Get your kicks on Route 66…
Two famous thoroughfares will be reunited in central London on the first Saturday in November when the Illinois Office of Tourism returns as title partner to this year’s Regent Street Motor Show, now – given the power of sponsor money – re-titled as the Illinois Route 66 Regent Street Motor Show.
While Regent Street is arguably the English capital’s prime shopping “High Street,” Illinois is the start of America’s Route 66. Celebrated in both rock ‘n roll history and car culture, America’s epic ‘Mother Road’ in its original form stretched for almost 2,500 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica in California.In comparison Regent Street’s length of less than a mile may seem insignificant. However, its curving John Nash design (no relation to the automaker), it has history and royal patronage being named after George, the Prince Regent, later King George IV. It was completed in 1825 decades after the colonials thumped the British tyrants, and the tyrants prevailed in a minor victory during 1812 So Regent street opened almost exactly 100 years before Route 66 was established in 1926.
“We are really excited to bring Illinois and Route 66 back to the Regent Street Motor Show in 2018, as title sponsor. Our partnership with this premier motoring event is a fantastic opportunity for our team to showcase both historic and new attractions along the Illinois section of Route 66 – a top destination for international visitors,” said Cory Jobe, Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism. “From the iconic Route 66 ‘Begin’ sign in Chicago to the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac and the Original Historic Brick Road in Springfield through to The Mill on 66, a cherished restaurant which has recently reopened in Lincoln after more than a decade of renovation – Route 66 provides a chance to travel back in time.”
Visitors exploring the real road in autumn 2018 will be able to discover the Old Joliet Prison in Joliet. Dating back to 1858, the former prison, featured in movies including The Blues Brothers, has recently reopened as a museum and now offers history tours.
Much of the Illinois leg of the Mother Road is frozen in time, a 300-mile neon-lit drive through a past filled with motor inns, quirky restaurants and diners such as the new Motorheads restaurant and museum complex, which has Route 66 memorabilia. For starters, check out the 30-foot tall smiling spaceman called the Gemini Giant next to the newly renovated and soon to re-open iconic Launching Pad diner in Wilmington, the large Route 66 Shield Mural on the back wall of the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, and the curious attraction of Henry’s Rabbit Ranch for equal parts entertainment, visitor center and rabbit ranch.
More than half a million spectators enjoyed the Regent Street show in 2017. Among this year’s displays will be more than 100 horseless carriages from the turn of the 20th century taking part in the annual Veteran Car Concours, the day before they set off on their annual trip from London to Brighton. During the pageant, many of the drivers and passengers appear in period dress.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Route 66 on Regent Street?
Get your kicks on Route 66…
Two famous thoroughfares will be reunited in central London on the first Saturday in November when the Illinois Office of Tourism returns as title partner to this year’s Regent Street Motor Show, now – given the power of sponsor money – re-titled as the Illinois Route 66 Regent Street Motor Show.
While Regent Street is arguably the English capital’s prime shopping “High Street,” Illinois is the start of America’s Route 66. Celebrated in both rock ‘n roll history and car culture, America’s epic ‘Mother Road’ in its original form stretched for almost 2,500 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica in California.In comparison Regent Street’s length of less than a mile may seem insignificant. However, its curving John Nash design (no relation to the automaker), it has history and royal patronage being named after George, the Prince Regent, later King George IV. It was completed in 1825 decades after the colonials thumped the British tyrants, and the tyrants prevailed in a minor victory during 1812 So Regent street opened almost exactly 100 years before Route 66 was established in 1926.
“We are really excited to bring Illinois and Route 66 back to the Regent Street Motor Show in 2018, as title sponsor. Our partnership with this premier motoring event is a fantastic opportunity for our team to showcase both historic and new attractions along the Illinois section of Route 66 – a top destination for international visitors,” said Cory Jobe, Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism. “From the iconic Route 66 ‘Begin’ sign in Chicago to the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac and the Original Historic Brick Road in Springfield through to The Mill on 66, a cherished restaurant which has recently reopened in Lincoln after more than a decade of renovation – Route 66 provides a chance to travel back in time.”
Visitors exploring the real road in autumn 2018 will be able to discover the Old Joliet Prison in Joliet. Dating back to 1858, the former prison, featured in movies including The Blues Brothers, has recently reopened as a museum and now offers history tours.
Much of the Illinois leg of the Mother Road is frozen in time, a 300-mile neon-lit drive through a past filled with motor inns, quirky restaurants and diners such as the new Motorheads restaurant and museum complex, which has Route 66 memorabilia. For starters, check out the 30-foot tall smiling spaceman called the Gemini Giant next to the newly renovated and soon to re-open iconic Launching Pad diner in Wilmington, the large Route 66 Shield Mural on the back wall of the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, and the curious attraction of Henry’s Rabbit Ranch for equal parts entertainment, visitor center and rabbit ranch.
More than half a million spectators enjoyed the Regent Street show in 2017. Among this year’s displays will be more than 100 horseless carriages from the turn of the 20th century taking part in the annual Veteran Car Concours, the day before they set off on their annual trip from London to Brighton. During the pageant, many of the drivers and passengers appear in period dress.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.