I lived most of my life in Northern Nevada, but there is one event I never attended. Right on the Utah line, the month of August means Speed Week.
I always intended to go at least once, but never made it. I used to own a 1956 Cadillac Sedan DeVille, and it isn’t that kind of car event. I took my car to Hot August Nights in Reno more times than I could count. You kind of have to pick one, and thousands of classic cars and hotrods always won out for me.
Speed week is where highly customized cars race across the Bonneville Salt Flats trying to set land speed records, including breaking the sound barrier. I would imagine it’s about 150 degrees right down on the surface of the salt. Reno offered air conditioned casinos with discount cold beer. They also had some awesome concerts.
At Hot August Nights, I got to see the kind of bands you never hear about anymore. I saw Chuck Berry, Little Richard, The Shirelles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and many more. They were all pretty old, and most of them are dead now, but I saw them live. Revere even owned a nightclub down there called Kicks. He played live in the evenings during the event, and it was a happening place. Some of them were one hit wonders, and the concerts were always an amalgamation. A dozen performers did about three songs each, then the headliner would do the last half of the show.
Speed week is more of a wild party atmosphere, similar to but not as excessive as Burning Man. I think it’s better for a younger crowd. I was young once too, but always found something better to do. I kind of wish I’d gone just once.
August is a tough month to depict, because it doesn’t have a special holiday or anything. There are events all over the country in August; Speed Week, Hot August Nights, Burning Man, Sturgis. I’m sure you can think of others, and if you’re in a different country I’m sure you can. Which one do you want to attend? Is one of these on your bucket list.
I’m leaving my baseball scoreboard in the banner though. It’s still baseball season, and The Enhanced League still needs some readers.
Entertaining Stories 
Never heard of any of those events, but then again, I lead a sheltered life here in Arkansas.
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Not even Sturgis? The line of motorcycles stretches from California to South Dakota along I-80. The westbound lane is full of hotrods going to Reno at the same time. Don’t see as much of that here in Boise.
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Burning Man is the only one I recognize.
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I would love to go to either. I have always loved care (born in Detroit) and need to go. Thanks for the reminder.
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I don’t see myself standing out on the salt flats in August these days. The event in Reno is huge and covers most of the town now. The show prizes are handed out by celebrities, and among the thousands of cars, I came very close to getting one from Miss Nevada.
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I would think a 65 caddy de ville would take a prize.
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56. You should have seen some of the other cars. 1959 Cadillac hearse with a grim reaper painting on the side, complete with a casket beer cooler. Actual Shelby Cobras, first era Thunderbirds with Continental tire kit on the back. Soooo many cool cars.
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Loved Cobras just not in the rain. As I say I would love that.
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A real Cobra got prohibitively expensive lately. I’d settle for one of those baby Thunderbirds though.
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An original equipment t-Bird runs pretty high too. My neighbor just sold his Corbra. I think it was six figures. It was all original in pristine condition.
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Yeah, hard not to sell at that price point.
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Gotta be a rich car nut.
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This makes me think of Bike Week in Florida. Never went there, but it had the party atmosphere from what I heard. Not a big fan of those big crowds and noise, so nothing like that on my list. Went to a few Comic Cons and it felt rather cramped.
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I’m not a crowd person, but some things are worth it. I wouldn’t make a regular diet of it though. Bike Week would be a fun one.
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I heard mixed things about the order there. Lots of drinking and Florida shenanigans. We all know what those shenanigans can entail down there in crazy land.
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I am absolutely certain of it. Some of that involves willful participation though. I think one could enjoy the bikes, and a nice night out, without going off the deep end. (If you can stand the humidity.)
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Probably. Sadly, that humidity is what took me down so often. Got worse after I went to a Wrestlemania without sunscreen or a hat. Didn’t realize the arena was open air. Was melting for days after that.
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That East Coast humidity has to be experienced to be believed. Eighty in Boise is not the same as eighty in Atlanta or recently New Orleans.
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I’m curious about how different it is. I’m guessing the coastal effects play a major factor. You guys get more brutal winters, so there is a trade-off.
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Not so sure. This year maybe, but those New York and Boston winters are legendary.
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Lower New York (NYC/Westchester/Long Island) aren’t as bad as the north like Buffalo and Syracuse. Although, the last few winters have been unpredictable. It’s either unseasonably warm or we get tons of snow in a short period of time.
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I remember watching one on TV a few years ago that was like a frozen hurricane. It destroyed the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
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Think I remember that. That’s New Jersey, so it might not have hit us as hard.
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I would’ve liked to have gone to Burning Man way back when it was … maybe not in its infancy, but definitely the teenage years.:)
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I’ve known several folks who went. Closest I got was flying over the black rock desert and you could see the black mark and outline of the old campsites.
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Thanks again, Michael.
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We still have classic car shows out here. Races out in Thompson. I went to that once. There was a bad accident and the driver ended up carted off. It was too much for me. I was just eight at the time. I do like the classic shows though. Here, August into Sept. is the time for The Great Geauga County Fair. Actually, August is the time for a LOT of fairs here, lol.
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There are car shows all over the Boise area all summer. The one in Reno is absurdly huge, and a major event. I’m trying to talk my wife into letting us go to the Nightfire Nationals about three miles away. That’s drag racing and my favorite kind.
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Um, I am not a Nevada person, not a desert person. I’ve been, but it was not my thing. Now, if you wanna talk about its quiet mountainous regions in the fall and winter, then I’m in 🙂
The music, well I’ve seen enough musicians to feel satisfied. That concert you mentioned sounds amazing! I might see Tori Amos a few more times, she does small venues. I’ve always wanted to see U2, but I’d have to travel. I’m not into racing, although if I were, I’d be in the right city.
I’m concerned that you no longer think Speed Week is a doable event for you. Don’t let your age stop you from doin stuff. They’ve got beer there, Craig, I’m sure of it.
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I can see you in Tahoe and having a good time. I love concerts, Joan Jett plans in a couple of weeks. I could go to speed week, but that salt flat is rough. Still, I’d like to see a car or motorcycle going 300 MPH once. Never did understand your local kind of racing. Go fast turn left.
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Yeah, I’m just not into constant leftness, I guess.
I could have a nice time at Tahoe, mmhm.
You should go to Speed Week. You should. *pumps fist* One day, you’ll go 🙂
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The lake is really pretty too. They have some nice casinos too, compared to a lot of them.
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Man, the States have the best attractions. Would love to see the salt flats (with or without speed week on).
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Isn’t it always that way? I’d love to see your corner of the world.
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True; we’re never truly happy with what we have… grass is always greener etc.
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Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Thank you.
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You wouldn’t catch me anywhere near Sturgis! I have friends who are Harley riders and attend many of the big bike events, but that’s one even they won’t go to!
In my younger days I probably would have liked Burning Man, but it’s a young crowd. These days, my Augusts are spent poolside.
That DeVille you had must have been amazing!
There is a huge antique car event that takes place in my area every October. Rooms are booked a year in advance. I think it’s supposed to be one of the largest in the country. A full week of antique car enthusiasts. By the third day, the enormity of the crowd makes my daily commute a challenge. It only grows more so each day until the event finally closes.
I work in a tourist town (Hershey) and live 3 miles outside of it, so I’m used to crowds, especially in the summer when Hershey Park is open. But that antique auto show is in a league of its own!
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Reno is the same way, and they encourage cruising. Best to attend or leave town that weekend. It was a fun part of my life, but it was pre-fatherhood.
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150 degrees is far too hot for me – even if the cars are hotter and faster. Reno sounds a much better bet! 🙂
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We’ve always wanted to go to Sturgis, but haven’t had the chance yet.
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I think it would be fun too.
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