E. Dundee kicks off summer events with Motor Mondays

Motor Mondays, the first of a series of summer events in East Dundee, combines two of trustee Allen Skillicorn's passions: cars and the village.

A car enthusiast and race car driver for about 20 years, Skillicorn is planning to show off one of his race cars at the monthly car show that begins Monday. His Prince DSR, a single-seat class D sports racer that can go more than 160 mph, will be shown, along with the many other unique cars residents will put on display.

Motor Mondays are scheduled for the first Monday of every month over the summer, the first taking place at 5 p.m. Monday. No registration is required; those interested in showing a car can park it along River and Meier streets in the downtown district.

Ten-year-old Damian Jigalov, of East Dundee, will also be at the event to show off his championship motorcycle. Damian is a competitive racer and a member of the WERA Motorcycle Roadracing Association.

Though Skillicorn enjoys talking and learning about various cars, the goal of events such as Motor Mondays extends beyond that, he said.

"(It's) to get residents to mingle with their neighbors and other people who live in the Fox River Valley - and also see the economic revival that East Dundee is going through."

Other scheduled monthly events include Tail Waggin' Tuesdays, Wine Down Wednesdays and Thirsty Thursdays, a new event added to appeal to craft beer lovers.

Karen Blair, marketing director for the village, said the idea for the multitude of events sprung from East Dundee business owners who asked that the village make an effort to bring people downtown.

East Dundee has undergone major redevelopment in recent years and is continuing to flourish with the addition of new businesses, parking lots and infrastructure repairs, Blair said. Holding events downtown allows people to experience these changes.

"It drives business to the businesses," she said. "It even attracts other businesses and economic development."