RENO, NV (March 7) – As usual the first Sunday in a month is when Reno Cars & Coffee has a meet. Mother Nature blessed the even with great weather and a huge group of people and vehicles showed up.
And as usual the vehicles ranged from the exotic to almost ordinary. While newer cars make up the majority there are some that have breathed new life into older cars. And many owners proudly show off the motors in their cars.
For the second month in a rowthere was one exotic car for sale. That is a 2005 Lotus Elise SC owned by John Crumley.
Asked about the car model name he said, “All of the Lotus cars start with an “E” and were originally named after Colin Chapman’s granddaughters. It gets a bit confusing but the original intention was to name them after his daughters.
The late Colin Chapman was the founder of Lotus and best known for his racecars although he also designed cars.
Asked about this Lotus Crumley said, “I’ve had it for about eight years and am selling it as my wife just bought a Lotus Evora. his car has had several modifications, mostly for track performance, the suspensions been done, motor balanced, supercharger, brakes and calipers any thing you would do for track safety and performance. It also has a six point racing harness as well as the three-point harness for just using it on the street.
So far he’s taken it to track days at Thunder Hill, raced at the road course south of Fernley before it shut down. He’s also done lape at Laguna Seca but hasn’t visited Sonoma yet.
He and his wife have visited the Lotus headquarters where the cars are built in Britian. They also did some test drives while there.
Those wishing further information on the car, as well as seeing he full list of modifications can email him at johnpatrickcrumley@yahoo.com.
Among the various brands the Covettes are usually well represented at these meets with many models on display. Currently the mid-engine C8 Model many times is the topic of discussion.
One owner is Kathy Dufek who brought her 2020 orange C8 in along with her husband who drove his orange Lamborghini to the meet.
Asked why she bought her answer was, “Because my husband has an orange Lamborghini and it’s a match. I like it and it’s more comfortable than the Lamborghini, well the seats are. I can use the C8 as a daily driver but I’ve got a Tesla at home as we’ve got a whole bunch of other cars too.
When the weather turns back both the C8 and Lamborghini are kept inside.
“We never drive it in bad weather as don’t want rock chips or even getting it wet,” she said.
Some vehicles are older but their owners breath new life into them. One was 1972 C10 Long Bed Chevy pick up owned by Alan Gauvreau.
“It’s got a 350 motor in it, disc brakes, Oak Bed, Tonneau cover, reverse stealth striping on turquoise paint with old school baby moons,” he said. ‘It has nicelong tube headers, a thrust exhaust system, sounds and runs good. Just a good solid truck.”
One thing he did do, that some people thought was a step backwards, was to take out the fuel injection system and put an old school carburetion system on it. So far he’s very pleased with the truck.
“When I turn the key over it stars right up. I could drive cross country if I needed to,” he said. “I actually got this truck in fair condition, it’s not a perfect truck, gets a lot of compliments and is a daily driver. It’s just fun and these are fun trucks.”
REPORTERS NOTE: My digital recorder for some reason failed to catch the next owner’s comments. However I still remember the gist of our conversation. My apologies to him.
A Mr. Munoz brought his wonderful restored 1965 Chevy Impala to the meet. The restoration was a family affair as he and his two brothers worked seven days a week, when they were off their jobs, to strip it down to the frame and work on the car.
While the running gear is stock the paint is anything but that. After deciding on the color someone suggest the car should be striped and now the completed work was on display.
Munoz did say he has at least one more car that’s being worked on and if this is an example that should be another winner.
Last month Reno Cars & Coffee organizer Lance Freitas said there were about 300 cars in attendance. This time he said it was at least 450, counting at least one motorcycle.
Two weeks from now the next meet will be in a different location. The meet is moving over by the Human Bean coffee stand at the corner of Keitzke and Moana, about a block west of the freeway.
There is a photo gallery from the meet after the sponsor list.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• The planned repair of the return road at Top Gun Drag Strip for this weekend has been postponed. Apparently the temperature will be too cold for the concrete set properly.
• For those planning to race with MRANN on the March 13/14 event pre-entry closes on March 10. Signing up early will make race day much simpler. The website is www.racemrann.com.
• For those planning to compete in VORRA’s race, the Hawthorne 250 on the weekend of April 9/11 registration is now open. The website is www.vorraracing.com.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• Teresa’s Garage Radio Show is on from 2 until 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. The show is focused on all things automotive and can be heard over the air on 1160 AM.
It’s also on a Podcast at amm.streamon.fm and can be seen live on Face Book. Co-Host Emily Cook has a website and sells merchandise to help her racing efforts. Her site is, www.emilycookracing.com.
SPONSOR LIST:
• If you enjoyed this article please “like,” and share it as widely as possible. Comments are welcome.
Subscribers have articles posted to their inbox as soon as they are up on the site.
We now have eight very appreciated sponsors supporting this site. Please patronize them as they not only support your sport but they help nvracingnews continue. Please let them know you heard about them through this site.
Our newest member of the sponsor family is Tread Connection. The franchise is owned by Blake Sobiloff and the business brings the tire store to you so one doesn’t have to take time off work or leave home. There are discounts on labor for first responders, veterans as well as active duty military and members of the National Guard and Reserves.
After ordering the tires one needs Sobiloff gets them and shows up in a van that has state of the are equipment. He also observes the safety requirements and it’s a no contact operation where the choosing and paying for the tires can be done online.
His primary area is Reno and Sparks and one can either go to the Face Book page or check the website at www.treadconnection.com. The direct line to the business is 775-870-3600.
Another 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.
Another sponsor is fantastic race photographer Melissa Coker. If you have raced at Summit in Elko, Battle Mountain, Lovelock, Rattlesnake Raceway 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 covering 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.
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.
PHOTO GALLERY:
Row of VW’s at the meet. 
Mustang convertible motor. 
There was this red Ferrari at the meet. 
There was a Rat Mod,, probably from Miller’s Chop Shop at the meet. 
Motor in the Mustang GT500. 
Mustang convertible at the meet. 
Mustang GT500 at the meet. Mr. Munoz by his restoration project, a 1965 Chevy Impala. Kathy Dufek stands by her C8 mid-engine Corvette. John Crumley stands by the 2005 Lotus Elise SC he selling. Since he and his wife bought another one they want to sell this. 
Representing the two-wheel set was a Ducati Motorcycle. 
Purple Dodge Charger at the meet. 
Motor in Dodge Charger. John Crumley points to the supercharger in his Lotus Elise. 
Several models of Corvettes where on hand. 
Black Ferrari at the meet. Alan Gauvreau stands by his 1972 C10 Chevy pickup. The 1972 C10 Chevy pick up owned by Alan Gauvreau.
