July is now behind us, meaning one thing: Hot August Nights is back.
Things don't really get rolling in Reno or Sparks until Monday, but classic cars were rumbling through Lake Tahoe all day Friday.
By mid-afternoon, 250 cars had already checked in at Montbleu Casino Resort & Spa for the first show-n-shine and car judging of the year.
Many of these folks are from around the country, but a lot of locals are showing off their wheels as well.
"It's a 1940 all-steel Willys Gasser Coupe," says Rocky Wagner, showing us his car.
Wagner lives in Reno and enters his car in these events every year.
"Well for the fun and the enjoyment, and the people you meet, and you get on camera every once in a while," laughs Wagner.
Hot August Night's executive director Tony Marini says events in South Lake typically draw great crowds.
"Always trying to make it bigger and better," says Marini. "And tomorrow we have a classic car auction up here."
He expects big things leading up to Monday, like even more cars making their way to Tahoe.
"We're expecting anywhere between 500 and 600 cars up here this weekend," says Marini. "It's still early, so we're waiting for everybody to get up to the lake and enjoy a great weekend."
Six hundred cars in one spot with Lake Tahoe in the background. It doesn't get much better than that, which is why so many people return each August.
"The enjoyment of showing the car, the hard work that I've put into the car," says Richard Hartman. "And most of all, it's the people that you meet."
No doubt about it, these are some of the most beautiful cars in the country, and a lot of time and money are spent getting them prepared for Hot August Nights.
"When it comes to money, there isn't any car out here that doesn't have a ton of money in it," says Wagner.
Written by Adam Rasmussen
