Spring Driving Tour to Illinois Veterans’ Home

By Ken Bounds

We had a fantastic turnout and a beautiful, sunny day for our spring driving tour Sunday, May 23, to show our V-8s to the veterans who live in the Manteno Illinois Veterans’ Home.  Everyone gathered by 8:30 am (or as Ron Blum says, at dawn) at the White Fence Farm parking lot in Romeoville to form a caravan for our tour.  Ken Bounds provided tour packets to everyone and took the lead in his ‘50 Crestliner with John Slobodnik as passenger.  The rest of the long line of classic Fords included: Ron Blum - ‘40 Fordor, Tom & Judy Buscaglia - ‘51 Tudor, Cliff Dixon - ‘46 Coupe, Lloyd & Gladys Duzell - ‘35 Tudor, Ed Fontana with passenger Joe Serritella - ‘47 Coupe, Earl & Gene Heintz - ‘63 Convertible, Ernie & Terry Herzog - ‘53 Coupe, Roger Hunz and son Bill - ‘51 Tudor, Frank Koeder - ‘39 Convertible, Joe & Nell Kozmic - ‘53 Mercury, Dan & Diane Pudelek - ‘53 Victoria, Frank Madrigali - ‘51 Pickup, and Stan Stack - ‘53 Tudor (on the maiden voyage of his freshly rebuilt engine).  Tom O’Donnell intended to participate, but a mechanical problem with his ‘40 Mercury cut his trip short. 

Our leisurely drive took us down old Route 66 (IL-53), through downtown Joliet, and over secondary roads about 42 miles to the Manteno area.  Somehow, the traffic light gods were with us because we managed to keep the group close together the entire trip.  We arrived at the well-kept grounds of the Illinois Veterans’ Home at 9:45, driving up the flag-lined entrance to the facility.  Our group was allowed to drive our cars onto the lawn, right up to a curved sidewalk, to enable close-up viewing by the veterans.  Shortly after we had parked our group of 14 classics, John McCarthy arrived in a super ’29 Ford Roadster Pickup that he had trailered to Manteno.  Sadly, it was our one and only chance to see John’s pickup as he was delivering it to a new owner that day. 

What a great time we had displaying our cars for all the veterans, answering their many questions, and most importantly absorbing their stories about cars they had owned and driven, their time in the Service, and the wars they had fought.  Many were veterans of World War II and they sure had some interesting stories.  Some of the stories had to do with driving the wheels off V-8 Fords and other cars on their trips home from military bases.  Ron Blum had given all the participants an envelope filled with patriotic pins and we had a great time presenting them to the veterans.  Ron also had a number of pins that were replicas of WWII recruiting posters.  The guys really got a kick out of them. 

For the duration of our visit, even though it became very hot, there was a steady stream of veterans observing our cars.  Most were in wheelchairs and many strained to see some of the exposed engines or the interiors.  They had dozens of questions and many told stories of similar cars they had and what memories they brought back. 

At 11:30 it was time to say goodbye to the veterans and begin our trip back.  Although the temperature had reached 90, all the reliable Early V-8s performed flawlessly.  Traffic was light and we made our way back to a true Route 66 landmark, White Fence Farm.  The restaurant has been operating in the same location since the early 1920’s – before Route 66 even existed.  Our large group was seated promptly and the service was excellent.  I think everyone agreed that the food was terrific – from the endless appetizers served before the meal, to the delicious corn fritters, to the legendary fried chicken (or other entrée chosen).  No one should have left hungry.  As the afternoon came to an end, groups of Flathead V-8s purred out of the parking lot and headed for home.  For some, the round trip was 100 miles, for others it was more like 160.  It was a great way to get those V-8s out on the road to kick off the touring season. 

Finally, some personal notes.  I would like to thank Kathy, our contact at the Veterans’ Home, for her hospitality and for coordinating our visit.  I join all NIRG members in thanking all the veterans who came out to look at our cars, not only for making us feel welcome and for showing such enthusiasm, but more importantly for their service to our country.  Finally, I would like to add sincere thanks to all the members who participated in this neat tour.  The idea for a tour/show at a veterans’ home was born nearly four years ago when all vehicles on the concourse at the 2006 Eastern National Meet were invited to drive through the New York State Veterans’ Home at Batavia.  I thought this was a great idea and have wanted to do it here ever since.  It was a great day and I only wish we had done it sooner.