ake a Ride on the Mother Road – biker Style!
THE “MOTHER ROAD” – The very name conjures visions of motherhood and apple pie… but for motorists it epitomizes the “super-highway” that linked Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California dating back to 1926. The venerable U.S. Route 66, a Mecca for world-wide motorists, was more than a highway “it became”, according to one admirer, “an icon of free-spirited independence linking the United States across the Rocky Mountain divide to the Pacific Ocean.”
That same spirit of freedom and independence can be experienced in the virtual-world of Second Life (SL) thanks to the vision of Melody Regent and Motor Loon. Their vision of Regent Estates was spawned from their love of motorcycling and their desire to provide SL bikers with the perfect virtual simulation for cruising, racing, shopping, and living within a bikers’ utopia. To this end, Route 66 Biker Sims consist of eight locations carefully designed to provide a unique and memorable experience for SL bikers. Starting from the South, the sims are: MotorWorld, Death Valley, Route 66, Sunset Crater, Flagstaff, Twin Arrows, Mojave Desert, and MLCC Headquarters. Only Death Valley, Sunset Crater, and Twin Arrows are members-only sims requiring a one-time membership fee of L$250. Otherwise, these sims are accessible to anyone in SL regardless of age, gender, lifestyles, and are not affiliated with any particular group or motor cycle club.
Rules are simple… No cars, No Littering, No drama. So… let’s hop on the bikes of our virtual imagination and take a cruise… shall we? – Did I mention NO CARS?
MOTORWORLD http://slurl.com/secondlife/MotorWorld/132/182/21 – is a free-access sim located in the southernmost tip of the Route 66 sims. From the moment you materialize (rezz) in this sim, you quickly realize that this metaverse is a convergence point for all motorcycle lovers regardless of their taste or personal experience in SL.
The atmosphere is hospitable as residents tend to shoot the breeze, make friends, hook up for cruising the sims, show off their beautiful bikes, or impress others with their biking skills. The road is ample and suitable for opening the throttle and pushing the envelope—with a couple of hairpins turns to challenge your reflexes and control. If you like the excitement of jumping and want to impress the audience with your best imitation of Evil Knievel, try the flaming ramp in front of the spawn point. Then, if you managed not to set yourself on fire, continue down the road where you’ll find another ramp on the southeast edge. Just make sure you have enough speed to clear the ramp – otherwise, you’ll dunk yourself into the drink with more than just a bruised ego!
DEATH VALLEY http://slurl.com/secondlife/Death%Valley/108/125/125 – Is one of three members-only region located north of MotorWorld.
Best access is to teleport to MotorWorld, rezz your bike, take the road due southwest, through a couple of hairpin turns, and take a left at the bridge.
If you’re not a member of Regent Rider’s group, now is the time to become a member. For a mere L$250, all the members-only regions of Route 66 will be available for your bike cruising pleasure.
Recommend that you go slow at the sim crossing, as you may know, speed is not your friend when it comes to crossing into new sims on the SL grid. Make it across the bridge, up the hill, and a tight right turn—take note of the waterfall on your right and the mist flowing across the bridge. It’s an awesome sight and a prelude of what lies ahead. Take the bridge into the mist and go up the mountain with the option of hooking a right to a small secluded area to rest your loins or to snuggle with your significant other. After your optional stop, go up the mountain and be challenged by the steep road and tight curves. Stop at the look-out. Your reward is a magnificent view of the regions of MotorWorld, Route 66, Sunset Crater, Flagstaff, and Twin Arrows. Potent binoculars will be needed to discern Mojave Desert and MLCC Headquarters just beyond Sunset Crater but the sims are there— beckoning for you to come visit. Take it all in… Because the titillation to your senses is remarkable!
ROUTE 66 http://slurl/secondlife/Route%66/75/249/29 – is a free-access sim located north of Death Valley. As we continue our trek coming from Death Valley, take the East road through the covered bridge and proceed with caution through the sim crossing into Route 66.
You will soon notice that this sim is populated with businesses, motorcycle clubs, garages, and a few residences. Just like the real Route 66, which received many nicknames including “The Will Rogers Highway”, the road is named the “Cutter Luik Memorial Highway” in honor of a biker, businessman, and local resident that passed at the young age of 42 years (RL). Melody Regent remembers him fondly and said, “He was a very well loved member of the biker family and his loss hit a lot of people pretty hard.” After a pause to honor fallen biker friends, continue North and take in the sights by taking a circuitous path through the town. Visit the shops and don’t be shy about stopping by the motorcycle clubs (MC). Bikes and merchandise are reasonably priced and MC’s are friendly. You never know! You may be invited to join their ranks!
SUNSET CRATER http://slurl/secondlife/Sunset%Crater/252/55/27 – Is the second of three members-only sim that features a colossal volcano that dominates the landscape.
Best way to approach Sunset Crater is to take the road due North from Route 66, carefully cross the sim, and head straight towards the volcano. It’s an astounding sight as the colossus rises from the water and spews crimson lava on two of its sides and under the road. The road spirals up the sides of the volcano and comes very close to the rivers of lava gravitating towards the water. You can almost smell the smoke and feel the pavement tremble under your bike! Make your way up the igneous mountain until you reach the end of the road and a look-out terrace. Once again, treat your sight to an ample view of Mojave Desert and MLCC Headquarters to the North and catch a glimpse of Flagstaff to the East. There’s a portable toilet on the terrace so… follow the unwritten rule of Route 66— “Never pass up a gas station… or a toilet.” You never know when it’s the last chance!
Backtrack down the Sunset Crater volcano and when you reach the bottom of the road, turn left at the chicane.
FLAGSTAFF http://slurl/secondlife/Flagstaff/30/173/27 – is a free-access sim located East of Sunset Crater.
This region is much flatter than the rest of the Route 66 sims featuring smaller parcels and many merchant stores. Flagstaff is a paradise for shoppers encompassing several custom choppers shops and various skins, clothing, shoes, toys, firearms, guitars, body art, and jewelry stores. The merchandise is of high value with prices that rival the best deals in SL. But don’t take my word for it… come visit and compare for yourself. You will not be disappointed! After you finish with your shopping and exploring the nooks and crannies of Flagstaff, head East towards Twin Arrows.
TWIN ARROWS http://slurl/secondlife/Twin%Arrows/125/133/22 – Is the last of the three members-only region that currently highlights one of the greatest timed motorcycle racetracks in SL.
To find this desert jewel, find the gravel road located in the South-East quadrant of Flagstaff and take the road towards the East. Look for the giant twin arrows landmark. You can’t miss them! Be prepared to go slow at the sim crossing and be ready to experience driving on hard packed gravel. Take in the sights of a typical Arizona desert town with its one-and-only gas station and unique diner. Remember the unwritten rule of Route 66 and make sure you gas up and visit the rest room!
Keep on going up the road, which is surrounded by gigantic sand dunes and rock formations. Watch out for the tumbleweeds and continue up the road until you get to the Twin Arrows Speedway. Aside from a couple of large estates on the premises, the track occupies almost half the sim and is the main attraction of the region. If you’re the daring type, this is where you can open it up and let it rip! The track is in pristine condition and you can race on it to your heart’s content. After you have burned the rubber off your tires, go down the gravel road again and hang a right between the rock formations. At the end of the gravel road, take it slow to go through the sim crossing. Your cue of the impending boundary is the difference in texture of the reddish sand of Twin Arrows and the beige sand/dirt mix of Flagstaff.
Go between the fence on your right and the building on your left to the paved road of Flagstaff. Take a right at the mailboxes and head west. If you didn’t get a chance to visit all the shops in Flagstaff or something caught your eye and you hesitated… this is your chance to make amends. And then, onto Sunset Crater where you’ll pass through a sim crossing and travel the steel arched bridge, which will link you to Mojave Desert.
MOJAVE DESERT http://slurl/secondlife/Mojave%Desert/224/254/22 – is a free-access sim with a vastly developed commercial district comprised of several MC clubs and highly specialized merchants. This is also the sim that overlooks the main office of MLCC and Regent Estates. There’s no better place to have your business than this prime real-state location!
The merchants feature custom choppers, futuristic motorcycles, firearms, eyewear, motorcycle parts, custom painting, and a vast selection of bikers clothing items. Roam around and check the merchandise, services, and prices. There are always hidden treasures to be had. There’s even a range for target practice next to one of the firearms dealers. So…if shopping and cruising warms the cockles of your heart, warm up the bike and head to Mojave Desert. After all the cruising and shopping, take either of the two covered bridges that lead to MLCC. Slow and steady at the sim crossing. You’ll find that this technique will allow you to cross sims faster and relatively painlessly.
MLCC HEADQUARTERS http://slurl/secondlife/MLCC/214/92/23 – is a free-access sim that serves as the flagship store and workshop for Motor Loon Custom Choppers (MLCC). It is also the corporate headquarters for Regent Estates. MLCC is where the namesake custom choppers are designed, manufactured, and sold. This is where you can test drive every bike made by Motor Loon. The show room features all the shine and bling that makes MLCC what it is… the best bikes on the grid!
While the Regent Estates Headquarters is the nerve center for the rental of properties and operation of all eight sims. It is the home of a dedicated staff of individuals that work 24/7 to maintain the sims in working order. And once in a while, they have to intervene in unruly situations to ensure the well-being of all residents and patrons.
Take your time going around the massive building and try your skills at jumping the ramp located on the North side. Align yourself with the centerline, shift to highest gear, kiss yourself, and twist the throttle to its max. Make sure your insurance is up-to-date as the management is not responsible for damages to your bike or avatar! A good set of brakes are important, if you don’t want to end up in the drink. If you make it unscathed, give yourself a pat on the back, kiss yourself again, and… DO IT ALL AGAIN!
Note that on the North side there are trailers for super cheap rental and a basket ball court. Good luck finding a place though—they have a waiting list a mile long. If your backside is not too sore from all the jumping, try to shoot some hoops. Daredevils or basketball players are always in demand in SL!
After all the jumping and shooting hoops, go inside and take a lohttp://regentestatessl.com/wordpress/wp-admin/post-new.phpok. Just try not to drool over the bikes. The management gets upset about having to mop-up drool after the customers! Don’t forget to take a look at the work shop—where you can see the newest bikes in progress. After you have teased your choppers’ craving and gleaned future bikes, visit the lobby of Regent States Headquarters. You’ll be amazed at the extent of the different sims owned by Regent Estates and awestruck by the variety of sims themes. Your future nest or place of business may be winking at you. You never know! But one thing is for sure, MLCC and Regent Estates will be present on the SL grid for a long time to come.
OUR VIRTUAL CRUISE comes to an end but not before we take a moment to take an inventory of our encounter. Take note of the visual stimulation, the titillation of the senses, and the visceral experience of traveling through a virtual Route 66. The journey took us through beautiful waterfalls, steep mountains, hairpin turns, awesome volcano, myriads of shops and vendors, and most important— a rediscovery of the essence of Route 66 in a virtual environment. The fidelity of the simulation by the Regent Estates pays tribute to the Mother Road creating a Mecca for SL bikers and an icon for the free-spirit independence that we all yearn for in our Second Life. Hope to see you soon… exploring and enjoying the magnificence of the Route 66 Biker Sims.
By Tekillya Mode
2 November 2009
