Registration opens for Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Car Show in September
SAPULPA, OKLAHOMA - Registration is now open for the Oklahoma Route 66 Association’s Centennial Car Show. The event will take place on September 26th, 2026 at Sapulpa’s Tee Pee Drive-In. The car show will be followed by a separate event that evening: a screening of Pixar’s film Cars, which celebrates 20 years alongside Route 66’s 100th anniversary.
“The Oklahoma Route 66 Association has been an advocate for preservation and history of the road for 37 years,” said Association President Rhys Martin. “We thought an event focused the vehicles themselves during this momentous year would be a great way to celebrate the road’s ongoing legacy. And holding that event at a historic venue like the Tee Pee is even better!”
The Tee Pee Drive-In opened in 1950, during the road’s so-called heyday. It closed in 1999 after years of decline, but five years ago the Kante Group purchased the property and began renovations. It opened to great fanfare in 2023, its story mirroring that of Route 66 itself.
“Route 66 represents the very best of the American spirit - entrepreneurs who build something meaningful, communities that welcome travelers, and dreamers who believe in creating a better future,” said Ben and Joni Kante, owners of the drive-in. “The Tee Pee Drive-In serves as a breeding ground of creativity, imagination, and thoughts of what has yet become for hundreds. When we had the opportunity to restore it, we felt a deep responsibility to honor those dreamers who came before us. This isn’t just about preserving a screen - it’s about a reflection of the courage, optimism, and the ‘get it done’ determination mind set while upholding a sense of community that defined Route 66. To see the Tee Pee once again filled with families, classic cars, and shared experiences is incredibly moving for us. We are grateful to play a role in ensuring this special place continues inspiring others for the next 100 years.”
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is partnering with AmericaCarShows.com for the event, a Tulsa-based company with decades of experience. Registration is $25 per car; all proceeds go towards the Association’s mission to preserve and promote Route 66 throughout the state.
As Route 66 celebrates its centennial in 2026, Martin wants people to know that the road is still alive and still evolving. “People come to Route 66 for all kinds of reasons, but it’s the people they meet that stick in their memory and bring them back. Classic cars and their owners are a great example of the passion you can find from small business owners, preservationists, and others that you can find along the road. And, of course, the movie Cars brought the story to a whole new generation.”
The screening of the movie in the evening is also being organized by the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, in partnership with the Kante Group, and they are working on bringing out a few special guests for the occasion. “Many of the characters in the movie are based on real people and there’s an incredible story about how the real towns inspired Radiator Springs. We’re excited to make this showing a little more special and will have more details to announce as we get closer to the event this fall.”
Registration can be completed online at OK66CarShow.com and more information about the event can be found there.
