66 stories from route 66
1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 convertible
Our Route 66 adventure to Rockabilly on the Route in Tucumcari, New Mexico began as we headed east on Old RT. 66 through the canyon. With Albuquerque in the rear view mirror, like a bird we caught a tailwind that sent us sailing right along “The Musical Highway”! Aiming the passenger side tires center on the keys of the road, 45 miles per hour with a steady speed, we experienced beautiful notes from the road indeed. We traveled Old Rt. 66 as far out as possible until forced onto Interstate 40. Anytime it looked like there was a slight chance there could be a small slice of “The Mother Road” nearby to explore, we would exit immediately. Along the way we steered onto an uncharted section of Old RT. 66. Onward, with the top down we followed the broken asphalt into Tucumcari to a greeting from a glowing horizon of neon that illuminated the night sky!
Mark Terkeltaub NMCCC Director NM Pontiac Car Club President Land of Enchantment GTO Car Club VP
disneyland roadtrip
It was the summer of 1955 and I was about 8-years-old at the time. My family consisted of one brother, Frank, just a year older than my two sisters — Lillian, 5 and Eileen who was 4. Our mom raised us all on her own, as our father had died a year-and-a-half earlier. Being raised by a single Mom, money was tight to say the least. Disneyland had opened about a year earlier and watching the magical land on our 13-inch black and white TV mesmerized all of us. Like kids then and today we dreamed of someday making the trip to California and seeing it for ourselves. Somehow our mom made our dream come true.
About six months earlier our 1948 Dodge finally gave up the ghost. Our Mom bought a shiny new blue 1955 Chevy, the first new car our family owned. Little did we know that our mom was already planning our road trip down Route 66 all the way to California. My mom had never been to California so she had us help with the planning. She picked Riverside for our stopping point thinking it was near Disneyland. Little did she know it was hours away. That summer day had finally arrived and we loaded up three adults and the four of us kids in that 55 Chevy with no AC. My Mom had decided to invite our Grandparents, the more the merrier.
Route 66 was a two-lane road around that time with a speed limit of 55, slow going. After driving all day with no mishaps, except for my mild carsickness, we arrived at our destination, Flagstaff, Arizona. That first night in a hotel was a real thrill for all of us. We were back on 66 again and sped through Arizona, literally, we got stopped by the Highway Patrol. My Grandfather was doing 10 over the speed limit, a blistering 65 miles per hour. I still remember the officer scolding my Grandfather and telling him,” I have a mind to put everyone on a train to California and have you drive there by yourself.” My Grandfather got off with just a scolding and we were on our way again at a legal 55 mph. Because our Mom was new to driving cross country we drove through the desert in the middle of the day; no air conditioning except for the open windows and vents. We finally arrived in Riverside to find out that we weren’t next door to Disneyland like we had planned. The hotel manager was kind enough to cancel our reservation, refund my Mom’s deposit and call ahead to make a reservation at a hotel in Anaheim. The next day we drove through miles of orange groves to finally arrive at Disneyland. It is difficult to put into words the thrill of finally being there. After spending the day at Disneyland our next excursion was Knotts Berry Farm. It was quite different then, mostly an “old west” town; but it was fun. The next day my mom booked us a hotel in Los Angeles and we were getting lost like the usual tourists. The next part of our journey was to San Diego, where we spent a couple of days. After that it was back on Route 66 heading for Albuquerque and the end of our journey. Route 66 will always have a special place in my heart; my thoughts remember that 55 Chevy lumbering down that two lane road, the wind in my face, not a care in the world except getting to Disneyland.