“Once again road trips are becoming more about the journey rather than the destination and I see that as a very encouraging sign that maybe people are realizing the merit of enjoying the journey.” – Richard Ratay
Richard Ratay (@RichRatay) is the author of Don’t Make Me Pull Over!, an informal history of the family road trip.
In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Richard discuss the history of long-haul automobile travel and the interstate highway system (6:00); the effects of interstate highways on American travel culture (19:00); the station wagon and the evolution of the road trip car (35:00); and the decline of the road trip Golden Age (48:00).
Notable Links:
- Henry Ford (founder of Ford Motor Company)
- Horatio Nelson Jackson (automobile pioneer)
- Desert Solitaire, by Edward Abbey (book)
- Howard Deering Johnson (entrepreneur and businessman)
- Motel 6 (hotel chain)
- Ralph Teeter (inventor of cruise control)
- I Can’t Drive 55 (song by Sammy Hagar)
- Citizens Band Radio (short distance radio communications)
- Convoy (song)
- Convoy (movie)
- Wooly Willy (toy)
- Handheld electronic games
- Mattel (toy manufacturing company)
- The Sears Christmas Wish Book was (truly) great American literature (Deviate podcast episode)
- 8-track tape (sound recording technology)
- Bill Lear (inventor and businessman)
- Barry Manilow (musician)
- M*A*S*H (TV series)
- MacArthur Park (song)
- Duran Duran (band)
- Herb Kelleher (founder of Southwest Airlines)
- Airline Deregulation Act
The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.
Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.
