About Jim

For years people told me that I seemed to have a talent for telling people where to go.

So, way back in 1990, with gentle encouragement from my dearest friend, my wife Judy, I put that talent to work. I began telling people where to go. And I began sharing my passion for the colorful, diverse, and inspirational American story.

For more than a decade I wrote feature articles for a diverse array of publications. And during my stint as associate editor at Cars & Part magaine, I wrote a monthly column, The Independent Thinker. In that column I shared the stories of the auto industries unsung heroes. People such as Ralph Teetor, the blind inventor of cruise control, were given some much deserved time in the spotlight. Likewise with Florence Lawrence and A.L. Westgard.

Then we launched Jim Hinckley’s America. And with that platform we inspired people to discover America with road trips.

First, there were the books (23 published to date) on a diverse array of subjects. Each was a reflection of my passion for road trips, and the American story. A book about the Checker Cab Manufacturing Company reflected my curiosity about the evolution of the American auto industry. And, of course, there were books about Route 66, the great American road trip, and adventures in the southwest. Together the books and articles, and our passions, became the foundation for a multifaceted network.

Welcome to Jim Hinckley’s America

Next came Coffee With Jim, the weekly podcast on Podbean, that has been designated an official Route 66 centennial program. Then we added the writing blogs for clients of Talisman Magic Marketing, tour companies, and communities. That led to work as a consultant for tour companies and CVB directors, development of a narrated self guided tour for Kingman Main Street, and programs for tours as well as schools and community colleges.

It has been a grand adventure. It has been a shared adventure.
There have been visits with Jay Leno and sharing the magic that is a Route 66 odyssey with an audience at the 2018 European Route 66 Festival in Zlin, Czechia, book signings at events in Illinois, and at a venerable book store in Burbank. And then there are the friendships made along the way.
Jim Hinckley’s America is a smile inducing, thought provoking, road trip inspiring, shared adventure. Today our network includes this website with blog posts, presentations made internationally, and a YouTube channel series and social media network.

Sharing America’s story. Telling people where to go. It’s what we do!

Promotional graphic for Gilligans Tours, featuring Route 66 imagery, contact information, and tour offerings for visitors from various countries.
Gilligan’s Route 66 Tours

Coffee With JIm – Sunday mornings 7:00 Arizona time on podbean

Logo for 'Coffee With Tim' featuring a microphone and a scenic mountain landscape on a blue background, with the tagline 'Telling People Where to Go & Sharing America's Story Since 1990.'

The official Coffee With Jim mug is now available through the Kingman Main Street Kingman Tours website gift shop! Start your mornings with a bit of road trip inspiration. Share the adventure that is Coffee With Jim, a virtual diner where folks gather to share tales of road trips, community development, and adventures.

Coffee With Jim Mug

Jim Hinckley’s America on INstagram

A blast from the past courtesy the Joe Sonderman collection. Grant is not the kind of writer content to study the history of the west from the comfort of dusty archives. He is a lifelong horseman who has worked as a cowboy and trainer across Colorado, Wyoming, and Texas. That skill set adds a level of authenticity to his book that tells the story of a quest to understand the Pony Express and the history of the western frontier the old-fashioned way. I was surprised and honored to see this included in the window display exhibit at Beale Celebrations event center in Kingman, Arizona. The copy of the patent application is from 1898. My grandfather, Frederick Hinckley, filed this application for the bicycle coaster brake that year. At the time he was employed by David Buick. In the years that followed he filed dozens of patents, established a mill and machine shop, worked on special projects for Henry Ford, established a tool company, and with a cousin established a company in Ecorse, Michigan that manufactured heavy duty truck engines. I am still unraveling his story and in the process am learning about the infancy of the auto industry. #jimhinckleysamerica #decadewithjim #autohistory I need to set up tomorrow’s episode of Coffee With Jim and our visit with Will Grant. And I need to polish the program for the Lake Elsinore Historical Society on March 25. Still, even though it’s a bit early, as temps are projected to push 90 degrees next week it’s time to get the garden ready for tomatoes, peppers, carrots, melons, and squash. And later today I will dedicate some more time to the Route 66 centennial event calendar for Route 66 Navigation. Boredom is not something we are familiar with in Jim Hinckley’s America. #jimhinckleysamerica #decadewithjim We are really excited about this weeks episode of Coffee With Jim, our weekly podcast on Podbean, at 7:00 (Arizona time) Sunday morning. Our guest will be Will Grant, author of The Last Ride of the Pony Express. I hope that you can join the conversation. Invite your friends! Found this little fella in a desert sand wash. Any idea on how old an iron Popeye bank might be? #desert #desertdiscovery #adventure #jimhinckleysamerica #decadewithjim A little perspective of what travel was like in 1915. That summer Edsel Ford and his college buddies may a trip west to California, much of it over the National Old Trails Road. A recent study by AAA indicated that 40% of Americans plan on driving all or part of Route 66 in 2026. Route 66 has an international fan club. That adds another dimension to the centennial year. But for an array of reasons it is difficult to project what that segment of tourism will look like. Points to ponder.

For a bit of inspiration or interesting reading Jim Hinckley recommends

  • Faith And Good Courage Podcast – Some folks show their soul at church. Others, you’ll only see it over breakfast. Before the filters, before the meetings… when the coffee’s still doing its job and the truth slips out between bites of pancake.
  • Kara and Nate – Hey, y’all! We are a husband and wife from Nashville, Tennessee. We started our YouTube channel on a whim when we decided to take a year off and go travel back in 2016. One year quickly turned into 4, and at the very end of 2019 we stepped foot in our 100th country.
  • Let’s Go – “Hi. I’m Terry. Welcome to my travel channel. I have great memories of back-packing south-east Asia as a young man. Now I’m heading into my senior years, the thrill of discovering the beauty of the world and the shared humanity of its people still burns bright within me. Hopefully my adventures inspire you to explore the world around you, too, and remind you that age is not a barrier to a life filled with curiosity, learning and vitality.”
  • Mid Century Style Magazine – As time marched along this blog morphed into it’s current state as a magazine about all things Mid-Century with an emphasis on preservation and recreation of lost styles and passions from the the 1950’s and 1960’s. We try to bring you current events on preservation of commercial as well as residential buildings in danger and we hope to educate people on preserving and not destroying your homes historical value.
  • Retro Roadtrip – We are passionate about celebrating the charm of “Mom and Pop,” independent, and historic hotels and motels across the country—hidden gems often lovingly preserved or restored to offer fabulous and affordable lodging. During our travels, we discovered an overlooked piece of Mid-Century Preservation: the Mid-Century Motels (long before Schitt’s Creek made them trendy!). That’s why in 2013 we launched Mid-Century Motels on Mid-Century Style, featuring articles and reviews to spotlight these treasures. Fast forward to 2023, and we’ve reimagined our mission as RetroRoadtrip—expanding to include all our favorite cool retro places to stay. Go check it out and start planning your Retro Roadtrip today!
  • Peter Santenello – I make videos showing you a world that the media fails to capture. No BS polarization or political angle—just pure authentic interactions with the locals. I present the story. You present your own opinion.
  • Sidetrack Adventures – Exploring the highways and byways. Family of three getting sidetracked exploring destinations off the beaten path. We are located in the Southwestern United States so most videos focus on that region. Steve of Sidetrack Adventures was a guest on the January 11, 2026 episode of Coffee With Jim.