I’ve come to the tiny Meadow Gold District of Tulsa, in the north east of Oklahoma, ahead of Route 66’s 100th anniversary to meet the passionate individuals working to preserve one of America’s most iconic stretches of road. Snaking for 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles, crossing eight states and three time zones, this ribbon of tarmac has carried generations westward in search of escape, opportunity or simply the irresistible thrill of the open road. A century on, it remains a symbol of the great American road trip — and that’s partly thanks to locals like Mary Beth, who continue to upgrade it for a new wave of drivers.