We are thrilled at the participation in this year’s Motor Tour! Enthusiasm was high for our 30th annual signature event (especially since it had been postponed from last year due to the pandemic). In all, 122 vehicles rolled along Illinois Route 66 with us, in search of – and finding – good times on the open road. The attractions we took in on Saturday included the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in Madison, (where we began Saturday morning with a rare double-crossing in our vehicles – watch a video of the bridge crossing shot by Doug Morrell), the Brooks Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Soulsby Station and Our Lady of the Highways Shrine in Mt Olive, and SkyView Drive-in, in Litchfield.
On Saturday night of Motor Tour weekend, we hold a banquet to celebrate this year’s inductees to our Hall of Fame. This year’s honoree was Association member Dorothy Seratt McMullen for her tireless preservation efforts over the years. Additionally, John and Darlene Ruh were honored with the President’s Award for their long-running dedication to the spirit of Route 66. This year’s festivities were enjoyed by 150 people and was again catered by our favorite chef, Kurt Wendlandt.
Read more about the Hall of Fame banquet and enjoy a slideshow of the event in this great account in the Herald News for Lincoln and Logan counties
The Tour continued on Sunday, beginning with an event at The Mill on 66 in Lincoln, followed by stops at The Palms Grill and Tall Paul in Atlanta, Funks Grove in Shirley, Casey’s Market and Garden Shop in Bloomington, the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum (our home base) in Pontiac, the Standard Oil Station in Odell and concluded at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Joliet.
Folks have been generous with their photos from their weekend along the Mother Road. We are excited to share them here for those who couldn’t experience the Tour – and for those who did and want to relive the fun.
Enjoy a slideshow from Motor Tour 2021:
Our thanks to John Faulhaber, Teresa Guenther Larson, Alan Halberstadt, John Michael Lucchesi, Joe McHugh, Steve and Diane Nalefski JoAnne Sincula Nudelman, Elaine Stonich, Deb Vanderbilt and John Weinhoeft for the terrific photos! If you have photos you’d like to share of your fun time on our Motor Tour, we’d love to add them to the mix!