The Lake Geneva Classic Car Rally's History

Shortly after Corinne "Rinny" was born on August 5, 1975 her parents George and Janice Kreissl purchased a 1939 Ford Tudor and it was to be her car sometime in the future. George had learned to drive in a black Ford just like it, but the morning after bringing the car home "Rinny" became seriously ill and was rushed to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

After weeks of life threatening testing and experimental therapy it was determined that she had Biliary Atresia a terminal liver condition. Janice never left her side as she was operated on 12 times and spent weeks in Intensive Care with children that had leukemia.

The following summer when Rinny was able to come home she loved to ride in the 39' Ford, sitting on Janice's lap and constantly keeping her hand on the gear shift knob. The route that was always traveled was around Geneva Lake and for some reason always in a counter-clockwise direction. This was her favorite activity as she was quite immobile due to her condition. Her only long trip in the Ford was to the Iola Car show in Iola, Wisconsin in July 1976 and always with her hand on the shifter.Corinne Kreissl

After Rinny passed on in February 1977, the memories of her pleasant journeys around Geneva Lake kept on returning and thoughts of somehow duplicating the trip around the lake and stopping at some of the same places kept coming up.

After discussing the prospects of a Lake tour the decision was made to add a poker theme to make the journey more interesting to more people and the American Cancer Society was contacted to provide some help with dealing, in return for any proceeds that might be raised. A foundation for Biliary Atresia had not yet been formed.

Planning for the event consisted of combining three ingredients, Lake Geneva, the Crown Jewel of the Midwest with rolling stock of antique, classic and special interest vehicles and finally a little touch of chance and you have the Corinne Kreissl Memorial Foundation's "Classic Car Rally" with rules "According to Hoyle." The first Rally was held September 17, 1978 and started at Popeye's in downtown Lake Geneva at the lake. Any and all vehicles were eligible to participate and there was no judging of vehicles. Just FUN, FUN, FUN, and Lady Luck was the winners only edge. Due to heavy rains and being a new event only 27 vehicles participated.

The first year a car show was held after the Rally was 1980, the 3rd annual event, when Hugh Hefner's Playboy Club hosted the awards program at their Ski Chalet, with Playboy Bunnies assisting in the awards presentation. Two hundred and sixty vehicles participated, almost ten times the initial number in 1978.

By the 5th Rally, in 1982, the event started and finished at the Old Playboy Ski Chalet, the Americana Resort. Four hundred vehicles participated.

In 1984, the 7th Rally, the Classic Car Rally took to the air with airplane rides in a restored 1931 Stinson Tri-motor airliner at the Americana field adjacent to the Ski Chalet. Five hundred vehicles participated. This continued in 1985, the 8th Annual Rally, and this was the first year that zones were incorporated instead of five stops for dealing. Participants could choose which stops in a zone where they wanted to draw their cards. 1985 was also the first year that the event was held for two days, Saturday as well as Sunday, which had been only Sundays in the past.

In 1986, the 9th Rally, Craig and Samantha Richardson offered the use of their South Shore home "The Vagabond," an English pub replica, for a Car Rally gathering. Friday evening was decided on and the "Taste of the Car Rally at Richardson's" was started.

The 10th Annual Rally in 1987 produced 650 vehicles and the zone concept and Richardson's gathering were both made a permanent part of the annual event.

By 1987 a new dimension was added; an antique wood boat show and antique outboard motor display at the Abbey Resort, a stop on the around the lake poker tour. Seven hundred and fifty vehicles participated.

By the 13th Rally in 1990 an antique aircraft and warbird fly-over was organized to accentuate the beginning of the awards presentation. Eight Hundred and fifty vehicles participated as well as many boats and airplanes for show.

The first $500. first prize was presented to the winner in 1991, the first year for the cash prize. After the Richardson's home suffered a tragic fire the Taste of the Rally party was held at the Cactus Club in 1992, the year of the 15th annual event. The following year 1993, the Richardson's home was rebuilt and the party was back on the South Shore.

In 1994 the 17th Annual Rally, was hosted by the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa after they purchased the Americana. Five hundred vehicles participated and the fly-over portion of the event was expanded.

Interlaken Resort and Country Spa became the new host site for the Classic Car Rally in 1996 the 19th year of the event. Eddie Cash presented his show to all participants for the first time this year. Eight hundred vehicles participated.

In 1997 a weekend itinerary was published as the number of events included a dance featuring Johnny Star, on Saturday night as well as Richardson's, a new car show downtown with a parade afterward, Eddie Cash show and the fly-over. Hemmings Motor news in Bennington, Vermont also presented their Hobby Hero Award to the Corinne Kreissl Memorial Foundation, Inc., for their assistance in expanding the old car hobby. Tom Gale of Chrysler Corporation and Bob Petersen from Hot Rod and Motor Trend Magazine, also received this prestigious award. Eight hundred vehicles participated.

In 1998 the return of the Swing Era provided incentive to add the legendary Riviera Ballroom on the Lake to be part of the Classic Car Rally. Louis Armstrong, Les Brown, Woody Herman and Pete Fountain are some of the bands that have played there in years past. The Airmen of Swing were engaged to play the Hubcap-Runningboard Ball on Saturday evening to add to the already full weekend schedule including a return of wood boat show and antique motor display. Dr. Hans Schreiber from the University of Chicago was on hand on Sunday to speak for the American Cancer Society. A professional Clown Show was also added for children's and adult entertainment. Nine Hundred vehicles participated.

The 22nd Annual Event in 1999 continued with the same itinerary as previous with Jack Farina and his Big Band providing swing at the Riviera. The largest turnout ever, with perfect weather all weekend, counted over 1,000 vehicles and made a $30,000.00 donation to childhood cancer research through the American Cancer Society.

Weekend long rain slowed the progress of the event in 2000, the 23rd annual Rally as the first year the Yerkes Observatory tour was added to the full weekend itinerary.

Perfect weather provided extra incentive to participate in the 24th Annual event on September 29 and 30, 2001. Almost 1100 vehicles participated raising $35,173.00 to fight childhood cancer in memory of Corrine Kreissl. This amount, along with proceeds from a 5K run in Long Grove, Illinois and donated by the Long Grove Lions Club, add up to a grand total of $46,656.00 to be added to Research Grant IRG86004-14 of the American Cancer Society, to raise the total to date, since the Rally's inception in 1978 to $401,003.00.
For more info site, on: http://www.classiccarrally.net/