“Cars didn’t drive on it to make great time. They drove on it to have a great time,” said Sally Carrera, referring to Route 66 in the movie “Cars.” At that moment, Lightning McQueen and Sally were overlooking a beautiful desert landscape and seeing how the interstate cut through the land, sticking out like a sore thumb. The movie then cuts to a heartfelt montage that shows what life was like when it was only “The Mother Road” that traversed the country. One group of classic car enthusiasts are looking to relive those days and raise funds for Drive Toward a Cure’s “Special Assistance” Grant Fund by traveling from Kingman, Arizona, to Chicago between September 28 and October 7, 2026.
Image courtesy of Drive Towards a Cure
Celebrating Route 66’s 100-year anniversary is only a small part of this journey for Monty Belsham and Brian Macy, the organizers of this caravan. Monty had wanted to drive Route 66 for a while, though it seemed a far-off dream until acquiring a 1953 Hudson Hornet. After that, Brian began talking to Monty about a Route 66 trip he wanted to do and how he was putting together a caravan; Monty jumped at the opportunity.
“I’ve wanted to drive Route 66 for more than 20 years, and I always imagined it would be about the cars, the road and the people you meet along the way,” says Monty. “But having my dad living with Parkinson’s changes what those miles mean. Now we have the opportunity to do something we love while bringing attention to something that affects our family — and so many others. Dad may be watching from British Columbia, but he’ll be riding with me every mile.”
Image courtesy of Drive Towards a Cure
Brian and his wife Heather will be traveling in a 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery once owned by his grandfather. As the founder of Horsepower Connection and The EFI Store, Brian rebuilt the Ford specifically for this journey. This trek is special to him as he has faced his own health battle with multiple myeloma in 2015, a cancer that also took his grandfather.
“Cars have always had a way of bringing people together, and that’s really what this trip has become,” says Brian. “We started with the idea of taking these cars on one of America’s great roads. But once you hear how many people within our own group have been touched by Parkinson’s, the trip takes on a different meaning. If the cars get people to stop, ask questions, and learn why we’re doing this, then every mile can accomplish something.”
Raising awareness and finding a cure for Parkinson’s is personal for others participating in the caravan.
Image courtesy of Drive Towards a Cure
Joie and Andrea Catucci from Lake Havasu City, Arizona, will be driving a 1955 Chevrolet 3100 in remembrance of Andrea’s brother-in-law, who lost his battle with Parkinson’s in 2024.
Dodie Carcel and Rudy Reyes of Pasadena, California, have witnessed the effects of Parkinson’s disease firsthand on their family members, friends, and fellow members of the Pasadena Elks Lodge. They will be making the journey in their 2017 GMC Sierra.
Drive Toward a Cure’s “Special Assistance” Grant Fund exists to provide direct support for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease. If you’re interested in donating (or just following their journey starting on September 28), click here.
