According to this report from the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press, J.J. Bouma's cruise on Route 66 with a fleet of Corvettes to raise awareness and funds for the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, finished up in Santa Monica on Wednesday.

The group raised $270,000 for research on the disease. The Rev. Ed Dobson, who accompanied the cruise, was dismayed by one thing, however.

However, he was disappointed few reporters showed up along the route.

"It's just a reminder that this disease does not rank very high on the radar screen," said Dobson, expressing hope that will change with a photo exhibit of the tour by photographer David DeJonge.

I can think of two reasons why. First, Bouma's cruise was too pressed for time. He went from Grand Rapids to the Pacific Ocean — which is going to be about 2,300 miles — in a mere seven days. Such a schedule, especially on the slower-going Route 66, would have forced him to drive all the time instead of stopping at certain media-market centers and doing a few hours of press-the-flesh and interviews.

Second, Bouma set a goal to raise $66,000. He exceeded it even before he started the cruise. With the goal met, media interest went down. In a way, he was a victim of his own success.

Frankly, Bouma had a good kind of problem.

A report from the Desert Dispatch in Barstow, Calif.:

Country music duo Brooks & Dunn were sighted at the Route 66 Motel on West Main Street on Wednesday afternoon, less than 24 hours after setting a record by bringing home their 20th and 21st trophies the previous night at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas.

The duo, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks, were visible Wednesday afternoon on Main Street in front of the hotel for a photo shoot. The set was closed and those working there declined to provide any details or allow the Desert Dispatch to take photos of the duo.

The photo shoot we witnessed featured Brooks & Dunn being photographed while walking down the sidewalk of Main Street in front of the hotel, with several nearby storefronts visible in the background.

Brooks and Dunn were awarded song of the year from the Academy of Country Music Tuesday for their song "Believe," written by Craig Wiseman. They were also named duo of the year. The duo had been nominated for five awards.

Dunn has quite a few Mother Road ties, including the fact he lived for years in Tulsa. There's also an autographed photo of him and his partner at Clanton's Cafe on Route 66 in Vinita, Okla., expressing his appreciation for the restaurant's chicken and dressing.

UPDATE: Brooks & Dunn also spent some time in nearby Victorville. The Victorville Daily Press reports that the duo is shooting a music video. 

The Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, Ill., is trying to raise $5 million to restore the 80-year-old venue. The Caterpillar Foundation helped last weekend by pledging $500,000, the largest such donation so far, according to an article in the Joliet Herald News.

In addition to the Rialto's Web site, here's another history of the Rialto at Cinema Treasures; including a lot of interesting comments from readers.

The Rialto is on old Route 66 in downtown Joliet. 

(Hat tip to Lynn "Lulu" Bagdon) 

No, no … he's not terminally ill. But Dennis Kinch, who's reportedly in Williams, Ariz., is not getting too far from the end of his walk on Route 66 for the National Pain Foundation.

His Web site made this announcement:

Save the date — the end of the walk is near! Dennis will arrive in Santa Monica, California, on Friday, July 14th.  The National Pain Foundation is hosting a celebration in honor of Dennis' incredible achievement and efforts to increase awareness of persistent pain and the suffering it causes 75 million Americans. Join Dennis and his supporters from 9 AM to noon on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Stay tuned for more details!

IGN Filmforce has a bunch of exclusive new images, including the one above with Lightning McQueen on road detail, from the upcoming "Cars" move that opens June 9. 

There are about 11 new images on this page, which contains thumbnails that you can click to enlarge. They just reinforce my feeling that "Cars" is going to be a terrific film.

Also, the Malaysia Star has a pretty good article about all the research and computer power that went into making "Cars." 

The Lincoln Courier in the Route 66 town of Lincoln, Ill., reports that a London film crew was in town Tuesday to shoot footage for a documentary about Route 66 and the upcoming Pixar film, "Cars."

At It Productions, Ltd., an independent film company, is visiting Old Route 66 sites while creating the documentary, entitled "T4: On the Road with 'Cars.'"

"Cars," a Pixar/Disney film, features Route 66 prominently. In it, Lightning McQueen, a sleek red racer, unintentionally ends up in Radiator Springs, a charming little town off Route 66. There, he learns that glamour and fame aren't the most important things in life.

The documentary will play off the movie's theme.

"We've just been filming down Route 66 with our presenter," Gratton said.

The photo above by The Courier's Erin Clark shows the film crew in front of Lincoln Cinemas, which one of them said was "a perfect quaint little theater for a movie like this."

Even though the documentary should wrap by July, it will be shown only in the United Kingdom.