Head/Car Count for RT.66 Drive...09/26/04

O.K. We have planned a Route 66 Drive for this coming Sunday,Sept. 26th. Meeting at 10:00AM-Roll off at 10:30AM.

I was wondering who plans on attending? Please post here if you are....Thanks!!!!

 

And,please. Just post if you do plan on coming. No regrets. Thanks!

 

O.K. Here's the Scoop. Actually,I JUST saw a news report on TV that had Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, Down Town Promoting Route 66. There were some old cars there that then went on the Route. I'm sure that they put some new signs up.

Anyway...We will meet at 10:00AM on the Northbound side of Harold Washington Libraray,right off of Congress PKWY. "Roll Off" at 10:30AM. We will take photos of everyone,in their car,individually,next to the "Begin Route 66" Sign.

Then,we will travel what was the actual old Route...Basically,Ogden Av.,through the SW side,through Berwyn,(where they have Route 66 Signs all along Ogden Av.) To Harlem Av. Then,we go South on Harlem a mile or so to Joliet Rd. Take that out West to Willowbrook,which is I-55 and RT. 83. (There is a new Exotic and Custom Car Dealer on Joilet Rd.,in Countryside,called "Route 66 Motors",or something like that. I'd like to stop and take a peek. Whether they are open or not.)

Then,when we get to Willowbrook,there is another Actual old stretch of Route 66,that is now a Frontage Road. There is an old Restaraunt/ Roadhouse there called "Del Rhea's Chicken Basket" right on that stretch of the Old Road. Lots of Route 66 Memorabilia. We can stop for a Drink,or eat...?

Then,we can decide if we want to continue on out to Joliet......or....

We can take RT.83 South to 171/Archer Av. And,drive through the seemingly Endless,2 lane roads through the Forests. We can stop at the Little Red School House Nature Center.Or,by one of the Lakes,Ponds,or Sloughs,for lots of cool Photo Ops.

We'll kind of "Play it by ear" once we get out to Willowbrook. Whatever everyone wants to do. And,what time it is.

I'd like to have another drive,maybe in a few weeks,when the leaves change,out to Starved Rock. Chasking knows of a few really Cool roads out that way. And,Lots of great Photo Ops. Day yet to be determined....

But,the good weather is running out,guys... Don't be yearning for Spring to come,so that you can take the Ferrari out,in a couple Months....We still have time,NOW,for some nice Drives/Get Togethers....

 

Awww,C'Mon,Bill! We haven't had you and your 12 Cylinder baby on a drive all season...and,we'll be ending up pointed in your direction home.....

 

Great! If you want,we can drive out to the Joliet Motorsports Park to check it out. Do we need to Reply? Or,if we pull up in a few Ferrari's we'll be O.K....?

 

I agree with Andreas. You gotta start from the beginning.

They had some kind of a big "To Do" about Route 66 on Friday,Downtown. With Lt. Governor Pat Quinn and a bunch of,mostly old cars. They then took the Route. Must be some interest in it....

Photo Ops? Well,it's nice to have pix in front of Different Places,just as you'd take photo's of anything different. They usually have us in the Pix,too. It's not just the car. But,nice memories. Thats all.

Basically,the Big Deal of it all is to just get a bunch of Ferrari people together,to DRIVE their cars. The actual event,this one being, "Route 66 Drive",is just a "Theme" for the Drive. Something Fun to do. Just to get together. To have some Comaraderie...Have a nice Drive,Stop and Eat,or have a Drink. Whatever. We plan these Drives for Everyone to get a chance to get out and get together with other Ferrari Owners and Enthusiasts and other Ferrari's. Thats all.

But,judging by the Poor Responses that we've been getting all season,I guess that most people just like to have a Ferrari so that they can SAY that they have one. Not drive it,as Enzo intended.....

Hey,all I ever hear from fellow Ferrari Owners is that "I want to drive my car,not just look at it". Or, "We have such a short driving season". Then,they don't show up for any of these events,and before you know it,Winter is here. Then,it's..."I can't WAIT until Spring comes so that I Can DRIVE my Car...." Yeah,Yeah,Yeah......Thats O.K....WE are having Fun...

 

BTW...Disclaimer: Skip. I am not referring to you. I just wanted to make that clear now,before I wake up to a seething Midnight Attack on Fchat,tomorrow Morning.... (Kidding... )

Don...Thats Funny. Yeah,I know what you mean...But,I look at it this way...All of the Bad Guys will be sleeping by the time we pass through there,after a rough night of Crime. We should be O.K....

And,no offense to anyone out there by that. (Not Driving your Ferrari) But,I look at it this way. I'm 44 Years Old. EVEN if the Big Guy lets me live til I'm 88,my Life is 1/2 over. And,I really don't see me trying to climb my broken up Bod. into a Ferrari in my Later Years....So,our time is limited here. And,with the Limited Driving time that we do have,due to Weather. It is REALLY Limited.

We are LUCKY enough that we OWN such beautiful,Incredible cars. There are about 1/2 the Guys here on FChat who don't,and would probably give their Right Arm,(No,wait a Minute,they need that one to shift...) O.K.,maybe a Kidney or something to be in the same position that we are in.

I don't know about you,but,I want to spend as MUCH Time as I can Driving mine. Life is Tooo Short.....I certainly do not ever want to look back,regretting that I Didn't Drive mine more than I do....

 

Well,I think we had a nice drive today. The Weather was absolutely Perfect for a Drive. We met Downtown at our designated Meeting spot. Then,took pictures at both the "Start Route 66" sign,on Adams. Then,at the "End Route 66" sign on Jackson. (Visa-versa,actually. Jackson Runs East,and Adams Runs West. We went on our trek from there.)

We followed the Route Westbound through the City. Lots of Traffic Lights,but,we stuck together O.K. They have Brown and White "Route 66" signs along the way. Very well placed. They show you where to turn,and have one placed periodically just to let you know that you are indeed still on the Route. You take Adams St. West,to a little past Ashland Av. Then,you jog left onto Ogden Av,(RT.34) and run that West/Southwest.

Once you get out of the City into Cicero,there are less Traffic lights,and the speed picks up a little. In Berwyn,they used to have Regular "Route 66" signs along Ogden Av. But,must have been easy targets for souvenier hunters. So,now instead they have Banners up high on the Lightposts along the way. They also have a neat Marker made out of Brick and Glass Block,with a "Route 66" sign on it.

We found a few "Route 66" Businesses along the way,also. And,took some Pix. We were surprised at how many "Route 66" Businesses there were along the way. Fun to spot. We stopped at a couple for Pix,but not all. When we got to Harlem Av. We went South for about a Mile to Joliet Rd. That is the continuation of the Road,which takes you through....

Then,we went into McCook,Countryside,LaGrange,Indian Head Park, and the Road picks up even better.

We ended up at the "Del Rhea's Chicken Basket" Restaraunt for Lunch. This is an old Restaraunt that still has Home Cooking to this day.It is on actual Route 66,in BurrRidge. Lots of Route 66 memorabilia on the walls. The Waitress gave us some Route 66 Info,Map,and Postcard. Andreas got one of their Old Menu's. This part of the Road,which now serves as a Frontage Road for I-55. Is an ACTUAL Piece of the Old,Original road.


We cut out from there. But,now,after looking at the Map that we got at Del Rhea's. Think that a complete tour of Route 66,just through Illinois,may be in order for next Spring. We could make it an Overnighter,too,so that we can make stops along the way. Photo Ops. Souveniers. Eat. Etc...

And...AND...Someday....I've been wanting to do this for Years. But,not for awhile until me old Back feels abit better.......(Rick wants to do this too...) Perhaps a weeklong excursion all the way to L.A. sometime...Any takers...?...

 

Great Shots,Andreas! Yes, those who didn't come really did miss out on a great little Drive. More cars would have been nice,but,a tad more challenging keeping together......But,we did fine... The Weather was absolutely perfect. Cool Drive,neat Scenery.........Great Food and Atmosphere at Del Rhea's Chicken Basket.

Maybe we'll do another one,but a bit farther in the Spring...?...

Rick and I took RT.83 back,and we saw 5 Super Custom,Jesse James-or,Orange County Style Choppers pulled off on the side of the Road. A veritable Custom Bike Show. Cool.

We gave alot of Folks some smiles with our Short,but Sweet Caravan of Bella Automobilia,today. I enjoyed the Drive...(as Steven in the Eastern area of FChat would say)...and,isn't that what it's all about...?...

Was your drive back on I-55 O.K.?

 

I just kind of find it fascinating that Old Route 66 Starts,(and,ends,on the Return Trip) Right in the Heart of Downtown Chicago. Whodathunk?

Imagining the Old cars back when. Filled to the hilt with Luggage,even tied to the Roof. And Family,headed out for a new Life,(or,just a Nice Road Trip Vacation) all the way out to Cali-FOR-NI-A.

Gotta take it someday..... Motor Home? or,Ferrari...