The Mother Road Run Begins

The adventure starts in Joliet, Illinois at Route 66 Raceway as we officially kick off Hot Rod Power Tour and The Mother Road Run presented by PEAK. Brownie, my 1978 Ford F-150 4x4, is finally here after a wild last-minute build thrash, and the dream of driving Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica is becoming real.

Route covered

Joliet to Pontiac, Illinois — the first 100 miles

Major stops

• Polk-a-Dot Drive-In
• Pontiac Murals & Museums

Best moments

• The last-minute build thrash that almost kept Brownie home
• Meeting Brian from PEAK at the kickoff
• What the rain did to the first Route 66 stop of the trip

Mechanical challenges

A wild last-minute build thrash just to make the start line.

In this episode

• PEAK AutoBrian from PEAK helps kick off the run at Route 66 Raceway.

Travel notes

Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Wilmington, the Polk-a-Dot Drive-In, original Route 66 road sections, the Odell Standard Oil Station, and Pontiac.

This episode sets the tone for the whole series: classic trucks, Route 66 history, friends, rain, excitement, and the freedom of the open road.