(October 11, 2013) — What do Lake Shore Drive, the Grand Canyon and Mickey Mantle's boyhood home have in common? They're all on the same street, more or less. Featured in "Route 66: The People, The Places, The Dream," these are just three of the many fascinating sites along one of America's longest and iconic roadways.

This coffee-table book, full of picturesque images, chronicles the adventures of two friends, Sal Santoro and Bob Walton, as they drive across the eight states that make up “America's Main Street.”

Starting at Lake Shore Drive in Chicago — where Route 66 officially begins — Santoro and Walton motor through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. After nearly 2,500 miles, they end up in Santa Monica, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. And the two gearheads travel in style: their chariot is Walton's cherry-red 1968 Cadillac DeVille.

The trip takes 21 days, so Santoro and Walton aren't looking to break any speed records. They savor their time on the road, talking with the locals and appreciating various stopping points that have became etched into the fabric of the country.

There's the Oklahoma City National Memorial, site of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The vast peaks and valleys along the Continental Divide in New Mexico. And — perhaps the most anticipated stop — the zany Cadillac Ranch, with its row of 1950s and 1960s Cadillacs buried nose down and tailfins reaching for the sky.

Santoro and Walton even spend a night in a teepee at the Wigwam Motel in Rialto, Calif., which only adds to the fun.

This light-hearted Route 66 is geared toward car lovers everywhere, making it a great roadmap for cross-country road trips—and a nice addition to any dealership's customer lounge. 
Source: NADA Public Affairs

Editor's note: Route 66, The People-The Places-The Dream is now a Jay Leno's book club selection. Click here for purchasing information and to see Leno's interview with he authors.