Two participants from last year’s Route 66 Road Rally post in front of the Davenport Welcome Sign. This year, it’s one of two checkpoints in the town. Photo/Midpoint Corridor EMILY KALKA Any given day, hundreds or more of cars drive down historic Route 66. It’s nothing but open air, quaint towns, and almost a 100 years of history.
This coming Saturday, June 7, even more cars are set to hit the Mother Road in Midpoint Corridor’s second annual Route 66 Road Rally.
Midpoint Corridor is a group of 11 towns along Route 66 ranging from Sapula to Edmond that works to unify, beautify and preserve what they call the greatest 100 miles of Route 66, according to their website. Four towns in Lincoln County are part of the group -- Stroud, Davenport, Chandler and Wellston. The Road Rally is an event the group started to not only highlight Route 66, but the many towns along the way.
The idea is that participants register per car -- it’s $25 -- and then hit up checkpoints from Sapulpa to Edmond. There are prizes. Everyone who hits all the checkpoints is put into a drawing for the grand prize. They also have drawings for second and third place, for those who hit certain thresholds but not all the checkpoints. They also give out prizes for whoever spends the most money in the corridor, those who stop by and purchase things from the most businesses, and there is a photo prize for those who take part in a sort of photo scavenger hunt.
Cars can start at any point in the Corridor they wish from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The after party will be held at the Chicken Shack in Arcadia at 6 p.m.
However, it’s not so much about the competition, said Holly Turnbull from Midpoint Corridor.
“We want you to go and experience Midpoint Corridor. Stop in, spend time, eat lunch, you know, talk to the people. It’s really more to bring tourism to the little towns that may not get as much tourism,” she said.
Last year started as a sort of trial run. They didn’t have as many participants -- only about 20 to 25 cars. Turnbull said the goal for this year was to get 100 cars registered. They’ve already surpassed that. They also encouraged participating businesses to have their checkpoints inside, if possible, to encourage participants to come in and look around.
“We’re trying to stress the whole goal is just, you know, with these small towns that don’t have a whole lot going for them, they have a lot of character, but what we felt was the biggest thing is the personality,” Turnbull said. “And… how welcoming the people are in Small Town, Oklahoma, so we want people to go and meet and experience them.” Stroud, Davenport and Chandler have two checkpoints this year, while Wellston has one. In Stroud, rally participants can stop by the Rock Cafe and the Spirit ofAmerica Museum. In Davenport, it’s the Old Magnolia Garage and the welcome sign. Chandler has Route 66 Bowl and the Route 66 Interpretive Center, while Wellston has the Route 66 Midpoint RV Park and Campground.
The towns are excited to take part. Natalie Nell with the City of Chandler said it can help the area.
“People get to see what we’re all about. Because not only when you’re visiting these places, you’re meeting people, you’re talking with people,” Nell said. “Since I’ve been in Chandler, everyone is just so warm and friendly. And so that’s how we want people to remember us by, not just by our people, but our places and what makes it special.”
Stroud City Manager Bob Pearman sits on the Midpoint Corridor board and said his town has participated in all the events since the Corridor was recognized as the greatest 100 miles.
“It has gotten us some great travel publicity and short articles of how friendly Stroud is,” he said. “I am on the board but take a back seat to the hard work and time put in by the other members. They are amazing and it is easy to be a part of something that has everyone’s best interest at heart when it comes to the Midpoint Corridor.”