Hot August Nights
Written by Keith Fudge

Each August, the folks in Reno-Sparks , Nevada , get primed for a premier auto event: Hot August Nights! This great “blast from the past” started in 1986 and has now turned into one of the greatest auto shows and gatherings in the country! This year, Dennis Gage and the crew from My Classic Car once again had the opportunity to see just how remarkable this show has become!

Held at different venues throughout the Reno-Sparks area, there were cars beyond description and when historic downtown Virginia Street came alive with the rumble of these vintage rides, then the glitter and neon took on a different perspective as it illuminated the strip and shed some light on some of the finest rides in the country. This year's show was the 17 th anniversary and while Dennis was there he had the chance to speak with Dave Seville, the Event Coordinator for Hot August Nights. Dave told him a bit about the entertainment that was on hand, and then he talked about some of the early history of this event. He told Dennis that there were street dances, proms, sock hops, and show and shines. There was also plenty of music, great food, and above all that there were cars, cars, and more cars. Speaking of cars, Dave told Dennis that there were 250 cars on hand for the first event, but since the show has now become so popular vehicle registration is capped at 5,000. Only vehicles up to 1972 are eligible for registration, but everyone is invited to join in the fun! After Dennis signed autographs and schmoozed with the public, he had his ride as Grand Marshall of the parade! After his official duties were completed, Dennis finally had a chance to see some of these great retro-rides up close!

First, Dennis found Gregg Ayers and his awesome 1961 Chevy Impala Coupe. This fawn colored beauty took Gregg three years to build. Gregg laughed when he told Dennis that the exterior and interior colors were chosen by his wife, his concession to her since he said the project went a bit over budget! Powered by a 454 cubic inch Chevy that makes approximately 500 horsepower, Gregg said that he drives the car to local shows. What a cool ride! Thanks Gregg! There were other sweet rides such as Dick Dean's 1940 Mercury that had been chopped, dropped, channeled, sectioned, and widened and then lowered onto a 1986 Corvette frame. There was also a cool 1956 Ford pick-up equipped with a 1974 Chevy Nova running gear that carried a flamed 1978 Harley-Davidson to match. Then, Dennis ran onto a T-Bucket that he “wood” just have to find out more about! Jim House is the owner of this unbelievable roadster and he has been working on it since 1971! The body of the T-Bucket is made from Babinga wood, imported from Africa . Jim told Dennis that the wood is extremely hard and that people used carbide drill bits to drill through it! In fact, this wood is so hard that Jim even used it for the firewall on the car. The finish of the wood was simply stunning; however, the body wasn't the only thing that was a head-turner! This rocket was powered by a 351 cubic inch Ford engine, topped with a 671 BDS blower, and then fitted with Weber carburetors! Way to go, Jim! Keep on cruisin'!

Hot August Nights is one of the finest shows in the country and there is plenty of entertainment in the Reno-Sparks area. The 2004 show will be held from July 31 st through August 8 th . If you would like more information, feel free to give them a call at 775-356-1956, or you can find them on the web at www.hotaugustnights.net . So, until our next road trip, remember, “Honor the timeless classics. Happy Motoring!”