Route 66 Blowout 2025
It was a warm and sunny day for this year’s Route 66 Blowout. This marked the 36th anniversary of this event, and as far as I know, the first time that it did not take place on Route 66. Dewey Avenue, which is the historical route through Sapulpa, is undergoing a revitalization project. Therefore, this year’s event took place one block south on Lee Avenue. This minor inconvenience did not seem to thwart the crowds that typically attend. Entries lined both sides of the street for over 5 blocks east to west and filled many of the corresponding allies.
The event relocation put it on the same thoroughfare as the Sapulpa Fire Museum. This became a popular attraction for the kids, as they were able to explore a couple of the old fire engines and receive a replica helmet. It also had air conditioning, which was an attraction for the adults.
Personally, I had passed by this museum many times in my life and often thought about stopping to see what it housed. I was always either headed somewhere or just in the area during off hours. The Blowout, though, gave me the perfect excuse to stop in.
Many of the entries are individuals who have restored a relic to his or her desired vision. However, there are some team entries. This family came as a team and was all in on their 1965 Chevy SS Malibu. Their restoration is the car featured on this year’s t-shirt.
As with any event or gathering, it is the people that most interest me. I like photographing people doing what they do— enjoying what they enjoy. In doing so, I often tend to come across someone that catches my attention. It may be that they are doing something outside of the box or something I have not seen, none the less. So when a man with a walking stick walked by, I had to stop and speak to him. This was not the usual cane. It was equipped with a sheathed blade on the ground end. One step on the end tab while raising the walking device, and viola! It is a spear. Nice.
This was my third year to photograph this event. And as always, it did not disappoint. Every year, new generations are being introduced to a nostalgic celebration of automotive Americana and the historical Route 66. Both have such a rich history in the Tulsa and Sapulpa area.
Mix that with a DJ pumping tunes from the past, various grills seasoning the air with BBQ and plenty of activities for the kids… Well, you can’t go wrong. Here is to the next 36 years of the Route 66 Blowout.
