On the last Sunday of July each year, the whole community looks forward to seeing over one thousand cars gather in a display of automotive history at the Fizz Ehrler Memorial Turning Back Time Car Show. Drawing spectators from all over the state, this experience is like no other.
See a variety of vendors, shop at Sycamore’s finest stores, and dine at the best restaurants in DeKalb County. The Turning Back Time Car Show is one of the best car shows around and will surely leave no participant or spectator disappointed!
Fizz Ehrler, whose memory graces the show every year was a local mechanic who had grown up in Sycamore, lived to see the first car show, but lost his battle to cancer in February of 2001. The next year, the event’s founder, Chuck Criswell, decided to respectfully tag “The Fizz Ehrler Memorial” onto “Turning Back Time Car Show.”
The Fizz Ehrler Memorial Turning Back Time Car Show is an annual gathering of a wide variety of automotive art set in the historic downtown area of Sycamore, Illinois. The party attracts show and go types from drag racing to street performance including Street Rods, Street Machines, Rat Rods, Custom Trucks, Race Cars, Antiques, Classics and more.
The last Sunday in July is marked by the unmistakable sounds of American V8 power etching the stillness of dawn as car people from several surrounding states descend on the entrance gate in search of the good time sharing works of mechanical art with their fellow enthusiasts.
Though many said it couldn’t be done, mixing cars and motorcycles, a very big part of the show is the motorcycle display sponsored by Hink’s Tavern and Grill. But it’s not only car people that show up in town for the fun, but spectators including men, boys, women and children of all ages converge to soak up the sights, sounds and spectacle.
Sponsors and vendors along with the local businesses set up displays, product demos and cater to the crowd benefiting from a wide audience of current, prospective and repeat customers. With its primary goal to raise funds for local non-profit entities and organizations, the show has become the go to event for thousands of motor sports fans and participants!
Begun as the brainchild of local business man and enthusiast collector Chuck Criswell owner of Chuck’s Auto in Sycamore, Illinois and the informal Turning Back Time Car Club, the first show was a distinct success on a rainy July Sunday in 2000. With just over 300 cars and a few hundred spectators it was clear that the idea was a good one.
Subsequent years saw the show grow to the point where it was apparent more space was needed for the ever increasing number of show vehicles arriving each year. Criswell went to the city fathers and worked out a plan to move into the downtown area which included closing Illinois State Highway 64 for the day. With the help of dozens of club members and volunteers, the show ultimately reached its goal of hosting over 1000 cars in 2012 with just over 1100 cars and motorcycles rolling through the gate.
Chuck passed away in March of this year leaving the show as a lasting legacy of his dedication to our community.
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Brian Wermund
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Robert Kuti