Route 66 authors

A Tale of Ambition, Daring and Vision

by jimhinckleysamerica | January 21, 2023 | Adventure, automotive history, community development, Kingman Arizona, Lifestyle, Miscellaneous, Route 66 authors, Route 66 centennial, Travel, Travel Tips, urban exploration | 0 Comments

Car Talk From The Main Street of America is still in a formative stage. But working with producer Stan Hustad a good quality program is being developed. In essence the program is about the past, present and even the future of the auto industry. We discuss all facets of this topic from Route 66, road trips to museums, personalities such as Louis Chevrolet and Lee Iacocca, the evolution of electric vehicles, and events.

Inspiration, Irritation & Infatuation

by jimhinckleysamerica | January 16, 2023 | Adventure, automotive history, aviation history, community development, Hollywood history, Kingman Arizona, Lifestyle, National Old Trails Road, RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS, Route 66 authors, Route 66 centennial, Route 66 history, Travel, Travel Tips, urban exploration | 0 Comments

But, perhaps, the most amazing thing about Ralph Teetor wasn’t his ability to transform dreams into reality. It is that he did so while suffering from what many people would consider a debilitating handicap. As a child he had been injured in his fathers machine shop. Mr. Ralph Teetor was blind.

Hello 2023

by jimhinckleysamerica | December 31, 2022 | Adventure, automotive history, community development, Kingman Arizona, Lifestyle, RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS, Route 66 authors, Route 66 centennial, Route 66 Events, Route 66 history, Route 66 restaurant, Travel, Travel Tips, urban exploration | 0 Comments

Yesterday I had the distinct pleasure of meeting with Stephanie Stuckey, CEO of Stuckey’s, the classic roadside business famous for pecan logs, and a board member with the Society for Commerical Archeology. We had met at the Miles of Possibility Conference where she was the keynote speaker. At that time I had shared information about the new innovative self guided, narrated historic walking tour in Kingman, Arizona that had been developed by Kingman Main Street and invited her to Kingman for a guided tour.

The Vault

by jimhinckleysamerica | Dec 25

The stores inventory is almost overwhelming. In the automotive section shelves are filled to overflowing with new and used books, magazines, and repair manuals. Topics range from company histories to biographies, recreational vehicles to motorcycles, road trip travel journals to heavily illustrated coffee table books about the Dodge Charger, Ford Model A or Tatra. Some are recent releases. And on the same shelf you will find books such as Dr. Dyke’s Diseases of a Gasoline Automobile and How to Cure Them published in 1903.

Jay Leno, Barn Finds, and Road Trips

by jimhinckleysamerica | Dec 16

Our second podcast, the live stream Sunday morning travel program Coffee With Jim may be undergoing a major transition. We have finalized arrangements for use of the Arizona room at Calico’s restaurnt as a studio. Now we are looking for sponsors.
Hosting the program at Calico’s would add a new dimension to the program. We would have an interactive audience, and in addition to the audio podcast, we would record it as a video for the Jim Hinckley’s America YouTube channel.

Nailing Jello To The Wall

by jimhinckleysamerica | Dec 12

With varying degrees of success I end the day with a smile and a bit of optimism about tomorrow. I accredit that to lessons learned during the years of living a hard knock life. The lyrics of The Ride by Chris LeDoux sum up that chapter of my life, provide inspiration needed to survive the age of frustration, and conjur up memories thart make me smile.

Barn Finds, Jay Leno, And A Mirage

by jimhinckleysamerica | Dec 5

The highlight of the trip was Jay Leno stopping by the book signing. He has popped into most of our Burbank signings for many years but in light of his recent accident we hadn’t expected to see him. And we surely didn’t expect see him driving the barn find Duesenberg.

Kingman’s Traveling Church

by jimhinckleysamerica | Dec 5

These were years of dramatic change, both good and bad, in Kingman, in Arizona and in the world. Arizona transitioned from territory to state in 1912. He presided over many funerals during WWI and the Spanish flu pandemic. And in 1917 he officiated at a ceremony during the laying of a cornerstone for a stately new church at the corner of Fifth and Spring Street that would complement the recently completed Mohave County Courthouse, and the Bonelli house on the opposite corner.

Sharing America’s Story

by jimhinckleysamerica | Nov 22

Awhile back a 76-year old fellow contacts me and says, "I listen to your podcasts, and think that you need to talk with my dad. He started his truck drivinig career on Route 66 in the Mojave Desert." Needless to say, he had my undivided attention. Even though his...

It Started With A Typewriter

by jimhinckleysamerica | Nov 17

If this story opened like a film noir classic such as The Big Sleep starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, the first line would be, "It started with a typewriter, advice from a trusted friend, troubled thoughts, and reflection." The opening would continue with,...