CAR SHOWS: Club puts hold rods on display

Hustlers Inc. car club set to host show Saturday

Mike Holland, owner of Gold Caster's Jewelry, poses with his employee Joe Angel's 1955 Chevy pickup truck. Holland drives a 1930 Model A Ford. The Super Run classic car show on Water Street will bring foot traffic to the downtown shops such as Holland's. Classic car owner from Mike Holland, left, with Joe Angel's 1955 Chevy truck, Tim and Diane Smith with their Ford cars, and Tony Thomas with his 1967 Chevy truck. The Smiths and Thomas, all members of the Hustlers car club, will be on hand during tomorrow's show. Henderson resident Tony Thomas sits in his 1967 Chevy pickup truck. The Hustlers Inc. vice president helped organize the car club's first ever show in Boulder City Saturday. Photos by RALPH FOUNTAIN

When the first Ford rolled off the assembly line the car lover was born. While the car lover comes in all shapes and sizes, some of the most visible are vintage vehicle fans.

People from all walks of life travel sometimes hundreds of miles to participate in classic car shows. Certainly, those in Southern Nevada are no exception. Within the next couple of weeks, two classic car events will give the vintage auto enthusiasts something to smile about.

Saturday, the Hustlers Inc. car club will hold its first ever rod and custom car show at the Boulder City Government Park from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Thursday through Oct. 6 the Super Run classic car show will be in downtown Henderson for the third year. While the shows are held by different clubs, many acknowledge that the classic car community is a close-knit bunch.

"You're all there because of that one love, the classic auto," said Tony Thomas, vice president of Hustlers. "There's some owners worth millions and some that just barely pieced their car together, and we can all sit down and have a beer together."

The spirit of camaraderie is key to many vintage auto enthusiasts, but there are myriad other reasons. At the Henderson Heritage Days car show in April 2001, eastern Las Vegas resident Tim Forsberg said he brought his green 1957 Pontiac Starchief to the show in honor of his father's memory. He and his father used to work on the car before he died.

For others, the love affair with vintage vehicles began when they were still brand new.

"It's been a love of mine since I was a kid," Henderson resident Diane Smith said. She recalls going to car shows with her dad and brothers, as well as learning how to fix all manner of vehicles growing up.

"I've always been in a man's world," said Smith, who works in construction. She is the only woman in the Hustlers' 40-member club.

"For the most part it's been fine (being one of few female classic car owners). I have had some issues at some events from the older generation," Smith said. "They like the car. They don't ever say anything about the car. They just don't think I should have it."

Thomas, too, is quick to mention that classic vehicles are not just "a guy thing," and that many couples work on cars together.

Like many classic car owners, Smith has built some of her vehicles from the inside out. She works on her 1929 Model-A Ford coupe and helps her husband fix his T-back. "He's not mechanically inclined, but he's learning."

Thomas has also rebuilt his share of vehicles. Since buying his 1967 Chevy pickup five years ago he's completely rebuilt many of its components, while adding some modern features such as power steering, windows and locks.

"I built it to drive. A lot of us in the classic car community build it to drive," said Thomas, a Henderson resident. "In lieu of spending copious amounts of money on a new truck, I built my own truck."

Aside from nostalgia many vintage auto owners enjoy the time spent working on them. Thomas described it as peaceful, while Smith said she gets a sense of satisfaction and personal pride in completing a task.

For Mike Holland, owner of Gold Casters Jewelry at 19 S. Water St., owning classic cars is part of daily life. He features his 1930 Model-A Ford in his advertisements, as well as using it for his daily vehicle like Thomas. His employee, Joe Angel, also drives a 1955 cranberry-colored Chey truck.

"I think I've only owned one brand-new vehicle," Holland said.

Local classic vehicle events tend to do well, attracting crowds and participants. Last year the Super Run brought nearly 50,000 people through downtown Henderson with 600 participants lining Water Street with vintage vehicles.

Michelle Romero of the city's redevelopment agency said Super Run, like BikeFest last month, is good for bringing people to downtown. "It's especially fun for kids because they love the cars."

Proceeds from Super Run will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Henderson and Henderson Allied Community Association. The event is free and open to the public. The event kicks off Thursday at the Fiesta Henderson, and a performance by Cosmic Rockers is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday will feature performances by Jay & the Techniques and Freddy "boom boom" Cannon. The Ripchords and the Box Tops are slated to play Saturday night. Burnouts and slow drags are scheduled from 5 to 6 p.m., and a children's area will feature race karts.

The first-ever Hustlers car show is co-sponsored by the Boulder City Sunrise Rotary Club. The German group The Dumkoff Band is scheduled to perform from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A Sunrise Rotary auction is planned from 4 to 7 p.m. and at 7 p.m. Tommy Rocker will perform for a street dance.


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