In this summer’s review of Hot August Nights in Reno, Rod Authority contributor, Paul Lambert talks about why the north Nevada hot spot is the perfect getaway destination for any hot rod or classic car enthusiast looking to get out and have some fun, “The trip to Hot August Nights seemed like a perfect opportunity to get some inspiration and perhaps find that perfect beginning from which all things are possible.”

A seemingly perfect fusion of sun, horsepower and rock music, Hot August Nights has remained the Western States’ premiere motoring venue. The best part is that old iron and classic muscle alike come together for nearly two weeks to celebrate our beloved car craft, the venue branching out among the communities of Reno, Sparks, and South Lake Tahoe, “We have a huge show that goes on here in Tahoe, of course here and all the way down the street, and then we kick-off Sunday at the Bonanza Casino in Reno, Nevada and we’ll go seven full days in Reno finishing with a classic car parade on the 12th of August.”

But not everybody got a chance to participate in this year’s Hot August Nights festivities as described above by venue participant, Tony Marini, and of course this is where we come in to save the day with our featured video, a fabulous tour of the event at the Montbleu casino and resort in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada, hosted by Fabulous Lake Tahoe’s own Jack Durst.

Durst, Marini and others give us all a comprehensive snapshot of the Lake Tahoe outdoor motoring event where more than 750 rodders and other custom and classic car enthusiasts came to show-off their stuff. As you can see from their immense turnout, Hot August Nights truly is the car-crazed happening of the summer.

By far the event’s most colorful car owner, ’55 210 sedan owner, “Doll” Edwards not only drives a cool shoebox but seriously looks the part doing it, “I’ve been doing Hot August Nights for like 26 years. I have outfits for every day…my sister and my boyfriends had ’55 Chevys so it’s great fun, a lot of nostalgia.” 

Old school is cool at Hot August Nights, and every summer the old car spirit more than makes its presence known. But if seriously tricked-out street rods is more your thing then the 502-powered Silver Shadow built by and belonging to gearhead Curtis McLachlan was the ride that you had to see, “It wasn’t running and it’d been there for about five years, and I decided to look at it and it had the same wheelbase as a Chevelle.”

Of course every car in South Lake Tahoe came to Montbleu with a fascinating story to tell, and one of the most significant had to be that of Jack and Sue Matheson of Alameda, California, who were nice enough to share with us the origin of their beautiful ’56 T-Bird.

A ride with a long family history behind it, the T-Bird originally belonged to Sue’s stepdad, “He bought it at Morris-Landey Ford on Park Street in Alameda. The story that goes behind this car and why he bought it and not a ’55 is that he saw the ’55s, fell in love, took his golf clubs out of his regular car, went into the showroom, opened the trunk of the car, put his golf clubs in and couldn’t close the trunk because the spare tire was in there.”

As it would happen, Sue’s stepdad would choose a model year based on functionality to accompany form, “So he said goodbye and the next year in 1956 he did the same thing. He took the golf clubs out of his car, walked into the showroom, put them in the trunk of the car and they fit because it has a continental kit on the rear and the spare tire is now on the back of the car.” 

Everyone had a story to share, and Dave Lesh’s Model A street rod turned quad cab was another of automotive heritage in which car and owner went back a long ways, “I’ve had it for about 43 years and I used to use it for everything, haulthings to the dump, you name it.” 

Bill Silva and his clean ’65 Stang likewise have a longstanding relationship, “I got it brand new on December 21, 1964 and I’ve had continuous ownership for the last 48 years. The car is totally original with the exception of some things like a water pump fan, things that wear out. The engine is original, has 142,000 miles on it and it was overhauled at 98,000.”

Hot August Nights happens every August in Reno and its surrounding areas, so don’t miss next year’s event if you want to see more cool rides and hear more great car stories like these. Be honest with yourselves: you’re way past too due for a quality vacation. What better hot spot to hit than Reno’s own Hot August nights?!