Story by Richard Stephens
Cars for judging. “Cars” to watch. Our favorite drive-in, Tee Pee, co-hosted an Oklahoma Route 66 Association Centennial Car Show, drawing 125 vehicles, and showed Disney Pixar’s first “Cars” movie on Sept. 26.
Additionally, Dawn Welch, owner of the Rock Café in Stroud, talked about her Sally Carrera persona in the “Cars” movies and Holly Embry, with Wonderworks Tulsa, painted children’s faces.
Why use the Tee Pee?
The event was planned and held by Samantha Extance, City of Tulsa’s Destination Districts Manager, Michael Jones, Gasoline Alley Classics owner and a board member of the association, and Derek Fritz, an employee of Oral Roberts University.
“The Tee Pee Drive-In is a fantastic space,” said Extence. “It’s a fun, family, friendly atmosphere. There’s the kids play area…And what a perfect place to show a special showing of Pixar Disney’s cars film, which turns 20 this year. And it’s a movie that inspired a lot of young people to love and be interested in Route 66. “
Award Winning Cars
Online registration was $25 and on-site, $30 dollars. Britney Wilson, Assistant Show Director of America Car Shows, and her team held the car show and awarded Top 3 plaques in 67 categories, plus special interest awards. Basically, every car entered in the show received at least one – and often two or three – awards.
Shane Bevel of Tulsa brought his 1967 Ford Mustang. He rebuilt the car in time for Tulsa’s Capitol Cruise. Then, with his wife and two children, they travelled the entire Route 66. “They loved it. I had an absolute blast, said Bevel. “It was absolutely a family vacation, and then my mother came and met us for the Shamrock to Santa Fe portion.” Bevel’s uncle and children also traveled with them in California. They chronicled the journey with two posters with over 50 photos glued to it.
Displaying their 1969 “General Lee” Dodge Charger is still special for Tad Rezer and his wife from Sapulpa. Their son, Justin, got leukemia when he was 16 years old. The Make-a-Wish Foundation painted the Charger’s exterior orange with Dixie markings and replaced the interior. Justin thought the foundation was painting his pick-up truck. Instead, he got a big surprise when his father handed him the car keys to drive it. Fortunately, Justin is still alive and has three boys.
Stopping in while cruising the Mother Road was a group of six motorcyclists from Portugal and two Japanese visitors. Welcome!
At 1:00 p.m., Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, announced winners. Alisa Labbe of Shawnee won Best of Show with a glossy blue and white 1973 Ford Bronco. Winning Presidents Award was Kenny Robinson, who drove a 1966 Ford Falcon Futura Station Wagon. Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell’s Champion Choice went to Shane Bevel of Tulsa with a 1967 Ford Mustang.
Embry said the best part of her job is making people happy and she got her wish as Tee Pee employees, children and a few adults enjoyed their face paintings.
Black Widow Waitress
Welch and Martin told stories before “Cars” and “Heart of the Beast” movies started. One person asked how Sally Carrera’s Porsche got a tattoo. Welch said as a 24-year-old owner of the Rock Café, she realized she was in the tourism business.
When bikers showed up, she wore “biker shorts, biker boots, and this fringe Route 66 shirt. And I also went to Spencer’s and bought black widow fake tattoos…and every time the motorcycles would come, I put that black widow tattoo on my belly. And I would call myself the black widow waitress….I would take on her character.” Welsh told this to Disney. They added the pinstripe to her lift-up spoiler, which suggested Sally Carrera had a “fast lane past.”
Afterwards, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association awarded many Lego “Cars,” sets, a Pixar backpack, water bottle and pins, a Route 66 sign and more.
As daylight left, “Cars” rolled on the big screen to complete the day’s events.
Leader of the Pack
Pinnell was pleased with the Oklahoma Route 66 Association’s role. “We couldn’t do everything that we’re doing in the state of Oklahoma without…our Oklahoma Route 66 Association. They’ve really paved the way…I’m really here for the association, because again, Oklahoma wouldn’t be the leader of the pack of these eight Route 66 states without the Oklahoma Route 66 Association.”