Chicago H.A.M.B.'s My wife and I along with our two kids will be moving to a Chicago suburb sometime in late summer. Wondering what the hot rod scene is like in Chi-town. What are some of the better cruise nights, car shows and rod shops. My job will be somewhere near western springs, what neighborhoods should I avoid, and what are the better neighborhoods with an old downtown feel. so far we like Oak Park and La Grange. I have been to Chicago several times but just in the city. so let me hear and see just what kind of hot rod action takes place in Chicagoland.
Go to this site: www.chromeczars.com This is the place to get a pulse on Chi-town happenings (and most of the surrounding area). Everyones real friendly, too.
I would also suggest doing a search for S.W.ChicagoHAMB & eggs or the Chicago world of wheels to see some of whats been happening recently. there are many good shops in the area, but look up Keven at Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle, HRC&C you will be welcomed here.
Any suburb by Western Springs is nice. Coming from SoCal, the home prices might not make you puke. Cruise nites in Westmont, Downers Grove, Lemont,Frankfort[to the south], Plainfield[out west],Elmhurst. You can stay busy every week nite, and some local stuff in parking lots on the weekends.Three drag strips in the area, Rt 66 in Joilet, Byron up NW, and US 41 in Morrocco,In. Byron and Rt 41 about 75-90 miles away.Shops like Hot Rods and Harleys, Midwest hot Rods in Plainfield, and the Roadster shop in Mundelein.Cant forget Troy Trepainers in Manteno.Goodguys has shows in Indy[3 hours], Madison Wi[2hours], and Joliet[30 minutes].Join us for HAMB and EGGS Saturday mornings.P.S., we dont wear flip flops in Chicago!!!
There's always great stuff happening in the chicago area. The Lansing Cruise Nights throughout the summer are pretty awesome. They are in Lansing, IL 60438 on Ridge Rd. between Burnham Ave. and Wentworth Ave. Ususally run every other month beggining in May or June I believe - it's a blast man. If you like to drag race, US41 has special events like Street Car Chaos and there is a similar event called Real Street Drags at the Grove in Wisconsin.
Thanks guys, so far this has been real helpful. as far as home prices go in SoCal your looking at $550,000. for a 1500sqf 3bed 2 bath inland (no money left over for your cars) and if you can't afford to live near the beach, then what's the point. Really looking froward to Chicago, the people seam to be more down to earth. PS: I don't own flip flops, but I do have a H.A.M.B. thong...
Oak Park is nice. I live next door in Forest Park. Not alot of hot rods. It's a pretty liberal town. I lived there for 3 years and moved to Forest Park in '99. I really like LaGrange and Elmhurst. They are both high in the running when we decide to move. The Elmhurst cruise is HUGE. I think LaGrange is a little cheaper than Elmhurst though. We have adult beverage night at the shop (HRCC) every thursday. (Thanks for the kind words Appleseed and Jim) $550k will get you a fairly nice house in LaGrange. I know when ever we go to visit our friends who live there, I always feel a little depressed when I get back to our tiny house.
I am so-so on Oak Park, lots of different folks pass through that area, and I don't care for some guys pounding 3 12's sitting in front of my house etc. Lagrange is very affordable, but once you make up a list you can have a realtor show you what's out there for a given range. All the best car stuff is in the burbs now, nothing happening really in Chicago anymore which sucks for me but there are car cruise-ins from Tuesday thru Saturday all around. 51 merc 98 formula 00 camaro
Glen Ellyn where we live is nice. Small town feel without being out where a small town would really be. Right on the rails if you end up working in the city.
Hey poops... Welcome to Chicago. Just found a great web site for Chicago area car shows. hers the link... http://www.chicagoareacruisenight.com/Default.aspx
Oh yeah, they forgot to tell you, ditch the thong and buy some thermals. It gets damn cold here unfortunately.
The guys are pretty much on target. Check out the area schools and scores as part of the buy process. Gotta watch out for the kids. It will give you a better sense of things. But remember if you buy south of Madison Ave your a Sox fan.
Mister Poopstain06, we have given you a little idea of what you can expect to find in the Chicago area, tell us what you are into, like what relevance does that avatar have? We also some artistic types about, are your artistic intrests in the triditional automotive line? P.S. I am not being an a$$, just like to give you the opportunity to introduce yourself.... Welcome to Chicago dude!
That's Nick Matranga's '40 Merc (my personal holy grail) chopped by Sam Barris. that is one of my all time favorite early 50's customs. I'm a graphic artist by trade, so whenever I get a chance to inject my love of traditional hot rods and customs into my work, I do. Right now I'm Into finding/building the perfect traditional family rod (we will soon have two kids) I sold a lot of my vintage stuff for the first. so this new build will a sweet one. sorry if this seams a bit short, but the wife keeps telling me to get off the computer "we have to go to Sams Club for diapers". and "jim32" you do not sound like an a$$.
what kind of design work do you do? Do you have a job lined up? I have worked here for the last 14 years.
Wow, that's frickin' nice of you... thank you, but I'm all set with my job, we have an office in Chicago. I work in the trade show/events industry, I'm mostly a Graphics Coordinator now but I still design from time to time.
What do you guys think of Naperville, is it to far from western springs? with everything I have read, it seams cool
Naperhell? It's a nice town, very "uppitity" though. It can get pretty congested downtown. LOTS of new houses and conformity farms, I mean subdivisions. It's probably 30-40 minutes in traffic from the east side of Naperville. If you have to cut across Naperville you can probably add 30 minutes. My wife's best friend lives there.
<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">i'm originally from chicago. don't know much about the hot rod scene up there now, but the pizza rules!! amato's!! </TD></TR><TR UNSELECTABLE="on" hb_tag="1"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height=1 UNSELECTABLE="on"> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
I would also look at Downers Grove or Westmont. Those, in my opinion, is more down to earth than Naperville, which we refered to as "Yupperville". I grew up in Hinsdale, which now is pretty much untouchable $ and later lived in Woodridge for 25+ yrs., just west and south of Downers Grove. Appears as though you are trying to stay along the Burlington Metra train which has excellent service. There are commuter buses from the adjoining towns to the tranm stations. Parking at the train stations can be a problem with most having waiting lists. Basically, the closer in to Chicago you are, up to a point, like LaGrange, the more housing is on a square foot basis. So you trade location for house.
Hey, what happened to you? Did you move to Chicago? Wher did you settle? Car times a comin'.... let go man
I'm biased since I lived in Chicago (The city, not a surrounding suburb) my entire life, but I like Oak Park, Evanston and certain parts of Park Ridge. Anything more further from the city is a different way of living in my opinion. Where I live, you can get up at 3 am and get food/cigs/etc without a problem and it's all walking distance. It all depends on what you want and what you can afford. I've been to a few states/city and I still love Chicago the best. I can never see myself living in a suburb myself, but my sister lives in Libertyville and she likes it a lot, but we are two drastically different people. Good luck on the search and move...
Thanks for the interest... Well, we are still in California till summer, then we make "the BIG move". I will make one more trip to Chicago to find a nice rental for at least a year, then return for the family. So far we like Oakbrook, LaGrange and Oak Park. The wife is pregnant so we are waiting till the delivery of our baby boy. Then we will start getin' it on with the "the BIG move".
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