100 Classic Reasons to Save Route 66

Although decertified for a decade and heavily entombed beneath great reaches of interstates, Route 66 refuses to die.

Last month, the Department of the Interior held town meetings in eight states crossed by existing portions of the old diagonal and discussed alternatives “for its future management.”

This month, more than 100 owners shipped classic cars from Europe and spent three weeks running the route east to west.

Two new songs have been recorded around the Mother Road. Route 66 T-shirt sales are a business of the Roadworks, Kingman, Ariz. The Rich Co. of Los Angeles is marketing a $195 wristwatch with a revolving dial showing each town mentioned by songwriter Bobby Troup in his classic, “Route 66.”

And most events end at Route 66, a restaurant and bar in Pasadena. Troup, 75, was there recently to be presented with his Route 66 watch. Naturally he received No. 66 of the limited-edition timepiece.