Itasca police driving to break world record

Itasca police hope area Subaru owners are a proud bunch.

The village will need a strong showing from such motorists on July 11, as the police department and Subaru of America, Inc. Great Lakes Region attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the largest parade of Subaru cars.

Police Chief Scott Heher said the event is an opportunity for police, residents and corporate citizens (Subaru's Great Lakes Region is in Itasca) to team up for a good cause.

"It's really a fun opportunity to work with people in the community," Heher said.

To beat the world record, more than 1,100 Subaru owners must participate. An official Guinness World Records adjudicator will be on site to observe and confirm the attempt.

The record was set last year in the United Kingdom to honor World Rally Championship driver Colin McRae and to raise money for his charities.

The Itasca event also will raise money for charity, supporting both Pets are Worth Saving, or PAWS Chicago, which Subaru routinely supports, and Salute Inc. of Prospect Heights, which helps military personnel and their families and is regularly supported by Itasca police. Subaru's Great Lakes Region will donate $15 per car up to a total of $7,000.

The world record attempt already is causing a buzz in the auto world, making a splash on Web sites of publications such as Motor Trend and Modern Racer. It also is likely to cause some traffic backups between 9 and 10 a.m. July 11 near its starting line at 500 Park Blvd., Heher said.

The parade route will run from Park onto Thorndale Avenue, then west to Prospect, south to Irving Park Road, west to Walnut Street, east on North Street to Arlington Heights Road, north to Thorndale and west back to Park.

Participants can register to join the event through July 8 at subaru.com/parade. The first 250 to 500 parade participants will receive one gift bag per car and are eligible for a discounted room rate at The Westin Chicago Northwest in Itasca, which is near the parade route.

Both the police department and Subaru worked together on other community outreach events for several years, including Subaru leasing two tricked-out police vehicles to the department for free. The cars have won awards and appeared at events such as the Chicago Auto Show.