I've lived up here since '89. I hate to admit it but I have never been to one of these shows. Seems like something is always going on around that time. But gall-darnit.........I'm making it this year!
There are lots of really good grassroots car shows in your neck of the woods. Nostalgia Days in Zion (end of June each year) is a big one, and probably the most publicized, but the Park on Park in Mundelein is also very, very good though smaller. It runs May through September and is always the second Wednesday from 5-9:00 pm. You could shoot straight south on route 45 and be there in a little over half an hour, depending on where in K-Town you live. Next one is Sept. 11th (last for the season) no admission, just park, walk and ogle the cars.