On May 30, official Guinness World Records adjudicator Michael Empric announced that, with an official count of 3,596 classic cars, Tulsa’s Route 66 Capital Cruise: Classic Car Centennial Parade set the Guinness World Records title for largest parade of classic cars. The new record beat the previous mark by 1,105 cars, city officials stated in a press release.
“I am so proud of Tulsa and so thrilled to set a new world record,” said Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols. “Tulsa’s Route 66 Capital Cruise was a nearly year-long effort from partners all over Tulsa to remind the world that we are the Capital of Route 66, and that no city does things the way Tulsa does. Now, for the next hundred years, whenever anyone mentions the Centennial of Route 66, they’ll remember Tulsa, Oklahoma.”
Mayor Nichols was one of the Cruise’s grand marshals, along with Route 66 historian and author Michael Wallis; Vice Grip Garage founder Derek Bieri; family of the Father of Route 66 Cyrus Avery, led by grandson Bob Berghell; and Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell.
“For years, we have looked to 2026 as a Super Bowl in Oklahoma, and today, Tulsa delivered,” said Lt. Governor Pinnell. “Capital Cruise was a massive undertaking, and it paid off in a massive way, nearly doubling the existing world record, proving that Route 66 is not just central to the history of Oklahoma, but the future as well. Congratulations, Tulsa. Here’s to the next hundred years of the Mother Road.”
3,596 Cars From 42 States, Canada & France Roll Down Route 66
Drivers from 42 states, Canada and France participated in Capital Cruise, bringing more international attention to Tulsa, noted the release.
“All I can say is, of course we did. Because Tulsa has never relented its spirit when it sets its mind to a thing,” said Tulsa Route 66 commission chair, Tulsa City Council vice chair and Tulsa City Councilor for District 6 Christian Bengel. “It’s who we are. I always believed we would set the record, but never in my own vision of its grandeur and splendor did I imagine Capital Cruise becoming such a shared and anticipated worldwide phenomenon. I said Tulsa had the true moxie to show out, show off, and continue our legacy of being legendary, and I couldn’t be prouder of our city. The memory of seeing thousands of classic cars rolling down Route 66 will forever be imprinted on my mind. Congratulations, Tulsa, take a bow.”
Cars began leaving Tulsa’s Expo Square at 8 a.m. The final car reached the adjudicator stage at Mother Road Market at 11:30 a.m. with an estimated 100,000 spectators.
Over the course of the route, 16 different Cruise Party Zones turned parking lots into block parties for spectators. An authentic Route 66-era Oklahoma Highway Patrol car was the final car.