Thursday 2 November 2017

Get your kicks, on Regent Street!

The Regent Street Motor Show returns this Saturday, but with a State side twist … With that in mind, and with my own personal interest in the Mother Road, today's blog post will take you into this iconic piece of American history,  whilst also giving you all you need to know about this weekend's London event!



Connecting Chicago to Los Angles, Route 66 is known to many as the Main Street of America, as it was one of the primary routes across the country, with as many as 210,000 people travelling it to migrate to California during the Great Depression. 

Though most of the old Route 66 has been bypassed by the various Interstates, much of the 300 miles that stretch across the 'Prairie State' still remains untouched from its heyday. Famous for quirky roadside attractions, many in Illinois, Route 66 is home to such curiosities as Wilmington's Gemini Giant, outside the soon-be-renovated Launching Pad diner; the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum located in Pontiac; and part of the old, original, historic brick road, which can still be found – and driven on – in Springfield. 

Illinois is where Route 66 begins, and as it is the presenting partner to this year's Regent Street Motor Show, the state, and its iconic Route 66 elements, will be showcased in the UK's capital. Director of Illinois' Office of Tourism, Cory Jobe, says, "This partnership is a prime opportunity for our team to highlight in a meaningful way all the Route 66 Americana flair that our international visitors travel to experience." Nick Wigley, CEO of Goose Live Events, the organisers of the show, adds, "We are delighted to welcome Route 66 to London: two iconic roads linked by a rock 'n' roll classic!"

The Regent Street Motor Show is a unique, free-to-view event that takes place as part of the larger London Motor week, run by the Royal Automobile Club." Since its inaugural show in 2005, it has grown in popularity over the years, and has even featured the famous Genevieve last year!


It is a hope to many that the historic Route 66 can be kept alive for many generations to come, and bringing some of this across the pond to us here in the UK is a sure-fire way to not only assist in the preservation of this classic piece of motoring history, but to also introduce it to a whole new audience. 

This certainly sounds like an exciting day, so, if you are near the capital on the 4th of November, and fancy a nice, free, family day out, why not go and get your kicks on the A4201! –Siân


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