The La Grange Park Police Department attracted several hundred visitors July 24 to Memorial Park to check out 50 interesting vehicles at its third annual Car Show July 24.
Admission was free and car owners paid $25 to show their cars and get a chance to win in three separate divisions. All proceeds from the event went to Illinois Special Olympics.
“It’s going really good this year,” La Grange Park police Commander Timothy Griffin said as the event got underway. “We’ve got a bunch of cars here and we tag-teamed with the Park District, they’re having a mid-summer event (across the Park near the Library). We’ve got beer vendors, jump houses for kids, Beach Avenue BBQ, the taco truck and a local ice cream truck.”
The food trucks fed the hungry next to the park’s volleyball courts, while a DJ pumped out classic rock and blues music.
When the results were released at the end of the day, a 1964 Karmann Ghia took home the Best in Show Award.
The other winners:
First Place in the Muscle Car Division went to a 1966 Chevy Malibu, followed by two other Chevys — a 1979 Camaro Z28, and a 1968 Chevy El Camino.
First Place in the Classic Car Division went to a 1966 Ford Mustang, followed by a 1956 Plymouth Savoy, and a 1988 Toyota Supra.
First Place in the Sports Car Division went to a 2006 Chevrolet Corvette, followed by a 2020 Corvette, and a 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby.
With high temperatures and humidity a factor, attendance was down from last year’s 70 entrants. Like last year’s show, the entries leaned toward American made vehicles, though other foreign models besides the award-winning Karmann Ghia included a 2011 Mercedes and a 1964 Volkswagen.
Popular models included Ford Mustangs, with four being entered, while three Corvettes vied for attention.
One, a 2024 “‘Vette,’” was displayed by former La Grange Park Police officer Pete Rosch.
“I always wanted one, it’s been my dream car ever since I was this high,” he said, holding his hand at waist level. “I always had Camaros and Trans Ams before.”
Rosch isn’t one to park his ‘Vette in the garage and only take it out once or twice a month. He’s had it almost 12 months and already has 10,000 miles on it.
“I’m not going to let it sit in the garage, that’s ridiculous,” he said. “I really just enjoy driving it. “I belong to a Corvette club now, so we take cruises on the weekend now. I’m probably the youngest guy there.”
Berkley residents Rita and Dennis Healy brought their 2012 Dodge Challenger. It was their second show this year.
“We want to support the Special Olympics,” Rita said. They bought the car new, it only has 9,000 miles on it, and Dennis said 90% of the vehicle was stock, with only the wheels and some interior decals being added.
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Palos Heights resident John Kuri was on the scene with his 2013 Dodge Charger Super Bee.
“This is a 50th Anniversary edition of a Grand Spaulding Dodge Special,” he said.
A new twist on the show this year was partnering with area fire departments, some of which brought out their vintage hook and ladders.
“We’ve got about 11 (fire trucks) and we’re looking into the future to partner even more with the Park District,” Griffin said. “We want to make it a little more family friendly, with games for children. For everybody that makes donations, it goes directly to the Special Olympics.”
Griffin said the car show was one of four events the department stages each year to benefit Special Olympics, the other three being the Polar Plunge, a Golf Outing, and their biggest event, the Burger Bash, planned for Oct. 11.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.