Was last year last fling for car show?

The antique car show -- a staple of the Last Fling in Naperville for 20 years -- is likely to be canceled this year.

A dispute between the Naperville Jaycees, which runs the Labor Day weekend festival, and the car show organizers over the day and place of the event appears to be at an impasse.

The Jaycees decided to use the Naper Settlement grounds, where the car show has been held, for an expanded "family fun" area on Saturday and Sunday of the Labor Day weekend.

That left the organizers of the car show, Great Lakes Region of the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America, two options: hold the car show Sunday, its usual day, at nearby Naperville Central High School or Monday at Naper Settlement.

Last Fling raises money for nonprofit groups and includes live music, a carnival, expo booth, parade and a variety of special events, including the car show. Roughly 225 antique automobiles are traditionally on display.

Moving the car show to the high school or holding the event Monday won't work, say auto show co-chairmen Tom Priz and Bill Kohley.

The problem with Monday, they say, is that many of their volunteers and participants already have Labor Day family events planned, and some will be using the day to travel back to their homes out of state.

As for Sunday at the high school, they say the parking lot is too small and consists of asphalt instead of grass.

"We have worked hard … to make this a quality show, and our position is we're not willing to compromise the quality of it," Kohley said.

John Wrona, one of the Jaycees executive directors, refused to discuss the impasse, referring a reporter to a Jaycees news release.

"Both options we felt were reasonable, either of which would require only a minimum amount of adjustment to carry out," it stated.

The statement also said the Family Fun Land, featuring crafts, science, magic shows and interactive activities would have a broader appeal.

Priz said the car club would like to have at least one final year at the Settlement on Sunday before bowing out. Without the crowd that Last Fling draws, he said it is unlikely the show would continue at another date or location.

According to the Jaycees press release, the group remains committed to the options it offered.

"Should the auto club choose not to have their event, we like many of you will miss the car show this year," the release says. "But there will be many other events and attractions for Napervillians of all ages to choose from at the Last Fling."