Of all the cool aspects of the car enthusiast world, Route 66 has to be among the coolest. The sheer amount of history that’s gone into Route 66—the stories about individuals travelling out West in search of a new life; the diners, drive-ins and dives they’ve must have frequented in their travels; the movies that have been filmed upon its blacktop; the inspiration it’s given for so many television shows and books, the list goes on. There isn’t a more famous roadway than Route 66.
Well, it serves as yet another point of inspiration as The Legend Lives Cross Country Tour II gets underway for 2018. Presented by the HoonDog Performance Group, they’ve partnered up with The Bullitt Nationals to give car enthusiasts a chance experience historic Route 66 as it should be experienced: in your favorite ride and among friends.
While The Bullitt Nationals are a big part of this event, you don’t have to have a Bullitt Mustang to attend (although you will definitely see a lot of Bullitt Mustangs participating); you don’t even have to drive a Ford. It’s open to any and everyone who wants to be a part of the festivities. Running from March 25th to June 3rd, participants will drive the entire Route 66 from Chicago, Illinois, and end at the Santa Monica Pier in sunny California, with plenty of interesting stops and historic landmarks along the way, with hotel stops each evening.
The show will culminate at the 2018 Friends of Steve McQueen Car Show at Boys Republic, in Chino Hills, CA. This is the boy’s school that turned McQueen’s life around after attending as a teen in trouble. This event will benefit the Boys Republic, and other HoonDog Performance Group charities like Make-A-Wish Michigan, and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
Registration is $50 and includes a t-shirt, dash plaque, registration pack with Route 66 Tour Guide and a goody bag. They’ve also secured a group of host hotels for each night, and are already locked in with special rates. You can register here, or check out www.hoondog.com. If you’ve never experienced Route 66, this would be the perfect opportunity to wax a little nostalgic. There will be great cars, great company, and the chance to make some great memories.
Living in Richmond, Texas, PJ Rentie has been in the automotive industry for more than 30 years. This former Assistant Editor at Vette Magazine also spent time with companies like NOS, Edelbrock, Hillbank Motorsports, Classic Industries, and was an automotive instructor for Cypress College for ten years. In his spare time, PJ hopes to one day bring his Fox Body Mustang out of the back yard and back onto the street!
