RENO, NV (Aug. 31) — August ended with a flurry of car meets in our region. This was a great way to end the final full month of summer.
• Saturday afternoon is when Hot Rod Nights has another Car Show @ Sonic. Location is on South Virginia.
While there wasn’t a huge turn out there were a variety of cars lined up in the parking lot. One of them owned by Dan Gates is very different from when it was built.
“We’re looking at a 1947 Morris 8 Series E. I can tell you what the 8 means. Morris made an 8, 10 and 12 so the 8 is the smallest and the 12 is the longest.
“When I bought it was just a steel shell, no frame, no floor, no firewall, nothing. Glass was on it and that was it. So every thing you see on it is me, I built it all.”
The seats have racing harness and Gates said he has drag raced it and it does 11.0 a 125 mph.
“It could be my daily driver bur not it’s not. I drive a Jeep, that’s my daily.”
He added that it’s a 406 with 600 horsepower, 700 R4 Transmission. “A friend of mine built it and it’s all Kevlar inside and it’s a Ford 9 inch with a locker with 373 gears.”
He added that he had the front suspension narrowed and built the frame around it. The rear is narrowed as well as the suspension has been altered as well.
The final Hot Rod Nights meet will be at the Sonic on South Virginia, Saturday, September 27.
• Sunday started with the Fill the Void car show hosted by Pizza Factory and Bully’s in Spanish Springs. This was a charity event that benefitted Nevada Special Sports.
The organization was started by the husband of current president Kathy Edwards. Sadly he passed away and she’s continuing his work.
Edwards explained athletes for Special Olympics are only supported for just a few weeks. The organization works to keep them on teams and supported year round thus the “Fill the Void,” title of the event.
Those wishing further information can find their Face Book page or go to the website at, www.nvssports.org. The always appreciate any help people or businesses can give them.
The group was selling t-shirts, had a 50-50 drawing as well as taking donations. Helping support the meet was Wolf Pack Movers.
In the parking lot there were a variety of cars and trucks, some vintage while not so vintage.
One of the trucks on display has gone through a complete restoration. It’s a 1953 International Harvester pick up owned by Ed Leisy.
“It’s an R110 and I acquired it in 2020 and took five yeas to build with local shop owners. Miller’s Chop Shop, Steve’s Custom Auto did the upholstery, Josh Striper did the paint job and I took the chrome to ABC Plating Incorporated.
“It was pulled out of a barn, I believe in Fallon, Nevada five years ago. That’s when the Pandemic started hitting and I just started taking every bolt out of it, right down to the frame. I went to Miller’s Chop Shop to get advice, they wanted to work on it so I let them have it.”
He added there have been a lot of modifications, “The engine is a 383 Stroker, it’s a crate from Summit. It’s got a Street Fighter 700R4 for transmission so it gets up and moves. I only use it for car shows, the paint is Colbalt Blue so I keep it as clean as I possibly can.”
Many cars in the rows had their hoods up to show off their motors that ranged from stock to modified.
• The day ended over at Summit Racing Parts with another cruise in. While not a huge turnout there was a long line of cars and trucks.
Mike Schwab and his wife Elizabeth had their 1967 Super Sport on display.
Asked about the car he said, “It’s got an LT1 from a ’93 Corvette with a 700R4 automatic with a Posi rear end. Coil over springs all the way around, no leaf springs in the back. It’s a four bucket seat car as I took the back seat out and customized the headliner and the trunk.
“This will be my sixth year, I bought it pretty much like this. I changed tires, wheels, changed the brakes, the exhaust, went from a two inch to a two and a half inch. New mufflers and different headers.”
He got the car from a fellow in Nebraska that had a 66 Nova and drag races it. This car he inherited after his father passed.
“It was sitting in his garage collecting dust so much it was hurting him to see the car that way so he wanted 35 thousand dollars for it. I told him my mother died and I’ve got twenty five thousand, my inheritance.
“When I told him I live in Reno and go to Hot August Nights he said, ‘I’ll let you have the car for 28 thousand bucks.’ I said wait three days, you’ll have the money and I had it trailered to my house.”
In the long row there were two beautiful T-Buckets on display. As the afternoon progressed some more people arrived to admire the cars and trucks on display.
In closing this reporter wants to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Labor Day.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• When this was posted Trucks & Tacos of Northern Nevada had not said where their Tuesday meeting will take place. Be sure to check their Face Book page for this week’s location.
• Wednesday, starting around 5 p.m., is Cruise Night at the Sparks A&W. There will be cars to see, a live DJ with music as well as prizes. Location is 1311 Baring Blvd., across from Reed High School.
• Bike Night at PJ&CO also starts around 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Great way to not only see some fantastic looking motorcycles but enjoy great food.
• Davey’s American Racing is found on Face Book. His focus is on western oval tracks as well as national series.
He also posts schedules for various tracks and there related subjects.
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• Our newest sponsor is State Farm agent Kelby Schoorl, who was a racer in his younger days. He has some supplemental insurance that racers might be interested in checking out.
There is medical that covers visits to the ER, ambulance rides and if a person has to stay in a hospital. In addition trailers as well as tools and tools in shops can be covered with additional policies.
If Kelby isn’t available the other guys at his office will be very happy to explain what they can offer both to racers and those enjoying motorized recreation.
Office hours are from 9 until 5: 30 Monday through Friday, appointments are needed on Saturday. The phone number is 775-827-2255 or at his website, www.kelby@insuringreno.com.
• One of our sponsors is General Transmission and Power Train Specialists owned by former motorcycle racer Pete Attashian. The shop is located at 890 Gentry Way.
The shop services older and new transmissions and now has a section for high performance units and those used in towing. Phone number is 775-786-5888 and the shop’s website is www.generaltransmissionreno.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 the showroom has about any thing a rider might need or want.
The phone number is 775-856-3855 and the website is,www.moto-source.com.
• Concours Body Shop, located at 250 Telegraph Street in Reno, is another sponsor. The shop does quality collision repair for cars and trucks.
Owner Brian Saul is a car enthusiast himself and is 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. Wednesday evenings, starting around 5 p.m. is Bike Night, good time to meet fellow riders and have a great dinner.
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.
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