Tammy Haines-Garrard, formerly from Fort Fairfield, won the title, Mrs. Route 66 in a pageant held in Barstow, California last month. contributed photo

By: David Deschesne

Fort Fairfield Journal, October 24, 2007, p. 1

BARSTOW, CA - Tammy Haines- Garrard, daughter of Herbert Haines in Fort Fairfield, was crowned Mrs. Route 66 in a national pageant held in Barstow, California, on September 8, 2007.

As part of the competition, each contestant was asked to describe her most special moment on Route 66.

“In December, 1951, my father traveled the entirety of Route 66 from Riverside, California to Chicago, Illinois on his way home to Maine.” she said. “At the pageant I told about the time he came to visit my family and me in 2004. We drove together down portions of Route 66 as he reminisced about the times and his experiences over fifty years ago.”

Garrard has already had two engagements as Mrs. Route 66; the 18th Annual Stater Bros. Route 66 Rendezvous classic car show, in San Bernardino and the Crusin’ for the Cure car show in Barstow, California.

“The Route 66 Rendezvous was a huge car show. There were over 2,000 classic cars there.”

As part of the car show, a parade of cars go “cruisin” down Main street on display.

“I got a chance to cruise in a 1958 Edsel Convertible.”

While there, she also met world-renown automobile designer, Chip Foose, from the popular TLC television show, Overhaulin’. Foose was inducted into the Route-66 Hall of Fame. “Chip is a very nice, down-to-earth guy. Our family really enjoyed meeting him.”

The second event Garrard has attended so far, was the Crusin’ for the Cure car show, which raises money for Breast Cancer research.

This year’s Miss Route 66 pageant was directed by Kris Watson, from Seligma, Arizona.

According to the pageant’s official website, www.route66pageant.com, the Route 66 Pageant’s mission is to provide support for the Route 66 Museums and Associations and “to increase public awareness of our nation’s ‘Mother Road.’”

The Miss Route 66 pageant is open any female who has traveled Route 66 and offers titles in various age groups.

Garrard is not new to the pageant scene. In 1974, she was crowned Jr. Miss Fort Fairfield at just six years old, that pageant has since been renamed as the Little Miss Fort Fairfield. As a member of the Fort Fairfield High School class of 1986, she represented Fort Fairfield as Jr. Miss at the State level where she placed 1st Runner-up.

Garrard currently lives in southern California with her husband, Patrick and two children, Cameron and Cassidy.