Surprising The Surpriser

As a Route 66 tourguide, I like to be a surpriser and surprise the people on my bus tours with unusual facts.  And there is no better way to surprise people on a Route 66 bus tour than to talk about Paul McCartney’s birthday.

I say, “Let’s have a Route 66 trivia quiz!”

I start by asking the people on the Route 66 bus tour: “Paul McCartney turned 66 years old in 2008.  How did he celebrate his 66^th birthday?”  I keep on hoping that someone will make the connection: the number “66” appears in both “66^th birthday” and in “Route 66”.  But most Americans don’t make the connection because they assume that nobody who grew up in Liverpool, England, would ever have heard of Route 66.

Not so, most people in Europe have heard of Route 66, especially people growing up in Liverpool, which is only 55 miles from Blackpool, England, home of the Route 66 American Diner.

It is possible that Paul McCartney would have heard of that diner’s “Route 66 Burger Challenge” – where you have 30 minutes to down 10 burger patties, a pound of French fries, a bowl of chili, corn on the cob, and onion rings, all washed down with two liters of room-temperature Coca-Cola.  (Over 250 people have tried the challenge and failed.)

Paul McCartney celebrated his 66^th birthday by driving Route 66.

Next Route 66 trivia question is a multiple choice: “ Route 66, starts in Chicago and ends in Santa Monica, California.  Paul McCartney flew to Chicago and purchased a vehicle for his birthday trip.  What type of vehicle did he purchase?”

a.    An Aston-Martin

b.    A Lamborghini

c.    A BMW

d.    A beat-up ten-year-old Ford Bronco truck

The people on the Route 66 tour bus now go into deep thought, probably asking themselves: “If I had all the money that Paul McCartney has, which vehicle would I buy?”  People usually say “Lamborghini” or “Aston-Martin” or “BMW”.

Paul McCartney purchased a beat-up ten-year-old Ford Bronco truck.

At this point, I foolishly assume that the people on the bus would realize why Sir Paul bought a Bronco, and question number three would be really easy: “Where did Paul McCartney stay when he drove Route 66?”

a.    Five-star hotels

b.    Historic Route 66 motels

c.    Bed-and-breakfasts

d.    Campgrounds.

People usually answer say hotel or motel or B-n-b.

Paul McCartney purchased a tent and stayed in campgrounds.

Time to explain Paul McCartney’s goals for his Route 66 trip.  He was on vacation, and did not want his vacation spoiled by being recognized, and being mobbed by autograph hounds and paparazzi. 

Sir Paul just wanted to be the bloke in the next tent who had an old truck and a British accent.

He was recognized at a campground in Lebanon, Missouri, and at a few other places, but Sir Paul was mostly successful in being incognito and keeping his trip a secret.

He is a perfect example of the allure that Route 66 has for people around the world, so I like doing trivia quizes about him.

I did the trivia quiz on a recent Route 66 bus tour of the 1926 alignment of Route 66 in Illinois, between Springfield and Carlinville.  I asked how did Paul McCartney celebrate his 66^th birthday.  Then I asked what vehicle did he purchase.

At this point, a woman on the bus got very excited, waving her hand in the air, and yelling: “A BRONCO!  A BRONCO!!  A BRONCO!!!“

I was taken aback.  I asked the woman how she knew the correct answer.

“Paul McCartney’s truck broke down.  My daughter works for the American Automobile Association.  She was the dispatcher who sent someone out to fix his beat-up ten-year-old Ford Bronco truck.”

 

My mouth probably fell open in astonishment.  On that Route 66 bus trip, I was no longer the surpriser.



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This video is 7 minutes long, documenting the first person to ever defeat the Blackpool, England, Route 66 Burger Challenge.  He was an American!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XOx_yRc2Q4



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NOTE: Doug's best stories have been collected into a book: Puppy Out Of Breath. Price = $11. Send an email to ParadiseDouglas at gmail to find out how to purchase your own copy.