Reno, Nev.--This was the 21st year for Hot August Nights in Reno, Nevada but the 42nd year for the swap meet held in the same self-billed "world's biggest little city."
This year, there were 600-plus vendors, said Director John Sweeney, who added, "Some of the original 1965 Harrah's vendors are still coming."
As an example of that, Sweeny pointed to Gene Anderson of Sutter Creek, Calif., who brought two truck loads of gas signs and pumps, this year. Sutter has been a vendor, attending the swap meet since 1965.
Then too, there is Ed Faxon, "a long-time vendor and great guy," who brought a semi-truck load of owner's and repair manuals to the meet.
"Project row" was a new feature added in 2006. This year's meet had 79 project cars on trailers, waiting for new homes. Of those offered, "quite a few sold," Sweeney said.
This year's Hot August Nights was notable for two things: a performance by Brian Wilson, one of the founding members of the Beach Boys and the cancellation of cruising in Reno, on the last night of the event.
Wilson performed at 8 p.m. on the last night of Hot August Nights, Aug. 11, at the Silver Legacy Grand Exposition Hall with tickets going for $65 and $80.
"Reno was chosen, because we have never been there," Wilson told the Reno Gazette-Journal. But he must have meant recently, since the paper also carried a photo from 1964, showing the Beach Boys performing at the old State Building in Reno (where the Pioneer Center now stands).
And while there was cruising allowed on the other nights, the Saturday night cruise was cancelled for the first time since 2000, to avoid possible gang trouble and other crime and traffic issues; however, Reno Police motorcycle officers had Virginia Street pretty much to themselves as disappointed people started to leave Reno around 4 p.m.
A cruise on the streets of nearby Sparks was scheduled to take up the slack. And throughout the week, there were plenty of cars to see in the car show area across from The Atlantis Casino and Hotel and at the Peppermill Hotel Casino. Additionally, there was a "Cool Car" show display as part of the swap meet.
There's no word from HAN director Bruce Walters on whether next year's event will offer cruising on the last night.