RENO, NV (Aug. 2) — This week Hot August Nights begins but the weekend was also full of car meets and cruises. After a year’s absence car people are going to enjoy the festivities.
Friday and Saturday was when Hot August Nights began up in Virginia City. Around 400 cars lined C Street and everything from exotic to ordinary was on display not to mention the crowds of people enjoying the scene.
In the crowd were two women wearing period dresses as they too looked at the cars. Events like this are a boon to this small town.
One interesting car belongs to a pair of Story County residents; Al and Susan Grabrowski.
Asked about the car he said, “It’s a 1939 Coast to Coast, it’s basically a body assembly you buy and build them on custom frames. It’s stylized after a 1939 Ford except it’s all chopped and modified to the ultimate degree. The motor is a LS1 based on a 350 and it’s been modified but I don’t know how many horsepower it has.
“It’s very good to drive, with the frame and the way the suspension is. I also have a C6 Corvette and it’s very similar in driving ability.
Moving up the street there was a completely restored vintage VW Bus. In fact it was used in the 2019 Hot August Nights poster.
Not far away was a restored and modified pick up track owned by Larry and Su Merrill from Lapine, Oregon.
“It’s a ’53 GMC,I bought it in 2012 because I wanted a GMC and not a Chevy,” he said. “It had thestock front end under it, straight axel and all. We found it was very uncomfortable and very unsteerable at speed.
“So we put a coil over front suspension under it and the back back end is a ’74 Chevy Nova positraction with a 4-link with coil overs. The motor is a350 turbo and it’s got cruise control, XM radio, heated seats and all the cool stuff.”
Later that afternoon, before the daily cruise began, HAN handed out awards. The next morning the Merrills began the 9-hour drive back to their home in Oregon.
• On Sunday Hot August Nights took a break but there were three car meets in Reno. As it’s the first weekend of the month Reno Cars & Coffee had its meet by the Kietzke Starbucks.
As usual there were rows of cars of all different models and makes. This draws a crowd of fellow car people as well as those that just want to see what is on display.
In the exotic group was a white Lamborghini owned by Jerry Sample. He came all the way from Round Mountain to have his car in the meet.
“This isan ’03 Murielago, they made 4,000 of these world wide. They estimated two thousand to twenty two hundred were imported to the U.S. This is one of the300 with a standard transmissions so it’s kind of neat,” he said. “I also have a Gallardo, which is the V-10 version of this car. This is a V-12 and Lamborghini’s are named after Spanish Bulls.”
Then Sample explained how it is to drive this car. The seating is a bit unusual.
“It’s really cool, it’s awkward and I like cars that are really different. The seating position is really strange, you’re actually facing inwards at an angle so it’s almost like the driver is facing the passenger headlight,” he said. “Other than that it’s super bumpy, hard to see out of, noisy and I love it. That’s the perfect car forme but I can see why people sell them as its not for everybody.”
He explained the V-12 is set backwards to the clutch is actually in back of the seats. After building a successful business Sample is filled with gratitude that he can afford cars like this.
Another drawing attention was an early 1960’s Chevy Impala with a wonderful paint job. But not far away was probably the most unusual car at the meet.
It’s owned by Sam Stanley and Chuck Martin, who years ago used to crew on an Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Boat. Both men recently moved to Reno from Michigan.
“This is a SCCA sanctioned race car in the Super Production Class,” Stanley said. “That means it has to comply with all the GT1 rules, which as as excessive as you can imagine. It passed tech in about2015, has got a 461 custom made V-8 motor in it, which is built off a Pontiac iron big block. Didn’t use the aluminum one as ti’s a little too big and wouldn’t fitin a little bitty chassis.”
He added the cooling system was upgraded to take care of an early over heating program and an electric water pump was part of the solution.
Stanley added the custom roll cage was a major item as SCCA requires side protection. Normally this is done with two parallel roll bars on the side. However he realized just getting in and out of the car would be a major challenge. So he worked with a builder with a shop next to Waterford racetrack in Michigan. The solution was a NASCAR type the is shaped like an “X.”
Then he sent the proposal to the National SCCA office and has a letter as they approved it. So their local tech inspector came out three times to check it. After hearing holes needed to be drilled so the thickness of the roll bars could be check, Stanley had the inspector mark the spots. Wasn’t easy but it was done. Do the car is approved by the SCCA and since it is licensed in Nevada its actually a street legal race car.
Asked how it is to drive Stanley said, “As far as the track is concerned I had tosay this is very fast, very powerful and squirrely as it hs a short wheel base. I have not personally driving on a track because I don’t want to wreck the car. I’d need to engage a professional driver to take this out on the track.”
He added getting up and down to Virginia City as well as on the Mount Rose Highway is a lot of fun.
• Next car meet was at the Emerson Bar in midtown and it was in partnership with Teresa’s Garage Radio Show. The gathering was small and intimate but still featured some good cars. One couple that recently moved from Ohio to here brought a pair of cars that still had Ohio License plates on them.
• One annual event the Sunday before HAN gets started in Reno and Sparks is at the Bonanza Casino on North Virginia Street. This time the effort was to raise funds for the Prostrate Cancer Fund and the casino matched all the money raised by the car show.
As expected it was a mix of cars including some roadsters. In the gathering was a 1930’s sedan. It was a Cord owned by Lee Reynolds.
“It’s a 1936 Cord, was built in Indiana, they built them in ’36 and’37. It was reputed to be a Duesenberg but at the last minute they changed it to a Cord after E.L.Cord the CEO of Cord Duesenberg Corporation,” he said. “The car hasaLycoming V-8, which is an aircraft style engine in it and it’s water cooled. It’s front wheel drive, the transmission is up front, uses a vacum shifter and the headlights are raised by a crank on each side.”
When shifting a gear is selected then when the clutch is pressed the shift is made. He added the engine is actually backwards to the transmission is in the front.
Asked about the car’s history Reynolds said, “My father bought is as a dilapidated basket case in 1966. He and I went through it and when he passed away about 10 or 12 years ago it became 100% mine. And it’s continuous love with constant maintenance.”
Another car on display was a beautiful restored 1955 Ford convertible. Close by another car receiving attention was a beautiful VW owned by Andy Barton.
“This is a 1970 Volkswagen Beetle, a standard one. I actually bought it off eBAY at an acution in 2017 with three seconds left to go,” he said. “I’ve had it resprayed, this isthe original color, Fiesta Orange and I’ve added all the extras.”
All the items on the roof luggage rack and in the trunk are all period correct.
“I’ve added all the chrome pieces. Even though we don’t need it here this is an aluminum bumper and one is on the back. I upgraded the engine to 1776 so I can get through town. I put in a new headliner and recovered the seats but that’s the way it would come.”
This week is a blizzard of cruises and other things during Hot August Nights including a lot of entertainment. For further information check the website at, www.hotaugustnights.net. It’s going to be a wonderful week.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• This Tuesday from 3 until 8 p.m. the south Steak ‘N Shake is having its weekly cruise in. Besides starting early those that show up in a HAN registered car can get into a special drawing.
• On Wednesday, starting around 5 p.m. the Sparks A&W has a cruise in. It is located across the street from Reed High School.
• Teresa’s Garage Radio Show is on the air from 2 until 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. In northwest Nevada it can be heard over the air at 1060 AM.
There is also a Podcast at amm.streamon.fm or it can be seen live on Face Book.
PLEASE NOTE: This week the show if live at the Peppermill. It will be by the north security entrance. If you have a chance please stop by and say hello.
There is a second Women With Wheelz show from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m Wednesday and Thursday at the parking lot on the east side of the Nugget. Participants must be registered with Hot August Nights and there will be special prizes awarded. Should be fun.
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We now have eight appreciated sponsors supporting this site. Please patronize them as they support your sport and help nvracingnews continue. Do let them know you heard about their business through this site.
• Tread Connection is out newest sponsor and Blake Sobiloff owns the local franchise. The business brings the tire store to the customer so they don’t have to take time off work or even leave home.
Once the tires are ordered Sobiloff picks them up and arrives where the customer’s car is in a van packed with state of the art equipment. He observes all safety precautions and it’s no contact so the tires can be chosen and paid for online.
Another service is scanning tires to tell if they need alignment. A useful service for fleet owners so they don’t have several vehicles all needing tires at once since the ware can be tracked. There are discounts for First Responders, Veterans, Active Duty Military as well as members of the National Guard and Reserves.
His primary area is Reno and Sparks so one can either use the direct line at 775-870-3600, the Face Book page or the website at, www.treadconnection.com.
• Next sponsor is G.I.S.L Land Services that, while having a global client base, has a western US focus. Owner Greg Ekins is a long time off-road motorcycle racer with MRANN and the AMA National Hare and Hound seris.
Among the services he offers are surface and mineral title reviews and cartographic services. The website is, www.gislandservices.com.
• Next sponsor is General Transmission and Power Train Specialists owned by former motorcycle racer Pete Attashian. The shop is located at 2515 Sutro Street in Reno, a few blocks down from Hug High School.
The shop services older and new transmissions and now has a section for high performance units as well as those used in towing. Phone number is 775-786-5888 and the shop’s website is, www.generaltransmissionreno.com.
• Racing photographer Melissa Coker is another sponsor. If you raced at Summit in Elko, Battle Mountain, Lovelock, Rattlesnake Raceway or Diamond Mountain Speedway she probably has a picture of you on the track.
She’s photographed Duel in the Desert, Northern Nevada Modified Tour, Wild West Tour and the IMCA Super Nationals. Besides photos she produces hero cards and memory books. To see her work or to place an order please go to, www.melissasoutonalimb.smugmug.com.
Two of our sponsors are first class motorcycle shops located in Reno.
• Our first sponsor is Reno Motorsports (RMS). Not only do they have about anything aridwer might want or need but the store also has a full service shop.
Their location is 964 Terminal Way, by the intersection with Mill Street. Store’s phone is 775-322-1499 and the website is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.
• The next shop is Moto-Source located at 3188 Mill Street. Once again they are a full service shop plus their showroom has about anything a rider might want or need.
The phone number is 775-856-3855 and website is, www.moto-source.com.
• Concours Body Shop, located at 250 Telegraph Street in Reno, is another sponsor. The shop does quality collision repair for cars and trucks.
Owner Brian Saul is a car enthusiast himself and is committed to continuing the shop’s reputation of quality work. The phone number is 775-329-4557 and the website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.
• Hungry, want a great place to eat? If so try PJ&CO for breakfast, lunch or dinner and its a grat place to watch your favorite sports. Wednesday evenings, starting around 5 p.m. is Bike Night, a good time to meet fellow riders.
The location is 1590 South Wells Avenue, just north of the round about. Phone Number is 775-323-6366 and the website is, www.pjandco.net.
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