Classic cars take streets for Elgin National Road Race celebration

It's not difficult for Bonnie Lauby to talk her four children into dressing up in old-fashioned clothes, including thrift shop shoes with that button look for Rebekah and newsboy hats and suspenders for the three boys.

That's because when they do, they get to ride in their grandfather's 1931 Ford Model A.

The car that Jean and Bob Scheitlin of Elgin have driven across the country and other vintage models were a big part of the draw Sunday for the celebration of the centennial of the first Elgin National Road Race.

Other prize cars were the actual Ford that won the 1933 race, several Model Ts including one painted brilliant John Deere green, and a 1957 Cadillac -- glade green mist, not turquoise -- that supposedly belonged to actress Marilyn Monroe.

Mary Poppins -- in the person of singer Lauren Besinger Colby -- rode in the Scheitlins' car and was an example of the entertainment, which also included old-fashioned games that children could play after the end of rain that plagued the first few hours of the event.

The festivities took place at Sherman West Court in Elgin before the traditional drive around the racecourse by members of the Fox Valley Chapter of the Model T Ford Club, who really own several types of vintage cars.

The race was a big deal in the early part of the 20th Century, drawing as many as 100,000 people to farmland in the western part of the city. It lasted 305 miles, 36 laps around the 8.6-mile course that included Larkin Avenue, Coombs Road, Highland Avenue, McLean Boulevard and back to Larkin.

The event was held for a decade, and even then took time off during World War I. It was revived in 1933, but did not catch on that time.

This year, Judi Brownfield, owner of Books at Sunset, captivated youngsters with games like watermelon seed spitting contests, stuffed monkeys made from socks and a necklace with beads fashioned from old church programs.

"We want to engage the guests and give children a little notion of the 20s history and education and entertainment," she said.

Her volunteers, dubbed car flirts, also delivered tidbits of race history.

For example, city fathers asked residents to go for a joy ride before a race. That's because the gravel and sand road had been covered with 50,000 gallons of oil that needed to be ground into the street before the racers could use it.

Model T factsbull; The last year Model Ts were made was 1927. You could have bought one for $485.bull; Model Ts did come in a few colors besides the famous black, olive green and dark maroon. And you could even get a pickup truck version.bull; It's easiest to drive very old cars in good weather because the brakes are not the best, the windshield wipers might be hand operated and the original lights could be kerosene lanterns.bull; Many Model Ts have wooden wheels.True20001384Not all the cars displayed at the centennial celebration were Model Ts.Rena Naltsas | Staff PhotographerTrue