P15 and Route 66...once again

[47heaven]

This last weekend I took to the road and joined in on the 2010 Arizona Route 66 Fun Run. Of course, I kind of took my time driving it because I didn't want to be caught up in the array of '55-'57 Chevys, T-Birds, mid-60's muscle cars and Corvettes. I did see another P15, but it was a woody wagon. Nonetheless, you couldn't have asked for better weather. I even dressed up in vintage late-40's clothes for the trip. It really felt like I had gone back in time on some of the parts of the road.

[steveplym]

Neat pics. Looks like you had a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing.

[47heaven]

More pics

[HotRodTractor]

Very cool! One of things I want to do in the next couple of years is jump on Route 66 and go all the way to the coast - end to end. From Chicago all the way to Santa Monica.

[47heaven]

Very cool! One of things I want to do in the next couple of years is jump on Route 66 and go all the way to the coast - end to end. From Chicago all the way to Santa Monica.

Thanks, guys! Yeah, Arizona and California still have some of the longest, existing stretches of old Highway 66.

[Greenbomb]

Very cool! The black 'n whites look like they could be from when the car was new. What a fun time.

[Captain Neon]

The other P15 with the wood paneling looks very familiar.

[pflaming]

Very interesting, I didn't realize such old stretches of hwy still existed. Have you ever driven the still in existence 'grape vine' in California, or has anyone else from forum? I haven't but it is a beautiful drive in spring.

[TodFitch]

Very interesting, I didn't realize such old stretches of hwy still existed. Have you ever driven the still in existence 'grape vine' in California, or has anyone else from forum? I haven't but it is a beautiful drive in spring.

I do not believe that the remains of the old "grapevine" road from Lebec to Grapevine are drivable as I-5 has covered over almost all sections.

However the "Ridge Route" from Castaic to Sandberg and on up to meet the old Gorman Post Road by CA138 is usually drivable after damage from winter rains is repaired each spring. Maybe they have changed things but they used to leave it be during winter and then clean it up before the fire season so that it could be used to access the back country there for fire fighting.

I used to live in Newhall, not too far from Castaic, not only have I driven the Ridge Route but I have bicycled it. And that is a long hard grade on a bicycle.

[47heaven]

Very interesting, I didn't realize such old stretches of hwy still existed. Have you ever driven the still in existence 'grape vine' in California, or has anyone else from forum? I haven't but it is a beautiful drive in spring.

Here are some links that give very detailed information about old Highway 99 through the Grapevine and what still exists.

http://www.gbcnet.com/ushighways/US99/US99g.html

http://www.gbcnet.com/ushighways/US99/US99f.html

[BobT-47P15]

That woody sedan is "Plywood", charlie olson's car......

He hasn't been on here very much, of late.

[1940plymouth]

Thanks for posting the photos of your outing, some great photos,

Bob

[michael.warshaw]

nice lady in pic 1

[Charlie Olson]

Yes, the 2010 Fun Run on old Route 66 was a great time. Here are a few photos of PLYWOOD, on the road again. On Thursday, April 29, I was driving in the town of Williams when PLYWOOD stopped running and smoke came out from under the dash. I shut it down, coasted to a stop and asked the local folks for a mechanic who works on old cars. I was referred to Malone's Garage/Gas station/store and within six minutes after my phone call, they had sent a flat bed to come fetch us. PLYWOOD has a very unique starting sequence because the PO wanted to build in an anti theft ignition. The key switch isn't hooked up to anything; just a dummy key holder. To start PLYWOOD, I flip a toggle switch down and pull a simple push/pull switch out; I have to be "down" and "out" to start PLYWOOD. Well, Russell the mechanic at Malone's listens to my starting sequence and takes a quick look. Turns out the original 20 amp push/pull switch had burned out, fried a wire and smoked out. Twenty minutes later, I was on the road again with a new 75 amp push/pull switch. PLYWOOD now starts quicker and runs a little better with the stronger 75 amp push/pull ignition switch. I did see 47Heaven's Plymouth parked behind PLYWOOD, at the Hackberry Store stop, but didn't get to meet him. If you ever get a chance to go on the annual Route 66 Fun Run, do it; there were over 900 cars/trucks/other vehicles in this year's event. In the one picture of PLYWOOD there is actual ice on the front windows, as I had just come through a snow/sleet storm, from Williams to Seligman.

Edited May 8, 2010 by Charlie Olson

[pflaming]

Todfinch: I stand corrected, and it would be a challenging bike ride.

[BobT-47P15]

On the trip to California last November to pick up my friend's

military blazer he bought on ebay, I would see signs in Arizona

and New Mexico re Rt 66, on the way back home.

It seems to me there's a LOT of driving to be done in that part of

the country. In Missouri, 66 mainly runs from St Louis to Joplin,

then over into Kansas and Oklahoma. In Kansas, there are only

13 miles of that old highway.

We stopped for lunch in Santa Rosa, N M - ate at the Rt 66 Cafe and

went thru a car museum just down the road.

Over in Galena, KS there is this old filling station run by 4 women as a

gift and sandwich shop. Sitting beside it is the old International

wrecker (really a boom truck like used in many salvage yards) they

claim was the inspiration for "Tow Mater" in the movie CARS.

[Captain Neon]

My wife and I stopped and chatted with her last May. She has pretty good documentation that her International is "Mater." She also showed a lot of other drawings and photos, and e-mails pointing out various buildings in Galena as part of "Radiator Springs."

The Rte. 66 tour books say that KS is the best 13 miles of Rte. 66. I sure did take a lot of pictures in KS last year, that's for sure.

Making plans to go to Carhenge in Alliance NE in my P15 this summer. Perhaps 4th of July weekend.

[pflaming]

If your route takes you to carhedge go on out to Scottsbluff, chimney rock, etc. Some very nice country out there. Check your google map and if you can route south through Dalton, NE enroute to Sidney and the original Cabella's sports shop, then in Dalton stop for a hamburger (best hamburger you'll ever eat and a great shrimp basket) at the "Round Robin". It is worth the stop and give my regards to the owner John Widdle.

Edited May 8, 2010 by pflaming

[47heaven]

Yes, the 2010 Fun Run on old Route 66 was a great time. Here are a few photos of PLYWOOD, on the road again. On Thursday, April 29, I was driving in the town of Williams when PLYWOOD stopped running and smoke came out from under the dash. I shut it down, coasted to a stop and asked the local folks for a mechanic who works on old cars. I was referred to Malone's Garage/Gas station/store and within six minutes after my phone call, they had sent a flat bed to come fetch us. PLYWOOD has a very unique starting sequence because the PO wanted to build in an anti theft ignition. The key switch isn't hooked up to anything; just a dummy key holder. To start PLYWOOD, I flip a toggle switch down and pull a simple push/pull switch out; I have to be "down" and "out" to start PLYWOOD. Well, Russell the mechanic at Malone's listens to my starting sequence and takes a quick look. Turns out the original 20 amp push/pull switch had burned out, fried a wire and smoked out. Twenty minutes later, I was on the road again with a new 75 amp push/pull switch. PLYWOOD now starts quicker and runs a little better with the stronger 75 amp push/pull ignition switch. I did see 47Heaven's Plymouth parked behind PLYWOOD, at the Hackberry Store stop, but didn't get to meet him. If you ever get a chance to go on the annual Route 66 Fun Run, do it; there were over 900 cars/trucks/other vehicles in this year's event. In the one picture of PLYWOOD there is actual ice on the front windows, as I had just come through a snow/sleet storm, from Williams to Seligman.

Charlie, I was waiting to run into you there at Hackberry, so I decided to take a lunch break and opened my trunk lid to gives some shade while I ate. A little while later a gentleman walked up and we started talking about the car and next thing I knew, you started your car and off you went. I guess I'll meet up with you next time.

[Charlie Olson]

Good news!!! I submitted a claim for my electrical mishap to Grundy Collector Car Insurance and today I received a check from the Philadelphia Insurance Companies that reimbursed me completely, for the hook up, tow and repairs to the burned out push/pull ignition switch. I really appreciated an adjuster's note which said "I am very glad to learn your car didn't catch on fire".

[47heaven]

Good news!!! I submitted a claim for my electrical mishap to Grundy Collector Car Insurance and today I received a check from the Philadelphia Insurance Companies that reimbursed me completely, for the hook up, tow and repairs to the burned out push/pull ignition switch. I really appreciated an adjuster's note which said "I am very glad to learn your car didn't catch on fire".

Well, cut my legs off and call me shorty! That is great news.

[mrspeedyt]

glad to see you were out and about this year, 47heaven. I met you and your outstanding car last year in front of my ol' house in kingman and saw you driving toward oatman this year.... btw your pictures at cool springs you took just about 5 minutes after I left there heading east.(I was going back toward kingman in my rusty '41 cad). gotta fix my brakes in the de soto. regarding the ridge route...it's still technectily (sp.) closed toward the south end I read....still due to that storm damage and the pipeline. I have driven it a few times over the years...

Edited May 15, 2010 by mrspeedyt
remembering...

[47heaven]

glad to see you were out and about this year, 47heaven. I met you and your outstanding car last year in front of my ol' house in kingman and saw you driving toward oatman this year.... btw your pictures at cool springs you took just about 5 minutes after I left there heading east.(I was going back toward kingman in my rusty '41 cad). gotta fix my brakes in the de soto. regarding the ridge route...it's still technectily (sp.) closed toward the south end I read....still due to that storm damage and the pipeline. I have driven it a few times over the years...

Oh yeah, I remember. There was a guy there with a '47 DeSoto parked in front, as well, correct? Didn't you tell me that you had gone to Upland High?

Anyway, I kind of stayed behind the crowd this year because I just didn't see a lot of stock vintage cars to ride along with. I kind of like to see one in front of me and behind me when I'm driving because I like to have the feeling that I'm driving the old highway with a more "back in time" feeling and being sandwiched between a custom '57 Chevy and a new Corvette just doesn't do it for me. I do remember passing your car on the way to Oatman, and wish I could have gotten there earlier to get some pics with your car. How does your car look, by the way?

[mrspeedyt]

I didn't see the man with that other de soto (the one in front by your car) this year ...or maybe I missed him. Yes on upland high...1968! My de soto is a '41 4 door that needs paint and brake work to be roadable...and presentable. as for the '41 cad.... needs paint too...and a little bit of everything else. But I drove it 100 miles on the fun run! (a flat in oatman was the only problem.)

Edited May 16, 2010 by mrspeedyt

[Charlie Olson]

I found a few more pictures from this year's Route 66 Fun Run.