Rolling Meadows to host Cruise Nights
Every Friday night during the spring and summer, there's a place in Rolling Meadows where you can step back in time. In the parking lot of the closed Dominick's store at the southeast corner of Kirchoff Road and Meadows Drive, the members and guests of the Rolling Meadows Cruisers meet to show off their classic cars, swap stories and admire each other's work. Gawkers are more than welcome.
Paul Bukowski, president of the Cruisers, gave us a little of his time recently.
Q. Is Cruise Night known for any particular collection?
A. We get all kinds of cars and some Car Clubs too, such as the T-Bird Club which is all 1955-56-57 Thunder Birds. Some of the other clubs are the Rodents, Voodoo Kings and the Rod Fathers.
Q. What, hands down, is the most amazing car you've seen?
A. I've seen so many that it's really hard to pick one out.
Q. Is there one car you'd love to come, but haven't seen one yet?
A. A 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser.
Q. Have you found over the years that certain personalities match up to specific cars?
A. Not really. I've found that all types of people like all different types of cars, from mild to wild.
Q. Collectible cars seems like a male-dominated hobby. Do you have women in your group or who come regularly to Cruise Nights?
A. We are starting to see more women with cars coming to our cruise night
Mostly men have the cars but a lot of the wives love their husband's cars and go to the cruise nights and car shows with them. Some men can't have a car without their wife's permission.
Q. What do people spend for the top competitive cars? How little can you get away with?
A. You can spend as much as you want or as little as you want. The more you spend, the nicer the car. Trouble is, you're never done. A 1966 Shelby 427 SC Cobra just sold at auction for $1,165,000.
Q. Talk a little about the romance of having and working on a classic car.
A. Taking care of your car is a lot of work. A lot people don't realize how much time and money you invest, but it's all worth it. Sometimes as your working on your car you transform to a different time and you're a kid again.