RENO, NV (May 8) – Infinite Velocity Motorsports or IV Motorsports as its now called is a small but well equipped shop at the end of East Freeport Blvd. where it crosses Stanford Way. This shop has been around for a long time.
“Its been 22 years as we opened in July of 1998,” owner Jay Reynolds said. “The Camaro versus Mustang or the Fox Body F Body was the rage. So I came and opened as a Mustang shop originally. Since then we’ve gotten into circle track racing, drag racing and all kinds of that stuff as well as having one bay that does general repairs.”
Over the past two decades the shop has changed so, due to insurance, they don’t work on racecars any more.
“So a lot more of our stuff is street performance and if they happen to go to the track great but if it’s legal, driveable and usable then we can do that,” he said.
For the past 22 years the shop has always been in the same location and has 4,000 square feet of space. In addition there are other areas including an off site storage he said is fantastic. As for the shop proper, that’s where they do the active jobs.
IV Motorsports also does restorations but due to the length of time involved Reynolds said he’ll only take in one or two a year as it’s hard doing those.
“So for doing a restoration that takes two years we have the body at the body shop, have the frame waiting for us to put the powder coat on, we’ve got the engine at the machine shop so we have stuff all over the place as we’re doing the job,” he said. “We’ve got a couple of them going on right now where we are at the final stage making everything work. Then it gets the final polish and out the door it goes.”
Early on Reynolds realized that just being a Mustang shop might be the best way to keep his business going long term so he changed and expanded.
“I think Reno is too small to just hit one niche so we have to cater to anybody that’s willing to pay us to do stuff,” he said. “Even with the restoration stuff we’re not doing Model T’s that isn’t really our forte. We do more of the late model power trains and early model cars because we know the computers, we know how to make the fuel systems work and we can design the car to work with all the later model pieces.
“So on that side, like our daily jobs, it’s bolt on stuff. The car market that’s out there now is bolt on exhaust systems, struts, springs, wheels, tires and stuff like that. We do a lot more of those than we do the nitrous kits or blower kits or anything like that. That market has definitely subsided quite a bit.”
As a result the services offered at the shop cover a range of options.
“We do engine conversions, late model engines in early model cars, brake and suspension upgrades, more lowering than lifting, lots of struts, springs, alignments, tune ups, all kinds of fluids, clutches, gears,” he said.
Another question was if Hot August Nights had an influence on the shop’s business and growth.
“I think it’s grown along with it and I think the car culture that’s out there is definitely divided between the Hot August Nights people and a lot of the car market that’s out there now. Especially tuner market as that age group doesn’t seem like they are into the Hot August Nights stuff as much.”
He pointed out his clients owning 50’s or 60’s cars don’t have tuner cars.
“They would get a late model Mustang and typically they don’t modify it but they leave all that stuff alone and just put their money and time into the Mustang.”
Of course no we’re in an age where the new cars come with a host of electronics covering many things in the vehicles. In Reynold’s opinion this is a good thing especially if one is working on them.
“I think they’re easier, I think the cars that were in the mid 80’s were much harder to work on and diagnose because you couldn’t communicate with the computers like you have now. You know any of these newer cars we can plug in, take a look at 15 different systems on the car and it will tell you, what’s wrong. With the 1980’s car you plug in and it tells you nothing,” he said. “So I prefer the later model stuff. But it’s like with anything else, you still have to pay attention to which one’s had an easier life. If it’s German and it’s got 250 thousand miles on it, stay away from it.”
These days there are challenges any shop faces and some are due to the lock downs we’re now experiencing.
“Well right now with what’s happening with the corona virus its getting parts. A lot of manufactures are shut down, a lot of warehouses are shut down, so being able to get the pieces to finish these cars has been definitely a challenge lately,” he said. ” Other than that, staying up on technology. Cars are changing faster more now even every three or six months so you have to stay up on the education to see the technology that’s coming out.”
He’s thankful that at times the factories will give him the information he needs to get a car’s computers set right.
Currently the shop has six techs and another that is studying engineering at UNR. However the pool of talent isn’t what it used to be. Reynolds explained that with schools taking out auto shop there aren’t those kids around anymore and the demographics have changed.
“The kids don’t build their own cars any more so they buy something or their parents buy them something and they’re not learning to work on their own stuff and do those kinds of mods,” he said.
The result is these young people don’t get into the industry and this has helped create a tech shortage for the past 25 years. Of course one consequence of this is an opportunity for those getting into the industry.
Commenting on this situation Reynolds said, “The nice part with it is that good technicians are worth a bunch of money now. So when I find somebody that knows a lot, you’ve got to pay them a lot to come in. So I still have people that I will get right out of high school, people that I get right out of the tech schools and just train them on how we do stuff.”
Asked about the future Reynolds explained he’s very optimistic about what’s coming down the road. And the changes he sees have him excited.
“I think we’re in a golden age of performance again right now. Where you can buy a car with 700 horse power with 100 thousand mile warranty that will last 150 thousand miles without really doing much to it. That’s never been done before,” he said. “And they are reliable and the electronics make them nice to drive, they have traction control and they have all of these other things to help you drive the car. So I’m kind of excited to see what the next five years brings us.”
For further information on IV Motorsports their phone number is 775-331-6577. The shop’s website is www.ivmotorsports.com.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• Reno Area Dirt Riders (RAD) announced that on May 18th they’ll start work on the Peavine Trails. There will be more information in Thursday’s preview article.
• As usual Teresa’s Garage Radio Show can be heard from 2 until 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoons. The show covers all things automotive including trends and trivia.
I have a preview section at 2:15 and in the Reno/Sparks area we can he heard over that air at 1180 AM. The show can also be heard on a Podcast at amm.streamon.fm or we can be seen live on Face Book.
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We now have seven very appreciated sponsors supporting this site. Please patronize them as they not only support your sport but they help nvracingnews continue.
During this time of shutdown and social distancing please patronize our sponsors. It helps them survive this period our uncertainty and in the case of PJ&Co, when they finally open back up please have some meals there. Food is good and your support will be very appreciated.
Our newest sponsor is G.I.S.L Land Services that, while having a global client base it has a Western U.S.A. Focus. Owner Greg Ekins is a long time off road motorcycle racer competing in the MRANN Series as well as the AMA National Hare and Hound series.
Among the services offers are Surface and Mineral Title Reviews and Cartographic Services. The website is www.gislandservices.com.
Another great sponsor is General Transmission and Power Train Specialists. The shop is located at 2515 Sutro Street in Reno, a few blocks below Hug High School.
Former motorcycle racer Pete Attashian is the owner and they not only service older and newer transmission but now have a section dealing with high performance units including those used for towing.
The phone number is 775-786-5888 and the shop’s website is www.generaltransmissionreno.com.
Last year fantastic race photographer Melissa Coker joined the family of sponsors. If you have raced at Summit in Elko, Battle Mountain, Lovelock, Rattlesnake or Diamond Mountain Speedway she probably has a photograph of your car on the track.
She’s also been at the IMCA Duel in the Desert was well as the Wild West Tour and IMCA Super Nationals in Boone, Iowa. Melissa not only has photos of the cars, and many times drivers, but she can produce hero cards and even a book of from your season.
To see her collections or to place an order please check her website at 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 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 about any thing a rider might need or want.
The phone number is 775-856-3855 and the website is, www.moto-source.com.
The next sponsor is an excellent place if you need collision repair on your car or truck. It’s Concours Body Shop, located at 250 Telegraph Street in Reno and has a long history of first class repairs.
Brian Saul is the owner, a car enthusiast himself and he’s 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. If you’re a rider, well Wednesday evening is Bike Night, always a great time to see some great looking bikes and meet like-minded people.
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.
Good news, as soon as the crew is trained and place restocked as well as other things they expect to be open again by the end of May. Only a few more weeks to go.
Have a business targeted toward motorsports or an off road demographic? We are always looking for more sponsors and will expose your business to the racing and off road community in this area.
You can contact us either through the comment section of this site or on our Face Book page.
