My wife and I have been wanting to go to Hot August Nights for a long time and this year might be the year for our first trip. How many of you have went? Was it fun? A good experiance? Worth it? I can tell from the website that there is a lot of power-parkers/trailer queens but it should be a blast! So any advice, things not to miss, and stories from your trip would be cool. We won't be taking a rod this time and we do know people in Reno we can probly stay with as I'm sure its impossible to get a room there this late in the year. Thanks- John
Definitely stay with friends if you can. The Sparks Night Cruise ending at the Nugget is wear you will find the "Jewels". Don't miss out on the Swap Meet.
Advice for the first timer.... dont go its ok, its worth seeing.... once. LOTS of cars, many venues, kinda cool cruise through downtown Reno.... It basically a bunch of parking lot shows all over town. but just TONS of people. Its crowded. If thats your thing, you'll love it. If you hate crowds? Meh. The Swap Meet aint what it used to be. They REALLY screwed the pooch on that one. THE swap meet is now held in Sacramento.
friends is a fine way to stay cheap.. l did that for two years till they moved to oregon, the nightly cruz is great,, get there early to get a good seat,, bring ur own chairs, catch thethe cal-reno has a nightly special, great food and a great price, we were there ten days and still did not see all the cars..also look around in the parking lots lots as many people drive there rods like l did,, sooooooooooooo maaaaaaaaaany cars and trucks, it'll blow ya away,,, ditto on the sunscreen,, hats, shades and lots water,, the dry heat will dehydrate you fast, when we were there 3 years ago, when its shut down after the cruz the police tell everyone go home or go inside, that was the only downer,, OH and be sure to catch the semi truck show cruz,, that is awsome
Go to the Casino that used to be the Hilton right off Hwy 80 (the name may have changed again)..Johnny Rockets is a great burger joint inside and they have a great car venue outside...about 2,000 or so rods. The Peppermill is great (around 1,000 cars or so) and so is the Atlantis. I'd also try to hit the auction if you can... Have fun...I'll be there with my camera and a note pad.... It's an AWESOME event!
Cruise has had a long waiting list to get in. Swap meet was down last year due to HAN committee changing swap promoters from the one that had built the event up for years. I still found great values, could tell the economy was down. Had a great time at the Reno-Fernley Raceway drags sponsored by HAN, old-time run what you brung racing late at night in the desert outside of Reno, lots of fun. I'll second the Awful Awful Burger at the Little Nugget, great 50s vibe that is all original and not a copy, place is a little hard to find at the back of a small casino, and you better go hungry because the burger basket special is enough for several of me. Pegs Glorified Ham & Eggs is a great breakfast place, ask a local how to get there.
Awful Awful Burger at the Nugget? Is THAT what it's called now? Dang, they keep changing that place.... I went 3 years ago...I remember that that same casino has a pretty good lunch and dinner buffet as well.
Lots of "show" cars do not even go into Reno, since most of the surrounding towns have their own shows too. Traffic sucks.
They still make Aweful awefuls? Used to live on those when I tended bar on the north shore of Tahoe in the early 70's. There was a Nugget across the street from where I worked.
Stay away from Downtown Reno on Friday and Saturday night unless you like your car hit by beer bottles
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