The 10th annual Mesquite Motor Mania sets out to pack the streets of Mesquite, Nevada, with classic cars, hot rods and vintage customs from January 12 through 14. Sponsored by Mesquite Gaming, owner of the Casablanca Resort and Virgin River Hotel, in partnership with the Las Vegas Cruisin Association, the three-day show features a full schedule of horsepower events,including classic show and shines, open-header cruises and slow-drag and burnout competitions.
More than 900 vehicles and thousands of spectators are expected, according to the organizers, with the Las Vegas Cruisin Association giving out 260 total awards plus specialty awards.
“For three full days in Mesquite we get the opportunity to wax nostalgia – from the classic cars to cool tunes – Mesquite Motor Mania is fun for the entire family,” Christian Adderson, corporate sales manager for Mesquite Gaming, said in a news release. “This year, we are giving away $15,000 in cash and prize,s and we’re looking forward to some great competitions and an exciting event.”
For more information, visit the event website.
Martinis are also race cars
The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance has added a celebration of the Martini International Racing Team, whose red and double-blue-striped race cars are an iconic piece of motorsports history, during its March 11 event.
The centerpiece of the Florida concours field will be the 1971 Le Mans-winning Martini Porsche 917, which set speed records that took four decades to beat. Martini Racing also won the Le Mans 24 in 1976 and 1977 with turbocharged Porsche 936 spiders.
“In Formula 1, Martini Racing earned victories in the 1975 Brazilian and German Grands Prix,” the concours noted in a news release. “There were seven Martini World Rally Championships with Lancia from 1983 through 1989 plus three World Endurance Racing Championships with Porsche in 1976, 1977 and 1981.Then an unprecedented double World Sports Car Championship in 1976 with a total of 20 World Sports Car and Endurance Championship race victories from 1975 through 1989.”
For more information, visit the event website.
Ferrari Daytona celebration
Concorso Italian might be months away during Monterey Car Week in August, but the California celebration of everything Italian already has announced that the 50th anniversary of the acclaimed Ferrari 265 GTB/4 – known as the Daytona – will be featured during the show held Saturday, August 25.
Designed by the legendary Leonardo Fioravanti while at the Pininfarinia design house in Italy, the sleek 12-cylinder coupe and convertible set the Italian automaker on a new stylistic course. Also on the list of honored Ferraris at Concorso is the related 365 GTC, the successor to the famed 330 GTC.
For more information, visit the event website.
Classic Car Show features
Seven new exhibits have been announced for the second Classic Auto Show, which returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center on March 2-4. More than 1,000 vintage vehicles and displays from 65 Southern California car clubs are expected.
• Porsche will be showcased by the Petersen Automotive Museum in LA with several significant models and panel discussion.
• French automaker Citroen will be the subject of a display from the private collection of Peter Mullin, founder of the Mullin Museum in LA.
• The iconic ’64 Impala lowrider Gypsy Rose will be displayed by the Historic Vehicle Association, serving as the centerpiece for cars from local lowrider clubs.
• “Women in Wheels” will be presented by the Automobile Driving Museum
appearances by motorsports legend Lyn. St. James, AskPatty chief executive Jody DeVere, All Girls Garage crew Bogi Lateiner and Rachel DeBarros, and Cecile Bukmeier, the first female instructor at NAIT’s Autobody Technician Program.
• Hot rods and hot rod culture, with collector Bruce Meyer bringing some of his seminal rods, as well as entries from local clubs.
• Japanese classics, featuring 25 cars appearing in the Oldskoolerz Old Japanese Car Meet.
• Vintage Jeep and 4X4 Pavilion, with a selection of Jeep, Ford, Chevy and Dodge off-roaders.
For more information, visit the event website.
