This just in from John Dewey (see Hitch info post)

"Karl Hacker is now discontinuing the hitch,and is trying to sell the remaining stock and fixtures to any one that would like them. Mini Fini is out of business. Home made may be the only source for a while."

So here's your chance to get one! See Hitch info post for email address and phone number.

 

For information on the status of Karl's hitches, see this thread.


https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=51772


John Dewey
Electric Blue / White, 2004 MCS.
Crystal Lake, Il.

 

I've been asked what books and maps we used for our trip. All of these were available on Amazon.com.

On occasion we did have to use both a map and one of the books to figure out which direction we were supposed to turn on some dirt road somewhere.

Maps
"Here It Is! Route 66" The Map Series, Chicago to L.A.
A complete set of fold-out maps, by Ghost Town Press
Created by Jerry McClanahan and Jim Ross
There is a separate map for each state and they are quite detailed.

Quick Access(R) Route US 66
Fully laminated fold out map that has the entire route by state all connected together. Top half of the map has photos and "places to visit" in each state, along with a quick history. This was purchased along the route somewhere and we were very glad to have this in addition to the hand-illustrated map series listed above. By Global Graphics, distributed by Canyonlands Publications, Bellemont, AZ, 1.800.283.1983

Books
Route 66 Dining and Lodging Guide
by National Historic Route 66 Federation
We used this for finding the most historical restaurants.

Route 66 Traveler's Guide and Roadside Companion
by Tom Snyder, Founder, US Route 66 Association
This book also includes map drawings. This is the book we read and flagged pages of all the things we wanted to see along the way.

Route 66 (Enthusiast Color Series)
by Tim Steil, with Photography by Jim Luning
Another good book (with amazing photos) that helped us decide on must-see locations.

Healthy Highways, The Traveler's Guide to Healthy Eating
by Nikki and David Goldbeck
1,900 eateries and natural food stores WITH DIRECTIONS.
Invaluable if you get sick of the greasy spoon/truck stop fare found so much along today's highways.

 

We did 8,000 miles, 37 days, in a 10AE Miata in 2005 (MINI CS is winter car) - the key to packing it all in is Space Bags! We needed three seasons' worth of clothes (Glacier NP - snow at Logan Pass - to Needles, CA [125 F] and Phoenix, AZ [115 F]). Laundry once a week - ship souvenirs, etc. home. Also shipped some tour books & maps ahead - could ship clothes, too.

 

The new Pixar movie, CARS, opens today.

We've been waiting for this movie for years!

While we were traveling Route 66 in September of 2004 we were following the trail of the Pixar studio folks out doing research for the movie. Many cafes and restaurants have guest books for travelers to sign, and in some of them the Pixar's people drew little cartoon character pictures of some of the characters in development.

One shop made t-shirts out of the pages in their guest book. Kind of wished we had the presence of mind to photograph the books and/or buy one of those early t-shirt designs!

Much of what you will see in CARS really is right there along Route 66. It's an amazing part of American history and I am glad CARS casts such a positive light and celebrates America's small town and car culture heritage!

Can't wait to see it!

~ Wendy