Shatner's Route 66 tour stops in Independence

Terry Hartness pulled his ’33 Ford coupe into the American Legion post, drawn in by the menagerie of polished steel that graced the parking lot Wednesday evening.

It’s not an uncommon thing to do: like-minded car owners are prone to spontaneous gatherings at say, the Big Boy burger joint, Hartness said.

Finding out he would be part of a small car show called to greet actor William Shatner was an unexpected surprise.

“Wait, he’s coming here?” Hartness asked, processing the information.

Local car collectors broke out the finest local chrome for Shatner’s visit to the American Legion Tirey J. Ford Post 21 on U.S. 40.

“We heard he was a big car fan, so we reached out to local car clubs,” Noel Tyler, second post commander, said.

Shatner, his wife Elizabeth Martin, a group of riders and a documentary crew began a nationwide motorcycle tour in Aurora, Illinois, on Tuesday with the unveiling of a custom-made, three-wheeled motor bike dubbed the “Rivet” and designed by the actor and American Wrench. It’s a futuristic, beefy steel thing designwise, halfway between a sports racer and motorcycle.

But Shatner rode up to the entrance of the American Legion post on another bike, a less ostentatious black motorcycle with his wife riding behind him.

“You know when they say ‘hot rod’? This is it,” Shatner said, sun reddened and drenched in the late June heat.

The tour doubles as publicity for the motorcycle and a booster for the American Legion’s legacy fund for families of fallen soldiers.

Tyler said the post had heard about Shatner’s plans for the ride about four months ago. Three weeks ago, they received word that the Independence post would be a stop in the actor’s Route 66 path from Illinois to Hollywood, California.

Shatner’s entourage included three riders from the Independence post: David Cary, Dennis Mooney and Tom Tanner.

Tyler said Post 21 has never hosted a figure with as high a profile as Shatner.

“Well, other than Harry,” he added, referring to President Truman’s membership in the legion post.

Shatner received a presidential welcome from Truman re-enactor Niel Johnson.

“First time here, I would guess,” Johnson asked, in his role as the former president and legionnaire with a smart hat and white suit.

“Actually, wife and I come here all the time for the (American) Royal,” Shatner said before skipping the pleasantries and asking the president to consider not dropping the atomic bomb. The actor greeted the actor in the only suitable manner.

“I believe it’s a little late for that,” Johnson parlayed, to laughter from the crowd.

Shatner’s visit consisted of an involved conversation with Johnson on Truman-related topics, eating a Legion burger and the display of the “Rivet.”

The motorcycle has a way of impressing upon a viewer its mammoth proportions, largely because of the oversized wheels.

But the “Rivet” comfortably stretches to the length of a sedan. Shatner explained that the design is inspired by airplane design, which is where the interest in the bike’s broad, smooth metallic body perforated by lines of rivets comes from.