2001 Motor Tour CWO

The 2001 Motor Tour sparkled like a diamond in the Illinois sunlight. Liquid sunshine, a worry of at least the past five years of our "Motor Tour" stayed away all 4 days of this years Diamond Jubilee celebration. The 75^th anniversary of the "Mother Road" was enjoyed without a trace of rain. What better way to observe the anniversary of the "Mother Road" than to follow along all of the original alignment first traveled in 1926? Wheels and chrome sparkled and flashed as hundreds of motorized magic carpets sailed down America’s main street.

John Miller & company got us started at the very beginning of "Route 66", shooting us down through the Chicago canyons. We then burst out into the green grass prairie and passed through the heartland villages of America. How could we not swell with pride in the celebration of one of the worlds most beloved thorough-fares? Lyons, McCook, Hodgkins, Countryside, Indian Head Park, and Romeoville.

A stop to catch our breath at "Hall of Fame" member, White Fence Farm. Last minute registrations by Annette and Kathy, swelled our multitude. Jeff Geisler led us on to Joliet, Route 66 Raceway, Elwood, Wilmington, Braidwood and on a detour, where Diamond helped us commemorate the 75^th. Then off to Godley, Braceville, Gardner and the "Hall of Fame" member, the Riviera Roadhouse, Dwight and then to Odell where our preservation group has been fitting and polishing a new diamond, the Odell Standard gas station. Many Oohs and Ahaas were heard as roadies viewed the new signs and marveled at the progress of the restoration. Near Cayuga we caught a glimpse of the 1998 preservation project, the "Meramec Caverns" barn. Just before lunch we cruised into Pontiac through the State Farm "Arch" looking for another passport sticker and the diamond to be given by the Pontiac Tourism bureau.

	After lunch, Jeff LaFollett helped a lucky group of roadies meet up
	with some visiting members of the International Press. Journalists and
	Radio personalities from Germany, the United Kingdom and France
	joined with Motor Tour drivers to experience first hand the sights
	and sounds of our beloved "Route 66".

My great-great grandfather, Adam Schwallenstecker immigrated to the U. S. from Hessen, Darmstat, Germany in 1850. A quick check of the German contingent discovered that a radio journalist in the group lived within 25 miles of this old settlement. A deal was soon struck, and Andreas Horchler found he would be riding in an all red 65 Mustang convertible. I was thrilled to meet and visit with Andreas, and he was thrilled to ride with Judy and me in the Mustang.

We gassed up the Mustang at the edge of Pontiac and headed south to the purr of the dual exhaust pipes. Andreas started his tape recorder as soon as we moved to capture the sounds of "Route 66". We chatted about his home area, as I was hungry for information on my great-great grandfathers homeland. Andreas was also hungry for information on "Route 66". Of course at every opportunity Judy and I puffed up to brag on our "Mother Road". Andreas has visited America on numerous occasions. In fact he and his family has vacationed in the New England area. Of course, due to talking and not watching the road, I had to turn around and go back after missing about 3 turns on the route. We detoured to Funks grove to stop at the country church and at the cemetery in the Sugar Maple forest. It was quiet and serene and Andreas requested an interview with Judy and me. We talked about our love of the "Mother Road" and the freedom of touring in our Mustang. We talked about the wonderful friends we have met while traveling the highway. Driving through the cemetery, we noted the many ethnic names of the early settlers.

Going back across the highway, we next stopped at the Funks Grove farm, of "Hall of Fame" members, Steve and Gladia Funk. Andreas visited with and recorded an interview with Gladia at the Store, and afterwards did the same with Steve, who was working on a tractor and sprayer at the barn. He was very excited to meet with some of our "Hall of Fame" members at work at their business.

Traveling on to the Dixie, we gave Andreas a special tour of the "Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame". We pointed out with pride the new Macoupin county "Hall of Fame" members, the Coliseum Ballroom and DeCamp Junction, both of whom would later in the evening be inducted by chairman Tom Teague and the members of the Route 66 Association of Illinois.

At Atlanta, we make a quick stop for refreshments. On leaving we were treated to having our picture taken from the rear platform of the Santa Fe Chief. The Chief was a wonderful part of this years tour. Kodak stock had to raise after all the film that was burned on the Chief and all the other vehicles and sites on the tour. We had to hustle the Mustang down the road to arrive in time for the "Hall of Fame" banquet at the Renaissance Hotel in Springfield. We wished Andreas good traveling for the remainder of his American tour and exchanged cards with e-mail addresses to continue our friendship. The next day he would rent a car at St. Louis and take another week cruising up the Mississippi to its beginnings.

Sunday started at the car wash two blocks south of the Cozy Dog, another "Hall of Fame" member. A quick chamois rub down for our pony and then over to the Cozy Dog for breakfast. We met Noriko Yamanaka and her friend, traded cameras for photographs and exchanged cards with e-mail addresses. Thanks to the Cozy Dog for providing a roadie type meal experience. The early morning was uneventful as we visited an old favorite, the Auburn red brick road.

I’m especially partial to the original 16’ wide road in Macoupin county. We have many miles of road that was built in the early 20’s and never widened or repaved. Much of it is broken and rough, and is a challenge to keep a modern auto between the center line and the edge, especially on the corners. We discovered some unique things on this alignment.

First, about 3½ miles south of Nilwood, I was shown some turkey? tracks in the original pavement. The legend is that a farmer’s turkeys ran loose or maybe even wild turkeys walked on the pavement while it was still soft. I apologize to many of the early birds, as I thought the local Nilwood roadies were going to show everyone coming by the tracks. Later arrivals were shown the tracks and many stopped to photograph the tracks and hear the legend.

Second, upon coming into Carlinville on the original alignment we were treated to the restoration? of an old and rare two story log cabin on the grounds of a long closed amusement park. Although the City and the local Chamber of Commerce look with disdain on places like this, many Roadies find the old and decaying interesting. The owner was present and encouraged roadies to stop, look and visit. He even gave a talk on the history of the cabin.

We along with others were amazed at the history and beauty of the Blackburn College campus. Most were amazed that all students are required to contribute work in the construction of all new campus buildings. I hailed Carolyn Carillo of the Carlinville Chamber of Commerce to purchase a bottle of water. After chugging a bottle of water, two original "Route 66" bricks were added to our collection. Carlinville has been and continues to be a major stop on the original 1926 alignment.

Third, about 2½ miles south of Carlinville, we discovered a newly uncovered "MAIL POUCH TOBACCO, TREAT YOURSELF TO THE BEST" sign on the road side of an old barn being dismantled. The sign had been covered by a lean to addition a short time after being painted. This has contributed to the excellent condition of the sign and the siding. Your writer only learned of the sign the first day of the tour. John and Lenore Weiss supplied this picture of the barn on Sunday. Since the tour, the barn has been completely dismantled. A little farther down the road are a couple of original 1920’s bridges over Honey creek. This alignment is dangerous to travel, as visibility is bad crossing over the newer route.

The Coal County Chamber of Commerce of the Gillespie-Benld area were especially excited this year. They hosted the Associations April board meeting and generated a lot of enthusiasm and publicity for the 2001 tour. 17 new "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" telephone pole banners greeted us from East Gillespie to the Coliseum Ballroom in Benld. Excellent signage with balloons to catch each roadies attention helped all to follow our "Mother Road" to the Benld lunch stop. Chamber President Jeff Wisdo and past president Patty Ambrose served large plates of Bernhardt’s special sauce spaghetti to the tour roadies. Live music was provided throughout the lunch time. A copy of the Area news, with news of the motor tour coming to the area, was presented with each passport sticker.

Your writer was impressed with the history, beauty and hospitality of the Benld Russian Orthodox Catholic Church. This small church is struggling to exist and maintain its parish. In the 1930’s Father Nikita Gress wrote Ikons and decorated the Holy Temple. The very reverend Archpriest, Father Paul Waters, Pastor, gave several very wonderful talks on the churches history. The beauty of the Ikons and paintings on the walls and ceilings are beyond belief.

What a crowd! When we arrived at the Coliseum ballroom, it was packed. Roadies were autographing special "T" shirts to be placed on display in the new "Coliseum Route 66 Museum" being planned by the newly inducted "Hall of Fame" owners David, Ruth, David and Cheryl Hammond. A new attraction being built to the south of the building is a "Route 66" putting course. Painted wooden caricatures of entertainers who have played at the Coliseum ballroom will greet players at each hole. The last hole will require players to hit through a miniature model of the Coliseum ballroom.

While at the Coliseum, I was asked where the original "Route 66 of Illinois" shield sign that I was carrying had come from. This story was told. While traveling south of Carlinville, Judy and I stopped at one of the old bridges on Honey creek. While trampling through the weeds below the bridge next to the creek, I didn’t find the sign. Didn’t really stop at the bridges either. It was found at the lunch stop in Benld. Bruno Barra, whose brother I had worked with at the Shell Oil refinery, was offering it for sale. Lucky for me, it remained unsold until my arrival. Bruno wanted an offer, so $100.00 was offered. Bruno looked over at Marilyn Prichett, who was seated nearby and stated that she had offered much more. I looked at Marilyn and she just smiled. I offered $150.00 and Bruno declined. "How much do you have to have? was asked. Bruno figured the sign was worth at least $200.00. I called him a robber. He lowered his price to $175.00. "Sold" said I. He remarked "If I’m a robber, you must be a fool to pay $175.00". We shook hands, visited and talked about his brother who had died a couple of years earlier. The sign was dated July 8, 1956.

The ride from Benld to Staunton was a breeze. We crossed over our route that had started just two days earlier. It was nearing 600 miles with the top down in the warm Illinois sunshine since leaving home at 9:00 AM on Friday morning. Judy and I were starting to look like a couple of pieces of burnt toast. DeCamp Junction was overflowing with cars. New "Hall of Fame" members, Loren Kovally, Jim and Pat Moultrie greeted us and others at the 1930’s roadhouse. They proudly displayed their "Hall of Fame" plaque at the back bar. A vendor was selling "Historic DeCamp Roadhouse" pin backs to the crowd. Very few buildings still exist with original historic tin pan ceilings. The birds eye maple booths, the old signs and the area memorabilia make DeCamp a Diamond on our "Mother Road.

We admired the newly restored "Meramec Caverns" barn located across the double nickel from the Hamel Lutheran church as we breezed by. Hamel citizens were giving ice cream bars and memorabilia at their unofficial stop at the intersection of State route 140 and the "Mother Road". Their "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" banners were proudly displayed on telephone poles through the village. Between Hamel and Edwardsville, we passed the home and proud display of "Route 66" signs in the front yard of "Hall of Fame" member, Wilton Rinkle. We would find Wilton in Edwardsville at the "Festival 66" in the city Park. He was helping his daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Rich Henry selling memorabilia recently purchased from the Association.

After visiting at Edwardsville’s "Festival 66" Judy and I started back to DeCamp Junction for dinner. But before we could leave the parking lot, a couple in a yellow 73 Mustang convertible had an engine flame out. The engine stopped and refused to start. Lucky for them, Bill Przbylski and his wife were standing on the sidewalk nearby. Bill pulled a can of ether from his Mustang and gave the 73 a shot in the air cleaner. No good! The Mustang suffered from lack of a spark. I stated, "I have the fix". Mustangs and other early Fords are prone to suffer from a failed condenser. I carry a spare condenser and the tools to change one in my glove compartment. In about 5 minutes the Mustangs distributor cap was removed and the defective condenser was replaced. A happy 73 Mustang driver was soon on his way home. Bill and I discussed who was going to take the 2002 motor tour chairman. We decided that we could make a good team. I suggested to Bill that if he would take the north end of the "Motor Tour", I would take the south. He said, "I’ll think about it".