Route 66 On The Air 2021

 It is hard to believe that it is time for one of my favorite radio events, Route 66 on The Air. This is where us amateur radio operators head out of the shack and pay tribute to the Mother Road, Route 66. We do this by setting up a special event station along Route 66 and we get on the air allowing other amateur radio operators contact us and then they will receive a special QSL Card. For the club that I am in Mid-Del Amateur Radio Club we use the callsign W6J. 

As a club we operate from Stroud, Oklahoma. Stroud is a town of roughly 2,500 people is and real close to being the halfway point between Oklahoma City and Tulsa on Route 66. Stroud is the typical American small town with an Americana type of Main Street. Actually in Stroud, Main Street is Route 66. We operate right next door to the world famous Rock Cafe. The historic Rock Cafe has some very good food and service. It first opened way back in 1939. In the early 2000's the Rock Cafe was visited several times by Pixar Animation Studios for it's Route 66 appeal and they fell in love with it to the point that they copied the character Sally Carrera in the movie Cars after Rock Cafe owner Dawn Welch. One great benefit from setting up and operating out radios right next to the Rock Cafe is the truly wonderful food that is cooked on "Betsy", the Rock Cafe's original grill that has produced over 5,000,000 happy memories in the form of ham burgers and chicken fried steak. 

This year Route 66 On The Air was started on 11 September 2021, the 20 year anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. As mentioned earlier Stroud is the typical Americana small town that is not afraid of supporting America. 

The town of Stroud remembering the 9/11 attacks by proudly displaying Old Glory on Route 66.

Of course I kicked off Route 66 On The Air in Stroud right next to the Rock Cafe. While I was there operating a few other club members were there also. We were all either visiting with one another or getting on the radio. I was there with my mother in law Tanya KF5VBU. She was my transportation since I can no longer drive due to health issues. 

Me Aaron K5ATG operating the radio

Tanya KF5VBU working a pileup

Stan N5TAN (foreground) and Cameron KC5ZHU filling up the logbook

Because of the triple digit heat for the day me and Tanya KF5VBU stayed in Stroud until afternoon when it started getting hot. The we took Route 66 on up to Tulsa to get in a little bit of sight seeing. 

Me Aaron K5ATG at the Route 66 sign at the Route 66 Historic Village in Tulsa

An old oil derrick at the Route 66 Historical Village in Tulsa

Route 66 Pedestrian Bridge in Tulsa

Mabee Center at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa

Praying Hands at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa

Prayer Tower at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa

To learn more about Route 66 On The Air please visit The Citrus Belt Amateur Radio Club This is the fine club that works tirelessly to give us Route 66 On The Air every year since 1999.

That is it for now, if you have any comments please leave them in the comments section below or you may contact me directly at Aaron@K5ATG.com

If you are one of the luck ones and is able to get W6J in your logbook then here is the QSL Info. Send your QSL Card with SASE to PO BOX 30512 Midwest City, OK 73140.