British athlete is running across the U.S. to raise funds for cancer research

British endurance athlete William Goodge is running across the United States -- averaging 50 miles a day -- to raise funds for cancer research. Goodge's path across America takes him on old Route 66 in Arizona and Kansas and parts of California, Oklahoma and Missouri. His path takes him roughly on the Bunion Derby race … Continue reading British athlete is running across the U.S. to raise funds for cancer research

Improvements coming to Andy Payne Park in Foyil

The town of Foyil, Oklahoma, soon will embark on improvements to Andy Payne Park -- best-known for its statue of Payne running -- off old Route 66 in the village. According to the Claremore Daily Progress newspaper in nearby Claremore: The improvements, budgeted at $11,000, will include three new picnic tables covered by a large … Continue reading Improvements coming to Andy Payne Park in Foyil

Claremore museum plans new statue of Andy Payne

The Claremore Museum of History in Claremore, Oklahoma, plans to place a life-size statue of local athlete Andy Payne at Lynn Riggs Park, also known as Gazebo Park, a few blocks east of Route 66. The Claremore Daily Progress reported a new exhibit, "The Andy Payne Family Collection," donated by Payne’s daughter, will be shown in the … Continue reading Claremore museum plans new statue of Andy Payne

Oklahoma marks 90th anniversary of Bunion Derby

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association last weekend marked the 90th anniversary of the transcontinental Bunion Derby footrace, with several descendants of winner Andy Payne at the commemoration. The association marked the 1928 footrace that traversed Los Angeles to New York City, including a fledgling U.S. 66, by carrying a commemorative plaque during a motorized relay … Continue reading Oklahoma marks 90th anniversary of Bunion Derby

Book review: “The 1928 Bunion Derby”

Before going in-depth with this review of James R. Powell's "The 1928 Bunion Derby," prospective customers should know right away it is not a turn-by-turn guidebook to the infamous 3,423-mile Trans-American Footrace from Los Angeles to New York City -- much of it on Route 66. In short, it's about one-third of that. It's easy … Continue reading Book review: “The 1928 Bunion Derby”

Happy 90th birthday, Route 66!

Today -- which also happens to be Veterans Day -- marks the 90th birthday of the official existence of U.S. Highway 66, better known as Route 66. Nov. 11, 1926, was the day the American Association of State Highway Officials formally adopted the 2,448-mile path from Chicago to Los Angeles and number for U.S. Highway … Continue reading Happy 90th birthday, Route 66!

Seven minutes about the Bunion Derby

I missed this when it was uploaded a few weeks ago, but this seven-minute film about the 1928 Trans-American Footrace, aka Bunion Derby, encapsulates the amazing Route 66 sports event as well as anything you'll likely see. The film was produced by Osiyo TV, which is owned by the Cherokee Nation. The key link to the tribe … Continue reading Seven minutes about the Bunion Derby

Foyil gas station added to National Register of Historic Places

A 1920s gas station along an old alignment of Route 66 in Foyil, Oklahoma, officially was designated to the National Register of Historic Places this month. The designation, effective Dec. 8, came listed in an email Thursday from the National Park Service. We reported in April the long-closed gas station's owner, Kean Isaacs, wished to restore it to “its … Continue reading Foyil gas station added to National Register of Historic Places

“Father of Route 66: Cy Avery”

Author Susan Croce Kelly began her "Father of Route 66: Cy Avery" presentation during the Miles of Possibility Conference in Edwardsville, Illinois, by imagining what would have happened if Edwardsville hosted a good-roads conference 100 years ago. The city, which had about 5,000 residents, probably would have drawn a number of attendees well beyond the town's … Continue reading “Father of Route 66: Cy Avery”

Japanese man plans to retrace Andy Payne’s Bunion Derby trek

A Japanese ultramarathon runner later this month plans to retrace Andy Payne's steps during the 1928 International Transcontinental Foot Race, better known as the Bunion Derby. Atsuyuki Katsuyama, a native of Japan who lives in Thailand, will begin the 3,400-mile trek from Los Angeles to New York City on April 25 and hopes to finish it in … Continue reading Japanese man plans to retrace Andy Payne’s Bunion Derby trek