KICKS ON ROUTE 66!!!

Now I always thought I was a cool little S2000, 240 horsepower, electronic steering, 6 gears and a 9000 Red Line… Boy was I wrong.  I was making it back from Delaware visiting my Grandpa - he is such an old Ford 250 but what are you going to do 1951 was not good to him.. (he is considered a lemon) He was always telling me to visit some old places of this great country and me being slick and quick decided to pass through some major cities and catch the main highways to get back to California.

As I was heading through the west, I got a call from my buddy, Devon

Montgomery Johnston the Third -DJ for short. Always getting

into trouble playing loud music and such with those tuner cars –( well

he did go to the renowned East Coast Music Conservatory). Anyway - here

he is again busted and doing time in a town called Radiator Springs,

Carburetor County – just east of the Cadillac Range and something that

has to do with an Ornament Valley. (Yeah! had to look on a map – GPS did

not pick it up) And what is with this Bessie is was yammering about?

Interstate 40 here I come, next stop Radiator Springs, I need fuel,

sleep and fun!

After passing a great deal of Bug’s in this Land, I started to roll down

the main drag of this town. To my left there are baby tractors going

dosey doe in circles but then they decide to change turntables and throw you for a loop –This

Junkyard Jamboree is conducted by Tow-Mater – a good ol’ boy who can

whip his hook and rock a joint. I wonder if he would like to go

tractor tipping and watch some Hee Haw. (something I used to do in

Jersey)

To my right is Fillmore’s Taste-In  Filling station – Organic fuel

replenishment. Hmmm I think I will stick with the fresh produce, water

and juices – but still some healthy options (You may want to remember

the water after visiting his humble abode through the 70”s beaded

doorway and the tie dyed light show from under his tent. Stumbling out

from the mist, I am greeted by Sarge, a straight laced gunny with

reveille in his heart – I accidently stepped on to his perfectly

manicured lawn and felt so bad that I bought his “Mother Road survival

kit” Guaranteed that if you break down, this kit will help you get

through the night and maybe the next world war, and he did mention

that it all stows nicely in my trunk. He has some really great surplus

in his SeeBee.

Starting to get tired - Next stop is the Cozy Cone Motel – Checked in

and tried the spicy popcorn and had my churro (ok - I had three), I also received a cute

Cone Shaped souvenir cup. So cute.

Gas gauge was starting to hit the “E”, Sally suggested that I head

over Flo’s V8 for some oil, grease and check up on my coolant.(Grandpa

would be proud) I ordered one of Flo’s  Spit Fired specialties - Pork

Loin with Coca-Cola BBQ sauce and a Pie O Ramas… Needless to say I was

already filling out my starboard and port sides with the rumulan drink

I had earlier, I really did not need them to continue to Kling-on - Flo

felt for me and sent me to  check in with Doc Hudson’s, unfortunately

he was not around tonight but I guess I could just get some new cover

up pinstripes from Ramon. This shop is HOT!!  Talk about some great

body artwear to camouflage my beaten tires. After I was decked out

with some new flames, I knew the rubber had to go. (There goes my

savings account fund to the new Avatarland or my Infinity and Beyond

Space flight meeting at the next Death Star stockholder meeting. I

have been waiting for years for this stock thing to blow up so I can

retire)

Casa Della Tires – Whoa! Stop my valves! – this Luigi and Guido know

how to get wheels turning…Hey don’t judge a forklift by the size of

his tower of tires – After I had the special Guido treatment I felt

like I was riding on air. After all this make over, I knew my tuner

crew would not recognize and maybe this is just enough to roll with

them. (I refuse to be considered a nodder!)– But who the heck is this

Bessie.. I am starting to get a little irked by her.

City Hall will reopen in the morning so I decided to go back to the

Cozy Cone. OMG –Who is in the driveway - Lightning McQueen with that

debonair KA-CHOW smile and what a sound that revving engine makes. I

tried to turn on my charm and slide my way past the lobby but was

halted by Sally  – I just got flashed by a Porsche to race. WHAT!!!! I

guess I was a little too aggressive in my body language. (Accidental

back fire-must have been that drink from Fillmore). Are you serious?

It’s been a while since I have shown a Porsche what I can do but this

in the desert and I am so used to asphalt. A good night sleep and I’ll

beat this Ms. Sally Carrera!

As I get pep talks from the locals and a special acknowledgment from

the Sheriff the next morning, I feel good about racing. Ramon thinks I

am looking good in my fresh paint job and the House of Tires did sell

me some good rubber that should hug the road - Deep breath.

READY SET GO! - Hairpin turns, steep banks, a pass by a gorgeous

waterfall and a photo opportunity – who cares if I win or lose, (I

lost) It was all in good fun! As I head back into town with both my

tail pipes low, I pass by the statue founder Stanley – he looked like

an awfully persistent li'l bugger for a two-cylinder but he and his

wife Lizzie seemed to have had a good life together in this little

town so I paid a little homage to him.

As soon as I remembered why I arrived, I see DJ celebrating his new

found freedom under the town’s one traffic light with some dancers – I

putt on over to check out the celebration and loving the Blast from

the Past music he was pumping out, I guess I got a little party happy

becuase I ran into the Radiator Springs Curio shop and broke a great

many tourist knick-knacks.

My punishment – I finally got to meet Bessie.