Exploring Roads Online
- A Roads: Lots of photos and info on historic roads nationwide.
- America’s Byways: Pick a historic cruise in any of the 50 states.
- American Roads: San Diegan Steve Varner has put together detailed — and I mean detailed — maps and other information on U.S. 80 in California. There’s info on other old U.S. highways as well.
- Automobile
In American Society: Perhaps no invention has had
more impact on how we live. Web site for the University
of Michigan-Dearborn and The Henry Ford museum project.
- Bygone Byways: Road trips from coast-to-coast, including info on specific roads.
- California Bridges: There’s a lot of designs and this guy investigated them all.
- California Highways: Lots of obscure info on almost every major road in the state.
- Casey’s Roads Page: Find out about the history of major highways. A great source of historic information and photos.
- Detroit’s Auto Plants: A Rear View Mirror feature from the Detroit News chronicles the now-gone nameplates that once came out of the Motor City.
- Drive the 101: Called “one of the three great roads in America” and once you’ve driven it, you’ll believe it.
- Ends of U.S. Highways: Believe it or not, there’s a web site that covers just the ends of old U.S. highways.
- Ford Piquett Avenue Plant, Detroit: The original Model T assembly plant has been preserved. I didn’t get a chance to visit during my 2006 trip but have it on my list for next time.
- Highway 94 Club: Take the trip east from San Diego and discover all the sites.
- Historic Highway 80 Association in Southern California. Learn all about this historic road.
- Motor Cities National Heritage Area: Going to the Detroit area? The ruins, relics and operating remains of the auto industry are part of this tour.
- Packard Factory Complex 100th Anniversary Discussion: A newsgroup with updates on the former luxury car maker’s HQ.
- Ridge Route: The old highway north from Los Angeles is the topic of a web page and book.
- Road Scenes From “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”: The classic 1962 road movie was shot all around Southern California as the wacky cast went looking for the “big dubbya.”
- Roadside America: The weird, the wild, it’s all at the next exit.
- U.S. Highways: A great site if you have an allergy to the Interstate highway system.
- Weekend Driver on YouTube: Check out videos uploaded and selected by Weekend Driver.
Car Culture
- 101 Cafe: Can’t do a cruise along San Diego’s North County coast without stopping into this historic Oceanside eatery.
- Automotive History Online: Great info and rare photos of marques you can buy today and those that are long-gone.
- Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center is an old-style country attraction. Car events on occasion, always open for fun.
- Camaro Club of San Diego: Fun folks keeping alive Chevy’s pony car and eagerly waiting for the new one.
- Dudley’s Bakery: It’s always worth a trip to Santa Ysabel for the drive, but Dudley’s makes it even better.
- East County Cruisers: Bring whatever classic car you’ve got and hang out in San Diego’s East County neighborhoods.
- Internet Movie Car Database: Need to find out which movie starred a Studebaker? You can look it up.
- Kaiser-Frazer Information: Just in case you find a cherry Kaiser on the used car lot or want to research the marque, here’s a great place to start.
- The Lavender Fields: I went by here for the Weekend Driver column that ran in May, 2006. It was closed at the time but is open from mid-April. If you’ve visited, let me know your impressions.
- Maynard’s Garage: The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Wheels section editor has reviews and other insight.
- National Packard Museum: Warren, Ohio birthplace of the “Ask the Man Who Owns One” car.
- The Old Car Manual Project: Fascinating site that documents lots of brochures, ads and other paper goods that kept ’em rolling out of showrooms.
- Pontiac Oakland Club International, San Diego Chapter: I have a soft spot for these folks, as my parents had a ’64 Catalina and ’68 Tempest Custom.
- San Diego Corvette Club: The classic American sports car enthusiasts in the best place in the world to drive one.
- San Diego East County Visitors Bureau: Group successfully worked to give old U.S. 80 in San Diego and Imperial counties historic designation.
- San Diego Miata Club: Home page for the local group. I’ve got a ’91.
- San Diego Wanderers: Great local motorcycle club that stresses fun and safety.
- Simpson’s Garden Town Nursery: Hot spot in Jamul for plants and vintage vehicles. A great collection of Model A’s and T’s, as well as more modern cars. Plus a fine group of travel trailers.
- Southern California Car Culture: Could there be something more homegrown than our obsession with cars? Check out this page.
- Studebaker Drivers Club, San Diego Chapter: The marque lives on through these enthusiasts.
- Studebaker
National Museum:
South Bend, Indiana, home of history
for this marque. - Tucker Club: There were only a few made, but this postwar car still has a great following.
- You Auto Know: San Diego car expert Dave Stall’s page on the internet highway. Links to his radio programs (thanks, Dave, for having Weekend Driver on the show!).
History Sites
- Caltrans Photos: The state highway agency has a great site with historic photos.
- J. A. Cooley Museum: Located at 4233 Park Blvd. (near El Cajon Boulevard), in San Diego, this is the private collection of Jim Cooley. It includes what he says is the largest collection of one-cylinder cars under any roof. (619) 295-1611.
- Guajome Adobe: Located in Vista, the Guajome Regional Park celebrates the rancho days and its old adobe home.
- Modern San Diego: Mid-century architecture in San Diego.
- San Diego Automotive Museum: Great spot in Balboa Park for everything cars... and motorcycles.
- San Diego County Public Works Dept. History: A neat look at the roads, people and development of the back country.
- San Diego Historical Society: Excellent resource for research and browsing on San Diego. Includes a great photo section of old cars in the county.
- San Diego Streetcars: Great photos, including some in color, of the original trolleys.
- Society of Automotive Historians: Chroniclers of the car, this site and organization is their gathering place.
- State Historic Markers: California government page on official sites in San Diego County.
- Squibob Chapter, E Clampus Vitas: This fraternal group has placed historic markers all over San Diego county.
- Official U.S. Department of Transportation history site. Includes articles on old U.S. 80 and San Diego County Highway S-2.
Time Wasters
- Color TV Page: The history of color television’s early days is documented. Author Kris Trexler has found two priceless shows... the 1958 NBC “An Evening With Fred Astaire” — sponsored by the Chrysler Corporation — and 1957’s “Edsel Show,” a CBS broadcast that introduced the car. Check out the fantastic clips.
- Dodger Blues: I’m no fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Here’s someone that shares my disdain.
- European Gas Station Maps: Yes, someone has a site dedicated to maps handed out by service stations “across the pond.”
- Groceteria: History of grocery stores around the country.
- Jim Healy Tribute Site: I’m not from LA and have never lived there, but used to enjoy listening to the great, late sportscaster. His show was like nothing you’ve ever heard.
- Roadfood.com: Diners coast to coast serving whatever the regional comfort food is on the menu. Pass the Pepto.
- Roadside Peek: A web site that celebrates leftovers from the building-as-sign era of the ’50s-70s... here’s a direct link to the San Diego section.
- San Francisco’s Market Street Railway: Ride history around San Francisco’s waterfront.
- Society for Commercial Archaeology: Find out about roadside architecture and historic buildings along the roads of America.
