Ace Jackalope of The Lope blog drove to the 66 Drive-In in Carthage, Mo., on Friday night to see the premiere of Pixar's "Cars." The above photo is what he first encountered on the highway leading to the theater.

The Lope reported that 200 cars had to be turned away. But Ace got in. Go check out his site for a lot more great photos as usual, including night shots of the marquee's neon.

The Route 66 town of Elkhart, Ill., is only 450 people, and the townsfolk are concerned that it will eventually lose its grade school.

So Elkhart is holding an open house this weekend for the entire town in the hopes it will entice more people to move there. Just about every business and public building is throwing open its doors. It's also timing the event with the Illinois Route 66 Association's annual motor tour, which has a stop in Elkhart.

The Lincoln Courier has the story. 

• The New York Times has an article about Pixar's research of Route 66 for "Cars," including Mother Road consultant Michael Wallis talking about "Okie hood ornaments" made during the trip.
• The Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, Ill., expect to see a boost in visitors from "Cars," reports WHOI-TV in Creve Coeur, Ill.
• Animation World Magazine has an in-depth article about Pixar's research for Cars. Highly recommended.
• Box Office Mojo reports that "Cars" did an estimated $19.3 million in grosses on Friday, which is about three times of what the runner-up did. 

Normally, a interstate rest stop wouldn't get much attention on this site.

But the Funks Grove rest stop on Interstate 55, near Funks Grove, Ill., is an exception. The Illinois Department of Transportation named it the best of the 30 in the state, according to the Bloomington Pantagraph. Here's why it's getting attention on this site:

Inside the air conditioned rest area, there are historical displays about Abraham Lincoln and Route 66.

And, yes, I do see a bit of irony that an interstate rest stop is commemorating an old two-lane road. 

The "Route 66" mural on a wall of W&W Tire in Edmond, Okla., was vandalized with spray paint over the Memorial Day weekend, according to The Vista Online. A clear look at the vandalism can be seen here.
The strange part is that the vandal seemed to have social justice in mind. The phrase "Fight racism" is on a black woman featured in the mural.

“There is no particular symbolism in any of the mural,” said Dr. Bob Palmer, UCO art professor and creator of the mural.

The mural features the Statue of Liberty, the American flag, a young man in a military uniform, classic American cars, a Route 66 sign, the word “America” in white above the American flag and a young black woman looking at the American flag with her back to the viewer.

A summer course at the University of New Mexico, "Highway 66 Revisited: Documentary Contemporary Route 66," will fan out students with video cameras to find stories along Albuquerque's Central Avenue, reports UNM Today.

Robert Russell is teaching the course.

Red Fork Hippie Chick here with a news bulletin and a request for help:

I just became aware this morning of a situation that requires some assistance. The Vega Motel on Route 66 in Texas was forced to shut down for a while because one of the owners was seriously ill. He has recovered, thank God, but the family's finances haven't, and they need a pretty healthy cash infusion to be able to get the utilities back on so they can reopen the motel.

These folks are about as sweet as anybody you'll ever want to meet, and they are diehard Route 66 supporters. They always go out of their way to support whatever group or project I'm shilling for, and I'd really like to be able to return the favor by getting them open again in time to take advantage of the influx of tourists generated by the release of Cars, which opened across the country this weekend.

After you go see the movie (which I highly recommend) and get all fired up about helping Route 66, I have a tiny little request: Please send a donation, in any amount you can afford, to Friends of the Mother Road.

Friends is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Historic Route 66. Although our primary focus is on Missouri, we will go anywhere we are needed on the road.

Right now, we are needed in Vega. If you would be willing to help, please write a check payable to Friends of the Mother Road and mail it to:

Friends of the Mother Road Inc.
3947 Russell
St. Louis, MO 63110

Write "VEGA MOTEL" in the subject line so our treasurer will know where to direct the money.

This one of those incredible moments of opportunity when you can make a very real impact on the Mother Road by playing a direct role in getting a historic business open again.

The motel recently was added to the National Register of Historic Places. That's a huge honor and a wonderful confirmation of its enormous historic and cultural value … but it doesn't come with a cash award, and it doesn't guarantee a property's survival. Only steady business from enthusiastic tourists and generous support from all the Mother Road's children can ensure that a property will be around for another generation.

Our goal is to raise enough money to help the motel reopen by the end of June. Will you help?