Route 66 is celebrating its 100th year anniversary this year–and what a fun kick-off Amboy gave it on March 7, 2026. Town manager, Kenneth Large, explained Roy’s Motel and Cafe in Amboy, California, owned by the Okura family, always wanted to have a car show. Last year, Amboy finally got to see a dream take shape. Kenneth’s friend, Kenny Earls, launched the Time Travelers Car Club, and it exploded into something bigger than anyone expected, a wide‑open, all‑welcome gathering of every kind of classic car you can imagine.
Kenny Earls of West Coast Kustom’s Arizona was the first one who really showed up for Amboy. He didn’t just say he wanted a car show; he walked in with cars, with heart, with his sleeves already rolled up. He was the one who believed in what Kenneth was trying to build before it even existed, and he put in the time, the effort, and the faith that helped turn an idea into something real.
That first show brought in about 188 rides, and this year the field nearly doubled, swelling to around 375. Numbers like that don’t just mark growth, they echo the spirit of the club and the community gathering around it, a kind of heartbeat rising out of the dust. And woven through all of it is the quiet, stubborn love people still hold for the little town of Amboy. Every polished engine and every mile traveled to get there feels like a small prayer for a place that still matters.
Kenneth Large carries a perspective few others have. As a Historic Route 66 board member, he works alongside volunteers who pour their hearts into preserving the Mother Road, watching the direction they choose and the legacy they’re trying to protect. At the same time, he’s operating Amboy almost entirely on his own as a living Route 66 destination; greeting travelers while keeping the Cafe open for gas and refreshments that means more than most people realize.
Beneath all of that is the view this military veteran had his whole life as a desert resident, who’s watched towns fade, landmarks crumble, and history slip into silence. What drives him now is the hope of seeing things come back, not just as memories, but as living pieces of the past brought forward for a new generation.
Kenneth is one of the few who’s actually made the trip to both the national and international Route 66 events, the kind of gatherings where the future of the Mother Road is shaped. And in California, he stands alone as the sole representative speaking as a true stakeholder, not just an enthusiast volunteer. It’s a rare position, one that carries both responsibility and perspective. While others show up out of passion, Kenneth shows up carrying the voice of Amboy, the desert, and the history he’s been fighting to keep alive.
Since 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Route 66, Roy’s Motel and Cafe planned to honor that milestone in true desert style, planning Amboy’s biggest, boldest car show yet, a celebration worthy of the Mother Road’s century-long story.
And in the middle of all that excitement, the Yucca Valley Sunset Rotary stepped in and rented us their stage, a simple gesture that felt huge. Seeing that stage rise against the desert backdrop of the Bristol Mountains, knowing a local group believed in what we were building, added its own kind of movie‑moment to the day. It was one more reminder that this show isn’t just about cars; it’s about the community stepping forward, piece by piece, to help something special take shape.
The man, the myth, the legend, Amboy town manager, Kenneth Large.
Mr. Ken’s pick for the car show winner and the recipient of the $500 prize was Sandra Filkill, who rolled in with a stunning 90% original 1940 Dodge after driving all the way from Placerville, California. Her arrival felt like a scene out of a classic road film, the kind that reminds you why people still chase the horizon.
The soundtrack of the day came alive with performances by Sarah Barlow, Hard Rooster, and Forever Came Calling, each band adding its own pulse to the desert air and turning the show into something unforgettable.
John with Four Miles East of Bagdad author and historian, Steve Reyes.
Albert Okura’s story started in Southern California in 1951. The son of parents who, just a few years earlier, were interred at a forced relocation camp for Japanese Americans during WW2. Albert’s Father had been a minor league baseball player for a Japanese team at the time but joined the U.S. Army.
His son, Kyle, never met anyone with so much energy, drive and ambition as his Dad. Albert was the only person he knew that could work 365 days a year from morning until night. An opportunity arose to buy a whole town in the Mojave Desert. For Albert, it was kismet. Kyle poignantly recalled the day in 2005 when he found out. Kyle was 12 years old and on the computer playing video games.
He remembered his Dad announcing to the family he was going to buy a town. Kyle was confused and asked him to explain. Albert reiterated it’s a town called Amboy and I’m going to buy it. Kyle still could not fathom his Dad’s decision and asked why. Albert grinned, looked him straight in the eye and asked, “Who do you know that owns a town?” Suddenly the concept seemed cool. Albert passed away at age 71 on January 27, 2023. However, thanks to the Okura family and Kenneth Large, Amboy continues to live.
Michelle Caporosso Mckie was crowned Miss Amboy 2026, a moment that felt stitched straight into the town’s long, sun‑bleached history. Twenty‑one contestants stepped forward in costumes honoring the Mother Road, echoing the days when Amboy was a bright stop on a long journey, a place where travelers paused for refreshment and stories traded hands.
Miss Route 66 Newberry Springs, Miss Karla Claus, with Needles Mayor Jernigan.
Two planes swept in over the desert and touched down at the Amboy Airport, as if the sky itself wanted a front‑row seat to the celebration. It felt like something straight out of the old Route 66 legends, the kind of moment where the dust lifts, and the whole world seems to lean in. When those planes rolled to a stop beside the gathering of chrome and history, it was clear: this wasn’t just a car show anymore. It was Amboy calling out across the Mother Road, and people were answering from every direction.
Kenneth Large works hard to promote Amboy but is humble. He expressed his appreciation to every single person who helped him along the way, and everyone who showed up to support the event. Standing there in the middle of it all, he truly felt the weight and wonder of a 100th‑anniversary celebration, not just in the size of the crowd, but in the way people came together. What meant the most was how deeply inclusive it all felt, a gathering where everyone who attended had an important role.
John visited with Beth Murray, President of the Historic Route 66 Association. What a font of knowledge. Thank you for all you do to promote Route 66!
It’s always a blast meeting up with former jarhead Joe Foltz. Joe entered his sassy green Bullit Mustang in the car show. Semper fi!
Kenneth expressed his deep appreciation for Kenny Earls, Jared Johnson, David Ayre, Heather Russel, Mason Lemerande, Nicole R. and all the other people who stood beside him, lifted the vision, and helped turn a simple idea into a gathering with real heart.
Wonderhussy. Photo courtesy of Jonas Yuan @strobeast
YouTubers and models Sarah of Wonderhussy Adventures, and HotRod Holly Ansman proved to be fan favorites, the kind of personalities and eye candy who fit right into Amboy’s quirky, storied heartbeat. Authors Steve Reyes of Four Miles East of Bagdad also attended. Beth Murray, President of the Historic Route 66 Association, hosted a popular membership booth. Her vivacious vice president, Delvin Harbour, was also there to lend a helpful hand and mingle with the crowd. Author John Wease and his lovely wife sold homemade jams from Newberry Springs. Even the California Highway Patrol had a booth.
Photo of HotRod Holly Ansman courtesy of K. Mikael Wallin @Customikes
Route 66 Museum owner in Victorville and Barstow, Brendan O’Brien, was also an appreciated supporter. The personable Mayor of Needles, Janet Jernigan, also hosted a booth promoting Route 66. Their presence added an unexpected spark, a reminder that Amboy still has the power to draw in motorheads, storytellers, adventurers, and anyone chasing a good tale of yesteryear along the Mother Road.
John with the Mayor of Needles, California, Janet Jernigan. She leads the City Council and serves on the Needles Public Utility Authority.
John got really excited when he spied a hotrod just like his father used to own in his youth. Known as a rat rod, it is a style of custom hot rod designed to have a purposefully unfinished, weathered, or “patina” appearance, often built using low-budget or vintage components.
Taking a lap on Route 66 around Amboy in Julie Stocker’s bright yellow Meyers Manx was so much fun! Now we have to get one because it matches our Jeep. Note to self: there are no door handles because there are no doors! Just climb right in. The iconic dune buggy company was founded by Bruce Meyers in 1964. Julie is the granddaughter of Sheriff James W. Stocker, former owner of the Whitewater Ranch.
YouTuber Mr. Mojave Guy, Bill Inglehart, and John. It was also great bumping into Delvin Harbour (not picured), vice president of the Historic Route 66 Association.
Old friends found each other in the crowd, new friendships sparked over engines and stories, and Desert Way decals flew out by the handful like souvenirs from a day that already felt legendary.
Kenneth Large is already gearing up for the 2027 event, and the momentum is unmistakable. Hard Rooster and Sara Barlow are set to return, bringing that same electric energy that lit up the desert this year, and the pin‑up girls will be back to give the show that classic Route 66 charm.
Someone has already stepped forward to sponsor every single trophy, a sign of just how strongly the community is rallying behind this event. And the excitement is so real that the first two cars have already called in, eager to claim their spot for next year. Amboy’s story just keeps growing more legendary. We had so much fun and we’re looking forward to the next show!
Kenneth Large brought in Albert Okura’s Monster Chicken truck he used for parades. It broke down in transit to Amboy, so Kenneth Large repaired it. Photo courtesy K. Large.
The latest E Clampus Vitus plaque in Amboy, situated next to the post office, was unveiled on January 16, 2026, by Billy Holcomb Chapter 1069. The monument was dedicated during a Route 66 Centennial celebration event at Roy’s Motel & Cafe. Known as “the Clampers,” they are fraternal “historians” often in red shirts who place plaques at historical sites, honoring miners and supporting widows.
We hope you get the opportunity to tour Route 66 on its centennial this year but we especially hope you visit Amboy. The route begins in Chicago, Illinois, and ends at the Santa Monica Pier in California. Check social media for scheduled caravans you may want to join. Please do not miss this important tourist corridor on Route 66 by staying on the boring interstate. Always check ahead for possible detours on areas of Route 66 due to weather or repairs and plan accordingly. Feel free to contact us for helpful itinerary suggestions along California Route 66 in the eastern Mojave Desert.
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