Steve Bellamy, a Wales-based Route 66 aficionado known for his DrivingRoute66.com guide to the Mother Road, announced last week he is forming a UK Route 66 Association.
In a text, Bellamy wrote about the genesis of the group:
I’m aware that in the last couple of years there have been a few occasions where – with the best intentions – it’s been close to happening but for any number of reasons it just hasn’t taken off. […]
I’ve no idea which direction it’ll take but I do know I’ll be giving it as much time as I can spare to make it a success. I hope it’ll be a collaborative process and welcome any suggestions for how it will best serve the Route 66 community.
On the association’s website, this mission statement was provided:
“The UK Route 66 Association has been created to help promote Route 66 and provide a space for UK roadies to chat about their experiences, seek advice or support, and gather information specific to UK-based travellers.”
In essence, the association aims to “focus on the requirements of UK-based fans of Route 66.” The website can prove to be useful to other Route 66 fans around the globe, but it’s intended to appeal to and help Britons.
Bellamy said more than 70 people have signed up since the announcement. He said face-to-face association meetings “is certainly something I’d like to look into” in the future.
Membership to the UK Route 66 Association is free. Those who join can take part in its online forums and receive an association newsletter. Those who wish to join can sign up online here. The association also has set up a Facebook page.
Route 66 Associations also exist in Canada, Japan, Czech Republic, Norway and the Netherlands, plus all eight U.S. states that the historic highway traverses.
(UK Route 66 Association logo via its Facebook page)
You forgot Germany – has also a Route 66 Association. They organized the first European Route 66 Festival last summer 😉