Ramone's Paint and Body Shop was inspired by the old Conoco gas station in Shamrock, TX.
The mountain range that sets the backdrop for the film is courtesy Cadillac Ranch, just west of Amarillo, TX.
It was 111 degrees when we stopped at Cadillac Ranch. It's just this huge dusty field in the middle of flat, windy west Texas. Britton cocked his eyebrow at me when I started getting everyone out of the car. You must walk a good 100 yards to get to the cars. He was a good sport about it and even found a can of spray paint with enough left to graffiti our last name. But here are his top quotes from the event...
"That was like standing in front of an open oven."
"OK.....definitely in the bottom three road stops EVER."
"The dirty air blowing in my face was like sucking a car exhaust pipe."
(looking through photos in the car)
"The kids look like they're mad and wanna cuss in all these pics. If Miles would have cussed, I wouldn't even have been mad."
I just always want to remember what he said because it had me in stitches the entire time we were there and for miles down the road.
Luigi's Casa Della Tires and the leaning tower of tires is partly inspired by this old leaning water tower. You can read it's interesting history HERE. Basically, the deliberate lean was used as a marketing gimic by the man who owned the truck stop and restaurant where it sat. People would stop in to make sure all was ok and while they were there, the would eat and fill up their gas tank.
In Tucumcari, NM, you can see the film's inspiration for the mountain shaped like a radiator cap. Each year, local high school students repaint the town's initial.
And though it's not from the movie, there was a very nice rest stop with a car museum in it near the New Mexico border. It was a great place to get out and let the kids stretch their legs and offered free admission. If you're traveling that direction, it's a must.
"Adventurer Miles" enjoyed making these connections, but probably not more than me!
No comments:
Post a Comment