“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 Lu mber.

Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

On American Highways I: A brief history of family road-trips in the USA

Deviate

On American Highways I: A brief history of family road-trips in the USA