Route 66 Centennial
Hemmings Great Race celebrates Route 66's centennial with vintage vehicles in San Bernardino.
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More than 114 vintage cars rolled into San Bernardino on Saturday as the Hemmings Great Race made its overnight stop along Historic Route 66, marking 100 years since the iconic highway was first named Press Enterprise. The antique vehicles — some dating back as far as 1911 — arrived at San Manuel Stadium between 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM, drawing crowds of car enthusiasts and history buffs to the Inland Empire San Bernardino Sun.
The 2026 race is a 2,300-mile, nine-day precision rally crossing eight states. It started in Springfield, Illinois on June 20 and ends in Pasadena, where a $160,000 prize purse will be awarded Daily Bulletin.
Vintage Cars Take Over San Manuel Stadium
The welcome ceremony at San Manuel Stadium ran from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Fans could walk among the cars for free. Shortly after, the Inland Empire 66ers threw a ceremonial first pitch to kick off their baseball game against the San Jose Giants Pasadena Star News.
All cars in the race must have been built in 1974 or earlier. That cutoff is no accident. Route 66 was still an active U.S. highway until 1985, so the cars on the road reflect the era when the route was alive Redlands Daily Facts.
Route 66 Turns 100 — San Bernardino's Deep Connection
Route 66 was officially commissioned on November 11, 1926. In San Bernardino, Mt. Vernon Avenue and 5th Street became a lifeline for Dust Bowl migrants and post-WWII travelers San Bernardino Sun. Mayor Helen Tran called the highway "our Main Street of America" since its paving through the city in 1938.
The national centennial kicked off on April 30, 2026, when the Route 66 Centennial Commission marked 100 years since the highway's name was first proposed by telegram from Springfield, Missouri Press Enterprise. The Great Race was officially named a "Sanctioned Centennial Event" by the federal commission.
Competitors Come From Across the Globe for $50,000 Top Prize
The Great Race is not about speed. It is a time-speed-distance rally, meaning teams win by matching a precise target time — not by finishing first Daily Bulletin. Race Director Jeff Stumb has called the 2026 event a "bucket list" experience, drawing competitors from Japan, England, and Australia.
The winning team takes home $50,000 out of the total $160,000 purse. The formal finish line is Pasadena City Hall at 100 N. Garfield Ave, with winners announced at 4:00 PM on Sunday Pasadena Star News.
San Bernardino Hopes Centennial Buzz Fuels Local Revival
City officials are using the Route 66 spotlight to push for redevelopment along the historic corridor. Landmarks like the Wigwam Motel are central to those plans Redlands Daily Facts. The city recently passed a $329.5 million budget for 2026-27, but faces an $11 million deficit — making high-profile events like this one a key tool for drawing outside investment.
Tourism planners are framing San Bernardino and neighboring cities as a "linear village" — one connected community strung along the Mother Road Press Enterprise. The goal is to turn one weekend of centennial attention into a full year of increased visitors and spending along the route.
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