The Clinton (Okla.) Chamber of Commerce announced this afternoon that Clinton will be the host for the annual Route 66 Festival in 2007. This year's festival is this month in Albuquerque; it changes locations each year along the road.

The festival is slated for June 21-24, 2007, and it was chosen over several other Oklahoma cities. Oklahoma was a priority for the festival committee because the state is celebrating its centennial.

Another news release from the chamber says the Clinton festival will have classic drive-in movies, a big car show, live entertainment and a Route 66 trade show. The event already has set up a Web site, www.Route66Festival2007.com .

According to the news release, factors that favored Clinton were its Frisco Conference Center, the Route 66 Museum and a Hampton Inn hotel under construction (Hampton Inns have been a supporter of Route 66 preservation projects).

Also, Clinton has a long history as a Route 66 booster, thanks to longtime Clinton residents Jack and Gladys Cutberth. They among the biggest supporters and lobbyists of the Mother Road. Jack Cutberth died in 1978; Gladys died in 2001. Here's a pretty good history about the Cutberths.

Ace Jackalope of The Lope blog went back to see "Cars" again at the 66 Drive-In in Carthage, Mo., and ran into Dean Walker of Kansas, who's one of the inspirations for Mater the tow truck.

I previously didn't have a photo of Walker turning his feet backwards. Now I do, thanks to Ace.

Those who stick around to read the end credits to "Cars" will notice that Pixar included a thank-you list to people who inspired and gave them hospitality during their research trip down the Mother Road several years ago.

I e-mailed Pixar for that list, as I thought it would be of considerable interest to the Route 66 community. On Monday, it gave me the list and asked me to add this introductory paragraph:

"As we traveled on Route 66, we were privileged to visit many places and to meet a number of people who live and work alongside 'The Mother Road.' The following is a list of the places and people we wanted to honor by including their names in our 'Special Thanks' credits at the end of the film."

Without further ado, here is the list verbatum, along with links if available: 

A SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE WHO INSPIRED US ON ROUTE 66, "THE MOTHER ROAD"

Michael Wallis & Suzanne Fitzgerald Wallis

KANSAS

Scott Nelson
Eisler Brothers Old Riverton Store
"Home of the hand-crafted sandwiches"
Riverton, KS

Dean & Paula Walker
Baxter Springs, KS

OKLAHOMA

Dawn Welch
The Rock Café
"Home of the fried pickle spears"
Stroud, OK

Jim Ross
Arcadia, OK

Butch Breger & his Momma
Round Barn
Arcadia, OK

Pat Smith & Staff
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
Clinton, OK

Walter S. "Doc" Mason
Best Western Tradewinds Courtyard Inn
Clinton, OK

Ray & Shirley Killian
RS&K Railroad Museum
Sayre, OK

Harley & Annabelle Russell
The Mediocre Music Makers
Sand Hills Curiosity Shop
Erick, OK

Wanda Queenan
National Route 66 Museum
Elk City, OK

Glenna Hollis & Kay Farmer
Country Dove
"Home of the French Silk Pie"
Elk City, OK

TEXAS

Delbert & Ruth Trew
The Devil's Rope Museum
McLean, TX

Stanley Marsh 3
The Cadillac Ranch
Amarillo, TX

Becky Ransom
The Big Texan Steak Ranch
"Free 72-ounce steak if consumed in 60 minutes"
Amarillo, TX

Fran Houser
The Midpoint Café
"Home of the Ugly Crust Pie"
Adrian, TX

NEW MEXICO

Eddie "No Money" Shields
Santa Rosa, NM

Dale & Hilda Bakke
The Blue Swallow Motel
Tucumcari, NM

Mike & Betty Callens
Tee Pee Curios
Tucumcari, NM

ARIZONA

Aggie Montano, Alice & Stanley Gallegos
Joe & Aggie's Café
"Hottest Chow on the Mother Road"
Holbrook, AZ

Antonio & Cindy Jaquez
Jack Rabbit Trading Post
"Home of the 'Here It Is' Sign"
near Joseph City, AZ

Allan Affeldt & Tina Mion
La Posada
Winslow, AZ

Diane Patterson
Roadworks Gifts & Souvenirs
Their "Stand is on the Corner" in
Winslow, AZ

Janice Griffith
Old Trails Museum
Winslow, AZ

Paul & Sandi Taylor
Route 66 Magazine
Williams, AZ

Angel Delgadillo
"Guardian Angel of Route 66"
Angel & Vilma Delgadillo's Old Fashioned Route 66 Gift Shop, Barber Shop & Museum
Seligman, AZ

Juan Delgadillo
Sno Cap Drive-In
Seligman, AZ