Report by Eric Smith

Hello, 2020!  Cue up Gene Autry (or Aerosmith, if you prefer).  On this day in August, the Midwest 356 Club was back in the saddle for our first drive of the season, after a sensible (but interminable) CoV-2-induced delay to the start of the driving season.

Brandon and Karissa Cummings organized our fourth annual drive along Sheridan Road, and led the group from the open cockpit of their newly-acquired 1974 914, nicely turned out in Olympic Blue.  17 cars and 28 people showed up for a scenic cruise from Northfield to Lake Bluff, Illinois.  The roster included five guests of the club, and participants from as far away as Milwaukee.

The route took us on twisty roads alongside the beautiful Skokie Lagoon greenway, and then on to Sheridan Road and impressive views of iconic North Shore homes.  We were greeted with smiles and waves from pedestrians and cyclists alike, out enjoying themselves on this warm and sunny day.

Photographer and friend of the club Anton Khlopotov took photos as we passed through the Lagoon area, and again later, as we emerged from our drive through Fort Sheridan, now designated as a National Historic Landmark District.  The photographic evidence shows that guests Tim and Sara could not keep from smiling as they passed Anton in their Sumatra Green 1972 Super Beetle!

photo by Anton Khlopotov

photo by Anton Khlopotov

photo by Anton Khlopotov

photo by Anton Khlopotov

photo by Anton Khlopotov

photo by Anton Khlopotov

photo by Anton Khlopotov

photo by Anton Khlopotov

photo by Anton Khlopotov

photo by Anton Khlopotov

photo by Anton Khlopotov

photo by Anton Khlopotov

photo by Anton Khlopotov

photo by Anton Khlopotov

photo by Anton Khlopotov

photo by Anton Khlopotov

photo by Anton Khlopotov

Note:  If you are interested in purchasing a fine print of any of Anton's photographs, you can email him at antonkhlopotov@gmail.com.

Lunch was a bring-your-own picnic affair on the lawn of the Lake Bluff Village Green, in physical-distanced style.  Our last in-person event took place in February, so folks were eager to see each other again, and lingered long after the food was gone.  Happy participants exchanged virtual handshakes and hugs as they left to make their way home.

Several cars stayed behind to make the return trip along an interesting and alternate route.  As the cars began to assemble, however, copious amounts of fuel could be seen spilling from beneath the chassis of the 914!  Brandon crawled underneath, and found that although the car had survived its maiden voyage from Des Moines just two weeks earlier, an improperly mounted hose clamp had rubbed a hole in a fuel line.  What to do?  A phone call to participant Curt Crowell was the answer.  Curt returned with various hoses and tools, and he and Brandon worked together to repair the leak.

photo by Jim Hinde

Having returned to the Village Green, Curt chose to join the group, now four cars strong, as they embarked on the second half of the drive.  As a much smaller group, they were able to enjoy a decidedly brisker pace for the return trip.  The group was rewarded with expansive views of Lake Michigan for their southbound journey.  The final destination of the tour was the Baha’i Temple in Evanston, where participants honked horns and waved, before going their separate ways.