ROUTE 66 CHRONICLES: A 2,000 MILE RAY OF SUNSHINE

MEMORY LANE - NEXT EXIT

Welcome to Route 66 Chronicles where the neon still glows bright along Route 66, shiny new Studebaker cars roll from the factory in South Bend, the Edsel is the talk of the town, and tail fins represent the latest in automotive styling.

We at Route 66 Chronicles work hard to ensure your stroll down Memory Lane is a pleasant, enjoyable, and memorable one. In addition to regular posts by award winning author Jim Hinckley, there are numerous links to sites, including classic roadside locations, that will help in your endeavor to plan the ultimate trip along the Main Street of America and other legendary highways. In addition there are also a number of links to sites that provide technical information, as well as support, to keep your vintage car on the road.

We have also added a wide array of information about Kingman, Arizona, the self proclaimed "Heart of Historic Route 66", that is updated daily.

Before you leave meet the proprietor and learn about forthcoming projects by this author. Please take a moment to give your impressions, thoughts, and suggestions as to how we may make your visit more enjoyable.

Thank you - the Route 66 Chronicles team

Thursday, September 13, 2012

A 2,000 MILE RAY OF SUNSHINE

As the gloom of another presidential election cycle plays out against a world that seems Hell bent on implosion, that magic place where a 2,000 mile ray of sunshine highlights signs marked with a double six grows in popularity as a haven, a refuge. To set the mood for this afternoons posting I suggest listening to this music video recently posted on Route 66 News first.
Quick, look surprised! This weekend the 66 Mohave County Fair kicks off at the Mohave County Fairgrounds in Kingman with a Route 66 theme.

Meanwhile, Sam Frisher, owner of the historic El Trovatore Motel, launches Route 66 Adventure Tours this Saturday with a free excursion to Seligman. Seating is limited so an RSVP (928-753-6520) is required.
Early this morning Dave Emerson surprised me with a quick visit and presentation of the second edition of the 2013 Keeping You on Mother Road: A Route 66 Travel Guide.
To be honest, I had written the endeavor off as he is almost a year behind schedule.
The second edition of the directory contains a wide array of improvements and will be a welcome addition to the travel kit for anyone planning a trip along old Route 66. However, what really got me excited was the fact that Dave stuck it out in spite of criticism (deserved and undeserved) and got the job done as promised.

This may not come as much of a revelation for folks who know me or that are regular followers of the blog but I have a very active imagination. Our small display and exhibit at the Brunswick Hotel in Kingman has already morphed into a major production even though the hotel is still undergoing extensive renovation and we are weeks, or months, away from setting up shop.
For several years my office/museum has served as an unofficial Route 66 visitor center of sorts. I have a wide array of promotional materials and rack cards for places along the road from Chicago to Santa Monica available for travelers and, if time allows, will help with directions to area attractions as well as provide information about Route 66.
Now I have the idea of expanding on this in a very big way with creation of a regular visitor center for the most amazing community in America - Route 66. With the imagination unleashed I can see brochures, promotional material, books, travel guides, a photo exhibit, and even services similar to the Triptik offered by AAA as well as assistance with reservations and trip development. An imagination is a terrible thing to waste.
I will be updating the schedule tab with full details of the fall tour soon. Of course, the big event is Cuba Fest in Cuba, Missouri where I will introduce The Route 66 Encyclopedia on October 20.
Well, that is about all of the time I have for today. As a teaser, I should have some interesting announcements to make in the next few days.

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Jim Hinckley on Legends of America

Did you know that Henry Ford played a pivotal role in the establishment of Cadillac? Did you know that the Stanley brothers of steamer fame were responsible for the creation of Eastman Kodak? Did you know the original Chevrolet was an import? Did you know that cruise control was the creation of a blind inventor? Did you know that Buffalo Bill Cody drove a Michigan? Did you know that there are two ghost towns on Route 66 that have origins linked to the Santa Fe Trail? Did you know that there was only one lynching in Tombstone? As a fan of the Legends of America website for a number of years, it gives me great pleasure to announce that as a contributor I will be able to add stories such as these to this vast online treasure trove.