RENO, NV (July 31) — This weekend begins a huge celebration of cars in the Reno/Sparks area. There will be cruises and shows in various areas plus crowds of people enjoying this festival.
Hot August Nights started things with a Friday-Saturday show up in Virginia City. They blocked off C Street and it was full of cars on display.
While some cars were restored while others were built from almost nothing. One such car was a 1940 Ford Coupe owned by Jerry Lacer from Auburn, California.
“ I bought it as a parts car from a swap meet at Hot August Nights, he said. “I’ve had the car for 28 years and it took 15 years to built it from the frame up.”
He also put a new motor in it and will both have it on display as well as cruise in it this coming week.
Some cars on display in Virginia City are decorated in various ways by their owners. One of them is a 1930’s sedan that came from California is owned by a proud Marine Corps veteran.
Cars come from all over the west and one of them came from Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s a 1968 Mustang convertible owned by Mark Platt and he titled his car “Worth the Wait.”
“I got a Mustang from a friend when I was 16, wanted to do more with it but never had the money,” he said. “I sold it, got a family car then got cars for others including my daughter and wife. Once that was done then it was my turn.”
He bought the car in 2010 and just finished it Thursday around 11:30 before heading for Virginia City. It was a major restoration as he wanted it to be unique.
“I contacted a body guy, a mechanic that works on engines and another that does interiors. The whole car has been soda blasted and it’s all new with a Windsor 351 engine. The only old part is the horn,” he said.
Now that he’s here the car will be on display as well as cruising during Hot August Nights. For the full daily schedule for this coming week please go to www.hotaugustnights.net. Each day has a separate schedule and be aware there will be road closures during the coming week.
• On Sunday the Bonanza Casino had it’s annual car show. Although independent from HAN it is for a good cause as proceeds to go the Prostrate Cancer Foundation.
The turnout was very nice and in fact there were two rows of Corvettes facing each other. The owner of one of them actually won the car in a drawing.
Another car was 1949 Cadillac whose body was designed by Harley Earl, who designed many iconic GM cars of that era. That model was the very first Car of the Year for Motor Trend magazine.
Another car on display, from an earlier era, is owned by Tom Nelson. His car is an example of how people have saved cars from destruction.
“It’s a 1941 Lincoln Custom with the Limousine option. Has suicide doors, privacy glass between the front and back,” he said. “There are hydraulic windows and the roof is a little bit taller while the floor is a little bit lower than the standard Lincoln so it’s much easier to get in and out of.”
He added it’s a very rare car. Only 295 were produced and not even a dozen left in the world.
“I bought the car about 20-years ago, it was a wreck as it was caught up in the flood in 1963. After I got it just put it out behind the barn until I retired,” he said. “Then I pulled it out and turned it into my day job. It took me about two and a half years to do the restoration.
“I did everything myself except the upholstery and paint. Everything was bad, the motor was worn out but it was there. I rebuilt that and it runs like a champ now. Starts, runs great and it’s a fun car. “
One of the more decorated vehicles was a Willy’s Overland Pick Up truck. The owner really did a bang up job on this one.
Several T-Bucket cars were on display. One of them is owned by Steve Coon and has been a labor of love.
“This is a 1923 T-Bucket that I built,” he said. “It was a basket case but 28 years later this is what it’s come out. Never seen the shop and never will.
“I’ve got a 396 out of a ’66 big block and it’s been bored out so it’s a 408. Got 2 600 Edelbrock Carburetors on it, old school style. In the rear end got 410 gears in the back with a 400 transmission.”
While he doesn’t take it out to Top Gun Dragstrip because there is no roll bar, Coon and his friends will drag race it at the short course by the Nugget during Hot August Nights.
“I was the best reaction time .0003, that’s three thousands of a second three times,” he said.
That was last year and earned him a free Hot August Nights registration.
Another car that has a special meaning for its owners, Jerry and Maryann Hedley, is a 1961 black Chevrolet convertible. The car was produced the same year they were married.
“We didn’t have a car when we got married and I was only making 75 cents an hour,” he said.
They towed to Reno from their home in Vancouver, Washington. And like many cars it has been rebuilt from its original condition they found it in.
“This was a barn find out of Burns, Oregon. No motor in it, parts of an old motor laying on the ground and the seats were all tore up so we took it home and did a body-off on it,” he said. “Takes a lot of work. We’ve had it 12 years and I still change things and up grade stuff. We wired it with American Auto Wire so every wire is changed so basically it’s a brand new car.”
He added the frame is powder coated and is powered by a 1966, 425 horse powered 427 out of a Corvette. Has a 4-speed transmission and 4-wheel disc brakes. He put a Global West front suspension and a Hydroboost Brake System to handle the disc brakes.
“The car has been completely rewired, basically the car’s brand new,” he said. “We put 8,000 miles on it in the last three years. This is an original SS and, as far as we know, there only know of 25 of them. So this is really a rare car and we got part of the build sheet so it was a factory SS.”
So now we head into Hot August Nights. Set ups are going on now and Monday is when Nevada residents can sign up. Everyone else on Tuesday and the registration site is the Grand Sierra.
Then Wednesday the week’s celebration of older cars takes off. There will be cruises downtown and through Sparks. Displays will be at the Grand Sierra, Peppermill and at the Atlantis. Entertainment is also going to happen at the display areas.
This is a over flowing buffet for car lovers hope everyone can get out and enjoy it.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• This week, due to Hot August Nights most of the regular cruises are taking a break until after August 7th.
• Monday from noon until 7 p.m. it’s Nevadans only check in for Hot August Nights. Location is at the Grand Sierra. Then everyone is welcome on Tuesday at the same location and times.
• Starting on Thursday, at the Livestock Events Center, is the Hot August Night’s Swap meet that tarts at 7 a.m. each day.
• Thursday is when the Women With Wheelz show will be on the east parking lot of the Nugget on Victorian Blvd.
• Friday and Saturday, at the Convention Center is the MAG Auction of classic cars. The preview and action starts at 9 a.m. each day.
• 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. The show is focused on all things automotive, trends, new developments and trivia.
ANNOUNCEMENT: This week Teresa’s Garage is using a Best of Recording. There may be live feeds on the Face Book page during the week.
SPONSOR LIST:
• If you enjoyed this article please “like,” and share it as widely as possible. Comments are welcome.
Subscribers have articles posted to their inbox as soon as they are up on the site.
We now have five very appreciated sponsors supporting this site. Please patronize them as they support your sport and help nvracingnews continue. And let them know you heard about them through this site.
• One of our sponsors 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 below Hug High School.
The shop services older and new transmissions and now has a section for high performance units and those used in towing. Phone number is 775-786-5888 and the shop’s website is www.generaltransmissionreno.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 a rider might want or need and the store also has a full service shop.
Their location is at 964 Terminal Way, by the intersection with Mill Street. Store’s phone number is 775-322-1499 and the site is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.
• The next shop is Moto-Source located at 3180 Mill Street. Once again they are a full service shop plus the showroom has about any thing a rider might need or want.
The phone number is 775-856-3855 and the 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. Phone number is 775-329-4557 and the website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.
• Hungry, want a great place to eat, then try PJ&CO for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and it’s a great place to watch your favorite sports. Wednesday evenings, starting around 5 p.m. is Bike Night, good time to meet fellow riders and have a great dinner.
The location is 1590 South Wells Avenue, just north of the round about. Phone number is 775-323-6366 and their website is www.pjandco.net.
Have a business targeted toward motorsports or car enthusiasts? This site is a great way to expose your services to those communities. Sponsorships are very reasonable and one can contact us either through the comment section of this site or on our Face Book page.
