Cruise Night returns to Green street tomorrow

Cruise Night returns to Green street tomorrow – Monday, June 10

Are you one of those people who have a love affair with the automobile? Do your eyes widen at the sight of chrome and lacquered layers of custom paint? Does your pulse quicken at a hint of extra horsepower? If you have these symptoms you may have the custom-car virus. If so, you’re probably not looking for a cure but you might appreciate a treatment that addresses your symptoms.

An extra dose of car-lover’s penicillin is offered each Monday night, starting tomorrow, June 10, at McHenry’s Green Street Cruise Night. The excitement takes place in the city parking lots south of Route 120 and west of Green Street.

“If you have a thing for hotrods, classic cars and other fine automobiles, this is definitely the place to be Monday nights,” said Denny Norton, owner of Ringwood based Performance Unlimited and a perennial vendor at the event. “You’ll see some really sweet cars at the Green Street Cruise Night, and you’ll meet some great people.”

The event runs Mondays through September 30. Each Monday, along with a plethora of Detroit’s finest, as well as hot cars from overseas, Cruise Night features a special category of cars. Here is the lineup of categories for this summer:
•    June 10 – Pontiac – Opening Night
•    June 17 – Oldsmobile
•    June 24 – Ford
•    July 1 – Ladies Night Cars (Cars owned by ladies)
•    July 8 – Buick
•    July 15 – Race Cars & Exotics
•    July 22 – Pre World War II
•    July 29 – Trucks
•    Aug. 5 – Motorcycles and Model T and Model A
•    Aug. 12 – European/Sports Car (BMW, Triumph Spitfire)
•    Aug. 19 – Fast & Furious (Sports Compacts & Asian Cars)
•    Aug. 26 – Orphan Makes (makes that are no longer made – Pontiac, Studebaker, AMC and Plymouth)
•    Sept. 2 – Chevrolet
•    Sept. 9 – Back to the ‘50s
•    Sept. 16 – Pony Cars (Mustang, Cougar, Camaro, Firebird, Javelin, AMX, Challenger, Barracude, Etc.)
•    Sept. 23 – Mopar (Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram)
•    Sept 30 – Street Rod & Custom Street Machines
Along with the cars, Cruise Night also offers entertainment. The first Monday, June 10, they have photo opportunities with Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley impersonators, as well as solo guitarist Brian Castillo. Other Mondays will feature Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack knockoff bands, as well as a ‘50s and ‘60s tribute band.

Of course, Cruise Night offers food, beverages, raffles and awards for the finest examples of automotive excellence.

Car clubs are also on hand to mix camaraderie while adding to the level of competition in the car show. Car clubs include Northern Illinois Streeters, North Shore Rods, Illinois Camaro Club and Motor Club of America.

“With the Green Street Cruise Night, our aim to is to give back to the community as much as possible,” said Paul Letizia, with Letizia Financial Group, who founded the event with his father, Pat. “Not only is Green Street Cruise Night a free event for car owners and spectators, but we also help to raise money for charities, such as FISH Food Pantry of McHenry, and support the McHenry Rotary and the McHenry Kiwanis Club (Paul Letizia is the current President of the local McHenry chapter of Kiwanis).”

The event schedule is subject to change depending on weather and other considerations.

Norton said that people with a love for custom cars don’t have to just look at other people’s custom cars. “We can help someone customize a car of their own,” he said. “That way, they can enter the show, go for rides with a car club and otherwise enjoy the great American automobile experience.”

For more information, call 815-728-0343 or visit www.4performanceunlimited.com.

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