Central Oklahoma

THE HEAT CAN’T DETER THE TOUR OF THE MOTHER ROAD.

On Saturday June 25, Twenty  MBCA members beat the 101-degree heat and took a drive on America’s “Mother Road” (Route 66) through Northeastern Oklahoma from Vinita to West Tulsa. The drive  included MBCA National President Julie Bruggner and 8 members from the Ozark section.

Eastern Oklahoma members met and departed Jackie Cooper Mercedes Benz at 8:30am and met up with the Ozark section members at the parking lot of the Vinita OK  Wal-Mart. Each car was presented an Oklahoma Travel guide, Route 66 travel guide, Route 66 passport, Tulsa map directions, a trip guide of highlights, icy water, and a snack.

Members made stops at Ed Galloways Totem Pole Park (Chelsea), The Blue Whale (Catoosa), Meadow Gold Neon billboard (Tulsa),  Tulsa Route 66 fire station, Buck Atoms Cosmic Curios (Tulsa), Boston Avenue United Methodist Church (Tulsa), and Route 66 park (Tulsa). Additional landmarks along the way included: Route 66 Rising sculpture, Desert Hills motel, Tally’s Route 66 diner, Mother Road Market, Greenwood Avenue, Cain’s ballroom, Cyrus Avery Park, “Cry Baby Hill”,  and Cyrus Avery Plaza.

Lunch was served at the famous White River Fish Market location on Sheridan Road in Tulsa. Members feasted on fresh seafood and refreshing salads. Participants received an Oklahoma  Route 66 Passport and could collect stamps at the various participating spots.

We in eastern Oklahoma are fortunate to have this famous roadway in our neighborhood. 2026 will mark the 100’th anniversary of this landmark. It was great to participate with the Ozark Section for this fun driving event.

Joint Poker Run always a fun event

Thirty-two members in seventeen cars participated in the second annual joint poker run between the Eastern Oklahoma and Ozark sections on Saturday April 9, 2022.

The day started with a breakfast sandwich, fruit, and coffee provided by Jackie Cooper Mercedes Benz at their Tulsa  showroom. From there  20 Eastern Oklahoma section members headed east to the Amish Cheese House in Choteau OK to meet up with 12 Ozark section members.

At each stop players drew a card from a single deck placed in a special MBCA paint bucket. Cards were recorded and the winning hand was chosen by a designated point system after 5 stops with face cards being their value, Aces as 1 point and royalty cards awarded from 12-14 points.

The drive included stops at three Cherokee or Creek Nation casinos where drivers could drop-in and play a quick slot or gather and catch up from the last time MBCA members had seen each other. The weather cooperated fully, and the drive was spirited through scenic eastern OK- especially the drive along the Illinois River watershed from Tahlequah to Westville with many curves and the foliage just beginning to open up.

Each player contributed $10 to participate. We ended up with $310 total in the “kitty”. 50% of the cash was awarded to the highest hand. 25% went to the Eastern Oklahoma section and 25% went to the Ozark section treasuries. Highest hand went to Harriet Kushnerick who donated her prize to the Eastern Oklahoma section.

The last stop on the journey was at 28 Springs restaurant in downtown Siloam Springs AR. There members had the restaurant all to themselves with a select menu of salads, sandwiches, and entrees. An award ceremony concluded the event with the following members winning prizes:

Door prize baskets awarded by random drawing:

Brandon Bebout won a themed “Moscow Mule” basket

Barbera Lowinger won a “Rum basket”

Eric Anderson won a basket filled with crackers and snacks

Additional prizes awarded in the following categories:

Oldest car on the drive:   Tom DeLorbe  1973 450sl

Birthday closest to the event:  Anna Winkler  April 11-2 days after the event

Worst playing hand:  Carolyn Fuchs

Thanks to Dottie and John Miller of the Ozark section for their help in organizing the event and to Kristen and Brandon Bebout of Jackie Cooper for the great breakfast and travel bags of water and snacks to help members make it through the event. Can’t wait till next year’s event

PS: The author received a written warning for speeding from officer Chris Gilfillon of the Fort Gibson police department during the event. Thank you, Officer Gilfillon, for the warning and not a ticket. Clearly my fault being the last driver and trying to catch the tail of the pack.