Note: This is the third of a nine-part series of Great Race Director Jeff Stumbs thoughts on each day on the 2015 Great Race route after returning from setting up the stops for next years event. For the third day in a row, the 2015 Great Race competitors will have a dramatic scenery change, this time for the green pastureland of eastern Oklahoma to the rougher, more arid climate of west Texas. But this day features some of the most iconic sights of the entire trip, including the world-famous Cadillac Ranch.
But first, the lunch stop will be in Elk City, Okla. I had never been to Elk City before until my recent trip, and it was one of the most pleasant surprises of my adventure. Elk City is on Route 66 and has a population of 12,000 the perfect Great Race lunch stop city. The venue is Ackley Park, right on Route 66 and right next to the National Route 66 Museum. So racers will get to enjoy a nice lunch in the park and take in the exhibits of the National Route 66 Museum during the stop.
The evening venue in Amarillo will be on several blocks of Route 66 on what is now called 6th Street. It is lined with cool restaurants and antique shops and is a favorite location for local festivals throughout the year. It is a perfect location for a Great Race venue.
You can read more about Amarillos historic Route 66 district by clicking this link:
http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/route66/6th_street_historic_district_amarillo.html
Great Race participants will be able to visit the Cadillac Ranch, conveniently located near the hotels, either that evening or the next morning out of town.
The next report will cover Amarillo to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
