Car owners hope for sun at Glendale Heights show

Rain.

It's the archenemy of all summer festivals. But it is loathed most, perhaps, by car show participants, who spend hours shining and polishing their vintage vehicles for the contests.

A few drops come splatting down and that's it for some car owners.

“Everybody runs,” said Eileen Wedell, who along with her husband, Ray, owns a black, four-door 1946 Ford Super Deluxe.

The Wedells and many other vintage car owners have fingers and toes crossed for a sunshiny day at the upcoming Glendale Heights Show and Shine Car Show. Rain canceled the entire show earlier this month.

They'll give it another go from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, in Camera Park, 101 E. Fullerton Ave.

The show will include around 200 cars in 25 classes — with trophies going to three people in each class, as well as six specialty trophies and a “best in show” trophy.

While a few drops of rain might send some owners heading for cover, it takes a little more than that to upset the Wedells, who live in an unincorporated area near Lombard.

“A lot of people leave because they don't want their cars getting wet,” she said. “We're not that particular. It's going to get wet on the way home too.”

That, and it's a slow drive home for the couple.

“We don't have any wipers on our car. We have to put RainX on the windshield, but you don't want to be driving it in a downpour or anything,” she said.

But no more talk of rain — it's all shine for the car show that many enjoy for its location in the heart of DuPage County.

Ken Kusch and his wife, Sue, of Glendale Heights, have attended the show for 12 years and have taken one or both of their cars: a green-and-black 1928 Chevy three-window coupe Landau and a 1980 Chevy Corvette turbo.

They'll attend again this year and look forward to good music and food, as well as seeing old friends.

“It becomes like a family,” he said. “There's good camaraderie, and you all have the same common interest (in) the cars.”

Car owner voting takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dash plaques and T-shirts go to the first 100 owners. Registration at the event costs $15. Admission is free for spectators

For information, call (630) 668-7903 or (630) 909-5302 or visit glendaleheights.org.

If you go

<b>What:</b> Show and Shine Car Show

<b>When: </b>11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today

<b>Where: </b>Camera Park, 101 E. Fullerton Ave., Glendale Heights

<b>Cost:</b> Free to the public; $15 to enter a car

<b>Info:</b> (630) 668-7903, (630) 909-5302 or glendaleheights.org