Hot August Nights Nostalgia

Submitted by Eliana Ornelas on 4/3/2019

With the arrival of August comes heat, the end of summer break, and in my hometown of Reno, a wave of classic cars, trucks and other motor vehicles for Hot August Nights. Everywhere you look, classic cars roar or creep through the streets and park row upon row upon row of classic vehicles in the casino parking lots for the annual Hot August Nights car show.

Considered a bucket list event for car enthusiasts, Hot Augusts Nights in Reno, Nevada is a celebration of the classic vehicles that have captured Americans’ hearts for decades. Last year, a record 5,300 cars were registered for Hot August nights and thousands more people from around the country flocked to Reno for car exhibitions, to participate in an auction and generally revel in their shared passion.

However, this celebration does not come without its challenges for vehicle owners. Classic car enthusiasts traveling to Reno from much of California must traverse the Sierras, which road grades of up to 6 percent or, for those coming from east of Reno, cross the Great Basin desert, where temperatures often reach over 100 degrees F. Both options can be treacherous for classic vehicles and their drivers so owners often seek another way of getting their cars to Reno.

Shipping can be a viable and safe option for car enthusiasts traveling to Reno to exhibit their cars. But there are a wide variety of options to choose from, some of which are superior to others. Shipping classic cars can potentially present hazards for vehicles that represent large investments of money, time and owner passion. Some transporters try to push car owners into compromising deals. The most important thing for owners to remembers is that the owner is the boss. Classic cars are precious and vulnerable to weather conditions. Any transporter that tries to push the owner to compromise their car by transporting it in an open-air container should not be trusted.

Trustworthiness is the second most important thing for any owner of a restored classic vehicle. A-1 Auto Transporter has earned such trust. The company has over 30 years of experience in transporting a variety of types of vehicles both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, its leaders have experience working at all levels of the transport industry, from truck driver to manager, and understand the value and risk an owner is taking when trusting their classic car to another person.

And while trust and a stellar record are important, A-1 Auto Transporter also includes insurance in the cost it charges customers. Because of the liability that comes with transporting vehicles, most car insurance companies will not insure for damages that arise with shipping. A-1 Auto Transporter insures the car and pays for any damages that may occur during shipping. Vehicles arrive safely and the owners can rest easy.

One of the best things about Hot August Nights is that it brings together classic car lovers from all over the United States. Nevadans mingle with Californians, Oregonians, Mid-westerners and even guests from the east coast to admire and share in a love of the charismatic style that classic cars possess, and to bid at the annual auction in hopes of adding a new treasure to their collection.

With people and their cars coming from all over, from rural Kansas towns to the bustling metropolis of Los Angeles, the door-to-door service that A-1 Auto Transport provides is very important. Hot Augusts Nights is an amazing and passion-filled event where one can dress in poodle skirts, eat cotton candy and enjoy the sight of these classic beauties rumbling or even roaring down the streets. Distance or location should not hinder car owners from bringing their cars to Reno to join in the spectacle that is Hot August Nights. A-1 Auto Transport knows that classic car owners come from many different places and have varying needs, and that all customers deserve the same respect and therefore provide widespread service.

So what is this service offered by A-1 Auto Transport? As noted, the car is insured and protected against damages during shipping. All vehicles are also GPS tracked so that customers can know where their car is, every mile from door to destination. Best of all is the option of enclosed container shipping. Classic cars are more vulnerable to the elements and other hazards of shipping. Owners want their vehicle to be protected, which is why many opt for enclosed containers. Vehicles will be transported in sealed, enclosed transport carriers that are resistant to shifting to further minimize any damage from transport. A-1’s trucks also feature air suspension brakes as well so that cars do not suffer the consequences of abrupt stops and sudden turns.

A-1 Auto Transport helps customers through all steps of the process with trustworthy and experienced staff. Before writing this essay, I was an admirer of classic cars, loving their unique and sleek looks and always looking forward to August when Reno’s streets would be alive with the sight of these cars and the sound of their engines. But as an admirer from afar, I had no intimate knowledge of the cost and risk associated with transporting these cars to Reno so I and many other people can admire them.

One of the things I noticed in the process of writing this essay was how easy A-1 Auto Transport’s website is to navigate, and how I could tell that my enthusiasm was shared by the company. Whether one is transporting a car for an exhibition or moving one’s car overseas, the process is stressful and complicated for the owner. The transporter should strive to alleviate any stress the owner has and help them through every step of the process.

There are many options and many steps and forms, from cleaning the car prior to transportation to signing insurance documents or obtaining visas if for international transportation. A-1 Auto Transport informs the customer of what steps are necessary and provides a variety of options so that the car arrives safely and in the same shiny condition the owner last saw it in so they can go show it off and compete in car exhibition contests.

I love Hot August nights – the music, the costumes that look like they come directly from the set of Grease — but most of all I love the cars that descend on Reno during the first week of August. It is the classic vehicles that make the event special and without safe, enclosed container transportation it would not be possible for me and many others to enjoy this event so much.

Submitted by Eliana Ornelas on 4/3/2019