Route 66 Road Fest – A Mother Road Moment

by Richard Stephens, Jr. and Rhys Martin

The AAA Route 66 Road Fest – billed as the Mother of all Road Fests – delivered as hoped at Tulsa’s SageNet Expo Square, June 22-23. All told, it featured 218 vehicles in the car show, seven decades of Route 66 history, 100 vendors, eight engaging speakers, lots of kid’s activities, a sizable Route 66 community and, very importantly, 10,000 engaged visitors according to AAA Oklahoma’s Vice-President Jared Peterson. 

Some of the cars at Road Fest, part of the indoor Car Show that brought hundreds of beautiful automobiles to the Tulsa Fairgrounds.

Beautifully painted, cleaned, shined, and waxed vehicles were displayed on the lower floor of the two-story, 354,000 square foot Expo Center, ranging from as old as a 1913 Ford Model T and as new as a 2023 Chevrolet Corvette – 110 years-worth of motorized progress.  Ninety-one awards were given to owners in twenty-nine classes of vehicles (Top 3 in each class).  Nearby, Richard Rawlings, the star of the popular Reality TV Show “Fast N’ Loud” and founder and owner of Gas Monkey Garage, met visitors. 

Road Fest continued on the upper floor.  Visitors peered into Route 66 history in seven interactive exhibits, each representing decades or eras of the road from the 1920s to the 1980s and today.  “The Green Book” module explained why segregation prompted Victor Hugo Green to write a travel book listing businesses African-American travelers could use on road trips.  Mark Mahy of Springfield, Missouri, looked at the exhibits and explained he came because, “I’m a big fan of Route 66.  I grew up on Route 66.”

Attendees looking to spend money on Route 66 artifacts, clothing, and photographs as well as hundreds of other merchandise items and services could visit the vendors area and find what they wanted.  Some came from as far away as Arizona to be a part of the festival.

On Saturday, Joe Sonderman, a prolific Route 66 author, and Ken Busby, Director of the Route 66 Alliance, gave tips for Route 66 beginners.  Sonderman advised planning a trip with three things: using Jerry McClanahan’s EZ66 Guide for Travelers, identifying itineraries and time needed at route66navigation.com, and choosing attractions, hotels and restaurants you want to stop at ahead of time.  “Have fun, meet people, slow down, and enjoy it!” Sonderman said.

Authors Michael Wallis, Jim Hinckley, and Joey Madia spoke on topics as varied as “Supernatural 66: UFOs, Hauntings, and Other Mysterious Happenings” and “The Road to the Centennial” during the two-day event.

The Hot Wheels Race Track was one of the family-friendly activities available during the weekend event.

The event also included activities for the whole family. Youth (and adults) pedaled tricycles, raced wood cars in the Boy Scout’s Pinewood Derby and metal ones in Hot Wheels races, and painted-by-numbers at the Moonlight Art Factory while families played putt-putt golf.

In the heart of the Expo, the greater Route 66 Community came together in the name of preservation and education. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association booth was busy all weekend, giving out free Trip Guides and selling items to further their mission. They were joined by fellow state associations from Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Arizona, and California as well as several city entities and even the Route 66 Association of Japan, who had brought the band Bentenya to the festival to perform.

Rhys Martin shows off a sign bearing the Association’s Centennial Logo, designed by Oklahoma artist Shellee Graham. Volunteers Linda Hobbs, Quintin Roberts, Blaine Davis, and Kathy Anderson were among the many that helped make the Association’s presence a success.

”Since the first year of Road Fest in 2022, this event has grown significantly,” said Oklahoma Route 66 Association President Rhys Martin. “We see so many friends and meet new people every year and that’s what the road is all about – connection.”

Was Road Fest a success?  Yes, according to Peterson, citing more attendees and vehicles in the car show than last year.  He said, “Our goal is to raise money from the event to invest back into Oklahoma’s Route 66.  The most success is through awareness.”