Young racing wonder to close Motor Mondays

Visitors will have an extra hour to view cars of all makes and models at the final Motor Mondays scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. instead of the usual 5 p.m. start Sept. 7 at the Depot, 319 N. River St. in East Dundee.

The show, open until dusk, welcomes all show cars, regardless of their make or model. Owners are asked to park along River and Meier streets in the downtown East Dundee district.

Designed to appeal to both families and car enthusiasts alike, Motor Mondays provides an opportunity for visitors to see their favorites up close. The event includes raffles, entertainment and food specials at local restaurants.

Motor Mondays will also be showcasing two race cars - the Prince DSR, a class D Sports Racer with top speeds of 170 miles per hour on the road track, and a 1998 Saturn SC2, described as the "World's Fastest Saturn."

"Motor Mondays has been a huge success for us this season. We've had nearly a hundred cars at each of the events and it takes over the entire downtown district. It's a great excuse to get out and enjoy the Dundee area," said Lael Miller, East Dundee village president.

There is no registration fee for car owners to participate and no entrance fee for visitors. Everyone is invited to come early and enjoy a simple night out in the downtown Dundee area.

East Dundee's own 10-year-old racing wonder, Damian Jigalov, will be on hand to display his championship motorcycle and share his passion for the competitive racing sport as a member of the Western Eastern Road racing Association.

A student at Immanuel Lutheran in East Dundee, Damian's first summer in road racing was successful - he won the championship his first year in the kid's class. In his second year, Damian raced nationally with the Western Eastern Road racing Association, a national racing organization.

He raced in their kid's class and won that championship against much older kids. This year, Damian is racing at the national level with WERA again but, with WERA's approval, he'll compete in the adult-only class. That's comparable to a Little League player being allowed to play for the Cubs.

WERA's decision was based on the fact that Damian rode at a higher level and, as such, was completely unchallenged and undefeated in the kid's class.

It's quite an accomplishment for a 10-year-old to be allowed to race in the adult class, but even more astounding, he won the first three races this year in the adult class at the New Orleans Raceway, Talladega GP and Roebling Road raceway in Georgia.

Damian has already been featured in Road racing World Magazine and in local newspapers.

In case of inclement weather, just come to town and eat, drink and try to be merry at one of the local establishments. For details, call (847) 426-2255 or visit discoverdundee.org.

The Village of East Dundee presents an event each week throughout the summer months. The next events are: Motor Mondays, Sept. 7; Tail Waggin' Tuesdays, Sept. 15; Wine Down Wednesdays, Sept. 23; and Thirsty Thursdays, Oct. 1.

The Depot Market is held Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Farmers Market is Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All events are held at The Depot Visitors Center, 319 N. River St., East Dundee.

Race cars on display

• Prince DSR with owner/driver Allen Skillicorn: Racing Class: D Sports Racer; Engine: Suzuki 1000cc 200 HP; Weight: 800 lbs.; Top speed: 170 mph.

• 1998 Saturn SC2 with owner Rick Zirk: "World's Fastest Saturn" per Al Tucci; Dominick Carpenter Pro Mod Chassis; Engine: 638 cubic inch; Powerglide transmission; <a href="http://www.worldsfastestsaturn.com">www.worldsfastestsaturn.com</a>

Sponsors: CarSmart Automotive, CarboTech Brakes, and Mid Atlantic Motorsports