A few days ago, somewhere in Oklahoma along Route 66, a windstorm kicked up. Normally, Don Crost wouldn’t have cared too much, but when driving a 1953 Chevy that shakes and rattles, things go wrong.

The window cranks on the vintage car broke with the windows down. There wasn’t much he could do.

“We couldn’t get the windows up in the car, and the wind was blowing all over on the inside,” Crost said. “I was trying to keep whatever hair I still have. This truck was never meant to be driven on a highway.”

At 72 years old, Crost never imagined himself on Route 66 driving an old, beat-up car either. However, the former antique dealer, stand-up and improv comic is on a retirement journey, one that combines passion with purpose.

He is driving 2,500 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, with a few detours along the way, to raise money for ShelterBox, an organization based in Santa Barbara that provides shelter, essential items and technical assistance to people displaced after disasters. According to the organization, more than 1 million people across the world are currently displaced from “disaster, conflict, and climate crisis.”

It currently is assisting those displaced by Hurricane Melissa.

This year, ShelterBox is celebrating its 25th year, and Crost, traveling with a friend, Bonnie Johnson, is attempting to raise $25,000. Crost, a Rotarian, is speaking at Rotary clubs in various cities. He is set to be honored on the steps of Santa Barbara City Hall at 11 a.m. Thursday.

“When I see suffering on a YouTube channel, or I see it on the news and I want to do something, I don’t want to just sit there and say I wish I could do something for these people,” Crost said. “ShelterBox is perfect because we help people restart their lives during the worst possible time.”

In some cases, the organization provides family-size tents, or items such as water filters, mosquito nets, pots and cooking sets, tools, and solar lights with charging ports.

Crost carries a box of supplies in the back of his Chevy. Born in Chicago, he ran a family business, an antique importer shop. After work, he would drive to the Second City Theater and do improv comedy.

He’s had to improvise on this trip. In addition to the windows mishap, he heard some rattling in the car and took off the air filter to get to the carburetor, and somehow lost the nut to tighten it.

“Currently, it is being held on with a mineral bottled water cap that I punched a hole in,” he said.

The engine is newish; it has a 1979 V8 engine from an old Corvette. When he’s feeling bold, Crost guns the pedal and gets the car to about 70 miles per hour.

“That is not safe,” he joked. “I like holding it about 60.”

The car has two seat belts, but no air bags.

“The closest thing it has to an air bag is a bag of chips,” Crost said. “There isn’t a moment you can relax while driving this car.”

He won’t be taking it easy listening to the Eagles while driving through Winslow, Arizona. He has no radio and doesn’t want one.

“I listen to the engine, frankly, if I hear anything odd. You don’t know how much time you have to save your life,” Crost said.

He bought the car about six years ago but declined to say how much he paid for it. He bought it to haul things around.

He’s headed to Santa Monica on Friday and then plans to participate in a car show in Burbank. He hopes to sell the truck and fly back to Chicago after he ends his trip.

Johnson, his friend, came along for the ride. She said she has enjoyed the conversation and the seeing the landscape along Route 66.

“I love just meeting people and seeing their reaction to the truck,” Johnson said. “Those who have heard of ShelterBox have had such a positive reaction.”

The truck has the name ShelterBox on it, and there’s a phone number and QR code. People have seen the car and gone up to Crost to learn more or donate money.

“One guy came up to us and gave us $5 at a rest stop. Another guy at a Route 66 museum came over and gave us $5,” Crost said. “And the other day at a diner on Route 66, a guy came over and gave me $60. He looked like kind of an off-the-grid guy, but that was as gratifying as getting a big check. These people just gave from their heart. It was touching, absolutely touching.”