Performance Unlimited Blog

Soap Box racers cross the finish line in McHenry June 21. Side by side, the racers crouch in their sleek charges, nose down on the ramps ready to go. From 3rd Street past Green Street in McHenry, spectators behind bales of hay line Waukegan Road as the tension builds. Then, a lever is thrown releasing the cars. Down the hill they fly, racers casting furtive side-ways glances that tell – it’s a dead heat. Reaching speeds close to 30 mph, the finish line flashes by and a red light announces whether the winner was in Track No. 1 or Track No. 2. The 12th Annual Kiwanis Soap Box Derby, Saturday, June 21, gave racers, ages 8 to 13, a chance at racing glory. For the winner out of a field of 31, victory meant a chance to race in the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship July 20-26. But, win or lose, all the racers had a chance to taste the thrill of competition with the wind in their faces and the support of family and friends at their backs. For Makayla Huff, th...

Street rods, dragsters, foreign sports cars and grand touring classics – you’ll find them all and more tonight in McHenry at Green Street Cruise Night. Mustangs, Camaros and `Cudas – these are just some of the classic automobiles that will rumble into the Public Parking lot southwest of the intersection of Green Street and Route 120. This dazzling display of Detroit Iron, ground-hugging European classics and “Fast and Furious” racers from the Far East will pack the house, so to speak, tonight, June 9, as the flag comes down to start the fifth season of McHenry’s Green Street family friendly event. Cars, food, beverages, music, raffles and more will make this a worthy destination for anyone who shares the American love affair with the automobile. To start the season off in style, Peter Oprisko will perform the classic tunes of Frank Sinatra and others from the ‘50s and ‘60s. Ford is the Feature Car for the event. However, there will still be plenty of other makes on hand. Each w...

Of course, it’s a good idea to prepare your car for winter. The bitter cold, ice and snow in McHenry County will ferret out any weakness and play havoc with a vehicle. Summer, however, will also test a car. That’s why it’s also a good idea to prepare your vehicle for the summer ahead. Consider this your McHenry County Summer Automotive Survival Guide. Paying attention to the tips below will help ensure that you and your car make it through another McHenry County summer none the worse for the wear. • Change that oil. Oil is the lifeblood of a car’s engine. That’s not just a cute way to put it; it’s entirely accurate. As Dracula drinks blood from an unfortunate maiden, she’ll begin to turn pale. Eventually, she’ll die and come back as a vampire, as well. An engine drained of oil will also die. The parts inside will fuse together as the heat rises way beyond tolerances. More than merely having oil in the engine, it’s imperative that the oil is clean and has its full lubricating capa...