Legendary Route 66

2,448 MILES OF ASPHALT AND INK

Route 66--the fabled ribbon of asphalt and concrete still winds its way across the country from Chicago to L.A. And it has also wound its way into the very soul of America. Although superseded in the 1970s by the Interstate freeways, the magic and mystic of the Mother Road has never died. Within the pages of the superbly illustrated book is a colorful illustrated history of the road and its landmarks of the famed RT 66. Put that together with Jim Bush’s story of devotion and passion as he has dedicated a true epic of ink to the legendary RT 66 on his body to show tribute for all to see. We at Born to Ride are thankful and excited to tell both sides of the story.

ABOUT THE BOOK: It started in the heartland and originally ended in Los Angeles (not, contrary to myth, at the ocean). It carried truckers crossing the country, Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl, vacationers seeking the sun. It was Americas Main Street, the Mother Road, the Will Rogers Highway, and, at its dangerous curves, Bloody 66. Get your kicks on Route 66 with this wonderfully illustrated tribute to the best-loved highway in this car-loving nation. Michael Witzel shares his expertise and wealth of personal, archive, collector, and contributing photographer images in these pages, offering a nostalgic tour of the charms and oddities of this road through American cultural history.

Starting in Chicago and running to Santa Monica, this book highlights the sights along the highway with historic and current photos in then-and-now pairings, and includes Route 66 postcards, road signs, trinkets, maps, brochures, and advertisements.

Here we see Route 66 as it was in its heyday and as it is now, the neon glamour of yesterday versus the ghost towns of today. Witzel and his wife, Gyvel Young-Witzel, recount the highways history, its role in popular culture, and its demise, as well as the individual stories of famous sights. Several profiles of those with close ties to the Mother Road, including the woman who played Ruthie Joad in the The Grapes of Wrath film, are included.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Michael Witzel and Gyvel Young Witzel are some of the best known American car culture historians. Michael is the author of Route 66 Remembered as well as a dozen other pop culture histories, including with co-author Gyvel, Soda Pop! and The Sparkling Story of Coca-Cola.

Michael Witzel and Gyvel Young-Witzel reside in Austin, Texas.

BOOK SPECS:

Title: Legendary Route 66: A Journey Through Time Along America’s Mother Road Author: Michael Karl Witzel and Gyvel Young-Witzel ISBN: 978-0-7603-2978-8 Published: October 2007 Publisher: Voyageur Press Page Count: 256 Images: 252 color & 298 b/w photos

About one minute into listening to Jim Bush’s bike and tattoo story I knew it traveled beyond the norm, if norm is ever used in the world of tattooing and custom bikes. The Bolingbrook, Illinois resident is a walking and talking monument for a major slice of American culture. He’s covered, figuratively speaking, with nearly 2,500 miles of ink stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles. To be specific, he’s paved in the history of the famous Route 66. Route 66 is America’s first transcontinental roadway and the subject of countless stories, books, and songs -- not forgetting that famous 1960s TV show of the same name.

Before we head down that road, a background check on Jim reveals that while he’s an engineer by training he’s an expert in “Loss Prevention” for commercial and industrial Fortune 500 companies. He adds, “It’s a career that pretty much will put you to sleep. It involves engineering work for an insurance company that insures factories against business interruption.” Jim says its best to leave that explanation as it stands without delving further, and I agreed! My interest was his ink and bike story. The ink motoring down his arms is an incredible profusion of indelible images.

It all started years ago when Jim decided to get his first tat, something patriotic. “I was just going to get a little American eagle and that was going to be it.” He began researching