SPARKS, NV (Oct 23, 2022) — A cool morning greeted those diehards that showed up for the recent Sparks Cars & Coffee meet. Despite the temperature there was a good variety of cars on display. Not to mention the close by Starbucks had hot coffee and chocolate to help warm folks up.
Over on one side there was a line of Mustangs, all of them had their hoods up. One of them is a vintage Mustang that’s been beautifully restored by Jufue Reyes, most call him J.R., and his car is a rare find these days.
“The car is a 1989 Saleen SSC Modified Mustang,” he said. “They were hot rods, for a stock Mustang you could get it with 224 Horses but this one from the factory, from Saleen was 295 Horses. Back in the day that was a lot, a Corvette had about 260 so pretty good for its time.”
He bought the car from an owner on the East Coast, one that had street raced it and used it a lot. Reyes added once the car was here he’s been restoring it with Saleen specific era parts although they are hard to source.
“The engine was stock but because of the Supercharger I was scared that it would crack. So I took the engine out and put something with Ford internals with the Supercharger since it already had one,” he said.
A Supercharger has virtually an instant response to the throttle while there is a gap in a Turbocharged car. Still both can help the power curve. Next on the list was the transmission.
“I tried to keep it specific so I put in a 1993 Cobra spec transmission from Ford. It can handle the torque but I don’t abuse it,” he said. “This is a weekend driver. It’s an old car and I like to keep it decent so I drive it around on summer weekends.”
Back in the day many knew about Saleen. The person that created these cars used to race Shelby’s with some success. Then he started selling these in Southern California and they were popular back then.
The Saleen Mustang was part of a trio of these cars and eventually one driver brought his Spitfire sports car and joined the group.
Not far away was a red Chevy Corvair Corsa owned by Rob Miller. This car came equipped with a factory Turbocharged motor and the were hot rods of this type.
“I’ve owned this 1966 Chevy Corvair Corsa with a factory turbo for about five years. In 1966, the last year with a Turbo they only made about 1,900 but I forget the exact number. I’ve owned it for about five years,” Miller said. “I like quirky cars but I stated getting involved with Hot August Nights. I’m a volunteer and American cars are a little more accepted so I thought, ‘well this is a quirky American car, read engine, air cooled.’”
It actually was a lucky find for him there are not that many around. “I found the car as it had been in a collection for about 25-years just sitting in a warehouse in Sparks. Not been seen by anybody or driven at all and the fellow had died,” he said. “A friend of mine knew his widow and so I got the car.”
Once he had it was when the work really began.
“Went through it to get the brakes, the gas line and all the things you’ve got to do to get it running right. Other than that it’s stock,” he said. “I did lower it and put different wheels on but it could go back to stock. That paint was on it when I found it, I brought the paint out a little better than the way it was.”
Of course then next question is how does it drive. “The car drives good. Did not have the stock carburator when I had got it and had an SU carburetor,” he said. “It wouldn’t maintain an idle so there’s some things actually a lot of bugs to work out. It’s pretty dependable now. Just drive it to weekend car shows and sometimes I’ll run errands around town.”
Since next weekend is Halloween one owner had a Rat Fink guardian watching over the motor in his Corvette.
Since next weekend is the fifth of the month have to check if any Cars & Coffee groups are having meetings. Being its Halloween weekend there will be Trunk ‘N Treats at least Saturday as well on Monday, the actual day, at the National Auto Museum.
Check back on my Thursday preview article. Hope to have more listed and remember various car clubs will be in Saturday’s Nevada Day Parade in Carson City.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• Next month is the annual Baja 1000 and there will be at least two local Spec Trophy Truck teams as well as several riders competing in the motorcycle part of the event.
On November 2, at PJ&CO on Wells there is is a fundraiser to help four riders. It’s a special Bike Night from 5 until 7 p.m. so if possible would be a good event to attend.
• 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 AND 93.7 FM.
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.
SPONSOR LIST:
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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.
