Shifters Car Club Memories
The original Shifters Car Club was started in the late 1950s by 15 local car guys that wanted to do something positive for the Springfield community. View photos and newspaper articles of their many projects, and visit with some of the original members. The club was active into the 1980s.
Hear stories from some of the “Old Timers” about Lester Ray’s Little Blue 1930 Ford Coupe, purchased from his brother, Pat, in 1960. Nephews Mike and James Ray have it now. See many of the trophies the car won into the 1990’s.
2024 Exhibitors & Vendors
Dr. T. Lindsay Baker | Rio Vista, TX
Dr. T. Lindsay Baker is a historian, teacher, and museum curator who has written two dozen books on various aspects of the American West. For a decade he lived just south of old Highway 66 in Amarillo, Texas, and began motoring along its historic pavement in the early 1980s. Although he has driven the highway a number of times, the most memorable occasion was a round trip both directions at an average speed of 35 mph in a four-cylinder 1930 Model A Ford in July 2017. A regular contributor to Route 66 Magazine and state Route 66 association publications, he also authored Portrait of Route 66: Images from the Curt Teich Postcard Archives (University of Oklahoma Press, 2016) and Eating Up Route 66: Foodways on America’s Mother Road (University of Oklahoma Press, in press). Currently he is undertaking research for a history and driving guide to the old highway across the Texas Panhandle. Susan Croce Kelly | Lake of the Ozarks, MO
Route 66 has loomed large in Susan Croce Kelly’s life—she grew up in the St. Louis area, worked as a newspaper reporter in St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri, worked and raised her children in Chicago – all three important Route 66 cities. She is the prize-winning author of two books of Route 66 history: Route 66: The Highway and Its People, and Father of Route 66: the story of Cy Avery. She has written dozens of historical articles in the general press about Route 66, and is a popular speaker on the subject.
As a newspaper reporter, especially in Springfield, Kelly heard a lot about the early days on Route 66, and began collecting those stories. Later, she travelled extensively on what is left of Route 66 with photographer Quinta Scott when they were working on Route 66: the Highway and Its People, a history of the old road. During those years, she became intrigued with Cy Avery’s role in laying out, numbering, paving and making US 66 famous.
Kelly holds a Research Masters degree in American History from Saint Louis University and a B.S. degree from Purdue University. She is former editor and publisher of Ozarks Magazine, a critically-acclaimed travel and general interest publication about the Ozarks region.
She is a former Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Swiss-based Sandoz Agro and Director of Corporate Communications for Monsanto Company. As president of Kirkpatrick International, she wrote prize-winning executive speeches, annual reports, brochures, newsletters, web content and corporate magazines for organizations as diverse as the American Medical Association, Shell Oil, Halliburton and other Fortune 100 companies. These days she edits Ozarks Watch, a magazine of Ozarks history and culture.
She lives not far from Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri, with her husband Joel Kirkpatrick. They have three grown children and two grandchildren.
Louis Allen | Springfield, MO
Rick Bright | Eureka Springs, AR
Shortly after retiring from a finance position with The City of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, it quickly became clear that Rick Bright needed something to fill his time so he took up the hobby of sublimation printing. Initially, he produced mostly drink tumblers but has since been producing many different items – mostly automobile themed and a lot of Route 66 items as Bright is an antique car buff and does many car shows and auctions. He has also moved into custom designs for retail businesses, individuals and private companies. Sharon & Gary Kindell | Chandler, OK
Sharon and Gary are both native Oklahomans and currently live in Chandler, Oklahoma which is between Tulsa and Oklahoma City and is right on Historic Route 66. Quilt 66 is a home-based business in Chandler, Oklahoma which was established in 2019. Since our participation in The Birthplace of Route 66 Festival last year, we were granted Registered Trademarks from the US Patent and Trademark Office for both the ‘Quilt 66 Shield’ logo and the ‘Quilts of the Mother Road’ wordmark. Our main goal is to provide a selection of useful items for Travelers of the Mother Road that were made in a town which lies on The Road – Route 66. Hopefully, those who purchase our products will find that they have a quality souvenir as well as a collector’s item which will help cement their memories of travelling The Mother Road of the USA. Susan Maguffee | Nixa, MO
Susan Maguffee, a native of Branson, Missouri, has dedicated herself to the world of art for over three decades. Her journey began in Lebanon, MO, where she graduated from high school before earning an Associate of Fine Arts degree from Florissant Valley Community College.
Susan’s talent has garnered several accolades, including Best of Show at the Florissant Valley student art show and multiple awards at the Ozark Empire Fair, including First Place and another Best of Show. Her work also earned her Fourth Place at Watercolor USA in Springfield, MO.
Susan teaches watercolor and is a member of the Watercolor USA Honor Society.
Mike & Sharon Ward | Mesa, AZ (maps, postcards)
Mike and Sharon Ward both grew up in Southern Illinois in the towns of Marion and Energy. They never met until after Mike left to join the Air Force in 1966. They married in 1969 and spent the next 20 years traveling and going to where the Air Force said to go, and sometimes travel took them down Route 66. Retirement from the Air Force in 1989 and settling down in Mesa, Arizona meant a change in jobs but it didn’t change their interest in travel. They reconnected with Route 66 in the early 1990s and for the past 30 years or so have traveled and supported Route 66 in many ways. Mike has collected old road maps most of his life and added a Route 66 postcard and match cover collecting hobby about 20 years ago. Those three hobbies have been combined into an interesting and visual display which has been shown at many Route 66 festivals and gatherings. They both enjoy talking to others about Route 66 and sharing their passion for the road. Drop by their display and see if you connect with some of their items. Steve Rider | Albany, NY
Steve Rider, a retired science teacher, is a lifelong resident of Albany, NY. He first travelled the length of Route 66 in 1996 and has driven all or parts of it every year since then. His interest in Route 66 goes back to the 1970s when the school where he was teaching was located on NYS RT66 and he passed the “66” signs every day and reminisced about a family vacation in 1959 that saw them driving on parts of US66. He began collecting Route 66 memorabilia in the early 1990s, specializing in postcards. Steve has written many articles for magazines and in 2018 became one of the partners to rescue the Painted Desert Trading Post in Arizona. He has attended the Springfield Festival every year since 2015 and brings a variety of items to display. This year he is bringing a very special one-of-a-kind item, an item that was featured in major museum exhibitions in Los Angeles and Albuquerque but has otherwise never left his house. Stop by and say hello!
Mark Potter | Vernon, TX
Mark Potter is a writer and historian of Route 66 and owns an extensive collection of historic memorabilia from all along the route. He has traveled virtually the entire route over all eight states from Chicago to Los Angeles over a period of nearly 30 years and has participated in many Route 66 festivals to display his collection and discuss the route and its people. Potter is also the administrator of the Facebook page Route 66 Factoid. Mark Mahy (maps, guides, etc.)
Route 66 Association of Missouri
The Route 66 Association of Missouri is a nonprofit organization established to preserve, promote, and develop Historic Route 66 (The Main Street of America) in the “Show-Me” State. Originating from the efforts of dedicated volunteers who realized Historic 66 in Missouri deserved recognition and preservation, the Association became a reality in early 1990 when it began officially with more charter members than any other state Route 66 Association. Today, Association members number 1,100 and reside in over 40 states plus internationally.
After several years of work by very dedicated Association members in partnership with the Missouri Department of Transportation, and after many public meetings in communities along Route 66, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission voted on Nov. 9, 2005, to designate Missouri Historic Route 66 as a Missouri State Byway. The Byway dedication took place May 5, 2006. The State Historical Society of Missouri
Founded in May 1898 by the Missouri Press Association and established as a trustee of the state a year later, The State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO) is the premier research center for the study of Missouri state and local history. The Society collects, preserves, and publishes materials that enhance research and support learning opportunities in the study of the Midwest. Our mission is to collect, preserve, publish, exhibit, and make available material related to all aspects and periods of Missouri history. SHSMO also seeks to generate interest in and appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of the state and its people through education and outreach. Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society
The Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society grew out of a festival in Lebanon celebrating the 75th birthday of Route 66 on Sept. 8, 2001. The Route 66 Festival committee evolved into the Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society, with the mission “to educate, preserve, promote and develop Route 66 in Laclede County.” The society was incorporated as a nonprofit with the State of Missouri on Jan. 9, 2003, and is now recognized as a 501 (c)(3), enabling donations to it to be tax-deductible.
The society’s first major project was to campaign successfully for the new Lebanon-Laclede County Library to include a Route 66 museum. Society members even drew the preliminary floor plan for the museum, which today is visited by 14,000 Route 66 enthusiasts annually from all over the world. Kansas Historic Route 66 Association
Promoting, preserving and protecting the 13.2 miles of Route 66 in Kansas. Kansas Route 66 Association
The Kansas Route 66 Association is to Dedicated to the Historic Preservation of Route 66 in Kansas and to promote, enhance, perpetuate, and encourage the development of tourism, economic opportunities, and historic resources and landmarks along the roadways known as U.S. Highway 66, Historic Route 66, or Route 66. The Association’s focus will be on the 13.2 miles situated in Cherokee County and the State of Kansas. The Association will also take part in cooperative efforts that promote the Route’s interests on a national level. The Association’s activities will include fund raising, coordination of activities within the county and state as well as the development of events and economic development economic development activities and providing assistance to communities along the Route.
Shortest Part of the Strip, Best Part of the Trip
Oklahoma Route 66 Association
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association promotes, enhances, perpetuates and encourages the development of tourism, economic opportunities and historic resources and landmarks along Oklahoma’s section of Route 66, including the counties of: Ottawa, Delaware, Craig, Rogers, Tulsa, Creek, Lincoln, Oklahoma, Canadian, Caddo, Blaine, Custer, Washita, and Beckham.
We are a not-for profit organization made up of volunteers who are dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Route 66. As spelled out in our bylaws, the Association is managed by a team of elected officers.
The Association also takes part in cooperative efforts that promote the Route’s interests on a national level. Activities include coordination of all statewide efforts, development of events statewide, help in identifying sites of historic or cultural significance and providing assistance to communities along the Route that may wish to develop Route 66 projects. The Association publishes a periodic newsletter that is mailed to our members around the world. We also publish our Official Oklahoma Route 66 Association Trip Guide—a large-format driving aid that is updated every year and is filled with information and maps to inform and enhance the Route 66 experience.
We serve as the non-governmental body that coordinates statewide economic development, enhancement, improvement, preservation and recognition of U.S. Route 66 in Oklahoma. In keeping with our mandate, we generate whatever finances and pressures we can to save Route 66 landmarks from decay or destruction.
Ozarks Studies Institute | Springfield, MO
The Ozarks Studies Institute, an initiative of the Missouri State University Libraries, seeks to preserve the heritage of the Ozarks, its culture, environment, and history by fostering a comprehensive knowledge of the Ozarks’ peoples, places, characteristics, and dynamics. The Institute promotes a sense of place for residents and visitors alike and serves as an educational resource by collecting existing and discovering new knowledge about the Ozarks and by providing access to that knowledge. Pulaski County Tourism Bureau & Visitor Center | St. Robert, MO
The Pulaski County Tourism Bureau and Visitors Center’s knowledgeable personnel will help you find all the information you need to plan your vacation here in the heart of the Ozarks. Float and fish along our scenic riverways, play a round of golf, go antiquing, explore museums, take aim at an indoor shooting range, or enjoy one of the local festivals. Discover Pulaski’s 33 miles of Route 66 with 66+ stops, and see our unique sites on the Mother Road including Devils Elbow, Route 66 Neon Wall, Frog Rock and the 8-foot Route 66 Shield that will fill your scrap book with some great memories. Dine and stay in Pulaski, for this central location will find you conveniently in the middle of it all in Missouri! Find more information at PulaskiCountyUSA.com, and request a free Historic Route 66 Driving Tour and get away guide for the most Welcome Place in America’s Heartland. Missouri Division of Tourism | Near Conway, MO
The Missouri Division of Tourism promotes all of Missouri’s unique travel destinations and road trips, including Route 66. They offer the Missouri Route 66 Welcome Center on I-44 near Conway. Informational materials are provided for all there is to see and do in Missouri. Take a trip down Missouri Route 66, and “Enjoy the Show! Visit Joplin | Joplin, MO
Visit Joplin MO, the destination experts of Southwest Missouri, are here to help you plan your Journey through Joplin. A crossroads of culture lies tucked away in the Ozarks of Southwest Missouri. Interstate 44, Interstate 49, and Historic Route 66 unite in Joplin, Missouri. Adventures can dig into our history, form mining to modern day, experience local cuisine form soul food to gourmet burgers, and appreciate art that inspires and enlightens. The Road will bring you, but the experience will keep you. City of Lebanon Tourism | Lebanon, MO
With 37 miles of Route 66 to explore, Laclede County welcomes visitors from all over the world! Tour the free Route 66 Museum and gift shop at the Lebanon-Laclede County Library. See the Gasconade River Bridge at Hazelgreen that is in danger of being torn down. Enjoy a race at the NASCAR-sanctioned I-44 Speedway. Stay at the newly restored Lenz Manor. Photograph the iconic neon sign at the Munger Moss Motel. Taste a fried-bologna sandwich at historic Wrinks Market. Pose your car in front of the Route 66 murals at Boswell Park, site of the Lebanon Route 66 Festival on Father’s Day weekend. Check out Shepherd Hills Factory Outlets. Shopping, dining, lodging, antiquing and more await you in Lebanon, the Heart of Route 66! Past Exhibit Highlights
Event Details
Exhibits Coordinator
Shirley Robbins: shirleyrobbins.WCNA@hotmail.com
Aug. 9, 2024
Authors, Artists, Collectors & Associations
Friday | 12 – 4 PM
Aug. 10, 2024
Authors, Artists, Collectors & Associations
Saturday | 10 AM – 4 PM
Participant & Vendor Info
We’d love to have you be a part of the 2024 event. You will need a Group Sales Event license from the City of Springfield if you are selling a service, face-painting, or merchandise. The minimum, one-month version is only $5!
More information, including additional length terms and pricing, is included on the Group Sales Event application.