Route 66

[sepia2.4]

A friend and I are meeting in Joplin, Missouri Thursday morning and heading out on Route 66. I'll be driving my 72 911T and George will be driving his 65 Triumph TR4 Our original plan is to drive to California but might divert if the weather gets too iffy. We'll most likely return through Utah and Colorado.

Both of us our over 65 and feel confident our cars are good to go but one never knows. I might be asking for references along the way if any issues arise. Wish us luck!

[vintage guy]

If you want to follow 66 entirely, you will need good maps as it is not completely marked. I got a set, one for each state, from Ghost Town Press. They also give good info on the towns you will pass thru. You can also easily follow just portions of it by watching for the Historic Rt 66 signs off the Interstate.

Should be a great trip. Have fun and report back afterwards.

[carreradpt]

Have a great trip and take your time and enjoy the sights. Don, please allow us to follow along by posting pics along the way. What a cool drive that is

Best of luck and be safe.

Just love that brown.

[Cajundaddy]

Have a good trip. There are smartphone apps that give location and details to all the crazy Rt 66 landmarks and hole-in-the-wall diners along the way. We did this 2 years ago and it was a fun run through the heart of the USA.

[sepia2.4]

Cajundaddy,

Any recommendations on smartphone apps?

[4flyboy]

Holy Smokes !

Wish I was rounding out the pack on this drive.....bucket List for me..... please share the experience. Pictures and descriptions please!

Scott

[tirwin]

A very useful smartphone app is called Waze. It lets users self-report things like bad weather, accidents, traffic, police,... We just got back from a trip and it was my first time using it for more than just riding around town. It was amazing how many people use it. A couple of tips -- make sure you leave your smartphone plugged in. When the GPS is in use it really sucks the battery. The other thing is there is so much going on with the app that it can really lead to distracted driving so use your judgment.

If you have AAA download the app and enter all your info just in case.

[crownarch]

I really envy you lucky suckers! I drove that route many, many times back in the 60's and I still cherish a lot of memories from those trips. Have a safe and joyous trip.

[BE911SC]

Google Earth makes finding Route 66 easy. If you have a tablet with you and good WiFi or network you can use it to locate the road.

[gptom]

Rte 66 is on my bucket list, but I don't trust my 72 to make it

Tom

[jcunning]

I did a good stint on 66 this year. Wile I found some of the route to be nice and interesting, there are sections "of nothingness" where you have to get on the interstate to get to the next major section.

In addition, the roads were not very well kept up and I found it difficult to do the speed limit on some sections.

Overall, the next time through I will just highlight a few towns I want to visit based on internet feedback and just get off the highway and go there specifically.

[Cajundaddy]

Sorry sepia, life got in the way.

I think this is the one we used but it was 2 yrs ago and they are probably way better now. We would plan our next leg every night and just hit a few key landmarks each day in addition to classic diner food and quirky motels. We were coming from Ohio and by the time we got to Oklahoma my wife was over fun-but-quirky motels and B&Bs so the rest of the trip we did Hampton inns. Fair rates and nice rooms all the way home.

Best BBQ- A hole in the wall in the middle of Missouri.

Best fried chicken ever- A truckstop diner in OK. Who knew?

Quirkiest sights- Largest rocking chair with adjacent indoor archery range. Cadillac Ranch TX

Road Trip 66 | roadtrip66.com

[Uwon]

Don,
We did the Route 66 trip a couple of years ago starting off from Canada. Great adventure. So much to see- we are going back to explore some more soon. Just keep a good lookout for the weather. For some personal experience do read at least post #56 in
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/664000-touring-California-need-suggestions-3.html
Cheers,
Johan

[Seabear]

Don
My wife and I (both 65+) drove Route 66 from Chicago to LA last month in our '88 Carrera. We got lucky with the weather, sunglasses the whole way, but we did run into strong cross winds in NM and a dust storm in AZ. Lots of friendly people on the way, lots of things to see. I can recommend Rennsport Werkstaat in Tulsa for any help you may need with the 911 while in that area, good guys who do good work.
Stop at the Route 66 museum in Clinton, OK, the display rooms each show a decade in the life of the Mother Road. Oatman, AZ is a hoot with all the wild donkeys, the Cadillac Ranch is just plain wierd, fun but wierd, and the deserts of NM and AZ are absolutely beautiful. And, of course, get a photo in Winslow, a chicken-fried steak in OK, and a local beer at the Big Texan in Amarillo.
The really fun driving on Historic 66 are in Cal outside of Needles where you can get off the freeway and put the pedal down, no traffic, good road surfaces, and long straight stretches. We found that the 300 or 3:00 rule worked for us, about 300 miles of driving or around 3 PM we looked for a place to stay and an adult beverage.
Have a great time, it's a tremendous experience, a real slice of Americana.

[widgeon13]

Have a great trip. Did you do anything special to the cars before departing. Are the wives going and how long do you plan to make the entire trip?

Looking forward to the pics!

[GH85Carrera]

When you come through Oklahoma City area be sure to stop at the Arcadia, OK round barn and just a little further is Pops.






There are lots of great places to eat on Rt 66. Ann's Chicken Fry is a favorite of mine. I would be happy to meet up with you guys.

[Greg72/2.8]

It on Foothill (route 66) in Rancho Cucamonga..I can't verify it but it doesn't seem like much could have changed since 1955

[t6dpilot]

Great looking car. Love your ATS wheels. Have fun on the trip. Long road trips in old Porsches are great fun. I have done it with other early 911 buddies from the Midwest to the West Coast and the East Coast several times. The road trips are the best. Take a trunk full of key spares and your AAA card. You'll be good to go.

Take pics along the way and post here.

[daepp]

I did the western end with my then 13 year old son. Great fun. Did our best to stay off the interstate, used a garmin some, but had some maps printed just for it. we found the stretch between Oatman, AZ to to Kingman to be the prettiest and most fun!

Greetings from Oatman








Leaving Oatman

[daepp]

A few more you might want to consider along the way - hope you have a great trip!











the highest elevation we saw - the MFI did great!


"The" corner in Winslow Arizona


"Not" Route 66, but very do-able along your way!


We ended up springing for the "hard hat" tour of the dam.