Route 66 is an American legacy. One of America’s very first highways, it inspired everything from songs to memorabilia to a spot in the 2006 Pixar animated film, Cars. The highway covers a total distance of 2,451 miles or 3,045 kilometers. Although the route was officially removed from the United States highway system on June 27th, 1985, it still retains a historical significance in American culture and portions of it have been declared Historic Route 66.
So as you can see, with all this history behind the highway, there is no way that people are going to forget about it. Car enthusiast Ron Jones, however, is one such person who certainly couldn’t forget about Route 66 even if he tried (not that he would ever want to, of course). Ron loves cars and he loves Route 66. Since 2000, Ron has been collecting tattoos of some of the pitstops, cities and landmarks that dot the famous route. Now, 10 years later, Ron has managed to cover himself in no less than 82 different Route 66 themed tattoos.
Ron travels to various car shows in his customized red, white and blue 1956 Chevy, showing off both his car and his tattoos. Although he’s received some negative opinions of his tattoos as well as his passion for them, there is still plenty of positive attention and appreciation for this 61-year-old’s passion for ink.
“A lot of guys have tattoos of devils and skulls and some things satanic, but that just wasn’t me.”
Though Ron says that he’s running out of space on his body for more tattoos, I’m personally wondering what kind of tattoo he has planned to coincide with his 66th birthday when it comes. I’m guessing that it’s going to have something to do with a certain route, but that’s just a hunch.