Any members in the Champaign-Urbana area? Any club activity? This May, I'll be moving a little south of Champaign from the Dallas, Texas area.

Would love to get some input on good (and bad) dealers and shops in the area.

Thanks,


Dave

 

I went to school there, does that count???

Seriously though... We're moving to Scott AFB, which is about 3 hours away... Looks like 2 people in TX moving to the midwest.

 

Welcome to Illinois you two Texans. Are you ready for Culture Shock? Biggest difference you both will notice is the damned corn, it's friggin' EVERYWHERE!!!! Children of the corn?

I will be right in the middle of you guys, here in Springfield, IL, home of the Simpsons and some guy named Abe. Another thing, Springfield IS the Capitol of IL, not Chicago as most think. :D

 

i thought simpsons was in the other springfield? Xk4, you going to school there? My sister is continuing grad there? I know theres a set of dealers there, but small. hope that helps u

 

The Simpsons are not from any particular Springfield. Matt Groenig chose the name Springfield, because it seemed a very common name to him (half of the states have a Springfield), just like he chose the name Simpsons because it was as common to him as Johnson or Jones.

---jps

 

I actually grew up in Chicago. I'm kind of looking forward to moving back to the MW. I don't like the fact that I won't be driving my car for months out of the year though (it's not my daily driver...)

 

I went to the U of I in Champaign-Urbana so I know all about the corn. Thankfully the fields of corn are often interrupted by lush fields of soybeans.

We actually moved to Texas from the Chicago area 20 years ago when my wife's company relocated (I can work from almost anywhere). My wife got an early retirement offer from Verizon, so we're moving back to her home town.


My big worry is the lack of good Tex-Mex food. My other big worry is running up on an Amish buggy on some back road. :D

Nice to know though that I won't be the lone RX-8 in central Illinois.

Dave

 

Both went to U of I, moving from TX to IL, from Chicago, own RX8's, follow our wives around, & are named Dave. That's really weird....

 

You know, this is true about half the states having a Springfield, but...

Let me point out some things that really point more to Springfield in Illinois with the Simpsons than any other Springfield out there.

The town founding Father (can't remember his name but) was back along the times of Abraham Lincoln and he is sort of symbolized the same as here in IL.

We have a Mechanicsburg which is just 10 miles out of town. Heard it in the Simpsons on more than one occasion.

We have a Dawson which is less than 10 miles out of town. Again, heard it on the Simpsons on more than one occasion.

The Simpsons visit Capitol City, the big city near Springfield. If they were to say that Springfield were the Capitol city, then everyone would know for sure it IS Springfield, IL. They wish to keep it undisclosed.

Lake Shelbyville, it's only about 50 miles away. The Simpsons have a Lake Shelbyville nearby.

These are a few off the top of my head and I know there are more references in the many episodes of the show. There are too many instances for it to be not here. Not that we Springfieldians wish for such glory, we already have Abraham Lincoln.

When I say Springfield, IL, home of the Simpsons and some guy named Abe, it is done with tongue in cheek, I do not really mean it but...coincidences are quite strong to support this.

 

Yes, I realize that this is tongue in cheek.

Practically every Springfield has a founding father type, like Jebediah Springfield. Most of them have a larger city nearby (which Springfield IL doesn't have) and Capitol City seems to be patterned after NY city anyway. There are other states with a Shelbyville nearby. And Springfield IL doesn't have a mountain range or ocean nearby. Don't forget, the Simpsons themselves were named after Matt's father, mother, and two sisters, and he grew up in Oregon, which has a Springfield near some mountains, the ocean, and a capital just up the road.

Then there is Springfield MA and Springfield NY that could fit alot of those criteria too. And then, there was that one "Behind the Music" take-off episode, when they mention the Simpsons as being from Kentucky, which also has a Springfield, a Shelbyville, and a bigger city just up the road. When you tally up all of the coincidences, I think Springfield IL is actually back in the pack as far as possibilities.

---jps

 

when are u guys moving out to illinois? i will be in and out of illinois the next three months because i will be throwing a show in chicago soon...maybe you guys can come out!

well...if you see two silver RX8's with "TRAXION" on them...ask for wayne...thats me! i'd be glad to tell you more about the show and what we are doing to the RX8's before SEMA...

good luck in illinois!!!

 

I'll be there in July.

 

I know it is a bit of a hike, but you would be most welcome to come out to the Chicago club meetings and events. We have a couple of RX-7 owners from more Southern parts of the state who drive up for some of these.

Bill (Chicago club prez) is going to get the meeting schedule out soon... hint hint Bill

Cheers,

Steve

 

XK4,

I live in Champaign. I did not realize there was anyone on this forum from C-U until today. I purchased my 8 here in town and would be happy to give you my input on local dealers and service shops.

Jason

 

I wish I was back in C-U occasionally. I was born there and my Grandparents lived there a number of years before moving to the home of Superman (Metropolis). I remember going to the cornfields in the summer to watch the pheasant. Good memories. Good luck with the move XK4.

D menac 7, do you know any political science professors over at Illinois State?

Paul

 

Anyone still in champaign? I just bought my 8 about a month ago, I have seen 5 other 8's in the area.

Recent UofI grad, now work for the Chemistry dept.

 

And I'm the current prez up here in Chi-town. We're always open...

www.chicagorotary.com/forum

 

I'm in Bloomington and would love to meet up with some of the Champaign-Urbana owners sometime.

 

I'm from carbondale but would drive up anytime.

 

any one from IL close to champaing

 

Heh, funny. I live in Champaign, but I never noticed this thread. I have an '05 GT.

Three of my coworkers also own RX-8s. Three of us are even in the same big office.

We have two black, one red and my titanium grey.

I autocross with the Champaign County Sports Car Club, and we get a couple other RX-8s as well. If you;re in the area, you should look up our schedule and come to an event. We have one this weekend (Sunday and Monday) at Parkland Community College.

http://ccsportscarclub.org/ccscc-soloii.html

 

I used to live in Champaign and never noticed this thread either. I'll be at the Parkland autocross with Mr. Pockets and a whole bunch of other car nuts.