MUNDELEIN – Ten years ago, Bob Giles had an idea. Grand Dominion by Del Webb had just been built in Mundelein as a 55-and-better community, and he was one of the first to buy a home there.
Gile’s idea was to create a one-time car show that might interest his fellow neighbors as well as benefit the less fortunate. His love of muscle, antique and classic cars led him to create a free car show that would raise funds, as well as collect food and school supplies for a nonprofit organization.
Giles, his wife, Sally, and his new friends Sam Ritchie and his wife, Kay, and Doug MacArthur, along with lifestyle director of Grand Dominion Tracy Citrano, started the first Cruisin’ with the Classics Car Show at Grand Dominion.
The first Cruisin’ with the Classics Car Show at Grand Dominion was in 2008. Unfortunately the first show date was rained out. The show debuted the following week, and 91 paid registered cars were on display. The Fremont Food Pantry received $219 as a result of donations, 50/50 raffles and miscellaneous income sources. A partial truck of food, donated by attendees, also was given to the Fremont Food Pantry.
However, the event lost $1,768.37, as there was not enough nondonated funds to cover expenses. Some organizations would have given up after that kind of debut, but not Giles. Not the volunteers of Grand Dominion. They strove for something better.
The event is now able to attract muscle and classic car owners from surrounding communities, invite select rare and museum cars/vehicles to be on display, have food, ice cream, popcorn and soft drinks available for purchase, provide music, have a roving entertainer, conduct a 50/50 raffle in order to generate cash donations for the Fremont Food Pantry, raffle off gifts/donations from local businesses, provide donated pastries and coffee to car owners and event staff, and host games for children with prizes provided by local businesses.
The 10th annual show is open to the pubic and there’s no registration fee. It will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 19 at Grand Dominion’s Lodge parking lot, 3555 Grand Dominion Circle, Mundelein. The rain date is Aug. 26.
Last year more than 230 car owners attended, which set a record. The event drew more than 900 attendees.
“As a result of such a fantastic turnout by the muscle, antique and classic car owners, we collected over four truckloads of food and school supplies and over $6,800 donations for the Fremont Food Pantry,” Giles said.
This year’s theme is A Decade of Super Cars for a Super Cause! – Help Us Help the Fremont Food Pantry!
“For every $1 donation, one nonperishable food product and school supply people bring, they will receive a raffle ticket that will give them a chance to win the grand prize of a $300 Visa gift card,” Giles said.
For information, call Grand Dominion’s newest lifestyle director Julie McFarlin at 847-566-2403 or email GrandDLD@fosterpremier.com.