A convoy of 14 vehicles will set off from Kingman, Arizona, on September 28, bound for Chicago along historic Route 66, in a 2,400-mile journey that will raise money for people and families affected by Parkinson's disease. The 10-day eastbound trip is scheduled to conclude on October 7 at the highway's traditional starting point, retracing the Mother Road toward its origins as Route 66 marks its centennial year.
The drive grew out of a long-held ambition shared by organisers Brian Macy and Monty Belsham. Belsham had wanted to travel Route 66 for more than two decades, and the acquisition of a 1953 Hudson Hornet finally gave him the reason to commit. The journey carries deeper personal weight: Belsham's 80-year-old father lives with Parkinson's and will follow the caravan's progress from his home in British Columbia.
«I always imagined it would be about the cars, the road and the people you meet along the way,» Belsham said. «But having my dad living with Parkinson's changes what those miles mean.»
Donations raised by the trip will go to Drive Toward a Cure's Special Assistance Grant Fund, which provides direct help to individuals and families facing Parkinson's-related challenges. The nonprofit says it has raised more than $1.5 million for research, patient care and outreach since 2016.
The participating vehicles include a 1955 Chevrolet 3100 driven by Joie and Andrea Catucci, and a 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery belonging to Brian and Heather Macy. That Ford previously belonged to Brian's grandfather and has since been rebuilt for long-distance use. A 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 will also join the group, stretching the definition of «classic» slightly, though it is likely to offer useful backup should one of the genuine old-timers need assistance.
The caravan will pass through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. Scheduled highlights include the Petrified Forest, Cadillac Ranch, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Springfield and numerous historic Route 66 communities. The route follows one of America's most famous roads at a moment when Route 66 is celebrating its centennial, giving the trip an added sense of occasion.
Classic cars were built to travel, but many now spend more time under covers than crossing state lines. This journey is intended to reverse that pattern. The vehicles will not serve merely as polished props; they will be doing exactly what they were built to do, with the fundraising effort as a significant bonus.
The event also reflects a broader appeal for enthusiasts: the chance to drive a historic highway in machines of the same era, while supporting a cause that touches the families of those taking part. For Belsham, the miles between Arizona and Chicago will carry a meaning beyond the scenery and the machinery, with his father following from afar as the convoy heads east.