Home

Route 66 History

2001 Rally

2006 Rally

Merchandise

Agencies

1953 Texas DPS

For Sale

Links

Please be patient, there are several photos on this page.

Click on photos to see larger versions.

 

"Where it all began"  This sign marks the starting point of "Historic" Route 66 at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Adams Street in Downtown Chicago.

 

Day 1, Thursday  July 26, Chicago IL
Arrived at our host Hotel, Quality Inn Downtown Chicago at 9am and met with New Mexico State Police Trooper of the Year - Rigoberto Chavarria at 11am.  After buying some road gear at Hit the Road travel store on the north side, we stopped for photos at Wrigley Field.  After lunch in Chicago’s Greek town, the rest of the afternoon was spent visiting downtown Chicago.

 

 

Chris Yelland and the 1953 Texas DPS Highway Patrol Unit and Gary Goltz with the 1955 Buick Special Highway Patrol TV Show replica patrol unit.  Quality Inn Downtown, Our host hotel in Chicago.

 

 

Day 2, Friday July 27 - Chicago IL
This morning we were joined by Gary Goltz driving his 1955 Buick Special “Highway Patrol” TV Show replica car. Joining Goltz is Kelly Crawford, son of Broderick Crawford, star of the 1950’s television program Highway Patrol.  Both participants are from California.  After breakfast, we visited the Chicago Police Academy, invited by Officer Tim Tremaine.  CPD hosted a tour of their facilities which included demonstrations by the drug intervention team, tactical team and firing range.  In the evening, we met with the International Police Association regional president Mary Jones, vice-president Diane Shapiro and from Portishead Bristol England, member Bryan Sheppard and his family.

 

Tom Jaguszewski of the CPD Marine Unit hosted us an evening boat patrol on Lake Michigan.  We were lucky enough to participate in responding to a distress call.  Turns out that a sailboat lost power and was drifting toward shore, the Marine Unit escorted the ship under its own power, to the marina while we enjoyed the nightly firework presentation from Navy Pier. After the boat trip, CPD shuttled us back to the hotel in one of their paddy wagons.

 

Gary Goltz and Jon Yelland brought back to the hotel, in a paddy wagon, Courtesy of the CPD

 

Day 3, Saturday July 28 - Springfield, IL
Early departure to Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park. Here we waited for press representatives whom did not arrive.  We did however have a contingent from the International Police Association who saw us off.  Chicago Police Department provided us with an escort through the city up to the Cicero city limits.  

 

Chicago Skyline

 

Is this a K-9 unit?

 

Members of the International Police Association saw our group off at Grant Park.

 

"Heading West" on Adams Street (with the Sears Tower in the background) - Chicago.

 

We picked up an officer in the town of Countryside and soon we were on our way into the lush farmland of northeast Illinois.  In Wilmington, we stopped to visit the Launching Pad Drive Inn Restaurant where the Gemini Giant statue keeps a watchful eye over all Route 66 travelers.   As we left town we detoured about 1 mile to see the Catfish Days Car Show.  

 

The "Gemini Giant" looks over us at the Launching Pad Drive Inn Restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois.

 

Catfish Days Car Show, Wilmington, IL.

 

After Wilmington, we ate lunch at the Polka Dot restaurant where we met an Elvis look-alike.  We stopped briefly at Dwight, Mt. Olive, Odell and at the State Police building in Pontiac (shaped like a revolver) for photographs.   Our trip ended in Springfield after a summer rainstorm near Pontiac.

 

The Polk-a-dot Drive Inn

 

"Look, It's Elvis!"

 

Turn left on Route 66!

 

Day 4, Sunday July 29 - St. Louis, Mo.
The entire city of Springfield closes down on Sunday.  We decided to visit Abraham Lincoln’s Home which was very interesting.  After our tour of the restored colonial area where Lincoln's Home is located, we visited the Springfield PD facilities.  Fuel up at a Phillips 66 station, then we were back on the road again.  

 

Breakfast at the Hen House, Springfield, IL.

 

Fueling up at Phillips 66 in Springfield, IL.

 

Highway 4 west of Springfield, IL.

 

Just west of Springfield, we detoured off highway 4 and enjoyed traveling on old red brick paved route 66 near Carlinville.  In Stanton we visited Rick Henry's Route 66 place where he is establishing a museum, but nobody was home. After chatting with the local police, we continued for the State line. 

 

Red Brick Route 66 near Carlinville, IL.

 

Rick Henry's Route 66 Place, Stanton, IL.  Note the Sixty-Six fuel Pump!

 

Dennis Hermann of the Southwestern Illinois Tourism and Conventions Bureau arranged to have the historic Chain of Rocks Bridge opened for us.  Joined by his family, officers from Madison, Illinois Police Department and a reporter from the Belleville News-Democrat, Hermann met us and escorted us over one of the most unique bridges that crosses the Mississippi River.  There is a 30 degree bend in the middle of the bridge which makes for a unique crossing experience.  We spent some time on the bridge for photos and an interview to be printed in the local paper.  Once we crossed the bridge, we were met by Maj Roy Joachimstaler, of the St. Louis PD who quickly arranged to have Sgt. Tom Godfrey and Officer Duane Wells escort us right through downtown St. Louis to our hotel located on the west side.    

Fellow Route 66 Cruisers - Chain of Rocks Bridge, IL/MO State Line.

 

Famous Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River.

 

In line at the 30 degree curve of the Chain of Rocks Bridge

 

St. Louis Skyline at dusk

 

Click here so we can continue on to MISSOURI/KANSAS

We Must Never Forget!

2001 Rally

Illinois

Missouri/Kansas

Oklahoma/Texas

New Mexico/Arizona

California