Berwyn's annual Route 66 Car Show celebrates historic roadway

BERWYN – Berwyn's annual Route 66 Car Show has grown so popular over the nearly three decades it's been hosted that organizers have had to turn some car owners away, said Anthony Griffin, executive director of the Berwyn Development Corp.

This year's event, dubbed The WeatherTech Berwyn Route 66 Car Show sponsored by Paisans Pizzeria & Bar, will be the city's 27th annual car show. The show takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 26 on Ogden Avenue between Oak Park and Ridgeland avenues. It will feature more than 550 vintage and custom cars, motorcycles and trucks.

The annual tradition began nearly three decades ago on Oak Park Avenue, and it was moved to Ogden Avenue to accommodate its growing popularity, Griffin said. Already, more than 400 vehicle owners have pre-registered for the event, and many car and motorcycle owners show up to register the day of the show, Griffin said.

"It's a first come, first serve basis, and a couple years we've sold out of spots," he said.

Vehicle owners from Berwyn and beyond come to the city for the event.

"We've had a car register from California and come all the way out for the show," Griffin said.

A handful of vehicles also have traveled to Berwyn from Wisconsin, Indiana and some far-flung suburbs, he said. Attendees also have traveled far and wide to gaze at the array of vehicles on display.

Griffin said aerial photographs of past shows indicate as many as 10,000 people have showed up to the event.

This year's show will feature some live entertainment as well, including "automobile flamethrowers," which Griffin described as cars that use a special fuel to generate flames from their exhaust pipes. Attendees also will have the chance to hear the roar of a dragster, he said, in addition to a colorguard demonstration and a few local live music acts.

The intended purpose of the event is to increase awareness of the history of Route 66 and drive business to Ogden Avenue, Griffin said.

"It's there to create tourism and to bring awareness along with driving knowledge of the businesses located there," he said.

Co-owner of Berwyn's Toy Trains and Models, Larry Svestka, said the event has driven business to his shop. The store is located at 7025 Ogden Ave.

He said it's hard to place an exact figure on how much business the car show brings in, but Svestka said it does result in a spike in sales the day of the event and has provided some repeat customers for the shop.

"It brings people in from outside the area who never come to Ogden Avenue," he said.

Svestka said local shop owners once organized the car show before it came under the auspices of the Berwyn Development Corp.

"We're happy it's here," he said.

The goal is to put on a great event, Griffin said, while also "marketing and raising awareness of what Berwyn has to offer on Ogden."

He said the Berwyn Development Corp. plans to keep the car show going for many years to come.

"That's the game plan," Griffin said. "We have built up over the years a reserve, so if we do lose any revenue, we are able to keep the show going."

He said a committee of volunteers, in addition to the Berwyn Development Corp. and city officials, are committed to the annual car show for the long term.

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If you go

WHAT: Route 66 Car Show

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 26

WHERE: Ogden Avenue between Oak Park and Ridgeland avenues, Berwyn

INFO: berwynrt66.com