Route 66 Lives: WESTWAYS Features ``The Mother Road''; Magazine Also Highlights the Importance of Public Transit

    LOS ANGELES--May 1, 2001--WESTWAYS magazine's May/June issue features the nostalgia of Route 66 with writers Alan Rider and Robert Earle Howells describing their adventures touring the "mother road" on the eve of the road's 75th anniversary.
    Readers can join the pair, who began their adventure in Chicago in a 2000 Chevrolet Corvette hardtop, as they travel west to the Santa Monica Pier. A scenic view of landscapes and sunsets, stops in small towns, cafe dining, offbeat attractions and wrong turns make the 2,400-mile journey a road trip of a lifetime.
    In "Going Public," Auto Club Principal Transportation Policy Specialist Steve Finnegan and Martin Wachs, director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Berkley, explain the importance of public transit and how transit in Southern California faces significant challenges. The feature also describes types of transit and driving alternatives.
    The May/June issue's new Western Landmarks column features the West Coast icon, the Goodyear Blimp. WESTWAYS Editor-in-Chief John Lehrer offers the blimp's history, operation and place in pop culture during a question and answer column with chief pilot L.J. "Nick" Nicolary. "City Views" continues with Chicago and highlights the Windy City's history, world class museums, architecture, steakhouses and ethnic cuisine.
    The magazine's automotive section highlights how you might get your car repaired for free even after the warranty coverage has expired. WESTWAYS also reviews three vehicles that blur the lines between sport utility vehicle and station wagon. The best and worst features of the Volvo V70 Cross Country, Pontiac Aztek GT and Ford Explorer Sport Trac are put through the paces.
    Off-Ramp features Route 66 in Old Pasadena in 1940 and today. Auto Club Archivist Morgan Yates offers a brief history of the area and signposts of Pasadena's past and redevelopment.
    The May/June WESTWAYS offers restaurants with Mexican flair and fare where WESTWAYS readers can celebrate Cinco de Mayo. The issue also offers how-to consumer tips, eight great used-book stores and places to visit after dark. WESTWAYS' "hot" spots for Mexican foods are:

-- Bon Appetit: Taco Mesa, Ladera Ranch, Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo
    Javier's Cantina & Grill, Laguna Beach
    Cafe El Cholo, La Habra
    Carlitos Cafe and Cantina, Santa Barbara
    La Super-Rica, Santa Barbara
    Old Juan's Cantina, Oceano, Central Coast
    El Agave Tequileria, San Diego
    Baja Lobster Restaurant, Chula Vista
    Don Chuy, Solana Beach

    Other Features:

--	After Dark: All the World's a Stage at Sing Sing, Irvine Spectrum
--	A Sense of Place: The Lake Shrine
--	Off-Ramp: Route 66 in Old Pasadena

    WESTWAYS, the lifestyle magazine for Southern California, features trends, automotive and travel trendsetters, lifestyle and home entertainment. For more information, call Carol Thorp or Elaine Beno at 714/885-2333.

    Note to Editors: Reporters and producers may quote WESTWAYS and WESTWAYS experts for attribution or conduct interviews with WESTWAYS representatives.