Cruise nights rev up gearheads' enthusiasm

Weekly Thursday night cruises that serve as a prelude to the annual Silver Dollar Car Classic are a fun venue for participants and classic car fans to check out who's got what.

The 14th annual event is slated for July 31-Aug. 3 in Carson City.

In recent weeks, cruise nights have been held from 6-8 p.m. at the Harley-Davidson dealership, Carson Lanes, Maui Wowi, Subway and the Carson Mall.

This week, the cruise is at Concours Parts and Accessories, 3439 Arrowhead Dr.

This is the fourth year the cruise nights have taken place, said Joy Evans, special events manager of the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"It's a great way for people who will be participating (in the car show), and the public to get revved up and interested in the show. These people love to get together and talk, have fun and look at the cars."

Evans said registration is ahead of last year's numbers, with 223 entries as of Tuesday. Last year there were 301 total entries for the Silver Dollar Car Classic.

"We have entries from Oregon, Arizona, Washington, Minnesota, quite a few from California and Nevada, of course," she said.

"With the 'other' premier car show north of Carson City, it has gotten so big people feel lost in it. Ours is a small-town, family oriented car show. They still get personal attention with our show, and we don't want to outgrow ourselves " ever."

Weekly cruise nights feature Silver Dollar DJ Barry Wynott, who plays music from the '50s and '60s. The host-site sponsor provides food and refreshments for the participants to purchase. Some hosts have offered the food for free.

"At cruise nights, everyone loves to see everybody else," Evans said. "They walk around and ooh and ahh at these pretty cars.

"I'm still seeing paint colors I've never seen before. I don't know where they come up with them."

Evans said members of the Karson Kruzers Car Club have helped them in the past and some of the "Run What Cha Brung" participants are part of the Silver Dollar Car Classic show.

"The Kruzers have been a great asset to us," she said. "We help each other in any way we can. We're one big happy family."

Winners from last year's show include: "Best Make-Out Car," a 1957 Pontiac Starchief owned by Fred and Peg Lanman of Carson City; "Coolest Classic," a 1956 Ford Crown Victoria owned by Bob and Bonnnie Lewis of Susanville, Calif.; "Fat Cat Pick," a 1927 Packard Model 336 owned by Donald and Ruby Harris of Carson City; "Judges Pick," a 1953 Willys Aero Eagle owned by Ron and Sandy Gendron of Shasta, Calif., and "Most Likely to Get Busted," a 1941 Willys Coupe owned by Tim and Judy Akimoto of Watsonville, Calif.

The car show is capped by a $1 million poker run featuring a Wild West theme that includes members of the Nevada Gunfighters at each poker stop and Gary Teel of T and T Stagelines giving rides with real horsepower.

The big prize can be won during a stop at Empire Ranch Golf Course. Participants tee off at a chosen hole and should their shot be a hole in one, may win the $1 million.

"No one has won it in our previous 13 years," Evans said. "But it's coming. I can feel it."

For information, visit www.silverdollarcar.com or call 687-7410.

- Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.