Clabber Girl and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

From Clabber Hirl Corporate History.

A Timeline:

Early 1800s:  Hulman Brothers Mercantile, Hanover, Germany.

1850:Francis and Herman form Hulman & Co.in Terre Haute, Indiana.

1899:  Started making Clabber Baking Powder.

1930:  Anton "Tony" Hulman Jr. startes a nationwide sales campaign to promote Clabber Girl Baking Powder.

1945:  Tony Hulman purchases the Indianapolis Moto Speedwayas a venue for promoting Clabber Girl.

1996:  Tony Hulman-George creates the IndyCar Series

--Bake me A Biscuit!!  --RoadClab

The Most Iconic Indy 500 Foods-- Part 5: The St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail

One bite into a St. Elmo Steakhouse shrimp cocktail and you will feel the fire of 33 open-wheel race cars blowing past the Indianapolis 500 starting line.

Overloaded with horseradish, it's the restaurants most notorious dish.  Hawk while you sweat out the appetizer.

Nationally known as St. Elmo and located at 127 S. Illinois Street.

Many Indy 500 drivers, IndyCar team owners and celebrities pack the place throughout the Month of May.

Get the BURN!!!  --RoadDog

The Most Iconic Indy 500 Foods-- Part 4: Biscuits and Gravy and Clabber Girl

Before Tony Hulman purchased the track in 1945 and brought it back to life, he was marketing the heck out of his family's Clabber Girl baking powder company in Terre Haute, Indiana.  Sales skyrocketed, which meant money to purchase and rebuild the track.

Biscuits and gravy are usually on the track's Month of May breakfast menu.  Lots of people camping around the track for Indy 500 make biscuits and gravy for breakfast.

Eat your Clabber Girl biscuits.

One of My Favorite Breakfasts.  --RoadDog

Wizard of Oz Theme Park Reopening in June

From the April 19, 1918, park announcement.

The Wizard of Oz Theme Park in Beech Mountain, North Carolina will be open in June for a limited one hour tour.

It is a trip to the Land of Oz.

The park originally opened in 1970 and drew 400,000 visitors.  It closed in the 1980s.

Tours will cost $25 and will take place every Friday in June and on Saturday, June 30.

It is by the North Carolina-Tennessee border near Virginia.

--RoadDog

Most Iconic Indy 500 Foods-- Part 3: Breaded Tenderloin Sandwiches

Where there are Hoosiers, there are breaded tenderloins, and the most Hoosiers gathered in one place is at the Indianapolis 500.  The signature Indiana pork sandwich dates to the state's German roots, but the meat isn't exactly a schnitzel or cutlet.

Proper tenderloins are cut from the loin and pounded or cubed to tenderize the meat.  Some are thick, but many are ultra-thin, platter-sized discs that dwarf their hamburger buns.  The meat's breading should never trump the pork's flavor or become soggy before the last bite.

Condiments are few.  Ask for lettuce and tomato at your own risk.

Sorry, Must Have Stuff On Mine.  --RoadDog

Most Iconic Indy 500 Foods-- Part 2: Mom Unser's Chili

Drivers Al, Bobby and Jerry Unswer are Indy 500 legends, but so was their mom thanks to her chili parties.

"Every April, Mom would gather her big pots and pans, and sacks of green chilies, packed them in coolers and loaded the camper of the pick-up to make the 1,250-mile journey (from her home in Albuquerque, N.M.) to Indianapolis.

Mary Unser's famous chili and tequila bash started when she asked track firefighters, safety crews and mechanics if they wanted to try her chili.

It was full of pork, tomatoes, onions and hot chilies.  She served it from the mid-1960s until her death in 1975.

Chili and Racin'.  --RoadDog

A Coal Company Gets Motorized in 1918

From the May 2, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"The firm of Mosher & Embree has made the initial step in the motorizing of its business, a step deemed necessary on the part of the owners.

"The coal business as well as the lumber business is such that every savings possible must be made, and Mosher & Embree were quick to realize the savings possible through the use of motor trucks for delivery."

More Horse Out Of Jobs.  --RoadDog

Lincoln, Illinois' Mill to Host Activities for Tropics Relighting

From the June 19, 2018, Route 66 News.

Along with all the hoopla surrounding the relighting of the Tropics sign in Lincoln, Illinois, another of Lincoln's iconic Route 66 places will also be open and hosting many things in conjunction with it.

From 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Mill, now a museum, will be open.

Route 66 Roadie Rod Ferguson of Hot Rod Travels will be featured as a guest presenter and will have a display of celebrity autographs that he has collected.  One of those is that of Jerry Muren, the last living of the "Wizard of Oz" munchkins who died May 24 of this year.  He also has one from Adam West, TV's "Batman."

Also, he has autographs by Ernie Edwards of the Pighip and Bob Waldmire.

The Mill Museum has an extensive Tropics collection including an original dining table and chairs and rare Tropics documents like menus, postcards, matchbooks and photographs.

We were just at The Mill on June 10 as part of the Illinois Route 66 Association's Motor Tour and they also have a big collection of PigHip, Ernie Edwards items along with, of course, The Mill.  We did find out that Haley's downtown was no longer open, but you can still get The Mill's famous schnitzel sandwiches at a bar nearby across from the old gas station.

Lincoln, a Town That Knows Its Route 66 Heritage.  --RoadDog

Most Iconic Foods of the Indy 500-- Part 1: Mom Unser's Chili

From the May 25, 2018, Indianapolis Star by Liz Biro.

Indy 500 fans will eat around 20,000 pounds of fries on race day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Eating food is a major part of the experience.  And, this is considering that you are allowed to bring food and drinks (alcohol included) into the race track.

That is just food bought at the track.

This past running of the race, No. 102, the places serving food actually gave out of burgers and hot dogs, at least in our area.

Here are some foods closely associated with the race.  Mom Unser's Chili, Breaded Tenderloin Sandwiches, Biscuits and Gravy, St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail, Root Beer and Onion Rings and more.

--RoadDog

Tropics Sign To Be Relit This Sunday

I know that I usually am a month behind on my Along 66  blog entries, but I will move this and the next blog up to present as they are very special to me.

From the June 17 Route 66 News.

The Tropics sign is returning to Lincoln, Illinois.  Ace Sign Company out of Springfield, Illinois, returned the sign on Friday, June 15 to its original home.  Workers put it up, but it no longer will mark the Tropics Restaurant, but will be in the parking lot of the McDonald's which now sits on the site.

There will be a relighting ceremony on Sunday, June 24.

The Tropics Restaurant had been closed for years and the building was torn down in 2017.

We just missed it being put back up as we were on the Illinois Route 66 Association Motor Tour over the weekend of June 9-10 and drove through Lincoln.

We are glad that we hot to eat and watch a Bears game at the original restaurant and were sad every time we drove by the long-closed place.

There is a good picture of the sign at the Route 66 News site as well as more information.

So Glad We Will Get That Sign Back.  --RoadDog

Along 66, May 2018: Red Cedar Inn and Fender's River Road Resort

MAY 14--  The Red Cedar Inn building in Pacific, Missouri, was bought by the city in 2017 for $290,000.  It was built in 1932 and abruptly closed in 2005.

We had driven by it several times when it was open and still a restaurant and had planned to stop in for a bite.  But, it closed before we got a chance to do it.  Goes to show that you should always stop by places when you can.

Plans are to open  it as a visitors center/Route 66 museum.

MAY 18--  Someone has made a video about Fender's River Road Resort in Needles, California.  It is right on the Colorado River.  When we went all the way out west on Route 66 in 2006, we drove by this place and next time we plan to stop for the night.

Looking Forward to the Red Cedar Inn.  --RoadDog

Along 66, May 2018: Illinois Route 66 Bike Way in McLean County

MAY 9--  Route 66 Bikeway in Illinois gets grant for extension.  McLean County received a $1.92 million grant from IDOT to extend the present bike path along old Route 66 by 1.1 miles.

It will eventually be 16.5 miles from Towanda in the north, through Bloomington-Normal south to Shirley and Funks Grove.

So glad that Bloomington-Normal and McLean County is FINALLY taking advantage of their Route 66 heritage.

--RoadDog

The Wall That Heals, Vietnam Veterans Memorial-- Part 4

The Wall Replica

The replica Wall is three-fourths scale and 375 feet in length.  It stands 7.5 feet tall at its tallest  point at the apex.  Visitors experience The Wall rising above them as they walk toward the apex.

The wall replica is constructed of Avonite, a synthetic granite and its 140 numbered panels are supported by an aluminum frame.

Machine engraving of the 58,000 names along with modern LED lighting provide readability of The Wall day and night.

Names are arranged in order of date of casualty and alphabetically on each day, beginning in the center.for the earliest deaths.

The Wall That Heals, Vietnam Veterans Memorial-- Part 3: By the Numbers

22 years, 9 months:  Average age of service members on the Wall

15:  Age of the youngest service member on the Wall

400,000+:  Items left at the wall  (and there were a lot left while it was in McHenry

31:  Sets of brothers on the Wall

3:  Sets of fathers and sons on the Wall

246:  Most casualty deaths for one day.  January 31, 1968  The Tet Offensive

The Wall That Heals, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall-- Part 2: By the Numbers

Here are some numbers from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica Wall in McHenry, Illinois over Memorial Day weekend:

58,318:  Names on the Wall

1,500+:  Service members unaccounted for from the Vietnam War

8:  Women on the Wall

375 feet:  Length of the Wall That Heals

600:  Cities The Wall That Heals has visited

The Wall That Heals, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica, Comes to McHenry, Illinois-- Part 1

When I returned from the Indy 500 race on May 28, we got back in time for us to go over to McHenry Township Park by the Moose Lodge and see the wall.  I was hoping to get there in time as I've seen this replica wall before and it is a real moving experience.

The Vietnam War was a major part of my growing up.  It started when I was in 7th grade and went clear through my graduating from college in 1973.  I thought we'd still be fighting it as there was no end in sight and the U.S. did not appear to be doing what was needed to end it.

And, of course, there was the draft.  I came really close to having to go.  I would have had I been called.

I've seen the real wall in Washington, D.C., as well as a replica of it in McHenry many years ago at the VFW.  All times, I said to myself that I wouldn't get broken up.  All times that did not happen.

This Is One Really Moving Experience.

Lots Happening On Route 66 in Illinois and Missouri Last Weekend and This One

Last week, Liz and I went to Lebanon, Missouri and stayed at the Munger-Moss Motel for three days.  We hit all the Route 66 places from Pacific to there.  Lebanon and LaClede County have a really great booklet out that has every Route 66 place on it (and there are a lot).

We were out that way because of the Illinois Route 66 Motor Tour on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10.  The Munger Moss and Lebanon are having their own Route 66 celebration tonight and Saturday.  Tonight, the party will be at the Munger-Moss and Saturday it will be downtown.

Last Saturday was the Illinois Route 66 Blue Carpet festival with a lot of towns between Litchfield and Edwardsville participating, as well as Edwardsville's 21st annual Route 66 Festival.  Also, the annual Illinois Route 66 Association Motor Tour took place, with a double crossing of the old Chain of Rocks Bridge as a highlight.

And, the Tropics sign in Lincoln, Illinois, will be turned on this month!!!

Sure Wish We Could Have Gone to the Munger-Moss/Lebanon Parties.  RoadDog

States That Joined the Union During the Civil War

Since today is U.S. Flag Day, there were three states that joined the United States during the war years, causing stars to be added to the union.

1859-1861--  33 stars when Oregon joined

1861-1863--  34 stars when Kansas joined

1863-1865--  35 stars when West Virginia joined

Wikipedia has Nevada joining October 31, 1864

--RoadDog

Indy 500's Carb Day: Blues Traveler and Train

The cost to attend Carb Day is $30 and I think that is quite reasonable for all that you get, especially the concert at the end.

This year, we saw Blues Traveler opening for Train.  I knew a few songs Train has done, but listened a lot before I went to You Tube and found that I heard another couple songs.  I don't listen much to today's music anymore, or even music from the 2000s.

Train is an excellent group and I even am looking for a CD of their music.

Blues Traveler is an good band that I was familiar with, but they jam too much.  I figure that with a name like "Blues" that is to be expected.

--RoadDog

Indy 500's Carb Day-- Part 3: Indy Lights Freedom 100 Race and the Pit Stop Challenge

The Indy 500 practice runs for an hour starting at 11 a.m..  Lots of stops are made to work on details and toward the end, they cars are actually racing.

At 12:30 p.m., we have the Indy Lights Freedom 100 Race, involving smaller Indy cars driven by young drivers who want to be Indy car drivers.  This involves 40 laps around the track.

Along with the running of the Indy cars one final time before the race (they don't practice on the Saturday before race day) there is also the Pit Stop Challenge.  This event was added in 1977.  Crews go through a full pit stop in practice and competition for the big race.

They work on the actual cars with the actual drivers who roar into the pit stop.  This, however, gets a bit boring after awhile so we usually go back to the RV for a bit, before returning for the concert.

--RoadChallenge

Indy 500's Carb Day-- Part 2: The "Shake Down"

But, the Indy 500 is steeped in tradition so even though no Indy cars had a carburetor since 1963, the name continues.

Carburetion Day was held on randomly selected  days the week before the big race.  It was not open to the public until the mid-1950s.

In 1969, it was held on Thursday and continued intl 2005 when it was moved to Friday.

Carb Day dives teams and drivers the opportunity to "shake down" their cars and make sure it is mechanically sound.

--RoadDog

Indy 500's Carb Day-- Part 1: When a Carb is Not a Carb

From the May 25, 2018, Indianapolis Star "Why it's called Carb Day when Indy cars don't use carburetors" by Dawn Mitchell.

Carb Day at the Indy 500 is on the Friday before the race and is not about loading up on pasta, well perhaps the carbs in those beers.  It is actually about the race cars, but has grown into something a whole lot bigger.

We've been to the last  three Carb Days, now that the folks I go with are retired from teaching.  And, we had to overcome the objection of one person, but she now loves it.  This is a fun-filled day, costs $30 and is worth every bit of it in my estimation.

But, you do know that those race cars that will be tooling around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday in the Indy 500 do not have carburetors anymore.

More On That In the Next Post.  --RoadCarb

2018 Route 66 Trip: Just Got Back

We just hot back a few minutes ago from a trip on Route 66 from Dwight, Illinois, to Lebanon Missouri.

The trip covered 1,156 miles, three cities and three motels:  Route 66 Hotel in Springfield, Illinois, Munger-Moss Motel in Lebanon,  Missouri and Super 8 in Pontoon Beach, Illinois.  The last two days included the Illinois Route 66 Motor Tour.

We saw a lot of stuff we'd seen before as well as many things that were new.

We ate and drank lots and lots.

I had  no posts over the last six days as we had really big problems with our laptops.

Major Fun for Us.  --RoadDog

Along 66, May 2018: Illinois' Red Carpet Corridor and Lebanon's Murals

MAY 5--  The Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival was held this Saturday.  The event covers a 90 mile stretch of the famous road from Joliet to Towanda (by Bloomington-Normal).  This year it is to be just one day instead of Sat-Sun..

And, they promise to have more collectibles in each town.  You get a collectible in each town.  Last year we went on it and by Sunday, every place we went was out of them.

MAY 8--  The Nelson family unveiled the latest mural in Lebanon, Missouri.  It is in Boswell Park and this mural shows the long-gone Nelson Tavern and Nelson's Dream Village Motel.

We'll be seeing it this week while staying at the Munger-Moss Motel.

--RoadDog

"Unaccountable" Car Fire in DeKalb in 1918

From the May 16, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"William Van Artsdale of Malta came to DeKalb and left his auto standing on the Lincoln Highway, opposite the Princess theater.  When ready to return home, the car caught fire in some unaccountable way and an alarm was turned in from Box 21, which when received at the electric plant, necessitated the blowing of the whistle.

"The fire boys had little to do as the flames were subdued by bystanders and small fire extinguishers in short order."

The Fun of Driving Those Old Cars.  German Spies? --RoadDog

They'll Never Finish That Garage

From the April 25, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"The work at the First street (and Lincoln Highway) garage being erected by E,P. Ellwood and Perry Fisk is progressing at a rapid rate at the present time, and the building will soon be ready for the interior finishers.

"The floors have been laid, and today Swanson brothers electrical contractors have had a force of men at work on the inside wiring."

I have been writing about this garage being built since they began building it in the summer of 1917.

--RoadDog

Paige Cars Get New Showroom in DeKalb in 1918

From the May 2, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"The firm of Noren & Johnson, selling the Paige Cras, which has been operating in the Corkins basement, will move in the next few days to the vacant building at 446 East Lincoln Highway next to the laundry.

"The new rooms will give the auto sellers a better office and display room and make it much more convenient for the handling of cars.  The east Lincoln Highway place has been operated by Mr. Jackman, as a wind mill repair shop.

Buying Those Paige Cars.  --RoadDog

A Street Car-Ford Accident in 1918

From the May 23, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"The DeKalb-Sycamore electric car and a Fort car belonging to A. Montinson, living south of DeKalb, came together this morning at Seventh street, or rather the Ford ran into the street car broadside, the impression of the radiator being plainly visible in the middle of the street car.

"The 'Henry' was badly damaged, while considerable paint was removed from the street car, but otherwise not a great deal of damage was reported."

I imagine "Henry" must refer to Henry Ford.

--RoadDog

Along 66, May 2018: A Motel and Murals

These are taken from the Route 66 News site, which has more information and pictures.  I just pick the stories of most interest to me, but if you want to know what is going on anywhere along 66, check out that site.

MAY 1--  The new owners pledge to restore the Hill Top Motel in Kingman, Arizona.  The place has a neat looking sign.  Always glad to have an old motel brought back.

MAY 2--  Miami, Oklahoma, adds five murals to its downtown.

Well, If I Can Ever Learn How to Pronounce Miami, Oklahoma-Style.  --RoadDog

Rough Railroad Crossing a Hundred Years Ago in DeKalb

From the May 30, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Aho.

"Automobile drivers of DeKalb and the community are cautioned about the dangers of driving over the Seventh Street crossing, until such time as the proper repairs are made there.

"A crossing plank for one of the side tracks crossing has become loose and one end is protruding about four to six inches above the remainder of the crossover.  Driving over the crossing rapidly and not seeing this obstruction might cause a serious accident."

What!!  Rough Railroad Crossings a Hundred Years Ago!!  Who'd a Thunk It.  --RoadDog

Historic National Road Yard Sale Is Underway: US-40

From the May 26, 2018, Indy Star "Yardsales for miles coming next week" by Jason Truitt Richmond Indiana Palladium.

Runs Wednesday to Sunday and will mark its 15th anniversary.  Founder and chair Patricia McDonald came up with the idea to celebrate the bicentennial of the authorization of the National Road, the country's first highway built with federal funds.

The first year, 2003, the yard sale stretched just from Richmond to Knightstown along US-40, the numbered road that replaced it in 1926, in Indiana.  The very next year, it stretched all the way across Indiana to Terre Haute.  The third year it really took off and went from Baltimore to St. Louis.

In just three years, it went from 37 miles to more than 800.