RENO, NV (March 21) — Reno Cars & Coffee moved it’s third weekend of the month meet to the Human Bean Coffee stand. Its located by the corner of Moana and Keitzke Lane, very close to the freeway and the turn out was massive.
At these meets several will bring older cars, ones they give new life to. They vary in age but the result is the same; renewed life on the road rather than winding up at Pick N’ Pull.
One example is a 1970 Barracuda owned and lovingly restored by Greg and Stacy Johnson. One feature is a new engine.
“The motor is actually a 707 horsepower Track Hawk Supercharged Hemi,” he said. “We just got it in and it’s our first time out with it.”
While they’ve been working on the car for the past couple of years there were several things needed before the new motor was installed. Johnson said they put in frame stiffeners, torque boxes, mini tube as well as stiffened the front end and put bigger rubber on the car.
“We brought this car six years ago and drove it home. It was in really great shape when we bought it. Had dthe original 318 in it and we drove it for about two years before we tore it apart,” he said. “I’ve always built Chevys or Fords so when we fixed this one up it’s totally different for us. Now we’re driving all sorts of Dodges.”
Since he’s recovering from a broken ankle and can’t operate a clutch his wife Stacy had the honor of bringing to it first outing. Johnson drove their Demon to the meet.
“They told me it was going to be a little in limp mode so I didn’t do a whole lot with it. But it’s very responsive, it wants to go, it’s jumpy and smooth,” she said. “Again I didn’t get on it too much as we still have to do a little something to it. But it ran good first time out so I didn’t have any problems. That’s all you can hope for on your first drive across town.”
The mechanic that installed the motor was there. He explained while it fit well the challenge was getting all the various lines like for air conditioning and radiator hoses routed correctly. Once the ending was in there wasn’t much room left over.
At any meet there is a blend of exotic to unusual to what might be called ordinary. That and everything in between as, at any meet, variety is the theme.
One of the exotic cars is a 2016 GT3RS Porsche owned by Tahoe resident Chrissy Conatser.
“I traded my Porsche Panamera 4-door family mom car for a race car as I was done with kids,” she said with a smile. “More room in the garage and more room in the car. I don’t do any racing but just love the look of it and love how it drives.
“It has a full roll cage, just the typical seat belts but it does have racing seats. It is so much fun to drive and it’s easier to get into a lot of trouble so I try to behave. This doesn’t have any trouble getting around corners or the hills.”
In the mix were Minis and all types of cars. Many had their hoods up to show off the engine work their owners have done. Even some of the newer cars were showing off their motors.
Another car that has been restored, and given a new life, is a 1968 Nova owned by Jon Martinez.
“It’s rebuilt from the ground up pretty much It was totaled when I got it back in 2002, it’s been a labor of love since then,” he said. “It’s pretty much a street legal drag car, been down the track a couple of time. This should do an ET of about 10 seconds. I took the naturally aspirated small block and got a nitrous system I’m going to be turning for pretty soon.
He also intends to do some cam indexing, timing adjustments to the ignition and then it will be ready for the track.
All in all the weather and turn out made for a great meet. The next Reno Cars & Coffee meet is slated for Easter Sunday.
REPORTER’S NOTE: There is a photo gallery after the sponsor list. Also check with the Reno Cars & Coffee Face Book page as there will be other photos from the meet as well.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• On Friday, from 7 until 9 p.m. the Main Street Cruise begins again in Fernley. The meeting place, like last year is the WigWam.
• Saturday, starting at 10 a.m., Rattlesnake Raceway is having a test and tune day. The track is located just a few miles east of downtown.
• Tuesday from 2 until 3 p.m. is when Teresa’s Garage Radio Show is on the air. In Northwest Nevada it can be head over the air on 1060 AM.
The show is also on a Podcast at amm.streamon.fm and can be seen live on Face Book. Co-host Emily Cook is a young racer with a website, www.emilycookracing.com, where she sells merchandise to help support her racing.
SPONSOR LIST:
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We now have eight very appreciated sponsors supporting this site. Please patronize them as they not only support your sport but help nvracingnews continue. Please let them know you heard about them through this site.
Our newest sponsor is Tread Connection. Blake Sobiloff owns the franchise and he brings the tire store to the customer so they don’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 tires one needs Sobiloff gets them and shows up in a van full of state of the art equipment. He also observes the safety requirements so its a no contact operation. Choosing and paying for the tires can be done online.
His primary area is Reno and Sparks. One can either to the Face Book page or check the website at www.treadconnection.com. The business direct line is 775-870-3600.
Another sponsor is G.I.S.L. Land Services that while having a global client base has a Western U.S. focus. Owner Greg Ekins is a long time off-road motorcycle racer competing with MRANN as well as the AMA National Hare and Hound series.
Among the services offered are surface and mineral title reviews and cartographic services. The website is www.gislandservices.com.
Another 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 Attachian is the owner and the shop not only services older and new transmission but has a new 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 race photographer Melissa Coker. If you have raced at Summit in Elko, Battle Mountain, Lovelock, Rattlesnake Raceway, Diamond Mountain Speedway or American Valley Speedway she probably has a photograph of your car on the track.
She’s also been at the IMCA Duelin the Desert, with the Wild West Tour and the IMCA Super Nationals. Coker can produce hero cards as well as books from a driver’s 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 need ore want but the store also has a full service shop. Their location is 964 Terminal Way, by the intersection with Mill Street. Phone number is 775-322-1499 and the website is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.
The next shop is Moto-Source located at 3180 Mill Street. They are also a full service shop and have about anything a rider could want or need. Phone number is 775-856-3855 and the website is, www.moto-source.com.
The next stop is an excellent place if you need collision repairs to your car or truck. Concours Body Shop located at 250 Telegraph Street in Reno has a long history of first class repairs.
Owner Brian Saul, a car enthusiast himself,is committed to continuing the shop’s reputation of quality work. The phone number is 775-329-4557 and the website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.
Hungry, want a great place to have breakfast, lunch or dinner, not to mention watching your favorite sports? And once the restrictions are finished Wednesday bike nights will return. The place PJ&CO located at 1590 South Wells Avenue, just north of the round about. Phone number is 775-323-6366 and the website is, www.pjandco.net.
Have a business targeted toward motorsports? We’re always looking for more sponsors and can expose your business to the racing and off-road community in this area. You can either message us through the website or our Face Book page.
PHOTO GALLERY:
Striped car. 
Mustang motor. 
Mustang II motor. 
Mini duo. 
One of the line ups. Jon Martinez stands with his ’68 Nova he built as a street legal drag car. 
Honda. 
Exotic to unusual. Greg and Stacy Johnson stand by their 1970 Barracuda they put a supercharged hemi engine into. 
Devilish paint scheme. 
Corvette motor. Chrissy Conatser stands with her GT3RS Porsche. 
Blue VW 
Blue McLaren This is the supercharged Hemi the Johnson’s put in their Barracuda.
