Route 66 Cruise Night
The Route 66 Blowout in Sapulpa, OK is something that I stumbled upon last year while trying out a new restaurant. Several classic cars started filling the parking lot in preparation for the Route 66 Cruise Night that takes place the evening before the main event. I made plans to attend the car show the next day and had a blast.
This year was the 35th Anniversary of the event and was held last Saturday, September 14th. I had plans to be out of town and could not attend. However, I was able to make it to this year’s Cruise Night on the evening prior.
Sitting at the same restaurant around 6pm, I was starting to think that I had got the dates wrong. The parking lot was full but not with relics of the past. A few moments later Austin pulled up in his 1951 Ford Vicky. We struck up a conversation, and he informed me that the restaurant’s recent addition of “all you can eat ribs” on Fridays had left little parking space as a rallying point for the usual nostalgic crowd. A cluster of classics thwarted by “Rib Night”.
So after some ribs Austin showed me around the ‘51 Victoria. He is a Sapulpa local and credited the old Route and both sides of his family for his invested interest in classic automobiles.
The sun was getting low, and I made my way toward where Route 66 and Main Street intersect. As I approached the historical downtown area, some of the old cars were staged along the side streets. Spectators of all ages were starting to gather and find their preferred viewing location— truck beds, lawn chairs and some deciding to stand.
One young man was sporting a freshly inked dedication to the Route 66 lifestyle.
The audience would build throughout the evening, wrapping around to Main Street and all the way to Taft. The cruise strip began to come alive around 7pm and carry on until well after dark.
I saw some of the regulars from last year along with several new vehicles. Some are out to impress with looks and others looking to impress with the sound. No matter what each driver was showcasing, it is impressive to see the time, care and appreciation that these individuals put into preserving classic Americana. It’s an appreciation shared by the viewers as each car drove past.
So glad that I was able to make another Route 66 Cruise Night.
