This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Camaro, and Joe Salzburg will celebrate by bringing his white and orange striped 1997 Camaro Z28 to show off at one of the monthly cruise nights in Fox Lake and Mundelein.
But he doesn’t need an anniversary as an excuse to visit the local cruise nights. All summer, he and members of the Northern Illinois Streeters as well as other similar clubs in the region will be bringing their vintage cars to cruise nights, held monthly and bi-monthly, some even weekly, in various Lake County towns.
Cruise nights — when dozens to hundreds of drivers bring their vehicles to show off to friends and the public — are becoming more popular, he said.
“People who are getting older want to live out their high school fantasies, drive something fast, park it and look cool and open the hood and show it off and talk about it with their buddies,” Salzburg said.
“Our club has a lot of 50 plus members,” he said. Older couples also enjoy coming to the cruise nights, he said. “Empty nesters have saved some money. They buy old cars. Their wives or girlfriends wear vintage clothing like poodle skirts, especially with the ’50s cars,” he said. “It’s a way to get out and do something and enjoy the night air and be outside.
“It’s something that hearkens to nostalgia and Americana — it’s a good time.”
Salzburg said he expects a lot of Camaros to be at the cruise nights since it was 50 years ago that the first one was made.
But there will be plenty of other fun rides to view, for example, “I have a ’66 Dodge Charger that was my grandfather’s — it’s silver with a red interior.”
Then there’s the 1968 AMC Ambassador SST. “It’s an old man’s car with a big engine,” he said. “Looks are deceiving. It’s a fast car for its size.”
People will stop by his Ambassador and say, “I haven’t seen one of those in a long time,” Salzburg said.
His club especially enjoys going to the McHenry Outdoor Drive-In a few times in the summer, he said.
“We all bring our old cars. We have a car show before the movie starts. It’s really fun. It’s a great family event,” he said.
“If you go to a cruise night, you’ll see a lot of families, kids running around. The wives might get together in a downtown area setting, and go out shopping or to a cafe,” he said.
Roy Miller, owner of the Ingleside Dog ‘n Suds, hosts cruise nights every Saturday through mid-October, and sometimes provides live music.
“It’s wonderful. It brings a lot of cars, a lot of people, a lot of hungry people,” he said. “We’ve been doing this 26 or 27 years. Car owners just know they have a place to come on Saturday night.”
For a list of regional cruise nights at which Northern Illinois Streeters members will participate, visit http://northernillinoisstreeters.org/resources/2017-Cruise-Nights.pdf.
Here’s a list of some classic car cruise nights in Lake County. Admission is usually free; food and beverages are often available for purchase.
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Tuesday
Wauconda Cruise Nights: 5-9 p.m. on the third Tuesday of month; June 20, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19. 201 S. Main St., Wauconda. 847-526-9600; www.waucondacruisenight.com.
The event will feature classic and muscle cars, hot rods, motorcycles and trucks.
Wednesday
Park on Park Cruise Nights: 5-9 p.m. on the second Wednesday of month; June 14, July 12, Aug. 9, Sept. 13. 469 Seymour Ave., Mundelein. 847-710-4629; www.parkonpark.com.
This cruise night promotes 1977 and earlier classics, and includes awards for top car for each event.
Lake Zurich Cruise Nights: 6-9 p.m. on the first Wednesday of month through October; July 5, Aug. 2, Sept. 6, Oct. 4. East Main Street, downtown Lake Zurich. 847-773-7896; www.lakezurich.org/603/Cruise-Nights.
This cruise night features more than 40 vehicles from different eras, along with trivia contests, music and spectator-voted awards.
Thursday
Barrington Cruise Nights: 6:30 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 31. Harris Bank parking lot, South Cook Street, Barrington. 847-304-3400; www.carcruisechicago.com/Location/Details/12.
Event includes food and ice cream vendors, entertainment and prizes. Each night has a different theme.
Thursday Cruises in Fox Lake: 6-9 p.m. the first, third and fifth Thursday of month, June 15, 29; July 6, 20; Aug. 3, 17, 31; Sept. 7, 21. Kodiak Automotive, 90 S. Highway 12, Fox Lake. 847-271-5801; www.kodiakautomotive.com.
All cars, trucks, motorcycles and clubs as well as spectators are welcome. Top vehicle awards will be given and donations will be used to fund Home of the Sparrow, which has thrift stores in Mundelein and McHenry. Food from Cuda’s Bar and Grill will be available for purchase.
Antioch Cruise Nights at Cuda’s: 6-9 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of month, June 8, 22; July 13, 27; Aug. 10, 24; Sept. 14, 28. Cuda’s Bar and Grill, 27045 Grass Lake Road, Antioch. 224-788-9144; www.facebook.com/cudasbarandgrill.
All cars, trucks, motorcycles and clubs as well as spectators are welcome. Top vehicle awards will be given and donations will be used to fund Home of the Sparrow, which has thrift stores in Mundelein and McHenry. Restaurant will feature food and drink specials.
Saturday
Classic Car Cruise Night at Miller’s: 5-10 p.m. every Saturday through mid-October. Miller’s Dog N Suds Drive In, 517 Washington St., Ingleside. 847-587-6808; https://dognsudsdrivein.com
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.All pre-1973 vehicles and spectators welcome. A picnic area and free parking are available to the public. Free entertainment is provided on some Saturdays.
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance writer for the News-Sun.