Jim Evans sponsored the Abingdon Days weekend in Abingdon, Illinois that featured an autocross on Main Street in the middle of town. The local police closed the street just for the Chicagoland Club!

Boy, how Susan and I enjoyed those events and the people that attended them.

I have very fond memories of the Beer, Wine & Cheese Tours that Jake & Ann Schneider did for so many years. Russ Mehaffey and I took that mantle up until we left Illinois and the two of us had a great time planning and driving together. One time we got laughing so much we missed a turn and got lost….what a couple of Bozos! I found out we are both masters of the insult!




For the last Beer, Wine & Cheese tour Susan and I actually drove from Knoxville TN to make it! It was worth the trip.

The club is changing with the times and I especially look forward to the revamp of our website which is something that was discussed even back when I was on the board!


I very much hope we can bring back the 2.5 day tours of Northwest Illinois and Wisconsin!! Had we not moved from Illinois, Susan and I had talked about a 2.5 day tour heading down the west side of the state. Oh well. Perhaps someone will restart what were perhaps the most popular road trip programs the club had…..please!!

~~ Ralph Arata