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Event Coverage Road Trip! D/FW - VLV via Route 66!

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Toptinman, Apr 17, 2011.

  1. Wooster
    Joined: Nov 30, 2010
    Posts: 88

    Wooster
    Member
    from Soso, MS

    Really enjoying the thread...home is Missisippi but I did some travel nursing in Ganado, AZ on the Navajo Rez a couple of years ago and would drive from MS out through Dallas Fort Worth and up 287 and catch I40 across to Gallup, NM...Thanks for reminding me how much I miss the scenery out West and I really need to take another road trip before long
     
  2. mx6262
    Joined: Oct 2, 2008
    Posts: 375

    mx6262
    Member

    Hey we need more picks of the wagon!!!!! Great Ride.....

    Details.....Details.....:eek:
     
  3. Toptinman
    Joined: Dec 26, 2005
    Posts: 477

    Toptinman
    Member

    Sorry about not keeping my promise of bringing everyone up to date on the events of the Route 66 road trip to Viva Las Vegas. We had just a big a day on Thursday as we did on Wednesday. We did pull into Vegas around five o'clock Thursday, went through registration for Viva, cruised the strip and then came back to the casino to eat and catch a few of the bands. Stevan kept me out until two last night which didn't leave any time for updating my road trip thread.
    As I stated earlier, we've had a bitchin' two days and I'm anxious to share.

    With my last update, we had made it to Flagstaff where we grabbed something to eat at the Galaxie restaurant. I didn't heed Stevan's warning about ordering a chicken fried steak west of the Texas state line and ordered one anyway. I should have listened! Stevan said that his burger was good though. After the meal, like the two whipped dogs that we were, we grabbed us a room across the street and crashed.

    The rays of the morning sun found us up and back of the road. Our first stop was to show Stevan this old gas station and cabins in back where a scene from Easy Rider was filmed. It's the scene where Peter Fonda & Dennis Hopper asked for a room and the old man slammed the door in their faces. IT's on an old segiment of the hiway west of Flagstaff that was abandoned with the completion of I-40.

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    After gassing up and getting back on the freeway, we then took the Parks Rd. exit and got back on Route 66. Just a little further up the road, we came across this old log house which we thought was cool.

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    Then we made it to Williams, AZ. Now, you have to keep in mind that, just like Winslow, the route is one way coming into town from the east and one way coming into town from the west. What we did was make a loop traving from one end of town one direction and back going the other direction. The first thing that we saw was the Old Red Garter Saloon. There used to be a brothel upstairs.

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    Turning back around, we saw the old Sultana Theater. It's still in use today.

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    Now, you have to admit the Cruisers Route 66 Bar & Grill looked cool, what with the flamed guardrail and all!

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    Since Cruisers is in an old converted gas station, the place has a gas related theme inside.

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    Across the street and up a little ways was this restored gas station.

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    In front of another business, I spotted these carved log figures.

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    Last edited: Apr 22, 2011
  4. Toptinman
    Joined: Dec 26, 2005
    Posts: 477

    Toptinman
    Member

    At one point, Stevan and I got separated from each other. When we did get hooked back up, he asked if I'd seen all the cars in the service garage up the street. I hadn't made it that far yet and went camera in hand in that direction. The first thing that I saw was this 4 x 4 Ranchero parked out front.

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    Then I opened the door to the office and was greeted by this Thames panel.

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    I asked the man behind the desk on the phone if I could look around and he said sure. Don't give me permission to check out a place if you don't mean it! The first thing to catch my eye was this '50 Merc. We later found out that it is sitting on a '77 Thunderbird frame. He had to shorten the front fenders just a little to make it all fit.

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    And this Model A roadster.

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    It seems that the man behind the desk is Jim Walker and he owns & runs the place with is son, J.P. Jim took the time to give us a tour of his projects. When he pulled back the tarp from a '55 Buick chassis that he is building for a customer, our eyes budged out when we saw the Nailhead that was in it!

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    Jim & J.P were pretty patient with us two boys from Texas!

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    Jim admitted to being a Ford fan. Uh, yeah, I'm thinking that he is! Interestingly, while Jim was showing us pictures of the Merc during it's construction when it was rolled outside in the sunlight, the gas prices posted on the sign in the background was $1.17. Go back and check out the prices now in the Ranchero picture!

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    Like any old garage, there was a cool collection of the owners' rides and other memorabilia. Here's just one of Jim's trophy cases. Jim said that he used to race the panel in the seventies. He had the pictures in the case to back up that story.

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    Thanks Jim & J.P. for taking the time to show us around! We really enjoyed the tour!

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    Last edited: Apr 22, 2011
  5. lorodz
    Joined: Jul 26, 2009
    Posts: 3,727

    lorodz
    Member

    awsome shots, looked like fun..
     
  6. Toptinman
    Joined: Dec 26, 2005
    Posts: 477

    Toptinman
    Member

    When we made the block to get back on the west bound Route 66, we spotted this '29 Model A sticking out of a garage bay at a tire shop.

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    Naturally, we had to stop and check it all out. Turns out that the Model A belongs to the tire shop's owner, Eddie Sandoval. The sedan was used for deer hunting when Eddie got it. It still has the original plates that were on it in 1937.

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    Eddie was quite a character. His tire shop was the insperation for the tire shop in the Cars movie. As recently as the Jan. 2011 issue of Arizona Highways magazine featured Eddie with a fifty pound beach ball sized ball of stickers that Eddie created from different stickers. Claims that he used to stick them on the wall but decided one day just to start pressing them into a ball that just kept growing until it got as big as it is. Asked why he did it, his response was, " I'm just that way". The ball wasn't at Eddie's shop when we were there but was in a museum in town.

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    After chomping down on some prime rib dip at Rod's Steakhouse, we were back on the road.

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  7. Toptinman
    Joined: Dec 26, 2005
    Posts: 477

    Toptinman
    Member

    A half pack of cigarettes, a full tank of gas, we were on a mission from God.

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  8. Toptinman
    Joined: Dec 26, 2005
    Posts: 477

    Toptinman
    Member

    When we pulled off the highway into Ash Fork, the flagstone capital of the nation, we were greeted by the sight of these . . . . .

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    A little farther up the road, we spotted this Desoto perched on top of a building.

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  9. eric54chevy
    Joined: Jun 3, 2009
    Posts: 988

    eric54chevy
    Member
    from TEXAS!

    Thanks for posting your road trip...great coverage
     
  10. ckunsman89
    Joined: Feb 9, 2010
    Posts: 96

    ckunsman89
    Member
    from cocoa, FL.

    just reat this whole thread, and it brings a tear to my eye to see all that old iron just sittin when someone could be preserving and enjoying it. i don't understand how all those cars could just sit on the side of the road for years without someone rescuing them. I definately want to take this trip one day to see first hand the historical roadway. thanks for posting this.
     
  11. Rudy J
    Joined: Sep 28, 2008
    Posts: 1,485

    Rudy J
    Member
    1. Austin HAMB'ers

    Great coverage, Thanks for taking us along for the ride. Im sooo overdue for another road trip!
     
  12. Toptinman
    Joined: Dec 26, 2005
    Posts: 477

    Toptinman
    Member

    And then it was back on I-40 until the Crookton Rd. exit. For the next hundred miles, it's is Route 66 all the way into Kingman! This is a newer alignment but parts of the original alignment can bee seen still as it snakes it's way from one side of the road to the other.

    Evidence of the old alignment can be seen with this old bridge going over the railroad.

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    That's what makes Route 66 so special. It, as well as other older highways, were one with the land. Instead of disturbing the land, it went around obsticles instead of plowing right through them in most cases, exceptions being the Big Cut between Albuquerque & Santa Fe and the one at Devil's Bend in Missouri.

    Entering Seligman, AZ. and one of the newer aligments of Route 66 is this old motel . . . . .

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    that had a really cool mural.

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    Every, and I mean EVERY Route 66 book worth it's weight includes images of the Snow Cap Drive In in Seligman, so it was by no accident that we 'discovered" it when cruising into town.

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    Originally built by the prankster,Juan Delgadillo, the Snow Cap has been entertaining customers for years by it's tongue-in-cheek decor.

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    The cash register bares a picture of Juan. Maybe that's Juan's way of keeping an eye on the place.

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    Here's Stevan is treated to some of the antics of Juan's son, Frank, who now runs the business. Notice all of the business cards stapled on the walls!

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    Juan's collection of cars out behind the drive in still lure visitors for an inspection.

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    Love the ghost sign on the door of Juan's old pickup.

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    Other businesses in town seem to have picked up on Juan's comical theme.

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    Make your own caption for this one!

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    A couple of blocks off the route we found this old trailer with plans to be made into a burger trailer. Asking price; $800.

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    Another Seligman photo op.

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    A half a block up from the Snow Cap is a barber shop. Belonging to Angel Delgadillo, Juan's brother, he is responsible for recreating the rebirth of Route 66 in Seligman.

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    Angle's chair won't be empty for long as Stevan chose the opportunity to get a hair cut from Angel who happened to turn eighty-four the day before.

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    Last edited: Apr 22, 2011
  13. Bryanhes
    Joined: Jan 22, 2011
    Posts: 97

    Bryanhes
    Member

    Can you go back & grab that center grille tooth off the 53 Chevy? LOL! Still enjoying your trip. Man I need to go on one soon!!
     
  14. Toptinman
    Joined: Dec 26, 2005
    Posts: 477

    Toptinman
    Member

    Having spotted a couple of Edsels in Seligman . . . . . .

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    We later saw reason to believe that they take their Edsels seriously in Seligman!

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    Where else would you find a big block Chevy convert being used as yard decoration!

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    Hey, boys & girls, let's all play "Spot the dummy"!

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    Apparently I was misreading her signals!

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    And this one was a little too uppity for me!

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    In an old gas station converted into a souvenir store, there sat this old Overland.

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    They had a cool collection of gas related items on display. Though not for sale!

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  15. qzjrd5
    Joined: Nov 23, 2004
    Posts: 1,339

    qzjrd5
    Member
    from Troy, MI

    Awesome pics man. Thanks so much for taking the time to post and describe so many of them. I've taken the trip twice myself from Chicago to LA, once in a '65 Pontiac Catalina Convertible.

    There is nothing like it!! Some of your pictures really brought back some memories for me!

    Mike
     
  16. Toptinman
    Joined: Dec 26, 2005
    Posts: 477

    Toptinman
    Member

    After leaving Seligman, we pointed the ol' wagon west again on the Route, having a nice leisurely drive, watching the mule deer graze along side of the road and spotting the prairie dogs playing out in the fields when we came upon this cool old station in Peach Springs, AZ.

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    At the next town, Truxton, this old motel came into view. Love the old sign!

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    Also, in Truxton, we came across these.

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    Somewhere out in the boondocks, lay this pair of relics.

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  17. Hey, don't apologize for falling behind with your updates! It takes time to do it right and I appreciate it!
     
  18. forty1
    Joined: Jul 7, 2006
    Posts: 355

    forty1
    Member

    Thanks, for bringing US along ! Each stop had a great story & a surprise..movie theatre, gas station or landmark.. The trip through the thread was like a trip in a second car ! the Big plus was each stop was at the perfect time of day.. One Highway and a cast of characters !!!
    Thanks again.
    -41-
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2011
  19. BrandonB
    Joined: Feb 24, 2006
    Posts: 3,434

    BrandonB
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from nor cal

    Such a fantastic story with equally fantastic pictures and such a cool wagon. Thanks for taking the time to post such an interesting narrative of your road trip. Read the whole thing and it was just great.
     
  20. Toptinman
    Joined: Dec 26, 2005
    Posts: 477

    Toptinman
    Member

    Luckily we reached Hackberry, AZ., before we lost our sunlight. Just as the Snow Cap Drive In in Seligman is a Route 66 icon, the Hackberry General Store is an icon just as well. You can't pick up any book about Route 66 and see images of the place. Might as well share mine with you also!

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    Hackberry's often photographed Model A coupe.

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    I do want this hardtop Merc wagon. No, really! I do! Sweet!

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    Before reaching our destination of Kingman, AZ., we witnessed a great sunset.

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    We chose to stay at the Hilltop Motel in Kingman due to their cool neon sign. But while registering, the manager warned us not to be frightened by the dove that chose to build a nest on top of the fire extinquisher just outside our door. I took it as a good sign about our trip to have a dove just outside out door!

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    Last edited: Apr 22, 2011
  21. Toptinman
    Joined: Dec 26, 2005
    Posts: 477

    Toptinman
    Member

    Bare with me while I download Thursday's pictures. Hopefully I'll be able to update this thread some more tonight before Los Straightjackets goes on stage a little past midnight here at Viva.
     
  22. fomocochoptop
    Joined: May 1, 2007
    Posts: 100

    fomocochoptop
    Member

    Really great pictures. I love it.
     
  23. Corn coupe
    Joined: Jan 7, 2008
    Posts: 356

    Corn coupe
    Member
    from CZ

    Brilliant, thanks!

    Can't wait for the next installment.
     
  24. BEAR
    Joined: Sep 10, 2007
    Posts: 1,309

    BEAR
    Member

    so where are the vlv pics?
     
  25. gauthier
    Joined: Dec 5, 2010
    Posts: 14

    gauthier
    Member

    love it ...
    keep up posting those great pics
     
  26. qzjrd5
    Joined: Nov 23, 2004
    Posts: 1,339

    qzjrd5
    Member
    from Troy, MI

    I hope you are joking.
     
  27. Lucky3
    Joined: Dec 9, 2009
    Posts: 652

    Lucky3
    Member

    Waaaaay cool road trip. Just went racin at the March Meet and made some of these places. Thanks for sharing the pics.
     
  28. sololobo
    Joined: Aug 23, 2006
    Posts: 8,378

    sololobo
    Member

    Thanx for this great documentation of "THE" hiway, I love all this road and traveled it at least twice a year when coming back and forth from Nebraska while living in Santa Barbara, Ca. I had photos of a bunch of the old movie palaces as I was using them as a project for a photo class I was taking at City College at the time. Great haircut from the cool barber, looks like you made his day. Love this coverage and really appreciate your generous time to share it with us. Los Sraight Jackets rock man, Eddie Angel is a real car nut himself. Rock on bros. ~Sololobo~
     
  29. outlaw256
    Joined: Jun 26, 2008
    Posts: 2,022

    outlaw256
    Member

    thanks for takin time to post the pics. they are GREAT.your pics have helped me convince the wife to go with me on the same kinda tour.we live in bama so we go north first to pick up 66. my plans are to stay on 2 lane hiways almost all the trip.i want to see my country one more time before i get into bad of shape.and the inter state just dont help you do that.ill be in our 67 impala(yea i know, not hamb but its the easyist one to get ready for a LONG trip)2dr. hardtop.workin on it now so should be road ready by late sept.i just hope our trip is as cool as yours looked. again thanks ken
     

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