Community Spirit at the 4th of July Parade

This year, our members took part in Evanston's 4th of July parade with a unique lineup that caught the attention of many: a racing go-kart, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and our SI Mustang race car.

Our racing go-kart was a huge hit with kids in the crowd. The Harley motorcycle added a classic American vibe, while the SI Mustang race car showcased speed and that unmistakable American style!

Vehicles and Trades Unite

Our partnership with The Trade Collective brought a new level of energy and connection to the event. The Trade Collective seeks to enhance awareness of the skilled trades as promising alternative career paths for kids today. Walking in the parade gave a great platform for broadcasting the mission.

Alongside our vehicles, some of our members marched proudly carrying flags representing different skilled trades. Each flag highlighted promising careers today and reminded everyone that these trades are the backbone of the community.

The Trade Collective's co-founder, Neil Gambow, also showed his love of cars. To our motorsports focus, Neil added a classic touch in driving his convertible Corvair.

Behind the Scenes: Preparing for the Parade

Getting ready for the parade was a mad thrash of planning and coordination. Our members worked hard to prepare the vehicles, ensuring they were parade-ready and safe for the route.

Then it all went south. The first go-kart was deemed unfit for the parade, the second go-kart needed brakes repaired, and the Mustang needed to be repaired from the last event and then outfitted for flag bearing. The rest of our team came together on site to get the party started.

The Parade Day Experience

On parade day, the energy was electric. Families lined the streets, waving flags and cheering as the procession moved through Evanston. We'd like to say our vehicles rolled down the route without a hitch, but that's not how it went down.

The go-kart's throttle went limp. Then we fried the clutch.

Thankfully we had Milo on hand. He was one of our flag bearers, and he came to Khalyd's aid fixing the throttle with one hand while he held his flag with the other. We marched on.

The Harley’s engine rumbled like only a Harley can do - until it didn't. Running out of gas will do that to a machine.

Fortunately, we had tow ropes on hand and quickly got George back on pace. After finding the reserve tank switch, the Harley came back to life.

The Mustang turning heads with its retro design and amazing sound.

Nobody suspected that the transmission was on its last leg.

Our #26 SI Sally is a tough gal.

Look, none of our vehicles are made to limp along at a slow pace - they're runners: happiest at full throttle and suffering short of that... By the end of the parade all vehicles managed to cross the finish line under their own power.

Persistence

it's a community thing

The success of this year’s parade partnership encourages us to keep exploring creative ways to combine vehicles, trades, and local community groups to creates rich experiences for kids.

We look forward to expanding our participation, inviting more members and partners to join the fun. Until next year - we have some ideas for ramping up our game...