I recently had the wonderful experience of attending the parade of vehicles, as they passed through the finish line arch of the Great Race 2021. According to their website, The Great Race started in 1983 by Tom McRae and Norman Miller. McRae founded the race on the basis of honoring families, our great country, and most importantly God, for making all things possible. McRae believed it was extremely important to say a prayer in public, in every city, to bless the participants and everyone involved. Praising the LORD was a staple in his operation, and was his unique way of spreading the Gospel. McCrae is no longer with us, but his traditions continue.
An event of this size requires several corporate sponsors, with many of them having their logo on the inflatable arch that is set up in each city where the participants overnight. In addition, there is an 18-wheeler support vehicle, sponsored by Hagerty, that can be seen along the race route. Hagerty is an insurance company specifically developed for older, classic cars. Hence, the phrase and graphic design painted on the side of its trailer that says, "Three pedals, no problem." This is a reference to the fact that some of the cars they insure, were manufactured before the advent of automatic transmissions---which did away with the need for a clutch pedal. As a side note, I want to commend Hagerty operations because recently I was with a friend who used their insurance, when she had an issue with her vintage Chevrolet. She was a Hagerty client, and they seemed to handle the situation as well as could be expected.
Since The Great Race is a precision PACE RACE, not a high speed race, the "winner" of a particular segment of the race is determined before the car passes under the arch. Hence, there is no crowding of vehicles to cross the "finish line" arch, and instead serves as a backdrop for photo opportunities, as the announcer tells the name and details of each car as it goes under the arch.
The Great Race is no ordinary race. It has instruction pamphlets for each day that over 20 pages long! Modern navigational aids like GPS are prohibited in this event. Points are awarded on the accuracy of the driver and navigator to match a time and average speed over a pre-determined course. Prizes are awarded in several categories, both daily, and at the end of the race.
Some of the cars are reminiscent of movies---such as the Blues Brothers. It was amusing to see the variety of very inappropriate items, that the car had as "props" on their dashboard. In addition, they had a mannequin passenger in their back seat!
I felt victorious just getting to watch the cars come through, and felt compelled to give the iconic "V for Victory" uplifted arms gesture! This might have been the gesture the 2021 Great Race winners were giving at the end of the race in Greenville, South Carolina, because their win was historic---the first time for two women to win the race---one was the driver and one was the navigator.
This converted school bus carried the support crew for the WTF driving team. This group is quick to point out that the initials do not stand for any type of vulgar cliche, but rather refer to their full name---The Wondering Troubadours of Finland. When the vintage vehicle they support drives under the arch, they march alongside, carrying the blue and white flag of Finland.
When I asked to take their photo, they said they would only agree to it, if I would also be in the photo! (Can you tell which one is me??!!) If you want to see more photos of their hilarious stunts and old-fashioned attire (as well as the inside of their bus), go to their Facebook page, entitled simply "WTF Great Race".
As you can see on the top of the arch, the 2021 Great Race started in San Antonio, Texas, and ended in Greenville, SC. You can see videos of the entry into each city where they spent the night, if you go to their Facebook page, The Great Race.
The Great Race attracted almost 150 different vehicle entries, and each one had an assigned parking space along the Main Street of Joplin the evening of their appearance. Many of the cars had magnetic signs attached to them, reminding cars following them not to get too close, because of the (sometimes) sudden turns and stops they made, as they tried to follow the rally driving directions.
The map on this car shows the route of the 2021 Great Race, starting in Texas, and ending in South Carolina. One can visit the Great Race website to find out the route of future races. This was actually my second time to see the vintage cars, as I was able to go to the event in 2015, when it passed through Springfield, Missouri, which is also an iconic stop along Route 66.
It is race officials who determine the cities that a particular Great Race will pass through. And, likewise, it is race officials who choose the official group lodging location for participants. I was told that the Holiday Inn was chosen for the group lodging in Joplin, based almost entirely on the size of their parking lot, as it shows up on the Google Earth Map. Besides the need to park over 100 vehicles, the parking lot needs to be able to accommodate an 18-wheeler truck's parking needs. At the end of the race, participants give an assessment of each city they visited, which is sometimes used as a determinant of future race course locations. 
The tailgate of this colorful yellow pick up truck provided a fantastic "flagpole" location for flying the Stars and Stripes!
Sadly, as in most any road race, there are some cars that have mechanical issues, causing them not to be able to finish the race under their own power. The Great Race officials expect such mishaps, and have a towing vehicle that can tow two cars at one time! But those cars still get to drive under the arch and be a part of the festivities at the finish line! The morning after the event, I was on the elevator with one of the drivers who had to be towed in the day before, but was going to be able to drive his car that day. I asked him what he did about getting his older vehicle repaired during the night, and he said he found some very smart auto mechanics who were able to fix the problem! Many of the Great Race participants are "Gear Heads", and know everything there is to know about auto repair. Although I took a four month auto repair class at a local college, I have to look at the instruction manual, just to open up the hood of my car! Not to mention, fix anything that is wrong with it!
There were some car clubs that came to Joplin to participate in the festivities from Bentonville, Arkansas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Kansas City, Missouri. I am assuming this car I saw parked is one of those cars. I can only assume the driver of said vehicle is tall enough so that his eye level is ABOVE the horizontal band of metal that goes across the windshield area! It it were me driving it, I would be looking through metal circles to try to see the road ahead. 
I was very thankful that I was one of the people getting to stay at the Joplin Holiday Inn, which served as the official location for participants to stay. This gave me the opportunity to go around and see the cars in the late evening, when it was cooler and there were fewer bystanders. 
I was intrigued to see this youngster carefully polising the gorgeous car shown in this photo. He told me it was his grandfather's car, and that this was not their first time to participate in the race together. He said they had used a different car in past races, because his grandfather owned a car museum in Detroit, Michigan. Sounded like a good family to belong to!
The logo on this souvenir bag shows some of the nicknames that Route 66 has enjoyed over the years, such as "The Mother Road" and "America's Main Street". However, the name my mother always called it when I was growing up, was "Bloody 66". She was quite prone to worry, and would start expressing her concerns out loud whenever it became known that my father would be traveling on that road for business meetings in St. Louis, from our home in Arkansas. Likewise, when our family traveled Route 66 from Arkansas to California, in the 1950's, the phrase came up often. It was not until I googled "Bloody 66", that I found out there were more people than just my mother, who were apprehensive about traveling the route. The Google search gave numerous references to photographs, statistics, and books about the many car crashes that occurred on the busy and often-narrow highway.
I would agree with the Great Race founder, Mr. McCrae, about the need for prayer (as well as a good map) when embarking on a journey of Route 66! In a nod to the Route 66 popularity, and "66" being the number of books in the Bible, a variety of Bible studies have been developed with the Route 66 logo. The one I have purchased in the past is the Route 66 Bible--"Driving the Word Home", published by the Turning Point Ministry organization. You can find it at www.DavidJeremiah.org
This mural in this photo even has half of a Corvette, to give it a 3D effect! Likewise, it has a complete map of Route 66, from Chicago to Santa Monica. I always like to comment that the back yard of one of my California cousins, butts up against the original, historic Route 66!
The metal archway, over the highway in this photo, says, "Williams---1881---Gateway to the Grand Canyon". It has Arizona's famous sun beaming down on it, as it sits in a plateau, strewn with pine trees
The train depot shown in this photo, is significant because it relates to one of the first occurrences to make Williams grow, and that was its location along a train route between Chicago and the West Coast, that ran in the late 1800's. Passengers coming by train to Williams (the closest stop to the Grand Canyon South Rim) needed reliable transportation to continue the next part of their journey, that would actually get them to Grand Canyon Village. Thus, the first passenger train from Williams to the Grand Canyon, ran on September 17, 1901. Then, in 1908, the Santa Fe Railway built a new depot in Williams, that included one of the first Harvey House hotels. The building above (which sits on the opposite side of the tracks from the one built in 1908) was retained, and now serves as the Williams Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. 
This photo shows one of the Grand Canyon Railway passenger trains, which continues to carry passengers to the famous national park.
Engine 539 was on static display when I made this visit to Williams, Arizona. It is significant because it is one of only 20 remaining steam locomotives in the USA. It was acquired by Grand Canyon Railway in 2007. The engine was built in 1917 in Dunkirk, New York, at an original cost of $36,631. It weighs 266 tons, which includes the 41 tons of water needed to generate steam. It was retired in 1957, after 174,378 miles without a major accident or derailment. (It is interesting to note that after I took this photo, the engine was sold to the Port of Katama in Washington state for $163,000. Another $100,000 fee was incurred to transport it to the Port of Katama Interpretive Center. That town wanted this historical relic to help tell the story of why the Port of Katama, on the northwestern coast, had the nickname "Rail to Sail" .)
In addition to its fame as a transportation hub for railway travel, Williams is also famous for another means of transportation---Route 66 Highway that stretched from Chicago to Santa Monica. 
This mural records the fact that Williams was the last town on Route 66 to be bypassed by Interstate 40, which happened on October 13, 1984. Although much of the rest of Interstate 40 was completed a decade earlier, lawsuits kept the construction of I-40 through Arizona from continuing. Finally, judgements called for the state to build 3 exits into Williams, from the Interstate, which helped the town to continue to thrive on tourism. The next year, US Route 66 was decommissioned. 
Route 66 souvinirs are abundant, like this travel bag that shows several of the cities the high traversed. One of the nicknames the highway carries is "The Mother Road", and what mother would not be delighted to own such a colorful reminder of their trip, as they sing the song, "Get your kicks, on Route Sixty-Six!"
Besides Williams being a fun place to visit for Route 66 enthusiasts and Grand Canyon tourists, the kayak strapped on top of the car references the fact that there are several lakes around Williams, where visitors cannot only kayak, but fish and swim as well. The familiar logo of the Route 66 Highway sign attached to the lamppost, is along the Main Street of Williams, Arizona. In fact, the highway became synonymous with the Main Street of dozens of U.S. cities west of the Mississippi, and is the reason for another one of its nicknames---Mainstreet of America. 
This mannequin dressed in western attire might represent the man who is sometimes called "The Father of Route 66". That was a Tulsa, Oklahoma guy called Cyrus Avery, who lobbied tirelessly to get the highway 66 construction plans approved and implemented. Not surprisingly, his plan called for Route 66 to go through Oklahoma!
The bright red table umbrellas, and elevated red vintage hot rod coupe, make it impossible to miss seeing Cruisers Route 66 Cafe, on a busy corner along Main Street/Historic Route 66. They are famous for their live music performances, and from what I heard from the musician who was playing and singing when I was there, their reputation for a fun, happening place is well deserved!
Since both the men in this photo have long gray hair, and long gray beards and cowboy hats on---it is hard to tell which one is the tourist, and which one is the historical re-enactor. My guess is that the one with an ivory-handled sixshooter, in a fancy leather holster, is the one who is part of the entertainment!
To be sure, a visitor will no doubt encounter some "characters" as they stroll the town, but the caricature artist actually fits in with the historical theme of this western frontier town. That is because, before photography was widely available, caricature art was the "visual aid of choice" used by newspapers, and other printed communications. A caricature is a drawing of a real person which distorts or exaggerates certain features, but still retains a likeness. (My husband and I once sat for a caricature artist, upon arriving in Sturgis, South Dakota, via our Harley-Davidson motorcycle. So naturally, the artist drew us as a couple with two giant heads, attached to little tiny bodies, and perched atop a motorcycle!)
The real horse and authentic buggy, are a good way of getting visitor's attention to alert them to the nightly (and free!) Wild West Show that is held in the historic area of Williams most every evening during tourist season. 
I first encountered this attractive lady in the Williams Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Center earlier in the day, dressed in business attire. She was the one that urged me not to miss the free western entertainment that would be happening at 7 pm that night. Later in the evening, she recognized me in the crowd, and came over to chat, while thanking me for attending their event. I was glad she recognized me, because I certainly did not recognize her! She had gone from professional work clothes, to a western-themed calico long dress and different hair style! She told me that members of the chamber of commerce volunteer to dress in historical clothing to assist with the Wild West Show. For more information about planning your trip this area, you can phone the chamber at 928-635-4061, or visit their website at www.ExperienceWilliams.com
You might call this "Theater in the Round", since a circle is marked off in the street for the Wild West skit, and it is a large enough area that most everyone has a "front row 'seat' ---or standing place" to view the actors.
This little boy actually did have a front row seat, as he sat on the shoulders of his father! Likewise, his father's head provided a nice armrest! Looking back at their history, the Wild West show got its start before movies were available. They consisted of short entertainment skits that would go over historic gunfights by re-enactors. They advertised as being a show that would thrill young and old alike! 
The pine tree needles framing this photo of the Williams, Arizona entrance sign, provide the opportunity to mention that Arizona is one of the few states in the USA where someone who is VERY industrious, patient, and extremely frugal, can harvest their very own pine nuts! (several on-line sights sell nuts, and when I checked their price, they showed one pound of pine nuts costs $21 per pound; compare this to a pound of pecan halves, for $8 per pound!)
The pine cones must be gathered when they are still green, then spread out to dry for a very long period. Then their hard shells must be cracked open to pick out the tiny little pine seed. All this must be done INDIVIDUALLY, BY HAND! The process has not been mechanized, which explains why pine nuts cost several times more per pound, than pecans. For this reason, the majority of the pine nuts one sees for sale in the USA have been harvested in other countries, where labor is cheaper. However, for those who are very particular about knowing where their food comes from, keep Arizona in mind as a location where you can "do it yourself"! (If you are curious, just put "harvesting pine nuts" in your Internet search engine, and you will never again complain about the high price of pine nuts!)