Our great nation was built on the sweat and tears of the people who paved the roadways of history, and there's no better way to pay homage to those first highway pioneers than cruising the streets of downtown San Bernardino for the 18th annual Stater Bros. Route 66 Rendezvous.
Route 66, one of America's most well-known historic highways, connected travelers from Chicago to Los Angeles in the in the late '20s. It ran through the heart of San Bernardino as one of the first big city stops in California that introduced sunny skies and palm-tree-lined streets to passing tourists.
Route 66 has nearly disappeared since those early automotive days. Small parts of the road still dot the land, but progress has neglected the "mother road" to make way for bigger and faster highways. Which is why the Route 66 Rendezvous is such a vital reminder of our past.
Every year thousands of classics, musclecars, hot rods, and pickups gather to bring a little history to life. Nearly 1900 vehicles participated on September 13-16 for this year's three-mile parade route as they passed before the thousands of spectators. Many came to see rare Detroit metal or the newest fiberglass customs as they cover the roads they traveled over 70 years ago.
Hosted by The San Bernardino Convention & Visitors Bureau, this four-day and three-night event was packed with entertainment throughout the 36 blocks it covered. The crowd was treated to colorful rows of historical eye candy on wheels and entertained by live music, celebrity appearances, fair-style shopping, and food that made you feel like a kid again.
I headed to the heart of the Rendezvous this year to track down the classic Ford pickups and check out the old Chevy trucks that are the backbone of our automotive heritage. But I couldn't help getting lost in the presence of all the history every vehicle brought to this one-of-a-kind event.
As you look at the countless photos from this event, I hope you get as goggle-eyed as I did when I felt these vehicles making history again at the 18th annual Stater Bros. Route 66 Rendezvous.