They called it the Hunnert Car Pileup when they started it in 2002 because they thought they’d be lucky to get 100 hot rods to show up. Indeed, only 80 vehicles rolled in that first year at their friend’s repair shop, but the Pileup now draws 800 cars and 9,000 people to the Grundy County Fairgrounds in Morris, where the sixth annual event revs up at 9 a.m. Saturday.
“The thing that really makes the show special is that it’s for hot rodders by hot rodders,” said Joe “Hellfish” Wislar, a Chicago medical survey analyst who organizes the show with six of his buddies from the Chicago Chrome Czars car club. “There’s no pressure to compete with each other for a stupid trophy.”
It’s a laid-back show, drawing people from Canada to Georgia to Texas, but the Pileup is particular about what kinds of vehicles it’ll let in. Muscle cars need not apply, nor any super-souped-up versions of hot rods. It’s limited to pre-1964 cars in a “traditional style.” Other car clubs like the Emperors, the Voodoo Kings and the Blacktop Barons volunteer their time to help pull off the event.
The Pileup also features a heavy dose of music. Wislar books rockabilly and garage-rock bands in keeping with the old-school theme of the festival.
Wislar’s car of choice is his ’59 Chevy Bel Air, with a 350 small-block engine and a metallic candy flake paint job. He’s not the only gearhead in the family. His wife recently rebuilt her own ’51 Bel Air from top to bottom.
“She understands my hobby and embraces it,” he said. “She has a good time out there.”
Pileup admission is $20 for hot rods. General admission is $5, with kids 12 and under free. See hunnertcarpileup.com for more info.