| Author | Message | ||
     Xl1200r |
Just had an old friend ask me: "Hey, you wanna drive Rt 66 in the spring in my 1970 Pontiac GTO convertible?" Uh.... hell yes! Anyone know where I can get a good electronic map of the old route? I'm finding refences to ones online but no real luck in actual map... | ||
| 86129squids |
There's probably a few books on the subject on Amazon- historical and travel books would be a great help... You've got til spring to research a GREAT itinerary! | ||
| Ltbuell |
..way cool and you def better take TONS of pics(i would love to do that).True Americana nostalgia hands down.Very envious of you,sir.LT | ||
| Xl1200r |
We'll see if it actually happens - I asked if the car was ready, he said, "it will be in the spring". He's a grade A+, extra fine 110% Pontiac nut and a professional ASE certified technician... but he can be a little flakey here and there, lol. It looks like it is flat out impossible to continuiously drive any historically-accurate alignment in one shot, even less so without a high clearance 4x4, so you have to string together different alignments from different periods and mix in some modern roads to get everything into a single, drivable route. I also did find some GPS files that folks have put together and a few websites with turn by turn where I could put together my own. Someone at one time had used google maps and layed over lines of different colors to show historical alignments during different periods, but aside from a few blogs with screen shots, the map itself seems to be gone and it's not listed on the website which housed it any longer. Maybe I'll email the guy. | ||
| Two_seasons |
If anybody will have a GPS map, Frank will. I'd take the old highway wherever you can if I was you. | ||
| Jb2 |
Xl1200r, Take it from someone who has traveled most of it several times... First, there is no really good map. Second, it changes all the time. Sometimes it's decommissioned and unrepaired for years then becomes a service road to another highway. Everytime I've been on it has been different. The most fun we ever had was using a paper map and seeking out the old road grade. Several places weren't even listed on new maps but with the help of a late 50's map and a little optical surveying of the landscape we found many old sections. Just ask Ferris... we found part of the old grade just outside of San Jon, NM. We took off went through the gears, got up to speed and about that time noticed grass growing through the pavement. Several miles down the road it ended abruptly in the sand. Between dodging the roadrunners and trying to stop a sportbike at 60mph in the sand it was one helluva ride. IMHO electronic maps suck. Where's the adventure in knowing where everything is at? It's a road trip for goodness sakes, have fun, throw caution into the wind and the maps out the window. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I like electronic maps for a number of reasons, but we needn't get into the debate here. I figure we'll have a map/book/combination thereof with us as well. My goal would be to do as much of the old road as possible, but I'll be going on the assumption that we're driving a 42 year old car off a recent semi-resotoration... there are limitations in that. I'll keep doing some research, I've found a couple forums out there so I can get up to date info. | ||
| Thumper74 |
So, full size spare, fix-a-flat (I know...), a couple of sets of plugs, points, coil, etc. The good news is that anything short of a radiator/internal engine problem, should be stocked at most auto parts stores... I'd start looking for an old road atlas or two on eBay. I would love to drive that in the Mustang or the Edsel... (Message edited by Thumper74 on November 23, 2011) | ||
| Bartimus |
Here you go, this should provide you with all the info you need.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_66 http://www.historic66.com/description/ http://www.route66maps.com/ http://byways.org/explore/byways/2489/travel.html I live about 3 miles from RT66 here in Albuquerque. I've ridden most of 66 from CALI to Missouri. (Message edited by bartimus on November 23, 2011) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Just ask Ferris... we found part of the old grade just outside of San Jon, NM. We took off went through the gears, got up to speed and about that time noticed grass growing through the pavement. Several miles down the road it ended abruptly in the sand. Between dodging the roadrunners and trying to stop a sportbike at 60mph in the sand it was one helluva ride. We really deserved some sort of driving award for that one.  Here's my all-time favorite road sign, taken on Route 66 several years ago:  | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
<- green with envy! Look forward to pictures from your trip | ||
| Sekalilgai |
sounds like fun! | ||
| Iamike |
Here's a group tour that a guy from Australia used last month. I'm trying to find out how it went for him. http://www.route66tours.com.au/images/brochure.pdf I asked why he would waste so much time driving in the Midwest when the West (mountains) is so much better. He said that non-Americans seem to be wrapped up in the Route 66 nostalgia. Even though I grew up watching those shows it just never really clicked with me. But your trip sounds like fun. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I'll be honest, I'm not all wrapped up in it - this would never be a trip I'd choose to go on. Yes, I'd be interested in the history, nostalgia and Americana, but nearly every day of the trip... I think it would get a little old. What this comes down to is a few stretches of nice road mixed in with some interstate or driving on a frontage road 50 feet from the new highway. I don't think either of us would be hardcore enough about it to search out every little dirt road and dead end that used to be Rt 66. The trip may change some... apparently he's not good at estimating travel time and assumed we could get out and back in a week (we live in NY state). By all accounts I'm reading, to drive Rt 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, taking a modern paved alignment but avoiding the interstate, takes 8 days. That's without stops (but also probably following the speed limit). Some options are arising... He mentioned flying to Chicago and getting a one-way Camaro convertible rental car to Santa Monica. I suggested taking abbreviated routes, being sure to hit sections and sights we want to see and just taking the interstate in the places where it's right next to the Old Road. We'll see, but this may have gone bust already. It's tough for him to get more than a week off at a time at his work. | ||
| Iamike |
Say hi to Mater for me if you make the trip. A couple years ago when I took a trip to KY, VA, WVA, we saw snippets of the road along the highway in Illinois with Historic Route 66 signs. It hadn't even occured to me that it would be still around here too. |
