Participates and show goers alike easy back into the week long Hot August Night event held in Reno, NV. As summer heats up, so does the celebration of vintage iron. Kinking off last Friday and running through this coming weekend, there is plenty to see and do at Hot August Nights.

On Thursday we joined in the fun by taking part in the opening day of the Reno Swapmeet, which got its start in 1965 when Bill Harrah, of Harrah’s Casinos, founded the event. The Reno Swapmeet has run continuously ever since, marking its 42^nd year in 2007.

The Reno Swapmeeet features a 200 car indoor showroom, an outdoor Car Corral, and hundreds of individual and vendor places. The Car Corral features pre-1972 car for sale of all types.

The Vendor area plays hosts to a various number of classic car parts providers. Everything from Ford Model A parts to the most modern of Street Rods parts can be found there, its sort of a street market for old iron.

Frank Mauro of Stockton Wheel Service was on hand to size up a new set of wheels for one of our project cars and help us with the tire selection in order to make sure everything fits correctly.

As the day wore on to evening, we found ourselves downtown Reno, taking part in one of the largest classic car cruising events in the nation. Spectator crowds lined the streets and cordoned off side streets were packed with street vendors and live music. They were all there to watch the parade of classic metal, glimmering chrome, high performance engine rumbling, and the wonderful smell of gas, tires, and oil.

We wrapped up the evening at the Sierra Grand Hotel, a main attraction hosting over 1500 vehicles of all types….all pre-1972 of course.

While the event only accepts 5500 registered participants, throngs of local and not so local enthusiast take to the streets in their own cars as a kind of side show attraction. Many of these vehicles are spectacular in there own right, from primer coated duce coups, to show quality street machines. The hotel parking lots are full of enthusiasts cars as well, so there is plenty to see everywhere.

Thursday evening concluded with great music of the 50’s & 60’s, Sock Hops, Prom Night, and a wide range of events that entertain, amaze, and allow you to slip back to another time. A time when the heavy metal was king and coolest thing around was a pair of fuzzy dice hanging from your rear view mirror.

Check back soon and we’ll cover the Friday’s happenings at the show and get some great photos online for you to see.