Car Culture Research Paper

Another thing that was aspired by Route 66 is the idea of car culture. Muscle cars, drag racing, and motor shows, were all part of this culture. Illegal drag races was a growing problem in the early 1950’s when teenages woruld speed down a quarter mile to see who was faster. Popularized by the book Hot Rod, by Gregor Felson in 1950, the phenomenon of “hot-rodding” was seen like a widespread form of youth rebellion. This is where promoters built legal drag- racing strips, where people could race their cars down the speedway without other cars interfering and watching cars with precautionary measure to prevent injury if an accident was to occur. Places like the Route 66 Raceway in Elwood, Illinois, is an example of inspired car culture business.

This was the movie, Cars. Cars was a movie that was made from the inspiration of Route 66. This blockbuster kids movie according to Los Angeles Times, “Pixar's chief creative officer John Lasseter, a car junkie and son of a onetime Chevrolet parts manager, dreamed up the idea for what would eventually become the 2006 "Cars" movie after a family road trip along Route 66.”(MacDonald Los Angeles Times) Characters, such as Sally the Porsche, was based on a person named Dawn Welch, which was the owner of the historic diner, Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma. Another character inspired from Route 66 is the Sheriff, which portrayed the voice of Michael Wallis who was also part of a Route 66 consultant firm. Wallis has written 14 books, including a best selling Route 66: The Mother Road. Through of the entire movie, producer incorporated Route 66 landmarks, buildings, and even motels. Places likes the Sally’ Cozy Cone Motel in the film was a representation of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico and the Wigwam Motel, famous for their teepee shaped rooms. They also included places like the Tucumcari Mountains of Tucumcarim New Mexico, The Cadillac Range of Amarillo, Texas, and the landmark sign of the Jackrabbit Trading Post, in Jackrabbit,