The Herald-News in Joliet, Ill., has this sage advice: If you want to celebrate Route 66's 80th anniversary, drive it.

The article is well-done. It has a lot of advice from members of the Illinois Route 66 Association. 

I take issue with one opinion, however. Oklahoma is not the best-signed state on the route. It's pretty good, but Illinois' signage is the best. 

Michael Wallis of Tulsa was flown the California over the weekend to view a final cut of Pixar's Route 66-based film, "Cars."

Wallis, author of the best-selling "Route 66: The Mother Road," acted as technical adviser to the film, guided the Pixar crew on a Route 66 tour several years ago, and voices the part of a 1950s Mercury sheriff's car in the movie.

I e-mailed Wallis and asked him to give me his impressions of the final version of the film. This is what he wrote:

Disney-Pixar flew me out to Burbank for a private screening of the final cut of "Cars." While at the Disney Studios, I also did some publicity photos, had several publicity meetings, and met with a producer for an upcoming short TV program for kids I will be filming with Disney on Route 66 in Oklahoma. 

I of course have watched the film develop from the very beginning. I've been involved in practically every phase of its life thus far. Just a couple of months ago at Pixar, I saw the almost, almost final cut. With that said, here's how I felt when I saw the final version complete with music, credits, etc.:

Blown away. That was my feeling after viewing the final cut of "Cars" during a private screening event for me at the Disney Studios. This film is truly magnificent. It will make such a positive impact on the Mother Road, and for that matter, all of the nation's historic highways and byways.

I was the sole person in the large screening theatre. I had plenty of stout coffee, water, and optimism as the huge screen came alive and began to roll. When I walked out after the final credit, I was in tears. Tears of pure joy and also tears of pride. I am so proud to have been part of this project as consultant, voice character, and, along with sweet Suzanne (editor's note: Michael's wife), author of the definitive book about making the movie. As soon as the folks waiting for me to usher me to a debriefing and the rest of my meetings saw my face, they dispatched e-mails to my pails up north at Pixar: "MICHAEL LOVES IT." They were able to do that without even hearing my reaction. They saw it in my eyes and face. How right they were.

Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

Bravo for your review, Michael. I'm very excited about seeing it.

"Cars" opens wide on June 9.

Talk about one heck of an adventure. Here's what the Cruise66.com group is going to do in June:

Cruise66 is the name of a 4 week long cruising event taking place on Historic Route 66 during the month of June 2006. The plan is to ship 15-25 pristine classic American automobiles ranging from 1946-1966 models from their native homes in Norway and drive the 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles.

The cars will be shipped from Gothenburg Sweden in the beginning of May 2006, to reach an on-time departure from Chicago at: 06/06/2006 Closer descriptions of the automobiles and the cruising schedule can be found
under "The Cars " and "The Route" We are very interested in establishing contact with other car and Route 66 enthusiast which we will pass by during our cruise adventure.

Do check out "The Cars" link. There are some seriously good-looking vehicles there, including a rare 1958 Packard Clipper station wagon that should be fully restored shortly.

If you or your group wants to meet the tour's leader, Harry Kjensli, you can e-mail him here to make arrangements.

Route 66 is marking its 80th anniversary this year. I’m setting aside a moment in appreciation for the 200th anniversary of the National Road, which is Wednesday, according to the Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun. 

Just think of that for a minute. Thomas Jefferson was president when he signed the bill to create the National Road, which is now U.S. 40, from Cumberland, Md., to Vandalia, Ill. The National Road is more than twice as old as venerable Route 66. It laid the template for the Mother Road.

Here is a cool link to the National Road. Here’s another. Here’s another.