Love is in the air, and with Valentine’s Day around the corner, it’s the perfect time to show our appreciation for the Mother Road.
In this issue, we interview Eric Richey with the Great American Road Rally, and highlight the Road Ahead’s collaboration with Harley-Davidson alongside the Research Route 66 Centennial Speakers Series. Plus, check out photos from the Centennial’s first major event, the Drive Home Caravan launch at the Santa Monica Pier and the press conference at Mel’s Diner.
If you haven’t yet, be sure to join the Birthday Party Club! We recently hit 1,000 subscribers, and we’d like to thank our amazing Route 66 community for being a part of this journey. Big shoutout to our 1,066th member Cynthia Thomson from Raytown, MO! Check out the flyer below and sign up here to join this once-in-a-century celebration.
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Our Online Events Submission Form makes promoting Route 66 Centennial celebrations easier than ever! The form allows users to submit events in just a few minutes—no technical expertise required. Once submitted, events are reviewed and published on the official Centennial Calendar, helping visitors plan their journey and experience all that Route 66 has to offer for the Centennial and beyond.
To submit your event or learn more, click here.
Also, check out the Centennial Blog! Our Q&As feature interviews with writers, business owners, artists, sports teams, event coordinators, and others who live, work, or travel on Route 66. Learn more about upcoming or recently released books, projects, and more—and discover what Route 66 means to people across the country.
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The Road Ahead Partnership recently announced that Harley-Davidson has been named the Official Motorcycle of the Route 66 Centennial!
Throughout 2026, Harley-Davidson will honor the heritage and spirit of Route 66 by featuring the road in several of its signature rides and brand events. This partnership reinforces the road’s enduring connection to adventure, independence, and the motorcycle community.
For more information on Route 66 Centennial events, projects, and activities, visit route66centennial.org
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Register for the Centennial Speaker Series
The Research Route 66 Centennial Speakers Series features authors, historians, researchers, and more sharing their stories and expertise, highlighting Route 66’s impact and legacy. Topics include the history of foodways along the road, American Indian perspectives, the connection between baseball and Route 66, atomic history on the route, and more. Sessions take place on the second Tuesday of each month during the centennial year. Learn more about Research Route 66 at researchroute66.org and about registering for the Centennial Speakers Series at route66centennial.org
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Kicking off the Centennial With The Drive Home VII: Route 66 - A Century of Adventure
On January 3, the Drive Home Caravan launched at the romantic end of Route 66—the Santa Monica Pier—kicking off a 10-day journey and marking the first official Route 66 Centennial event. The launch was followed by a press conference at Mel’s Diner, grounding the celebration in one of the many roadside attractions that define the Mother Road.
The caravan is made up of a collection of vintage cars, a crucial element of Route 66 and of American culture more broadly. These vehicles continued their journey beyond the road itself, being displayed at the Detroit Auto Show from January 17-25. For many involved, the trip is as much about people as it is about automobiles. “It’s truly about having a ‘just say yes’ mentality,” says caravan participant Julie Wyler, “It’s about community, and the stories of the people you meet.” For many members of the caravan—several of whom are on the board of America’s Automotive Trust—this is their first time traveling together.
Initiatives like the Drive Home Caravan are vital to the future of the Mother Road. “Preservation is deeply tied to the economic survival of small towns along Route 66,” explains Bill Thomas, Chairman of the Road Ahead Partnership, “so, as the caravan traveled across the country, it highlighted both preservation success stories and ongoing challenges along Route 66.” Ultimately, Route 66 is not just something to remember, but something very much alive. Learn more about the cars featured in the caravan here, and about the Detroit Auto Show here.
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Eric Richey is the co-owner and partner of The Great American Road Rally, a new television show combining cars, celebrities, and Route 66, set to air on The CW in May. “About a year ago, my partner Gary Bridges and I came up with the idea for a car-themed TV show to raise awareness for Route 66,” Richey says. “In this series, there will be ten celebrity foundation cars, each representing a different non-profit. They’ll compete in challenges to raise money for their organizations.” Richey estimates each foundation car will receive up to $1 million dollars for its respective non-profit. Among the non-profits benefiting from The Great American Road Rally are St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Camp Patriot, Friends of Jacquelyn, the New York Fire Department, and the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership. The project also aims to support small towns and local businesses along Route 66. “Non-profits don’t pay a dime,” Richey explains. “We’re bringing in corporate sponsors—some of the biggest names in the country.”
Hosted by Beverly Hills, 90210 star Ian Ziering, the rally will span twelve days and feature car shows, celebrity challenges, concerts, food events, and more. It will kick off on April 30—the official anniversary of Route 66—beginning in Chicago and traveling west, with the initial leg concluding in Las Vegas on May 8. The following week, the show will begin airing, with twelve episodes released every Wednesday night over eleven weeks.
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During week eleven, the rally returns to Las Vegas, where James Burton—known as the grandfather of the modern electric guitar—will perform a concert. On July 22, the rally will set out for its final stretch, finishing in Santa Monica with awards, celebrity interviews, and more. Richey’s connection to Route 66 began with an unexpected detour. While driving home from an elk hunt in New Mexico, his car’s transmission failed, leaving him stranded. He was rescued by Bozo’s Garage & Rod Shop, a Route 66 classic in Santa Rosa known for its memorabilia-printed walls and vintage cars. “We ended up filming an episode there, telling the history of their shop,” Richey says. “That was my first major exposure to Route 66.” His passion for the Mother Road is also tied to his lifelong love of cars. “My dad was a big car guy. I grew up working on cars,” Richey explains. “In a lot of ways, The Great American Road Rally is in honor of him.” Today, Richey owns Crusader Auto Works in Smyrna, Tennessee, where he repairs vehicles and restores classic cars.
The Great American Road Rally is ultimately a love letter to Route 66, celebrating the locals and travelers who make it so unique. Stay up to date on the itinerary, caravan members, and events here.
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Check out our new line of Centennial bumper stickers! The collection includes one national design, with two designs to choose from, as well as two designs for each Route 66 state.
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