"Hi Jordan,

Thanks for the e-mail asking for my opinions. I am always happy to share with others my feelings for all ‘Blue Roads’ as the two lanes have been called. First let me say that although Route 66 is the most famous road in the world for many reasons; books, movies, TV and advertising media. That does not mean that she is the most important road but because of her fame her success is important. For if we ‘roadies’ as we call ourselves are not successful in preserving and marketing Route 66 then all the other roads will fail in their efforts too. I like to say that Route 66 is the Queen of the Ball but she has a lot of sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles.

We as a foundation or association are not fighting against anything other then the destruction of an international icon. Our efforts are to preserve, promote, market, share and educate people to the historical value that all the two lane roads have in our history. Of course when the road was first conceived no one could have known then that the road would go on to the fame it enjoys today. The ‘Grapes of Wrath’ came out in the late 1930’s, the movie of the same name was released in the early 40’s, the song ‘Get Your Kicks on Route 66’ came out in the late 40’s, then the TV show came out in the 60’s, as well as many other movies and TV shows using the theme of Route 66. Some of note was ‘The Bagdad Cafe’ movie and the advertising industry using Route 66 for the branding of products.

The international travelers were maybe the first to add the ‘myth’ to the road. They have established Route 66 as a vacation Mecca . Which made us Americans rethink our views of the road. All of this started in the late 80’s and is getting stronger all the time. There are now more Route 66 web sites, books and products made and sold overseas then in America .

The road is important to our culture, history and economies more so today then ever before. This is the road that brought the ‘Okies & Arkies’ out to farm the ‘Land of Milk and Honey’ as most of them called California, establishing the state as the leader in agriculture that it holds today. It brought the blue collar workers and engineers from the east to establish the aerospace industry in California in the 40’s. Then it became the road most used to get to Disneyland and all the other places in Southern California . Yes it is a two way road and people did travel it in both directions but for most it was an east to west road.

Today the folks that live work and visit the road come from all around the world to find a decent place to live. For some it is the way life used to be and is becoming again. This feeling is hard to put into words for someone to read that has not traveled the road and met the folks. My suggestion to you is the same as to everyone else; Get out for a few hours or a few days on the road, any road that brings you close to the people, places and sights that you will not find on the interstates.

If I was a writer with the knowledge of all the great words and ways to put them down on paper to share with you believe me I would be working on the book right now. But I can share with you my feelings about the road and the folks I know on the road. We are a very big family spread out to all four corners of the world, some live on the road, others visit it and all of us experience it. The road then and now plays a big part of what we as a people were, are and will be in the future.

I have been blessed to be in the right place at the right time to devote my life to making Route 66 and all roads get the attention they need. I play just a small part in the overall picture just as many others do but together we will succeed.

As to the make up of the people there are folks from all over the world living on Route 66. Other then Native Americans in AZ, NM and OK the rest of the road is about the same make up. The difference would be in the land more then the people.

I live in Phelan, which is 15 minutes away from Route 66. If you know the road as it goes from San Bernardino to Victorville it runs through the Cajon Pass (there were 5 five different alignments through the pass). Phelan is on State Hwy #138 to the west of # I-15 on the way to Palmdale/Lancaster.
This area is called the Tri-Community as Phelan, Pinon Hills and Wrightwood make up the community.
I live in Pinon Hills.

Hope this fills your request and I am always available to add more.
Take care and see you on the road. Please stay in touch. "

James M. Conkle CEO Route 66 Preservation Foundation P O Box 290066 Phelan , CA 92329-0066 760 617 3991 cell 760 868 3320 760 868 8614 fax jim@cart66pf.org www.cart66pf.org