’s Route 66 Biker Park, pending approval by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, reported the Sapulpa Daily Herald.
The only remaining hurdle is ODOT allowing Elliott the mow the right-of-way next to Oklahoma Highway 66. Elliott has said he would take over that responsibility, if needed.
The Elliott property has been a bone of contention with the county over several zoning issues after Elliott decided to transform his property into a recreational campground area. [...]
At this hearing Elliott indicated that he had spent $500,000 on improvements to the property, and vehemently denied allegations that his property would bring down real estate values for the surrounding area. At the hearing Elliott indicated that he foresaw musical concerts on the property and a “bikers’ church.”
The “bone of contention” sprung from Elliott’s Route 66 Biker Park hosting such rowdy parties — including topless karaoke — that neighbors complained. Creek County authorities stepped in and ended the big bashes. Elliott claimed he wasn’t subject to county rules regarding large gatherings because his property was set up as a church. He filed lawsuits against the county, which went nowhere.
So Elliott essentially skirted around county rules by persuading Depew to annex his land, putting it under the town’s jurisdiction instead.
Here’s something curious that reportedly happened next:
Immediately following the Trustee meeting, an Emergency Meeting was called. This second meeting was made in order to lawfully accept a donation of $24,000 from Metro Machine Inc., which is owned by Elliott.
Depew was in need of a police patrol vehicle, Elliott’s timely gift will provide for the purchase of a 2009 Dodge Charger police special from a firm operating from the state of Utah.
So Depew needed a vehicle to patrol that newly annexed area that’s four miles from town. Elliott obliged.
I doubt, however, whether this “emergency” meeting was lawful. The Oklahoma Open Meeting Act spells out the criteria:
5. “Emergency meeting” means any meeting called for the purpose of dealing with an emergency. For purposes of this act, an emergency is defined as a situation involving injury to persons or injury and damage to public or personal property or immediate financial loss when the time requirements for public notice of a special meeting would make such procedure impractical and increase the likelihood of injury or damage or immediate financial loss;
Perhaps a lawyer can chime in here and explain the legal contortions required to make this emergency meeting legal. But it’s hard to see how it could be. In Oklahoma, public bodies are required to give 48 hours of public notice before a meeting.